by nate on Friday, December 11th, 2009 | Diary, Knowledge, Life | No Comments

Why Fried Means Festive

The most popular way to prepare Hanukkah dishes is to fry them in oil — an homage to the miracle that inspired the annual celebration.

A Christmas Alternative

Until the 19th century, Hanukkah was, as one blogger put it, the religious equivalent of Flag Day. (”Not even the Zionists make a fuss about Chanukah,” wrote a reporter for the American Jewish Chronicle in 1916.)

A Calendar That Keeps People Guessing

Unlike Christmas, Hanukkah does not fall on the same dates each year because Jewish holidays are based on a “lunisolar” calendar. A lunisolar calendar is regulated by both the sun and moon. Hanukkah always starts on the 25th of Kislev — the month on the Hebrew calendar that generally coincides with November or December. A year on the Hebrew calendar varies from 353 to 385 days, so the timing of the Festival of Lights is always a bit of a guessing game.

The Real Hanukkah Miracle

Hanukkah commemorates the 165 B.C. victory of the Maccabees, a Jewish rebel army, over the Syrians and the subsequent rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem.

Menorah

Lighting a special, 9-branched candelabrum is the main ritual on Hanukkah. Most people —including Jews —incorrectly refer to this as a “Menorah,” when in fact the correct name for the candleholder is “Hanukkiah” or “Hanukkah Menorah.” A “menorah,” which has only seven candleholders, was the lamp used in the ancient Holy Temple in Jerusalem — now a symbol of Judaism and an emblem of Israel. A “Hanukkiah.”

Tags: Christmas Alternative, Christmas celebration, festivals, Hanukah, hanukkah, Holiday, Israel Holiday, Jewish, Jewish festival, Jewish holiday, Menorah, what is hanukkah

by nate on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 | Knowledge, News, World | No Comments

Also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day (the event it commemorates) or Veterans Day – is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War. It is observed on 11 November to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.) The day was specifically dedicated by King George V, on 7 November 1919, to the observance of members of the armed forces who were killed during war; this was possibly done upon the suggestion of Edward George Honey to Wellesley Tudor Pole, who established two ceremonial periods of remembrance based on events in 1917.

-Wikipedia-

Now the celebrations include the sentiment to “stop” them from fighting anymore. Now the people are excited and eager to end the war in Iraq on this special veterans or Armistice Day. “It sucks when someone is away at war,” said Emily Keehn. She is a student who had the experience of accompanying soldiers at war in a boot camp.

“On Veterans Day we honor those who fought to keep freedom safe in America as well as those who fought to extend that freedom around the world,” Gov. Bill Ritter said in a statement. “We pay tribute, we remember.” A great way to honor veterans is to give them employment when they leave the military, said Ritter, who proclaimed November “Hire a Veteran First Month.” Colorado has 450,000 veterans, some of them struggling to find work, even those with outstanding qualifications.

On November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m., the eleventh hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, hostilities ceased in World War I. It was supposed to be “the war to end all wars.” It definitely wasn’t. Our idealistic president, Woodrow Wilson, ultimately was crushed by the realization that his mission was failing.

It was a great soldier of World War II, President Eisenhower, who tried to establish Veterans Day as a holiday to include veterans of all wars. He met a lot of opposition. Ultimately, we were left with what we have today, a screwy compromise – a holiday placed on the anniversary of Armistice Day that we call Veterans Day.

Let’s not tinker with a national holiday that goes back to Wilson’s time. We need our history and so do our kids.

source: msnbc.com, durangoherald.com

Tags: 1918, are banks open on veterans day, Armistice Day, army, does the mail run on veterans day, end of war, Heroes, Holiday, is the stock market open on veterans day, is there mail on veterans day, is veterans day a bank holiday, is veterans day a federal holiday, Poppy Day, Public Holiday, veterans day

by wildcherry on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 | Places to Visit, Travel | No Comments

With the holidays in full swing, many families find themselves with a little bit of extra vacation time during the winter. While some may spend that time planning large family gatherings or trying to relax after the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, a number of families use this time as a way to enjoy a vacation away from home before the kids have to be back in school and everyone has to go back to work. If you are thinking of a winter getaway, here are 10 of the most popular vacation destinations during the winter months.

Mont Tremblant, Quebec

Located in the Laurentian Mountains, Mont Tremblant is a popular venue for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. With over 600 acres of useable snow, Mont Tremblant is renowned as one of the best destinations for wintertime fun. Skiers from all over the world travel to Quebec in order to take advantage of Tremblant’s pristine slopes.

