RSS Feeds: 2010: The Aftermath of a Small-Scale Nuclear War
Well, the New Year's celebration certainly sounded like a small scale nuclear war. Obviously it wasn't, but that doesn't change the fact that this was the noisiest New Year celebration I have experienced. The usual noisemakers like firecrackers, horns, and things I can't even name were in use and someone decided that revving a motorcycle engine for five minutes counted as pyrotechnics. It doesn't, of course, but try telling that to the idiot sitting on the seat.
It's only December 6th in 
While the Thanksgiving Day holiday is celebrated primarily by Americans and Canadians, it has spilled over into other countries and societies and I believe this has happened due to the prolonged contact with those countries. I can't be sure that's exactly the reason why other cultures celebrate Thanksgiving Day — I consider it an educated guess. Regardless, what started out as a religious holiday is now considered a secular holiday as well.
My wife told me long before I moved to the Philippines (in 2006) that Christmas songs are played and broadcast on radio starting in the first of the "ber" months (September-December), but I didn't believe her. After spending two Christmas holiday seasons in the Philippines and while in the beginning of a third, her words have been proven to be true.
Whether you know the true origin of Valentines (or Valentine's) Day or not isn't important. What's important is that you know that Valentines Day is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentines Day cards, presenting flowers, offering candy (usually chocolate) and other unusual Valentines Day gifts. A primarily western tradition, some of it has been spilling over to countries of the Far East. I can't tell you how much, but when my Filipino relatives know as much about it as any typical American, then I can say it with a wee bit of authority.
The traditional Christmas Eve and Christmas Day happenings probably occur in the Philippines, but I would have to say in a very tiny part of the society. The majority of people that live here simply cannot afford to observe the traditions followed in more well-to-do societies. Nevertheless, they do celebrate the holiday as best they can.
Halloween isn't celebrated by the older folks of the Philippines. The majority of them celebrate the Day of the Dead, which is the very next day. As far as I can tell, the only celebrations associated with 
As America celebrates the 232nd anniversary of her Independence Day, I contemplate what life would be like without all the conflicts in the world.
Every year, it's the same thing when Father's Day rolls around. The first thought in my head comes from the 1982 movie, "
