Handy Manny is a Disney show for young children about a local repairman named Manny, in the made up town of Sheetrock Hills. Manny is a bilingual man, who speaks both English and Spanish and the show is designed to help teach the beginnings of Spanish and promote acceptance of Spanish speaking cultures. It has become very successful, and to date has completed three seasons of about 25 episodes each.
The story concentrates on Manny as he takes calls and goes around town with his set of talking tools to fix things in need of repair at the other stores in town. As is the norm for children's shows the plot of each episode is easy to follow, repetitive, and virtually the same every episode. He generally gets a call, then he leaves to go fix whatever was broken at another shop. Manny can never repair the problem right away, and winds up needing to go to Kelly's Hardware Store. Kelly, who seemingly likes Manny, always has just what he needs to finish the job. He then returns to the other store to finish his job, then returns to his repair shop at the end of the episode. During all of this, the man who owns the candy store across the street, Mr. Lopart, usually can't fix something as well, but he is too stubborn to accept help from Manny and winds up making things worse. The show boasts themes like recycling and buying hybrid cars (they in fact put an environmentally friendly electric motor in someones car once) to try and raise awareness about these things amongst children.
Although shows aimed at young children usually don't attract star actors, Handy Manny does actually have a few stars in its cast. Manny is played by Wilmer Valderrama, more commonly known as Fez from That 70's Show, and Mr. Lopart is voiced by Tom Kenny, who also voices SpongeBob Squarepants. The show has also attracted guest stars like Snoop Dogg, Lance Bass, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Henry Winkler.
Disney has created a wonderful product which they hope will impact younger generations in a positive way, and it seems to be growing steadily. Handy Manny costumes and toys are extremely popular among younger children. Parents can rest easy knowing that what their children have on has a good set of values at its core and that it is an entertaining show as well. So parents get your talking tools ready because Handy Manny will more than likely be around for years to come.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thanksgiving Parties Need Turkey Costumes
Why have a Thanksgiving Party?
Thanksgiving has always been a no frills holiday. The concept is simply to get in tune with the history of this country, and to be thankful for the luxuries we do have instead of always being worried about what we lack. We do this by bringing together a fewrelatives and feasting on a nice big turkey and perhaps watching some football. No gifts are exchanged, no fireworks are set off, you don't get visited by the Easter Bunny or Santa, we just eat a massive dinner. Have you ever found yourself hoping Thanksgiving could be a little more than just that? Well, for some people it's becoming just that!
Turkey costumes are beginning to surge in demand and are helping to change the traditions of Thanksgiving! Why attend a mind-numbing Thanksgiving dinner when you could throw a big Thanksgiving costume party! Turkey costumes are not the only choices for a Thanksgiving party. One could also dress up like an Indian or a pilgrim too sp the party features a great mixture of Thanksgiving symbols at the party. In place of getting everyone to the table for a supper you might want to make a buffet table with turkey and mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes to leave everybody open to mingle. It sure beats hearing about your father talk about his golf swing for the 7th year in a row! It surely hasn't become the norm, but throwing a Thanksgiving costume party is quickly becoming an in style substitute. Think about it the next time you begin to plan your Turkey Day, you may become part of a new tradition!
OK So...We're Throwing a Party...What Do We Do?
A Thanksgiving party isn't always simple to plan for. Most people out there are familiar with merely preparing a dinner, not hosting a get together, so what else can be done at a Thanksgiving party except watch football and eat turkey? Not sure? Well you're in luck, because I have a few perfect ideas outlined for you which should be able to help you out along the way! Thanksgiving won't ever be the same again after you start to boogy on down with these fantastic party tips!
Who wouldn't want to be the first one to cut the Turkey. That initial cut into the golden brown skin is so fulfilling, all that tender meat and that lovely scent. Well, instead of simply letting mom or dad do it by default, why not play for it it! The game you play could be anything, including a party wide odds or evens tournament, a pin the tail on the turkey game,or even merely drawing straws. You can also organize a "turkey hunt" by printing out images of turkeys and hiding them all around the home. The one who comes back with the most turkeys claims the prize! If the reward is getting to cut the turkey everybody will want to play! So what do you say fathers out there, are you going to put your money where your mouth is? Or are you a big old chicken whos greedy with his turkey!
One other way to add a spark to a good Thanksgiving party is to dress up. You can pretend to be a pilgrim, or a native American, there are even a couple funny Turkey Costume available for those who want to be the center of the night! Throw in a few people dressed like members of the Detroit Lions or Dallas Cowboys (and lets not forget their cheerleaders!) who have historically played football on Thanksgiving Day for over 80 years combined and you'll have an awesome mix of great conversation starting costumes to really make you thankful you had a Thanksgiving party!
