Some interesting info on how Christmas is celebrated around the world.
Read, learn a little and enjoy
Merry Christmas from S3
Christmas trees in the UK were first popularized by Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria; he was German and thought it was a good tradition to bring to England. Letters to Santa are often thrown in the fire place rather than put in the mail, in the hopes that they will fly up the chimney to Santa. Wassailing is an old Anglo-Saxon custom that is unique to the UK, and Boxing Day is a very old custom that started in the UK and is now recognized in many countries around the world.
Netherlands:
Christmas is celebrated over two days in the Netherlands; Eerste Kerstdag (First Christmas Day) on December 25 and Tweede Kerstdag (Second Christmas Day) on December 26, both of which are public holidays. Christmas Day in the Netherlands is not about Santa Claus and reindeer. In fact, the Dutch celebrate Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas Day) on December 5, and this is this day Dutch children get really excited about, as they receive most of their presents on Sinterklaas. Christmas in the Netherlands is about ambiance. People buy Christmas trees, and decorate them with kerstkransjes (Christmas wreath cookies), glass balls, gilded nuts, ribbons, pine cones, frosted bells, and red and white candles. Many people place beautiful Advent star lights in their windows. The main square of every city has its own brightly lit Christmas tree. Twinkling lights shaped like bells and stars, and garlands are strung over many of the charming old streets, adding instant Christmas cheer during the darkest days of the year.
Italy:
The Christmas celebration in Italy begins eight days before the holiday, and lasts until after the Feast of Epiphany. Musical salutes are made at the shrine of the Virgin Mary, and songs are played at the homes of carpenters in honor of St. Joseph. Eight days before Christmas, a special Novena of prayers and church services begin. It all ends on Christmas Day. On December 23rd, children dressed as shepherds go from house to house playing songs and giving recitations. A Yule log, the Ceppo, is burned, while toasts with wine and wishes for the future are expressed. The ceppo is an old “Tree of Light” tradition which evolved to become the Christmas tree in other countries. Instead of Santa Claus, children are expecting La Befana, a good Christmas witch who rides on a broom. In legend, La Befana was asked by the Wise Men and shepherds to join in the journey to greet Baby Jesus; she declined, but later saw the Christmas star and rushed to the scene with gifts, only to find an empty manger. La Befana now rides the night sky on her broom seeking the Christ Child, and when she cannot find him, she leaves gifts for the good children of Italy and charcoal for the others.
Australia:
Christmas in Australia is HOT, and falls in the middle of the country’s summer holiday. Many people celebrate the holiday away from home, in holiday parks, at camp sites, in other countries, or at relatives’ homes. In the weeks before Christmas, Australians decorate their homes with Christmas trees, candles, electric lights, glass baubles, tinsel, snowmen, fake snow and figures of Santa Claus. On Christmas Day, children hope to receive gifts in stockings or under the Christmas tree from Santa Claus. In the weeks before Christmas, they write letters to him with their wishes. In some stories, Santa wears shorts and a loose, brightly colored Aloha shirt, and his sleigh is pulled by six white kangaroos. Many Australians eat a special meal on Christmas Day, consisting of roasted meats and vegetables and heavy fruit cakes and steamed puddings. A small coin is baked inside steamed pudding, and doused with burning alcohol before being served. Whoever finds the coin in his or her serving is destined to have a lucky and prosperous year.
A look at Christmas celebrations around the world
/1 Comment/in General /by Dale StarrSome interesting info on how Christmas is celebrated around the world.
Read, learn a little and enjoy
Merry Christmas from S3
Christmas trees in the UK were first popularized by Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria; he was German and thought it was a good tradition to bring to England. Letters to Santa are often thrown in the fire place rather than put in the mail, in the hopes that they will fly up the chimney to Santa. Wassailing is an old Anglo-Saxon custom that is unique to the UK, and Boxing Day is a very old custom that started in the UK and is now recognized in many countries around the world.
Netherlands:
Christmas is celebrated over two days in the Netherlands; Eerste Kerstdag (First Christmas Day) on December 25 and Tweede Kerstdag (Second Christmas Day) on December 26, both of which are public holidays. Christmas Day in the Netherlands is not about Santa Claus and reindeer. In fact, the Dutch celebrate Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas Day) on December 5, and this is this day Dutch children get really excited about, as they receive most of their presents on Sinterklaas. Christmas in the Netherlands is about ambiance. People buy Christmas trees, and decorate them with kerstkransjes (Christmas wreath cookies), glass balls, gilded nuts, ribbons, pine cones, frosted bells, and red and white candles. Many people place beautiful Advent star lights in their windows. The main square of every city has its own brightly lit Christmas tree. Twinkling lights shaped like bells and stars, and garlands are strung over many of the charming old streets, adding instant Christmas cheer during the darkest days of the year.
