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Forget the sleigh? What!

2011-12-14T18:04:59Z

Yes, it's true, you don't need a sleigh to enjoy the holidays. To continue our journey around the globe learning about other holiday traditions, I started thinking about the journey itself and how we get from point A to point B is an important part of any trip. Plus, the holidays involve lots of travel - shopping from store to store, getting in and out of vehicles for visiting friends and family, all those trips going back and forth from the oven to various parts of the kitchen baking and cooking. I was worn out just thinking about it. So I wanted to bring you some traveling that can be fun, get you thinking about spicing up your regular routine and you don't actually have to leave your seat to enjoy it.

"Misa de Alguinaldo"

In Caracas, Venezuela, church-goers attend mass early in the mornings, called "Misa de Alguinaldo", on the days between December 16th and December 24th. Now while this may not sound all that much fun so remember it's all in the journey. Neighborhoods close the streets to cars until 8 am for the next morning, because everybody going to mass gets up bright and early and straps on their roller skates to get to church. So that nobody misses out on going to church in roller skates, before bedtime the kids tie one end of a piece of string to their big toe and hang the other end of the string out the window as the roller skaters pass by the windows and see the strings hanging out, they give a quick tug to make sure the kids wake up. If you're wondering how the first batch of roller skaters makes sure to get up on time, they don't mess around either, they get up to the sound of fireworks.

O Sole Mio
Rather take your time waking up and add a mellower tradition to your holiday season? Gondolas!!! This holiday tradition takes to L.A. not Venice, Italy or Venice California even.

Take a Gondola Ride to admire the Christmas and Hanukkah lights on Naples Island in Long Beach, Marina del Rey or Newport Beach. There are other more economical boat tours available, but snuggling under a blanket while a gondolier serenades you with O Sole Mio or O Holy Night is the most romantic way to see the festive holiday decorations around Naples Island in Long Beach.

Here Comes Santy Clause...

Writing this, I couldn't help but thinking, so how did Santa decide to get a sleigh and reindeer?

Perhaps nothing has fixed the image of Santa Claus so firmly in the American mind as a poem entitled A Visit from St. Nicholas written by Clement Moore in 1822. Moore, a professor of biblical languages at New York's Episcopal Theological Seminary, drew upon early New Amsterdam traditions (New York City's first name) and added some elements from German and Norse legends. These stories held that a happy little elf-like man presided over midwinter pagan festivals. In the poem, Moore depicts the Saint as a tiny man with a sleigh drawn by eight miniature reindeer. They fly him from house to house and at each residence he comes down the chimney to fill stockings hung by the fireplace with gifts.

Clement Moore had written the poem for the enjoyment of his own family, but in 1823 it was published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel. It became very popular and has been reprinted countless times under the more familiar title, The Night Before Christmas.

Where did Moore get the reindeer? The Saami people of northern Scandinavia and Finland often used reindeer to pull their sledges around and this found its way into the poem. Reindeer, which are much sturdier animals than North American deer,are well adapted to cold climates with their heavy fur coats and broad, flat hooves for walking on snow.

If you're not ready to give up the sleigh and you want to watch Santa's make his way around the world, our friendly folks at the U.S. Defense Department, who after all brought us the Internet, have a website which tracks Santa's progress.

Interesting Global Christmas Traditions

2011-12-10T16:37:01Z

Want to know where Christmas is celebrated displaying pooping figurines, hiding all the brooms in the house and riding roller skates to mass?

You've come to the right place. Christmas is celebrated by folks in many parts of the world and so naturally there will be many traditions that are unique to the cultures and humors of their respective homeland. Get ready for a little globe trotting as we hitch a ride to see what Santa discovers when he's out on delivery.

Catalonia is our first stop and the tradition of Tio de Nadal, which means Uncle Christmas Log.

Each family hosts the log beginning at the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th. the pooping log, is a widespread Christmas tradition in Catalonia. It starts with a hollowed out log, which is propped up on four little leg-like sticks and then painted to have a face. Every night, Tió is “fed” little morsels of food and covered with a blanket so he won't catch a cold.

On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Tió is put in the fireplace and ordered to “poop”. He is encouraged by singing songs with catchy lyrics and hit with a stick to speed his digestion.

"Caga tió ~ Poop Uncle Christmas Log!

caga torró ~ Poop turrón (a sugary nougat),

avellanes i mató ~ Hazelnuts and cottage cheese,

si no cagues bé ~ If you don’t poop well,

et daré un cop de bastó. ~ I’ll hit you with a stick.

caga tió!" ~ Poop Uncle Christmas Log!"

The gifts are considered for everyone, but each family member gets to take a turn at putting their hand under the blanket to see what Uncle has to share. When he is done pooping candies, nuts and other goodies, Caga Tió will then give one last push to reveal an onion, a head of garlic or a salted herring and you know the fun is done!

