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Birthday Traditions Around the World – Happy Birthday Austin, A Man For Peace, Love, HOPE & Health for the World.

Austin Tang — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 12:11:48 +0000

Birthday Traditions Around the World

Here are a few birthday traditions from around the world:

China

Traditional Chinese birthdays aren’t even counted the same way as they are in the West. A child’s first year of life is counted as one instead of zero, so that a child is two years old in his second year (their first birthday as we could count it), three years old in his third year (his second birthday), and so on.

In traditional Chinese culture, a baby’s first month birthday is celebrated with a red egg and ginger party. Before modern medicine, infant mortality was very high in many countries, so a child that survived through their first month had a much greater chance of staying alive. This party is when the baby is formally introduced to friends and family and the baby’s name is officially announced for the first time.

Traditionally, the most important birthday in Chinese culture is the 60th. In Chinese culture 60 years is one cycle of life, so 61 is the beginning of a new life. On their birthday morning the person celebrating will eat a bowl of long noodles to symbolize their long life.

England

An old English birthday custom is to mix a coin and thimble into the birthday cake batter. Superstition says that the person who got the coin in their slice of birthday cake would be wealthy, while the unlucky finder of the thimble would never marry.

When someone turns 21 in England (they can legally drink at 18, so it’s not quite the party like it is here in the States), they are sometimes given a key to the house as a symbol of their coming-of-age. The key means their parents have given the birthday boy or girl permission to come and go as they please.

Germany

Historians say that birthday cake tradition started in Germany when the cakes given as treats on Christmas started being given out to celebrate children’s’ birthdays. German birthday cakes are supposed to have candles that burn all day, one for each year they are celebrating.

Never wish a German “happy birthday” before their actual birthday. No cards, no gifts, no nothing! It’s considered bad luck.

If a German man turns 30 and still isn’t married, he is supposed to sweep the steps at City Hall to show they are good husband material to the eligible women in town. Meanwhile, a single woman is supposed to clean all the doorknobs in her house. The only way out of the chore is to get a birthday kiss from a member of the opposite sex!

Holland

In Holland certain birthdays (5, 10, 15, 20, and 21) are called “crown” years. The birthday child (or teen or adult) is supposed to receive an especially large gift that year. Their family also decorates the birthday boy’s/girl’s chair at the table with seasonal flowers or paper streamers, paper flowers and balloons.

In the Netherlands, a man’s 50th birthday is known as “Abraham” after the Biblical patriarch Abraham, who supposedly lived to be 175. Women are known as “Sarah” on their 50th who, according to the Bible, lived until she was 127.

Vietnam

Birthdays as we know it are only really celebrated in the most urban areas of Vietnam, those cities most heavily influenced by Western Culture. Everyone celebrates their birthday on New Year’s Day in Vietnam, also known as “tet.” Vietnamese tradition is that an individual’s actual day of birth is not to be celebrated. Rather, people become a year older every year at tet, regardless of when they were actually born.

South Korea – Seaweed Soup. PIN IT. …
Russia – Personalized Pie. PIN IT. …
China – Longevity Noodles. PIN IT. …
Australia – Fairy Bread. PIN IT. …
The Netherlands – Taarties and Pancakes. PIN IT. …
Sweden – Princess Cake. PIN IT. …
Ghana – Oto. PIN IT.

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5 Health Benefits of Our Green Spaces

Austin Tang — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 12:05:16 +0000

As you get outside this spring, have you ever considered how our green spaces contribute to our health? Studies show that green space and landscaping contribute to health, happiness, and intellect.

It’s natural to long for spring when it’s cold outside. But did you know, there’s a good reason why you may pine for green? Living landscapes are an important part of the outdoor lifestyle that Americans enjoy, but the benefits go beyond the barbeque and backyard baseball. Green spaces are necessary for your health.

“The advantages of grass and landscaping surpass the usual physical benefits that result from outdoor activity,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO, Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). “Numerous studies have found that people who spend more time outside or are exposed to living landscapes are happier, healthier and smarter. As you get ready to get outside this spring with your lawn mower and other outdoor power equipment, it’s great to know being outside is good for you.”

