If you are anything like me, you would surely be suffering from stiff shoulders, tense muscles and headaches most of the time. I am proud to announce that I have recently found a way to get rid of this little annoyances - SPA TREATMENTS and AROMATHERAPY! I have long been in love with the thought of relaxing but it is only recently that I have taken time to really be serious about it. While browsing online for the perfect home spa treatment, I came across the various informative sites. Let's take this one site at a time.
Essential Feel Goods - Located in Pennsylvania, they provide a wide variety of aromatherapy spa productswhich visitors could purchase online. You can pay using your credit card as well as PayPal. They deliver worldwide so no worries there for me :). They also provide tips, instructions and whatnot about the latest in spa aromatherapy. And, oh, did I mention that they also have products specifically for men? Now I know what to get my honey this Christmas!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Gifts and The Republika Slovenija
Gifts are usually associated with special occasions – birthdays, anniversaries, feast days. It usually is the thought that counts but sometimes the thought could cost much.
In the heart of Europe lies a small Slavic country known for inexpensive way of giving gifts - Republika Slovenija. Lying in near the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea, Slovenia is one of the cultural crossroads of the European region. Arts and culture has a high place in the hearts of Slovenians and is evident in how they celebrate different occasions.
Known to be food lovers, Slovenians usually give food as gifts. Never missing a chance to prepare their home-made dishes, here are some traditional festivities that Slovenians have where food is exchanged freely as gifts.
Mardi Gras
When one mentions the word Mardi Gras, visions of carnival masks come to mind. Although it is one of the biggest and loudest celebrations in the world, Mardi Gras is more than just a free-for-all street rave. It usually is celebrated on the days preceding Ash Wednesday and is celebrated in places like New Orleans, Brazil and Slovenia.
In Slovenia, Mardi Gras is known as Kurentovanje, a ten-day long celebration of spring and fertility. Kurents, or those that take active part in this celebration, wear sheep skins and highly decorated masks. Food such as fritoli and kroötule are served.
Jurjevanje
Celebrated every April 23, the day of St. George’s martyrdom, Jurjevanje is a pagan celebration about the welcoming of spring. Traditional beliefs point to a connection between the saint as well as one of divinities of the pre-Christian era. During this day, Slovenian boys march in groups, one of them covered in cherry tree bark, going from house to house asking for donation of coins or eggs.
St. Martin’s Day
St. Martin’s Day is celebrated every 11th of November in commemoration of Martin of Tours. It is traditionally believed to be the day when must turns into wine, something that St. Martin was apparently able to do. The must, considered as impure, is baptized by someone, usually the host, dressed up as a bishop. A guest or another family member stands as the wine’s godfather. Goose is served afterwards as well as Mlinci (pasta tatters), an easy to prepare thin, dried flatbread. Food is usually given as gifts.
Christmas Season
Of the total population of Slovenia, more than 50% are Roman Catholics which makes Christmas an important holiday to Slovenians. Gift-giving, which started in Slovenia some 70 years ago, can start as early as December 6 (St. Nicholas’ Day). St. Nicholas’ Day is traditionally believed to be when St. Nicholas would visit homes together with parklji (devils) who scare children who were not well behaved. Slovenians living in the countryside usually give walnuts, hazelnuts and dried fruits as gifts.
This is also the time for koledovanje or carol singing wherein groups of men go from house to house to sing Christmas songs for people. Although virtually extinct, recent moves have been made to revive this practice.
During Christmas Eve, Slovenians light incense in their respective homes and sprinkle holy water inside. Dinner follows consisting of all sorts of goodies, including the traditional potica, Slovenian nut bread especially served during holidays. Family members attend the midnight mass right after the Christmas dinner.
It is also during Christmas Eve that families gather around baker's oven conveniently placed in the corner of the living room.
Due to the incorporation of their pagan beliefs with the Catholic rituals, the Christmas season also became a time to foretell one’s future using various ways like observing fire burns and interpreting images formed by candle wax.
Guests are not particularly welcome on Christmas Day. It is on the following day, December 26 (St. Stephen’s Day) that relatives and guests are expected to come.
As important is the Christmas day to the Slovenians, the days succeeding is also of great significance to them especially to winemakers. Every December 27, St. John the Evangelist’s feast day, winemakers have their best wines blessed and then stored for use during special occasions. Since it was blessed on St. John’s Day, these wines are known as St. John’s Wine. The next day, December 28, Holy Innocents’ Day, is celebrated with the children given freedom, albeit symbolically, to hit their parents without any consequences. This is said to protect the Slovenian adults from their forefathers’ ghosts.
Slovenian Christmas celebrations have changed throughout the centuries with Santa Claus being replaced by Grandfather Frost.
Slovenia also celebrate other meaningful occasions like New Year (Novo Leto), Statehood Day (June 25), Reformation Day (October 31) and Rudolf Maister Day (November 23). Being predominantly Catholic, they also celebrate feast day of saints, Easter Sunday, the Assumption Day and All Saints’ Day. These holidays are celebrated in a fairly quiet manner.
