People are successful, when they have the flexibility to meet the demands of their professional lives and accomplish personal goals outside their offices.True work-life balance is dynamic and needs conscious actions after identifying your priorities. There is no one formula that works for all people at all times.
If you are looking to achieve better work-life balance, one place you can start is by being clear about your first priorities in life and setting healthy and effective boundaries.
Family holidays in a relaxed environment for working parents is a must: People coming from traditional agricultural families or first white-collar generation woould not realise this easily. Given half a chance, they packup for their native place or to visit their relatives and families, especially for the working class in upcoming metropolitan cities in Asian countries like India, Japan and China.This is needed for your duties and obligations, however maynot work well as a quality time and justice for your spouse and children. Do plan kid friendly family holidays where you could unwind out of ALL responsibilities, play with children and rejuvenate your intimacy with the partner. Every quarter you could do this in a small way over weekends and mandatorily once in a year at a good place. Do allocate budget for this and this will go a long way in work life balance. Entire family will comeback relaxed, fresh with ideas and a supportive family bond, which will help you in your work :)
Daily evening family prayer time, irrespective of your religion and faith: It is a simple truth that the family who eats and pray together, will stay together.I had observed this strongly studying across different generation and type of family with varied religions. Ensure that this prayer time is short and meaningful,to keep interest and to have it regular.You could also utilise this time to hear the major activities, issues and achievements of family members as well as children's demonstration of talent and acquired skills like dance, recitation etc.
All family members eat together, possibly every day or atleast in a week:Quality time,which is a must to be prioritised.Even small kids can help set the table, clear dishes, or take out the trash cans to the curb.A great time, to pass on the manners, values, healthy lifestyle, family recipes and traditions.
Involve in family games and play together: Children learn from you as well as from the games on how to take life head on in a sportive fashion. Heard of "all for one and one for all" as said for "we're family!"? Encourage your kids to support each other's activities and endeavors.
Cut the TV time and plan it for kids and adults alike: Many parents find TV as an easy option to get the troublesome kids away for a while. Long TV times will affect the child's concentration. You will be surprised to find the quality time available for family, once a clear schedule for TV time is agreed.
Cut the Games, Internet Browsing and Work at home time: Be it the addictive social networking sites or games for children as well as adults.It will make you healthy as well as have a suitable lifestyle.
Assign family responsibilities to all members: If everyone in the family is participating in some type of activity, then general household chores may be harder to get accomplished due to lack of time.Have a family meeting and explain that in order to do these enrichment activities/sports/music, everyone will have to pitch in to make sure the clothes still get washes, dishes done, and table cleared. If you set expectations up front, any grumbling will be minimized.
Plan and create a family time say family party or family night: You can create memories to last a lifetime. Whether it's eatout together movie night, take-out night , game night, or a family walk night, the key is that a night each week is designated for together time. Relax...and talk with each other! You might be surprised the things you learn from your kids on your special night. Apart from impromptu romps with your spouse, do agree on a mutually convenient time for intimacy. This will help especially the husbands, if not the wife to gratify their personal and sexual needs on a regular fashion.
Plan and invite your child's friends home for a party: Celebrate occassions like birthday, awards, school functions etc with your child's friends. You will have maximum memorable time as well getting to know your childrens friends and their attitude and behaviour.Letting kids "hang out" at your place gives you valuable insight into what interests and motivates your own child as well as understanding the "crowd" he or she is associating with. For younger kids, an hour or two with a friend can teach sharing, responsibility, taking turns, and other traits through actual learning and experiences.
Think your priorities before making commitments for extra activities: More and more activities are emphasizing additional practices and time requirements in today's competitive world. You as the parent have to decide if a particular activity is appropriate for your child. Options for time-pressed families is to sign kids up for a suitable clubs and academies.Do signup only for suitable time period to avoid stress. Go for demanding Jobs, but select an employer organisation which allows you flexibility in individual career and personal lives of employees.
Watch for signs of being overextended and adjust schedules as needed: If your kid's grades starting plummeting or you get a note that your child is not able to concentrate in school, you may be asking too much of them. Keep in mind a child's age, personality, and true interest in making decisions.
Plan simply a free and relaxed time with family: This is simple and work wonders. Let it be a sunday or even an unplanned holiday. Just be at home or go to a nearby park. Don't forget that many child experts indicate that free time for play and social interaction can be better for a child's development than too many organized or structured activities.This will help you observe and find out what your children's interest and dreams are rather than what is yours for them!
In the fast moving life, there are many pressures that new-age couples have to deal with- running a home, doing daily chores like cooking/cleaning, raising children and handle the tight deadlines at work! Ever wondered how the 21st century couples can deal with all this? How can they divide their daily work, make sure their children get the right amount of attention and time and also be productive at work? As per a report from TOI, today, technology not just makes your life easy and simple, but also brings a work-life balance. There are many working couples, who constantly stay connected on mobile Internet- using email, social networking websites as well as use gadgets like network enabled Femto and spy camera devices at home.
Image courtesy to: eHarmony,iabc,vorwerk
Majority of women prefer working part-time so that they can spend maximum time with their kids and build a strong foundation for them, according to a study by industry body Assocham.Nearly 56 percent women said working from home is an ideal situation for them, while 16 percent of them said they would prefer to work full-time. The chamber has surveyed over 4,500 working couples in Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Chennai.The survey reveals that out of ten, seven working women said that they would prefer part-time work and would not opt for a full-time job.
It is said that there are also differences in the way working moms and at home moms assess their role as parents. Mothers working full-time give themselves slightly lower ratings as parents, on an average, than mothers employed part-time.There are many working couples who leave their infants in the hands of a nanny. They constantly worry whether their children are safe at home. In this scenario, it becomes of prime importance to install spy cameras, which can keep an eye in their home.
Family first is the motto and to make it work have other priorities adjusted. Blood is thicker than water! Cherish and nurture it well!
Best Wishes for a wonderful family life and quality family time! Do write in your comments and share your valuable experiences to fellow readers.
Onam Pookalam /Onam Pookkalam - Images and photo ideas of Floral Designs. Talk about Onam in Kerala, the southern most state in India and one of the first images that come to mind is that of the flower bed or floral arrangements known as Pookkalam or Athapookalam. The traditional Ona-pookalam usually consists of ten rings indicating the ten day ritual during the ten day celebrations of Onam which begins on Atham and ends on Thiru Onam in the month of Chingam (August – September).
Onam Pookalam: In Malayalam, meaning of the poo is flower and kalam is drawing or artwork done in front of the house. Therefore, it is the artwork done by fresh flowers in front of the house. It is one of the main attractions of onam. It starts 10 days before (called atham) and ends on Onam. There will be a pookalam In front of each house of Kerala on Onam.
All over Kerala we can see kids roaming around with flower baskets to collect the flowers for it, during this season. It will help to create natural awareness about flowers and colors in the kids. When a kid searches for a certain colored flower to make it, he watches the flowers, nature, birds etc.
