Tomorrow is All Saints Day.

While in many countries, All Saints Day is a solemn holiday set aside to remember the dead, in the Philippines the holiday is a day of festivities. November 1 marks the beginning of the Filipino “Araw ng mga Patay,” the celebration of the Day of the Dead. The celebration continues through the next day, All Souls Day. The two days are traditional Catholic holidays set aside to commemorate all the saints and the souls of the dead. While the holiday remains an important religious day for the Catholic Church, some of the more secular aspects are celebrated by the non-Catholic community.

Here are some of the many activities that happen on this unique day in the Philippines:

* People create a singing group known as pangangaluluwa and go door to door on the eve of All Saints Day. In older days the pangangaluluwa’s purpose was to represent the souls of the dead circulating amongst homes in search of prayers and alms. In today’s Philippines, singers will perform a verse about the souls’ deliverance from purgatory and ask for gifts at the homes they visit.

*Attending the Catholic liturgy Mass at one of the many Roman Catholic churches in the Philippines and saying a novena for deceased ancestors. The prayer is offered in hopes that the dead will be able to find their way through the darkness of purgatory.

*Thousands of Filipino families decorate their relatives’ tombs during the Araw ng mgba Patay. Cemeteries in the Philippines consist mostly of mausoleums instead of grave plots and generations of ancestors are often buried in one tomb. The mausoleums are gaily adorned with balloons and flowers.

*Most Filipinos celebrate the All Saints Feast in the graveyard. Many people will spend all day “with” their dead, having picnics, playing games and telling stories. In the festive atmosphere, it’s not unusual to hear the echoes of children laughing or the clicking of mah jong tiles as people gather together, sitting on the ledges of tombs.

*Parents and relatives bestow edible gifts of kornik and kropek upon children. The toasted corn nuts and crunchy salted snack foods are often eaten during the celebrations. The tradition of eating and roasting nuts is found in the All Saints Day customs across the world. It’s representative of the bounty of the fall harvest which some speculate mirrors the harvesting of souls into Heaven upon this day.

Though the people in the Philippines celebrate and honor the dead joyously, All Saints Day is still a respectful day for commemorating ancestors.

(4 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Technorati Tags: All Saints Day, All Souls Day, Philippines, Religion, Traditions

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Friday is October 31st and that means Halloween is upon us again!

In many parts of the world, Halloween is celebrated by making funny or scary faces on pumpkins and letting children go door-to-door “trick or treating” for goodies and candies. With that comes a special responsibilty for parents to make Halloween a safe and fun time of the year.

Here are some accepted safety tips for Halloween safety:

BEFORE HALLOWEEN:

* Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
* Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
* Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
* Because a mask can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic and hypoallergenic makeup or a decorative hat as a safe alternative.
* When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant.
* Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.
* Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
* Plan ahead to use only battery powered lanterns or chemical lightsticks in place of candles in decorations and costumes.
* Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost. Remind them that 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any phone.
* Openly discuss appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween time.
* Take extra effort to eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Check around your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.

BEFORE NIGHTFALL ON HALLOWEEN:

* A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
* While children can help with the fun of designing a Jack O’ Lantern, leave the carving to adults.
* Always keep Jack O’ Lanterns and hot electric lamps far away from drapes, decorations, flammable materials or areas where children and pets will be standing or walking.
* Plan and review with your children the route and behavior which is acceptable to you.
* Do not permit children to bicycle, roller-blade or skateboard.
* Agree on a specific time when revelers must return home.
* Along with flashlights for all, older children and escorts should wear a wristwatch and carry coins for non-emergency phone calls.
* Confine, segregate or otherwise prepare household pets for an evening of frightful sights and sounds. Be sure that all dogs and cats are wearing collars and proper identification tags. Consult your veterinarian for further advice.
* Remind all household drivers to remain cautious and drive slowly throughout the community.

WHEN TRICK-OR-TREATING:

* A Parent or responsible Adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
* Remind Trick-or-Treaters:
o By using a flashlight, they can see and be seen by others.
o Stay in a group, walk slowly and communicate where you are going.
o Only trick-or-treat in well known neighborhoods at homes that have a porch light on.
o Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
o If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.
o Never cut across yards or use alleys.
o Never enter a stranger’s home or car for a treat.
o Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations.
o Always walk. Never run across a street.
o Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom).
o Remove any mask or item that will limit eyesight before crossing a street, driveway or alley.
o Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will.
o Never consume unwrapped food items or open beverages that may be offered.
o No treats are to be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an Adult at home.
o Law Enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

AFTER TRICK-OR-TREATING:

* Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible Adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
* Try to apportion treats for the days following Halloween.
* Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items that can cause choking (such as hard candies), are given only to those of an appropriate age.

After all is said and done, it is the safety of our children that is most important. Making it a safe and enjoyable experience all at one time is an effort that takes creative parenting.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

(5 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Do you see the success of your fitness efforts as more dependent on physical strength or on the strength of your self-perceptions? Hopefully, it’s the latter.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating you adopt a touchy-feely psychobabble attitude toward fitness. However, I do believe that attitudes and perceptions influence outcomes. And, when you think well of yourself and of your abilities, you can positively influence whatever you’re trying to achieve - including getting into shape.

In contrast, self-appointed barriers can block you from attaining your goals. When it comes to fitness, these barriers can take the form of self-doubts that we repeat over and over in our minds and latch onto as self-prophetic and factual.