Prešeren Day or Slovenian Cultural Holiday is also celebrated every February 8. Passing without much fanfare, the said holiday commemorates Slovenian poet France Prešeren and the Prešeren Awards as well as the Prešeren Foundation Awards are conferred to outstanding Slovenians in the field of Science and Culture.
Holiday may bring anxiety and stress for some people but Slovenia proves that holidays can really be a time to relax.
In the heart of Europe lies a small Slavic country known for inexpensive way of giving gifts - Republika Slovenija. Lying in near the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea, Slovenia is one of the cultural crossroads of the European region. Arts and culture has a high place in the hearts of Slovenians and is evident in how they celebrate different occasions.
Known to be food lovers, Slovenians usually give food as gifts. Never missing a chance to prepare their home-made dishes, here are some traditional festivities that Slovenians have where food is exchanged freely as gifts.
Mardi Gras
When one mentions the word Mardi Gras, visions of carnival masks come to mind. Although it is one of the biggest and loudest celebrations in the world, Mardi Gras is more than just a free-for-all street rave. It usually is celebrated on the days preceding Ash Wednesday and is celebrated in places like New Orleans, Brazil and Slovenia.
In Slovenia, Mardi Gras is known as Kurentovanje, a ten-day long celebration of spring and fertility. Kurents, or those that take active part in this celebration, wear sheep skins and highly decorated masks. Food such as fritoli and kroötule are served.
Jurjevanje
Celebrated every April 23, the day of St. George’s martyrdom, Jurjevanje is a pagan celebration about the welcoming of spring. Traditional beliefs point to a connection between the saint as well as one of divinities of the pre-Christian era. During this day, Slovenian boys march in groups, one of them covered in cherry tree bark, going from house to house asking for donation of coins or eggs.
St. Martin’s Day
St. Martin’s Day is celebrated every 11th of November in commemoration of Martin of Tours. It is traditionally believed to be the day when must turns into wine, something that St. Martin was apparently able to do. The must, considered as impure, is baptized by someone, usually the host, dressed up as a bishop. A guest or another family member stands as the wine’s godfather. Goose is served afterwards as well as Mlinci (pasta tatters), an easy to prepare thin, dried flatbread. Food is usually given as gifts.
Christmas Season
Of the total population of Slovenia, more than 50% are Roman Catholics which makes Christmas an important holiday to Slovenians. Gift-giving, which started in Slovenia some 70 years ago, can start as early as December 6 (St. Nicholas’ Day). St. Nicholas’ Day is traditionally believed to be when St. Nicholas would visit homes together with parklji (devils) who scare children who were not well behaved. Slovenians living in the countryside usually give walnuts, hazelnuts and dried fruits as gifts.
This is also the time for koledovanje or carol singing wherein groups of men go from house to house to sing Christmas songs for people. Although virtually extinct, recent moves have been made to revive this practice.
During Christmas Eve, Slovenians light incense in their respective homes and sprinkle holy water inside. Dinner follows consisting of all sorts of goodies, including the traditional potica, Slovenian nut bread especially served during holidays. Family members attend the midnight mass right after the Christmas dinner.
It is also during Christmas Eve that families gather around baker's oven conveniently placed in the corner of the living room.
Due to the incorporation of their pagan beliefs with the Catholic rituals, the Christmas season also became a time to foretell one’s future using various ways like observing fire burns and interpreting images formed by candle wax.
Guests are not particularly welcome on Christmas Day. It is on the following day, December 26 (St. Stephen’s Day) that relatives and guests are expected to come.
As important is the Christmas day to the Slovenians, the days succeeding is also of great significance to them especially to winemakers. Every December 27, St. John the Evangelist’s feast day, winemakers have their best wines blessed and then stored for use during special occasions. Since it was blessed on St. John’s Day, these wines are known as St. John’s Wine. The next day, December 28, Holy Innocents’ Day, is celebrated with the children given freedom, albeit symbolically, to hit their parents without any consequences. This is said to protect the Slovenian adults from their forefathers’ ghosts.
Slovenian Christmas celebrations have changed throughout the centuries with Santa Claus being replaced by Grandfather Frost.
Slovenia also celebrate other meaningful occasions like New Year (Novo Leto), Statehood Day (June 25), Reformation Day (October 31) and Rudolf Maister Day (November 23). Being predominantly Catholic, they also celebrate feast day of saints, Easter Sunday, the Assumption Day and All Saints’ Day. These holidays are celebrated in a fairly quiet manner.
Prešeren Day or Slovenian Cultural Holiday is also celebrated every February 8. Passing without much fanfare, the said holiday commemorates Slovenian poet France Prešeren and the Prešeren Awards as well as the Prešeren Foundation Awards are conferred to outstanding Slovenians in the field of Science and Culture.
Holiday may bring anxiety and stress for some people but Slovenia proves that holidays can really be a time to relax.
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