Researchers have studied the impact of nature on human well-being for years, but recent studies have found a more direct correlation between human health, particularly related to stress, and the importance of people’s access to nature and managed landscapes.

Getting dirty is actually good for you. Soil is the new Prozac, according to Dr. Christopher Lowry, a neuroscientist at the University of Bristol in England. Mycobacterium vaccae in soil mirrors the effect on neurons that Prozac provides. The bacterium stimulates serotonin production, which explains why people who spend time gardening, doing yard work, and have direct contact with soil feel more relaxed and happier.

Children who are raised on farms in a “dirtier” environment than an urban setting not only have a stronger immune system but are also better able to manage social stress, according to the National Academy of Sciences.

Living near living landscapes can improve your mental health. Researchers in England found that people moving to greener areas experienced an immediate improvement in mental health that was sustained for at least three years after they moved. The study also showed that people relocating to a more developed area suffered a drop in mental health.

Greening of vacant urban areas in Philadelphia reduced feelings of depression by 41.5% and reduced poor mental health by 62.8% for those living near the vacant lots, according to a study by a research team.

Green spaces can make you healthier too. People who live within a half mile of green space (such parks, public gardens, and greenways) were found to have a lower incidence of fifteen diseases by Dutch researchers — including depression, anxiety, heart disease, diabetes, asthma and migraines.

A 2015 study found that people living on streets with more trees had a boost in heart and metabolic health. Studies show that tasks conducted under the calming influence of nature are performed better and with greater accuracy, yielding a higher quality result. Spending time in gardens, for instance, can improve memory performance and attention span by 20%.

Living landscapes make you smarter. Children gain attention and working memory benefits when they are exposed to greenery, says a study led by Payam Dadvand of the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona, In addition, exposure to natural settings may be widely effective in reducing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in children.

This applies to adults as well. Research has also shown that being around plants helps you concentrate better at home and at work. Charlie Hall, Ellison Chair in International Floriculture believes that spending time in gardens can improve attention span and memory performance by as much as 20 percent.

A National Institute of Health study found that adults demonstrate significant cognitive gains after going on a nature walk. In addition, a Stanford University study found that walking in nature, rather than a concrete-oriented, urban environment, resulted in decreased anxiety, rumination, and negative affect, and produced cognitive benefits, such as increased working memory performance.

Living landscapes help you heal faster. Multiple studies have discovered that plants in hospital recovery rooms or views of aesthetically-pleasing gardens help patients heal up to one day faster than those who are in more sterile or austere environments.

Physicians are now prescribing time outdoors for some patients, according to recent reports. Park Rx America is a non-profit with a mission to encourage physicians to prescribe doses of nature.

All of these benefits reinforce the importance of maintaining our yards, parks and other community green spaces. Trees, shrubs, grass, and flowering plants are integral to human health. Not only do they provide a place for kids and pets to play, they directly contribute to our mental and physical well-being.

More information can be found by visiting www.turfmutt.com

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When in Need Foundation, Godwin Nwoga, Video and Podcast are Here…

admin — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 19:51:51 +0000

http://goodnewsplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/godwin_nwoga_1.mp3

Board Member, Operations Director
Godwin Nwoga is the focused and result driven Director of Operations of When in need foundation. He strives to ensure that the foundation remain on course with its mission and vision as well as being fiscally accountable. He brings a wealth of knowledge from his extensive experience working for Nova Capital partners, Royal Bank of Scotland and Diamond Bank Plc Nigeria. On a day to day basis, Godwin directs the operations of a blossoming health care agency in Philadelphia, PA.
An alumnus of the World Bank Institute, Washington D.C, Godwin holds a Masters degree in Operations Management from the University of West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom. His interests lie in operations and project management, risk management, business development, strategy and innovation. Godwin is a member of the Clinton Foundation 20/30, a global group of leaders in business, government, and civil society.

for more info, go to www.winfound.org

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Manischewitz Today

admin — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 16:15:34 +0000

In September 2008, the company changed it’s name from the R.A.B. Food Group to the Manischewitz Company, under which it operates today.