Holiday Travel Tips

2011-12-07T16:15:10Z

Tis the season! Whether your visiting relatives or simply getting away, traveling during the holidays comes with it's own concerns and unique considerations. While many of your travel habits remain the same no matter when you go, the traditions of the season, the increase in others traveling and the excitement of this special time of the year can bring unexpected woes when you aren't prepared. So no matter whether you are celebrating Christmas, Chanukah, New Year's or experiencing them any one of them for the first time as a foreign traveler, here are some tips to keep you sane and celebrating.

Kid and Pet Safety - In your own home it will be easy for to eliminate any hazards if you plan on having kids and pets visiting for the holidays. If you are the family traveling, plan ahead by checking in with your hosts before your arrival about any of these potential dangers, then you can plan accordingly. If you can't check-in ahead of time, when you arrive do a quick scan and then you can assess whether you need to make any requests or ask for a safe zone for your traveling companions.

* Ask if aspirin is used in the tree water. Dogs are OK with aspirin (the substitutes are extremely toxic for dogs), but it is deadly to cats.
* Many holiday plants can lead to health problems in dogs and cats. Among the plants to keep out of reach are holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lilies.

* Snow globes often contain antifreeze, which is poisonous to pets and people and obviously broken glass is to be avoided. Wipe up any spills with vinegar, which acts as a neutralizer and the smell will keep curious kids and pets away and masks the sweet smell of antifreeze.

* Pine needles, when ingested, can puncture holes in a pet's intestine. So keep pet areas clear of pine needles.

* The extra cords and plugs of holiday lights and other fixtures can look like chew toys to pets and intrigue little ones. Tape down or cover cords to help avoid shocks, burns or other serious injuries. Unplug lights when you are not home.

* Anchor Christmas trees to the ceiling with a string to keep it from falling on children and pets

Reducing Stress - this is a short list to keep the season cheerful.

* Pad your times. Add an extra 10-15 minutes on departure and arrival schedules so that when the inevitable, "Oh, I forgot to...." or your youngest decides he can't leave without his entire Lego collection, you'll have time to recover from the loss of time.

* Packing. Consider whether you really need an item. If you can't buy it or borrow it at your destination then bring it. Select clothing that can be layered and mixed and matched so you wear certain pieces and it doesn't look like your wearing the same outfit everyday, you won't need as many total outfits and you can be better prepared for weather fluctuations from changing forecasts.

* Aromatherapy. An orange scented candle or a bar of lavender soap may be just what you need for a reviving and relieving time-out during the holidays. But the most important point is to find a scent that makes you feel good, and any scent will do. It is the connection with happy memories and feelings that's important. The remnant of fragrance in an old perfume bottle, the smell of a loved one's sweater, the aroma of macaroni and cheese dinner, or the scent of a special flower-- if it makes you feel comforted then it can be your aromatherapy for the holidays and beyond.

FUN! - While everyone expects the holidays to inherently be fun, sometimes it doesn't hurt to plan for some fun, especially for those times that can represent the least fun part of the season - getting there.

* Music can be key. When planning you might not be thinking about your background noise and it could get overlooked. Make the trip fun by getting everyone involved in making a travel soundtrack. You'll reduce any bickering over the selection of music during the trip and if your traveling by car bad radio stations or static. If traveling with children, singing and reminiscing about favorite past holidays will keep them entertained. With pets, you can give them something soothing to listen to that will get their mind off of the noises outside the car and the stress of the ride. It will probably work for you too. The trip will be over before you know it, and you'll actually look forward to the journey back home.

* As with all long-distance trips, it's wise to bring emergency equipment. How you are traveling will dictate what you bring. such as a first-aid kits for pets and people, flashlight, drinking water and snacks are appropriate for any travel method. While blankets, flares, jumper cables, ice scraper and chains for the tires are obviously gear for the car. You should also make sure your road side assistance membership is up-to-date.

Welcome, Yokoso, Bienvenue, Willkommen, Svagat...

2011-12-05T23:08:02Z

Beginning this blog is an exciting moment for me. I feel we've come a long way with ZenEstate and I am ready to plunge into a deeper commitment of sharing our travel philosophy, our eco friendly lifestyle and the comforts of home.

As you know, my goal is to make our places more than ordinary. I am continually updating the furnishings, remodeling and adding little touches to make your stay more comfortable. These visible signs can be easy to spot especially if you've stayed with us on more than one occasion, but I know that there are aspects that can be overlooked or unknown when I'm not there to greet you, to share my stories or ask you directly for your suggestions. Today, I am looking forward to using this blog as a very personal and heartfelt communication channel.

I'll be bringing you travel tips and recipes. I also want to share my thoughts about the path forward for ZenEstate. I hope you will join me in sharing your favorite moments, your travel favorites and giving your feedback on our choices moving forward.

Thank you for becoming a part of our journey, allowing me to do work I love and sharing your travels with me.

From my family to yours, we wish you all the best.

Welcome

2011-12-04T22:36:54Z

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.