celebration

Feb

2021

10 Fascinating Facts About the Chinese New Year

Reading Time: 3 minutes

No matter where you are in the world, you have probably heard or even witnessed the Chinese New Year celebration. This is not surprising at all. About 1/6 of the world’s population celebrates Chinese New Year each year. What is the Chinese New Year? How is it different from the regular New Year celebration? Here are 10 fascinating facts about the Chinese New Year that you should know.

1. Date Changes

Unlike the regular New Year’s day in the Gregorian calendar which is observed every first day of January, the date of the celebration of the Chinese New Year varies every year. The date is based on the lunar calendar. In contrast to the Gregorian calendar which is based on the position of the sun; the lunar calendar is based upon the cycle of the moon. Because of this, the Chinese New Year is normally celebrated between January 20 to February 20 of each year.

2. Use of Animals to Represent a Year

There is a 12-year cycle in the Chinese Zodiac. An animal sign represents each year. The Chinese believed that the attributes of the whole year is based on the animal’s characteristics and living habits. For 2021, it is the year of the ox. An ox is hardworking. Hence, it is believed to be a year where people need to work harder to be able to accomplish anything.

3. A 15-Day Celebration

Although this year’s celebration may be different because of the pandemic, normally the Chinese New Year is a 15-day celebration. Also known as the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year is celebrated until the 15th day of the Lunar month. During the festival, the Chinese people welcomes spring and everything it represents – planting, harvests and new beginnings. There are parties, fireworks, parades, red lanterns and the iconic dragon dances everywhere. It ends on the Lantern Festival.

4. Everything is in Red

Red is an auspicious color. It symbolizes good fortune, success, wealth and happiness. This is why the Chinese decorates everything in red from the lanterns to the paper arts. They also prefer wearing red during the festivities.

5. Giving of Red Packets

Red packets/envelopes containing cash are given to children, grandchildren or employees as New Year’s gifts. The red envelope symbolizes blessings and good luck. It is a tradition for those who are already earning money to share their blessing with others. Only even number of bills are allowed inside the red packets.

6. Day with Most Fireworks in the World

People welcome the coming of the New Year through fireworks. The purpose of the fireworks is to ward off evil spirits and bad luck. It is a tradition that dates back over 2,000 years ago. People then were trying to scare Nian, a monster through fireworks. Based on the legend, Nian goes out to eat the villagers and destroy their houses every spring.

7.Largest Annual Human Migration in the World

The spring festival is all about family reunions. Before the pandemic, millions of Chinese around the world go back to their ancestral homes during the festival. All members of the clan should be at home just in time for the Chinese New Year dinner. The Chinese call this phenomenon the Chunyun meaning spring migration.

8 . Singles Sometimes Hire Fake Girlfriends/ Boyfriends to Bring Home

Producing offsprings is one filial obligation that the Chinese take seriously. It is very important matter for the family that some single Chinese who are of marrying age are pressured to bring even a fake girlfriend or boyfriend back home to introduce to the family as a temporary solution to their dilemma.

9. List of Taboos

There are things that one should not do during the Chinese New Year:

No eating porridge. Porridge is a sign of poverty.
No washing of hair and clothes. It washes good luck away.
No cleaning and throwing out of garbage. It sweeps wealth away.
No black and white clothes. They are unlucky colors.
No lending or borrowing money. It leads to debt.
No use of sharp objects like scissors and knives. They cut wealth.
No bad words like “death” and no arguing. It attracts negative things.

10. Everyone’s Birthday

On the 7th day of the celebration is “Human Day” or Renri. It is the day on which the Goddess Nu Wa created mankind. Considered as a common birthday for all human beings, everyone gets to be a year older on this day.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 02.06.2019

Photo by mentatdgt from Pexels

Dec

2020

Celebrating Christmas

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Christmas is an annual Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ every December 25. For many, it is the most wonderful time of the year. But more than the Christmas parties, decorations, lights, gift-giving and festivities, Christmas is all about traditions. But did you know that there are also some unique ways on how other people celebrate this holiday season? Here are some fun facts in celebrating Christmas.

1.Christmas at KFC in Japan

Millions of people in Japan celebrate Christmas with a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. It all started way back in 1974 when KFC launched a marketing campaign called Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii. In English, it means Kentucky for Christmas. Getting a KFC dinner means placing your order weeks in advance otherwise, you will have to wait in line for hours just to get a bucket of KFC chicken.

