Image by Nicole Michalou from Pexels The holidays are just around the corner and invitations have been arriving via email and delivered in our regular mail. So, how do you make sure that you have the best and safest holiday gatherings this year? US culture: Safer ways of showing respect for each other, [...]
Image: by Sharon Schweitzer at Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Japan Japan’s Obon (or Bon) Festival, also known as the Festival of Souls or Lantern Festival, begins August 13 and ends on August 16, 2021. This annual Buddhist three-day festival has been celebrated for over 500 years in Japan and is dedicated to honoring [...]
Image by Sharon Schweitzer (left) with her sister Lisa (right) and her parents in Tampa, Florida Your sister may be your twin, triplet, complete opposite, or a mix of something else! People say you look alike, but you don’t see it. You may have the same preferences or none in common. Your mom [...]
Image: Sharon Schweitzer & girlfriends, Commodore Perry Estate Auberge Resorts, Austin, Texas "We should always have three friends in our lives – one who walks ahead who we look up to and follow; one who walks beside us, who is with us every step of our journey; and then, one who we reach [...]
Image: stock.adobe.com By Lynne Ann Mitchell Some Carnival and Mardi Gras traditions are thriving during the pandemic, with homes being converted into stationary floats and music continuing to play. However, many large-scale events have been canceled or postponed in 2021 to protect the public. What are these holidays? Here is a short explanation: Mardi Gras [...]
Image: stock.adobe.com By Art Stocker Growing up in a Christian family, my five siblings and I celebrated the Lenten season with great pomp and circumstance. We fasted, observed each special day of the season, enjoyed lots of fish sticks, and dressed up for church. We learned to follow family recipes such as seasoning a ham, [...]
Image: stock.adobe.com By Natalia Whether you are in a new relationship, or you have been married for more than 25 years like us, celebrating Valentine’s Day does not have to be expensive or elaborate. It is about authenticity and expressing yourself in a meaningful way in your relationship, at whatever stage that may be and [...]
Image: stock.adobe.com By Sensvector While most Western countries ring in New Year’s Day at midnight on January 1 following the solar calendar, many of our Asian neighbors celebrate New Year’s according to the lunar calendar, which in 2021 falls on February 12th, and is the Year of the Ox. Not just a single day festivity, [...]
Image: Screenshot: courtesy NBC, Parks and Recreation Youtube. Hearts: stock.adobe.com By Vitaliy "What's Galentine's Day? Oh, it's only the best day of the year...ladies celebrating ladies." - Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation Women worldwide celebrate the gal-pal day on February 13th, the day before Valentine’s Day. The holiday was introduced in 2010 through the [...]
Photo from Adobe Stock Images Sending and addressing holiday cards during the pandemic may be a delicate balancing act this year – spreading holiday cheer while simultaneously acknowledging that 2020 has been a challenging year for many people. Typical joyful seasonal greetings may hit an exposed nerve during this nearly year-long Covid-19 experience [...]