Pookalam competition /events: Many malayalee associations are organizing competitions in every year, with the sponsorship of big business Establishments. Almost all malayalee associations in different parts of the world including Singapore, USA, UK, Australia and Middle East will be conducting Pookalam competition along with their Onam celebration. Different teams headed by one or two artists will be competing in these competitions.
Rules of Pookkalam: The rules of the will change as per the nature of organization conducting the competition, as some organization may allow displaying sponsor names where as others may not allow it. However, there are some common rules to be followed in these competitions
Materials: Teams can use only fresh flowers and leaves to make the Pookalam. They should not use the sawdust, shredded coconut, and artificial colors. If requested by the judges, they should show and prove the materials used in it. Colors of the flowers should not enhance by using the artificial colors. If any team is using any of the above practices, it will lead to disqualification of their team.
Big flowers: Teams should use sepals of flowers only. They should not use the whole flowers. Even if you are creating the same flower itself, you must separate the sepals and keep it back. Sepals of the flowers may cut in to the small pieces. Using whole flowers, instead of sepals to make it will lead to disqualification of the team.
Place: They should make it on the place provided by the organizers. Making it on a paper or on a pre-drawn board will lead to immediate disqualification. However, teams can use a pre-drawn paper or drawings, and transfer the drawings to the place provided by organizers.
Discipline: A team should be disqualified, if any of the team members intentionally disturb or mess up the area allotted to other teams,
Traditional Decorations: Teams can keep Nirapara (Indian style measuring cup), Nilavilakku (in style lamp) and/or any other traditional materials to increase the appearance and traditional value of it. However, they must keep these things according to the traditional way and at the correct corner. They may lose points if you keep Nirapara and Nilavilakku in the wrong side of it.
Theme: The theme can be an art with Indian cultural value, or kalam itself. The theme can carry negative points (instead of positive points), to discourage them from using themes which is not suitable for the occasion. This will encourage the artist to select broad and diversified themes without worrying for points. Theme can also reflect the nature of the organization or the area of interest they are involved in. (If you restrict the theme to Kerala, all themes will be of Kathakali, Mohinyattam (Kerala Cultural dances) and Vallam Kali (Kerala boat race), which will take away the beauty and diversity of it)
Artistic value: Consider this point is for the artist who has designed it.
Nowadays many pookkalams concentrate more on the design part and in the process the ten rings are avoided. The pookkalams mainly concentrate on the various cultural aspects of Kerala and on the Onam myth.
Why are wax coatings used on some fruits and vegetables? Are they safe?
Waxes are applied in order to:
help retain moisture in fruits and vegetables during shipping and marketing;
help inhibit mold growth;
protect fruits and vegetables from bruising;
prevent other physical damage and disease;
enhance appearance.
By protecting against moisture loss and contamination, wax coatings help fresh fruits and vegetables maintain wholesomeness and freshness. Waxing does not improve the quality of any inferior fruit or vegetables; rather, waxing — along with proper handling — contributes to maintaining a healthful product. Waxes by themselves do not control decay; rather, they may be combined with some chemicals to prevent the growth of mold. The US Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency strictly regulate the safety and use of these substances.
Waxes are also used on candies, pastries and gum and come from natural sources. Wax sources generally are plants, food-grade petroleum products or insects (similar to honey from bees).
Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are often waxed to prevent moisture loss, protect them from bruising during shipping, and increase their shelf life. When purchasing non-organic fruits and vegetables, you should ask your grocer about the kind of wax used on their surface even if you are going to peel it; carnauba wax (from the carnauba palm tree), beeswax, and shellac (from the lac beetle) are preferable to petroleum-based waxes, which contain solvent residues or wood rosins. Yet, it is not just the wax itself that may be of concern but the other compounds often added to it - ethyl alcohol or ethanol for consistency, milk casein (a protein linked to milk allergy) as "film formers" and soaps as flowing agents.
Unfortunately, at this point in time, the only way we know of to remove the wax from non-organic produce is to remove the skin, as washing will not remove the wax or any bacteria trapped beneath it. If you choose to do this, use a peeler that takes only a thin layer of skin, as many healthy vitamins and minerals lie right below the skin.
Consumers do have choices. Waxes generally cannot be removed by regular washing. If consumers prefer not to consume waxes — even though the waxes are safe — they can buy unwaxed commodities or can peel the fruit or vegetable, thereby removing any coating.
Organically grown fruits and vegetables do not contain wax coatings, allowing you to enjoy all of the nutritional benefits offered by the skin.
Commodities that may have coatings applied include apples, avocados, bell peppers, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, grapefruits, lemons, limes, melons, oranges, parsnips, passion fruit, peaches, pineapples, pumpkins, rutabagas, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips and yucca. However, they are not always waxed.
How to bond with your child? In an age where most parents are left to old age homes, as their children have genuine or convenient reasons to leave them, it is no wonder to occur most certainly for parents who command no bonding or respect from their children. Lets look at few simple options for parents to bond with their growing children:
Control your anger: Parents usually try to justify treating their children badly (shouting at them, insulting then, and in worst cases even hitting them for their mistakes) by saying, "Thats how I was raised and I turned out alright.' This kind of defence is normally reserved for the angry and jealous power-hungry adult, who yearns for the days when the rod was not spared and the child was not spoiled.Only emotionally irresponsible adults give themselves permission to act out angrily towards those who rely on them for security.
Always be ready to listen: This is one of the most important factors to build, and then sustain a meaningful, healthy and happy relationship with your child. If you lend an empathetic ear to your growing child you can win the trust and love of your child forever. Never assume that a child's feeling is any less important than that of an adult.Sometimes parents are too quick to reprimand their children for bad choices. Instead of jumping into a lecture, always give your child the opportunity to state their case. It will help you to understand their motives, and you will be able to say something in response that addresses their rationale. This doesn't mean that they will argue their way out of a punishment; it just shows them that you respect them enough to let them speak their mind. You should be more interested in understanding your children than in punishing them. If you listen to them, then they will be more likely to listen to you. If you don't give them the opportunity to speak, then they will not listen to you when you do. All relationships are give-take, and that includes parent-child relationships. You will bond with your child and make breakthroughs if you listen to each other and respect each other.
Prioritise the relationship: Reorganise your list of priorities. Make sure your relationship with your child is somewhere near the top of that list. When a parent focuses on relating to the child on the basis of who he/she is, rather than on what he/she should be, the relationship is more likely to be close. This simple shift in attitude can alleviate a tremendous amount of parental anxiety. This focus is more important for parents of teenagers than toddlers :) Most parents unconciously use 'pygmallion effect', a way to nurture what is expected. Best option for this is to act as a role model yourself.
