Royal Oak Apple Day

Yesterday night when I spoke to a friend, I happened to talk about Royal Oak Apple Day. After I told her about it, she said “Wow! In my area, we celebrate Nettle Day tomorrow!” I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh as they are both the same with just different names! The Royal Oak Apple Day is known by several names in different areas, like The Nettles Day, The Pinch-bum Day, The Shick Shack Day etc.

On May 29^th, 1660, King Charles II returned to London after a narrow escape from the capture of Cromwell's soldiers by hiding in an oak tree. Ever since, people celebrated the restoration of the monarchy by wearing Oak apples or Oak leaves. You would be surprised to know that until the twentieth century, anyone caught not wearing an oak leaf or oak apple on this day was pinched, kicked, or otherwise abused. Whipping with nettles was also one of the favourite punishments and hence the several names. While most people still wear something oak-ey, I am really glad that the abuse part has been omitted!

Wish you all a very Happy Royal Oak Apple Day!

Ascension Day!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

Despite the difference in opinions, something that links all the sects of Christianity is the belief that Jesus sacrificed himself for their sins and later conquered death! The Ascension Day reinforces the belief, as after the 40^th day of Easter, his resurrected body ascended into Heaven in the presence of 11 of his Apostles!

Don’t I just love celebrations? Especially when I get a chance to enjoy twice this week? I’m not just being a food crazy person and appreciating the lovely feast (I'm waiting for *Slurrrppp*), but also the fact that I saw more of my parents this week and most importantly this day simply reinforces our belief in Lord! Hope his second coming isn’t too far away!

Wishing everyone a very Happy Ascension Day!!

International Family Day it is!!

Do you know how it feels to be driven into a beautifully decorated room by the most enticing smell of Chocolate ganache cupcakes with roasted walnuts in the middle of the day and that too without it being anyone's birthday? Ask me! It was International Family Day yesterday, and my parents had really gone a long way to make my brother and I feel special! Apart from leaving their respective workplaces before either of us returned, my parents had actually taken the efforts of cooking some of our favourite dishes and brought us presents! It felt like Christmas had decided to climb up the calendar months and arrived 7 months in advance!

I had happened to mention  it to my mum a few days ago that 15th of May was International Family Day and UN had decided that 'work-family balance' was to be the theme for 2012. I hadn't known then that she, along with dad would take it so seriously and make it one of the most memorable days for all of us!

I love it when small surprises and celebrations like these brighten up our otherwise mundane lives! Thank you UN for coming up with such a lovely day and a fantastic theme! Did you'll celebrate too? Don't forget to let me know how...

Mother's Day

Mother...

She can never be thanked for her unconditional love that erases distances and crosses miles. Even the artificial borders cannot stop her, for her love remains unchanged. She is the one who plants the seeds of love, she is the Mother.

I was reading on Mother’s Day and I observed that my British, Irish and Nigerian friends celebrate Mothering Day on the fourth Sunday in Lent, while my Asian and American friends celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May. My Russian friends and their neighbours celebrate Mother’s Day on March of 8^th.

Different countries, different traditions, different people and different culture, yet Mother’s love remains the same. Do we need different days to celebrate Mother’s Day and if yes then why? Shouldn’t we question ourselves sometime?

What are your thoughts on this…  

Kissing Day!

I had always known that the 6^th of July was the Kissing day (Wikipedia also agrees with me) and don’t ask me how, there are some high school secrets *blush*. But I suddenly hear and read everywhere that they are celebrating the Kissing day today. Well who cares about the date? As such nobody needs a day to kiss, but since we have days for everything else, why not this? So assuming it is the Kissing Day today, I was wondering about something, it is Friday the 13^th and yet people are in a celebration mood! Really shows that people have indeed come a long way to leave behind the superstitions and omens of the old times. Isn’t that a great achievement in itself? I am proud of my generation!

Happy Kissing Day everyone! Oh and hope this Friday the 13th proves lucky for you'll! :)

Maundy Thursday

"Washed by your hands our feet restored
Wholeness and balance now assured
May they be used to serve you Lord
Your satisfaction is our reward" ♥ 

The Easter celebrations begin with commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, where he washed the feet of his disciples. Truly a humble soul, who washed away the dust of sin, pain and dread and also sacrificed himself for the love of others! Least we can do is be good to others and spread love like he did!

Wishing everyone a very blessed Maundy Thursday and I hope we live up to the last few words of advice that came out of his mouth…

 'And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.' John 13:34

 

Easter brings in luck?

 

When a little bud blooms,
The sun stays up longer,
And the tan grows deeper,
They say it is spring
They do, but it ain't spring yet,
Not until we hear the first call of a cuckoo!

It felt magical when one of the most melodious sounds of nature rung into my ears today! Immediately I darted out, not wanting to miss the opportunity of watching a cuckoo, with nothing other than my phone in hand (now you know whom to blame if you feel that the picture isn't very clear).

Cuckoos are ideally not seen until mid April, but I guess I was lucky this year. More than anything, watching the bird personally was like an assurance that spring has indeed arrived and gone are the cold, dark days of the Winter!

A hint of luck before Easter, do you think?