Last but not least it'll be time for turkey and I'm positive that after such a fun filled day of running around your guests will be more than ready to do just that! So get the person who won the rights to slice the bird, and start eating!
The Parade is Always Fun on Thanksgiving As Well
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or simply the Macy's Day Parade is a staple of Thanksgiving Day in New York City. It, as well as the long running parades in Detroit and Philadelphia, is one of the largest and most well-known parades held on Turkey Day in the United States. It began in 1924 when first generation Americans who were employed at Macy's decided to show off their newfound American pride by honoring a uniquely American holiday, Thanksgiving, in a similar fashion to the ways they had observed holidays in the "Old Country". Currently one of the more celebrated end of the year traditions, particularly in NYC, it has notedly been mentioned in many other areas of culture one great example was the way it was a
centerpiece of the story in the Holiday Season classic A Miracle on 34th Street. The famous rock and roll band Green Day also wrote a tune titled Macy's Day Parade which was showcased on the album Warning, and the groups compilation album "International Superhits".
The Macy's Day Parade originally was held along a 6 mile course in downtown Manhattan which started in Harlem and end at Herald Square. Today it still ends relatively near to Herald Square but starts by Central Park West. It had huge floats, people who work at Macy's wearing vibrant Thanksgiving Costumes, rare animals from local zoos and of course Santa Claus! St. Nick has become a key aspect of the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade, so much so that many consider seeing Santa at the parade to be the start of the Christmas season. The event was so successful in its first year that they decided to make it an annual event right there. The real animals were traded away for the gargantuan balloons we know and love and Santa Claus, who had at first only showed up at Macy's department store, was upgraded to sitting on a float. The first balloon ever in the parade was the classic cartoon character Felix the Cat, but others such as Kermit the Frog and Snoopy soon followed.
Another big part of the Macy's Day Parade is the performances by the casts of Broadway musicals. Shows like Mamma Mia, Young Frankenstein, and Footloose, have sent performs to do a part their show somewhere along the parade route. The legendary precision dance troop The Rockettes started the trend of putting on dancing performances in 1957, and have participated every year since!
Tha Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is quite a sight to see and regularly draws hundreds of thousands of people and is broadcast on television as well. If you have yet to see it in person and you live in the New York City area you might want to check it out, you certainly won't regret it!
Thanksgiving has always been a no frills holiday. The concept is simply to get in tune with the history of this country, and to be thankful for the luxuries we do have instead of always being worried about what we lack. We do this by bringing together a fewrelatives and feasting on a nice big turkey and perhaps watching some football. No gifts are exchanged, no fireworks are set off, you don't get visited by the Easter Bunny or Santa, we just eat a massive dinner. Have you ever found yourself hoping Thanksgiving could be a little more than just that? Well, for some people it's becoming just that!
Turkey costumes are beginning to surge in demand and are helping to change the traditions of Thanksgiving! Why attend a mind-numbing Thanksgiving dinner when you could throw a big Thanksgiving costume party! Turkey costumes are not the only choices for a Thanksgiving party. One could also dress up like an Indian or a pilgrim too sp the party features a great mixture of Thanksgiving symbols at the party. In place of getting everyone to the table for a supper you might want to make a buffet table with turkey and mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes to leave everybody open to mingle. It sure beats hearing about your father talk about his golf swing for the 7th year in a row! It surely hasn't become the norm, but throwing a Thanksgiving costume party is quickly becoming an in style substitute. Think about it the next time you begin to plan your Turkey Day, you may become part of a new tradition!
OK So...We're Throwing a Party...What Do We Do?
A Thanksgiving party isn't always simple to plan for. Most people out there are familiar with merely preparing a dinner, not hosting a get together, so what else can be done at a Thanksgiving party except watch football and eat turkey? Not sure? Well you're in luck, because I have a few perfect ideas outlined for you which should be able to help you out along the way! Thanksgiving won't ever be the same again after you start to boogy on down with these fantastic party tips!
Who wouldn't want to be the first one to cut the Turkey. That initial cut into the golden brown skin is so fulfilling, all that tender meat and that lovely scent. Well, instead of simply letting mom or dad do it by default, why not play for it it! The game you play could be anything, including a party wide odds or evens tournament, a pin the tail on the turkey game,or even merely drawing straws. You can also organize a "turkey hunt" by printing out images of turkeys and hiding them all around the home. The one who comes back with the most turkeys claims the prize! If the reward is getting to cut the turkey everybody will want to play! So what do you say fathers out there, are you going to put your money where your mouth is? Or are you a big old chicken whos greedy with his turkey!
