May212013

Chè Thái Recipe

By THang | May 21, 2013 | Posted in Cultural Foods | Comments (0)

Summer will be here in the mid-Atlantic states in just a few weeks. We are starting to feel the heat of the weather now. It will be getting hotter and hotter. It would be getting hotter and hotter. It would be great to eat something that makes you feel cool. Besides ice cream, there are some other things that can make you cool in summer such as coconut, smoothies, ice coffee, etc. Today, I want to introduce to you one of Vietnamese deserts that is really good for people in summer. It is called Chè Thái.

Chè Thái is a Vietnamese interpretation of Thai desert. It is a combination of coconut milk, half and half, and pandan flavorings. Pandan leaves will give you green color with flavor that is similar to vanilla flavor. You can find pandan leaves at Asian supermarkets.

This is a picture of pandan leaves.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups cubed pandan flavored Vietnamese jelly
- 1 ½ cups cubed Vietnamese coconut jelly
- 4 cups milk
- 4 cups half and half
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 (14-ounce) can green grass jelly, cubed
- 1 (20-ounce) can longans in light syrup, halved
- 1 (20-ounce) can lychees in light syrup, halved
- 1 (24-ounce) jar nata de coco (coco gel)
- 1 (24-ounce) jar sugar palm fruit (palm seeds)

Directions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk, half and half and coconut milk. Mix well.
- Add the drained longans and lychees, grass jelly, nata de coco, sugar palm fruit and a little bit of both the longan and lychee syrup.
- Allow to chill for 1 hour in the refrigerator. The milk will become light green.
- When serving, add ice shavings.

Chè Thái

Chè Thái is easy to make, isn’t it? You will have great time with your family members when making it, and then everyone can enjoy sweet and coolness of a cup of Chè Thái. This desert is very popular in my country, and adults and children really love it. I love it too.

Hope you love it!

Submitted by Trinh Hang
Source http://www.phamfatale.com/id_3203/title_Che-Thai-Recipe/

By THang | Posted in Cultural Foods | Comments (0)
May072013

Mother’s Day Around the World

By THang | May 7, 2013 | Posted in Cultural Celebrations | Comments (0)

May 12 is coming. Do you know what day is that? It is Mother’s Day in the United States. Did you get something for your mom? Mother’s Day has become common around the world. It is celebrated in more countries than it used to be. Now, let’s go around the world and see how other countries celebrate Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day in US
In the United States, Mother’s Day is a national holiday, and it is considered one of the biggest holidays after Christmas and Valentine’s Day. On this day, people show their love for their mothers and how important they are to them. Gifts are given to mothers on this day. In addition, traditions for this day include breakfast in the bed, giving flowers, and treating them to a meal.

Mother’s Day in Australia
It is the same day as in the United States, and Australians celebrate in similar ways. However, colored carnations are worn by people whose mothers are living, and white carnations are worn to honor deceased mothers. Children can also honor their grandmothers and other women who love and care for them as their own mothers do.

Mother’s Day in France
French people celebrate Mother’s Day on the last Sunday in May. A family dinner is the norm. Mothers are honored with cakes that look like bouquets of flowers. Let’s celebrate French Mother’s Day with your mom on May 26 with a cake. I am sure that your mom will be very happy.

Mother’s Day in Ireland
It is not the same day as in the United States. People in Ireland celebrate Mother’s Day on the fourth Sunday in the Christian fasting month of Lent. In 2013, Lent starts on Wednesday, February 13 and continues 46 days until Saturday, March 30. Therefore, Mother’s Day 2013 in Ireland is March 10. It is said that very long time ago, children of poor families were sent to work as servants and apprentices for rich families. Once a year, in the middle of the Lent, they were given a day off to visit their mothers and presented them with flowers. Therefore, on Mother’s Day, people in this country buy their moms flowers and cards to express their love.

Mother’s Day in Mexico
People in Mexico celebrate Mother’s Day on the fixed day of May 10. Sons and daughters will be home on the eve of Mother’s Day on May 9. The highpoint of this holiday is the orchestra (a large instrumental ensemble that contains sections of strings, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments) which plays “las mañanitas” and distribution of “tamales” and “atole”, the traditional early-morning meal to all mothers.

