Scotland          South Korea          Japan          Thailand          Malaysia

1. Valentine’s Day is celebrated in an interesting manner on two different dates. On February 14, females present gifts to their boyfriends or any man close to them. The favor is returned to ladies on the White Day celebrated on March 14 when men pamper the women who gave them gifts a month before on Valentines Day.

As chocolate is the most popular gift for the occasion, days before the festival department and grocery stores stock themselves with chocolates in large variety to lure customers. It is estimated that more than half the chocolate sold in a year is sold around Valentines Day in this country.

2. Their day of love falls on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar when women write their phone numbers on oranges before throwing them into the closest river with hopes that the man of their dreams might pick one up. Fruit vendors often collect the oranges, which are considered a lucky fruit, and resell them at the market—phone numbers and all!

3. During a Valentine’s Day get-together, each single person writes his or her name on a piece of paper, which is then thrown into two hats—one containing the men’s names, and another containing the women’s names. Everyone draws a name, and the couples pair off for the evening. Since it’s unlikely that the names will actually match, the man has to stick with the woman who picked his name, regardless of whose name he picked.

4. The 14th day of every month is dedicated to an aspect of love. For example, May is Rose Day, October is Wine Day, and December is Hug Day. On February 14, women give chocolate to men, and on March 14 (also called “White Day”), men give non-chocolate candy to women. People, who didn’t receive anything on either day, get together on April 14, or Black Day, to eat black bean noodles and lament their singleness.

5. Perhaps the strangest celebration of Valentines Day in the world is the mass Underwater Wedding Ceremony held in Trang province on Kradan Island. Each year on February 14th couples come to Kradan Island in Trang province for a mass underwater wedding ceremony. Throughout the rest of this country Valentines Day is mostly celebrated by the countries teenagers. This does not sit well with the conservative government who have tried to downplay Valentines Day in the past to keep the youngsters from getting together to consummate their love. February 14th is said to be the busiest day of the year for “short time” hotels, which cater specifically to lovers.

Answers

1. Japan

2. Malaysia

3. Scotland

4. South Korea

5. Thailand

In Italy, children will go to bed waiting for a magical being to bring presents, and I don’t mean Santa Claus.

In Italian folklore, an old witch delivers gifts and candy to children on Epiphany Eve (January 5th). Santa’s competitor, La Befana, is usually portrayed as an old lady riding a broomstick, usually covered in soot as she enters homes through chimneys. Very similar to the tradition of leaving cookies and milk for Santa, children will leave wine and food out for the Befana.

Ok — so going along with the Christmas Witch story, here’s one about brooms. There’s a superstition in Norway that advises households to hide their brooms on Christmas Eve. It is believed that witches and evil spirits will rise from the graves and use the brooms to fly through the sky and create chaos until dawn. 

With no further ado, it’s time to crown Spain, Italy and Portugal with the ‘Most Unusual Christmas Tradition’ award! Now we all know The Nativity Story, but who knows the additional character in the Spanish, Italian and Portuguese versions of the story? Cue the Caganer. Accompanying Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and the Shepherds, the Caganer is a small statue of a man, which is often tucked away in the corner of model nativity scenes. So if this extra character is such a unique part of these countries nativity scenes, why is he hid in the corner? Originating from Catalonia, the Caganer figure depicts a man in the act of taking a poop.

Strangely enough, there is no record of the exact origin of this tradition but references date back to the 17th century! It is also unclear why placing a ‘pooping’ man in a classic nativity scene has any relevance to Christmas but it has been suggested that the Caganer represents the idea that God can present himself and call upon us whenever he feels necessary and that he shows we are all equal despite race, gender or age. It has of course developed into a fun game for the children!

Happy Holidays!

Here are our Top 5 Picks for this holiday season!

1. Eat out at one of the many cultural restaurants that are owned and operated by families from other cultures. We have authentic Columbian, Peruvian, Ethiopian, Mexican, Dominican and Puerto Rican restaurants within minutes of our homes. You can have a freshly cooked, delicious meal in a friendly atmosphere for a very affordable price. Be brave and try something new!

2. Attend a cultural workshop offered by teachers and translators of YLC. Celebrate the Vietnamese New Year, play an Ethiopian children’s game, enjoy a meal from the Philippines, or find out more about southern France. You and your family can learn more about the different cultures right here in our own neighborhoods. YLC is offering a variety of  90 minute cultural workshops for all ages.

3. Register for a language class this winter. If you have always wanted to learn a new language or brush up on one you previously learned, now is the time. Tomorrow never comes, so you need to do it today! Learning another language opens up new doors, in business, travel and personal lives. Treat a family member to this unique, fun and educational experience. We have classes for all ages and levels! A language class is the perfect gift for children who do not need more toys and for those adults who are lifelong learners. Register by December 1st to get a $15 discount.  

4. Attend a cultural activity hosted by a church or organization. There are many opportunities for cultural experiences and YLC posts many of these activities on our Blog. There is a Holiday Spanish Dance being held at the Marriott to benefit the Latino Scholarship Fund. The Jewish Community Center has a special Hanukkah celebration that welcomes everyone. There are German and  Italian clubs that provide cultural activities. Kids & Cultures is a non-profit organization that offers activities in local libraries and assemblies for schools. The Red Rose Foundation hosts Turkish Teas regularly. And our very own Taeko Bronner, Japanese teacher, hosts an international dinner weekly. Try a new activity soon!

