In my province in Pampanga, these lanterns would find their way during the Christmas season....People would cost them a lot just to have one displayed in their homes...but if you want to see more of these beautiful lanterns just visit San Fernando, Pampanga one of the greatest cities we have producing great lanterns....
I remember the "drama" I had with lanterns when I was younger^^....It was Simbang Gabi then and Noche Buena....The whole family except my late father went out to go to church for the Noche Buena mass....I was maybe 8 yrs old then and I was the only one left behind with my father coz they refused to wake me up because they said I was really so sleepy at that time....So when I woke up, they were already at the church....I went down the stairs crying....The more I even looked exactly like Bruce Lee then^_~from too much crying(sob sob T_T)....So my father was trying to pacify me....He told me to stop crying so what he did I remember was to point at me the beautiful lantern in our neighborhood....Although it was really hard for me to stop crying coz I really wanted to attend the Noche Buena mass....He sat beside me and told me about the lantern as the symbol of that light that had guided the three kings from finding the Child Jesus....and we just sat there for an hour and looked at that beautiful lantern....until I stopped crying....After that my father promised me that no matter what they would take me to the mass during the Noche Buena^^....but, by just looking at the lantern I may say by now that somehow I was already part of the thanksgiving mass we have for the birth of the Child Jesus....
A lot of people start decorating for the holidays before the Thanksgiving leftovers have been eaten... What about you? When are you going to start putting up your holiday decorations this year?
Have started decorating since the first week of November^^...We should not forget to show our Jesus in a manger and the Advent wreath.....
Advent is a season that begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, when the Church commemorates the centuries of waiting for the arrival of the Savior promised to the Jews in the Old Testament. For Christians, the season of Advent is a time of quiet meditation in preparation for the Christmas celebration in honor of the birth of Jesus.
Each of the four weeks before Christmas in churches, and in many homes, candles will be lit on an Advent wreath. The history of using a lighted wreath of greens to celebrate the anticipation of the birth of Christ dates to the 9th century AD, when Christians adopted the candle-lit wreath as a symbol of the new faith.
The circle is an ancient symbol, used by many ancient cultures to symbolize eternity. The evergreen branches are also ancient symbols for eternal life. Christians took these ancient symbols and "baptized" them, giving them Christian meanings. The candles symbolized Christ, the Light of the World. Together, the Advent wreath then, is a message, that symbolizes Christ, the Eternal Light of the World.
By the 16th century Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, throughout Europe commonly used these symbols to celebrate their hope in Christ. Homes, churches, and public buildings all across Europe used Advent wreathes.
Traditionally, the Advent wreath is made of four candles in a circle of evergreens. Three of the candles are purple, and one is pink (rose). Each day the candles are lighted, perhaps before the evening meal- one candle the first week, and then adding another each succeeding week, until December 25th.
Purple, symbolizes penitence (sorrow for wrong-doing) and humility. Advent is a time of solemn preparation for the Feast of Christmas - the dawn of new Light in the world and the fulfillment of Hope, with the birth of Jesus. Although most people tend to equate the Christmas season with joy and anticipation, during our Advent reflections we pray and meditate on the reasons why God had to send us a Savior. Thus, Advent is actually seen as a "penitential" season.
Rose symbolizes joy. The rose colored (pink) candle is burned beginning with the third week of Advent to symbolize the "half-way" point in the dark time of waiting. The third Sunday of Advent is called "Gaudete Sunday". Gaudete is the Latin word for "joy," and on Gaudete Sunday we focus on our anticipatory joy in the coming of our Savior.
She changes her image many times throughout the year through different model shoots.
This time for the Viviene Morning concept, Sin Min-ah is wearing different lingeries mix matching with different styles
Sin Min-ah is beautiful and has been shooting for this Viviene 2010 calendar that will hit the sales desks soon!
Read more: http://www.hancinema.net/korean_Sin_Min-ah.php#ixzz0Xw8DpFQc
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Share Alik
When we were younger we get to be invited by our American friends on their thanksgiving celebration....so I just wanna greet them a Happy Thanksgiving day^^
Sneeze...sneeeeze!!!....I have a cold right now....but it is manageable^^
I was trying to finish some of my paper works in school...It will be a busy month for us this December so I'm taking steps one day at a time to be able to beat some deadines....It also helps us when we try to have things done earlier even by doing so little by little....I noticed that the load becomes less heavier or work seems to be manageable with God's grace ofcourse....
I consider everyday as always a blessing from God^^
What was your favorite class in high school? (And no, lunch doesn't count.)
Religion class:)....It felt like we're all in the ICU then^^whenever our teacher would tell us some parables....and during those times we're really struggling financially and life was quite difficult....So I guess it gave me inspiration to appreciate life more^^
December is a busy month yet it seems like everything just comes so smoothly during this particular month.....Like every Filipino would get excited about the coming celebrations it offers and everyone learns to offer a gift with one another.....although my real wish for us would be to become humble like what Jesus had shown us from the time of His birth and until now....We should be humble enough in asking blessings from God and in giving what we have to others....We should be thankful to all the gifts God has given us....Be thankful on what we have now and do not ask for too much....and share to others the blessings He has given us....
I still love collecting pictures of shin min ah....I just love seeing her smile^^
