Sunday, December 11 is Janelle the Intern’s (http://www.beinggirl.com/expert-bios/janelle-wichmann/?utm_source=247Moms.blogspot.com&utm_medium=elaineR.N.&utm_content=link20111210&utm_campaign=comm_mgr) birthday. Janelle is a beinggirl.com expert and a great resource for teens when it comes to supporting them through the chaos that adolescence brings. In honor of her birthday, I thought it would be fun to look at the history and culture of how birthdays are celebrated globally and throughout time. Since December is also a very distinctive birthday month, it seems that Janelle’s birthday comes at a very opportune time to talk about this very special topic.
I was searching the Internet for a site that would provide the content for this post about birthdays and think that Wikipedia has the most robust info to use. While I can’t attest on a stack of Bibles that all in this post is totally factual, Wikipedia does have references for their content, so I am hoping that all I am sharing is true. Please let me know if there is something that is in error or if you have contradicting information that I should know about.
According to Wikipedia:
The ancient Romans celebrated birthdays with hedonistic parties and generous presents. The early Christians rejected that practice as being pagan. I like that today’s birthday celebrations can include generous gifts and fun parties, but there are also other ways to make the birthday person feel special without spending a fortune. For example, I got all mushky over the Facebook birthday wishes I received, as I loved being remembered by so many people I usually don’t get to see or talk with. Also, just bringing the birthday boy or girl a special home baked treat may suffice as a way to help celebrate their day.
In Judaism, it doesn’t surprise me that various rabbis dispute the perspective on birthday celebrations. Rabbis are learned scholars and learned scholars always debate stuff and how it should be handled even birthdays – go figure! In any case, it seems that the one single mention of birthdays in the Old Testament is for an Egyptian Pharaoh in Genesis 40:20 (I checked my Bible and there is mention of the birthday celebration.) The Bar Mitzvah of 13-year-old boys or Bat Mitzvah for 12-year-old girls is the only Jewish celebration connected with birthdays. Both are recognitions of religious maturity and don’t have to fall on the exact birthday of the Bar or Bat Mitzvah child (or very young adult). I actually had a Bat Mitzvah way back when in the days of yore. If I remember correctly, I was the second woman in my Conservative Temple to have a Bat Mitzvah. My Russian immigrant instructor felt I could do it and, I believe in the spirit of feminism, she encouraged me to prepare for this. I was undecided until my parents offered (bribed is more like it) a puppy as a gift. I said YES. It was such a big deal at my synagogue, that there were more attendees than usually come for the high holy holidays. They had to open the back overflow areas. I still remember the passages I recited and am truly happy that I had the experience.
The early Christians didn’t celebrate Christ’s birth because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom. In medieval times, ordinary people celebrated their saint’s day that they were named after. Obviously, celebrations have changed greatly today and I am very glad. Though, still today, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t celebrate birthdays on the basis that they are portrayed negatively in the Bible have historical connections with magic, superstitions and Paganism. By the way, since I have been throwing the word pagan about, I thought I would define it: from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: One who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods - OY!
In Islam, while Conservative clerics consider the celebration of a birthday to be a sin, a few Muslim clerics issued a statement saying that the celebration of a birthday is permissible (check out birthdays on Wikipedia for the reference). In the US, some Muslims celebrate birthdays of children mostly.
Hindus celebrate the birth anniversary that is related to the lunar month or solar month and star alignment, etc. It is very astronomically controlled, which makes it seem, to me, as a celebration of ones part in the universe. I really like that bigger than ourselves out-of-the world type of connection.
Cultural Birthday Celebrations:
In Africa, some families commemorate a girl’s sixteenth birthday with a sweet sixteen celebration.
In some Hispanic-American countries, the quinceanera celebration marks a girls 15th birthday.
Hindus, in India, celebrate a boy’s 12th or 13th birthday with a grand “thread ceremony.” In a ceremony, called a Upanayana, The child has a blessed thread to wear that symbolizes his coming of age.
In the Philippines, girls on their 18th birthday celebrate a debut.
In Japan, there is a Coming of Age Day to celebrate the 20th birthday.
While I only covered celebrations that I found in Wikipedia, I know that there are so many more that are interesting. I would love to hear how other cultures celebrate birthdays. Please share!
Before ending this post, and in celebration of Janelle’s birthday (and because I love history), below are some key events that happened in history on December 11:
1946: The United Nations General assembly established the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
1941: Hitler and Mussolini announced they are at war with America and then America announced it is at war with them!!