Mother’s Day in South Africa
It is the same day as in the United States. Young children honor their mother by their homemade gifts while older children buy gifts for their moms. On this day, not only are mothers honored but also grandmothers and other women who are like mothers.

Mother’s Day in Spain
In Spain, people celebrate Mother’s Day on December 8. They pay attribute to their own mothers and also to the Virgin Mary. This day includes religious celebrations across the country. Will you celebrate this Mother’s Day with your mom before Christmas?

Mother’s Day in the UK
People in this country celebrate Mother’s Day on the fourth Sunday in the month of Lent, which is March 10, 2013. Because the Lent days are not fixed, Mother’s Day is different every year. In 2014, Lent will start on Wednesday, March 5 and will continue 46 days until Saturday, April 19. Therefore, Mother’s Day 2014 will be March 30. People in the UK started celebrating Mother’s Day in 17th century as Mothering Sunday. England was the first country in the world that dedicated a day for mothers as early as 1600s. Making a rich almond cake which is called Mothering Cake or Simnel Cake for mothers is a tradition in the UK.

Submitted by Trinh Hang
Source:
http://www.whsv.com/seasonal/misc/42915822.html
http://www.when-is.com/lent-2013.asp

By THang | Posted in Cultural Celebrations | Comments (0)
Apr232013

Interesting Facts about Ice Cream

By THang | April 23, 2013 | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

April is almost over, and the summer is coming here in the mid Atlantic United States. The weather is getting warm, and it will get hotter. During summer time, it is wonderful to have some ice cream with your family and friends. Today, I will share with you some interesting facts about ice cream.
- To make ice cream lighter and improve its texture, air is added.
- You will experience 40-second terrible headache whenever you eat cold ice cream. The trick to not get this headache is to not let the ice cream touch the roof of your mouth.
- One gallon of ice cream should hold at least 4.5 pound of ice cream.
- Several unique ice cream flavors in different countries include charcoal ice cream, ox tongue ice cream. These flavors originated in Japan.

Here are some unique ice cream flavors around the world:
- Japan: fried eggplant ice cream, wasabi ice cream, squid ice cream, eel ice cream, chicken wing ice cream, goat ice cream, seaweed ice cream, spinach ice cream, lettuce and potato ice cream, beer ice cream, tulip ice cream, pearl ice cream.
- Venezuela: spaghetti bolognaise ice cream, onion ice cream, fried pork rind ice cream, beet and corn ice cream.
- Taiwan: tuna and seaweed with fruit ice cream, peanuts and wine ice cream, pineapple and shrimp ice cream.
- England: fried chicken steak ice cream, chunky bacon ice cream, mushroom and pecan ice cream, chocolate garlic ice cream, lox ice cream.

Here are some ice cream flavors around the world:
- Coconut ice cream in Maui: this is one of the creamiest consistencies of any ice cream without using cow’s milk, and half a coconut shell is used as a bowl for this kind of ice cream.
- Cheese ice cream in Philippines: this ice cream has been a regular delicacy in this country for some time. You can get this ice cream at supermarkets and at street vendors all around this country.
- Olive oil gelato in Tuscany: Tuscany uses their best olive oil as an ingredient. Testers say it is surprisingly creamy.
- Cucumber and rosewater gelato in North America: you can find this ice cream easily in Chicago where an ice cream place invents cucumber and rosewater gelato. There are also grapefruit and peppercorn flavors.
- Kulfi in India: this is similar to ice cream but it is a lot thicker because it contains evaporated milk. They have different flavors such as cream, raspberry, rose, mango, cardamom and saffron. This ice cream takes longer to melt than regular ice cream.
- Aqutak in Alaska: this is a traditional ice cream of Eskimo. It is made of wild berries, seal oil, and leftover meat (usually reindeer meat).
- Caviar ice cream in France: this ice cream is made of expensive and unusual products like caviar and foie gras.

