Tag Archives: Holidays

Ten Reasons to Love The Holidays

Posted on December 3, 2024 | 6 comments

This isn’t my house, but I wish it was.

On Saturday I posted my Ten Reasons to Hate The Holidays. If you haven’t read that, then you need to. It’s a prerequisite. Now I’m providing this as proof that I’m not some Ebenezer Scrooge or Grinch.

10. Ridiculous Holiday Light Displays: That’s not my house above, but I wish it was. I love people that take the decorating and lights waaaay too far. I wish we could do it all year long. If there’s a neighborhood that decorates all year long, let me know. I’ll move there.

9. Getting presents: Well duh! Free stuff that we didn’t know we needed or wanted? Yes please! Notice that the presents are only 9th on my list? That’s because I’m not superficial and materialistic.

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8. Nutcrackers: I buy my nuts pre-cracked but I love these guys anyway for no good reason.  As much as I love them I’d also love Stephen King, or maybe me, to write a Christmas horror story where nutcrackers come to life and terrorize people like Chuckie. Imagine how creepy they’d be if you added sharp teeth! (Yes, that herd of nutcrackers is at my house staring at me right now)

7. Holiday Movies: Check back here next Tuesday for my list of the ten best holiday movies.

6. Time off from work: Let’s be honest, how many of us love our job so much that we’d do it even if we didn’t get paid? Bueller? Bueller? Yeah, I didn’t think so. I’m taking the week off between Christmas and New Years. Don’t worry, I’ll still keep blogging because I’d do that even if they didn’t pay me.

GrinchCindyPic

5. Holiday Specials: Come back in two weeks for my top ten holiday specials. The Grinch is a total badass but he’s not number 1 on that list.

4. Awkward Family Holiday Photos: I don’t care if they’re real or fake, they’re funny. I hope someday to create my own that becomes a meme on the internet.

3. Sometimes jerks try a little harder not to be: Including me. I don’t think I’m a jerk, but it’s nice that me and most other people try a little harder to be cordial, except online when we make snarky remarks at people that leave comments..

2. My holiday tie collection: Yes, this is one you should love too. This year I own enough holiday themed ties that I can wear a different one every work day from Thanksgiving until Christmas. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you’ve probably seen them.

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1. _________________________

Red Gift

Number 1 is left blank for you. What is it that you love about the holidays above all else? Put it in the comments what you love most about Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or New Years Eve. Have a great Tuesday!~Phil

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Posted in Humor, pop culture, Top Ten, Uncategorized

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If You Really Like Halloween…

Posted on October 5, 2024 | 9 comments

Pic from iStockPhoto.com

Halloween is coming up and some of us enjoy it more than others. If you’re one of those people, I have good news! There are several Halloween-like holidays all over the world that you can put on your calendar to celebrate the spooky stuff almost all year round.

Pic by Creator: SAEED KHAN

The Yulan Festival-China: Like most good festivals that celebrate the dead, fire has to be involved. The Yulan Festival also known as The Hungry Ghost Festival occurs on the 15th night of the 7th month, which is July. It is believed that on the day of the Yulan Festival, the gates of hell open so that ghosts can roam the Earth in search of food and entertainment.

Entertainment? What kind of entertainment do ghosts want? They watch us all the time. That’s got to be pretty funny. And the ghosts want food too? For cripes sake, I don’t want to spend my after-life trick or treating in the nearest neighborhood. I wonder if they order out for Chinese? Fortunately, in China the living perform rituals and have a feast to appease the spirits. Ok, so we’ve got July and October covered for spookiness now.

Pic from National Geographic

The Obon Festival-Japan/Brazil/California: Another celebrating the dead festival that in some places is actually multiple festivals lasting from June through August. Food, fire, costumes, music and dancing. Who knew someone else’s death could be this fun! Ok, Obon pulled in June, so now we’ve got spooky holidays/celebrations from June through November. November you say? What happens in November? Well…

Smith/Getty Images)

Dia de Muertos-Mexico and neighboring countries. Otherwise known as The Day of The Dead, this celebration occurs from Oct. 31 through the first week of November. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember amusing anecdotes about the departed. It’s one of my favorites as evidenced by my sugar skull and tie in the pic below:

So we’ve now got spookiness for five months. Sadly, we do have to skip the month of December to let Hannukah and Christmas to have their time, although I do plan on looking for some spooky Christmas content for you.

