CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD: CANADA

By Debbie Bulloch



Canadians share more than just a border with the United States. Many of the holiday traditions, including Christmas, are similar to those celebrated by people in the U.S.

For example, the Christmas tree is a popular decoration found in many Canadian and American homes. The Christmas tree, of course, is actually a German Christmas tradition. Advent wreaths and Christmas wreaths adorn many American and Canadian homes during the holidays. Nativity scenes are also popular décor for Canadian as well as American Christians.

Because Canada is a large and cosmopolitan country made up of many ethnic and cultural groups, Christmas traditions are quite diverse and cannot be generalized. Christmas in Canada has an interesting history. Canada was first claimed by England in the 1400's, later in the 1600's a French explorer by the name of Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City, and Canada became a country with two distinctive backgrounds living as one.

For the French Canadians, Christmas Eve is the highlight of the holidays; they will spend days preparing for the reveillon, the evening meal. (See my article about French Christmas traditions.) French Canadians decorate a Christmas tree and place the crèche, a Nativity scene, under the tree before going to midnight mass. After Midnight Mass, they come home from church to a feast of la tourtiere, a meat pie and various other dishes. Topping off the meal was the Yule log, a chocolate cake in the shape of a log to symbolize the birch log burned in the fireplace on reveillon before the French came to Canada. During reveillon, French Canadian children open small gifts from their stockings, they save the big gifts for New Year's Day. Christmas day for the French was a day for relaxation and for children to play and have fun.



For the English Canadians, Christmas focuses on Christmas Day. Gifts are exchanged in the morning. After the presents are exchanged, many English Canadians go off to church, when they return from church they sit down to a big dinner usually consisting of roast goose or beef and plum pudding. One fun tradition enjoyed by the English Canadians is the “kissing ball.” The kissing ball is a ring of evergreen boughs with candles, apples and nuts hung in doorway. The ball is supposed to celebrate the return of the light following the winter solstice; young men, however, used this opportunity to steal a kiss from any single lady standing under the ball, hence the name of kissing ball.

German Canadians have the Tannenbaum (Christmas tree) in the place of honor in their homes. The children await the Christkindl, a messenger from the Christ child while their mothers bake Christmas cookies and Stollen. The Stollen, is a traditional German fruitcake usually eaten during the Christmas season. The Stollen is shaped like a regular loaf of bread and it is powdered with icing sugar on the outside. It is usually made with yeast, butter, water, flour, zest, raisins, and almonds. The most famous Stollen is the Dresdner Stollen, sold at the local Christmas market.
Christmas trees, ancient carols, gingerbread houses, and advent calendars are part of the traditions of the German Canadians.



In Newfoundland, Christmas is celebrated with wide hospitality and generosity, food and drinks are consumed in a large quantities. Brews of beer are prepared in advance before the Christmas season starts. During the holidays women make lots of cookies and fruit cakes, open jars of preserved moose, jams and vegetables. In rural areas a cow or a pig is usually slaughtered in order to feed numerous visitors. Christmas Day families visit relatives, friends and neighbors.

Mumming is a unique Newfoundland cultural tradition. Dressing usually in torn dresses, bettered hats, hip boots and other obsolete or strange materials men try to appear as women and women dress up as men. Mummers also have to cover their faces so that others would not recognize them.

In late evening mummers move from one house to another in small groups. They enter houses without knocking or invitation; they behave quite loud, moving fast around the house half-dancing (the mummers walk). Frequently mummers bring musical instruments with them so they may start playing music and dance with the hosts or with each other. While making jokes about the family they speak in a manner that the hosts would not guess who are they.

When households identify who is the Mummer, he should “strip” - removing his/her mask. If the hosts cannot guess who is behind the mask they may try to remove it by “force.” If the person behind the mask was not identified he usually leaves without accepting food or drink. Once identified the Mummer removes the mask and return to his normal behavior.



The various Canadians of Indian heritage have a different set of the Christmas traditions, including gift-giving, feasts, singing, dancing, drumming and games (which were part of their ancient winter celebrations). The Cree children visit the homes of their relatives to collect their gifts. The Inuit hold feasts of caribou, seal, raw fish, and turkey.

One Canadian Christmas tradition that really illustrates the close familiar ties that exist between Canada and the US is the story of the Boston Christmas tree.

The Boston Christmas Tree tradition is a relatively “young” tradition; it started over ninety years ago with the Halifax Explosion. On December 6, 1917, two ships collided in the harbor and caused a large explosion that was heard over heard over 62 miles (100 km) away. The explosion and the tidal wave that followed, destroyed over 325 acres of the north end of the city, killing over 1900 people, and injuring over 9000 more. In response to this devastation, the people of Boston sent help in the form of doctors, nurses, food and supplies. As a token of appreciation, Canadians send a special Christmas tree to Boston every year. (In a similar fashion, the Queen of the Netherlands every year sends a pot of tulips to the Canadian people as a token of appreciation for the role that Canadian troops played in freeing Holland from Nazi occupation.)

Christmas is a time for tradition and goodwill toward others. The story of the people of Boston helping others in their time of need, even though it was not actually Christmas, still exhibits the true spirit of Christmas. Because of the kindness of strangers, a celebration between two cities in two separate, but spiritually close, countries has become a cherished holiday tradition.

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY....

By Debbie Bulloch



This is definitely not the way things are supposed to be in Southern California. Most of us who live in the region chose Southern California for, among other things, the postcard-perfect weather. Just watch the Rose Bowl Game (played every year on New Year’s Day). While the rest of the nation huddles for cover, Southern Californians attend the game dressed in shorts, Hawaiian shirts and Ray-Ban sunglasses.

Legions of newcomers have come to California, and especially Southern California, to enjoy the beach weather and bask in our endless sunshine. Sure, we can tolerate the occasional rain, but only in small doses. The massive winter storm that has been pummeling the region for the past several days has left many Southern Californian, myself, included, looking up to the sky and wondering, “is it time to start building the ark?”

Now, after nearly a week of relentless rain, Southern California is facing the most intense storm system yet, with hundreds of homes evacuated, roads covered with water and mud, and residents anxiously eyeing already saturated mountainsides denuded by wildfires.