Here are some fun facts for kids:
- It takes 50 licks to finish an ice cream.
- The biggest sundae of over 24 tons was made in Canada in 1988.
- 98% of US families have ice cream in the fridges everyday.
- People believe that Americans consume the most ice cream in the world.
- A National Ice Cream Month is celebrated in July in the US.
- 1st favorite flavor of Americans is vanilla, the 2nd one is chocolate.
- Sea salt ice cream is one of the flavors.
- Avocados and garlic used to be ice cream flavors.
- There is fried ice cream.
- The ice cream cone was believed to be made from a waffle in 1904.

Here are top 10 countries that consume the most ice cream:
- United States: it is the leading ice cream-consuming country. Each American consumes average 26 litters of ice cream each year.
- New Zealand: each person in this country consumes about 23 litters of ice cream each year. Hockey pokey is the most popular ice cream flavor in this country. It consists of vanilla ice cream with solid lumps of sponge toffee.
- Australia: each person in this country consumes about 18 litters of ice cream each year.
- Denmark: each person in this country consumes approximately 9 litters of ice cream each year.
- Belgium/Luxembourg: each person in this country consumes 6 litters of ice cream per year.
- Sweden: each person consumes 4 litters of ice cream per year. Their unique ice cream bar is Nogger Black, which consists of a toffee center surrounded in a salt, black licorice shell.
- Canada: even the weather in this country is not warm, Canadians still love ice cream. This country is ranked 7th on the list of top 10 ice cream consuming countries in the world.
- Norway: it is ranked number 8. Its popular flavors are Chunky Monkey Banana (which consists of large chunk of chocolate, brownie, cookie, and walnuts) and Cookies and Cream.
- Ireland: it is ranked number 9. Its popular ice cream sundae is the Salted Peanut and Caramel Sundae which consists of honeycomb and salted walnuts with caramel meld.
- Switzerland: this country is in 10th place of the list. Some of its popular flavors are mango sorbet, chocolate, and Cream brulée de Möwenpick.
I hope these facts give you an opportunity to know more about ice cream.
It is hot today. Now, let’s go and get some ice cream. Enjoy!

Submitted by Trinh Hang
Source:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ice-cream-facts-about-ice-cream.html
http://my.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/ice-creams-around-world-090232853.html
http://www.helium.com/items/2140303-top-10-ice-cream-consuming-countries-in-the-world
http://www.ireallylikefood.com/729084209/unique-ice-cream-flavors-around-the-world-a-list-of-40/

By THang | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)
Apr162013

Take a Gulp and Cool Down

By BMoges | April 16, 2013 | Posted in Cultural Foods | Comments (0)

As summer approaches for us here in the United States, we will do anything to cool down. Besides stand in front of a fan, we grab a refreshing drink to cool us down; typically lemonade or sweet tea. But, what is it that people around the world drink to cool down? Let’s find out!

In the red, white and green (Mexico!) there is a refreshing drink called Agua Fresca. What’s great about this drink is that you can use a variation of fruits so that you can customize it to your liking. Follow the recipe below to make this quick, easy, refreshing drink.

Makes about 2 1/2 quarts

Ingredients

  • Fresh fruit (see notes), chopped coarsely — 3 cups
  • Water — 6-8 cups
  • Sugar — 1/2 to 3/4 cup
  • Lime juice (optional) — 1/4 cup

Directions:

1. Add the fruit and 2-3 cups of the water to a blender and puree until smooth. Strain through a sieve into a large pitcher.

2. Add the rest of water, 1/2 cup of sugar and lime juice if using. Stir well and add more water and sugar as needed. Serve well chilled.

Variations

  • Agua de Fresa: Use strawberries.
  • Agua de Jamaica: see Sorrel Punch recipe.
  • Agua de Melón: Use cantaloupe or any other melon.
  • Agua de Papaya: Use papaya. The addition of lime juice makes a tastier beverage here.
  • Agua de Sandía: Use watermelon.
  • Agua Fresca de Pepino: Use peeled, seeded cucumbers and lime juice. Cut down on the sugar. Very refreshing.
  • The lime juice is not required, but can add a welcome tartness to some aguas frescas

A preferred summer drink in Greece is the frappé. Most people will sit outside of a café on hot summer days and people watch as they sip their cool drink. To enjoy this refreshing drink like the Grecian’s, follow the reipe below.