Pic from Bildderfrau.De

Walpurgis Night and Beltane: They occur at the same time but in different countries. Walpurgis Nacht (Night) is a German tradition, while Beltane is Irish & Scottish. They do occur on the same dates April 30/May 1.

Walpurgis Night was started to honor Saint Walpurga who was known for battling rabies, whooping cough and witches. Rabies, whooping cough and witches? Those German med school final exams must have been super weird. The night of April 30th into May 1st is supposed to be when the witches gather and ride. Walpurgis Night is celebrated in the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, and Estonia. In Finland, Denmark and Norway

Beltane: Source Nen.press

Beltane? Stuff like that pic above happens in drag clubs all over the states every day. You should see Key West on New Year’s Eve. To be honest, I’ve seen things online about a lot of crazy festivals in Europe, such as the Boom Festival, that I’d love to go to, but that would be a whole other blog post.

Beltane historically has been celebrated in Ireland, Scotland and The Isle of Man. Btw, here’s a shout out to that one Isle of Man Phil Factor reader. I see you showing up in my stats. Don’t be shy! Say hi in the comments.

The Celts see Beltane as the beginning of Summer and it brings back life & fertility. Bel was a Celtic god, and the name Beltane means the ‘fire of Bel’. Fire is central to the celebrations on the belief that it has protective powers. It’s believed that rituals of walking around or leaping over bonfires will bring good fortune, fertility, happiness and third degree burns.

There you go. I’ve given you spooky stuff to celebrate In April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November. That’s 8 different months to get your spooky on. If you know of any other traditions, festivals or celebrations with a spooky theme, feel free to shout out or post a link in the comments.

Have a great weekend, and thanks for reading! ~Phil

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New Years Eve for Boomers!

Posted on December 30, 2023 | 3 comments

Congratulations! Your Pontiac Fiero has taken you past the threshold of normal adulthood. Now as a bona fide Boomer, you’re faced with the perplexing challenge of navigating New Year’s Eve like an adult adult. (yes, I meant to say adult twice) Fear not boomer-in-training; I’m here to help you gracefully waltz into the new year without tripping over your slip-on Skechers. (BTW, Skechers feel free to contact me if you’d like to sponsor The Phil Factor.)

1. The Wardrobe Dilemma: Pajamas or Actual Pants?

So you invited neighbors Barb and George over for drinks and watching the apple, ball, or sponsored logo drop in Times Square. Now you face the age-old question of what to wear. As a Boomer, the struggle is real—do you opt for the sophistication of actual clothes or succumb to the allure of cozy pajamas? The answer: both. Consider rocking the “business casual on top, party on the bottom” look. That way, when the clock strikes twelve, no matter where you are, you can triumphantly kick your guests out and declare, “I’m ready for bed!” It’s your living room and you can damn well wear whatever you want. Pro tip: pajama jeans! (Also Phil Factor sponsor opportunity available)

Pic from MarketWatch.com

2. Decoding the Art of Adult Conversations

Gone are the days of discussing the latest video games or keeping up with current music. As a Boomer, your conversations now revolve around mortgage rates, the stock market, and the enigma that is Boomering. (Yep, I invented the verb “Boomering” copyright pending.) Navigate the party small talk with poise, dropping gems like, “Have you diversified your investment portfolio lately?” or “Here’s how I get more calcium in my diet…” That’s always a crowd pleaser.

Pic from X.com

3. The Midnight Toast: A Symphony of Wine Glasses

Let’s be honest, we’re probably not staying up until midnight, right? But we can pretend and toast at 10:00. In our twenties, the midnight toast involved questionable shots and clashing beer mugs. Now, as a Boomer, it’s all about the symphony of wine glasses clinking together. Pro tip: choose a wine that pairs well with Boomering, like a robust red that complements the complex flavors of your frustration with the internet and “kids these days.”

