Divorce: isn't good for people.

           It started about falling inlove then get married and having a children. Many years later they started to notice that there's something different in their relationship. What some parents don't realize when they file for a divorce is the damage and effect that it will have on their kids. However, there are many factors on why couples would eventually resolve to divorce.  Like, cheating, abuse, financial problems, and immaturity.
Cheating is one big problem, and some would inevitably resort to divorce. Abuse, is when the two are in a heated argument and one shows force through physical abuse. The financial part is when money is on the line and it becomes a problem. Then there's immaturity, it's when one thinks that marriage is an easy breezy moment and that they will always be happy. Till it becomes hard, and it's easier for them to give up than try their best to solve the dilemma they faced.

One cause of divorce can be, where one of the partners enter a disagreement, where in one of the factors would be, they don't love each other, or 3rd party is involved. The effect is on the child's mental behavior.

Divorce is causing many children to grow up in a single parent home. It affects kids emotionally and causes them to experience painful feelings such as fear, loss, anger and confusion. Divorce also hurts a child's academic achievement. Their anxiety levels peak as they feel they are going to be abandoned. They experience feelings of loneliness due to the loss of the other parent. Different children go through these emotions at different levels and at different times depending on the child's age.They have to suffer the lack of one of the role models they need; hence, they will receive less guidance an attention from their parents. Usually the adverse effects of growing up in a single parent home are felt in later childhood and adulthood.

Divorce can be avoided through a series of talks, like consulting with the right person. The openess and bonding of families. So that the many, may not resolve to such practice, and that they'll continue to nurture their families.

Don't forget the reason for the season (:

Christmas Around The World

 

Christmas is one of those holidays that just seems to be filled with cheer and wonder. Whether you are celebrating a secular or religious Christmas, your day is sure to be filled with blissful, forget about the sadness, pain or even hatred. 

People here in Philippines like to celebrate Christmas for as long as possible. The playing of Christmas carols in shops can start in September. The formal Christmas celebrations start on 16th December when many people go the the first of nine pre-dawn or early morning masses. The last mass is on Christmas day. The Christmas celebrations continue to the First Sunday in January when Epiphany or the Feast of the Three Kings is celebrated.

Mesa de Gallo (Pre-Dawn Mass)

In the Philippines the early masses held before Christmas are called the 'Misa de Gallo' or 'Simbang Gabi' in Filipino.
Most Filipinos are Christians with about 80% of people being Catholics. It's the only Asian country with so many Christians. Because of this, Christmas is the most important holiday in the Philippines. December is actually one of the 'cooler' months of the year in the Philippines. The Philippines only has two real seasons, wet (June to October) and dry (April and May). December is one of the months in between the wet and dry seasons.So people in the Philippines have Santa Claus, Christmas trees, Christmas cards and Christmas carols from western countries.

Parol

We also have our own Christmas traditions such as the 'parol' which is a bamboo pole or frame with a lighted star lantern on it. It's traditionally made from bamboo strips and colored Japanese paper or cellophane paper and represents the star that guided the Wise Men. It is the most popular Christmas decoration in the Philippines.

Noche Buena

Christmas Eve is very important in the Philippines. Many people stay awake all night into Christmas day. During Christmas Eve, Christians go to church to hear the last 'simbang gabi' or the Christmas Eve mass. This is followed by a midnight feast, called Noche Buena.The Noche Buena is a big, open house, celebration with family, friends and neighbors dropping in to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Most households would have several dishes laid out and would normally include: lechon (roasted pig), ham, fruit salad, rice cakes (bibingka and puto bumbong are traditional Christmas foods) and other sweets, steamed rice, and many different types of drinks.

Nonetheless, In France, a Nativity crib is often used to help decorate the house. French cribs have clay figures in them, not wooden ones. During December, some towns and cities such as Marseilles have fairs that sell Nativity figures. As well as having the normal Nativity figures in them, French scenes also have figures such as a Butcher, a Baker, a Policeman and a Priest.

Nativity crib or ‘creche’ is filled with clay figurines to represent those present at the birth of Christ. 

Yule Log

Yule Logs made out of Cherry Wood are often burned is French homes. It is traditional that the whole family helps to cut the log down and that a little bit is burnt each night. If any of the log is left after Twelfth Night, it is kept safe in the house until the next Christmas to protect against lightning. In some parts of Holland, this was also done, but the log had to be stored under a bed. In some eastern European countries, the log was cut down on Christmas Eve morning and lit that evening.