One other way to add a spark to a good Thanksgiving party is to dress up. You can pretend to be a pilgrim, or a native American, there are even a couple funny Turkey Costume available for those who want to be the center of the night! Throw in a few people dressed like members of the Detroit Lions or Dallas Cowboys (and lets not forget their cheerleaders!) who have historically played football on Thanksgiving Day for over 80 years combined and you'll have an awesome mix of great conversation starting costumes to really make you thankful you had a Thanksgiving party!
Last but not least it'll be time for turkey and I'm positive that after such a fun filled day of running around your guests will be more than ready to do just that! So get the person who won the rights to slice the bird, and start eating!
The Parade is Always Fun on Thanksgiving As Well
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or simply the Macy's Day Parade is a staple of Thanksgiving Day in New York City. It, as well as the long running parades in Detroit and Philadelphia, is one of the largest and most well-known parades held on Turkey Day in the United States. It began in 1924 when first generation Americans who were employed at Macy's decided to show off their newfound American pride by honoring a uniquely American holiday, Thanksgiving, in a similar fashion to the ways they had observed holidays in the "Old Country". Currently one of the more celebrated end of the year traditions, particularly in NYC, it has notedly been mentioned in many other areas of culture one great example was the way it was a
centerpiece of the story in the Holiday Season classic A Miracle on 34th Street. The famous rock and roll band Green Day also wrote a tune titled Macy's Day Parade which was showcased on the album Warning, and the groups compilation album "International Superhits".
The Macy's Day Parade originally was held along a 6 mile course in downtown Manhattan which started in Harlem and end at Herald Square. Today it still ends relatively near to Herald Square but starts by Central Park West. It had huge floats, people who work at Macy's wearing vibrant Thanksgiving Costumes, rare animals from local zoos and of course Santa Claus! St. Nick has become a key aspect of the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade, so much so that many consider seeing Santa at the parade to be the start of the Christmas season. The event was so successful in its first year that they decided to make it an annual event right there. The real animals were traded away for the gargantuan balloons we know and love and Santa Claus, who had at first only showed up at Macy's department store, was upgraded to sitting on a float. The first balloon ever in the parade was the classic cartoon character Felix the Cat, but others such as Kermit the Frog and Snoopy soon followed.
Another big part of the Macy's Day Parade is the performances by the casts of Broadway musicals. Shows like Mamma Mia, Young Frankenstein, and Footloose, have sent performs to do a part their show somewhere along the parade route. The legendary precision dance troop The Rockettes started the trend of putting on dancing performances in 1957, and have participated every year since!
Tha Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is quite a sight to see and regularly draws hundreds of thousands of people and is broadcast on television as well. If you have yet to see it in person and you live in the New York City area you might want to check it out, you certainly won't regret it!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Santa Suits and Santa Costumes
Have you ever wondered where our current image of Santa Claus came from? He didn't always wear one of those stereotypical Santa Costumes and fly behind Rudolph's red nose, but you would think so when you think about how common our present-day practices are. The figure that is Santa has a seemingly endless past and is in reality based on numerous various real people and similar legendary personas from various nations.
One of the most pivotal historical people in the creation of our contemporary appearance of Santa Claus is St. Nicholas of Myra. Born in what was then considered a state of Greece, (it's now part of Turkey) St. Nicholas was a Bishop in Myra and over half a dozen cities around the world call him their patron saint. St. Nicholas was renowned for looking after children and leaving gifts secretly while it was night, especially for putting coins on the boots of individuals that knew to put them at their door for him.
An older folkloric figure which played into the creation of what we know as Santa Claus is the English Father Christmas. Father Christmas was noted for sporting a vibrant green tunic and was considered to be a personification of Christmas joy. He was comparable to the ghost of Christmas present in Charles Dickens' popular work A Christmas Carol. However, he was not linked to bringing presents or even noted to have a soft spot for children.
The tales of the two figures eventually began to blend into one signature personality across Europe and quickly spread to America. The modern day features of this new hybrid character that we are aware of currently such as the jolly laugh and round belly, and factory at the North Pole, were believe it or not, given to us by historical figures you probably wouldn't have expected. The initial representation of Santa Claus as we know him today was illustrated by Thomas
Nast who is considered to be the father of political cartoons in the U.S.. Another major element was the popular poem we now call "The Night Before Christmas" which created the legend that he slides down chimneys, flies on a sleigh and lands on everyone's roof. This new picture of Santa was pushed into the masses by ads from Coca Cola and the book The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus written by L. Frank Baum. In case you aren't sure where you've heard that name before, L. Frank Baum is the man who published The Wizard of Oz and many of it's sequels.