Italy:
The Christmas celebration in Italy begins eight days before the holiday, and lasts until after the Feast of Epiphany. Musical salutes are made at the shrine of the Virgin Mary, and songs are played at the homes of carpenters in honor of St. Joseph. Eight days before Christmas, a special Novena of prayers and church services begin. It all ends on Christmas Day. On December 23rd, children dressed as shepherds go from house to house playing songs and giving recitations. A Yule log, the Ceppo, is burned, while toasts with wine and wishes for the future are expressed. The ceppo is an old “Tree of Light” tradition which evolved to become the Christmas tree in other countries. Instead of Santa Claus, children are expecting La Befana, a good Christmas witch who rides on a broom. In legend, La Befana was asked by the Wise Men and shepherds to join in the journey to greet Baby Jesus; she declined, but later saw the Christmas star and rushed to the scene with gifts, only to find an empty manger. La Befana now rides the night sky on her broom seeking the Christ Child, and when she cannot find him, she leaves gifts for the good children of Italy and charcoal for the others.
Australia:
Christmas in Australia is HOT, and falls in the middle of the country’s summer holiday. Many people celebrate the holiday away from home, in holiday parks, at camp sites, in other countries, or at relatives’ homes. In the weeks before Christmas, Australians decorate their homes with Christmas trees, candles, electric lights, glass baubles, tinsel, snowmen, fake snow and figures of Santa Claus. On Christmas Day, children hope to receive gifts in stockings or under the Christmas tree from Santa Claus. In the weeks before Christmas, they write letters to him with their wishes. In some stories, Santa wears shorts and a loose, brightly colored Aloha shirt, and his sleigh is pulled by six white kangaroos. Many Australians eat a special meal on Christmas Day, consisting of roasted meats and vegetables and heavy fruit cakes and steamed puddings. A small coin is baked inside steamed pudding, and doused with burning alcohol before being served. Whoever finds the coin in his or her serving is destined to have a lucky and prosperous year.
Fun Days
/3 Comments/in Shooting /by Dale StarrGood Morning World
Well yesterday was a blast (ok a lot of them;-) Went to the range to try out my new toys, a Remington model 700 in 30-.06 and a Marlin model 336 in of course 30-30. Of course took the family and a great friend along and we all got to play with them as well as our trusty Marlin model 60 in 22 L.R. (you know the kind that is really hard to find ammo for now days:-). But thanks to Cabello’s my 22 stock pile is being refreshed again after months of not being able to get any. So things are improving in a lot of areas in the Gun world finally.
Both rifles shoot very well the Remington looks like it will be a 1 MOA shooter once I get used to it. It probably is already and it is the trigger puller who is throwing it off at least for now. Going to try it out at the 200 yard range next time just to see how well it reaches out that far and then beyond. Well who knows, what lies in the great beyond anyway. The Marlin seemed to shoot high for us, but after thinking about it last night I think the problem is probably not being used to the big old Buckhorn sight and probably not having the correct sight picture for it. Have to test my theory next week just to be sure. Ok just another reason to go play but hey that’s what being a gun guy is all about anyway.
Today I get to do my other favorite type of shooting and give my Canon camera a good workout. I will be photographing the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus Christmas concert today. The Cool Side of Yule. This is always a great concert and this will be the first year I get to shoot it, which to me even beats just listening too it. Which is awesome but to be even a small part of that incredible group is an honor and always a ton of fun for a photographer.
So truly fun days for sure.
Take care out there and stay safe this Holiday Season.
S3
Flashlight Bullets – (Near-Darkness) SKY Shots! – YouTube
/0 Comments/in General /by Dale StarrFlashlight Bullets – (Near-Darkness) SKY Shots! – YouTube.
This is kind of weird but an interesting way to make a commercial? Well sort of;-)
Check it out
S3
gun show status
/5 Comments/in General /by Dale StarrGood Morning All
Greetings from this weekend’s Jacksonville gun show. I am currently down at the fairgrounds show and it is off to a busy start today. Lot’s more people walking around then at the last show, but hey it is almost Christmas. So come on down and do your shopping and have some good gun fun for all.
