Merry Christmas !!!!!
December 8, 2008 by wilsy
Filed under Art and Culture
My dear friends, I want to wish every single reader of this blog a fantastic Christmas wherever you are and whatever you are doing. Thank you for reading my blog, and thank you even more to all those that regularly get involved and leave comments. Christmas is here and there’s merriment everywhere! It’s time to spread joy and good cheer and bring smiles to faces !Send our warm and beautiful Merry Christmas e-cards and share the wonderful spirit of Christmas with your friends/family/acquaintances/loved ones and wish them a joyous time. Send them wishes for peace, joy and good tidings and make their Christmas a memorable one.
What is Christmas?
Christmas also referred to as Christmas Day or Christmastide, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that marks and honors the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. His birth, which is the basis for the anno Domini system of dating, has been determined by modern historians as having occurred between 7 and 2 BC. The date of celebration is not thought to be Jesus’ actual date of birth. It may have been chosen to coincide with the winter solstice,which the ancient Romans celebrated on December 25.
Modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, church celebrations, and the display of various decorations—including the Christmas tree, lights, mistletoe, nativity scenes and holly. Santa Claus (also referred to as Father Christmas, although the two figures have different origins) is a popular mythological figure often associated with bringing gifts at Christmas. Santa is generally believed to be the result of a syncretization between St. Nicholas of Myra and elements from pagan Nordic and Christian mythology, and his modern appearance is believed to have originated in 19th century media.
Christmas is celebrated throughout the Christian population, but is also celebrated by many non-Christians as a secular, cultural festival. The holiday is widely celebrated around the world, including in the United States, where it is celebrated by 96% of the population. Because gift-giving and several other aspects of the holiday involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, Christmas has become a major event for many retailers.
Christmas is almost upon us! Over the next three weeks leading up to Christmas, I am going to look at things we really, really want Santa to bring and the things which will make our Christmas wonderful!!!
Christmas Box — A small present, especially of money, given at Christmas to the people who deliver the post, milk etc. to your house during the year. Christmas box is a gift given at Christmas. The word originated from Churches used to collect money in boxes for distribution to the poor. This happened the day after Christmas Day and gave Boxing Day its name.
Christmas Cake– A cake containing a lot of dried fruit and nuts and covered with icing, which is eaten at Christmas. Christmas cake is a type of fruitcake served at Christmas time. A Christmas cake may be light or dark, crumbly-moist to sticky-wet, spongy to heavy, leavened or unleavened, shaped round, square or oblong as whole cakes, fairy cakes, or petit fours, with marzipan, icing, glazing, dusting with icing sugar, or plain, etc.
Christmas card– It is a decorated card that you send to someone at Christmas. It’s the time to show your near and dear ones that you care.So gear up and send Christmas Cards to all your friends and family and wish them a Merry Christmas.
Christmas carol– A Christmas Carol in Prose, being a Ghost Story of Christmas , is commonly known as A Christmas Carol. A Christmas Carol was written during a time of decline in the old Christmas traditions. Its also a traditional or religious song that people sing at Christmas
Christmas dinner— Christmas dinner around the world may differ and the traditions present here can reflect the culture of where this holiday is being celebrated. Turkey is featured in almost all of these meals.
Christmas Eve–December 24th, the day before Christmas Day. Usually it is celebrated by staying up until midnight. At midnight, gifts and presents are opened. Fireworks are also shot off. Fireworks are the main focus of the celebration. It is not a silent night, with families coming together exchanging presents and going to church. After Christmas the children often play with their new presents or go to church with their parents and grandparents.
Christmas pudding–A sweet dark food containing dried fruit, which is eaten at the end of the meal during Christmas. Christmas pudding is the dessert traditionally served on Christmas day, although still available and popular throughout the year in Britain. It has its origins in England, and is sometimes known as plum pudding, though this can also refer to other kinds of boiled pudding involving a lot of dried fruit.
Christmas stocking– A large sock which children leave out when they go to bed on Christmas Eve so that it can be filled with small presents. While there are no written records of the origin of the Christmas stocking, there are popular legends that attempt to tell the history of this Christmas tradition.
Christmas tree–A real or artificial fir tree which is decorated with things such as coloured balls and kept in the home at Christmas. A Christmas Tree, less commonly known as a Yule tree, is one of the most popular traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas and Yuletide. It is normally an evergreen coniferous tree that is brought into a home or used in the open, and is decorated with Christmas lights and colourful ornaments during the days around Christmas.
