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My name is Mirela Mohan and I am a copywriter and editor. I cover lifestyle and real estate content as well as web copy. Some of my work has been picked up by The New York Times, Globe Street, the Commercial Observer and other. While a lot of my writing leans on the technical, I have a penchant for the creative and whimsical. One of my favorite quotes is “One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple” by Jack Kerouac. Fitting words for a profession where putting the right words on the page is the ultimate quest. When I’m not writing, I love trying new recipes in the kitchen and drawing.

From shining emerald to Midnight blue beneath A gleaming golden sun, The tireless sea beats, Ceaselessly against sand, Beneath the cries of gulls, Today as it did long ago Timeless in my memory, As in this present moment. - Donovan Baldwin

We tend to think of winter as a time of rest, hibernation, and quiet. But, according to the calendar, the winter months are a time of many holidays around the world. The cold months are clearly a popular time for parties and celebrations. While some are filled with solemn tradition, others focus on fun and frolic. All pose opportunities for interesting and real-life lessons in geography, culture, history, and religion. Let's take a look a some of these. [borrowed/modified for this post] Hanukkah For eight days each November or December, Jews light a special candle holder called a menorah. They do it to remember an ancient miracle in which one day’s worth of oil burned for eight days in the temple. During Hanukkah, many Jews also eat special potato pancakes called latkes, sing songs, and spin a top called a dreidel to win chocolate coins, nuts, or raisins. Three Kings Day At the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas comes a day called the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day. This holiday is celebrated as the day the three wise men first saw baby Jesus and brought him gifts. On this day in Spain, many children get their Christmas presents. In Puerto Rico, before children go to sleep on January 5, they leave a box with hay under their beds so the kings will leave good presents. In France, a delicious King cake is baked. Bakers will hide a coin, jewel, or little toy inside. Winter Solstice The Winter Solstice occurs around December 21. It is the shortest day of the year. People all over the world participate in festivals and celebrations. Long ago, people celebrated by lighting bonfires and candles to coax back the sun. St. Lucia Day To honor this third-century saint on December 13, many girls in Sweden dress up as “Lucia brides” in long white gowns with red sashes, and a wreath of burning candles on their heads. They wake up their families by singing songs and bringing them coffee and twisted saffron buns called “Lucia cats.” St. Nicholas Day A popular December holiday in many European countries, St. Nicholas Day, celebrates St. Nicholas of Myra, the man whose life inspired the tradition of Santa Claus and Father Christmas. He gave all of his money to the needy and was known for his compassion for children and all those in need. The holiday honors the man on the anniversary of his death, December 6, 343 A.D. Many celebrate with parades, feasts, gift giving, and festivals. Christmas People celebrate this Christian holiday by going to church, giving gifts, and sharing the day with their families. In some parts of Europe, “star singers” go caroling—singing special Christmas songs—as they walk behind a huge star on a pole. The Christmas festivities in Ireland tend to be more religious in nature rather than being about gifts. Christmas celebrations last from Christmas Eve until January 6 (Epiphany). On December 26, known as St. Stephen’s Day, an Irish tradition that is known as the Wren Boys Procession takes place. Children go from door to door singing, holding a stick that is topped by a holly bush and a wren. They ask for money for the “starving wren,” which goes into their pockets. In ancient times, a real wren was killed and fastened to the stick, but today fake wrens are used. The Christmas Eve festivities in the Ukraine are known as Sviata Vechera, which means “Holy Supper.” The celebration begins when the first evening star is sighted in the night sky. In farming communities, the household head brings in a sheaf of wheat, which symbolizes the wheat crops of Ukraine. It is called “didukh,” which translates to “grandfather spirit.” In homes within the city, a few stalks of wheat may be used to decorate the table. Kwanzaa Kwanzaa, which means “First Fruits,” is based on ancient African harvest festivals and celebrates ideals such as family life and unity. During this spiritual holiday, celebrated from December 26 to January 1, millions of African Americans dress in special clothes, decorate their homes with fruits and vegetables, and light a candle holder called a kinara. New Year In Ecuador, families dress a straw man in old clothes on December 31. The straw man represents the old year. The family members make a will for the straw man that lists all of their faults. At midnight, they burn the straw man, in hopes that their faults will disappear with him. In Japan, Omisoka (or New Year’s Eve) is the second most important holiday of the year, following New Year’s Day, the start of a new beginning. Japanese families gather for a late dinner around 11 PM, and at midnight, many make visits to a shrine or temple. In many homes, there is a cast bell that is struck 108 times, symbolizing desires believed to cause human suffering. Those in Hong Kong pray to the gods and ghosts of their ancestors, asking that they will fulfill wishes for the next year. Priests read aloud the names of every living person at the celebration and attach a list of the names to a paper horse and set it on fire. The smoke carries the names up to the gods and the living will be remembered. To celebrate the Chinese New Year, many children dress in new clothes to celebrate and people carry lanterns and join in a huge parade led by a silk dragon, the Chinese symbol of strength. According to legend, the dragon hibernates most of the year, so people throw firecrackers to keep the dragon awake. Mardi Gras The time of Lent is a solemn one of reflection for Christians, so the Tuesday before Lent begins is a time of merry-making for many people around the world. In New Orleans, people wear costumes and attend huge parades for the festival of Mardi Gras. Brazil’s Carnaval also features parades, costumes, and music. This day is also known as Shrove Tuesday. In England, some towns have pancake contests in which women run a race while flipping a pancake at least three times. Mardi Gras usually occurs in February or March, 47 days prior to Easter. [The holiday write-ups were originally published in November of 2014 and have been revised for this post.]

Sharing this little gem I ran across in the hopes it sparks some discussion - note this was originally published in 2014, so nearly a decade is missing from the charts.

Mind to Mind how sublime touching thoughts like raindrops falling through a cloud in time no beginning, no end we bear gifts in this our destiny our strings so finely tuned in an eternity with no beginning without end © L. G. Rogers Jan. 19, 2023

Good times, bad times... We live, we die - passing so quickly... What for, we ask - Why? We learn to earn - to live and yearn for love, for family to serve, fill a void, to find a reason for just being... to finally find out what it's all about: in the grand scheme, all that matters is... Love

Lake Groton in the morning – end-of-summer day picture in still motion – not a breath of air out on the pier, a retriever takes her stance stunning in her silhouette of palest golden hair every sense on high alert – her focus undeterred head held high, chest out, legs and tail just right with perfect conformation, much to our delight but toss a frisbee o’er the water – this dog’s out of sight © Lorene Rogers 3-14-2023

I’m so confused! I admit it, dear. I love our home, but I hate it here! Elsewhere calls Day dream places Perfect home in a great location. But does this exist Can we both agree? I want excitement, you solemnity. I want a cottage And you a grand estate You want the ocean and me, a lake. I’m ready to go now You want to wait Prices keep rising, it’s getting late A deal is a most For you to follow through To live without regret We’ve missed so many I’m hurting there’ll be more waiting for elusive perfection

Tammy Spears' poem "Autumn Breeze" has been published in the Opal Writers Magazine. Congratulations, Tammy! You are an encouragement to keep writing! https://opalpublishing.ca/2023/09/30/autumn-breeze Autumn Breeze written by Tammy Spears ©Author of  “Flutter of an Eye” The trees so tall and full of leaves Will become so bare in the “Autumn Breeze” As the color of the leaves swirl in the wind Reminds us that winter is just around the bin For now enjoy the colors so bright That light up the road they cover at night As the leaves swirl in the “Autumn Breeze” Remember in spring they will again cover the trees.