Few tips on effective Family time and activities, based on tradition and experience:
Family Eating time:Dinner and Weekend Breakfast/Lunch: In order to build a strong bond with your children, it is important to make your family a priority. Although it can seem difficult to get together for dinner every night, it is a hurdle that you should be determined to overcome. Your schedules are busy -- work, school, dance practice, soccer games -- but your kids grow up too fast to let your hectic routines get in the way of quality time as a family unit. "Can't" has to be omitted from your vocabulary. You CAN have dinner together, and you will be glad that you did because sometimes it can be the only time in a busy day that you get the opportunity to sneak away from the hustle bustle of life. Make dinner time special. Turn off the television. Sit at the dinner table, not on the couch. Everyone can help get ready so that mom doesn't get stuck playing the role of waitress while everyone else enjoys the meal. Have the kids set the table (never miss an opportunity to teach them some responsibility). Talk about your days. Ask your children about school. Everyone at the table could say what the best and worst parts of their day were. You will be surprised how much a simple sit-down dinner can keep you "in the know" with your kids.
Family Prayer time: Daily, possibly every evening and morning, family should pray together for few minutes. Praying means speaking about your needs to Almighty - be it in any religion or belief. This will help each other a care for other family members and their needs. A family who prays together, stay together.
Family Fun Activities: Once time passes by, children and parents alike, will cherish the fun time they had together. It need not be expensive picnics but even simple outings and family games.Playing games with your children gives you the opportunity to have some good old-fashioned fun with the family. It also gives your kids the opportunity to see your more playful side. Charades is a great game for family hilarity. The non-verbal clues in charades force you to be goofy, no matter how old you are. Your kids will crack up watching you act silly and childlike. Monopoly is another great family game, as long as your kids are old enough to understand the rules (usually at about 8 years old). For one, everyone will have their "lucky" player piece, such as the dog or the shoe. Also, it is a long game, and you will find that there is plenty of time to talk to each other while you play. Twister is another classic, because everyone will crack up at the tangled and contorted positions that mom and dad have to get into. A relatively new board game is Cranium, which combines charades, drawing, word puzzles, clay sculpting, and trivia. This is a great option for family game night because it has something for everyone, and it is played in teams. Having a game night gives you the chance to show your kids that you aren't always serious and "parent-like." They will see the fun and funny side of you, which will give you a closer and more well-rounded relationship overall. Plus, you are making memories together and forming traditions.
Family Photo Albums: Family pictures captures the best of the life for children and parents alike, and all of the family will cherish this for their life. A picture speak more than 1000 words and even could reconciliate family members in tough times.
One-On-One Time with each of the family member: As it is crucial for a manager in office to have one-on-one time with associates/tea members, it is more important for your family too. Your kids are individuals, so unless you have an only-child, it is important to make set aside one-on-one time with each kid. You might go to dinner with your daughter once a month, just the three off you. You could take your son to the batting cages. You could bring your history-loving child to a museum, and take the dancer-kid to a ballet. Spending time with each child will make them feel special, and it will build their confidence in themselves. Also, you should give the kids alone time with mom and dad separately. Sometimes it can be easier for a child to talk about certain things with mom that they wouldn't want to with dad, and vice versa. For example, a girl usually wants to talk to mom about boys and clothes. A boy might want to talk to dad alone about dating and sports. If you only spend time as a family unit, then you will be missing out on special bonds that can only be formed with one-on-one time.
Bedtime Stories and lullabies: Sometimes children forget that their parents are human beings. If you tell your kids stories about your childhood and life experiences, then they will be able to get to know you better, and they will be able to relate to you more. Tell your kids about some of your memories from school, family vacations, etc. Tell them about your first date, your first school dance, your first summer job, etc. If you share your stories, they will feel more comfortable sharing theirs. Never pass up an opportunity to relate to your kids. Don't be afraid to tell your children about mistakes that you made. The last thing you want your kids to think is that you are and were perfect. If they think that, then they will be very intimidated about telling you about mistakes that they make. You can teach them that making mistakes is part of life, and you can also teach them to share their feelings rather than bottling them up. Good communication is key, and story-telling will build your communication.
Your wine style?How to manage your way through a wine dinner, party or at a restaurant?
What are you supposed to do, and more important, what are you not supposed to do at a wine dinner? Taking cues from different connoisseurs, authors, wine festivals and experiences from different hosted wine parties and wine dinners across the world, here are the simple steps for personal awareness and appreciation at a wine dinner or at a restaurant:
Scan the menu or list of available wine bottles. Read the labels, locale and specialties.
Confidently hold the glass by the bottom rim or the stem. Hold all wine glasses this way (unless you are going for specialties or even a cognac :)
Ask the server for the wine of your choice with an assertive approach. You can point to the wine label/ bottle and say "I would like to the taste this wine". This method will allow you to escape the unpronounceable names, which frequently appear.
Slowly begin to rotate your wrist in a circular motion while holding the glass by the bottom rim. The wine will immediately begin to move around the sides of the glass.
With your nose firmly planted in the glass, begin to inhale slowly and deliberately. Remove your nose - dive in again. Do this two - three times.
Tasting the wine - Bring air into your mouth by sucking in, while the wine is in your mouth. This will cause the wine to tumble and fall all round your mouth. Take another sip for confirmation of your selection or order.
Wine tasting (often, in wine circles, simply tasting) is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onwards. Modern, professional wine tasters (such as sommeliers(wine steward) or buyers or retailers) use a constantly-evolving formal terminology which is used to describe the range of perceived flavors, aromas and general characteristics of a wine. More informal, recreational tasting may use similar terminology, usually involving a much less analytical process for a more general, personal appreciation.
Wine Tasting stages (For Evaluating wines you buy):The results of the four recognized stages to wine tasting:
appearance
"in glass" the aroma of the wine
"in mouth" sensations
"finish" (aftertaste)
– are combined in order to establish the following properties of a wine:
complexity and character
potential (suitability for aging or drinking)
possible faults
A wine's overall quality assessment, based on this examination, follows further careful description and comparison with recognized standards, both with respect to other wines in its price range and according to known factors pertaining to the region or vintage; if it is typical of the region or diverges in style; if it uses certain wine-making techniques, such as barrelfermentation or malolactic fermentation, or any other remarkable or unusual characteristics.
Whereas wines are regularly tasted in isolation, a wine's quality assessment is more objective when performed alongside several other wines, in what are known as tasting "flights". Wines may be deliberately selected for their vintage ("horizontal" tasting) or proceed from a single winery ("vertical" tasting), to better compare vineyard and vintages, respectively. Alternatively, in order to promote an unbiased analysis, bottles and even glasses may be disguised in a "blind" tasting, to rule out any prejudicial awareness of either vintage or winery.
Learning how to taste wines is a straightforward adventure that will deepen your appreciation for both wines and winemakers. Look, smell, taste - starting with your basic senses and expanding from there you will learn how to taste wines like the pros in no time! Keep in mind that you can smell thousands of unique scents, but your taste perception is limited to salty, sweet, sour and bitter. It is the combination of smell and taste that allows you to discern flavor.
Look: Check out the Color and Clarity: Pour a glass of wine into a suitable wine glass. Then take a good look at the wine. Tilt the glass away from you and check out the color of the wine from the rim edges to the middle of the glass (it's helpful to have a white background - either paper, napkin or a white tablecloth).What color is it? Look beyond red, white or blush. If it's a red wine is the color maroon, purple, ruby, garnet, red, brick or even brownish? If it's a white wine is it clear, pale yellow, straw-like, light green, golden, amber or brown in appearance?