Hershey, Pennsylvania

Home to Hershey’s candy, this Pennsylvania town can be a wonderful place to visit if you are travelling just before Christmas. Each year, Hershey Park is completely transformed into a Christmas candy land that absolutely must be seen in order to be believed. This can be an especially rewarding trip if travelling with children, as it can give them amazing stories to tell when they get back to school.

Sundance Ski Resort

Sundance, Utah, is home not only to the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival but also to a ski resort beyond compare. In addition to being able to enjoy well-manicured slopes for skiing and snowboarding, the resort is located within an hour of three major Utah cities so that you can enjoy some shopping and fine dining after a fun time in the snow.

Yellowstone National Park

Mostly known as a summertime destination, Yellowstone features a number of winter programs as well as those, which encourage visitors to learn more about the natural world around them. While not everyone thinks that a learning vacation sounds like fun, few sights can compare to being able to see and learn about Yellowstone in wintertime.

New England

A number of destinations in the New England area are transformed into a portrait of years gone by when winter comes. The New England that was captured in the beloved paintings of Norman Rockwell comes to life as the historical towns and cities put on their best winter decorations, while the Sugarloaf ski resort opens for business to accommodate those interested in winter sports.

Lake Tahoe

A popular winter destination for years, Lake Tahoe provides visitors with access to ski resorts as well as the nearby excitement of Carson City, Nevada. Those looking for a beautiful vacation destination should not be disappointed by the amazing view of the Rocky Mountains that can be seen from the slopes of Lake Tahoe.

Caribbean

For a completely different type of vacation, consider taking a cruise of the Caribbean. Not only can this help you to get away from the cold weather, but it can also give you a taste of what the holidays are like for those who do not live in an area that traditionally receives a lot of snow. Once you experience a Caribbean Christmas, you may never be able to look at a traditional Christmas the same way again.

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen is one of the most famous ski destinations in the world and a winter spent in Aspen is a winter that can always be remembered. In addition to having some of the most beautiful ski slopes that can be found anywhere, the town surrounding the ski areas has a rich culture and history that simply is not to be missed. From a day on the slopes to a night enjoying the amazing artistic community that exists in and around Aspen, you should never regret your choice to spend a vacation in Aspen.

Rockefeller Center, New York

Nothing says Christmas quite like the image of Rockefeller Center decked out in all of its holiday glory. Used as an icon of the holidays in films, stories, and photographs, a winter vacation to New York simply is not complete without taking the time to visit Rockefeller Center and see exactly how much effort is put in to transforming it into a symbol of peace and Christmas joy.

Orlando, Florida

If you just want to get away from the cold of the holidays but are not interested in travelling too far from home, Orlando can be the perfect winter destination. With a multitude of theme parks (and the holiday programs offered by each), there is plenty for the whole family to do. You can also set aside some time to simply enjoy the Florida weather, ignoring the fact that it is much colder at home.

Tags: Airports, Budget Vacation, cheap travel, Cruise, Cruises, Destinations, Holiday, leisure, most popular winter vacations destinations, Outdoors, Recreation, Travel, Travel Agency, Travel Agent, Travel Deals, travel tips, vacation, winter vacation, winter vacations destinations

by nate on Saturday, December 13th, 2008 | Knowledge, Life | No Comments

Now that we have been celebrating christmas, Santa Claus and its symbols are all over the place, especially in the western area. I was curious about, and researching how the brand or image of Santa was originially made. It may help some of you to get a new knowledge or reminder how a Christmas and Santa is all about. Draw your own conclusions!

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply “Santa“, is the figure who, in most of Western cultures^{[citation needed]}, is described as bringing gifts on Christmas Eve, December 24^[1] or on his Feast Day, December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day).^[2] The legend may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of Saint Nicholas.

The modern depiction of Santa Claus as a plump, jolly man wearing a red coat and trousers with white cuffs and collar, and black leather belt and boots, became popular in the United States in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast.^[3] This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, and films. In the United Kingdom and Europe, his depiction is often identical to the American Santa, but he is commonly called Father Christmas.