4. Crafting Resolutions: From Skydiving to Financial Savvy

While your younger self might have resolved to skydive or backpack across Europe, your grown-up resolutions are more practical. Consider pledging to finally organize your decades old junk drawer, conquer the art of meal prepping, or become a master at assembling IKEA furniture without a single leftover screw.

5. Countdown Contemplations: Balancing Excitement and Responsibility

As the countdown commences, the challenge is to balance the excitement of the impending new year with how much stress you think your heart can tolerate. Take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments, like successfully adulting your way through tax season or paying for your daughters wedding in Maui.

Pic from Insider.com

6. Champagne Popping Mastery: No Eye Injuries, Please!

Boomers pop champagne with the finesse of seasoned sommeliers. Ensure a smooth and injury-free cork release by holding the bottle at a 45-degree angle, gripping the cork firmly, and twisting the bottle—not the cork. Remember, no one wants to start the new year with a champagne-induced black eye. Pro-tip: If you go cheap enough, you can find champagne with a screw cap. Don’t worry, Barb and George won’t know the difference and they may be dozing off on your couch by this time

7. Post-Celebration Recovery: The Hangover Survival Kit

In our twenties, a hangover was a badge of honor. As a Boomer, if we made the mistake of one too many drinks, it’s a serious matter that requires a well-prepared survival kit. Stock up on electrolyte-infused beverages, pain relievers, and a gourmet breakfast delivery service, because pancakes delivered to your door are the epitome of Boomer luxury.

So there you have it—the essential guide for Boomers navigating the temporary, whimsical world of New Year’s Eve. Remember, being a Boomer doesn’t mean losing your sense of humor; it just means you’ve upgraded from partying all night to laughing about it the next day. Here’s to embracing the chaos, celebrating the wins, and proving that being a Boomer can be as hilarious as it is rewarding.

Cheers to Boomering 2024! Thanks for reading ~Phil

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Posted in AARP, Boomers, Humor

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Unusual New Years Traditions from Around the World

Posted on December 29, 2023 | 5 comments

Universally New Years night or New Years Day means the same thing to everyone, except the Chinese, who do the same thing, but based on the Lunar year, and it’s a different date. Seems kind of snooty to me. That’s why I haven’t visited China yet. The rest of the world is on the same page as far as the date goes, but in other countries they celebrate the holiday in wildly different ways!

Spain and other Spanish speaking countries: In Spanish speaking countries the locals eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve. Each grape represents good luck for each month of the upcoming year. Fortunately they didn’t choose grapefruit or watermelons!

Pic from The Economic Times

Denmark’s Plate Smashing Tradition: In Denmark it’s customary to throw dishes at your friends door on New Years Eve. The more broken dishes on your doorstep, the more popular you are. This is exactly why I don’t have any Danish friends.

Pic from SFGate

Japan’s Temple Bells Ringing: In Japan temples ring the temple bells 108 times at New Years Eve midnight to symbolize the 108 human sins in Buddhist belief. People gather to listen to the bells, hoping to leave the past behind. They only believe in 108 sins?!!? Have they not seen the internet yet?

South Africa’s Furniture Tossing: In some parts of South Africa it’s not uncommon for people to throw old furniture out their windows on New Years Eve. This act symbolizes letting go of the past and embracing the new. Coincidentally, hundreds of pedestrians are killed by falling furniture every New Years Eve.

Apparently Ecuadoreans are not fans of cartoon characters either

Ecuador’s Scarecrow Burning: In Ecuador, people create life-sized scarecrows, known as “Anos Viejos,” representing the old year. (there is supposed to be an accent over the n in Anos, but I don’t know how to do that). At midnight the Ecuadoreans light their effigies on fire, symbolizing burning away the past. Maybe if some Ecuadoreans visited South Africa on New Years day they could take care of all the New Years Eve furniture on the sidewalks.

