The Rosary

Tradition attributes the rosary to a vision of St Dominic in which Mary presented him with a rosary as a means to overcome the Albigensian heresy.

(The Albigensian heresy had plagued southern France in St.Dominic's time, during the 13th century. It was based on the belief that there were two supreme beings, a good God who created the spirit world, and an evil god who created the material world.)

However, there is no historical reference to this until 200 years after Dominic's death.The rosary evolved over centuries.The desert fathers counted prayers with pebbles or pegs put into a board. In the middle ages strings of prayer beads called paternosterswere popular, Paternoster is Latin for "Our Father" The rosary as we know it probably began as a substitute for the 150 Psalms for people who were illiterate and unable to read the psalms.

October is the month of the rosary and October 7 is the memorial Our Lady of the Rosary.The rosary can be thought of as a garland of roses presented to Mary. At Lourdes and at Fatima she encouraged praying the rosary. It is good prayer for families to pray together.

Read more about "How to Pray the Rosary"

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Parol - Filipino Christmas Lantern

Parol - Filipino Christmas lantern is one of the popular symbols of Christmas in the Philippines. This star-shaped lantern decorate homes, restaurants, schools, hotels, business premises, streets, malls, throughout the Philippines. They light the dark nights in the streets of large cities and small villages.

The parol represents the star that guided the Three Wise Men to the manger in Bethlehem where Jesus was born.

The word parol is from Spanish word meaning "lantern'. it is believed that parols were first used to light the way to church for the Misa de Gallo service which starts every December 16.

Parols have become a Filipino folk craft and even young children make simple one for their school project. Parols are also sometimes made from local materials, such as coconuts or shells. Huge twenty-foot parols with flashing electric lights are paraded down the streets in the city of San Fernando Pampanga.

• Read More about Parol
• Christmas in the Philippines

The Story of the Christmas Card

The custom of sending Christmas cards is now so well established that it is surprising to discover that is is only about one hundred years old. Valentine cards were popular in the mid-eighteenth century and New Year cars were exchanged in Europe a long time before.

Christmas cards became accepted, in the 1870s. Other early forerunners were the Christmas greetings children brought home from school, done in the best handwriting on decorated paper, to present to proud parents. traders would also leave specially decorated visiting cards at Christmas.



1843 - the first Christmas card was produced by Sir Henry Cole.


Sir Henry Cole, an Englishman was credited with the idea of the first Christmas card. Cole was the first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He was a businessman with a keen interest in art.

In December 1843 he found he had little time to write individual Christmas greetings to his friends, so he decided to produce a printed card. The artist John Calcott Horsley drew a design which Cole approved and so the first Christmas card was born. It had a picture of a family enjoying the festivities, with two side panel showing acts of charity. One thousand of the cards were printed and sold for a shilling each.


The ideas was not an overnight success. But advances in the colour printing process and the introduction of the halfpenny post for cards in the 1870s meant that Christmas cards started to gain widespread popularity in England. By 1880 the Post office was having to broadcast its annual advice " Post Early for Christmas" familiar to those who live in Great Britain.


1875 Louis Prang - Father of American Christms Card

At around the same time, Christmas cards were becoming popular in America through the work of Louis Prang, a German living in Massachusetts. He produced high-quality cards and helped to spread their appeal by organizing nationwide competitions for the best design.

Many of the designs still seen today originated with the earliest Christmas cards. Snow scenes pictures of festive feasting and nativity scenes were all popular. other early cards were more elaborate, coming in the shape of fans, starts or scrolls. Some even had silk finishes and pictures that could be animated by puling a tab.

But competition from less costly foreign imports forced Prang to stop making cards in the 1890. When World War 1 cut off the supply of Christmas cards from Europe, American businessmen began making them again.

Christmas cards have never been as popular as one might expect, even if you make a personalized Christmas card or sent an e-card or a virtual Christmas card, perhaps because sending has always been more associated with the "social" aspects of Christmas.

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More Christmas Related Articles:

• St Nicholas Becomes Santa Claus
• Christmas Crackers
• Born on Christmas Day
• The Nativity Scene
• Santa Claus - a special job for a special person
• How to say Merry Christmas in differrent languages
• The Poinsettia

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Food Names Trivia Quiz

How much do you really know about food? Test your food knowledge with my food names quiz . . . Have fun!!!

1. After whom the dessert ‘pavlov’ named?


2. In ‘angels and devils on horseback’, what are the angels and devils made of?


3. What is ‘vol-au-vent’?


4. In Scotland, which soup is traditionally served on Burns Night?
   
5. From where does the term ‘chowder’ for soup derive?


6. How did Toll House cookies get their name?
   
7. For which occasion was Vichyssoise soup created?


8. What is the origin of the word ‘gammon’?


9. How did jambalaya get its name?


10. What does chili con carne mean?
    

Answers:

1. The pavlova was named after the Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova.

2. The angels are oysters and the devils are prunes.

3. Vol-au-vent is French for "flying on the wind "- they are puff pastry cases.

4. A soup called -Cock-a-leekie.

5. From the French word "chaudiere" - a huge copper pot for communal fish stew.

6. When you have to pay a toll to cross the Mississippi, you could stop at the toll-man's house and buy his chocolate chip cookies.