Hope to see you soon
S3
Pending legislation in Florida for Concealed Carry on College Campuses
/3 Comments/in Safety, Shooting /by Dale StarrFlorida Carry Action Alert
In light of the recent FSU shootings and sexual attacks at UF, Rep. Greg Steube and Sen. Greg Evers have filed companion campus carry bills.
Frankly, we have had enough. Recently, a deranged former student entered the Strozier Library on the campus of Florida State University and opened fire. Thankfully there were no fatalities however one student was left permanently paralyzed and a member of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus was shot in the leg; another student was grazed by a bullet, a fourth was saved by a book that stopped the bullet meant for him, and the fifth student was narrowly missed by a round that hit the student’s bicycle.
What has not been generally reported is that a combat veteran had an opportunity to immediately stop the shooter. The veteran, who wishes to avoid publicity, served two tours in Afghanistan as an Army Infantryman and qualified expert in rifle and pistol earlier this year. He had a clear shot at the attacker, but because of the prohibition on campus carry, was not allowed to carry on campus.
Of course, that law didn’t stop the shooter.
Recognizing that “gun-free zones” only disarm those who would obey the law, Rep. Steube and Sen. Evers have sponsored companion bills to remove college campuses from the prohibited places list for Concealed Carry Licensees.
In an attempt at fear-mongering, opponents raise the spectre of drunk children flailing guns about carelessly and law enforcement being inept at determining who is the bad guy and who isn’t. Of course, this is pure propaganda being fed to the ignorant.
Except for trained current military and honorably discharged veterans, a licensee must be 21 years of age, all (even military) must also undergo state and federal background checks, provide proof of firearm safety training, and pay a licensing tax.
These are the very same adults who can legally carry practically anywhere else in the state. Statistically, they are the most law-abiding demographic that data is available for, even more so than law enforcement officers. Department of Agriculture statistics show that of the over 2.3 million licenses issued since 1987, only 168 have been revoked for a crime involving a firearm. That comes out to about 0.006%.
College campuses are no stranger to violent crime. This year UF suffered a string of attempted sexual assaults, the attacker has not been found. USDOE statistics tell us that year after year our defenseless students become victims of violent crime 5 days a week on average on Florida college or university campuses.
Florida Carry will do everything within our power to protect and expand the right of self-defense. College Campuses are no strangers to violent crime, Campus Carry is needed now.
Please help pass Florida House Bill 4005 and Senate Bill 176 by calling, emailing, and/or writing your senator or representative and expressing your support for self-defense on campus. Too many lives have been lost because of the illusion of safety and security associated with “gun-free zones”.
Gun Show weekend
/5 Comments/in General /by Dale StarrGood Morning World
For those of you in the greater Jacksonville area if you are out and about this weekend and looking for something to do? Come on down to the gun show at the fairgrounds downtown and finish up your Christmas shopping. Unless you are like me and I am just starting mine this weekend;-)
As usual I will be posting from the show assuming I can get online. So until then
take care and stay safe
S3
In a first, more Americans support gun rights than gun control, poll finds – Yahoo News
/0 Comments/in General /by Dale StarrIn a first, more Americans support gun rights than gun control, poll finds – Yahoo News.
The tide has shifted to ensure that all Americans have the right to protect themselves and their families. This is a good thing for our country and our Free way of life.
S3
RIA News and Press
/0 Comments/in General /by Dale StarrRIA News and Press.
Folks this is big news to S3 as a Firearms Appraiser record setting auctions like this one from Rock Island Auction (RIA) is really impressive and great news for gun collectors and investors. If this interests you check out the link above.
Take care and stay safe
S3
11 Things to Consider When Buying a Firearm
/0 Comments/in General /by Dale Starr11 Things to Consider When Buying a Firearm.
This looks like some interesting reading and useful things to consider. But FYI it is from Springfield Armory so there is some sales pitch to it too. But hey they make some pretty good guns that are reasonably priced. So if you are looking at buying a gun you can check this out and you can also dig into the archives here on my blog as I have written on this subject in the past as well.
take care and good shopping
S3
Spam stuff
/3 Comments/in General /by Dale StarrWell I had no idea that a blog would get so much spam comments, many of which are advertizing for some product and a lot of them are not even in English. So you just got to wonder what really goes on out on the internet and beyond? 😉
take care and stay safe especially here on the web
S3