Pic from The Nomad Today

Finland’s Predictive Metal Casting: It’s called Tinanvalanta. In Finland people predict the coming year by melting tin horseshoes and casting them into cold water. The resulting shape is believed to foretell a person’s future – a heart shape signifies love while a ship may mean travel. I have a similar tradition where I dip a chip (crisp) in some melted cheese and it foretells me eating a tasty chip.

Pic from Greek Herald

Columbia’s Empty Suitcase Stroll: Columbians take an empty suitcase and walk around their block at midnight, hoping it will bring travel and adventure in the coming year. I wonder how many couples break up because one actually took their suitcase and just kept going until they got to the airport?

Philippine’s Round Food Feast: Filipino’s believe that eating round fruits on New Years Eve bring prosperity and wealth in the coming year. How many shapes does food come in? Are there any parallelogram foods?

Pic from Big 7 Travel

Russia’s New Years Eve Divination: In Russia, it’s a tradition to write down a wish on a piece of paper, burn it, and then mix the ashes with a glass of champagne. They believe that drinking their burnt wishes will bring fulfillment of their wish. Apparently someone in Russia wished for a long, awful war.

Pic from Visit Scotland

Scotland’s First Footing: In Scotland the “First Footing” tradition involves being the first person to enter a friend or neighbors home home after the stroke of midnight, bringing symbolic gifts like coins, bread, salt, and whisky for good luck. Although I am a quarter Scottish, please don’t show up at my house at 12:01 this coming Sunday night. I’ll call the cops.

Have you noticed how destructive and dangerous most of these traditions are? It’s like half of them were concocted by pyromaniacs.

Happy Friday! I hope that you  have a great weekend! Thanks for reading! ~Phil

 

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Posted in Holidays, Humor

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It’s The Holidays, Let’s Remember Six Degrees of Separation

Posted on December 24, 2023 | 3 comments

There’s war in Ukraine, and war in the Middle East. It is also currently the high holiday season for several religions. How does the Six Degrees of Separation theory fit into this?

Pichttps://markrobinsonwrites.com/the-music-that-makes-me-dance/2018/3/11/movie-morsel-six-degrees-of-kevin-bacon

I don’t know who formulated the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon theory, but aside from being genius, it’s also a microcosm of the Six Degrees of Separation theory.

In the late 1920s, Hungarian writer Frigyes Karinthy identified the “small world paradox“, when he proposed that there are up to six degrees, or six people separating any two people on the planet.

In the 1960’s, the six degrees of separation theory was highlighted in research by social psychologist Stanley Milgram. In his experiments, a few hundred people from Boston and Omaha tried to get a letter to a complete stranger in Boston. Within the constraints of the experiment they were only allowed send the letter to a personal friend who they thought might be connected closer to the target stranger than they were. At the end of the experiment Milgram found that they had changed hands only about six times. Hence the notion that everyone can be connected by a chain of acquaintances six links or less.

Now, in 2023 the scientific types are postulating that thanks to social networks, it should now be called the  “The 3.57 degrees of separation“. As opposed to a few decades ago, every person on Earth is now only a four people apart.

Here’s how ridiculously close we are to so many people by the Six (or Four) Degrees of Separation. Using only two degrees of separation, I might be the only person on the planet through which you can connect 5 time Grammy winning singer Drake and former/currently deceased Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. That’s how small our world is.

In 2020 we all learned a lesson in connectedness by how quickly Covid spread through families, communities and workplaces. So here is my point, when people are separated by rancorous political rhetoric, when countries go to war, when people fight in the name of religion, you’re fighting with people who are friends of friends or family members of someone who is only a couple connections away from you. Would you in good conscience advocate waging war on the friend of a friend, or even against a co-workers cousin? I know I wouldn’t.

We are all not that different. It’s the holidays, let’s try forgiving people for being just a little bit different from us and hope that they will do the same.

Happy holidays to you and everyone connected to you! And if you agree, feel free to share on social media.