Obviously Santa Claus has transformed throughout time, and works that most likely seemed trivial in their time became mythology. Santa Claus will more than likely continue to develop and several of the movies or books about him from today might have an effect on that evolution. Hey, maybe in the future they will imagine Santa has always seemed like Tim Allen and couldn't trim his big old bushy beard even if he wanted to!
Ever Wonder Why Santa Suits Cost So Much? It's Because They're Worth it!
HO HO HO ! It doesn't matter if you are readying yourself for the Christmas season or simply regularly have Santa in the back of your mind a Santa Suit is often a nice product to possess. Santa suits are able to entertain kids at a Christmas get together and they could even gain you a bit of money if you start working as a mall Santa! According to those in the know a mall Santa can pull in almost twenty five thousand dollars in the holiday season alone! Even if you aren't looking to earn money seeing your child or grandchild smile when Santa enters the room is priceless! What else could you possibly need?
Santa suits (WCC) may also be a fantastic and unique option for a Halloween costume! Is there anyone out there who is anticipating someone to combine holidays like that? Of course not, but they'll howl with laughter when you do! It could also serve as a part of a wonderful group costume if your pals dress as reindeer, or even the figures from the iconic holiday melding flick a Nightmare Before Christmas! Santa deserves to get out and have a good time too! All the folks at your next event are sure to make their way onto your nice list you show up dressed as jolly ol' St. Nick next Halloween! You would surely have a blast!
A high quality Santa suit can be priced at upwards of $500, but with all of the excellent possibilities it'd definitely be well worth the money. For a couple of hundred bucks you can put smiles on the children in your family's face for generations to come. You can also earn that cash back and then some merely working only a few hours a day at a mall, and you could even wear it around Halloween. If there was ever a costume on this Earth that is mass produced but worth the expensive fee, it is certainly a Santa suit. You will surely grin as much as the kids who watch you in it, no matter what your reasons are!
Santa Finds Time to Relax In the Summer.....A Little....
Santa Claus is very hard worker. When he finishes delivering gifts to millions of kids all around the world he deserves some time off. Rumor has it that Santa is a big fan of the tropics all through the summer time. Regardless of where he exactly heads, he always winds up incorporating a little work into his vacation and he is sure to do quite a few of the following things:
1. Stay pleasantly plump by eating tacos and cake.
2. Read up on the upcoming trends in the toy market.
3. Draft up a model for an elegant new suit.
4. Sport some flip flops and tropical t-shirts.
5. Giving Rudolph a break and traveling by plane.
6. Managing the elves in the North Pole from his iPhone.
7. Selling his old Santa Claus Suits to his favorite mall Santas so they can look official.
8. Trimming his beard so he doesn't get confused for a member of ZZ Top come Christmas.
9. Making Mrs. Clause merry!
10. Sipping a few Pina Coladas.
Obviously Santa’s work is never done even while he's on vacation! If you see him in the summertime, don't bother him, that will place you on his nice list for sure!
One of the most pivotal historical people in the creation of our contemporary appearance of Santa Claus is St. Nicholas of Myra. Born in what was then considered a state of Greece, (it's now part of Turkey) St. Nicholas was a Bishop in Myra and over half a dozen cities around the world call him their patron saint. St. Nicholas was renowned for looking after children and leaving gifts secretly while it was night, especially for putting coins on the boots of individuals that knew to put them at their door for him.
An older folkloric figure which played into the creation of what we know as Santa Claus is the English Father Christmas. Father Christmas was noted for sporting a vibrant green tunic and was considered to be a personification of Christmas joy. He was comparable to the ghost of Christmas present in Charles Dickens' popular work A Christmas Carol. However, he was not linked to bringing presents or even noted to have a soft spot for children.
The tales of the two figures eventually began to blend into one signature personality across Europe and quickly spread to America. The modern day features of this new hybrid character that we are aware of currently such as the jolly laugh and round belly, and factory at the North Pole, were believe it or not, given to us by historical figures you probably wouldn't have expected. The initial representation of Santa Claus as we know him today was illustrated by Thomas
Nast who is considered to be the father of political cartoons in the U.S.. Another major element was the popular poem we now call "The Night Before Christmas" which created the legend that he slides down chimneys, flies on a sleigh and lands on everyone's roof. This new picture of Santa was pushed into the masses by ads from Coca Cola and the book The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus written by L. Frank Baum. In case you aren't sure where you've heard that name before, L. Frank Baum is the man who published The Wizard of Oz and many of it's sequels.