Still Looking. Move on to the wine's opacity. Is the wine watery or dark, translucent or opaque, dull or brilliant, cloudy or clear? Can you see sediment? Tilt your glass a bit, give it a little swirl - look again, is there sediment, bits of cork or any other floaters? An older red wine will often have more orange tinges on the edges of color than younger red wines. Older white wines are darker, than younger white wines when comparing the same varietal at different ages.
Smell:Our sense of smell is critical in properly analyzing a glass of wine. To get a good impression of your wine's aroma, swirl your glass for a solid 10-12 seconds (this helps vaporize some of the wine's alcohol and release more of its natural aromas) and then take a quick whiff to gain a first impression.
Still Smelling: Now stick your nose down into the glass and take a deep inhale through your nose. What are your second impressions? Do you smell oak, berry, flowers, vanilla or citrus? A wine's aroma is an excellent indicator of its quality and unique characteristics. Swirl the wine and let the aromas mix and mingle, and sniff again.
Taste:Finally, take a taste. Start with a small sip and let it roll around your mouth. There are three stages of taste: the Attack phase, the Evolution phase and the Finish.
The Attack Phase, is the initial impression that the wine makes on your palate. The Attack is comprised of four pieces of the wine puzzle: alcohol content, tannin levels,acidity and residual sugar. These four puzzle pieces display initial sensations on the palate. Ideally these components will be well-balanced one piece will not be more prominent than the others. These four pieces do not display a specific flavor per se, they meld together to offer impressions in intensity and complexity, soft or firm, light or heavy, crisp or creamy, sweet or dry, but not necessarily true flavors like fruit or spice.
The Evolution Phase is next, also called the mid-palate or middle range phase, this is the wine’s actual taste on the palate. In this phase you are looking to discern the flavor profile of the wine. If it’s a red wine you may start noting fruit – berry, plum, prune or fig; perhaps some spice – pepper, clove, cinnamon, or maybe a woody flavor like oak, cedar, or a detectable smokiness. If you are in the Evolution Phase of a white wine you may taste apple, pear, tropical or citrus fruits, or the taste may be more floral in nature or consist of honey, butter, herbs or a bit of earthiness.
The Finish is appropriately labeled as the final phase. The wine's finish is how long the flavor impression lasts after it is swallowed. This is where the wine culminates, where the aftertaste comes into play. Did it last several seconds? Was it light-bodied (like the weight of water), medium-bodied (similar in weight to milk) or full-bodied (like the consistency of cream)? Can you taste the remnant of the wine on the back of your mouth and throat? Do you want another sYou can use it too!ip or was the wine too bitter at the end? What was your last flavor impression – fruit, butter, oak? Does the taste persist or is it short-lived?
After you have taken the time to taste your wine, you might record some of your impressions. Did you like the wine overall? Was it sweet, sour or bitter? How was the wine's acidity? Was it well balanced? Does it taste better with cheese, bread or a heavy meal? Will you buy it again? If so, jot the wine's name, producer and vintage year down for future reference.
Credits to different websites and experienced connosieurs who guided me, these simple techniques helps me for hosting wine parties as well as selectign and evaluating personal wine choices.
How do you know when a wine has gone off - at home or in a restuarant?
The most common problem is a "corked wine". This results in a musty, mildew smell. It often also occurs with poorly made corks. Oxidisation is another common fault.
The term "corked" is used to describe a bottle of unopened wine that has gone bad. Please note that, every so often you are going to get a bottle of wine that is spoiled, also depending on the area where people have varied knowhow of wine keeping. This is mainly caused by a bad cork. The cork is bad from the start and will “turn” the wine.
In some instances the winery may be responsible for tainted wine. The combination of certain chemicals used in a winery may combine with bacteria to produce an off odor in the wine.
You can also spoil an unopened bottle of wine by aging and storing the wine improperly. A high temperature is usually the culprit in this case.
Once you open a bottle of traditional corked wine, it will only last a couple of days even under the best of conditions.See my previous posts on how to store it.
First smell the wine when you open it. You can smell it right from the bottle or from the glass.
If is wine is corked, it will smell exactly like wet cardboard. The smell can range from faint to strong.
The color of the wine in the glass may also tip you off. White wines can get a dark or off color of yellow; reds can have a brownish tinge.
Put the cork back on the bottle and if convenient return it to where you purchased it.
If you are at a restaurant and the wine is corked, you will need to tell the waiter immediately. If you're not sure, ask the waiter to smell it or take a taste.
What does keeping and serving the wine in "Room temperature' mean? especially In India?
Red winesshould be served cool (18 degree centigrade). In India, with our tropical room temperature, which is around 30 degree centigrade is not suitable.
To get the red wine down to this temperature, simply put it in the lower part of the fridge for an hour; or if you have left it there overnight, take the bottle out and stand it for an hour before serving.
White wine and sparkling wineshould be served cold but not chilled to the bone, a few degrees away from freezing, and kept chilled in an ice bucket.
If you have to chill Champagne or white wine really quickly (i.e you have forgotten to do it earlier), prepare a large bucket with tons of ice and cold water and dunk it in there for 20-30 minutes.
Should I finish the whole bottle once it is opened?
The latest world wide trend, is screw caps on wine bottles.(Please note that earlier, screw caps were associated with cheap wines, which is not the case now. Change in perception is occuring based on scientific research)
Studies have indicated that there is much less spoilage with screw caps than traditional corks. Once you oprn a screw capped wine bottle, you can empty left over wine into a well washed small glass bottle with a tight screw cap leaving no gap for any air. The wine generally last a week or so like this in a fridge.
With a traditional cork bottle, you will have to consume the wine very quickly after opening. Glass cork fillers are available, but in my usage and experience, not so effective to keep in room temparature.
How should I store a bottle of wine? Store in a cool, dark place (like the bottom of a cupboard) wrapped in newspaper to keep the temperature constant, without moving them around too much. If they have corks, lie them down horizontally.
How should one hold the wine glass? Traditionally, always from the base or teh stem so that the warmth of your hand doesnot affect the temperature of the wine.
Anti-cervical cancer vaccines are a rage now in India - with hefty advertising budgets, effective medical executives convincing doctors and doctors themselves turning advocates! The vaccine is usually administered to girls as they enter their teenage years. And it is estimated that as much as 70 per cent of reported cervical cancers are believed to be caused by the human papilloma virus. The vaccine claims to prevent infection with certain species of HPV.
After coming under fire in Rajya Sabha on April 22, 2010, the government put on hold clinical trials of anti-cervical cancer vaccine HPV in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, even while stating that death of six vaccine-administered tribal girls in the two states could not be attributed to the medicine. The health ministry on April 22, forcefully denied the allegation levelled by the opposition that Indian girls are being used as guinea pigs for anti-cervical cancer vaccines!
Four of the 14,091 girls given the vaccine in Andhra Pradesh had died, while two of the 10,686 vaccinated girls died in Gujarat, Health Minister Mr Azad said but added prima facie no connection between these deaths and vaccination had been established.