Makes 1 glass

Ingredients

  • Instant coffee (preferably Nescafé®) — 1 1/2 to 3 teaspoons
  • Cold water — 2/3 cup
  • Sugar (optional) — 2 to 3 teaspoons
  • Milk (optional) — 1/4 cup
  • Ice cubes (optional) — 2 to 3 each

Directions

  1. Add desired amount of coffee, sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of the water to a cocktail shaker or blender. Shake or blend until the mixture forms a thick and frothy foam.
  2. Pour the foam into a tall glass and stir in the remaining water and the sugar, milk and ice cubes if desired. Drink with a straw.

Lassi is an Indian yogurt beverage that is made to cool you down. The drink is traditionally made unsweetened, with salt and spices, but more recently, fruit Lassi has become popular. Follow the recipe to below to get a cooling, refreshing drink.

2 to 3 servings

Ingredients

  • Yogurt — 1 1/2 cups
  • Cream (optional) — 3 tablespoons
  • Rosewater (optional) — 1 tablespoon
  • Fruit of your choice, chopped — 1/2 to 1 cup
  • Sugar — 5-6 tablespoons
  • Ice cubes — 9 to 10

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients except the ice cubes in a blender and blend until smooth.
  2. One by one, add the ice cubes and blend further until they are broken down into a slush.
  3. Serve in a tall, cold glass on a hot, hot day.

So next time you’re feeling a bit hot and need to cool down, grab you blender and mix up one of these cooling drinks.

Submitted by Beth Moges

Source: http://www.whats4eats.com/beverages/agua-fresca-recipe

http://www.whats4eats.com/beverages/frappe-recipe

By BMoges | Posted in Cultural Foods | Comments (0)
Apr092013

Coldest Places

By THang | April 9, 2013 | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

It is April now, and in the United States most of the kids have finished their Spring Break. I know that the weather has been so crazy in the mid-Atlantic United States it has changed from cold to hot and from hot to cold. We cannot wait for the Spring weather which is around the corner. Everyone is so ready to say goodbye to the Winter and say hello to the Spring. A lot of people may not like the cold that the Winter brings. However, the cold that we have here in Maryland is still much warmer than the cold that some people have. Today, I want to introduce to you 7 of the coldest places in the world where people actually live.

The first coldest place in the world is Verkhoyansk, Russia. The average temperature in January is -50.4F, and it is below freezing from October to April. In 1892, the recorded temperature was -90F.

The second coldest place is Oymyakon, Russia. The village is named after the local hot spring. On February 6, 1933, the recorded temperature was -90F. Schools are opened through -52 degrees.

The third place is International Falls, Minn. This place is on the border between the U.S and Canada. Its population is about 6,703. The average temperature in January is around 2.7F. This area has about 65.5 inches of annual snowfall.

The forth place is Fraser, Colo. It has 910 residents, according to the 2000 census. The average temperature during the year is only 32.5F with the average temperature in the summer is 29F (in June).

The fifth place is Yakutsk, Russia. The temperature drops below freezing and goes up in May. In January, the average temperature is -34F high and -81.4F low. It has about 200,000 residents with numerous theaters and museums.

The sixth place is Hell, Norway. In February 2010, the average temperature was 20F. From December through March, this place freezes.

The seventh place is Barrow, Alaska. This place is 1,300 miles south of the North Pole and 320 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Its population is 4,581. It is said that “the sun sets at the end of if November” and reappear at the end of January. The average temperature in July is about 40.4F.

After reading about these coldest places where people live, we may think that our winter is nothing compared to their weather. Now, the cold season is almost over and the warm weather is coming. Let’s say hello to the Spring!

Submitted by Trinh Hang
Source: http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/climate-weather/photos/7-of-the-coldest-places-in-the-world-to-live/bone-chilling

By THang | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)
Apr032013

Fooled You!

By BMoges | April 3, 2013 | Posted in Cultural Celebrations | Comments (0)

There are many theories about where April Fools originates. One of the most widespread theory is that in 1592, Pope Gregory XIII decided to release a new standard calendar for Christian Europe to follow that would take his name and would later become the standard international calendar in the 21st century. Before Pope Gregory XIII issued this new calendar, the New Year was celebrated in the spring and the new calendar he issued celebrates the New Year on January 1st. While many people changed over to the new calendar, there were some Europeans who still celebrated the new year in spring because of communication problems as well as criticism of the new calendar. These people who continued to celebrate the new year in the spring were the focus of pranks and mockery by those who adapted to the new calendar.