5. Host an exchange student for a weekend or month. Your family can become a short term respite family for foreign exchange students. Many times the Host families need to go away for personal business or family emergencies and can not take their student along. Families are needed to host these students for a short stay. It is a small commitment with a big payoff. Your family will develop friendships that can last a lifetime and learning about their country and lifestyle will impact your lives in more ways than you realize.

Take some time this holiday season to learn about traditions and celebrations different than your own. You might discover a new way to celebrate!

Activities for ALL Ages – Sign up for one or sign up for all of them!

 International – Fun with Cultures               November 29^th, 6:30 pm or December 13^th, 6:30pm         

 Cultures are fascinating to nearly anyone, and sometimes a bit frustrating when different from our own.  Whether it’s a New Yorker being too direct in Lancaster or an Asian not direct enough, we don’t even realize some aspects of our culture until we come across other ways of looking at things.  In this workshop, we’ll explore cultures of the world through stories, looking at ways cultures differ, and seeing other viewpoints visually.  We’ll also talk about how to help cultural adjustment, yet keep one’s grounding in vital areas without offending others.  Your tour guides will be Scott Bronner, teacher of English as a Second Language at HACC-Lancaster and for 12 years in Japan, and Taeko Bronner, his wife who teaches Japanese through Your Language Connection.  They host a weekly Friday International Gathering that gives plenty of interaction with cultures of the world.  This workshop will be adjusted to the age and experience of those who participate. ($10/adults, $5/children)

 Philippines – Taste the Unexpected!                                                            December 6^th, 6:00 pm

 Learn more about the foods and mealtime culture, while enjoying a complete meal prepared especially for you by chef Gayda, a native of the Philippines. She specializes in Asian cuisine, (Thai, Chinese, Filipino, Indian and Japanese), healthy cooking (organic, use of wholegrain ingredients, etc., vegetarian cooking, across all cuisines), and baking. ($15/adults, $10/Youth, $5/children under

France – The Secrets We Don’t Know!                                          December 8^th, 3:00 pm & 6:30pm

 Discover French Christmas customs and particularly Christmas in Provence, the French Riviera.  Food specialties, crafts and traditions from the south of France will no longer be a secret!  Please join Florence, one of YLC’s French teachers and a native of France, for a fun and unique Culture workshop. ($10/adults, $5/children)

Vietnam – The Dance of the Dragon                                                          December 8^th & 9^th, 6:00 pm

 Come experience and learn with your children the unique and beautiful culture of Vietnam. Learn how children celebrate the New Year. Come taste the different foods that Vietnamese children get to eat during New Year’s week. Laugh and have fun with your children while they try on the dragon costume and learn the dragon dance. 

Ethiopia – The Culture Exposed!                                                                December 29^th, 10:00 am

Learn more about Ethiopia’s history, clothing, food, drinks, crafts, music and games. Ethiopian culture has so much more to offer than what you see on TV. Sample Engera (a soft bread), celebrate Timket (a major holiday), make a craft, play a game and find out what you should wear to a wedding. Almaz has a special way of sharing what so many people do not know about Ethiopia. ($10/adults, $5/children)

Sign up for these workshops TODAY! Contact Michelle Salinas at michelle@yourlanguageconnection.com or 717-371-9144

Would you be interested in others? If so, what countries?

 Once, it used be the colony of Spain and Spaniards ruled over it for about three centuries. The United States bought The Philippines from Spain for $20 million in the Treaty of Paris of 1898. On July 4, 1946, the Philippines attained its independence.

 The Philippines has an American-style democracy, headed by a president who is both head of state and head of government. The president is limited to one 6-year term in office.

The Philippines has a population of more than 90 million people and an annual growth rate around 2%, making it one of the most populous and fastest growing countries on Earth. It is the 12th most populous country in the world. 

The climate in the Philippines is tropical and monsoonal. The country has an average yearly temperature of 26.5°C (79.7°F); May is the warmest month, while January is the coolest. The monsoon rains, called habagat, hit from May to October, bringing torrential rain which is abetted by frequent typhoons. An average of 6 or 7 typhoons per year strike the Philippines. November to April is the dry season, with December through February also being the coldest part of the year.

Ingredients:

4 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided, plus more as needed
3 tablespoons sugar, divided
2 packages rapid rise yeast
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup very warm water (120 to 130 degrees F)
1/3 cup butter or margarine — softened
4 eggs, 1 divided

Directions:

In large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, undissolved yeast and salt. Add very warm water and butter; blend well. Stir in 3 eggs, 1 egg yolk (reserve egg white) and enough remaining flour to make soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cover; let rest on floured surface 10 minutes.

Divide dough into two equal pieces. Reserve one piece. Divide remaining dough into three equal pieces; roll to 12-inch ropes. Place ropes on greased baking sheet; braid. Pinch ends to seal. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 30 to 45 minutes.

Lightly beat reserved egg white, brush on loaves. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.

Bake at 400degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes or until done; switch positions of sheets in oven halfway through baking time. Cover with foil if needed during last 5 minutes to prevent excess browning. Remove from sheets; cool on wire racks.

This recipe from CDKitchen for Braided Easter Bread serves/makes 24