Defending the large-scale clinical trial under which 24,000 girls in the age group of 10-14 years were permitted to be given human papilloma virus(HPV) vaccine in the two states, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said it had become imperative as 76,000 of the 1,32,000 girls suffering from the cervical cancer had died in the country in 2006 alone, fearing the number of sufferers would go up by a lakh every year. Secondly, the permission for phase IV clinical trial of the HPV vaccine was given only after phase III trials had been conducted in more than 100 countries, he added.But at the same time the Minister said Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat governments had been advised not to carry out further vaccination until a committee set up by the Union Government to probe alleged ethical violations in the trials submitted its report.
Marxist leader Brinda Karat, who raised the issue of death of six tribal girls during the clinical trials through a calling attention motion in the House today, demanded that the government induct experts in the panel set up by it to probe ethical violation, if any, in the allowing the clinical trials by a US-based non-governmental organisation(NGO) -- PATH. She strongly objected to the government allowing the phase IV trial based on a study carried out on just 110 children by foreign pharma companies not registered in India.
The two HPV vaccines (GARDASIL) were allowed for clinical trial in the country in accordance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and these are available in the market. However, a US-based NGO, PATH, was granted permission to carry out an operational research on these vaccinations in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh and Vadodara in Gujarat.
Theoretical excitation and Medical Conspiracies Two common instances even you would have experienced: It is a common observation that most of the commerce graduates are inspired of theoretical business gains and setup business establishments soon after studies, but get to reality with their hands burned, from real experiences different from theory! Another case is, most of my doctor(english medicine) friends, advocate/subscribe to anti-pregnancy tablets in the initial years of marriage, especially important for doctors to complete their studies etc and later we had seen that they are bound to have problems with normal pregnancy later on!
You also know, how pharma companies made money with WHO(World Health Organisation) over rating the criticality level for the disease! Now its upto you to relate the story!
These days, who would need a special occasion to savour champagne / wine?
Introduction - Why you need to read this? Earlier people used to prefer it with cheese, right kind of food and for special occasions! It is gaining popularity now and essential etiquette training for developing world like using spoon and fork - if you are not already familiarised and initiated into appreciating wine by a knowledgeable counterpart or a well travelled friend/family member.Read on to know more and equip yourself - compiled from my own experiences, readings from several wine connoisseurs and books, several wineyard visits and guidance from knowledgable friends across the world. Also have some recommendations for you to try your hands on and to develop your own opinions!
Background and emerging culture Traditionally in western world, connoisseurs, 'culteratti', party goers, celebrations and romantic lovers are said to thrive on Champagne and caviar. France, Italy, Germany,Austria, Swiss, California .... have specific regions where aroma and the taste of the land gives recognisable distinction.Now emerging developing worlds like China and India also have a growing community of wine connosseurs and focus on distinct wine areas.
Champagne Champagne is the sparkling wine made only in the Champagne district of France from the three locally produced grapes(Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) by the traditional 'in bottle' method of secondary fermentation and has been the 'food of love' for at least the past 200 plus years. 'Champers' used to be sweet and qualified from a wide-brimmed wine cup; preferences now a days are for a drier style('Brut'), drunk from fluted glasses (so that the bubbles can be seen and the aroma appreciated). Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial may be the champagne with the highest sales worldwide (Indian retail price approx. Rs.4000/-), but vintage Champagne like Krug or Dom PErignon go for upwards of Rs.15000/- and the most expensive variants touch the stars.
Sparkling wines Sparkling wines are made all over the world. Most countries have just plain 'Methode Champenoise' or 'Methode Traditionalle' - mostly good stuff, generally sold at lower prices! (Once imported in India, this too gets expensive for common man and middle class romantics!)
Indian sparkling wines have been around for 25 years plus: from the pioneer Indage's Marquise de Pompadour' to teh Sula Brut, and now Zampa Soiree(formerly 'Zampagne', till the Champagne lawyers took the company to court).
Cava (Spain) Cava brands Codorniu and Freixenet are selectively availale in hotels and supermarkets (depends on the listing by beverage corporations / interested importers with license)
Sekt (Germany) Sekt labels Henkell Trocken(dry) and Deinhard is available on retail shelves in metro cities like Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi etc.
Porsecco and Spumante (Italy) Martini & Rossi is an Italian multinational alcoholic beverage company primarily associated with the Martini brand of vermouth and also with sparkling wine (for example, Asti Spumante). It also produces the French vermouth, Noilly Prat.
White wine First things first, why is "white" wine, not white at all, but yellow, golden or straw-like in color? Its color can be derived from an assortment of grape varietals. White wines are made from the grape juice and grape skin of green, gold or yellowish colored grapes or from just the juice (not the skin) of select red grapes (as in some Champagnes).
Types of White Wine A quick reference to the major types of white wine varietals.
Albarino
Chardonnay :- Flavor Profile: Chardonnays boast an impressive range of flavors from the expected buttered, oak overtones to the fresh, fruit flavors of apple, pear, tropical, citrus and melon, leaving a lasting palate impression. Food Pairing:Chardonnay will pair well with poultry dishes, pork, seafood or recipes that have a heavy cream or butter base. Also consider pairing unoaked Chardonnay with guacamole, garlic, salads, grilled shrimp or even curry dishes. With a long and distinguished following, Chardonnay enjoys a very versatile image, with vintners offering a broad range of styles and structures. From rich, buttery Chardonnays that boast power and presence to the unoaked fruit-forward Chardonnays that allow the varietal character and expression to be in the spotlight, this white wine is capable of accomodating most palates and just as many food pairing combinations.
Chenin Blanc
Gewurztraminer
Gruner Veltliner
Kerner
Müller-Thurgau
Pinot Blanc
Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio
Riesling: Riesling wines originated in Germany's Rhein and Mosel river valleys, it was here that this white grape gained its tenacious foothold in today's modern white wine market. A Riesling wine can span a broad range of styles, being produced in both dry to sweet variations as well as light to full-bodied.
Sauvignon Blanc
Recommendations: 1. Pickup from Germany: Beeren Auslese Rheinhessen (little sweetish it is made from selected grapes coming from Germany's Rheinhessen region.)
Red Wine Why are red wines "red," why do bigger glasses work better for serving red wines and what is the difference between a light-bodied red wine and a full-bodied red wine?
Types of Red Wines Some of the most common red wines that you are likely to encounter are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Chianti, Barolo, Barberesco, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Shiraz, Sangiovese, Malbec, Tempranillo, Grenache, Bordeaux, and Côtes du Rhône.