2.Krampus Tradition in Austria

Krampus is a half-goat, half-demon beast-like creature which was created as a counterpart to St. Nicholas. For Catholics, St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children and magical gift-bringer. He is more commonly known as Santa Claus around the world. Santa rewards nice children with gifts during Christmas. Krampus on the other hand, beats children into being nice.

Krampus appears the night before the feast of St. Nicholas. Men dressed up as Krampus and roamed the streets of Austria. They wore masks with animal skins holding long sticks with bells tied to them so that children can hear the clanking through the darkness. Their purpose is to create fear among the children.

3. Norway Hides All Brooms on Christmas Eve

In Norway, some people hide their brooms on Christmas Eve. This is because they believe that evil spirits and witches come out on Christmas Eve and look for brooms to ride on. Thus, they hide their brooms before going to sleep lest they get stolen.

But whatever way you celebrate Christmas, let us not forget its true meaning. Christmas is a celebration of God’s love to mankind. It is the season for love and great joy.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
– John 3:16-17

Merry Christmas everyone!

Dec

2020

Christmas Parties While Socially Distanced

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Are you participating in Christmas parties while socially distanced this year? The holiday season doesn’t seem to be complete without the presence of our loved ones. A family reunion is always anticipated at this time of year but we may have to skip this annual tradition. In a time of social distancing, traveling for a holiday reunion is not only inconvenient. It is also risky to the health of you and your loved ones.

Fortunately, we can let our creativity solve this dilemma. Since most of us have been working from home, why not do the same for our annual get-togethers? Check out these 8 ways to enjoy socially distanced Christmas parties.

Countdown Party

While the whole family can’t go out and enjoy the usual light shows and countdown parties; you can hold the event from the comfort of your own homes instead.

Have all family members go online at the same time and count down the seconds as you welcome Christmas Day. You can also do this for the New Year too! For more fun, you can watch an online Christmas light show together and join in on the countdown.

Decorating Party

Many of us may still be working before Christmas Eve and don’t have time to actually do some decorating. Get together with friends and loved ones who are in the same boat and do a decorating party.

Be sure to take pictures of your decorations and send to each other afterwards. Also, don’t forget to take a group shot of your virtual party with your completed decorations in the background. If you and your friends have just recently started working from home; you can showcase each other’s workspace instead.

Drinking Party

For those us who just want to enjoy the holidays with an abundance of our favorite beverage, then a drinking party is in order. Invite your drinking buddies to this party and have fun together.

Stock up on your favorite drinks and engage in your usual drinking session. Chat away the night with funny jokes, anecdotes and stories. Stock up on food that you usually eat with your favorite drinks too. Just make sure that none of you gets so drunk that you fall asleep. You do have to stay sober to enjoy this virtual activity. Then again, this is a fun anecdote to remember for your next drinking party. Don’t forget to prepare some hangover remedies too to comfort yourself the next morning.

E-Caroling Party

Parties are sometimes not complete without the background of jolly Christmas songs. Why not make an event out of it and give away prizes to winners too?

Setup a virtual get-together and have different families or groups of teens and kids sing their Christmas songs in order. Family elders can be the judge of each performance. Of course, everyone may end up winning but that’s even more fun!

Karaoke / Videoke Party

Is karaoke or videoke a popular past time in your family? If everyone has one in their homes, then get together for your own music festival of sorts.

Setup the karaoke / videoke machine and take turns singing your favorite songs to each other. No karaoke or videoke? Just go online and sing along to your favorite artist. Make sure that you don’t hog the mic all to yourself though and let others take their turn. Each singer can dedicate their song to another family member. This is an endearing way to apologize to someone too. Sing them a song that truly reflects your sorrow at not being able to talk to them. Tell them how much you appreciate them thru your choice of song.

Noche Buena and Media Noche Party

Food is always the star of the holidays so why not virtually showcase each other’s holiday goodies? Bonding over your favorite food is always a nice way to connect with loved ones.

Make the party extra special by cooking your favorite goodies and sending some to other family members. You can also go online and order for them instead. You can also swap recipes and cooking secrets as you enjoy each other’s special foodie treat. Don’t over indulge though. Keeping yourself healthy during the holidays is one gift you need to give to yourself.

Sweater Party

Are ridiculous and funny Christmas sweaters a part of your family tradition? If so, why not host a Christmas Sweater Party and see who bags the funniest or ugliest sweater?

You can add your own categories and have your grandparents or older family members, or even the kids, be the judge. For more fun, have the participants introduce themselves in the character or theme of their sweater.