April fools in the past few decades has become a worldwide series of pranks by giants including Google and many other big companies. This year Google’s prank was set by new software they created called Google Nose, which they said would allow you to smell something by typing it in the search box using this new software. There have been many great pranks, so let’s take a stroll through April Fool’s history.

Quick Response Crop: In 2012, in the small town of Manhattan, Kansas, there was a crop circle built that resembled a quick response code. This was a time that many believed was nearing the end of the world. Butterfinger later revealed that it was a PR stunt.

Taco Liberty Bell: In 1996, Taco Bell played a big prank on many by releasing an ad on the New York Times that read: “In an effort to help the national debt, Taco Bell is pleased to announce that we have agreed to purchase the Liberty Bell…it will now be called the ‘Taco Liberty Bell.’”

Virgin Volcanic Journey: Richard Branson, a very well known billionaire and founder of the Virgin Group played a prank in 2012 when he reported that he would be taking a journey to the center of the Earth using the “Virgin Volcanic.” He also said that Tom Hanks will be joining him in his journey. He announced his story in a press release that read: “Only 500 people have been to space, only three people have been to the bottom of the ocean, but no one has ever attempted to journey to the core of an active volcano. Until now.”

This year was not a disappointment. Many tech companies enjoyed fooling people including Twitter who announced that they would be shifting into a two-tiered service that would charge a rate of $5 a month for premium service to use vowels and consonants in tweets and the free version would not include vowels. Bing also had a little fun when announcing that they would be shutting down for the night so that judges could determine which the best video on the Internet was.

As more and more people catch on to the widespread joke of April fool’s day, many will be anticipating what Google, Nestle and many other giant companies have planned for us next. We just have to wait and see until next year.

Source: http://news.discovery.com/history/origins-of-april-fools-day-20130401.htm

http://www.mandatory.com/2013/04/01/the-most-epic-april-fools-day-pranks/3

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/04/01/techs-best-2013-april-fools-jokes/

Submitted by Beth Moges

By BMoges | Posted in Cultural Celebrations | Comments (0)
Mar262013

Chinese Fried Rice Recipe

By THang | March 26, 2013 | Posted in Cultural Foods | Comments (0)

Chinese food has become popular in the United States. Dishes such as chow fun (stir-fried noodles), chaofan (fried rice), dumpling, egg rolls, hot and sour soup, wonton soup, kung pao chicken (spicy chicken with peanuts), have increased in popularity among Americans. Today, I am going to introduce to you the Chinese fried rice recipe which is very simple, so you and your family members can enjoy good time making this dish.

Ingredients: (Servings: 4)
¾ cup finely chopped onion
2 ½ tablespoons oil
1 egg, lightly beaten (or more eggs if you like)
3 drops soy sauce
3 drops sesame oil
8 ounces cooked lean boneless pork or 8 ounces chicken, chopped
½ cup finely chopped carrot (very small)
½ cup frozen peas, thawed
4 cups cold cooked rice, grains separated (preferably medium grain)
4 green onions, chopped
2 cups bean sprouts
2 tablespoons light soy sauce (add more if you like)

Directions:
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in wok, add chopped onions and stir-fry until onions turn a nice brown color, about 8-10 minutes; remove from wok
- Allow wok to cool slightly
- Mix egg with 3 drops of soy and 3 drops of sesame oil; set aside
- Add ½ tbsp oil to wok, swirling to coat surfaces; add egg mixture; working quickly, swirl egg until egg sets against wok; when egg puffs, flip egg and cook other side briefly; remove from wok, and chop into small pieces
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in wok; add selected meat to wok, along with carrot, peas, and cooked onion; stir-fry for 2 minutes
- Add rice, green onions, and bean sprouts, tossing to mix well; stir-fry 3 minutes
- Add 2 tbsp of light soy sauce and chopped egg to rice and fold in; stir-fry for 1 minute more; serve
- Set out additional soy sauce on the table, if desired

This recipe is very simple and it takes about 28 minutes total to have delicious dish. I usually make this dish at home when I do not have much time to cook. For me, this is healthy fast food that I can make at home. I usually add more veggies into my dish. If you have children, you can invite them to help in the cooking process. When kids are involved in the process, they may think the food is more delicious. Plus, for kids that do not like to eat their veggies, they may be more willing to try this dish since they were directly involved in the cooking process. Enjoy!