1936: Great Britain King Edward VIII abdicates the throne to marry an American twice-divorcee, Wallis Warfield Simpson.
1866: First yacht race across the Atlantic Ocean (wonder why they would begin this in December!!)
1844: First dental use of nitrous oxide, Hartford, CT (so glad about this one!!)
1620: 103 Mayflower pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock
Happy birthday JANELLE and many, many more happy and healthy celebrations!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
December 8 - Violence Unsilenced
On December 1, I had seen Stacy Morrison’s post titled: “Saving A Woman’s Life With Your Words” and said I was going to post on December 8. December 8 was It’s Time to Talk Day, 2011. The discussion was and is about relationships abuse, domestic violence, and emotional abuse. The point being is that the stats are horrendous (see below for stats shared on the Violence Unsilenced Website) and the day was dedicated to those who have a story they want to share.
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STATS:
1 in 3 women will be in an abusive relationship in her lifetime.
On average, more than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States.
Teenage girls are reporting dating abuse at rates higher than women, which makes them the most at-risk group for abuse in America.
One in five tweens—ages 11 to 14—say their friends are victims of emotional, physical or verbal dating violence.”
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I missed the day, but not the issue. As those of you who have read my blogs ongoing, I have posted twice in the past 12 months about domestic and dating violence, most recently in October, as it was Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The importance, along with creating awareness, of the Violence Unsilenced site, (http://www.violenceunsilenced.com/) is that it is a place for those impacted by abuse in any way to share their story. Along with the space to share, there are links to support services, resources and safety alert advice.
While living in Cincinnati, I often attended the local annual Taking Back the Night Event where there was a candlelight march and then a gathering where stories could be told by anyone wanting to share. I am tearing up now thinking about the stories that were told to the the audience. Some by people who shared, for the first time, what they were going through. How brave they were to tell their story and how supported and loved they were by those listening. Hopefully that brought them the support and peace they needed to go from being a victim to a survivor. The Violence Unsilenced Site is a virtual way to do what was done in person at the Taking Back the Night march.
While I am a day late, I haven’t missed the problem, unfortunately. While this is supposedly the happiest time of the year, for many with or without resources there is stress. During stressful times, domestic and dating violence can increase. Hopefully, by reading this post someone will checkout the resources and become a survivor and not a victim. I sure hope so!!
Below are the links to my previous posts where there is also further information that might be helpful.
http://www.blogher.com/did-you-know-october-domestic-violence-awareness-month
http://www.blogher.com/dating-violence-%E2%80%93-teens-and-prevention
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
STATS:
1 in 3 women will be in an abusive relationship in her lifetime.
On average, more than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States.
Teenage girls are reporting dating abuse at rates higher than women, which makes them the most at-risk group for abuse in America.
One in five tweens—ages 11 to 14—say their friends are victims of emotional, physical or verbal dating violence.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I missed the day, but not the issue. As those of you who have read my blogs ongoing, I have posted twice in the past 12 months about domestic and dating violence, most recently in October, as it was Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The importance, along with creating awareness, of the Violence Unsilenced site, (http://www.violenceunsilenced.com/) is that it is a place for those impacted by abuse in any way to share their story. Along with the space to share, there are links to support services, resources and safety alert advice.
While living in Cincinnati, I often attended the local annual Taking Back the Night Event where there was a candlelight march and then a gathering where stories could be told by anyone wanting to share. I am tearing up now thinking about the stories that were told to the the audience. Some by people who shared, for the first time, what they were going through. How brave they were to tell their story and how supported and loved they were by those listening. Hopefully that brought them the support and peace they needed to go from being a victim to a survivor. The Violence Unsilenced Site is a virtual way to do what was done in person at the Taking Back the Night march.
While I am a day late, I haven’t missed the problem, unfortunately. While this is supposedly the happiest time of the year, for many with or without resources there is stress. During stressful times, domestic and dating violence can increase. Hopefully, by reading this post someone will checkout the resources and become a survivor and not a victim. I sure hope so!!
Below are the links to my previous posts where there is also further information that might be helpful.
http://www.blogher.com/did-you-know-october-domestic-violence-awareness-month
http://www.blogher.com/dating-violence-%E2%80%93-teens-and-prevention
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Finding YOUR Fashion
There is no way that I would consider myself a fashion guru. However, after all my years of being alive, I do know what colors look best on me and what styles work on my full-figured loveliness. But, this isn’t about me. This is the counsel that I would like to provide to the teen girls that are struggling to find their unique beings within the fashion realm.