“I can’t run three miles,” “I don’t have time to exercise,” or “I’ll never lose this weight” - each make the short list of self-defeating perceptions that help set us up for failure. And other mental barriers such as a lack of motivation, lack of commitment or a lack of “me-time” prioritizing can be just as devastating.

Breaking through mental barriers to reach higher levels of fitness and wellness may seem like an oversimplification, but in truth it’s a process that is crucial to overcoming self-set limitations.

If you want to exercise regularly, eat better or change the present course of your health and wellness, you can begin breaking through barriers that stand in your way by . . .

° Not allowing negative self-talk or put-downs. Keep an arsenal of personal affirmations ready to play and replay in your head. Replace “I can’t walk two miles” with “I did great today! Next time, I’ll go 10 steps farther.” Replace “I am so slow and out of shape” with “Wow! It’s not a world’s record, but I finished the entire course.” This requires you to dissect your day-to-day language, carefully eliminating disparaging thoughts for more enabling ones. At the end of every training session, every workout, every fitness effort, identify something you did well and celebrate that bit of success.

° Not measuring your value or fitness ability by comparing yourself to someone “more” fit than you. Why? Because regardless of who you are, there always will be someone more fit than you and there always will be someone less fit than you. Accept that bit of reality, move on and don’t indulge in distractions that take your focus away from what’s important. Work instead on improving your “personal best” from one workout to the next.

° Remembering that actions speak louder than words. All the positive talk in the world won’t make you leaner, faster, stronger or healthier. Consistency and perseverance in healthy diet and exercise habits are inescapable parts of the big picture. In addition to turning your negative self-talk to positive, you must be committed and consistent in your fitness habits. Your body will reward you by being physically ready to back up your positive outlook with a stellar performance.

° By tracking and logging all your fitness improvements. This will help you to recognize and stay focused on the benefits your fitness efforts are producing. It also will help you stay motivated and committed to making time for your workouts.

Put your “mind to the matter” and give these four barrier-breakers a try. You’ll become physically stronger, improve your overall wellness, and most importantly sharpen your mental fortitude for fitness and, for that matter, any other endeavor you take on.

(5 votes, average: 4.8 out of 5)

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Technorati Tags: Attitude, Fitness, Mind Over Body

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Is childhood really the carefree and happy time that some adults paint it? Not always. The reality is that children are under just as much pressure as the rest of us.

Exams are now taken by children as young as six and seven - and children are only too aware of the importance of academic excellence to parents. But these are not the only stressful occasions for children. Peer pressure and bullying are rife, more families are breaking up, and even time off tends to be a relentless bombardment of noise and image in the form of television and computer games. Stress is neither good nor bad. It assists people in motivation at times but can be paralyzing if it is at too great a level. The degree to which any stress interferes with the well-being varies among children. It is important to assist children in stress-coping early in life, so they can deal with the stresses that are an inevitable part of life.

Parents can help their children cope with stress by keeping in mind the following:

* Do not place undue expectations on your child. In our over-achieving society, too often parents expect their youngsters to excel at everything they do and apply a great deal of (usually well- intentioned) pressure on them to do so. But when stress starts to show itself, it may be time to ask if your expectations are too high.

* Listen to your child when he or she describes stressful events or situations.
Being a good listener will, first of all, reassure your child that you are there with love and support. Moreover, it will help you better understand how you can help.

* Teach your child good problem-solving skills. Demonstrate how to set priorities and accomplish goals by breaking tasks into manageable portions. Improve your own level of organization and avoid being perceived by your children as always harried and rushed. Help your child learn to break big problems into smaller ones that can be dealt with one at a time. Talk with them about how you have handled stressful situations.

* Rehearse stressful situations. If speaking in front of a group or making a phone call to an adult is a cause for stress, it can be helpful to talk it through with your child. Discuss how he or she wants the event to take place, and then go through the situation together in a “trial run”. The chance to practice is helpful, and possible difficulties can be solved together. Most parents have the skills necessary to deal with their child’s stress load. The time to seek professional attention is when any change in behavior persists, or when you have repeatedly tried to resolve the problem and your attempts do not work. If you are unsuccessful after several attempts to get to the bottom of your child’s troubles, see your pediatrician, talk to the people at school or get professional help.

Remember, our children are our greatest and best investment for the future. Raise them with the least amount of stress.

(6 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Technorati Tags: Child Behavior, Children, Parenting, Stress

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Asian flavors make this salad a unique alternative to traditional chicken salad and the light flavors make this a great lunch or dinner. This salad can act as a base, try adding other vegetables,sprouts, and as well the chicken can be replaced by shrimp or scallops.

Serves/Makes: 6 | Ready In: 30-60 minutes

2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 package (8 ounce size) dried rice noodles
1 head iceburg lettuce, rinsed, dried and chopped
4 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and shredded
3 green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted

Directions:

Prepare the dressing 30 minutes ahead of time by combining the brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, salad oil, and rice vinegar.

To prepare the Chinese rice noodles, heat a skillet with a few tablespoons of oil and break off a little bit of the noodles and add them to the skillet a few at a time and fry them. As they begin to puff up, remove and drain them on paper towels. Once cooked, add them to the salad mixture.

In a large bowl combine the iceberg lettuce, cooked and shredded chicken, green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Let chill about 10 minutes, and just before serving add the cooked rice noodles. Serve in salad bowls and serve dressing on the side.

Enjoy!

(7 votes, average: 4.86 out of 5)

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Technorati Tags: Asian Chicken Salad, Chicken, Recipes, Salad

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