Thanksgiving

Despite popular belief, the Pilgrims had almost nothing to do with the origins of Thanksgiving. In fact, they weren't associated with the holiday until well over 200 years after the so-called "First Thanksgiving."

Thanksgiving grew mostly out of Harvest Home, a pagan harvest celebration from England. 

Over time it combined with the "days of thanksgiving" observed in the Church of England, which both the Pilgrims and the Puritans practiced. 

These were days set aside for worship to give thanks to God.

The key difference between the two was timing. 

The harvest celebration happened every year in autumn. A religious day of thanksgiving could be called at any time of year, in response to what people saw as divine intervention. 

Eventually the two merged into a single annual autumn celebration that brought together worship services, large family gatherings, dancing, and a big meal.

So today we give thanks to Mother Nature for the harvest, our homes, and our loved ones.

The Philippines Christmas Parol

 

We post this every year and we want to share it with you yet again.

Do you know which country celebrates Christmas the longest? 

If you guess the Philippines, you are correct. 

Christmas is celebrated early in the Philippines, we’re talking early November.

You can hear Christmas carols being played, the streets starting to be decorated with Christmas decorations.

These decorations include the traditional parol, a five point star-shaped Christmas lantern (something like a Pentagram) which has been a time-honoured Christmas symbol in the Philippines. 

 

You see parols hanging in every street and road of towns and cities, outside almost every Filipino homes, in schools and office buildings, shopping malls, and even churches during the entire Christmas season which usually starts as early as November. 

There is no other Christmas symbol in the Philippines that shows more warmth than these Christmas lanterns called parol. 

These Christmas lanterns are very unique to the Philippines. 

Parol-making is a traditional folk craft of Filipinos. 

It is even taught to school children. 

Schools hold lantern parades every year to showcase the artwork of these students. 

Fighting Colds And The Flu

Whenever you feel a cold or flu coming on try this. 

We aren’t doctors, but this natural formula works for us.

INGREDIENTS

1 part echinacea root powder

1/2 part cayenne powder

1 part goldenseal root powder

1/2 part marsh mallow root powder

 Gelatin or vegetable capsules

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To make the capsules: Mix the powders together in a small bowl.

2.Scoop the powder into each end of a capsule, packing tight, and recap.

3.It takes only a few minutes to cap 50 to 75 capsules, a winter’s worth for most families.

4.Store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

5.To use: At the first sign of a cold or flu coming on, take 2 capsules every 2 to 3 hours until the symptoms subside or 9 capsules a day.

6.This is a high dose and should not be continued for longer than 2 to 3 days, at which time you should decrease the dose to 2 capsules three times a day.

You can fill the capsules individually by hand or you can use something like the capsule makers that are available.

We use the Capsule Machine as seen in the photo, but there are many good products out there.

As for flu shots here's something you may be interested in…

Saint Gertrude and Cats

Saint Patrick is not the only saint whose feast day is March 17.  It is also the feast of Saint Gertrude, the patron saint of cats and the people who love them.  
Because of her love for cats and nature, we consider her our honorary Pagan Saint.