Unboxing Party

Have you sent out your gifts to everyone in the family this year? If so, why not schedule an unboxing of each other’s Christmas gifts. You can raffle off the order of who will open theirs first. You can schedule this on Christmas day.

The good thing about this unboxing is that both the giver and the receiver can say their intentions and give their thanks as the gifts are being opened. You can even share anecdotes on how you decided on the gift or share funny stories on how you finally found it.

These are just some of the Christmas parties that you can enjoy while socially distanced with your family and friends. We’re sure that you already have other ideas in mind as you browse through this list. With virtual parties, you can still spend time with your family while saving up on travel costs.

Whatever type of virtual party you decide to do; just make sure to keep everything light and fun. Don’t forget to be grateful for the blessing of being able to spend happy times with your loved ones this holiday season and in the new year.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Eugene Zhyvchik on Unsplash.

Dec

2020

Avoid Overspending This Holiday Season

Reading Time: 2 minutes

It’s the Christmas season once again. Christmas is a big cultural and religious event as Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is about celebrating love and joy with families, friends and loved ones. But, it has also become a huge commercial phenomenon as people spend so much money on gifts, parties and new things. Although Christmas celebrations and parties may be different this year compared to the previous years because of the new normal, it is still easy to fall prey to consumerism. To avoid starting the new year with piles of debt, here are a few tips on how to avoid overspending this holiday season.

1. Set up a Christmas budget and stick to it.

First of all, you should have created a plan even before the Christmas season even began. Plan on how much you can afford to spend on gifts, food, events, travel, decorations, clothing, etc. Once you have it, by all means stick to it. Don’t be tempted to buy a more expensive gift for your loved one just because it’s Christmas. If it is way above your budget, it simply means you cannot afford it.

2. Track your spending.

The easiest way to make sure you are spending within your budget is to track your expenses. Write down everything you are spending on a daily basis. Just record all the items you have spent and compare them to your budget. Do this on a daily basis. It will take some time and effort on your part but it will serve as a reminder to help you stay on track.

3. Be creative with your gift giving.

You don’t need to spend a fortune for your gifts. Be creative. There are so many Christmas gift ideas for less. You can give them something handmade or cook for them. It is kind of cliche but it’s the thought that counts. What is important is that you remember them during this holiday season.

4. Look for Deals.

Most stores over holidays deals this Christmas season. Buy these items because they are normally offered on discounted rates.

5. Pay cash.

Never ever use your credit card if you think you won’t be able to pay the full amount due in January. Instead, always pay cash so as to not get carried away with your purchases. Don’t be a victim of paying more than your actual purchase by paying fees and interests in your credit card.

6. Don’t overspend on yourself.

Once you are done with your Christmas shopping, go home. Don’t expose yourself to temptation by lingering in the store. The displays are there to lure you into buying them. By going home, you are preventing yourself from buying unnecessary things.

7. Entertain for less.

If you plan on hosting a Christmas party, skip those costly dinner parties by telling your guests to do potluck. Don’t put the burden of preparing for all the food yourself. And besides, until this pandemic is over; it is still not advisable to hold gatherings most especially if it is done indoors.

8. Get better deals after Christmas.

If you can postpone giving yourself or even other people a gift after Christmas, then by all means do so. Stores normally start selling items on discounts the day after Christmas because they need to clear their inventory for new ones for the coming year. By shopping after the holidays, you will get larger discounts for the items that you want.

First Published in Pinoy Smart Living on 12.04.2018

Feature Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Dec

2020

How to Stay Healthy This Holiday Season

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Are you wondering how you can stay healthy this holiday season? It’s that time of year again when we are hunting for gifts and looking forward to receiving them. We are busy planning on what treats to cook up for the Christmas and New Year celebration. This is a time where we can indulge our cravings for our favorite foods; while bonding with our loved ones and close friends.

This is also the time of year when most people tend to throw out any diet plans. We cross our fingers and just promise ourselves to start over again in the new year. But indulging in the holidays doesn’t mean you should forget about your health. Here are some tips that you can follow to keep you healthy during the holidays. This way, you don’t need to work too hard on your health resolutions for the new year.

1. Keep moving

We know you won’t be able to say no to most party invites. This is a time to catch up with friends and family after all. You can still keep up your exercise routine beforehand or after. You can at least offset all the sitting that you have to do during long, family meals.

Is there cooking involved? Volunteer to do the shopping so you don’t have to spend the whole day just sitting. You will just end up being tempted to keep eating afterwards. You can also play some music and do some dancing to encourage other people to keep moving as well. This is one way to keep yourself, and your loved ones, healthy this holiday season.

