December 13th – Santa Lucia Day – The Story of Saint Lucia stretches back to the time of the Vikings and the Roman Empire. According to legend, Lucia was a brave young woman from the island of Sicily. When Lucia heard about the persecution of Christians by the Emperor Diocletian, she gave one Christian family her entire dowry. This so angered her betrothed husband, that he told authorities that Lucia secretly practiced Christianity. Lucia, who died a martyr’s death, was much admired for her courage, generosity and faith. Viking sailors heard of the story of a young girl living in Italy, who had died for her Christian beliefs. The Vikings, who were also Christians, were so moved by Lucia’s story that they brought it home with them to Scandinavia. The Vikings imagined Lucia to be a shining figure, surrounded by light. In traditional celebrations, Saint Lucia comes as a young woman with lights and sweets. It is one of the few saint days observed in Scandinavia. In some forms, a procession is headed by one girl wearing a crown of candles (or lights), while others in the procession hold only a single candle each.
Archive for November 2009
2nd of 5 reasons other then Christmas to celebrate in December
Saturday, November 28th, 2009
December 12th – Virgin of Guadalupe – This is a day of feasts. She is said to have appeared to Saint Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City between December 9 and December 12, 1531. The Virgin of Guadalupe is a symbol of significant importance to Mexican Catholics. The Virgin Mary in this aspect has been given the title: “Patroness of the Americas and the Philippine Islands”
1st of 5 reasons other then Christmas to celebrate in December
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
December 6th – St. Nicholas Day – Saint Nicholas was renowned for his great kindness and his generous aid to those in distress. Among the kind and miraculous acts attributed to him are saving three young girls from prostitution by secretly providing them with dowries, raising three murdered boys from the dead, and saving sailors caught in stormy seas. For these reasons, he is considered the patron saint of children, unmarried girls, and sailors, among others. Traditional celebrations of Saint Nicholas Day in Northern Europe included gifts left in children’s shoes (the origin of our American Christmas stockings).
Kids & Cultures Taste the World Coupon Book
Thursday, November 19th, 2009
Kids & Cultures has a FANTASTIC Taste the World Coupon Book for sale. It is full of coupons for free samples as well as discount coupons for a variety of cultural restaurants in Lancaster. You get more than $40 worth of FREE SAMPLES and much more in discount coupons when you purchase a meal at one of the participating restaurants. They are a one-of-a-kind book and make a great gift! Go to www.kidsandcultures.com to find out more and to purchase one. Or you can stop by the Kids and Cultures table at the Aternative Gift Fair this Saturday from 10 – 4 to buy one.
Turkey – It’s not just a meat!
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
Turkey is a melting pot of cultures and a bridge between continents. How much do you know about this Western-oriented, rapidly modernizing, and Mediterranean travel destination?
The ancient city of Ephesus (Turkish: Efes), located near the Aegean Sea in modern day Turkey, was one of the great cities of the Greeks in Asia Minor and home to the one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, the ruins of Ephesus are a major tourist attraction, especially for travelers on Mediterranean cruises. Ephesus is also a sacred site for Christians due to its association with several biblical figures, including St. Paul, St. John the Evangelist and the Virgin Mary.
Which of the seven ancient wonders can be found in this city?
This city received its name from the saffron which is native there. The powder obtained from its flower is a very strong dye. Used in very small quantities, saffron adds a delicate flavor, distinct aroma and a very unique color to deserts and other food in the Turkish Cuisine. It is also used for some Turkish carpets as a unique dye. Also unique in this city are the famous Çavus grapes with their extremely thin skin and sweet flavor.
What city gets its name from this well known spice?
Turkish yachts are attractive, traditional wooden vessels. They are hand-crafted from carefully chosen wood, offering high ceilings, wide corridors, spacious, airy cabins and a plenitude of cushioned lounging areas. These vessels have a crew who plan the voyage, navigate and sail the ship and do all the work, including the cooking which may include the fresh catch of the day and cleaning. The captain creates a warm sociable atmosphere, whilst you discover the breathtaking Aegean and Mediterranean coastline. You can help to crew if you wish, but the relaxation of the forward sun deck or snorkeling in the beautiful bays and the delights of a cool and crystal clear sea are far more attractive to most. Few other sailing vessels similar in size can claim this degree of comfort.
What is the name of these wooden Turkish yachts?
The underground cities of Cappadocia are worthy of a visit. Take Derinkuyu for example. The one time home of up to 20,000 people, its 18 stories descend into the Anatolian plateau 50 kms south of Goreme. Stop and think about that for a while. A large, market town sized community digging a settlement out to guarantee themselves a degree of protection. There are 8 floors of tunnels open to the visitor and this is enough to give you an idea of the sensation of living in a labyrinth like this. The ventilation shafts, circular and descending from the surface to the lower levels, bring home the scale of the enterprise while the massive circular doors – which were rolled across the passages and sealed from the inside – remind you of the motivation for moving underground in the first place. Derinkuyu is by no means the only such city you can visit here.
How many of these subterranean cities exist in Turkey?
Find the answers to these questions about Turkey on the blog at www.yourlanguageconnection.com
1. Temple of Artemis
2. Safranbolu
3. Gulets
4. 36