One legend associated with Santa says that he lives in the far north, in a land of perpetual snow. The American version of Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, while Father Christmas is said to reside in Lapland. Other details include: that he is married and lives with Mrs. Claus; that he makes a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior; that he delivers presents, including toys, candy, and other presents to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal or sticks to the naughty children, in one night; and that he accomplishes this feat with the aid of magical elves who make the toys, and eight or nine flying reindeer who pull his sleigh.^[4][5]

There has long been opposition to teaching children to believe in Santa Claus. Some Christians say the Santa tradition detracts from the religious origins and purpose of Christmas. Other critics feel that Santa Claus is an elaborate lie, and that it is unethical for parents to teach their children to believe in his existence.^[6] Still others oppose Santa Claus as a symbol of the commercialization of the Christmas holiday, or as an intrusion upon their own national traditions.^[7] Most people think that the Coca Cola Company created Santa to boost sales, but Santa Claus and the innitial image of him were created about twenty years before Coca Cola was invented and the company was created.

taken from Wikipedia

Tags: Christmas, Coca-cola, History of Santa Claus, Holiday, Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, Western symbol

by nate on Thursday, December 11th, 2008 | Career, Life | No Comments

By Robert Half International

With the holiday season approaching, people’s thoughts turn to spending time with family, giving and receiving gifts, attending parties and other related activities. What many workers may not consider are the etiquette issues that can arise at the office.

Following are some tricky office-related holiday situations and suggestions for best dealing with them:

Sticky Situation No. 1: A colleague buys you a holiday gift, but you didn’t get him anything

Sticky Situation No. 2: The company holiday party is approaching, and you’d rather not go

Sticky Situation No. 3: You have big plans during the holidays, but with so many people requesting time off, you’re worried you might not be granted the vacation days you would like

Sticky Situation No. 4: You’re one of the few people not on vacation during the holidays, and you’re stuck at the office without much to do

read complete article from MSN

Tags: Company Holiday Party, Company Party, Corporate Holiday, Holiday, Sticky Holiday Situations Tips

by nate on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 | Family, Friendship, Inspiration, Knowledge, Life, Love, Relationship | 2 Comments

Photography Sotha Bourn

“Gift giving has long been a favorite subject for studies on human behavior, with psychologists, anthropologists, economists and marketers all weighing in. They have found that giving gifts is a surprisingly complex and important part of human interaction, helping to define relationships and strengthen bonds with family and friends. Indeed, psychologists say it is often the giver, rather than the recipient, who reaps the biggest psychological gains from a gift. Frustrated by crowds, traffic and commercialism, people can be tempted at this time of year to opt out of gift giving altogether. A 2005 survey showed that four out of five Americans think the holidays are too materialistic, according to the Center for a New American Dream, which promotes responsible consumption.

But while it’s reasonable to cut back on spending during the holidays, psychologists say that banning the gift exchange with loved ones is not the best solution. People who refuse to accept or exchange gifts during the holidays, these experts say, may be missing out on an important connection with family and friends.”

The social value of giving has been recognized throughout human history. For thousands of years, some native cultures have engaged in the potlatch, a complex ceremony that celebrates extreme giving. Although cultural interpretations vary, often the status of a given family in a clan or village was dictated not by who had the most possessions, but instead by who gave away the most. The more lavish and bankrupting the potlatch, the more prestige gained by the host family.

Some researchers believe evolutionary forces may have favored gift giving. Men who were the most generous may have had the most reproductive success with women. (Notably, the use of food in exchange for sexual access and grooming has been documented in our closest ape relative, the chimpanzee.) Women who were skilled at giving — be it extra food or a well-fitted pelt — helped sustain the family provider as well as her children.

Margaret Rucker, a consumer psychologist at the University of California, Davis, says men are typically more price-conscious and practical when it comes to the gifts they give and get, while women tend to be more concerned about giving and receiving gifts with emotional significance.

Dr. Rucker says she often recounts the story of a man who climbed a tree to retrieve a robin’s egg that matched his girlfriend’s blue eyes. “Women say, ‘Oh, how romantic,’” she said. “But men say, ‘That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of, and also what about the mama bird?’”

Gender differences in gift giving seem to emerge early in life. Researchers at Loyola University Chicago studied 3- and 4-year-olds at a day-care center, all of whom had attended the same birthday party. The girls typically went shopping with their mothers and helped select and wrap the gift. Boys, meanwhile, were often unaware of what the gift was. “They’d say, ‘I took a nap while my mom went shopping for it,’” said Mary Ann McGrath, the associate dean of the graduate school of business at Loyola.

Gift giving is often the most obvious way a partner can show interest, strengthen a bond or even signal that a relationship should end. One colleague of Dr. Rucker’s noted that she knew her marriage was over when her husband handed her a gift in a brown grocery bag.

People who stop giving gifts lose out on important social cues, researchers say. “Who is on your gift list is telling you who is important in your life,” Dr. McGrath said. “It says who is more important and who is less important.”

But the biggest effect of gift giving may be on ourselves. Giving to others reinforces our feelings for them and makes us feel effective and caring, Dr. Langer said.

read this article here, Thanks Tara Parker!

Tags: Christmas, Gift Giving, Gift giving psychology, giving tradition, Holiday, relationship