7. The opening of the roof garden at the old Ritz Carlton Hotel, New York City.

8. It was common in the French colony of Virginia and the French word for ham is jambon.

9. It was brought by Spaniards to New Orleans and jamon is the Spanish word for ham.

10. It is Spanish for meat with chilli powder.

If you are looking for free general trivia quiz, to use for fundraising, school trivia games or just to ftest your knowledge, you can check my quizzes at Hubpages. Enjoy!!!

• General Knowledge Trivia Quiz


• Interactive General Information Trivia Quiz


• Music Trivia Quiz


• Mathematics Trivia Quiz

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How to make French Toast?

What to do with day old bread that has gone dry? Don't throw it . . . make French toast for breakfast or merienda. Almost any kind of bread may be sliced flat and used if you don't have a slice bread. If you do not have old bread and you are dying to have a French toast use fresh bread but soak it only in the milk mixture for a shorterr time.


What do you need?

• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup fresh milk
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 6 slices of bread

In a bowl or shallow dish, combine eggs, sugar, salt and milk. Soak bread in the mixture for a few minutes. Turn slices over until egg mixture is absorbed.

In a thick skillet over medium fire, heat butter. Place bread slices until lightly browned on each side.

Serve plain or top with jam jelly, maple syrup or cinnamon sugar.

I hope you enjoy this recipe , you can try some of these easy and simple recipes that I have collected:

• Banana pancake recipe
• Yummy Brownies
• Hazel Nuts Slice
• White Christmas Recipe

Enjoy Cooking !!!!

Alamat: Bakit maraming isla sa Pilipinas?

Noong bata pa ang daigdig, ang Pilipinas ay buo, mahaba at makitid na lupalop. Sa hilaga ay nakatira ang mag-asawang Angalo at Angarab. Sila'y nabubuhay sa panlilimot ng kabibi.

Isang araw ang mag-asawa'y nanguha ng kabibi sa tabing-dagat. Malayo na ang kanilang nalalakad subalit wala pa silang nakitang kabibi kahit isa. Si Angalo ay napalaot nang kaunti.

May natisod siyang bagay sa ilalim ng tubig. Yumuko siya at ito'y kinuha. Isang malaking kabibi ang bumulaga sa kanyang paningin.

Binuksan niya ang kabibi at gayon na lamang ang kanyang pagtataka nang makita ang isang bilog na bungang makinang.

"Tingnan mo Angarab, ano kaya ito?" at itinaas ang maliit at maniningning na bato.

"Iya'y perlas! ang sigaw ng asawa, sa kabila ng kanyang pagkamangha. "Manguha tayo ng marami!"

Mahabang oras na sila'y nalimot ng malalaking kabibi sa bandang malalim ng dagat. Isa-isa nilang tinanggal ang mga perlas sa kabibi at maingat na binalot sa malambot na balat ng kahoy.

Nang sila'y pauwi mula sa hilaga nagsimula ang kanilang away. Iginiit ng isa't isa na malaki ang bahagi na dapat mapasakanya tungkol sa mga perlas na natipon.

"Malaki ang aking bahagi! ako ang unang nakatuklas ng perlas."

"Hoy, mahiya ka! Marami ang napanguha ko kaysa iyo. Kaya malaki ang aking kabahagi!"

Sila'y nagsumbatan at nagtungayawan. Kapwa sila nagtatadyak sa galit.

Ang sigaw at ingay ng tadyak ay lumagonlong hanggang malayo kaya ang mga bundok ay nangatibag at ang lupa ay gumiwang, nag-kalungga at nangag kabitak.

Bukod sa sigawan at tadyakan, sila'y nagsabuyan pa ng putik at bato. Ang mga bato at buhangin ay nagagliparan sa iba't ibang dako. Ang lupang kanilang knatatayuan dahil sa away ay nangatipak at nagkahiwa-hiwalay. Ang malapad na lupa sa hilaga ay naging Luzon; ang nasa timog ay naging Mindanao. Ang mga batumbuhay na tumalamsik sa iba't ibang dako ay naging bahagi ng Bisayas.

Dahil dito kya ang kapuluan ngayon ay nababahagi sa libu-libong isla, malaki at munti.

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Alamat ng Bulkang Mayon

Noong unang panahon, sa kaharian ng Albay ay may isang makapangyarihang Rajah. Siya ay may anak na kaakit-akit na ang palayaw sa kanya ng mga tao ay Daragang Magayon na ang kahuluga'y "Magandang Dalaga".

