An International Merry Olde Christmas with quotes and pix

Vesele Vianoce a stastny Novy Rok

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in Slovakian

plate of traditional Slovak cookies

http://www.slovakcooking.com/

Well, it has been a bit of a rough week. Hence, no postings.

Sorry!

I hope you have all been busy decorating for a celebration

visiting friends and family

reaching out to neighbors

enjoying some special food and treats

and smiling a lot!

Santa Claus Academy trainees, 2011 Tokyo, Japan

photo credit Yoshikazu Tsuno

I find it so sad around holidays when people's tempers are short,

the driving is more aggressive

the kids whine more

the parents holler more

with lots of pushing and bustling and

well,

really,

doing everything OPPOSITE of what the season is all about!

vintage Christmas card

"It is not the magnitude of our actions

but the amount of love

that is put into them that matters."

- Mother Teresa

I'd like to share with you some photos of celebrations around the world.

Some celebrate Grandfather Frost,

some Father Christmas;

some celebrate Santa Claus,

some Kris Kringle.

Some will focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus,

and some will focus on the Christ child;

some will decorate with nativities and wise men,

and some will decorate with angels and harps.

There is glizty bling, and simple carved wood.

Candles, icicles, oranges, stockings and green trees -

no matter what your tradition or style,

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve mass

Surabaya, Indonesia

"Sharing and giving are the ways

of God."

- Sauk Indian proverb

Rodrigo de Freitas Lake, 2011  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

photo by Andre Durao

siblings checking out the new lawn decor

Brea, California, USA

photo courtesy of Mindy Schauer

"The Angel Blesses

Christmas Day

while little children

Play."

- vintage verse

Santa Claus in Jammu, India

nydailynews

French soldier, United Nations Interim Force in Deir Zifa, Lebanon

"Christmas waves a magic wand

over this world,

and behold,

everything is softer

and more beautiful."

- Norman Vincent Peale

Decorating at a shopping mall in Beijing, China

photo credit Andy Wong  2011

Harrods 26th parade with Father Christmas London, England 2011

photo credit Steve Finn

2010 Annual Half-naked Santa Run, Budapest, Hungary

photo credit Bernadett Szabo

"Like snowflakes,

my Christmas memories gather and dance -

each beautiful, unique

and too soon gone."

- Deborah Whipp, web designer

tree lighting in Tyn church, Old Town Square, Prague, Czechoslovakia

photo credit Michal Cizek  2011

Time for me to go do some things.

If you have a family tradition that you would like to share,

just leave a comment.

My comment section is easy to use, and you don't have to sign up for anything!

Upcoming -

how do the animals celebrate Christmas?

:0)

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/

73 countries and over 152,000 page views!

poko'j

- all one word, with the ' directly above the 'o'

(Polish and Slovakian for 'peace')

Today I wish to recognize all the beautiful countries that have checked out my blog.

I just feel so honored that other people like what I am doing!

It is very self-assuring and quite wonderful!

Here is the amazing list:

 

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Bangladesh

Belarus

Belgium

Bolivia

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Brazil*

Brunei

Bulgaria

Canada

Columbia

Croatia

Czech Republic*

Denmark

Estonia

Egypt

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Ghana

Greece

Hungary

India

Indonesia

Iraq

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

Jersey

Jordan

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macedonia [FYROM]

Malaysia

Malta

Mauritius

Mexico

Netherlands*

New Zealand

Nigeria

Norway

Pakistan

Palestinian Territories

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Scotland

Singapore

Slovakia

South Africa

South Korea

Spain

Sri Lanka

Sweden

Switzerland

Taiwan

Thailand

Trinidad & Tobago

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

United States of America

Vietnam

Wales

wow.

That's 73 different countries.

* countries that I have featured in previous blogs

http://www.skyscanner.net/

If you don't see your country listed, please forgive my oversight,

and drop me a note!

My new comments section is very easy to leave a comment.

Lofer Province, Salzburg, Austria

girls carrying harvest crown during the Harvest Festival 

If you all only knew how much I would be delighted to visit you and your country!

I do have a traveling heart, but alas my feet have remained pretty firmly in the USA.

40th Annual Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA International Balloon Festival

I did visit both Mexico and Canada while growing up.

I have fond memories of our long-haired dog, Snuggles, playing in the snow in summer in British Columbia, Canada!

We also have a hilarious family story that concerns Mexico, traffic lights and policemen,

and my Dad's quirky sense of humor!

On our honeymoon Michael and I visited Haiti, Dominican Republic,

U.S.Virgin Islands Territory (St. Thomas) and the Bahamas.

Port au Prince, Haiti

5-27-2011

Subsequently via another cruise, we have visited

St. John's and Puerto Rico.

When you cruise, you do get to visit different countries

but it is in a very controlled way, and not really geared to the country

so much as it is geared to tourism.

cruise ship in San Juan, Puerto Rico harbor

As tourists, we do have to be careful about going off the beaten track

depending on the country, political air, etc.

Michael and I were able to explore the 'back roads' in Haiti,

St. Thomas and St. John's for just a brief jaunt.

We got in big trouble in Haiti, but that is a story for another time!

We kinda' got lost in St. Thomas, and we were not welcome
where we wandered to. Oh well. We did see a wonderful old cemetery

but we didn't go in as we didn't want to inadvertently offend anyone.

Savan Jewish Cememtery, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

http://www.jewishphotolibrary.smugmug.com/

Although, I do love cemeteries.

So much history and life drama and beautiful art.

When I start my blog with a 'hello' in a different language,

or  say 'peace'

or a seasonal greeting,

I try to pick a language that perhaps some of my readers are familiar with.

To me, they are 'foreign' simply because I am not fluent in that language.

But it sure would be fun to be able to communicate in the local language,

when I get to really travel around that is!

Until then, I will continue to do

'armchair traveling'.

That means checking out new countries by movies,
documentaries, tv specials - and of course my trusty internet!

Navratri Festival, or Festival of Dance
Ahmedabad, India, 2011

Here's a little challenge for you:

Watch one of your favorite movies
but in a different-than-your-own language!

Check out a Steven Seagal movie in Spanish!

Watch Jackie Chan in Mandarin!

See a James Bond movie in French!

It's quite fun.

:0)

La Baule, western France

10/02/2011

I hope you have had fun with my little anecdotes and photos
of places around the world.
I would love to feature each country that checks out my blog,
but if I did that and no other topics, it would take me almost 3 months!!
So, I will do little bits here and there,
and will always 'tag' the country that I have blogged about.
If there is a country that YOU would like to learn more about,
let me know!
Check out past blogs for Brazil, Czech Republic and Holland.

traditional Belgium costumes
http://www.gettyimages.com/

That's it for today!
Have a wonderful family time tomorrow,
while giving thanks to God for all His gifts.
Happy Thanksgiving!

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/