Forecasters expected heavy rain to eventually move into Arizona, Utah and Nevada. For now, however, the focus of their attention is clearly on Southern California, where a monster storm is expected to bring torrential rain, thunderstorms, flooding, hail and possible tornadoes. Officials warned of possible rainfall rates of 0.75 inch to 1 inch an hour and thunderstorm rates of 2 inches an hour in the region.
For more about the storms that have been pounding Southern California, go here:

Storms Batter Southern California

ALBERT HAMMOND – It Never Rains in Southern California (video)




ALBERT HAMMOND – It Never Rains in Southern California (lyrics)

Got on a board a west bound seven forty seven
Didn't think before deciding what to do
All that talk of opportunities, TV breaks and movies
Rang true, sure rang true.

Seems it never rain in Southern California
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California
But girl, don't they warn ya
It pours man it pours.
Out of work, I'm out of my head
Out of self respect I'm out of bread
I'm under loved I'm under fed
I wanna go home
It never rains in California
But girl don't they warn ya, it pours, man it pours.

Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it
Had offers but don't know which one to take
Please don't tell them how you found me
Don't tell them how you found me give me a break
Give me a break

Seems it never rains in Southern California
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California
But girl, don't they warn ya
It pours man it pours
Stay dry my friends!

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD: PERE NOEL - FRANCE

By Debbie Bulloch



French Christmas traditions are like the French themselves: an extraordinary and very likeable mixture of culinary excellence and generosity.

France is a big country, so there are quite a few different Christmas traditions observed in the Hexagone (this is a reference to the shape of the French country, go look at it on a map). One thing, however, is certain: the French love Christmas, regardless of whether they are religious or not.

In some regions of France (particularly in the East and the North), the Christmas celebrations start on December 6. This is the day dedicated to Saint-Nicolas, the saint who gave away his fortune to the poor and to children. (Remember my story about the Dutch celebration of Sinterklaas.) St. Nicholas’ memory is celebrated by gift giving: children receive toys and little chocolate statuettes on this day. There are also localized traditions, like the Feast of Light (la Fête de la Lumière) in Lyon, on December 8. The citizens of this beautiful old town all place candles in their windows to honor the Virgin Mother, which creates a magical atmosphere.

Most commonly, though, the French stick to the traditional timetable: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after Christmas. In some regions the celebrations go on until La Fête des Rois on the first Sunday of January. This is the French version of Epiphany Day, or the coming of the Three Wise Men, which is the traditional gift-giving holiday in all Catholic countries. On La Fête des Rois children often go round from door to door on this day to sing songs and collect some coins in the process.



Almost all French families decorate their homes at Christmastime with a Nativity scene or crèche with little clay figures called “santons” or “little saints.” In addition to the usual Holy Family, shepherds, and Magi, the artisans who make the santons also produce figures in the form of local dignitaries and characters. The artistry involved in creating the gaily colored santons is quite astounding, the molds used to make the santons have often been passed from generation to generation since the seventeenth century. Throughout December, the figures are sold at annual Christmas fairs in Marseille and Aix.

The Christmas tree has never been particularly popular in France. Instead the French traditionally use a Yule log. In South France, people burn Yule logs continuously from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day. Traditionally, a part of this log was used to make the wedge for the plough as good luck omen for a plentiful harvest in the coming year.



La crèche de la Chapelle Saint-Aurélien - Limoges

Although the use of the Yule log has faded, the French still make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the buche de Noel, which means "Christmas Log." The cake, among other traditional foods, is served at the grand feast of the season, which is called le reveillon. Le reveillon is a very late supper held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The menu for the meal varies according to regional culinary tradition. For example, in Alsace, goose is the main course, in Burgundy it is turkey with chestnuts. Parisians feast upon oysters and pate de foie gras. Le Reveillon may also include poultry, ham, salads, cake, fruit and wine.

French love desserts and French bakeries are famous for their excellent desserts. The "Pain Calendeau", for example, is a gorgeously sweet Christmas loaf with dried fruits in it. Pain Calendeau and the buche de Noel are the traditional French Christmas desserts.

Once the Christmas dinner is over and the family has retired to bed, they leave a fire burning and food and drink on the table in case the Virgin Mary calls in. Like in Spain, French children leave their shoes or wooden clogs (“sabots”) by the fireplace for the le petit Jesus or Pere Noel (the French equivalent of Santa Claus) to fill. In the north of France, children are given gifts on December 6, which is St. Nicholas' Day, instead of Christmas Day. The adults give each others presents on New Year's Day.

Generosity is a big part of the French Christmas tradition. The French give food to the poor (the Pain Calendeau can never be eaten without sharing it with somebody who is down on his or her luck); they also give lots of presents to their children and to each other.



A beautiful French Christmas tradition is that kids who write a letter to Le Pere Noel actually get one back: the French postal services make sure that all the notes are answered.

Joyeux Noël!

Next: Christmas in Canada – the Boston Christmas Tree

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD: LAS POSADAS-MEXICO

By Debbie Bulloch



Las Posadas is a nine-day Navidad (Christmas) celebration with origins in Spain. Las Posadas are now celebrated mainly in Mexico and Guatemala. Posada is the Spanish word for "lodging", or "accommodation.” It is written in the plural because the celebration spans a period of several nights.

In Mexico, the Christmas holidays begin unofficially with the saint's day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The festivities are in full swing with the beginning of the posadas — celebrated each evening from December 16 to 24. They are, in fact, a novenario — nine days of religious observance based on the nine months that Maria carried Jesus in her womb.

The posadas re-enact Mary and Joseph's cold and difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of shelter or lodging.

Traditionally, a party is held each night in a neighborhood home. At dusk, guests gather outside the house with children dressed as shepherds, angels and sometimes, Mary and Joseph. An angel leads the procession, followed by Mary and Joseph or by guests carrying their images. The adults follow, carrying lighted candles.



Every home has a nativity scene and the hosts of the Posada act as the innkeepers. The neighborhood children and adults are the pilgrims (peregrinos). The "pilgrims" sing a traditional song asking for shelter, and the hosts sing a reply. All the pilgrims carry small, lit candles in their hands. Four people carry small statues of Joseph leading a donkey, on which Mary is riding.

The head of the procession will have a candle inside a paper lamp shade. At each house, the resident responds by refusing lodging until finally the weary travelers reach the designated site for the party, where Mary and Joseph are finally recognized and allowed to enter. Once the "innkeepers" let them in, the guests come into the home and kneel around the Nativity scene to pray (typically, the Rosary). The “innkeepers” offer the “peregrinos” and their guests hot cider, fried rosette cookies known as buñuelos, steaming hot tamales and other festive foods.