Obviously Santa Claus has transformed throughout time, and works that most likely seemed trivial in their time became mythology. Santa Claus will more than likely continue to develop and several of the movies or books about him from today might have an effect on that evolution. Hey, maybe in the future they will imagine Santa has always seemed like Tim Allen and couldn't trim his big old bushy beard even if he wanted to!
Ever Wonder Why Santa Suits Cost So Much? It's Because They're Worth it!
HO HO HO ! It doesn't matter if you are readying yourself for the Christmas season or simply regularly have Santa in the back of your mind a Santa Suit is often a nice product to possess. Santa suits are able to entertain kids at a Christmas get together and they could even gain you a bit of money if you start working as a mall Santa! According to those in the know a mall Santa can pull in almost twenty five thousand dollars in the holiday season alone! Even if you aren't looking to earn money seeing your child or grandchild smile when Santa enters the room is priceless! What else could you possibly need?
Santa suits (WCC) may also be a fantastic and unique option for a Halloween costume! Is there anyone out there who is anticipating someone to combine holidays like that? Of course not, but they'll howl with laughter when you do! It could also serve as a part of a wonderful group costume if your pals dress as reindeer, or even the figures from the iconic holiday melding flick a Nightmare Before Christmas! Santa deserves to get out and have a good time too! All the folks at your next event are sure to make their way onto your nice list you show up dressed as jolly ol' St. Nick next Halloween! You would surely have a blast!
A high quality Santa suit can be priced at upwards of $500, but with all of the excellent possibilities it'd definitely be well worth the money. For a couple of hundred bucks you can put smiles on the children in your family's face for generations to come. You can also earn that cash back and then some merely working only a few hours a day at a mall, and you could even wear it around Halloween. If there was ever a costume on this Earth that is mass produced but worth the expensive fee, it is certainly a Santa suit. You will surely grin as much as the kids who watch you in it, no matter what your reasons are!
Santa Finds Time to Relax In the Summer.....A Little....
Santa Claus is very hard worker. When he finishes delivering gifts to millions of kids all around the world he deserves some time off. Rumor has it that Santa is a big fan of the tropics all through the summer time. Regardless of where he exactly heads, he always winds up incorporating a little work into his vacation and he is sure to do quite a few of the following things:
1. Stay pleasantly plump by eating tacos and cake.
2. Read up on the upcoming trends in the toy market.
3. Draft up a model for an elegant new suit.
4. Sport some flip flops and tropical t-shirts.
5. Giving Rudolph a break and traveling by plane.
6. Managing the elves in the North Pole from his iPhone.
7. Selling his old Santa Claus Suits to his favorite mall Santas so they can look official.
8. Trimming his beard so he doesn't get confused for a member of ZZ Top come Christmas.
9. Making Mrs. Clause merry!
10. Sipping a few Pina Coladas.
Obviously Santa’s work is never done even while he's on vacation! If you see him in the summertime, don't bother him, that will place you on his nice list for sure!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Origin of Easter Bunny Costumes
When many men and women bring to mind Easter one of the first things they call to mind is the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny is generally depicted as a pleasant bunny rabbit that travels across the globe with a plethora of candy for boys and girls everywhere to delight in. Hence the reason a lot of functions on this holiday typically have grown ups wearing an Easter Bunny costume and distributing sweets to the children in attendance.
But where did this tradition start? And why has it become so deep seeded in our culture that we're ready and willing to dress up in costumes just to give kids candy when we know they'd be happy just getting the candy anyway? Read on to find out more in relation to the origin of this fascinating cottontail.
You could be shocked to discover that the Easter Bunny isn't even close to being a new creation. The truth is, this bunny has been a staple of Easter for over 300 years. A lot of historians believe the Easter Bunny has its origins in Germany and was introduced to America by German settlers during the 1700s. The Germans had already been employing the now famous bunny as an Easter symbol for practically two hundred years by then.
The Easter Bunny is less about the religious significances of the holiday and more about the beginning of a new season. Easter normally falls in springtime which regarded as a season of rebirth and rabbits have forever represented birth and fertility because of their reputation of multiplying quickly. So, when spring saves us from the frigid winter, everything tends to be reborn for this new season.
