International Women’s Day (March 8): As part of Women’s History Month, International Women’s Day celebrates women from all across the globe and the different contributions and achievements they have made throughout history. As a historical occasion, recognizing women’s contributions through the years can provide more insight and detail about the development of our world overtime.
Working Moms Day (March 12) : Working Moms have a job 24/7: they go to their paid job in the morning to afternoon and then spend the rest of the day taking care of their kids and families. As part of this holiday, taking the time to honor them with even a small gift or thank you can mean everything.
The First Day of Spring (March 20): Spring signals the start of new beginnings and growth. Take this spring to start over and fresh, as you step into the new season.
National Puppy Day (March 23): Who wouldn’t love an adorable puppy? For those of you with your own dog, this is the perfect day to give them the time of their lives, whether that’s hanging out at the park or gifting them their new favorite toy. And for those of you who don’t, local pet shelters are always available when looking at places to volunteer or adopt!
National Epilepsy Awareness Day (March 26): Epilepsy is a brain disorder which can cause seizures. While treatments are available, the condition cannot be cured, meaning that it is even more important that we take the time to remember the struggles they experience and be considerate towards them.
The moment midnight strikes signifies the end of one era and the beginning of a brand new one. New Year’s is a celebrated moment worldwide, with many celebrations and traditions taking place on the memorable night. These activities can differ though, depending on where you are.
One prime New Year’s tradition is the Times Square Ball Drop in New York City. New Year’s is a spectacle to behold in the Big Apple at the end, and also technically the beginning, of every year. The ball begins to fall at 11:59 PM, and settles at the bottom at exactly midnight, signifying the new year. Before the ball drops, famous singers can be seen performing in Times Square to nearly a million people, all packed in tight to witness the celebration.
In addition to New York, many Latin countries have traditions as well. One example is eating twelve grapes on New Year’s Eve. Each grape represents a wish or resolution for the coming year. Different variations exist with this tradition, including eating them under a table or toasting friends and family with them in a cup. Some other traditions include keeping a cup of water at the entrance to the home, throwing water out into the street, and packing a suitcase full of things and walk around the block, said to bring lots of travel into the new year.
Many Asian countries have New Year’s traditions as well. In Japan, people eat soba – which are long noodles made from buckwheat flour. This tradition is said to bring good luck and longevity in the coming year. In addition to this, Joya no Kane is a Buddhist tradition where temples ring their bell 108 times to clear away negative thoughts and feelings from the past year. China celebrates their own new year’s a few weeks later, and the celebrations last typically 16 days. Traditions for the Chinese include red envelopes, lanterns, bright red decorations and clothing, and fireworks and firecrackers.
Europe also has their own various traditions for the coming of the new year. Some countries in Europe wear red underwear to symbolize good luck, the same reason why Asian countries also utilize a lot of red. In Germany, people drink feuerzangenbowle, eat pfannkuchen, which are essentially pancakes, and watching “Dinner for One” has also become a common sight on New Year’s. In Denmark, smashing plates is a way to welcome a new year of luck and good fortune. The Scottish practice a tradition called “first-footing,” where usually a tall, dark-haired man is the first to enter a home after midnight, bringing shortbread, salt, coal, and more.
Every year, the Mission Viejo Library hosts Santa’s Village in connection to the North Paseo Night Market. And once each year, the library’s Teen Advisory Board hosts the Candy Houses station outside during Santa’s Village. It is one of the busiest and most exciting events for the library and its guests; family, kids, and teens alike.
What is the Candy Houses booth? It’s a fun activity during Santa’s Village that many can participate in (for as long as supplies last!). The members of Mission Viejo Library’s Teen Advisory Board (TAB) help to supply each guest with graham crackers and the candy of their choosing in order for each individual to create their own candy house! The candy houses–based off of gingerbread houses–can be created at tables nearby the booth and enjoyed amongst all ages.
The Candy Houses booth is a great experience for families to bond and have fun. No matter what time you get in line–whether it is your first activity at Santa’s Village or one you stumble across later on–it’s a great and delicious way to spend your time.
So far, the Candy Houses booth has been a success. As the library plans for this event, they order more and more supplies, and yet, it never seems to make it until the end of the night as even more people show up year after year. This year was no exception; despite the mass amount of supplies, we found ourselves still needing more. The line to the booth seems to get longer every time it is hosted which means that (as long as the trend continues) we have to be prepared for even more to come next year!
All in all, Santa’s Village and the Whoville Night Market were a success once again. And just like prior years, TAB’s Candy Houses booth was just as busy and just as fun. If you haven’t experienced it, I highly recommend checking it out next year. It’s open to everyone so don’t be a stranger and enjoy!
It’s almost Thanksgiving, which means the holidays are almost here. If you are looking for activities to do over the holidays, here are some of the best ideas for holiday activities this winter.
1) Go to an ice skating rink.
There are several ice skating rinks nearby in Orange County, including at the Irvine Spectrum. The Great Park in Irvine has one as well, as well as several others nearby. Many of these rinks have other various activities to do as well.
