Well, another year has passed and I will be 6 years old in a few months. The time really goes by fast. My Dada says it goes too fast!

I went back to school today. I had missed my classmates and teacher during our holiday break. I was fun to get back to learning new things.

I had a really great holiday vacation. Our family did many fun things together. I was able to watch some really great new movies but the greatest one was Avatar. I will be doing a review of the movie this week. I didn’t get to see it in 3D but it was still a wonderful experience. Dada is looking for the game for me.

Our new puppies, Sandy and Jerry, are growing up and showing that they are two very different puppies. Sandy is the girl puppy and she is more quiet and doesn’t go to everyone. She usually sits and watches what Jerry is doing. If she doesn’t like it, she will go to Jerry and start pushing and biting him. Jerry is more of a fun puppy. He likes everyone and likes to play. Sandy and Jerry really love each other and they sleep together every night. They, both, like to take baths and they really like to eat chicken and rice and, of course, puppy chow.

We had very good weather during our holiday vacation with no rain. I played outside everyday with my best friend Angelo. Everyone calls him “Angel.” In the evening, I played video games with my big brother.

It was a great holiday vacation. How was your holidays?

Technorati Tags: Avatar, Avatar Movie, Family Pets, Happy New Year, Holiday Vacations, Playing with Friends, Puppies, Video Games

WELCOME NEW YEAR 2009!

BEST WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR

FROM DJ AND FAMILY

Technorati Tags: Happy New Year, New Year 2009, New Year Celebrations

Hi everyone!

Today, we will see how we celebrate New Year’s Eve in the Philippines.

New Year’s eve celebration in the Philippines is quite different compared to other countries. Filipinos literally start the year with a bang.  Just a few days before New Year’s eve, you will see lots of side walk vendors selling different kinds of firecrackers. In spite of the yearly ban on firecrackers,many Filipinos still see lighting of firecrackers as the traditional means to greet and celebrate the New Year eve.

Though the Filipino fireworks industry is about a century old, it is a newcomer in aerial displays. With the new introduction of modern aerial fireworks displays in the country and the recent first World Pro Olympics which took place in The Esplanade at the back of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City from December 26 to 30, this event has raised fireworks to an art form.

December 31 is usually an unofficial public holiday in the Philippines, so people can prepare for the New Year eve celebration. It is a busy day for all families, preparing the food for the Media Noche and people rushing in to buy firecrackers in preparation for the night celebration.

This is the time of the year when children have a good time blowing their plastic toy trumpets called “Torotot” which comes in different shapes and sizes, colors and designs.

Children also enjoy stamping on their watusi – a kind of small firecracker that when rubbed against a rough surface and released, crackles into a little spark dance.

Aside from lighting firecrackers and having firework displays, Filipinos have other beliefs and practices which are associated and believed to bring good luck, fortune, and prosperity in the New Year.

* The noise and the firecrackers are believed to drive the evil spirits away and make the New Year bountiful and blessed.

* You should put coins/money in your pocket so that next year will be prosperous.

* You should open all the windows, doors, and turn on lights so that all the graces will come to your home as you welcome the New Year.

* Some believe that you have to wear polka dots shirts or dresses because it symbolize money. It must have a deep pocket that is filled with money bills and coins and jingled at the stroke of midnight for good luck.

* Some people pay off their debts in the hope that they will not be saddled with debt throughout the year.

* A favorite thing of children to do is to jump twelve times so they will get taller next year. The higher you jump the taller you grow.

The countdown of the New Year varies from family to family or from region to region. At the strike of 12:00 midnight, the noise becomes deafening, church bells rings firecrackers rules the sky, kids gaping in awe as they see the different firecrackers, blooming in the sky. The banging and booming rise to a climax which includes clanging of old pots and pans, blowing jeep, car or tricycle horns, ambulance sirens for one full minute as the countdown to New Year progresses.The loud noises and sounds of merrymaking are not only meant to celebrate the coming of the New Year but are also supposed to drive away bad spirits.

Around 12:15 am, the noise stops and the air clears, the family starts to eat a thanksgiving feast called Media Noche. It is believed that we should put as much food on
the table so that during the next year you will have food all year round. Twelve round fruits should be on the table as it is a sign of prosperity for the next twelve months.

There is also a midnight mass celebration to welcome the New Year and to thank God for all His blessings.

Manigo at Masaganang Bagong Taon Sa Inyong Lahat !!!

A Happy and Prosperous New Year To All !!!

Technorati Tags: New Year 2009, New Year Celebrations Around the World, New Year Celebrations in the Philippines, New Year in the Philippines, Philippines

Hi Everyone!

Today, we will travel to England to see how they celebrate New Years.

In England crowds of people gather in Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus as well as stand around to hear the chimes of London’s Big Ben announces the arrival of the New Year. Everyone stands around with arms linked to sing “Auld Lang Syne.”

In England the custom of first-footing is important. The reason is that it is supposed to ensure good luck for the inhabitants of the house. The first-footer must be male, young, healthy and good looking. He must be dark-haired and he should be carrying a small piece of coal, money, bread, and salt. These are the symbols of wealth.

The custom of exchanging gifts was transferred to Christmas it was originally done at New Year, when the Lord of the Manor was given samples of produce by his tenants and peasants, while he gave a valuable gift to the Queen or King. The Englishman gave their wives money to by pins for the coming year. This Tradition died, but, the expression “pin money” is still used to describe the money set aside for personal use, especially if given to a woman by her husband.

On New Year’s Day children from England and Great Britain rise early to make the rounds to their neighbors singing songs. They are given coins, mince pies, apples and other sweets for singing. This must be done by noon or the singer will be called fools.

The Burning Bush is a nineteenth century custom carried into the early years of this century. In Radnorshire and Herefordshire farmhand would get up early before dawn on New Year’s Day and carry a hawthorn bush to the field. They were burnt in straw on the wheat field. It was a symbol of good luck for the farmers. The bushes sometimes hung in the kitchen until the next year.

In England girls would drop egg whites into water. They thought it would form the first letter of the name of the man they would marry.

Wow, that was real interesting.

Thanks for your visit. See you tomorrow.

Technorati Tags: England, New Year Celebrations, New Year Celebrations Around the World, New Years Celebration in England

Hi Everyone!

This week, we will visit different countries to see how they celebrate New Years. Today, we will start on the continent that celebrates first: Australia.

Sydney leads the world in one of the first major New Year celebrations each year.

Each major city around Australia holds New Year’s Eve celebrations, usually accompanied by a fireworks display amongst other events.

Gloucester Park, a racecourse in central Perth, is the largest and most recognized display in Perth. In Brisbane 50,000 people annually gather at sites around the Brisbane River in the city to watch a fireworks display while events are held in the city and at Southbank.

The two largest New Year’s Eve celebrations in Australia are held in its two largest cities, Melbourne and Sydney. In Sydney the celebrations are usually accompanied by a theme which is displayed in light shows and a large symbol in the middle of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Over 1.5 million people gathered around Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) for the 2007-08 celebrations, making it the largest yet. The firework display was launched from 7 barges on the water, 10 city buildings, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Bradfield Highway. The display stretched over 6 kilometers and lasted around 14-16 minutes, making it the largest New Year’s Eve firework display on the planet. Melbourne’s New Year’s Eve waterworks are set on from the Yarra river and from city rooftops. There is an average attendance of around 300,000 people.

Thanks for your visit. See you tomorrow.

Technorati Tags: Australia, New Year Celebrations, New Years, New Years in Australia