Sing-along Café Thursday, March 19th, 2026

What a wonderful afternoon! We had the largest group in a long time, and it was fun to have all that extra energy. We still managed to do quite a bit of talking about life and music. 

I went on a bit about the Persian new year, happening tomorrow morning. It's the first day of spring. The vernal equinox happens at 10:46am. That is the astronomical spring, the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator – a line directly above Earth’s equator. So, our theme was Spring (as advertised), but my playlist was Songs about Celestial Events and Change. 

Winter has been very long this year, long and cold. So, a celebration right now is a very good thing. I'm happy to be celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year with my family tomorrow. I talked a bit about the Haft Seen, which I love, the table of symbols, things that represent wishes or hopes for the new year, like abundance and prosperity, health and love. Here's a link to an article about the Haft Seen table. Spring is about new beginnings, but also a reminder that every end is a new beginning. After winter and after darkness, light returns. And spring reminds us that our lives go in cycles like the seasons

Easter is on its way, and that's another big moment for fresh starts, light after dark, and symbols of spring and rebirth. I think we'll continue with this Spring theme. There are tons of songs on my list, and our Canadian spring is messy; we'll see winter and spring fighting for attention for the next couple months still.  

I forgot to bake. It's been a busy time for me. So, I brought mint Girl Guide cookies again, and grapes. We nibbled and sang and chatted in lovely company.  

Here are some of the songs we sang and listened to:

• Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In by the 5th Dimension
• Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles
• Sunrise, Sunset by the cast of the Original Motion Picture Fiddler on the Roof
• The Circle Game by Joni Mitchell
• Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds and by Walk off the Earth
• I Dont' Want to Live on the Moon by Ernie (of Sesame Street)
• Walking on the Moon by The Police
• Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler
• Rewrite the Stars by Michael Gerow (and a bit by the cast of The Greatest Showman)
• The Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah by the Choir & Orchestra of Pro Christe