2) Make a homemade wreath.
Making wreaths is another fun activity for the holidays. To make a wreath, first build a bouquet or bundle of plants. Then, either use a wire frame or a wreath base and attach the bouquet to this. Finally, tie the bundles together and decorate your wreath with flowers,
3) Go on a holiday lights tour.
A great activity for the holidays and a family tradition for me has been to go on a tour of holiday lights around the city. In fact, Mission Viejo has a holiday lighting contest with a guide to the best lighted houses in the city. The guide can be found at this link: https://mvactivities.com/all-mvac-events/home-lighting-contest/.
4) Go to a local Christmas event.
Another activity you can do over the holidays is going to a Christmas event. One of the best local events is located in Newport Beach, where there is a parade of lighted boats. It will be held this year from December 18-22. Orange County also has a winter festival in December at the location of the OC Fair.
5) Make ornaments to decorate your tree.
Another one of my favorite holiday activities is making ornaments. It is great for anyone who is interested in crafts, and there are also a wide variety of ornaments you can make, including felt, beaded, paper mache, and salt dough ornaments, all of which can be made easily at home. You can also decorate your Christmas tree and your house with these homemade ornaments as well.
6) Bake holiday treats to enjoy.
Baking holiday treats is also a good idea for the holidays. Cookies always make a great treat, and some cookies that are great to bake over the holidays are sugar, snickerdoodle, and gingerbread cookies. Another great holiday treat and one of my personal favorites is hot cocoa, which is great to make at home.
7) Visit some local Christmas attractions.
There are many great local Christmas attractions to visit in Southern California. The Descanso Gardens in Pasadena has a lighted walk every Christmas, and there are several other local places with lights as well. Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland have Christmas events as well.
8) Play holiday games.
Playing games can also be a fun thing to do over the holidays. One of my favorite holiday activities is to play board games with family and friends. Another activity that is great to do over the holidays is Secret Santa, where you can exchange gifts with family and friends. These are some of my recommendations for the best activities to do over the holidays, so feel free to try them out this winter.
Ramadan is a known Islamic holiday amongst the world, but how is it celebrated and how can you support/help out a friend who is celebrating it?
Let’s start off with an introduction to what exactly it is. Ramadan always begins during ‘Daylight Savings’. It is a 30 day long fasting period, because during the period would be the 9th Islamic month. People might ask, why does the time change every year? Well that is because the month is determined by the moon setting. The moon has be at a thin silver crescent fo the month to begin (symbolizing the prophets attribution to his fast) and at a full moon when the months ends.
Why is it celebrated? Well, its a month for spiritual discipline and the deep contemplation to a person’s relationship to God. Some might like to add that it brings you closer to your family because the meals are usually/supposed to be consumed with close relatives, parents, and/or family members.
During this month you consume your first meal before the first prayer of day (before sunrise), that is called suhoor, meaning consumed early. As your biggest meal,which is when you break that 12-14 hour long fast, at the second to last prayer of the day (after sunset), that’s called Iftar meaning break-fast.
If you know or acknowledge your friends fasting during this months, you should be mindful and not eat or drink around them or at least don’t offer them bites or sips, if you’re having a dinner party or are having a fancy dinner, invite them, and or wish them a “Happy Ramadan” and if its near the end, wish them a “Happy Eid,” as that follows right after for three days.
Amy Leigh Mercree, a best-selling author once said, “Thanksgiving is a joyous invitation to shower the world with love and gratitude,” and I couldn’t agree more. Thanksgiving is a day to express gratitude for all the people and things in your life.
Thanksgiving is observed in various ways by many people. This year on Thanksgiving day, my family made lots of mouth-watering food, such as stuffing, cranberry sauce, and ham! For dessert, we had bread pudding with ice cream a la mode. I know it might not sound like the traditional food most families eat on Thanksgiving, but I enjoy it nonetheless.
But to be honest, no matter what family meals, or fun traditions you attend on Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving is truly an amazing holiday! It is a time to be thankful for what you have and spend time with your family. My favorite part of Thanksgiving is spending time with my family and enjoying the delicious food that we make together. On Thanksgiving, me, my sister, my mom and dad all work together to make an appetizing meal. Sometimes, I don’t just like to celebrate America’s traditional type of Thanksgiving, I like to mix in a little bit of other cultures as well. In our family, because we are part Chinese, we like to include that culture as well.
Many people around the world celebrate Lunar New Year, which creates many different traditions and beliefs about the holiday. This list just shows three out of the many beliefs and traditions that people have surrounding the holiday.
Red Envelopes
During Lunar New Year, the giving of Red envelopes seems to be a constant. Usually these envelopes are filled with money. In Singapore, people give out red with the phrase “Fú” on it, which means good luck. Based on my personal experience, some of the red envelopes will have the zodiac animal of the new year on it.