The party ends with a piñata in the shape of the Christmas star. Inside the piñata, there are cnadies, fruit and other goodies for the children.



The last posada, held on December 24, is followed by midnight mass, a tradition that lives on in countless Mexican towns and cities.

Many Latin-American countries continue to celebrate this holiday with very few changes to the tradition. In some places, the final location may be a church instead of a home. Individuals may actually play the various parts of Mary (María) and Joseph with the expectant mother riding a real donkey (burro), with attendants such as angels and shepherds acquired along the way, or the pilgrims may carry images of the holy personages instead. At the end of the long journey, there will be Christmas carols (villancicos).


LAS POSADA VIDEO



LAS POSADAS (WITH ENGLISH EXPLANATION)



Feliz Navidad!

NATIONAL HOMELESS PERSONS MEMORIAL DAY - 2010

By Debbie Bulloch






















Tuesday, December 21, is National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. The National Coalition for the Homeless has chosen December 21, the longest night of the year, to commemorate the lives of all the persons who have died on the street while homeless.



As we remember those whose lives ended on the streets of our cities, it is important to ask ourselves: WHO ARE THE HOMELESS AMONGST US?

Below is a snapshot of the homeless population in the U.S.A. The picture is not very different in other, industrialized Western nations.

AGE:

In 2003, children under the age of 18 accounted for 39% of the homeless population; 42% of these children were under the age of five (National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2004). This same study found that unaccompanied minors comprised 5% of the urban homeless population. According to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, in 2004, 25% of homeless were ages 25 to 34; the same study found percentages of homeless persons aged 55 to 64 at 6%.

GENDER:

Most studies show that single homeless adults are more likely to be male than female. Figures indicate that 67.5% of the single homeless population is male. The numbers for homeless households with children, however, are reversed. A 2007 survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors found that of the population surveyed, 35% of the homeless people who are members of households with children are male while 65% of these people are females

FAMILIES:

The number of homeless families with children has significantly increased over the past decade. Families with children are among the fastest growing segments of the homeless population. In its 2007 survey of 23 American cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors found that families with children comprised 23% of the homeless population (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2007).

As the number of families experiencing homelessness rises and the number of affordable housing units shrinks, families are subject to much longer stays in the shelter system. For instance, in the mid-1990s in New York, families stayed in a shelter an average of five months before moving on to permanent housing. Today, the average stay is 5.7 months, and some surveys say the average is closer to a year (U. S. Conference of Mayors, 2007 and Santos, 2002).



VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:

Battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between abusive relationships and homelessness. In a study of 777 homeless parents (the majority of whom were mothers) in ten U.S. cities, 22% said they had left their last place of residence because of domestic violence. A 2003 survey of 100 homeless mothers in 10 locations around the country found that 25% of the women had been physically abused in the last year. In addition, 50% of the 24 cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005).

Abuse (sexual, physical or both) is the leading cause of homelessness among young people. Young people who face abuse at home are more likely to run away and to eventually end up homeless. Once they end up on the streets, young people are more likely to end up being victimized by drug dealers and pimps, thus further perpetuating the cycle of abuse and making it harder for the homeless young to escape their situation.

VETERANS:

Research indicates that 40% of homeless men have served in the armed forces, as compared to 34% of the general adult population. In 2005, the U.S. Conference of Mayors' survey of 24 American cities found that 11% of the homeless population were veterans (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005). The 24 cities providing this information for the survey estimated that 13 percent of persons experiencing homelessness were veterans. Veterans are slightly over-represented among the homeless population compared to their prevalence in the overall population (11.2 percent) (U.S. Conference of Mayors 2008).



PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS:

Persons with severe mental illness represented about 26 percent of all sheltered homeless persons. The 23 cities that provided information reported that 26 percent of their total homeless population (not just those living in shelters) suffered from a serious mental illness. By contrast, only six percent of the U.S. population suffers from a serious mental illness (U.S. Conference of Mayors 2008).

PERSONS SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION DISORDERS:

Surveys of homeless populations conducted during the 1980s found consistently high rates of addiction, particularly among single men. Recent studies, however, have called the results of those studies into question. While there is no generally accepted "magic number" with respect to the prevalence of addiction disorders among homeless adults, the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ number in 2005 was 30%, and the frequently cited figure of about 65% is probably at least double the real rate for current addiction disorders among all single adults who are homeless in a year. Among surveyed homeless people 38% have an alcohol problem, and 26% report problems with other drugs (National Health Care for the Homeless Council).
EMPLOYMENT

Declining wages have put housing out of reach for many workers: in every state, more than the minimum wage is required to afford a one- or two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent. In fact, in the median state a minimum-wage worker would have to work 89 hours each week to afford a two-bedroom apartment at 30% of his or her income, which is the federal definition of affordable housing (National Low Income Housing Coalition 2001). Thus, inadequate income leaves many people homeless. The U.S. Conference of Mayors' 2005 survey of 24 American cities found that 13% of the urban homeless population were employed (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005), though recent surveys by the U.S. Conference of Mayors have reported as high as 25%. In a number of cities not surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors - as well as in many states - the percentage is even higher (National Coalition for the Homeless, 1997).

When asked to identify the three main causes of hunger in their city, 83 percent of cities cited poverty, 74 percent cited unemployment and 57 percent cited the high cost of housing. (U.S. Conference of Mayors 2008).

With no end in sight to the current national unemployment rate of around 10%, the number of homeless in our society will increase, or at least remain at its current levels. If predictions of a permanent unemployment rate of around 14% turn out to be true, there will be a marked increased in the number of the homeless men, women and children in our country.

Thus, the time to take action is now. Contrary to what some would like us to believe, homelessness is not an intractable problem. What is required is for our governments to take courageous and creative steps to stop the problem.

Maybe if we all act now, some day (I hope soon) I will no longer have to report about the homeless. Wouldn’t that be the best Christmas present ever!

On Tuesday, December 21, please take a moment to honor those who have died homeless in the past 12 months. Say a silent prayer for their souls’ safe passage into the next world.



They found Dixon Albert in the Ventura River bed.

Chronic liver and kidney disease destroyed the homeless man’s body, but when his friends found him on a cold morning, Albert’s heart was still beating.

After a call to 911, an ambulance took Albert to the hospital.

Those who knew him held out hope. But it was too late.

He died five days later. He was 43.

“He was my strength,” said Albert’s brother, David, who is also homeless. “We were homeless since we were kids. He was my best friend.”

To read more about Dixon Albert and others like him who died this year please go here:

Service Honors Local Homeless Who Have Died in 2010

To read more about the National Homeless Persons Memorial Day, please go here:

National Homeless Persons Memorial Day

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD: SINTERKLAAS—A DUTCH TRADITION

By Debbie Bulloch



Sinterklaas is a traditional winter holiday figure in the Netherlands and Belgium. In Holland, he is celebrated annually on Saint Nicholas' Eve (December 5). In Belgium, he is celebrated on the morning of December 6.

Originally, the Sinterklaas feast celebrates the name day of Saint Nicholas. Sinterklaas is the basis of the mythical holiday figure of Santa Claus in Canada and the United States.

Saint Nicholas was a Greek bishop of Myra in present-day Turkey. Saint Nicholas’ fame spread throughout Europe until eventually the Catholic Church made his name day a Church holiday. It is not exactly known how this kindly 4th century bishop made his way from Asia Minor through Italy, Spain and eventually to all of Northern Europe. Today St. Nicholas is honored as the patron saint not only of children and unwed maidens, but of sailors and the City of Amsterdam as well.

In the north of France, Saint Nicolas became the patron saint of school children. In early traditions, students elected one of their fellow students as "bishop.” He would then rule from St. Nicholas Day until December 28 (Innocents Day). The students sometimes acted out events from the bishop's life. As the festival moved to city streets, it became more lively.



Sinterklaas, however, is mainly associated with the city of Amsterdam. Association with Amsterdam goes back to the time of the Inquisition, which had spread to Holland in the Middle Ages. Rumor had it that there was a Nicholas who was Bishop of the Cathedral in Amsterdam. When the swarthy Spaniards came from Spain to trade with the Dutch, they gave passage to adults and children alike whose lives were threatened by the Inquisition against the Jews in Spain.

Traditionally, Sinterklaas is assisted by many mischievous helpers with black faces and colorful Moorish dresses. These helpers are called 'Zwarte Pieten' (Black Petes). During the Middle-ages Zwarte Piet was a name for the devil. Having triumphed over evil, it was said that on Saint Nicholas eve the devil was shackled and made his slave. Although the character of Black Pete later came to acquire racial connotations, his origins were in the devil figure.



The Sinterklaas feast was both an occasion to help the poor, by putting money in their shoes (which evolved into putting presents in children's shoes) and a wild feast, similar to Carnival, that often led to costumes, a "topsy-turvy" overturning of daily roles, and mass public revelries.

After the Protestant Reformation, England and Germany prohibited celebration of the saint. When the Netherlands became a largely Protestant country, following the Reformation, the government abolished most public celebrations. The Dutch people, including students in Amsterdam, protested. The government eventually relented and it allowed Sinterklaas celebrations within the family.

By the nineteenth century, the saint came out of “hiding” and became more secularized. The modern tradition of Sinterklaas as a children's feast was likely confirmed with the illustrated children's book Sint Nicolaas en zijn knecht (Saint Nicholas and His Servant), written in 1850 by the teacher Jan Schenkman (1806–1863). Some say he introduced the images of Sinterklaas' delivering presents by the chimney, riding over the roofs of houses on a gray horse, and arriving from Spain by steamboat.

In Schenkman's version, the medieval figures of the mock devil, which later changed to Oriental or Moorish helpers, was portrayed for the first time as black African and called Zwarte Piet (Black Peter). He is a black boy who accompanies Sinterklaas and helps him on his rounds (possibly derived from the Dutch colonial experience, or the Moorish occupation of Spain).

During the difficult times of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in World War 2, Sinterklaas came to cheer everyone, not just children. Many of the traditional Sinterklaas rhymes written during the Nazi occupation referred to current events. For example, the Royal Air Force (RAF) was often celebrated. In 1941 the RAF dropped boxes of candy over the occupied Netherlands. A contemporary poem was the following:

R.A.F. Kapoentje,
Gooi wat in mijn schoentje,
Bij de Moffen gooien,
Maar in Holland strooien!

(Sorry, but I could not find an English translation of this poem, and my Dutch is not very good).

Many of the Sinterklaas poems of this time noted the lack of food and basic necessities due to the Nazi occupation; others expressed admiration for the Dutch Resistance.

The Dutch celebrate Sinterklaas on December 5th, St. Nicholas Eve, with festive family parties when gifts and surprises are exchanged. In the Netherlands, unlike other places, adults as well as children join in the fun. As the Dutch like an element of surprise, a small gift may be wrapped in a huge box, or it may be hidden and require following clues to discover where it is.



Gifts are prettily wrapped in special Sinterklaas paper or they may be hidden in a potato or an old sock. Each gift is anonymously signed "from Sinterklaas." The gift comes with a clever rhyme that may point out a person's shortcomings in a humorous way. (For the less creative, there are books with suggestions for making rhymes and packaging disguises.) Originality, not value of the gift, is what counts.

Children sing traditional Sinterklaas songs while waiting for the saint to appear. A knock comes on the door and a black gloved hand appears to toss candies and inside. Children scramble to gather up the treats. A large burlap bag, "de zak van Sinterklaas," also appears filled with gifts. At the table, decorated with speculaas and other sweets, guests may find their initial in a chocolate letter at their places. Food is apt to include hot chocolate, Bishop's wine, and letter .

The Dutch feast of Saint Nicholas is about giving, for "it is in giving that we receive." The fun is in trying to surprise people, to tease in a well-meaning way, to make a good joke, to produce a rollicking rhyme. The gift itself is just a bonus, as the fun is in the doing.

A 2008 survey by the Center for Dutch Culture found that Sinterklaas is the most important tradition for the Dutch. The second ranked tradition is decorating a Christmas tree, followed by Queen's Day, April 30. Blowing out birthday candles and eating raw herring were also in the top ten. I am not sure that eating raw herring is a Dutch tradition that I want to see move over to America.)

As an interesting footnote to the Sinterklaas tradition, studies with young children (ages 4-7) in the Netherlands show that St. Nicholas encourages positive, sharing behavior: "One may think that traditions like the Dutch Saint Nicholas tradition makes children materialistic, greedy, and less likely to share with others as they are spoiled with gifts and candy. These studies, however, clearly show that children in the Netherlands associate Saint Nicholas with "sharing with others.”

When the early Dutch settlers came to America, they naturally brought with them their venerated old bishop. St. Nicholas and their favorite holiday, Sinterklaas. Indeed, after landing in the New World, the Dutch explorers, led by Henry Hudson, built their first church on the island of Manhattan in 1642, dedicating it to Sinterklaas. When the British took control of New Amsterdam in 1664, they adopted the Dutch recognition of Sinterklaas and merged it with their own observance of the Winter Solstice, Father Christmas—the merry, roly-poly, Falstaffian figure in high boots. Eventually, these two old gentlemen commemorated in December, merged into one.



Over the next few generations, Sinterklaas found his way into American literature. In 1809, writer Washington Irving created a jolly Sinterklaas for his popular Knickerbockers Tales. In 1822, an Episcopal priest named Clement Moore wrote a lighthearted poem called "A Visit from St. Nicholas" which featured a jolly old elf, his descent down a chimney on Christmas Eve, and a sleigh drawn by eight tiny reindeer (Odin's flying horse!) The Father Christmas image stuck, but he acquired a Dutch name—Santa Claus—a direct derivation from Sinterklaas.

Sinterklaas is a wonderful tradition that has survived through the centuries. The story of the kindly 4th century bishop connects us to our shared past, moving us to the present and on to the future.

Next: Las Posadas—Mexico’s wonderful Christmas tradition.

THE FACE OF THE HOMELESS

By Debbie Bulloch



Between Homes (BH) was created to provide a place to stay for homeless avatars. The idea of a “homeless” SL avatar may strike some as a tad odd; after all how can a virtual person be truly homeless in a virtual world. SecondLife mimics the real world in many significant ways. As in RL, homeless SL avatars are left to wander around the virtual world, with no place to change clothes, rezz their personal belongings or just hang around for a few quiet moments. Of course, in SL we always have the option of login out and returning to our real lives. The homeless in RL have no such option—they simply can’t log out of their current situation.

Even though BH was created to provide a place for homeless avatars, there is a lot more to BH’s mission than simply providing a place for pixels without a home. At BH we are committed to spreading information about the plight of the homeless and to advocate on behalf of those who have no advocates: the countless men, women and children who do not have a permanent place to call home.

Homelessness is (and will remain for the near future) the Number One human rights issue facing our society. No other issue is as important or as far-reaching as the problem of homelessness. Global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer do not matter a damn to a child living out on the streets, with no roof over his head, no pillow under is head and no food in his belly. In the United States, the richest and most powerful country in the world, in any given year as many as 3.5 million people experience homelessness (that is 1% of the entire U.S. population or 10% of its poor).

Worldwide: North – South from Canada to Argentina and East – West from Australia to Russia millions of people, including women, the elderly and children do not have a place to call home, have no shelter from the cold and rain, and have no food to eat. It is the single, biggest shame of our era that at a time when we can communicate at the speed of light thanks to the miracle of our Internet-wired world we still have not figured out a way to shelter and feed all of our brothers and sisters.

We are in the midst of the holiday season. The sight of brightly decorated streets and the smells of delicious holiday treats permeate our senses. It is typical during this time of the year to be especially warmhearted toward those who less fortunate than we are are. Once the holidays are over and the goodwill has run out, however, we go back to looking the other way while ignoring the plight of the homeless.

I encourage each one of you not to let the good cheer and spirit of the holidays expire on New Year’s Day. Instead, let’s us all work towards making 2011 the year when we finally begin to take real steps to solve the problem of the homeless population. We may not be able to eradicate homelessness. We cannot, however, allow the magnitude of the problem distract us from our mission.

In the meantime, please remember that the homeless are not very different from us. Even a small act of kindness--a warm smile or a few words of encouragement—can go a long way towards making a homeless person’s day a bit more bearable. Remember that often times it is the little things that matter the most.

To read more about the lives of three homeless persons in Ventura County, my home “town,” please click the link below.

The Face of Homelessness-Ventura County’s Forgotten Share Their Stories

Happy and Blessed Holidays to you all from the staff at Between Homes!


PHIL COLLINS – Another Day in Paradise (video)



PHIL COLLINS – Another Day in Paradise (lyrics)

She calls out to the man on the street
"Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?"

He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there

Oh think twice, it's another day for
You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, it's just another day for you,
You and me in paradise

She calls out to the man on the street
He can see she's been crying
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
Can't walk but she's trying

Oh think twice...

Oh lord, is there nothing more anybody can do
Oh lord, there must be something you can say

You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she's been there
Probably been moved on from every place
'Cos she didn't fit in there

Oh think twice, it's another day for
You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, it's just another day for you,
You and me in paradise

Oh think twice….

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD: SCANDINAVIA

By Debbie Bulloch



To help welcome the upcoming Christmas holidays, I will post articles about Christmas celebrations in different parts of the world. My friend Bird Thor sent me the following link, "Christmas in Scandinavia," so we will start in Scandinavia.

Thank you Bird!

Christmas is celebrated throughout Scandinavia on the evening of December 24th. It is widely regarded as the most sacred holiday where families and relatives meet in their homes and celebrate. Besides the customary Christmas tree and presents under it, it is the traditional Julbord that is at the center of attention for most Scandinavians. A delicious home made protein rich feast that takes several days to prepare and has its roots in the Norse celebration of midvinterblot.



In Sweden, Christmas begins with the Saint Lucia day. The Saint Lucia ceremony takes place on December 13. Did you know that Swedish Christmas home decorations include red tulips? Christmas Eve is known as Julafton in Swedish. After the festive Christmas Eve dinner, someone dresses up as Tomte (Christmas gnome) who is believed to live under floorboards.



Photo copyright Ventura County Star. All rights fully reserved by copyright owner.

Be careful! In Denmark, the mischievous Danish elf Nisse plays pranks on people during Christmastime. On Christmas Eve, many Danish families leave some rice pudding or porridge for him so that he is nice to them. Children are not allowed to see the Christmas tree until dinner time on Christmas Eve (known as Juleaften) and parents decorate it secretly with home-made baubles.

Norway also has an elf called Nisse, but with the features of a goat (Julebukk in Norwegian.) The idea of Julebukk is a very old one and was probably known by the Vikings. There is a special Norwegian holiday cookie called Sand Kager. In the afternoons, children go from door to door to ask for treats and goodies.

When you spend Christmas in Finland, you will see that Finland shares some of its Scandinavian Christmas traditions with its neighbor Sweden - but then there are Christmas traditions in Finland that you'd never guess! A tip: Finnish sauna, anyone?

Iceland has many old traditions during Christmastime. Expect no fewer than 13 Icelandic Santa Clauses! The origin of these "Santas" is centuries old, and each has its own name, character and role. A special custom for Icelandic children is to put a shoe in the window from December 12 until Christmas Eve. If they have been good, one of Iceland's "Santas" leaves a gift - bad children receive a potato!

To read more about Christmas food traditions in Scandinavia, please go here:

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION IN SCANDINAVIA

I especially enjoyed reading about all the wonderful foods that Scandinavian families prepare for Christmas.



Next: Holland's Sinterklaas!

THREE LOVE SONGS TO KEEP YOU WARM...

By Debbie Bulloch



Here are three love songs that are sure to warm your heart in a cold winter’s night.

Go grab your honey, hold her (or him) tight, sway to the music…and never let go.

Enjoy!









JOHNNY RIVERS – Swaying to the Music



RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS – Unchained Melody



THE PLATTERS – Only You

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY - 2010

By Debbie Bulloch



Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, a day in which we give thanks for the people, events and “things” in our lives. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving Day is also celebrated in Leiden, in the Netherlands.

In the United States, it falls on the fourth Thursday of November. In Canada, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October, which is Columbus Day in the United States.

The precise historical origin of the holiday is disputed. Although Americans commonly believe that the first Thanksgiving happened in 1621 at Plymouth, Massachusetts, there is strong evidence for earlier celebrations in Canada (1578) and by Spanish explorers in Florida (1565).

The traditional origin of modern Thanksgiving in the United States is generally regarded to be the celebration that occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in Massachusetts, in 1621. The Wampanoag Native Americans helped the pilgrims who arrived in Massachusetts cultivate the land and fish, saving them from starvation. This harvest celebration occurred early in the history of what would become one of the original Thirteen Colonies that later were to become the United States. This Thanksgiving was modeled after harvest festivals that were commonplace in Europe at the time.

Many of the Pilgrims who would end up at the Plymouth Plantation resided in the Dutch city of Leiden from 1609–1620.According to historian Jeremy Bangs, director of the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum, the Pilgrims may have been influenced by watching the annual services of thanksgiving for the relief of the 1574 siege of Leiden.
The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean. Frobisher's Thanksgiving celebration was not for harvest, but for homecoming. He had safely returned from a search for the Northwest Passage, avoiding the later fate of Henry Hudson and Sir John Franklin. In the year 1578, Frobisher held a formal ceremony in Newfoundland to give thanks for surviving the long journey.

French settlers who came to New France (Canada) with explorer Samuel de Champlain in the early 17th century also took to celebrating their successful harvests. They even shared their food with the indigenous peoples of the area as well as setting up what became known as the "Order of Good Cheer."

Regardless of the origins of Thanksgiving Day, this is one of my favorite holidays. It is a time for friends and family to gather and spend time together. It is also a time to give thanks for the many blessings that we enjoy.

This year, as in past years, I have much to give thanks for. I have been blessed in ways that I cannot even begin to understand. There is much that I have to give thanks for. I give thanks for a daughter who is truly the apple of my eye and a treasure beyond compare. I give thanks for my Father; even though he left this world long ago, I feel his presence and his strong, guiding everyday single day of my life. I give thanks for my Mom and I especially give thanks to God who saw her safely during her recent surgery. I give thanks for things big and small; I give thanks for my country and for the brave men and women who are willing to sacrifice their lives to protect the country that I love, I give thanks for my dog who eagerly awaits for me, with a smile on his sweet face, when I return home for work, I give thanks for my bicycles that carry me far and wide on such wonderful adventures, I give thanks for my friends who are always there to support and encourage me.

I also have much to give thanks for in my SL “life.” It is funny how a “game” has now become such a big part of my life, to the point where when I give thanks for my blessings, I include my many SL blessings.

I have been a resident of SL for over three years. During that time, I have met many wonderful, awesome people; yes, I have met a few “clunkers” but for the most part the overwhelming majority of the people that I have met in SL have enriched my life. There are many special people in SL who have made, and continue to make, a lasting impression on my life. These are people with whom I have shared my moments of joy as well as my moments of sadness; people who have seen me through the good and the bad times; people whom I miss terribly when I come in-world and they are not here.

There is one person, however, that I wish to single out for special thanks. I met Teressa “Tess” Adamski almost three years ago, when she was an “SL baby” and her SL mom, Bird Thor, used to bring her over to my house to play by the beach. In the years since that first meeting, Tess has blossomed into a wonderfully creative person, an invaluable ally, a fierce protector of me and Between Homes and a dear, dear friend.

When I am sad, Tess is quick with a hug or a funny story, to make me feel better. When I am happy, Tess is happy for me. We spend a lot of time talking about all kinds of subjects, including U.S. movie and TV trivia (of which Tess has a HUGE amount of knowledge), vikings, politics, pets, food and even IKEA furniture!

Tess, this Thanksgiving Day when I give thanks for my many blessings, I will especially give thanks for you and for the friendship that you have given me.

Tack sa mycket!

Thank you very much!

I'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT

ENGLAND DAN & JOHN FORD COOLEY – I’d Really Love to See you Tonight (video)



I’d Really Love to See you Tonight (lyrics)

Hello, yeah, it's been a while.
Not much, how 'bout you?
I'm not sure why I called,
I guess I really just wanted to talk to you.
And I was thinking maybe later on,
We could get together for a while.
It's been such a long time,
And I really do miss your smile.

I'm not talking 'bout moving in,
And I don't want to change your life.
But there's a warm wind blowing the stars around,
And I'd really love to see you tonight.

We could go walking through a windy park,
Or take a drive along the beach.
Or stay at home and watch t.v.
You see, it really doesn't matter much to me.

I'm not talking 'bout moving in,
And I don't want to change your life.
But there's a warm wind blowing the stars around,
And I'd really love to see you tonight.

I won't ask for promises,
So you don't have to lie.
We've both played that game before,
Say I love you, then say goodbye.

I'm not talking 'bout moving in,
And I don't want to change your life.
But there's a warm wind blowing the stars around,
And I'd really love to see you tonight.

ARMISTICE DAY - 2010

By Debbie Bulloch



On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, in 1918, men of good will sat around a table, in a railway car, and together signed a peace treaty. The men who met that day in the French town of Compiègne intended that by signing the Armistice to end the First World War, they would forever end all wars.

Sadly, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. A little over 20 years after the signing of the Armistice, German troops led by a man hell-bent on world domination, invaded Poland. Soon after that, German storm troopers spread across Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and France--the word’s bloodiest and costliest armed conflict was well on its way.

Almost a century after the signing of the Armistice to end the war that was supposed to “end all wars,” the carnage of war goes unabated. For all of our pretentions to civility, for all of our accomplishments in the arts, science and philosophy, for all of our claims to biological superiority, we humans are no better than baboons. We continue to send young men and women to fight senseless territorial wars, we continue to lay waste to this beautiful blue planet that is our home and we continue to treat our own brothers and sisters with savage brutality in the name of religion.

On this Armistice Day, I encourage you to find ways to wipe wars from the face of the Earth. Become better educated and hold our so-called leaders accountable for their decisions. Take responsibility for your own actions, become a good steward of our planet and the animal, and plant life in it.

One more thing: if you meet a war veteran or a current soldier, please stop for a moment and thank him and her for their service. Remember that soldiers serve under difficult conditions; whether we agree or disagree with their mission, they are our brothers and sisters and fully deserve our support and appreciation.

Peace out!

REQUIEM FOR A FRIEND

By Debbie Bulloch



My mom’s recent surgery made me face the prospect of potentially losing my one remaining living parent. The realization that I could lose my last remaining living parent, forced me to embark on a journey of self-discovery. The initial steps were not easy ones, especially when those first steps took me back in time to a part of my life I would have preferred to remain buried and out of mind. The journey is far from over, but I am happy to report that I have already gained valuable insights about myself and about family relations.

No journey of self-discovery, however, is ever complete; there always remains some unfinished business. Today, on the drive home from work an old song came up on the car’s radio. Listening to Dave Mason’s song about a long-lost love (“We Just Disagree”) reminded me that there is still one piece of unfinished business that I have to take care of.

Bur first, a little background.

I joined Second Life on July 2007. Back then, when I took my first, newbie baby steps, I had no way of knowing that more than three years later I would still be coming “in-world.” My initial reason for joining Second Life was simple enough: I was curious about this strange new computer world. Curiosity got the best of me (what is that about “curiosity killed the cat?”) and so here I am, three years later and I still visit SL on a regular basis.

From my very first newbie day, I was astounded at the ease with which I could meet people and build friendships with people from all over the world. From day one, I took each avatar that I met at face value. Like watching characters in a play or a movie, the avatar became the character that I interacted with. I did not stop to think, however, that just like in a movie or a play, each fictional character is actually played by a real-life actor.

Because it is so easy to meet and befriend people in Second Life, it becomes equally easy to forget that behind every single avatar there lives a real life person. Although our avatars are made of thousands of pixels floating somewhere in a Linden Lab server, the person behind the avatar moving on our computer screen is a real life person, made of real life flesh and blood. Every single avatar that populates Second Life’s world is powered by a mind that is capable of real feelings and emotions; inside every virtual SL character, there beats a real heart that can at times be easily hurt.

Early in my SL life, I had my heart broken by someone for whom SL was a game. I wish that my experience had taught me to be a tad more careful with the feelings of the people that I meet in SL. Instead, I ignored Second Life’s cardinal rule that every avatar is in fact a real life person. In the process, I callously hurt a person whose big RL heart I once held in my avatar’s little hands.

This is then my mea culpa for the wrong that I have done. It is my requiem for the friend that I treated so badly. It is a cautionary tale of what happens when we forget that avatars are more than just pixels.

Back in May 2008, while looking for land to build my new home, I met a wonderful person. He was kind, considerate and as gentle as a big Teddy bear. In fact, he was everything that the man who had previously hurt me was not. Even when I was not on my best behaviour, he never got angry with me and never even scolded me. We spent many hours chatting the night away. It was during these chats that I became aware that in spite of his soft-spoken demeanor, this man was also possessed of a keen intellect, who could give me a run for my money in any debate about any subject. Still waters run deep indeed!

As our friendship deepened, I became aware that he was hoping that our SL relationship would eventually lead to something more—a RL meeting or perhaps a RL relationship. From the very first day we met, I was honest with him by letting him know that I did not want to mix RL and SL. The heart, however, wants what the heart wants; I could see that he was falling deeper and deeper for me.

During the course of our conversations, he learned about “the Wall” that to this day surrounds me. He then became genuinely interested in helping me break down “the Wall.” His efforts to make me come out of my self-imposed seclusion, however, met with obstinate refusal on my part. Instead of seeing that all he wanted to do was to help me, I got angry at his efforts and in many occasions, I told him to simply “let me be.”

In retrospect, I should have “let him go” (for his own good). Instead, I let things go on. They say that in the trial of one’s mind, we only call witnesses for the defense. I suppose that that in my "defense" I can make a feeble argument that it was so easy to bask in the warm afterglow of his incredible friendship that I forgot that the avatar in front of me was man with real feelings. I took him and his feelings for granted; in the process I hurt him incredibly so. He generously gave of himself. In return, all I did was to selfishly take and gave nothing in return.

It has been almost five months since I last saw him online. By now, I have given up hope of ever seeing him online again. The last time that I received an e-mail from him, he assured me that there was nothing wrong--I know better. Once again, he is being true to form--polite, caring and not wishing to hurt my feelings in the least bit. He has finally done what I should have done long ago; he has bowed out gracefully to spare himself further pain and frustration. I can’t blame him.

There is a line from one of his favorite movies, “Bladerunner,” that goes something like this: “The candle that burns twice as bright, burns half as long.” His presence was a bright, glowing candle that burned brightly in my SL life—through my own fault, it burned only for a short time.

Dear one, if you are reading this (and I hope you are) please accept my apologies for all the hurt that I have so grievously caused you. Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!

For the rest of you, please don’t forget that every avatar that you meet in SL is a RL person; treat him or her as you would want to be treated yourself. Don’t make the same mistakes that I’ve made.

DAVE MASON - We Just Disagree

CALIFORNIA DREAMING

By Debbie Bulloch



California, the Golden State; the place where dreams of movie stardom come true, the land where big fortunes are made, America’s last frontier. No state in the USA, and perhaps no other place in the planet, holds such fascination and inspires so many dreams as California does.

Even in its current situation: high unemployment, sky soaring taxes, near bankruptcy and a recent election that offered Californians a dismal choice between a washed-out, ex-governor or a billionaire carpetbagger, no matter how insurmountable our problems may seem to the rest of the world, California is STILL the place to be.

Moreover, no other place in the world has inspired so many songs as California has. DO a Google search and you will see that the list of songs about California goes on and on and on.

Here are five very different songs about California, my home state.

Enjoy!

PHANTOM PLANET – California



EAGLES – Hotel California




THE MAMAS AND PAPAS – California Dreaming



THE BEACH BOYS – California Girls



THE 5th DIMENSION – California Soul

MAKING PEACE WITH THE PAST

By Debbie Bulloch



My mom recently underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth. As those of you who follow this blog know, as a young woman I had a troubled relationship with my mom.

Traumatic events, like a medical emergency, have a powerful way to focus our attention on the important things of life. Mom’s recent illness has helped me--and her--to put the events of the past into an entirely different perspective. Resentments that fueled feelings of bitterness that kept mom and I apart, no longer seem to be so important. Instead of wasting precious time living in the past, she and I look forward to a future free of the chains that held us back for so many years.

I am learning not to let past pain and hurt keep me from enjoying this moment in time. I know that making peace with the past will change the rest of my life for the better.

You should try it!

BEATLES – She is Leaving Home



She is Leaving Home (lyrics)

Wednesday morning at five o'clock
as the day begins
Silently closing her bedroom door
Leaving the note that she hoped would say more
She goes downstairs to the kitchen
clutching her handkerchief
Quietly turning the back door key
Stepping outside she is free

She (we gave her most of our lives)
is leaving (sacrificed most of our lives)
home (we gave her everything money could buy)
She's leaving home after living alone for
so many years (bye bye)

Father snores as his wife gets into her dressing gown
Picks up the letter that's lying there
Standing alone at the top of the stairs
She breaks down and cries to her husband
Daddy our baby's gone
Why would she treat us so thoughtlessly
How could she do this to me

She (We never thought of ourselves)
is leaving (never a thought for ourselves)
home (we struggled hard all our lives to get by)
She's leaving home after living alone for
so many years (bye bye)

Friday morning at nine o'clock she is far away
Waiting to keep the appointment she made
Meeting a man from the motor trade

She (what did we do that was wrong)
is having (we didn't know it was wrong)
fun (fun is the one thing that money can't buy)
Something inside that was always denied for
so many years (bye bye)
She's leaving home (bye bye)

HALLOWEEN BALLET

By Debbie Bulloch



Once again, Between Homes residents Karinna Praga and Teressa "Tess" Adamski starred in another production by Second Life's Little Princess Ballet Academy (LPBA). This year Halloween came early to SL as LPBA staged a production of their Halloween Ballet.











Here are some scenes from the ballet:

(Please click on picture for a LARGER image.)



First row (by the fountain), second from left - Tess Adamski
First row (by the fountain), third from left - Karinna Praga





Top row, with black hat, first from the left - Karinna Praga
Bottom row, second from the left - Tess Adamski

The Halloween ballet was produced, directed and staged by Guy Wardell. He and the entire company did a great job. Bravo! Bravissimo!

If you get a chance, contact Tess, Karinna and Guy and congratulate them for another standout performance!

ARE THE FRENCH LAZY?

By Debbie Bulloch



For the last few weeks, the world has watched as French workers, opposed to President Sarkozy’s proposed austerity measures, including the raising of the retirement age from 60 to 62, have taken to the streets in protest. Some of the protests have been rather violent, leaving large sectors of the French population in a state of paralysis.

The widespread strikes, over something as seemingly trivial as raising the retirement age from 60 (already the lowest in the industrialized world) to 62, have caused people in other nations to ask:

Are the French workers lazy? Are the French people strike-happy? Is the French economy going to collapse?

Well, it is now time to debunk the myth of the “lazy” French worker!

Please read below for some general facts about the French economy, French workers and France in general. These facts may surprise you.

Strikes: The world leader in days lost in strikes in 2009 was … Canada. Its score was 2.2 million, according to the UK journal The Economist. Next, came South Africa with 1.5 million. France came third with 1.4 million. France comes top of the European league table for the period 2005-2009, according to the European Foundation for the improvement of Living and Working Conditions. But in 2008 its efforts were dwarfed by Denmark, thanks to a strike wave, one of whose demands was a 35-hour working week. The damage to the economy is not as high as might be expected, judging by statistics from 2005 when a three-week strike cut 0.05 of a point from the growth rate, according to the Finance Ministry.

In typical French fasion, two young lovers kiss on the streets, while riot police look on.



Photo copyrighted by Reuters. All rights reserved by the copyright holder(s). Photo used here only for illustrative purposes only. No commercial use is intended, either explicitedly or impliedly.

Hours worked: French workers work an average of 1,453 hours a year, well below the OECD group of developed nations' average of just over 1,700 hours a year but above Germany and Norway (1,337), Sweden (1316) and the Netherlands (1309). South Koreans work the longest hours in the OECD at 2,390 per year.

Retirement: At present French women can retire at the same age as women in Italy, South Korea, Hungary, the UK, Greece and Poland but earlier than Turks and Czechs. Men have the lowest minimum retirement age in the OECD. The government's proposals will bring them in line with Czechs and Hungarians and raise the age that retirees can claim the full pension to 67, provided they have paid over 40 years of contributions.

GDP: France’s Gross Domestic Product has doubled in the last 20 years. It was over 2000 billion Euros in 2009, according to the IMF and the World Bank. That puts it fifth in the world league table, behind the US, Japan, China and Germany and just ahead of the UK. Over the same period, there has been a 10 per cent shift of the share of GDP from salaries to profits.

Productivity: French workers’ productivity has risen five times since 1960. Although it has fallen slightly over the last two years thanks to the recession, it is expected to double again over the next 20 years. GDP per hour worked is lower than in the US and Ireland but higher than in many countries, including the UK, Germany and Japan.

Debt: France has the sixth highest public deficit in Europe in percentage terms, at 8.2 per cent. The US’s deficit reached 12.5 per cent in 2009. The debt of French households was 89.1 per cent of income in 2006, according to the OECD. In Britain and the United States that ratio stood at 168.5 percent and 139.7 percent respectively.

Unemployment: French unemployment stands at 10 per cent, the average for the Eurozone. As in other industrialized countries, the figure has been pushed up by the recession but was already relatively high at 8.2 per cent in 2001. US unemployment stood at 9.6 per cent in June 2010.

So next time that you may tempted to refer to the French worker as a "lazy slacker" and France as a "lazy" country with a stagnant economy, be sure to refer to the facts listed above.