The Chingford Directory

Welcome....

to The Chingford Directory, your local community magazine and business directory.

It is traditionally one of the coldest months of the year although January's frost and snow will be hard to beat! Let's hope that temperatures start warming up and snowdrops appearing are a sign that spring is on the way.

Dates for your diary to note are:
Sunday 14th February - is the Chinese New Year of the Tiger. The main public event in London is on Sunday 21st February in the Chinatown area of London. The main events are in Gerrard Street, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square with entertainment including lion and dragon dances, martial art demonstrations, Chinese food and music and firecrackers. For more information, see: www.chinatownchinese.co.uk
Sunday 14th February - is also Valentine's Day.
Valentine was a priest in Rome in the third century, during the rule of Emperor Claudius the Second. Wars were breaking out in the Roman Empire, but not enough men were joining the army as married men wanted to stay with their families. The emperor banned marriages to force men to go off to war so couples went to Valentine to be married and he performed ceremonies secretly. Valentine was then arrested and killed in prison on 14th February 270. He was later made a saint and represents the ideas of love and sacrifice.
Tuesday 16th February - Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day).
Historically, Christians confessed their sins on this day and asked to be forgiven for them, known as "shriving". It is the day before Lent, when Christians did not eat fatty foods for 40 days until Palm Sunday, a week before Easter Sunday. Families had a feast on Shrove Tuesday with eggs milk and flour beaten together and then fried to make pancakes.
Wednesday 17th February - Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the 40-day period known as Lent. In Christian churches there are services in which ashes are used to mark a cross on people's foreheads and it is a time for religious thought.

Chingford has wide a range of places for Valentine's Day treats with restaurants like The Spice Bar and The Artisan Bar and Grill, gifts from the Bargain Bookshop (all in Chingford) or Images in Frames in Walthamstow with ready made frames, ornate mirrors and fine art prints or paintings to choose from. Pampering gifts like fine foods and drinks or makeovers, hair and beauty treatments, facial massages or Reflexology or Reiki sessions are featured in the Directory with many special offers available.

If you want to try new things the Community Events section on the website has plenty to offer with friendship groups, sporting activities and a large variety of different arts and crafts groups.

Thanks for your continuing support and making Chingford a fantastic place to live and work.

To see all our 2009 front covers click here.

Gerry Banks - Editor