Christmas Wreaths–Christmas Wreaths are made of evergreen plants, such as holly, ivy and pine, which stay green all year. Today, wreaths are still widely used around the world. The origins of the Advent wreath are found in the folk practices of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples who, during the cold December darkness of Eastern Europe, gathered wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires as signs of hope in a coming spring and renewed light. Christians kept these popular traditions alive.
Christmas stars–One of the most important and famous symbols of Christmas is the Christmas Star. The Star of Christmas has been part of human imagination for the past 2000 years. You can find this star atop Christmas trees, cards, cribs and in homes and streets during the Christmas season. The star is not only an ornament but is also a symbol of hope and happiness.
Once again I wish all the readers all the blessings, happiness and love of Xmas!!!!
TEN best FOODS for FITNESS
December 3, 2008 by Ronnie Felix
Filed under Health
Here are your best foods for eating well. These 10 health foods are some of the healthiest because they are a good or excellent source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients; are high in phytonutrients and antioxidant compounds, such as vitamins A and E and beta carotene; may help to reduce the risk of heart disease and other health conditions ; are low in calorie density, meaning you get a larger portion size with a fewer number of calories and they are readily available too.
These tear-shaped nuts are packed with nutrients — fiber, riboflavin, magnesium, iron and calcium. In fact, almonds have more calcium than any other nut — 75 milligrams (mg) in one serving (about 23 almonds). Also, one serving of almonds provides half of your body’s Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin E. Like all nuts, almonds provide one of the best plant sources of protein. And they’re good for your heart. Most of the fat in almonds is monounsaturated fat — a healthier type of fat that may help lower blood cholesterol levels.
Apples are an excellent source of pectin, a soluble fiber that can lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. Fresh apples are also good sources of vitamin C — an antioxidant that protects your body’s cells from damage. Vitamin C also helps form the connective tissue collagen, keeps your capillaries and blood vessels healthy, and aids in the absorption of iron.
Blueberries are a rich source of plant compounds (phytonutrients). As with cranberries, phytonutrients in blueberries may help prevent urinary tract infections. Blueberries may also improve short-term memory and promote healthy aging. Blueberries are also a low-calorie source of fiber and vitamin C — 1 cup of fresh blueberries has 84 calories, 3.6 grams of fiber and 14 mg of vitamin C.
Besides being a good source of calcium, potassium, folate and fiber, broccoli contains phytonutrients — a group of compounds that may help prevent chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Broccoli is also a good source of vitamins A and C — antioxidants that protect your body’s cells from damage.
Red beans — including small red beans and dark red kidney beans — are good sources of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and thiamin. They’re also an excellent low-fat, low-calorie source of protein and dietary fiber. Red beans also contain phytonutrients that may help prevent chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids — a type of fat that makes your blood less likely to form clots that may cause heart attacks. Omega-3s may also protect against irregular heartbeats that may cause sudden cardiac death, decrease triglyceride levels, decrease the growth of artery-clogging plaques, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke. In addition to being an excellent source of omega-3s, salmon is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and is a good source of protein.
Spinach is high in vitamins A and C and folate. It’s also a good source of riboflavin, vitamin B-6, calcium, iron and magnesium. The plant compounds in spinach may boost your immune system and may help keep your hair and skin healthy.
The deep orange-yellow color of sweet potatoes tells you that they’re high in the antioxidant beta carotene. Food sources of beta carotene, which are converted to vitamin A in your body, may help slow the aging process and reduce the risk of some cancers. Sweet potatoes are also good sources of fiber, vitamins B-6, C and E, folate and potassium. And like all vegetables, they’re fat-free and relatively low in calories — one small sweet potato has just 54 calories.
Vegetable juice has most of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients found in the original vegetables and is an easy way to include vegetables in your diet. Tomato juice and vegetable juices that include tomatoes are good sources of lycopene, an antioxidant that may reduce the risk of heart attack, prostate cancer and possibly other types of cancer. Some vegetable and tomato juices are very high in sodium, so be sure to select the low-sodium varieties.
At the center of a grain of wheat is the wheat germ — the part of the seed that’s responsible for the development and growth of the new plant sprout. Though only a small part of the wheat seed, the germ is a highly concentrated source of nutrients, including niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin E, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and zinc. The germ also contains protein, fiber and some fat.