Submitted by Trinh Hang
Source http://www.food.com/recipe/chinese-fried-rice-38748

By THang | Posted in Cultural Foods | Comments (0)
Mar192013

The Names of the 4 Seasons

By BMoges | March 19, 2013 | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

As we in the mid-Atlantic and northeast parts of the United States leave winter behind to enter the spring season, we pack away our heavy coats, hats and boots. But, as the seasons come and go, have you ever wondered where we got the names of these four seasons? They did not just appear, but were named for a particular reason. Let’s dive into a little history.

Winter

Winter is related to the words, “wet,” “water,” and “wash.” These words come from the Indo-European basic form of “wed-.“ 2000 years ago, people speaking Germanic used the word, “wentruz” and 1000 years later, people who spoke Old English changed it to the word we now use, “winter.” The word for winter may be spelled many different ways, but it has not changed much in the course of thousands of years.

Here is how the word, winter, is spelled and said in other languages:

  • Frisian: winter
  • Dutch: winter
  • Afrikaans: winter
  • Low German*: winter
  • High German*: Winter
  • Gothic: wintrus
  • Icelandic: vetur
  • Swedish: vinter
  • Danish: vinter
  • Norwegian: vetter

*The difference in High German and Low German are by the different regions; they speak in different dialects.

Spring

The word to describe the spring season was not used until about 500 years ago. Many people would use expressions such as, “spring of the leaf,” or “spring time of the year,” to describe the plants growing, but never used the word as we do today. In fact spring and fall were not counted as season in some old Germanic cultures that used two seasons, summer and winter. The word has not changed in the few hundred years that it has been in use, but does have a big variation in different languages unlike the other seasons. For example, spring in modern High German ( is “Frühling” and in Swedish it is “vår”.

Summer

Summer comes from the word “sumor,” which is an old english word which meant, hot season of the year. 6000 years ago, Indo-European people used a basic word that started with “sem-.” 2000 years ago, as the years passed and language changed, people speaking Germanic transformed the word into “sumaraz.” About 1000 years ago, people who spoke Old English stared using the word, “sumor,” and 400 years later, people speaking Middle English used the word “sumer” or “sommer.” After years of going through language changes, the word became our word, “summer.”

Here is how the word, summer, is spelled and said in other languages:

  • West Frisian: sommer
  • Dutch: zomer
  • Afrikaans: somer
  • Low German: sommer
  • High German: Sommer
  • Icelandic: sumar
  • Swedish: sommar
  • Danish: sommer


Fall and Autumn

The word Fall is used most frequently in American English while the word Autumn is used in British English. The word comes from the expressions, which were used 500 years ago when Middle English was spoken, “fall of the leaf,” and “fall of the year.” These expressions brought the word Fall into the use.  The use of the word Autumn is the only season that is unexplained. It comes from the Latin word, “autumnus.”

Throughout history, language changes, with the words we use to describe things, how we spell the words and how we pronounce them. As the seasons pass, remember this history and see if there is a change in language in how we choose to describe the change of weather.

Source: http://hea-www.harvard.edu/ECT/Words/index.html#winter

Submitted by Beth Moges

By BMoges | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)
Mar122013

What are Your Chinese Zodiac and Western Astrology Signs?