Eating Traditional Foods
Eating certain foods to celebrate holidays is something that is very common in almost every country, and Lunar New Year is no exception. In Taiwan, people will eat pineapple cakes because pineapple in their dialect loosely translates to the phrase “good fourtune is coming”. In Mongolia, people eat hotpot. The ingredients in hotpot have different meanings, for example, round fishballs are added into the soup because they symbolize good fourtune.
Visiting Family
Almost everybody who celebrates Lunar New Year spends it with their family. Most of the time, people practice these tradtions with their families. Based on what I’ve experienced, people will visit their family for almost the entire day. They will usually go to a temple together. To add, all of the married people in the family give red envelopes to the unmarried people. Around nighttime, everyone will eat traditional foods together for dinner.
Thanksgiving is a widely celebrated holiday in the U.S. taking place every year on the fourth Thursday of November. In fact, 62% of Americans celebrate Thanksgiving at home with their loved ones each year. But are we celebrating something that we don’t really know the full meaning behind? Thanksgiving is a time that most Americans can agree is spent being thankful, which is true. But the story of Thanksgiving involves much more than being thankful for all that we are given.
The story of Thanksgiving first begins in 1620, when a group of 102 religious separatists left their home in search of religious freedom. The pilgrims finally settled in Massachusetts Bay after 66 days on a ship named the Mayflower. From there, the pilgrims began to cultivate and establish the town of Plymouth. The first winter in America was brutal, and many pilgrims suffered from diseases such as scurvy. By March however, they were greeted by an English- speaking tribe of Indians known as the Abenakis. A member of one the native tribes, Squanto, taught the pilgrims how to use and respect the land. In November of 1621, the pilgrims had their first successful harvest and called for a celebration that included their native allies.
This celebration- now referred to as “Thanksgiving”- lasted for three days. Much of the menu of the first Thanksgiving is unknown, but historians rationalize that many of the sweet treats we enjoy at the table today- 400 years after the first Thanksgiving- were most likely not present in November of 1621. Most of the sugar necessary in making these sweets would have been in short supply after months on the Mayflower. Much of the meal, however, was made using native spices that local tribes had used for years before.
So the next time you are sitting around the dinner table with your loved ones enjoying turkey and stuffing, remember the first Thanksgiving, one of harvest and harmony.
Turkey, breaded stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, mashed potatoes, and apple cider? Sound familiar? You got it.
The meal of Thanksgiving is a hearty one, shared with friends and family. You know the star of the meal, the turkey, but have you ever wondered how the first ever Thanksgiving was celebrated? It was nothing like the one we have today, that’s for sure.
You’ve probably heard of the Pilgrims, traveling across treacherous oceans on the famous Mayflower to reach Plymouth, escaping from religious persecution. It all started in 1621, when the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of Thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.
First off, turkey wasn’t the bird of choice for the first Thanksgiving meal. It is suspected by researchers that duck, geese, swans, or a now extinct bird named passenger pigeons would be the main wild bird of choice. It is possible that the birds were stuffed, though probably not with bread. The Pilgrims instead stuffed birds with chunks of onion and herbs.
In addition to wild birds and deer, the colonists and Wampanoag probably ate eels and shellfish, such as lobster, clams and mussels. They had a well-balanced diet, with chestnuts, walnuts, and beechnuts. They also grew beans, pumpkins, and squashes. All this, naturally, begs a follow-up question. So how did the Thanksgiving menu evolve into what it is today?
Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of the popular women’s magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book, was a leading voice in establishing Thanksgiving as an annual event. She is also famous as the author of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Beginning in 1827, Hale petitioned 13 presidents to make it a national holiday. Finally, she pitched her idea to President Lincoln as a way to unite the country in the midst of the Civil War. In 1863, he made Thanksgiving a national holiday, a day to give thanks.
Throughout her campaign, Hale printed Thanksgiving recipes and menus in Godey’s Lady’s Book. She also published close to a dozen cookbooks. Hale is readying women to accept the idea of Thanksgiving, and instructing them what to cook. And the Thanksgiving food that we think of today — including roast turkey, creamed onions, mashed turnips, even some of the mashed potato dishes? You can find them in her cookbook.
Blinking lights, ringing bells, the “Ho, Ho, Ho” of a jolly old man in a red suit. These are little reminders that the holidays are finally here. Christmas is a magical time that gives you a warm feeling every time you think about it. I understand the excitement and joy of Christmas, but should we ignore Thanksgiving all together?
Thanksgiving is a joyous holiday when you get together with your family and say what you are thankful for. Nowadays, many are already in the frenzy of Christmas even before the turkey has been served. Years ago, stores and shops were closed on Thanksgiving, allowing families to enjoy their time together. However, in 2017 so many stores are now open, even on this special holiday.
While families do still sit down at the dinner table to eat turkey and mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving, most do not fully enjoy and understand the meaning of it. It is a time when relatives make it a point to fly home from out yonder just to sit down for one meal. It’s a time when families can be grateful for the plentiful food on their table. It’s a time when you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the time you spend with your family. There is a whole month after Thanksgiving to put up decorations and get ready for Christmas, so put your ornaments away and give thanks to those around you.
Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice 