Finally wrapping things up

I am going to wrap my topic up sadly because I was interested in my topic. I have learned alot from this topic and I am sorry to all my readers for taking so long to post my blogs. I had no computer access over Christmas break and I couldn't post anything.  I learned that things around the world are very different and it has really different and I am very interested. I also learned that there are many different ways to make Christmas cookies. 

I liked to learn and read about all the different foods that people of different ethnicity. Even when they make my mouth water and I have tried many different kinds of food in my lifetime. I made Christmas cookies over Christmas break and they tasted delicious. I like to bake Christmas cookies and they usually taste delicious. Do you have any more topics for me to try and attempt to do? I will try and keep up with blogging at least until next year when I get the chance. So let me know if you have any new topics. 

Starting to wrap things up part 1

I have really enjoyed learning about Christmas for the past month and a half. I learned so much that I didn't know about Christmas before and I learned about Christmas around the world? Did you learn as much as I did from this experience?  I am going to make my last post about Christmas cookies and at the end I will include links to recipes. One of my favorite Christmas cookies that I have ever had are oatmeal scotchies. They are a delicious cookie and they have a perfect taste that has the perfect combination of oatmeal and butterscotch at the same time.  

My family absolutely loves these cookies. They are easy to make and they have butterscotch and oatmeal in the same cookie that makes it one of the best cookies ever. If you like chewy cookie all you have to do is adjust the cooking time a little bit longer. When my uncle makes these and brings them over to my house they disappear almost instantly and we are begging for more before he leaves. I am now going to share with you the Nestle recipe for this absolutely amazing delicacy. 

What is the true meaning of Christmas?

What is the true meaning of Christmas? Why don't we celebrate Christmas like it's supposed to be celebrated? Why is Christmas just a big commercialized holiday today? In America today Christmas is just a big holiday that most people worry about what they will be getting from people instead of what those that need it most are receiving which is almost nothing. We have become greedy and selfish over the years and it's sad. Do you really want other countries to look at us like we are the country that is too greedy to take our own people off the streets?  

The actual meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ. It's not a time to be worried about what you are getting but what others that need it are receiving. I understand that it's not some peoples fault that they view Christmas as a time to be worried about what they will get because that's all they know is how to tell their parents what they want and they make sure that " Santa" gets it for them. We all need to stop worrying about what we are going to get but what others are going to receive. Christmas is supposed to be about giving to others and not so worried about receiving. We have people that don't have anything but the clothes on their backs if they have any at all. They also haven't eaten for days or maybe weeks and they are so fragile looking.  Will you join me and millions of other people who are in search of the true meaning of Christmas? 

Christmas around the world part 2 cont'd

Christmas in Greece

In 354 a.d. it was arranged for the birth of Jesus Christ to be celebrated at the same time as the birth of Mirtha (the invincible sun god) on December 25th. As people started turning to other gods the popularity of Mirtha decreased. Now the day is celebrated in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Picture of ship

Why is Christmas celebrated in Greece? I learned that on Christmas day the Greeks celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and St. Nicholas " the patron saint of the sailors." According to Greek tradition he comes in with his beard dripping with seawater, his clothes are drenched in brine, and he has sweat on his face from working so hard by helping sailors against the angry sea. The Greek ships never ever left the port without some sort of St. Nicholas icon on board. 

How is Christmas in Greece celebrated? In Greece Christmas is a 12 day period. This period of time starts on December 25 and ends on January 6th. On January 6th the Greek have a feast commemorating St. Nicholas day. The Greek serve the traditional meal on December 24th this meal is stuffed turkey. They also go a caroling on Christmas eve, New Years, and January 5th. Like most countries some Greek people decorate Christmas trees! 

Do you know all their is to know about Greek Christmas? Here are some interesting facts about Greek Christmas:

• Shallow wooden bowls are the major symbols of Christmas celebrations. 
• Usually people in Greece don't buy Christmas trees. 
• While caroling, if children sang well they were sometimes given money, dried fruit, nuts and sweets to eat. 
• Over 8 million tourists go to Greece every year. 
• Some people believe that during the 12 days of Christmas goblins appear and do mischievous things. 

Merry Christmas

Christmas around the world cont'd again

Christmas in Finland: What is Christmas like in Finland? Do they believe in Santa clause? Do you believe in Santa clause or do you believe in some other person? Why, or Why not? Keep reading to find out what Christmas is like in Finland as we discover the traditions and foods or Finland during the Christmas holidays.

Christmas in Finland goes from December 24 to the 26th. During the Christmas season cookies are made, decorations are hung, and homes are prepared. Christmas traditions in Finland have been known in over 130 countries largely because of the traditions they have repeated every year. Their Christmas dinner consists of Pork Roast, Fish, and Salad. For desert they enjoy a Christmas pudding. Sometimes they put an almond in the pudding, and whoever's pudding has the almond in it is believed to have a year of good luck.  After dinner joulupukki visits the good children in their homes, if they were good he rewards them with presents. Christmas in finland is finished. Do you think that there's is better? 

Christmas Cookies

cookie monster devours mankinds deliciousness

I didn't eat this 

 Traditional cakes and cookies were around long before Christmas was celebrated like we do today. People would make them for parties, birthdays, special occasions, or just to make them because they are delicious. Christmas cookies as we know them today trace their roots back to medieval times, where cooks would prepare large amounts of them for special occasions. ( feasts, victory, etc.) Many of the ingredients they used are still used today, they used cinnamon, almonds, dried fruit and many more. Dutch and German settlers introduced cookie cutters, molds, and festive holiday cookie decorations to America. The Dutch's New Years Cookies were often times molded into crazy designs and patterns. The German Lebkuchen (gingerbread) was the first known cake or cookie to be associated with Christmas.  Did you know that animal crackers originated as edible ornaments? 

By the 1500's, Christmas cookies had caught on all over Europe. German families baked up pans of Lebkuchen and buttery Spritz cookies. Papparkakor (spicy ginger and black-pepper delights) were favorites in Sweden; the Norwegians made krumkake (thin lemon and cardamom-scented wafers). The earliest Christmas cookies in America came ashore with the Dutch in the early 1600's. Do you have a favorite Christmas cookie? Where did it originate from? Do you know the recipe? Leave your response below. 

German Gingerbread isn't very different
from the gingerbread today!

Dutch New years cookie

talent vs. hard work

In my opinion hard work will outdo talent if talent doesn't work hard. You can be talented at something but unless you stress to get better by working hard what does talent provide you? In a scholarly article called Talent Is Overrated: what really separates world-class performers from everyone else, I found this article using Google scholar and it proved to be very useful by providing me with information for my topic.  In research provided by scientists it shows that those who are viewed as the greats today like LeBron James and Tiger Woods didn't show any signs of talent in what they do as a kid. The greats worked hard to be where they are today in the article it says "When researchers have looked at large numbers of high achievers, at least in certain fields, most of the people who became extremely good in their field did not show early evidence of gifts." Did any of the greats possess these gifts as a child? (Comment below)

In another article called Hard Work vs. Talent: The Eternal Debate. Which is a blog post I found a debate that supported my view point that hard work beats talent. In this article it says "  the studies that suggest that in the long run, hard work and constant practice can overcome a lack of natural talent, which can often take people farther and higher than talent alone." This really made sense to me because I knew from previous reading of quotes by Michael Jordan and other professionals that succeeded very highly in their fields. That leads to my conclusion I think that hard work will overcome talent any time because in scientifically proven results the greats did not possess the skills they have today in most cases and they had to dedicate themselves to their field and put in all their time and money to it. I challenge you to find a professional that has a quote that supports my viewpoint. Can you do it? Do you respectfully disagree with my viewpoint? Let me know below in the comments.  Thanks for reading I hope to see your comment below. 

Hard work vs. Talent

Dorothy explains that When you get tired and life gets you down you have to keep working hard
dorothy tells Marlin of the hard work conspiracy