Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is an annual holiday celebrated on February 14. It has its origins in Christian, Roman and Pagan tradition.

The Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia, Pagan festival, around February 15. It was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. The Christian church probably decided celebrate St. Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February taking advantage of this pagan celebration. After declaring it a “Christian” holiday the celebration of Lupercalia was outlawed during the fifth century by the Pope.

It was first associated with love during the Middle Ages as it was believed that that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season which led to the idea that it would be a day of romance.

In addition to the United States, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia.

2018 YEAR OF THE DOG

Year of The Brown Earth Dog Begins Feb 16

Chinese New Year is one of the biggest and most important cultural celebrations in China. The story of the Chinese New Year and the Zodiac that goes with it begins with Buddha. He called all the animals to meet him at the height of the moon’s cycle. Twelve creatures joined him and he named the years in the order of their arrival.

The rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig have cycled through as symbols of a new calendar each Chinese New Year ever since. As legend has it, those born in the year of a particular animal will have characteristics of that animal.

The Dog occupies the eleventh position in the Chinese zodiac. You are a “Dog Chinese zodiac animal” if you are born in one of these years: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018.

The Chinese Horoscope 2018 predicts that this year of the Brown Earth Dog is going to be a good year in all respects, but it will also be an exhausting year as there will be ups and downs as well as challenges but will bring prosperity.

Year of the Earth Dog 2018 is a good time for lifestyle changes (time to start a healthier life or a change residence) and for the start of new business ventures. Being prudent and using careful planning will result in a successful outcome of projects especially those undertaken in the previous year. Communication between people and being selfless and generous will result in more positive outcomes. Lifestyle changes will result in better health.

People born in the Year of the Dog are independent and decisive. They respond well to challenges without fear. Loyalty is one of their best traits so they will have life long friends.

Jewelry for Chinese New Year

Aside from dogs, rabbits are good to wear this year. Shades of lavender or violet are the colors this year – from pinkish to those that are bluish. Lavender jade or amethyst will be good for this year as well as blue agate and other blues. Cherry red and golden yellows will be great complementary colors as well.   Brown is the neutral for the year.

This bodes well for February since the birthstone is amethyst. Originally only royalty were allowed to wear this beautiful stone. The Greeks believed that wearing amethyst would prevent intoxication. Amethyst comes from a Greek word meaning sober.   In medieval Europe soldiers wore amethyst amulets to protect them in battle.   It is believed that putting an amethyst under your pillow will bring about pleasant dreams and wearing it strengthen relationships and give its wearer courage. Leonardo da Vinci wrote that amethysts enhance intelligence and protect against evil thoughts