Rose Wine Rose wines are not made from roses but from red grapes, with the period of skin contact being restricted, and the wines produced in a lighter, sweeter, and low alcohol style (than red wines).Because of this, Rose wines are teh colour of love(light pink to deep salmon), and tend to be aromatic, light, not-dry wines that can be had either by themselves as an apertif or matched with a variety of Indian and Oriental dishes. However you would see that most newly initiated Indian consumers play safe when choosing wines and hence ignores Rose wine. Some of the recommendations are:
Sula Blush Zinfandel (approx Rs. 600/- in Bangalore)
Grover Shiraz Rose (approx Rs.500)
York Winery's Zinfandel Rose (Rs. 500)
Wine Rating Scales
Oechsle in Germany
Klosterneuburger Mostwaage (KMW) in Austria
Baumé scale (occasionaly used in France and US wines)
German wine industry and Classification system 'Prädikat' Today any consumer of German wine is familiar with the Prädikat, a classification system which describes, albeit imperfectly, the style of wine in the bottle. From a single plot of land we might expect a myriad of styles, ranging from dry to sweet, perhaps bone dry, perhaps botrytised; all very different, although all labelled remarkably similarly, save for the Prädikat. Two centuries ago, however, the wines would have been more extensively blended, more completely fermented, and thus more full bodied and richer in alcohol, although probably not in residual sugar. These were very different wines, still potentially very respectful of the terroir(obviously depending on how they were blended), but importantly creating a more readily identifiable house style than the wines of today. Most wines exported from Germany will be of Qualitätswein mit Prädikat (QmP) quality, which from the 2007 vintage has been shortened to Prädikatswein, and this is the top classification level. There are lower categories, including Tafelwein (equivalent to Frenchvin de table), and one step up is Landwein (perhaps equivalent to French vin de pays). In general there are no wines of interest in these categories.The next step up are theQualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA) wines. A key difference between the QbA and QmP categories is that the former may be Chaptalised, whereas the latter may not legally be manipulated in this way. All may be subject to the addition of süssreserve, however, akin to the dosage in Champagne, so there is always an opportunity for blatant manipulation at some point!
It is the QmP wines that, as the name suggests, bear one of the Prädikat categories on the label. The Prädikat describes the character of the wine in the bottle but, as I stated earlier, it does this in an imperfect way. This is because the Prädikat is determined not by any characteristic of the finished wine, but rather by the concentration of sugars (must weight) in the must (grape juice) that was fermented in order to make the wine. It stands to reason that a must rich in sugar will produce a sweet wine, as not all of that sugar will be converted to alcohol by the fermentation process. For lesser must weights, however, the fermentation will have a more significant impact on the style of the final wine. There are no limits on levels of alcohol or residual sugar in the final wine, so two wines with the same concentration of sugar prior to fermentation may taste quite different afterwards, depending on how much of the sugar has been converted to alcohol. A full fermentation may produce a dry wine, richer in alcohol, whereas a more traditional approach may yield a wine with less alcohol but more residual sugar, producing a sweeter style.
Vintages also have a significant effect, as in a very warm year such as 2003 and perhaps even 2005, the grapes are harvested in a healthy, ripe condition and the must weight will be higher than in lesser vintages. As a result, those wines labelled as Kabinett may be made from juice with a must weight far in excess of that legally required for this category, and thus the wine will taste unusually rich for a Kabinett. It may even meet the legal criteria for a Spätlese, but be bottled and labelled as a Kabinett, perhaps because the wine does not meet the standards the winemaker wishes of his Spätlesen, or because this is the only way to ensure the estate's portfolio still includes a Kabinett for those that wish to buy at this level. So there are problems, but the system is ubiquitous, and even crops up in Austria although many wines there simply declare themselves to be Qualitätswein, and can be assumed to be dry. In Germany here are six Prädikat levels in usage; the first three are made from grapes with a progressively higher must weight, and range from off-dry to very sweet. The next three levels are always intensely sweet, and are produced using methods described in my guide to sweet wines. It is not necessary to remember any of the details regarding required must weight for the six levels of the Prädikat (although I have presented them below), merely the order in which they sit, and also to appreciate that the values for different regions overlap - so that before fermentation a Mosel Auslese, to give just one example, might have had the same must weight as a Pfalz Spätlese. Broadly speaking (very broadly), requirements are more stringent the further south the vineyard, so that the Rheingau, Pfalz and Rheinhessen classifications demand a higher must weight than the Nahe, which must in turn be higher than the Mosel (including the Saar and Ruwer).
As a starting point, wines classified as QbA must reach 51 Oechsle for the Mosel (which from 2007 is the catch-all term to describe what was previously known as Mosel-Saar-Ruwer) and Mittelrhein, 57 Oechsle for the Nahe and Rheingau and 60 Oechsle for thePfalz and Rheinhessen. The Prädikatsweins, are as follows from the winedoctor's regionalguides gives:
Kabinett: In theory this is the lightest prädikatswein. As indicated above, however, in ripe years this category may well be produced from grapes that are easily of Spätlese quality. The minimum required Oechsle values are 70 for the Mosel, Mittelrhein and Nahe and 73 for the Pfalz, Rheingau and Rheinhessen.
Spätlese: This translates literally as 'late harvest', the extra time spent on the vine being the reason for higher sugar concentrations prior to fermentation. The minimum required Oechsle values are 76 for the Mosel and Mittelrhein, 78 for the Nahe and 85 for the Pfalz, Rheingau and Rheinhessen.
Auslese: This means 'selective harvest', and these wines are made from selected bunches, taken late in the harvest, that have higher sugar concentrations than spätlese. The principle of harvest later to produce a richer style of wine, possibly even a very sweet wine, is described in my article on the late harvest style. The minimum required Oechsle values are 83 for the Mosel and Mittelrhein, 85 for the Nahe, 92 for the Pfalz and Rheinhessen and 95 for the Rheingau.
Beerenauslese: The term beerenauslese translates as 'selected grapes', and refers to wines produced from grapes individually selected for the purpose. The grapes are generally dehydrated by botrytis, the basis for the world's greatest sweet wines, including Sauternes and Tokay. The minimum required Oechsle values are 110 for the Mosel and Mittelrhein, 120 for the Nahe, Pfalz and Rheinhessen and 125 for the Rheingau.
Trockenbeerenauslese: The term trockenbeerenauslese means 'dry berry selection', and refers to the individual grapes which have been shrivelled to a dry state by botrytis, and consequently selected for this wine. The minimum required Oechsle values is a heady 150 regardless of the origin of the wine.
Eiswein: Meaning literally 'ice wine', these wines are made from grapes which have been left on the vine well into winter, and have been frozen prior to picking. The principles involved in the production of these wines, common in Germany and increasingly so in Canada, are explained in my eiswein article. Here it is the method of production that is more important than the Oechsle rating value.
So, start with the recommendations for various occasions - casual, party or food pairing. Happy and responsible drinking, even checking for the risk of calories, age impact and health benefits! :)
You want to know about the medicines prescribed by your doctor, its side effects, recommended dosage, contra indications, sp, int, adr etc. Also, how many times you were shocked and made frantic calls to see that the doctors prescription in hand, doesnot specify exact gms /unit of medicine to be bought? This is serious, if you cannot get a clarification from the doctor who prescribed accessible at all!
Here is a helpful tip and steps: (to be used wisely, in case professional help is not available for you)
Ask the pharmacist to give you the medical directory book(it is called CIMS book, as I have seen it in Indian drug stores).