13 Desserts

The main Christmas meal, called Réveillon, is eaten on Christmas Eve/early Christmas morning after people have returned from the midnight Church Service. Dishes might include roast turkey with chestnuts or roast goose, oysters, foie gras, lobster, venison and cheeses. For dessert, a chocolate sponge cake log called a bûche de Noël is normally eaten.
Another celebration, in some parts of France, is that 13 different desserts are eaten. All the desserts are made from different types of Fruit, Nuts and Pastries

Similarly, In Italy, nativity crib scene is one of the most important ways of celebrating Christmas. Using a crib to help tell the Christmas story was made very popular by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 (Assisi is in mid-Italy). A lot of Italian families have a Nativity crib in their homes. Cribs are traditionally put out on the 8th December. But the figure of the baby Jesus isn't put into the crib until the night of December 24th. Also some families have a 'Creppo' or Yule Log which is burnt through the Christmas season.

Feast of the Seven Fishes

Common types of fish eaten in the feast include Baccala (salted Cod), Clams, Calamari, Sardines and Eel.

There are different theories as to why there are seven fish dishes eaten. Some think that seven represent the seven days of creation in the Bible, other say it represents the seven holy sacraments of the Catholic Church. But some families have more that seven dishes. You might have nine (to represent the Christian trinity times three), 13 (to represent Jesus and his 12 disciples) or 11 (for the 11 disciples without Jesus or Judas).




However, In Australia, Christmas comes in the middle of the summer holidays. Children have their summer holidays from early to mid December to early February, so some people might even be camping at Christmas. Because it's so hot at Christmas time in Australia, there are quite often massive bush fires across the country. Many volunteer bush fire fighters are involved in saving people and property and travel from all over Australia to help in other states.

Christmas Bush, a tree or shrub that occurs in all Australian States

Australians also decorate their houses with bunches of 'Christmas Bush', a native Australian tree with small green leaves and cream coloured flowers. In summer the flowers turn a deep shiny red over a period of weeks (generally by the week of Christmas in Sydney).
Many towns, cities and schools also hold their own Carols by Candlelight services, with local bands and choirs sometimes helping to perform the Christmas Carols and songs.

Most families try to be home together for Christmas and the main meal is eaten at lunch time. Most people now have a cold Christmas dinner, or a barbecue with seafood such as prawns and lobsters along with the 'traditional english' food. On Christmas Eve, fish-markets are often full of people queuing to buy their fresh seafood for Christmas day. Australians often have Christmas Crackers at Christmas meal times.

Oh! Boxing Day most people go and visit their friends and often have barbecues at the beach. A famous Yacht race from Sydney to Hobart in Tasmania is also held on Boxing Day.

The Flying Doctor Service has to work all through-out Christmas. On Christmas Day the people who live in the outback send Christmas greetings to each other over the radio network.




In contrast to Philippines, China, only about one percent of people are Christians, so most people only know a few things about Christmas. Because of this, Christmas is only often celebrated in the major cities. In these big cities there are Christmas Trees, lights and other decorations on the streets and in department stores. Santa Claus is called 'Shen Dan Lao Ren' and has grottos in shops like Europe and America.

Chinese Christmas tree is actually called a “Tree of Light” 

Only a few people have a Christmas Tree (or celebrate Christmas at all). If people do have a tree it is normally a plastic one and might be decorated with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns (they might also call it a tree of light). The Christmas Trees that most people would see would be in shopping malls.
 Christmas isn't that widely celebrated in the rural areas of China, but it's becoming more well known. The strange thing is that most of the world's plastic Christmas Trees and Christmas decorations are made in China, but the people making them might not know what they are for.

Gifted apple in China

A tradition that's becoming popular on Christmas Eve, is giving apples. Many stores have apples wrapped up in colored paper for sale. People give apples on Christmas Eve because in Chinese Christmas Eve is called 'Ping An Ye' (which means quiet or silent night) and the word for apple in Chinese is 'Ping Guo' which sounds similar.






Some people go Carol singing, although not many people understand them or know about the Christmas Story. Jingle Bells is a popular Carol in China.
People who are Christians in China go to special services. Going to Midnight Mass services has become very popular.

I want to go to those countries I've mentioned except Philippines (though I am a Filipino), and experience how they really celebrate Christmas. It's ambitious but not impossible. HAPPY HOLIDAYS ! 

 It's all about me !

Hi, my name is Frances Marie Badayos, and I am a senior at University of Mindanao studying to get my bachelor's degree in Accountancy. I was born and raised in Panacan and have 3 brothers. I live in a tight spot near the sea called Km. 13, and I work at my brother's net cafe. As for my life outside of the university, you’ll most likely find me playing games at my bro's net cafe or at the boutique. I love windows shopping or browsing it on online shop. I don’t throw away clothing if it’s stained or torn; I just turn it into something new with zippers, buttons, studs, leather, fabric dye, patches, whatever I can find. So if your interests, you can always come play or shop with me!