Christmas is classically a peak selling season for retailers in many nations around the world. Sales increase dramatically as all rich and poor purchase gifts, decorations, and supplies to celebrate. In the U.S, the “Christmas shopping season” starts as early as October. In Canada, marketers begin advertising campaigns just before Halloween, (it is a yearly ritual observed in a number of countries to remember all dead people on October 31st), and step up their marketing following Remembrance Day on November 11. In the UK and Ireland, the Christmas shopping season starts from mid November; around the time when high street Christmas lights are turned on to mark the beginning of celebrations. In Mexico it begins from third week.  In the United States, it has been calculated that a quarter of all personal spending takes place during the Christmas shopping season. The winter breeze has a charm in it; shopping in winter is a blissful affair.

Winter season has a rustic appeal. Winter is the coldest season of the year. December and January are chiefly the winter months. Cold winds blow from the north. Thick fog often hides the sun, and cold becomes severe. People are seen basking in the sun, or sitting around the fire, to keep their body warm. In winter, we get lovely fruits and vegetables; it gives us various kinds of seasonal flowers; Dalais, Roses, Lily, Lavender, Primrose, Daisy, and Begonia and many other seasonal beautiful flowers make the season multihued. The winter sky is clear and blue. The roads and paths are clean and dry. You can go for long walks without sweating. The winter sun is mild and warm. Everyone is in full of amusement. The winter season is lit with nice, dim beautiful sconces. The beautiful, cold dew drops on rooftops and ground look as beautiful as pearls. The cold morning with nice music and deep-red rising sun is what people wait for. Winter is indeed a season to be celebrated.

The month of December being the last month of year usually passes fast because of the Christmas and year-end. People usually prefer celebrating year ends in far-off destinations. Therefore after 15^th December you find many people opting for leave. Holiday plans are made well in advance.

And 31st December means celebration for every individual. The New Year carries special symbolism for one and all. And why is the celebration of the New Year so common around the world, as it has been for at least as long as there have been calendars? Behavior that everywhere must surely be tied to something natural in the human beings, something intensely meaningful and important given all the energy and resources we put into both the celebration and our efforts to make good on which we start working well in advance. As common as the celebration of New Year’s Day is, it may be that the symbolism we attach to this one moment is rooted in one of the most powerful motivations of all, and that is our motivation to stay alive another year. And, many of us make list resolutions for the New Year. So what even if we fail to keep most of them…..

At one second past midnight on Sunday, the day will change to Monday, which is otherwise normal ordinary transition that happens every day, with no connotation. But somehow this change, which will end one old year and begin the next New Year 2018. That makes the difference. This unique tick of the clock has always encouraged all of us to celebrate, welcoming the New Year with new zeal and new enthusiasm. On the other hand, some people experience a sense of nostalgia as they reflect on the events that took place in their lives in the past 12 months. To step outside to live day-to-day in which we’re at all times so busy with. For many of us the last day of the year is the day to reflect back; to look flipside, take stock, to assess how we did in the year, and to cheerfully resolve to do better and look forward. Ha! Another year, it’s time to raise our glasses and toast to “our survival” yes, another year to accomplish many more things.

Some people celebrate New Year’s Eve by attending midnight church services, while others gather around in public venues such as hotels, clubs and many gather in friend’s house, grounds etc. The size of festive events for New Year’s Eve varies in size and theme. Some people attend formal masquerade balls while others have costume parties. Many New Year’s Eve celebrations are commenced with firework.

Many people start counting down to New Year’s Day in the last minute or seconds before the last night of the year ends and the New Year begins. Some people tune into watching televised countdowns. As the clock strikes midnight into New Year’s Day, many people celebrate this event by exchanging hugs, kisses, and wish each other a “Happy New Year”. In some parts of the world, including in the United States, many people sing the Scottish song “Auld Lang Syne” during the New Year’s Eve celebrations. The song means can old acquaintances be forgotten and never be brought to mind? The song references the love and kindness that was experienced in the past; it also gives listeners a sense of union and belonging to bring with them into the future. Because of its meaning it’s quite fitting song to be sung on New Year eve.

It is important to note that not all cultures follow the Gregorian calendar in observing New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. But, the Hindus, Chinese, Coptic, Jewish, Islamic calendars differ to that of the Gregorian calendar. However, for businesses around the world, 1^st Jan marks a new beginning of a calendar year.

Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas!!