See prescribed drug brand name under the yellow pages(namely, Albhabetical Brand Index) of CIMS book and get the page number listed there against the drug name.
Goto this pagenumber in the CIMS book and see the drug name listed under its generic (chemical / pharmaceutical) name.
You can read about this drug then to see the usage, recommendations, side effects, dosage, ci, sp, int, adr etc.
Check together with the pharmacist or a doctor, if possible.Even otherwise, you could use this as you use the dictionary and get very useful information.
Here is the online Website with free registration: cimsasia.com .
Incase, if you already have the tablet / medicine in hand, see the chemical name and search in internet for the same. But registering for free in this website and checking would give you more precise information.
Sharing this information, as I learned it from a doctor at a crucial time when we needed help.Hope it will be useful for you as well. Do share in your comments and experiences.
Christmas, commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.It is celebrated on December 25. Christmas Day is an annual holiday is a fascinating miscellany of traditions: one that combines pre-Christian pagan rituals with modern traditions. Every family that celebrates Christmas has its own customs--some surprisingly universal, others entirely unique--but all comfortably familiar in their seeming antiquity.
Scroll down till end of this article and briefly see the headings to understand what different terms means with respect to Christmas celebration worldwide and locally. Read what is interesting and informative for you!
Why Christmas is also known as Xmas? The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning "Christ's Mass". It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038."Cristes" is from Greek Christos and "mæsse" is from Latin missa (the holy mass). In Greek, the letter Χ (chi), is the first letter of Christ, and it, or the similar Roman letter X, has been used as an abbreviation for Christ since the mid-16th century.Hence, Xmas is sometimes used as an abbreviation for Christmas.
Thanks Giving Day:
Fourth Thursday in November in the United States; second Monday in October in Canada; commemorates a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag. Normally, this kickstarts the mega sales and winter shopping period till Christmas and New year.
Boxing Day:
First weekday after Christmas.Boxing Day is a bank holiday or a public holiday in the United Kingdom, US, Australia, Canada, Germany, Greenland, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and countries in the Commonwealth of Nations with a mainly Christian population. In South Africa this public holiday is now known as the Day of Goodwill. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon tradition giving seasonal gifts to less wealthy people and social inferiors. Until their distribution, these gifts were stored in a "Christmas box", which was opened on December 26, when the contents were distributed. In the United Kingdom, this was later extended to various workpeople such as labourers and servants.
Epiphany/Three Kings' Day/Twelfth day:
Twelve days after Christmas; celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus. Celebrated on January 6th.
Yuletide /Christmastide:
Period extending from December 24 to January 6.
Xmas in Russia
Most Christian Russians belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church, and it is customary to fast until after the first church service on January 6, Christmas Eve. The church in Russia still uses the old Julian calendar, therefore their Christmas celebration is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar that we use. Xmas in Russia: In pictures
Christmas Eve dinner is meatless but festive. The most important ingredient is a special porridge called kutya. It is made of wheatberries or other grains which symbolize hope and immortality, and honey and poppy seeds which ensure happiness, success, and untroubled rest. A ceremony involving the blessing of the home is frequently observed. The kutya is eaten from a common dish to symbolize unity. Some families used to throw a spoonful of kutya up to the ceiling. According to tradition, if the kutya stuck, there would be a plentiful honey harvest.
For many Russians, a return to religion represents a return to their old roots and their old culture. Throughout Russia, after Christmas Eve services, people carrying candles, torches, and homemade lanterns parade around the church, just as their grandparents and great-grandparents did long ago. After the procession completes its circle around the church, the congregation re-enters and they sing several carols and hymns before going home for a late Christmas Eve dinner.
Popular Greetings in different languages
English: Merry Christmas
Finnish: Hyvää Joulua
French: Joyeux Noel
German: Fröhliche Weihnachten
Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År
Spanish/Chile/Argentine: Feliz Navidad
African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats
Arabic: Milad Majid
Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal
Bengali: Shuvo Naba Barsha
Brazilian: Feliz Natal
Chinese: (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast
Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie
Portuguese:Feliz Natal
Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Malayalam: Kristhumas Mangalangal!
Christmas : Religious - economic -social impact
December 25 is chosen as Jesus Birthday to correspond with either the day exactly nine months after some early Christians believed Jesus had been conceived, a historical Roman festival,or the date of the northern hemisphere's winter solstice, as rightly mentioned in online Wiki.Christmas is central to the Christas and holiday season, and in Christianity marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days.
Although traditionally a Christian holiday, Christmas is also widely celebrated by many non-Christians, and some of its popular celebratory customs have pre-Christian or secular themes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, music, an exchange of greeting cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various decorations; including Christmas trees, lights, garlands, mistletoe(see picture of the plant leaves in the christmas holly below), nativity scenes, and holly. In addition, Father Christmas (known as Santa Claus in some areas, including North America, Australia and Ireland) is a popular mythological figure in many countries, associated with the bringing of gifts for children.
It is traditional in Finland to bring candles to the graves of loved ones on Christmas Eve and All Saints Day.In Finland people usually take a Christmas sauna. The tradition is very old. Unlike on normal days, when going to sauna is in the evening, on Christmas Eve it is before sunset. This tradition is based on a pre-20th century belief that the spirits of the dead return and have a sauna at the usual sauna hours.
Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world.
Christmas Crib
It is the custom in many churches to set up a Crib (or Creche) scene of the Nativity or birth of Jesus. The first scene of this type was set up by St. Francis of Asissi in the 13th century. They have been very popular in Italy ever since then, and the custom has spread to other countries.Nativity scenes can be large with life-sized statues, or they can be tiny enough to fit in a matchbox. They are made of many different things including carved and painted wood, brightly coloured ceramics (pottery), painted paper glued to boards, and mixtures of material with clay, wood, cloth, straw and metal used for different parts.
Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas or the original name Yule. The Christmas tree is often brought into a home, but can also be used in the open, and can be decorated with Christmas lights (originally candles), ornaments, garlands and tinsel during the days around Christmas. An angel or star is often placed at the top of the tree, representing the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity.
Ginger Bread House
To the days following Christmas, Christmas decoration are put up, and gingerbreads and saffron buns are baked, often homemade. Many people also make gingerbread houses out of lebukchens. Christmas dishes and meals are always served on Julbord (Christmas table).
Lebukuchen(german for love+ cake) is a hard, chewy or brittle Christmas cookie, usually flavored with honey and spices and containing nuts and citron.
Christmas Star
From December 1st onwards, christians will have a star lit infront of their houses. The age old custom is based on the The Star of Bethlehem, also called the Christmas Star, which is a star in Christian tradition that revealed the birth of Jesus to the magi, or "wise men", and later led them to Bethlehem. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the magi were men "from the east" who were inspired by the appearance of the star to travel to Jerusalem. There they met King Herod of Judea, and asked where the king of the Jews had been born. Herod then asked his advisers where a messiah could be born. They replied Bethlehem, a nearby village, and quoted a prophecy by Micah. While the magi were on their way to Bethlehem, the star appeared again. Following the star, which stopped above the place where Jesus was born, the magi found Jesus with his mother, paid him homage, worshipped him and gave gifts. They then returned to their "own country".