Maraming naakit sa kanyang taglay na kagandahan kaya di mabilang na mga datu at mga dinoong tanyag nag nag-alaysa kanyang ng pagmamahal. Ang isa sa mga nanligaw ay si Kauen, anak ng mayamang Rajah sa kanugnog na kaharian. Naghandog ng mahalagang hiyas at ginto ang binata subalit tumanggi sa regalo ang dalaga. Si Kauen ay nabigo subalit nag yabang pa na ang dalaga ay magiging kanya pagdating ng araw.

Mula sa malayong Katagalugan narinig ni Gat Malaya ang nabalitang kagandahan ni Daragang Magayon. Maramisiyang mga pagkakataong makaniig ang paraluman subalit nagkaroon ng mga sagabal. Minsan malapit sa munting ilog, nakita ang dalagang namumupol ng mga bulaklak. Kinamaya-maya'y ang binibini'y nagtampisaw sa batis. Ang binata'y nagparinig ng himig ng masayang awit upang matawag ang kaniyang pansin. Nag katitigan sila at ang binata'y nginitian.

Nabuhayan ng loob ang Prinsiping Tagalog at ito'y nagsalita, "Magandang Mutya, mula ako sa malayo upang ikaw ay sadyain at makita ang tangi mong kariktan!"

"Sino ka? Hindi kita kilala! Isa kang pangahas!"
"Ako'y si Gat Malaya, galing sa kahariang malapit dito. Bigyan mo ako ng isang bulaklak at ako'y masisiyahan na!"

Bantulot na inihagis ng dalaga ang bulaklak. Dumapo sa mga palad ng binata at ito'y kagyat na idinampi sa kaliwang dibdib.
"Maaring bang kita'y makitang muli?"
At nagsimula ang maraming tipanan ng dalawa sa makasaysayang batis.

"Isang araw," mungkahi ng lalaki, "kita'y iniibig. Tayo'y pakasal!" Ngunit ang Rajah? ang aking ama?" may alinlangang paliwanag. Dapat niyang malaman."
"Huwag kang mag-alala! Hihingin ko ang kamay mo sa kanya!" Pumayag and Rajah. Ang batang prinsipe ay kanyang nagustuhan pagkat magalang at nakakahalina kung kumilos. Itinakda ng Rajah ang kasal sa pagbibilog ng buwan, matapos ang anihan.

Nagpaalam si Gat Malaya upang ipabatid sa kangyan magulang ang itinakdang kasalan. Kakaunin niya ang ama't ina ta silang tatlo ay babalik sa Albay.


Nabalitaan ni Kauen (nabigong manliligaw ng dalaga0 ang napabalitang pag-iisang dibdib. Kanyang sinamantala ang pagkakataong wala si Gat Malaya. Pinuntahan niya si Daragang Magayon.
Matigas ang pagtanggi ng dalaga sa kabila ng mga pagbabala, "kung hindi kita makamtan, walang magkakamit sa iyo sinuman!"

Ang prinses ay natakot dahil sa pagbabala sa buhay niya at sa kanyang ama. Siya'y sumagot, " Ako'y magiging iyo kung si Gat Malaya ay hindi bumalik!"
Nagtutumulin ang mga araw at mga linggo. Malapit na ang tag-ani ngugnit wala pa si Gat malaya. Hindi pa siya nagbabalik. Gabi-gabi ang dalaga'y nakaupo sa durungawan at anghihintay.

Nang dumating ang kabilugan ng buwan napilitan ng pakasal kay Kauen. Nagkaroon ng marangal na handaan, kainan at sayawan.

Sa gitna ng kasayahan dumating si Gat Malaya kasama ang mga magulang.

"Ako'y naparito upang angkinin ang aking nobya!" sabi ni Gat Malaya.
"Hindi maari!" Tugon ni Kauen.

Nagkaroon ng sukatan ng lakas. Magugunita na si Gat Malaya ay subok sa espada subalit si Kauen ay malansi at mapaglalang.

Nang ihagis ni Kauen ang kanyang sibat, si Daragang Magayon ay tumakbo upang pumagitna at sawayain ang dalawa. Sa kasamaang palad, ang sibat ay tumama sa dibdib ng dalaga. Niyakap ni Malaya ito, ngunit pataksil na sinibt ng katunggali. Kapwa nalagutan ng hiniga ang magsing-irog.

Nagluksa ang Rajah at ang buong palasyo. Ipinag-utos niya na ang dalawa'y ilagak na magkasama sa isang hukay. Lumipas ang mga araw. Himala ng himala. Ang lupa sa puntod ng libingan ay tumaas hanggang sa ito'y maging bundok. Napakaganda nito at sa katagalan, ito ay tinawag na Bundok ng Mayon bilang ala-ala kay Daragang Magayon.