]]> https://drvidyahattangadi.com/what-is-the-meaning-of-christmas/feed/ 0 https://drvidyahattangadi.com/why-eating-seasonally-and-locally-is-good/ https://drvidyahattangadi.com/why-eating-seasonally-and-locally-is-good/#respond Thu, 18 Jul 2019 01:01:42 +0000 http://drvidyahattangadi.com/?p=5713

What is seasonal food? Seasonal food is produce that is purchased and consumed around the time that it is harvested. Seasonal eating includes eating fresh fruits and vegetables that haven’t been processed chemically or transported long distances. Processing foods includes things such as tinning, blanching and dehydrating foods to enhance their life span.

For example, during Monsoon our body becomes vulnerable to waterborne infections and diseases. Hence our health takes a toll. Fruits and vegetables like pumpkins, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, sweet potatoes, corn, eggplant, cauliflower, cranberries, blueberries, apples, beets, ginger, garlic, Brussel sprouts etc. are good during this season.  Corn, gram flour and chick peas are considered drying foods and are better to eat during the rainy season. Herbal teas are a nice and healthy way to stay warm during the rains. Hot soups are also a good idea; you can even add some garlic to your soup so that it can improve immunity.

In winter, the most warming vegetables that are good for our body are root vegetables like carrot, potato, onions, garlic, radish, yams, sweet potatoes, beets, turnips, etc, and hearty winter greens like palak, methi, sarson, muli, pudina, etc.

In summer season, make spicy buttermilk, or sweet lassi. You can also make raita and can eat it with your food. Another option to eat curd is by adding seasonal fruits in it or by making lip-smacking smoothies. Coconut water is the best summer drink. Besides, berries, pineapple, watermelons, pears, passion fruits, and peaches are good for our immune system.

Seasonal foods are environment friendly: When we eat seasonally, the farmers get a support from us because of our dependence upon local produce. Also, logistically the need for transportation, refrigeration, and hot houses comes down making seasonal foods environment friendly.

Nature’s suggestion: According to many nutritionists, it is nature’s proposition for people to eat locally and seasonally as all foods in nature give energy. Fruits in monsoon are naturally rich in vitamin-C which is needed to fight infections that we are prone to in that season. Oranges, lemons, berries, kiwi, broccoli, and sprouts are the best to consume. Mother Nature wants us to eat and be healthy in each season whatever she gives. Eating off-season foods is a very recent practice. Our ancestors did not have many choices available. They depended on the bounty of the seasons to fill their plates. Diets consisted of what could be grown, foraged or hunted. Every season offered valuable contributions to the pantry.

Seasonal food is fresher, tastier and more nutritious than food consumed out of season: Even though we all like to eat strawberries year round, the best time to eat them is when they can be purchased directly from a local grower shortly after harvest. Seasonal fruits and vegetables produced on local farms are fresher, as they do not require long distances for transportation. Also, unlike out of season produce which is harvested early in order to be shipped and distributed to our local retail store, crops picked at their peak of ripeness are also better tasting and full of flavor. What’s more, studies have shown that fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients when allowed to ripen naturally on their parent plant.

Local food benefits the environment: Purchasing locally grown foods helps support local farms and maintains farmland and open space in your community. A recent USDA study also found that direct-to-consumer producers were less likely to apply pesticides and herbicides to control weeds and insects than conventional producers. Local food supports the local economy. The money you spend on products from local farmers and growers stays in the community and is reinvested with other local businesses. In addition, food grown locally, processed locally and distributed locally generates jobs and subsequently helps stimulate local economies.

Local farmers can tell us how the food was grown: In the 21st century, most of us have become victims to instant gratification; we get what we wish to and we eat what we wish to. Even though this sounds like a dream come true, it is important to realize the importance of eating seasonal foods when they are available rather than opting for off-season foods.
It is worth understanding that tomatoes cannot be produced in winters without the help of technology? It is inevitable in this case that the nutrition level of off-season foods goes down. The foods that are available to us round the clock are made available through various processes like cold storage and cannot even be compared to foods that are freshly produced.

Wellness first: In winters, our body demands fruits and vegetables that are high in citrus and Vitamin-C. These are important for preventing infections that you are prone to in winters. Winter vegetables are perfect for hot meals and soups. Similarly, the fruits and vegetables in summers are usually very watery in order to keep the body rejuvenated and hydrated.

Transportation of food does not just lead to a drop in taste but also exposes the food to a risk of contamination. A lot of other countries may not have very strict rules against the use of pesticides, wax coating etc. Some agriculture areas are also known to have a lot of heavy metal and toxic contaminates because of industrial sites and agriculture sites inhabiting the same space. Soil contamination tests are also necessary to check soil and land quality but are not being done at a lot of places. It is important to be careful on this front since this can lead to serious health hazards.