This is a great time to be a newbie in the fashion world, since clothes today are beautifully colorful, run the full gamut of design and are available in price ranges that go from what a real-life princess could afford to the girl earning her clothing allowance by emptying the trash or babysitting for bucks.
OK, enough with the commentary. Now about clothing, fashion and you. When I first started thinking about this post, I was going to approach clothing from the perspective of how to ask your mom for a new outfit that is different from the way that you usually dress. Or, the clothes may be very different from what your mom or dad would like you wear out. However, my tips on how to ask your for your parents’ permission that I wrote about in previous blog posts would hold true for this also. That is: meet your home responsibilities promptly and pleasantly, do your schoolwork well and on time, and ask in a way that is respectful. Then, respect the answer given to you.
For moms: listen and be open to what your daughter is asking of you. And, be glad she wants to talk this with you and not sneak. I know what I am talking about in regards to sneaking. We hear all the time from girls who sneak clothes in their backpacks to wear once they leave the house. In fact, I hear from older women who tell of their own teen-sneak years, so it does happen!!
But, I was given an idea by another of the beinggirl.com experts, Janelle, known as Janelle the Intern on the beinggirl.com facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Beinggirl
What Janelle suggests, that holds true for me sometimes (unfortunately) is that some teens and women are just enamored with the idea of designer clothes, handbags, cosmetics, etc and confuse that with really having their own “personal chic style”. They become a walking designer label, rather than establishing their own look. To make that point, are you the person or do you know someone who always looks fabulous and interesting in clothes that were purchased from discount stores or second hand stores. The labels aren’t what make the look unique, but the colors, fabrics and style are what come together in a way that makes the whole thing memorable and enviable. I have an artist friend who puts clothes, scarves and jewelry together in a way that looks like she should be in a fashion magazine. The clothes flatter her figure and she wears the outfits comfortably. My friend isn’t wealthy in any way. In fact, many times she struggles financially until she sells some art. However, she manages to find bargains and great looks – none designer labels. The point here is that she has chic style on a budget.
What do I want you to take away from this fashion blog post for teens and women written by a fashion-challenged, budget sensitive, and yet always learning women’s health expert? You achieve a great personal style within your budget!! Below are some tips I found in an article on beinggirl.com titled, “Teenage Girls Style: Define Yourself”, that I found helpful for me too.
1) Accessorize: Think scarves, belts and bracelets in a less is more kind of way.
2) Hats: There are many varieties of hats to choose from like berets to baseball caps (a woman in my Pilates class always wears caps that match her outfits, so you don’t have to be a teen to wear a baseball cap. As for me, I just walk into my exercise class with wild hair that hasn’t been washed yet and black sweats. She takes an extra moment and looks great; I just look needy of exercise and style.)
3) Vintage is new and refreshing: Second hand stores are really a great place to explore for interesting and inexpensive jewelry and handbags. Or, for teens: Maybe your mom has some earrings from her teen years. If you are really lucky, your grandmother may have some from the 70s. Bet you wish you were my granddaughters, because I have a whole box of 70s jewelry that I am saving for my very young granddaughters. I also have handbags for them to use. (To you older but lively women reading this: Schedule some time with your daughters or granddaughters to explore your saved fashion stuff. You can share stories of your youth that I bet makes you both laugh together. Or, you can find some second hand stores in your area and shop together. Bet you’ll have some more laughs there too, as you try on hats, scarves or jewels together.)
4) Play with your hair: Experiment, straighten, crimp or gel. There are all kinds of hair options to try. The article in beinggirl.com advises to take it a step further by matching your hair to your outfit. For example, go online and check out some styles from the 70s if you are wearing an outfit from that time and make your hair match the clothes. Recently, I had my shoulder length curls cut to a bob below my ears. What a change that has made to help freshen my look. LOVE IT (thanks Patrick). In any case, my earrings show up better and I think I look younger and more stylish. Which brings up the point that if you think you look good, your whole attitude about your being changes. Even your posture can change you will look better in whatever you are wearing. (I’ll write more about attitude and appearance in another post.)
Check out the article for more info:
http://www.beinggirl.com/article/teenage-girls-style/?utm_source=247momsblogpost&utm_medium=nurseelaine&utm_content=link20111201&utm_campaign=comm_mgr
Would love to hear what others do to achieve their personal style on a budget.