Santa Claus and north pole address Rovaniemi
Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas/Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or simply "Santa", is a legendary figure who, in many Western cultures, brings gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24 or on his Feast Day, December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day).The legend may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. A nearly identical story is attributed by Greek and Byzantine folklore to Basil of Caesarea. Basil's feast day on January 1 is considered the time of exchanging gifts in Greece. While Saint Nicholas was originally portrayed wearing bishop's robes, today Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. 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 says that he lives at his house on the North Pole, while Father Christmas is often said to reside in the mountains of Korvatunturi in Lapland Province, Finland. Santa Claus lives with his wife Mrs. Claus, a countless number of magical elves, and eight or nine flying reindeer. Another legend of Santa says that he makes a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice") and that he delivers presents, including toys, candy, and other gifts to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh.
Writing letters to Santa Claus has been a Christmas tradition for children for many years. These letters normally contain a wishlist of toys and assertions of good behavior. Some social scientists have found that boys and girls write different types of letters. Girls generally write longer but more polite lists and express the nature of Christmas more in their letters than in letters written by boys. Girls also request gifts for other people on a more frequent basis. Many postal services allow children to send letters to Santa Claus pleading their good behavior and requesting gifts; these letters may be answered by postal workers or other volunteers. Canada Post has a special postal code for letters to Santa Claus, and since 1982 over 13,000 Canadian postal workers have volunteered to write responses. His address is: Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada, H0H0H0. (This postal code, in which zeroes are used for the letter "O" is consistent with the alternating letter-number format of all Canadian postal codes.) Sometimes children's charities answer letters in poorer communities or from children's hospitals in order to give them presents that they would not otherwise receive. In Britain it is tradition to burn the Christmas letters on the fire so that they would be magically transported by the wind to the North Pole. However, this tradition is dying out in modern times with few people having true open fires in their homes. Recently however, national postal service Royal Mail revived the tradition by giving "Santa Claus" a special address: Santa/Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, SAN TA1.Father Christmas, North Pole, SAN TA1.
For 2009, an alternative has been used:
Through the years Santa Claus of Finland has received over eight million letters. He gets over 600,000 letters every year from over 150 countries. Children from Great Britain, Poland and Japan are the busiest writers. The Finnish Santa Claus lives in Korvatunturi but Santa's Official Post Office is situated in Rovaniemi at the Arctic circle. His address is: Santa Claus, Santa Claus Village, FIN-96930 Arctic Circle, Finland.
Children can also receive a letter from Santa through agencies such as Santa ThePenPal. Parents can order a personalized "Santa letter" to be sent to their child, often with a North Pole postmark. The "Santa Letter" market generally relies on the internet as a medium for ordering such letters rather than retail stores.
Santa Claus and his reindeer'Rudolf':
Santa Claus's reindeer are a team of flying reindeer traditionally held to pull the sleigh of Santa Claus and help him deliver Christmas gifts. The commonly cited names of the reindeer are based on those used in the 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, arguably the basis of reindeer's popularity as Christmas symbols, where they are called Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, and Dunder and Blixem.Dunder was later changed to Donder and — in other works — Donner, and Blixem was later changed to Blitzen.The subsequent popularity of the Christmas song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" has led to another reindeer name joining the popular roll-call.
According to this story, Rudolph's glowing red nose made him a social outcast among the other reindeer. However, one Christmas Eve Santa Claus was having a lot of difficulty making his flight around the world because it was too foggy. When Santa went to Rudolph's house to deliver his presents he noticed the glowing red nose in the darkened bedroom and decided it could be a makeshift lamp to guide his sleigh. He asked Rudolph to lead the sleigh for the rest of the night, Rudolph accepted and returned home a hero for having helped Santa Claus.Rudolf
In Finland, one of my favourite dishes is Rudolph meat :)
Nativity Story: The Nativity of Jesus, or simply The Nativity, refers to the accounts of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospels and in various apocryphal texts.
Apocrypha:14 books of the Old Testament included in the Vulgate but omitted in Jewish and Protestant versions of the Bible; eastern Christian churches (except the Coptic Church) accept all these books as canonical; the Russian Orthodox Church accepts these texts as divinely inspired but does not grant them the same status.
Advent: Advent (from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming") is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday.The Eastern churches' equivalent of Advent is called the Nativity Fast, but it differs both in length and observances and does not begin the church year, which starts instead on 1 September. Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a reminder both of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting of Christians for the second coming of Christ.
Advent Calendar:The progression of the season may be marked with an Advent calendar, a practice introduced by German Lutherans. At least in the Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican calendars, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25, the Sunday between November 27 and December 3 inclusive. 25 days of fasting or abstinence from one's lavishness or addictions say Drinking, smoking, non-vegetarian food. Normally the money saved will then be used for charity.Many churches make use of Advent wreaths during this season, with one candle representing each of the four Sundays of Advent. The rose candle is lit on the 3rd Sunday of Advent. During Christmas Day, four white candles are used.
Advent Calendar is a gift with 25 small surprise pockets numbered 1 to 25, each with a different shaped chocolate.Children open each box and get the surprise from Dec 1 to 25.
Christmas Special Food
Christmas Cakes
Christmas Puddings
Christmas Bird - Chicken,Duck or Turkey
Christmas cookies - Ginger cookies
Christmas Mince Pies
Christmas Chocolates
Christmas Wine and Drinks
Christmas Candles(for candle lit dinner :)
Christmas Carol: Joyful religious song celebrating the birth of Christ. Children from different wards of a parish church gather to form a team to go around houses, singing christmas carols.One of them acts as Christmas Father (Santa Claus) or take turns to act as one.Offerings will be given by parishioners and usually children on christmas nights eagerly look forward to this.
Christmas Gifts: One of the things that make Christmas special is the spirit of giving. As children we can’t wait for Christmas morning to open presents. Men look for just the right gifts for women. Women usually shop for men, their own children as well as others, and for family and friends.
You could buy Advent Calendars with chocolates, Christmas decorations, souvenirs, Christmas Cakes and Wines for your family, relatives, colleagues, friends and children.
Christmas activities for Parents and Children:
Decorating the house and yard with christmas light and star
Buy or Gift an 'Advent Calendar' with chocolates for kids - 1 surprise a day till Dec 25
Decorating the Christmas tree with family and children
Prepare and decorate the Christmas Crib with family and children
Send christmas greetings to personal & official network - email/sms/e-greeting
Christmas party for children and friends - gifts are kept below the Christmas tree
Christmas Carol - participating and receiving the carol home
Midnight mass for December 24th night
Santa's surprise gifts for children when they wake up on Xmas morning
X'mas special food together with all family
Merry Christmas!
Enjoy and spread cheer! Recollect about learnings and good memories from past year. Spend a relaxed vacation and cheerful time with family. Get rejuvenated and ready for a happy and prosperous new year!
Search sneham.in