It all started with Rabbi Dov Behr

The B. Manischewitz Company, LLC traces its beginnings back to the spring of 1888, when Rabbi Dov Behr Manischewitz opened a small Matzo bakery in Cincinnati, Ohio.

A humble beginning

It was largely from his spiritual concerns that he set out to make matzo or unleavened bread for Passover, first for his family and a few friends, but soon for many of the devout Jews of the city. His bakery soon evolved into a successful business, innovative and prosperous––though never inattentive to the spiritual needs of its customers.

From small bakery to booming business

By the end of the century, demand for his matzo had become so great that Rabbi Manischewitz turned to the use of gas-fired ovens, replacing the older coal stoves being used by other Jewish bakers. The newer ovens allowed for much more careful control of the baking speed, insuring a consistent and standard quality to the matzos.
He also introduced portable traveling-tunnel ovens, and was the first to package his matzos for shipment to places beyond the immediate neighborhood of his bakery. He even began shipping his matzos overseas, to such diverse places as England, Japan, France, Hungary, Egypt and New Zealand. His bright, clean bakery would become a model for future kosher bakeries, both in America and abroad.

Matzo on the move

In 1932, the company built a second factory. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, the plant quickly became the model for all new machine-made matzo bakeries worldwide. Closer to a much larger Jewish population than that of Cincinnati, the new factory also made distribution of the company’s product more efficient and quickly enlarged its customer base. The Manischewitz label was soon dominant in ethnic grocery stores and delicatessens in the larger East Coast cities. Thanks to the technology and efficiency of the New Jersey factory, Manischewitz was able to close down the Cincinnati facility altogether.

Same quality, more quantity

In 1940, Manischewitz produced its first Tam Tam cracker. It signaled the initial departure from its line of matzo products. About the same time, in a licensing arrangement, Manischewitz wines began to be sold throughout the country.
In 1954, the company purchased a processing plant located in Vineland, New Jersey. The Vineland facility, which has now ceased operations, manufactured all of the company’s canned and jarred products, including old familiar favorites like gefilte fish, chicken soup and borscht. The plant was primarily a hand-pack processing operation stressing careful attention to quality and flexibility. Workers there packed about 2,000,000 lbs. of fish and 1,000,000 lbs. of beets each year.

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THE BUTLER DID IT! AD COPY TITLE SUPPLIED BY Al ATTARA – SUPER BOWL EARNS HIGHEST RATINGS EVER

admin — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 19:33:55 +0000

Super Bowl XLIX wasn’t only a success for the New England Patriots. NBC also scored big with the Super Bowl earning its highest overnight ratings in history. It delivered a 49.7 overnight rating, which was in no small part to the tight game. The Pats scored two unanswered fourth-quarter touchdowns and staved off a last-minute miracle catch to win Super Bowl XLIX, 28-24. With 2:02 left, Russell Wilson marched the Seattle Seahawks down the field, complete with a miracle catch by Jermaine Kearse, who snared a tipped ball from the ground. But with the ball at the 1-yard line, Seattle Coach Pete Carroll opted to throw the ball with less than 30 seconds left. New England DB Malcolm Butler picked off Wilson’s pass to finish the game and give the Patriots their fourth Super Bowl victory. Tom Brady set a Super Bowl record with 37 completions and four TDs on 328 yards. Julian Edelman caught nine passes for 109 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

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MISS FANNY TANG TO DEBUT AT THE INTERNATIONAL DEBUTANTE BALL

admin — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:00:41 +0000

Miss Fanny Tang, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Weixing Tang will make her debut at The 60th International Debutante Ball on Monday, December 29th, 2014, in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

Fanny attends the University of Lausanne’s Faculty of Biology and Medicine in Switzerland. She plays the piano, and loves music, writing, art and sports.