2. Don’t shop when you’re hungry

This applies to your grocery shopping for the whole year. But this is even more critical during the holiday season. This is the time when all the good-looking and special food treats are out for display. Make sure to eat your meal or get a snack first before going to the grocery store. This prevents you from the temptation to buy more than what you need to.

A grocery list is always handy. With a list, you are not tempted to wander the isles looking for what you might need. This also means that you can keep to your healthy choices and stay on budget.

3. Pick healthy substitutes

Stick to your healthy choices to ensure that you eat delicious but still healthy food. Stock up on healthy alternatives and your favorite spices to make your cooking experience a fun one. This means less worries on digestive issues and weight issues in the coming new year.

Check out this guide on how to stretch your food budget for tips on healthier alternatives to some food items. Being mindful of what you put into your body helps ensure that you can stay healthy this holiday season.

4. Keep only healthy snacks

To be able to stick to your healthy routine, you need to be ready at all times. Be sure to keep only healthy snacks around the house so you won’t be tempted to indulge in unhealthy treats. For example, if you love snacking on chocolate; then keep chocolate around but be sure it is dark chocolate with a high cocoa percentage. 60% and above is considered healthier than the usual milk chocolate which also has added sugars.

Other snacks you can opt for are nuts and oatmeal bars. Carry these snacks on your purse or bag too. You will have a healthy snack ready to grab when hunger pangs come up.

5. Portion control

Have a light snack before going to a party. This ensures that you do not over eat. Plus, you can keep a good conversation going with your colleagues and friends instead.

If you can’t eat a light snack beforehand; then be sure to eat mindfully and watch what and how much you eat. In a buffet, take only as much as you think you can eat. Avoid the temptation of piling up food on your plate. Get a little of everything you like and take a taste of each. You can always go back for a second helping of whatever food treat you like. Make sure that you eat different foods from these major food groups to maximize their health benefits.

6. Eat slowly

The holiday season is a celebration of all the blessings we have received the whole year. It should be celebrated with an attitude of gratefulness. One way to show this attitude is to eat slowly and mindfully. Learn to appreciate the food you are eating; where it came from and how it came to be on your table.

Eating slowly also ensures that you are able to feel how full you already are so you do not overeat. Instead you can pay attention to the other people around your table as you enjoy your food.

7. Stay hydrated

The holiday season may mean cold weather but that shouldn’t be an excuse to forget keeping yourself hydrated. Drink hot tea or hot chocolate if you can’t stand cold water in cold weather. Keep a thermos with you so you always have a hot drink on hand. Keeping yourself hydrated is one of the most important things you can do to stay healthy this holiday season.

Another way to make sure you get your adequate intake of liquids is to have a soup with your meals. They can be warm and hearty like the comfort foods our mom cooked for us when we were younger.

8. Minimize the sugar

All the sweet treats will be out on the shelves and cooking in the kitchens this holiday season. Be sure to mind your portions and eat in moderation. Avoid over indulging in sugary treats as much as possible.

Sugar is the number one cause of weight gain. You don’t want to waste all the workout you did. Go for the veggie side dishes and eat fruits for dessert instead of the cupcakes. If you have to, find a friend to eat half of it.

9. Go easy on the booze

It is said, that beer can be a healthy drink if taken once in a while. Other beverages such as sodas and wine do have a lot of sugar content in them so don’t over indulge. Sip slowly and drink double the amount of water to your booze right after.

Minimizing on the booze not only means that you stay healthy. It also means you don’t suffer a hangover the morning after. You also avoid any of the unpleasant consequences you might get into when you let go of being sober.

10. Get enough sleep

The holiday season also means lots of party invites and a lot of sleepless nights. But it doesn’t have to result in fatigue on your part. Make sure to schedule your party nights so that you can still get some rest the next day.

Maybe only go to parties on a weekend. Pick the party where you will see most of your friends.

You don’t need to go to all the parties that each friend invites you to. After all, you won’t be an enjoyable companion if you’re struggling to stay awake throughout a party. Having good sleep ensures that you can stay consistent with your morning routine. Don’t forget these daily healthy habits too.

We hope these tips help to keep you healthy during the holidays and the coming new year. These should keep you sober enough to actually be up until midnight on Christmas and on New Year’s eve. Happy holidays!

Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 12.16.2018

Featured Image: Original Photo by picjumbo.com from Pexels.