By the 19th century the Easter Bunny had become popular in the United States and was totally linked with Easter. Boys and girls anxiously waited for Easter because they knew they would be able to enjoy Easter egg hunts and sweets among other festivities. As a matter of fact the original chocolate Easter bunny was invented all the way back in the 1800's and is still an iconic part of Easter in today's day and age!
Easter is an amazing holiday that everyone can enjoy. You could be observing it for religious reasons or just to welcome the spring, you can't go wrong having fun eating all that candy and dressing up in Easter Bunny costumes!
The Best Easter Costumes on the Market
Kids enjoy getting in costume for whatever holiday. Costumes help kids to discover their imagination. They can pretend to be someone or something they are not. On ocassion these inventive adventures can be quite informative for children. Easter Costumes are a great example of some that are able to be used for both entertainment and education. Going to a party for Easter is a terrific reason to permit your youngsters to dress up on this already fun holiday. They are able to pretend to be the Easter Bunny, a biblical figure or even a cute little chick.!
The easiest costume to find around Easter is obviously the Easter Bunny. Despite Easter being the most important day of the year for Christians, most of us tend to think of the Easter Bunny first. It is also a relatively simple costume to creat yourself if you feel like being crafty. An Easter Bunny costume is especially popular for babies. They always look so precious when dressed as a little bunny! It's also a perfect costume for adults who would like to keep some of the magic of the Easter holiday in their childrens heads. Just like Santa, the Easter Bunny is a larger-than-life character that will surely get kids excited to see in person.
The Origin of Easter
In today's day and age, many of us are reminded that Easter is on its way when all of those men in Easter Bunny costumes start showing up for photo shoots in the mall, but could you explain why Easter is on the day it is this year? Most of us, typically the ones who are Christian, know it's in the Spring, that it is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, and it’s only on Sundays, but who or what determines the exact date of this movable holiday? The Feast of Easter had been correctly decided not later than the 2nd century. Regardless there had been a clash about the exact date of the Easter holiday between the Eastern and Western. Eastern Christians desired to set Easter on a weekday due to the fact that historical Christians observed Passover each year on the 14th of Nisan, the month based on the lunar calendar. Yet, the Western Christians held that Easter is supposed to constantly be on a Sunday in spite of the day.
To crack this (and many other arguments the ruler Constantine created the Council of Nicaea in 325. The issue of the day of the holiday was one of its major differences. The council declared that the Easter holiday must fall on Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. But agreeing upon the day of the Equinox was still an issue. The Alexandrians, noted for their wide skill of astronomical computations were given the chore. March 21 was made out to be the exact day for the spring equinox.
The dating of the holiday now follows the same process. Accordingly, churches in the West observe it on the first day of the full moon that occurs on or following the Spring equinox on March 21., it became a movable feast between March 21 and April 25.
But where did this tradition start? And why has it become so deep seeded in our culture that we're ready and willing to dress up in costumes just to give kids candy when we know they'd be happy just getting the candy anyway? Read on to find out more in relation to the origin of this fascinating cottontail.
You could be shocked to discover that the Easter Bunny isn't even close to being a new creation. The truth is, this bunny has been a staple of Easter for over 300 years. A lot of historians believe the Easter Bunny has its origins in Germany and was introduced to America by German settlers during the 1700s. The Germans had already been employing the now famous bunny as an Easter symbol for practically two hundred years by then.
The Easter Bunny is less about the religious significances of the holiday and more about the beginning of a new season. Easter normally falls in springtime which regarded as a season of rebirth and rabbits have forever represented birth and fertility because of their reputation of multiplying quickly. So, when spring saves us from the frigid winter, everything tends to be reborn for this new season.
By the 19th century the Easter Bunny had become popular in the United States and was totally linked with Easter. Boys and girls anxiously waited for Easter because they knew they would be able to enjoy Easter egg hunts and sweets among other festivities. As a matter of fact the original chocolate Easter bunny was invented all the way back in the 1800's and is still an iconic part of Easter in today's day and age!
Easter is an amazing holiday that everyone can enjoy. You could be observing it for religious reasons or just to welcome the spring, you can't go wrong having fun eating all that candy and dressing up in Easter Bunny costumes!
The Best Easter Costumes on the Market
Kids enjoy getting in costume for whatever holiday. Costumes help kids to discover their imagination. They can pretend to be someone or something they are not. On ocassion these inventive adventures can be quite informative for children. Easter Costumes are a great example of some that are able to be used for both entertainment and education. Going to a party for Easter is a terrific reason to permit your youngsters to dress up on this already fun holiday. They are able to pretend to be the Easter Bunny, a biblical figure or even a cute little chick.!