Miss Fanny Tang’s father, Weixing Tang, is the President of the China Sales Group LTD. Her mother, Honglin Zhang, is the President of CAASC Europe.
For her debut, Miss Fanny Tang has chose to wear a strapless gown designed by Guo Pei, one of the most renowned designers in China. The dress features gold accents, including golden flowers embellished with Swarovski crystals.
The International Debutante Ball, founded in 1954, is considered one of the most prestigious debutante presentations. Young women of distinction from all over the country and around the globe are brought together at the ball and the surrounding parties with daughters of Diplomats, titled Europeans, Ambassadors, Governors and Presidents of the United States. Over the years, the ball has benefited numerous charities through the International Debutante Ball Foundation, including one of its major beneficiaries, the Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club of New York, which provides a home away from home for the men and women of our Armed Services.

FORTY-SIX WOMEN MADE THEIR BOWS AT THE 60th INTERNATIONAL DEBUTANTE BALL Monday, December 29th, 2014

Forty-six women of distinction from the United States and abroad made their bows to society at the 60th Anniversary of the International Debutante Ball. The debutantes represented Austria, China, England, Hong Kong, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and twelve American states. Each debutante was accompanied by her own escort in white tie and tails, and a military cadet who carried the flag of the country or state which she represented. This year there were five sets of sisters.

Sponsored by Piaget, and The Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation the Ball benefits go to The International Debutante Ball Foundation which supports numerous charities. The primary charity is The Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club, a home away from home for the military and their families. Partial support will go to the American Ballet Theater, Friends of Versailles and the American Theater Wing among others.

The ball was founded in 1954 by Beatrice Dinsmore Joyce as a charity and the tradition continues today directed by her niece, Mrs. Gregory Scott Hedberg, Director and General Chairman. This year the Honorary Chairmen were Ms. Anne Eisenhower, Mrs. David R. Hamilton and Ms. Julia Irene Kauffman and Ball Chairmen included Mrs. Andrew E. Beer, Mrs. Spencer Neville Brown, Mrs. Ryland E.D. Chase, Mrs. D. David Eisenhower, Ms. Susan Eisenhower, and Mrs. William Dean McNaughton

For more information: www.internationaldebutanteball.com

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Toad in the Hole (traditional Dish in England)

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 06:34:05 +0000

Toad in the Hole
What could be more delicious than sausage encased in a crisp, Golden Yorkshire Pudding smothered in gravy? Absolutely nothing. That is a Toad in the Hole. This is a very traditional Dish in England – a hearty meal perfect for a chilly winter night.
Don’t worry there are definitely no toads involved! The origin of the name “Toad-in-the-Hole” is often disputed. Many suggestions are that the dish’s resemblance to a toad sticking its head out of a hole provides the dish with its somewhat unusual name. It is rumored to have been called “Frog-in-the-Hole” in the past, although little evidence exists to support this theory.[2] It has also been referred to as “sausage toad”. Yorkshire pudding is a delicious batter that is baked in the oven (think of a popover but fluffier and significantly tastier!)
The recipe is actually very simple, but takes practice to cook perfectly as success relies on getting the batter into the pan at the right moment.
The batter is a simple pancake recipe (eggs and flour beaten until smooth with milk gradually added) it is then added to a pan that has been oiled and heating in a hot oven for about 15 minutes. The batter should sizzle and start to take shape immediately. If the oil is not hot enough your batter will not rise and will be a soggy disaster. The sausages are laid in the batter and the whole thing bakes for approximately 30 minutes.
Typically it is served with vegetables, mashed potatoes and onion gravy. Although I enjoy it with cauliflower cheese and baked beans (English Heinz variety are the only way to go!!). Usually pork sausages are used but I’ve experimented with veggie and chicken sausages with great results!
This is the ultimate comfort food – warm and inviting and my go to whenever I’m missing home.
Give it a try and you will not be disappointed! Whoever said that English cuisine was bad clearly had never eaten a great Toad in the Hole.:)

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