This is a great time to be a newbie in the fashion world, since clothes today are beautifully colorful, run the full gamut of design and are available in price ranges that go from what a real-life princess could afford to the girl earning her clothing allowance by emptying the trash or babysitting for bucks.
OK, enough with the commentary. Now about clothing, fashion and you. When I first started thinking about this post, I was going to approach clothing from the perspective of how to ask your mom for a new outfit that is different from the way that you usually dress. Or, the clothes may be very different from what your mom or dad would like you wear out. However, my tips on how to ask your for your parents’ permission that I wrote about in previous blog posts would hold true for this also. That is: meet your home responsibilities promptly and pleasantly, do your schoolwork well and on time, and ask in a way that is respectful. Then, respect the answer given to you.
For moms: listen and be open to what your daughter is asking of you. And, be glad she wants to talk this with you and not sneak. I know what I am talking about in regards to sneaking. We hear all the time from girls who sneak clothes in their backpacks to wear once they leave the house. In fact, I hear from older women who tell of their own teen-sneak years, so it does happen!!
But, I was given an idea by another of the beinggirl.com experts, Janelle, known as Janelle the Intern on the beinggirl.com facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Beinggirl
What Janelle suggests, that holds true for me sometimes (unfortunately) is that some teens and women are just enamored with the idea of designer clothes, handbags, cosmetics, etc and confuse that with really having their own “personal chic style”. They become a walking designer label, rather than establishing their own look. To make that point, are you the person or do you know someone who always looks fabulous and interesting in clothes that were purchased from discount stores or second hand stores. The labels aren’t what make the look unique, but the colors, fabrics and style are what come together in a way that makes the whole thing memorable and enviable. I have an artist friend who puts clothes, scarves and jewelry together in a way that looks like she should be in a fashion magazine. The clothes flatter her figure and she wears the outfits comfortably. My friend isn’t wealthy in any way. In fact, many times she struggles financially until she sells some art. However, she manages to find bargains and great looks – none designer labels. The point here is that she has chic style on a budget.
What do I want you to take away from this fashion blog post for teens and women written by a fashion-challenged, budget sensitive, and yet always learning women’s health expert? You achieve a great personal style within your budget!! Below are some tips I found in an article on beinggirl.com titled, “Teenage Girls Style: Define Yourself”, that I found helpful for me too.
1) Accessorize: Think scarves, belts and bracelets in a less is more kind of way.
2) Hats: There are many varieties of hats to choose from like berets to baseball caps (a woman in my Pilates class always wears caps that match her outfits, so you don’t have to be a teen to wear a baseball cap. As for me, I just walk into my exercise class with wild hair that hasn’t been washed yet and black sweats. She takes an extra moment and looks great; I just look needy of exercise and style.)
3) Vintage is new and refreshing: Second hand stores are really a great place to explore for interesting and inexpensive jewelry and handbags. Or, for teens: Maybe your mom has some earrings from her teen years. If you are really lucky, your grandmother may have some from the 70s. Bet you wish you were my granddaughters, because I have a whole box of 70s jewelry that I am saving for my very young granddaughters. I also have handbags for them to use. (To you older but lively women reading this: Schedule some time with your daughters or granddaughters to explore your saved fashion stuff. You can share stories of your youth that I bet makes you both laugh together. Or, you can find some second hand stores in your area and shop together. Bet you’ll have some more laughs there too, as you try on hats, scarves or jewels together.)
4) Play with your hair: Experiment, straighten, crimp or gel. There are all kinds of hair options to try. The article in beinggirl.com advises to take it a step further by matching your hair to your outfit. For example, go online and check out some styles from the 70s if you are wearing an outfit from that time and make your hair match the clothes. Recently, I had my shoulder length curls cut to a bob below my ears. What a change that has made to help freshen my look. LOVE IT (thanks Patrick). In any case, my earrings show up better and I think I look younger and more stylish. Which brings up the point that if you think you look good, your whole attitude about your being changes. Even your posture can change you will look better in whatever you are wearing. (I’ll write more about attitude and appearance in another post.)
Check out the article for more info:
http://www.beinggirl.com/article/teenage-girls-style/?utm_source=247momsblogpost&utm_medium=nurseelaine&utm_content=link20111201&utm_campaign=comm_mgr
Would love to hear what others do to achieve their personal style on a budget.
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