The easiest costume to find around Easter is obviously the Easter Bunny. Despite Easter being the most important day of the year for Christians, most of us tend to think of the Easter Bunny first. It is also a relatively simple costume to creat yourself if you feel like being crafty. An Easter Bunny costume is especially popular for babies. They always look so precious when dressed as a little bunny! It's also a perfect costume for adults who would like to keep some of the magic of the Easter holiday in their childrens heads. Just like Santa, the Easter Bunny is a larger-than-life character that will surely get kids excited to see in person.
The Origin of Easter
In today's day and age, many of us are reminded that Easter is on its way when all of those men in Easter Bunny costumes start showing up for photo shoots in the mall, but could you explain why Easter is on the day it is this year? Most of us, typically the ones who are Christian, know it's in the Spring, that it is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, and it’s only on Sundays, but who or what determines the exact date of this movable holiday? The Feast of Easter had been correctly decided not later than the 2nd century. Regardless there had been a clash about the exact date of the Easter holiday between the Eastern and Western. Eastern Christians desired to set Easter on a weekday due to the fact that historical Christians observed Passover each year on the 14th of Nisan, the month based on the lunar calendar. Yet, the Western Christians held that Easter is supposed to constantly be on a Sunday in spite of the day.
To crack this (and many other arguments the ruler Constantine created the Council of Nicaea in 325. The issue of the day of the holiday was one of its major differences. The council declared that the Easter holiday must fall on Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. But agreeing upon the day of the Equinox was still an issue. The Alexandrians, noted for their wide skill of astronomical computations were given the chore. March 21 was made out to be the exact day for the spring equinox.
The dating of the holiday now follows the same process. Accordingly, churches in the West observe it on the first day of the full moon that occurs on or following the Spring equinox on March 21., it became a movable feast between March 21 and April 25.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Barbie's Rise to the Top of the Heap
Everyone who was raised sometime in the last five decades has at least heard of Barbie. The famous toy was first produced in 1959, and has grown to be the worlds highest selling doll brand. She was originally created by Ruth Handler who got the idea from a German doll called "Bild Lilli".
Barbie, owned by Mattel, has become more than just dolls, and now constantly released films, costumes, toy cars, and dolls other than the classic Barbie, such as her boyfriend Ken. Barbie has also been features movies like the Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3.
Barbie's appearance has been the center of quite a lot of bickering among grown-ups who believe her very thin body is a driving force behind a rising trend of kids developing bulimia. Her trendsetting clothes have also been criticized. A lot of specialists think that that children want to have similar clothing and many of the kids who just can't afford to pay for the high priced outfits like they're missing out on something.
Whatever you think of her she will be a prominent cultural figure and will certainly be selling dolls and Halloween Costumes well into the future!
Barbie, owned by Mattel, has become more than just dolls, and now constantly released films, costumes, toy cars, and dolls other than the classic Barbie, such as her boyfriend Ken. Barbie has also been features movies like the Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3.
Barbie's appearance has been the center of quite a lot of bickering among grown-ups who believe her very thin body is a driving force behind a rising trend of kids developing bulimia. Her trendsetting clothes have also been criticized. A lot of specialists think that that children want to have similar clothing and many of the kids who just can't afford to pay for the high priced outfits like they're missing out on something.
Whatever you think of her she will be a prominent cultural figure and will certainly be selling dolls and Halloween Costumes well into the future!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Punxsutawney Phil and Groundhog Day
Punxsutawney Phil is the time-honored groundhog who makes his prediction on how the remainder of the winter will go every February 2nd, better known as Groundhog Day. According to legend, there has only been one Punxsutawney Phil ever and he has been forecasting the end of winter sine 1887! That would mean this iconic rodent is at least 123 years old, though I will add that most zoologists say that a properly taken care of groundhog in captivity has a lifespan of about ten years, so I'll let you decide what you think of the legend.
Whether there has been only one or hundreds, Punxsutawney Phil is the focal point of the Groundhog Day Festival held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. We interpret his prediction based on what he does when he sees his shadow. If he sees it and crawls back in his hole, we are said to have a longer end to the winter, if he doesn't go back inside, winter will end quickly. The world renowned groundhog has drawn crowds of up to 40,000 into the small town. That may not seem so surprisingly large of a number when you realize that most people in America at least recognize Groundhog Day, but Punxsutawney only has a population of about 6,000 people! That means that a crowd of people(many of them in outlandish costumes) almost seven times larger than the town’s population collects there early in the morning to watch a groundhog crawl out of a hole!