By THang | March 12, 2013 | Posted in Cultural | Comments (0)

There are 12 Chinese zodiac signs which are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit (it is a Cat in Vietnam), Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (or Sheep), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The zodiac signs are designated based on one’s year of birth. The following is the list of birth years under each Chinese zodiac signs:

Rat: 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

Ox: 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

Tiger: 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

Rabbit: 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

Dragon: 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012

Snake: 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

Horse: 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

Goat: 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

Monkey: 1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016

Roster: 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

Dog: 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

Pig: 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Besides these 12 zodiac signs in Asian culture, there are other 12 Western astrology signs. Unlike the Chinese zodiac signs which are based on birth year, these signs are based on birth months. The signs are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. The following is the list of Western astrology signs that you can look at to find out what yours is:

Aries: March 21 – April 20

Taurus: April 21 – May 21

Gemini: May 22 – June 21

Cancer: June 22 – July 23

Leo: July 24 – August 23

Virgo: August 24 – September 23

Libra: September 24 – October 23

Scorpio: October 24 – November 22

Sagittarius: November 23 – December 22

Capricorn: December 23 – January 20

Aquarius: January 21 – February 13

Pisces: February 14 – March 20

In the Western astrology sign system, 2 different people whose ages are few years different, but those birthday and month are the same could have the same sign. However, with Chinese Zodiac sign system, 2 different people whose ages are 12 years or 24 years different will have the same sign. In both the Chinese zodiac sign and Western astrology sign systems, each sign has its own characteristics. In my case, my Chinese Zodiac sign is Tiger, and my Western astrology sign is Pisces. According to Chinese Zodiac sign system, people who are born under the sign of the Tiger are authoritative, self-possessed, charming, ambitious, warm-hearted, moody, and intense. They have strong leadership qualities and they are ready to pounce at any time. There are some similarities and differences with my sign in Western astrology. People who are born under the sign of Pisces are loving, sensitive, intuitive, spiritual, idealistic, and moody. They are compassionate and unconditionally people. They always offer their assistance whenever they see someone suffering or being in trouble. Their friends look for those people when they need to solve their problems and to be reassured. They are very emotional people, so they need the support of other people to allow them to express themselves. They are idealistic about the way they see the world. Therefore, they have to learn to accept the world with all its faults. Sometimes they feel isolated and little disconnected from life. Their destiny is connected to wisdom, self-knowledge and compassionate service to the world.

Both sign systems give us an opportunity to learn about the signs that correspond to our birth dates and years. Now, you can find out what are the characteristics of your sings. What do you think? Are they true?

Submitted by Trinh Hang

Sources:          

http://www.astrology.com.au/astrology/12-signs-of-the-zodiac/index.php

http://www.chinesezodiac.com/signs.php

http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2012/2012Zodiac.htm

By THang | Posted in Cultural | Comments (0)
Mar062013

Luck of the Irish

By BMoges | March 6, 2013 | Posted in Cultural Celebrations | Comments (0)

Once a year you may notice people getting dressed in all green clothing, wearing green accessories and some may even dye their hair green to go out and celebrate. This day is known as the Irish holiday of Saint Patrick’s Day. Saint Patrick was a man who lived in the 5th century and was kidnapped the age of 16 to be a slave, but later escaped to go back home to Ireland. On his return to Ireland he brought with him the knowledge of Christianity and spread the teachings. He is known to have used three leaves, the Irish clover, to explain the holy trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). After his death, believed to have happened March 17, 461, many spoke of his life and he was acknowledged in the Irish culture.

The people of Ireland have been celebrating his life on March 17th. Fascinatingly enough, the first parade for Saint Patrick’s Day was held in the United States in 1762 by Irish soldiers serving in the English military by walking through New York City. The men were able to connect with their fellow Irish people and remember and celebrate their culture.

These days Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated in many places outside of Ireland including and mainly in the United States, Canada and Australia. All around the world countries celebrate the holiday by changing some artifacts green. Some examples include:

-The Empire State Building in New York City in the United States
-The Leaning Tower in Pisa, Italy
-The London Eye in London, England
-The CN Tower in Toronto, Canada
-Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa
-The Chicago River in Chicago, United States
-Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia

So, if you are ever walking by any of these places and notice that it’s green, remember that St. Patrick’s Day is coming and it’s time to dust off your all-green outfits to celebrate the holiday.

Sources: http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day

http://twistedsifter.com/2012/03/12-places-around-the-world-that-turn-green-for-st-patricks-day/

Submitted by Beth Moges

By BMoges | Posted in Cultural Celebrations | Comments (0)