Punxsutawney Phil obviously has a very large impact on the traditions in America, and has worked his way into modern popular culture as well. The movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray is set in Punxsutawney during the Groundhog Day festivities and MTV's show Viva la Bam has centered an episode around Phil’s special day too. He even has his own Beanie Baby depicting him in the iconic top hat and tie worn by the “Inner Circle” who is the group designated to look after Punxsutawney Phil. The cuddly character has also surely inspired quite a few Halloween costume ideas.
This prestigious rodent has been one of the most original parts of American culture for over a century, and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon. If you’re ever looking for a new cultural phenomenon to experience, going to see Punxsutawney Phil would surely be one to remember!
Whether there has been only one or hundreds, Punxsutawney Phil is the focal point of the Groundhog Day Festival held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. We interpret his prediction based on what he does when he sees his shadow. If he sees it and crawls back in his hole, we are said to have a longer end to the winter, if he doesn't go back inside, winter will end quickly. The world renowned groundhog has drawn crowds of up to 40,000 into the small town. That may not seem so surprisingly large of a number when you realize that most people in America at least recognize Groundhog Day, but Punxsutawney only has a population of about 6,000 people! That means that a crowd of people(many of them in outlandish costumes) almost seven times larger than the town’s population collects there early in the morning to watch a groundhog crawl out of a hole!
Punxsutawney Phil obviously has a very large impact on the traditions in America, and has worked his way into modern popular culture as well. The movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray is set in Punxsutawney during the Groundhog Day festivities and MTV's show Viva la Bam has centered an episode around Phil’s special day too. He even has his own Beanie Baby depicting him in the iconic top hat and tie worn by the “Inner Circle” who is the group designated to look after Punxsutawney Phil. The cuddly character has also surely inspired quite a few Halloween costume ideas.
This prestigious rodent has been one of the most original parts of American culture for over a century, and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon. If you’re ever looking for a new cultural phenomenon to experience, going to see Punxsutawney Phil would surely be one to remember!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Back to School Preparations
Most of us know that going back to school can be a hectic time for anybody of any age. Someone beginning first grade and someone starting their freshman year are more or less just as overwhelmed while entering new classrooms, meeting new classmates, and getting the run down on new subjects for the very first time. No one can really avert these pressures, but you can reduce the level of overall stress by being properly prepared. Bringing writing utensils, notebooks, a daily planner, a calculator and any other commonly used school supplies will help keep you significantly more relaxed and will let you focus on what you need to focus on. Wearing your best shirt, or something brand new will help you stay confident so you can work on making a the right impression on your teacher instead of adjusting your clothes. Getting along with your classmates is another thing that will reduce stress, and looking fashionable rather than looking like you're sporting a strange combination of Halloween costumes on can go a long way towards breaking the ice.
This seems like a lot to get ready for, but when you bear in mind that you have the whole summer to do it the chore seems easier. Many back to school sales don't happen the week immediately before school anyway, so keep your eyes peeled all summer long for great deals. On occasion it's cheaper to buy in bulk and wind up having supplies left over for next year than wait for a sale and purchase only what you need anyway, so keep that in mind as well. When you do pay for something, buy items you know will last. Pencils that constantly break and notebooks that lose all their paper in a week will simply add frustrations you don't need.
If you've straightened all of these things out before you even walk through the door, stuff like learning how to get to class and all your new teachers names will be no problem. Having a successful start to the school year is a great way to set a pace for the year and a good first impression can sometimes be the difference between an A and a B, so don't let the school year catch you off guard. Do a little homework this summer and get yourself prepared for the new school year, you'll be glad you did!
This seems like a lot to get ready for, but when you bear in mind that you have the whole summer to do it the chore seems easier. Many back to school sales don't happen the week immediately before school anyway, so keep your eyes peeled all summer long for great deals. On occasion it's cheaper to buy in bulk and wind up having supplies left over for next year than wait for a sale and purchase only what you need anyway, so keep that in mind as well. When you do pay for something, buy items you know will last. Pencils that constantly break and notebooks that lose all their paper in a week will simply add frustrations you don't need.
If you've straightened all of these things out before you even walk through the door, stuff like learning how to get to class and all your new teachers names will be no problem. Having a successful start to the school year is a great way to set a pace for the year and a good first impression can sometimes be the difference between an A and a B, so don't let the school year catch you off guard. Do a little homework this summer and get yourself prepared for the new school year, you'll be glad you did!
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