Thanks for reading, Phil

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Ten Paranormal Christmas Movies

Posted on December 6, 2023 | 10 comments

I went into writing this with the goal of making a list of ten holiday paranormal movies. I didn’t want holiday horror movies. Who wants to see murder movies that take place during the holidays? That is just not my vibe. (Yeah, I’ve got a vibe and holiday murder is not it.)

I wanted movies with ghosts and other paranormal things that are fun and uplifting. What I found was a century of A Christmas Carol re-makes. There must be about a thousand versions of that original classic. Some of those are on my list,  but I tried to find ones you may not be aware of.

Last Christmas (2019) This one stars Emilia Clarke of Game of Thrones and is a fun watch with a great twist.

Scrooged (1988) Yes, I know this is A Christmas Carol remake, but it’s the only one worth seeing.

Gremlins (1984) This leans a little towards being horror, but the Gremlins are so stinking cute before they turn into little demons that pulls this one out of the horror category. How is it paranormal? The Gremlins are quite clearly cryptids. Hey, that makes me wonder if there is a Bigfoot Christmas movie…

Bigfoot (2018) I had to stoop to animation to get Bigfoot in, but there he is. I think this was released in Europe, because on the movie’s Amazon page it says the DVD won’t play in USA and Canadian DVD players. DVD’s? Is that still a thing?

Spirited (2022): This one is a rip off of A Christmas Carol but you can’t go wrong with Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. It’s on Apple TV and is probably worth a watch when you don’t want think about anything.

Alien Xmas (2020) This wasn’t officially a movie. It’s more of a “special”. But, if you want to start getting your kids used to the aliens that our government finally admitted to, then this might be a good gateway view for them.

The Mothman Prophecies (2002) Starring my high school biology lab partners brother in-law, Richard Gere, this is a paranormal classic. It’s not a documentary but is based on real events. It’s a compelling watch.

Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas (2019) It’s a holiday movie and someone becomes a ghost. That’s all I know.

The Spirit of Christmas (2015) A movie with a lot of people who look like they took a vacation from their daytime soap opera job to film this. “12 days before Christmas, Kate is trying to close the sale of a historic inn, only to find Daniel, the ghost of a man who died a century ago, and he needs her help to unravel the mystery of his annual holiday haunting.” It was a made for tv movie. I don’t think it was a Hallmark movie, but it is of that ilk.

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) This is another Christmas classic that has had way too many knock offs made. But, this is the OG of paranormal holiday classics. The angel/ghost, Clarence, took a header off a bridge just get get George’s attention. He was the unsung hero of this tale!

There you go, ten paranormal holiday movies. On this week of the beginning of Hannukah, I’m sorry to my Jewish friends that I couldn’t find any paranormal Hannukah movies. If you know one, let me know and I’ll add and republish this.

Have a great day everybody! Thanks for reading ~Phil

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Ten Weird Holiday Traditions from Around The World

Posted on November 29, 2023 | 1 comment

My first baby picture! (pic credit to https://www.artstation.com/yoneyu )

Not everybody celebrates the holidays just like you do. One of the ten traditions in the list is made up by me. See if you can guess which one is the fake and put your guess in the comments.

Ten Weird Holiday Traditions From Around the World

10. South Africa: In South Africa deep fried caterpillars are the traditional holiday meal. Who knows why? Maybe they believe that eating caterpillars symbolically will make their life turn into a butterfly or some such nonsense. Or maybe caterpillars are just really tasty. Who are we kidding? Anything deep fried IS really tasty.

sundried-emperor-moth-caterpillars-photo-credit-gizmag

9. Norway: Maybe my blogging friend Maja Asgautsen from Norway can tell me if this is accurate. According to what I read in the internet, in Norway it’s traditional not to do any cleaning on Christmas Eve and all brooms are put away. Sounds like Norwegian Christmas Eve happens at my house several days every week.

8. Caracas, Venezuela: Residents of this one town, Caracas, go to Christmas Eve mass on roller skates.

this-one-caracas

7. Germany: In Germany they hide a pickle in the Christmas tree and the first child to find it gets a small gift. I would bet that in German bars around the holidays  “Hey gorgeous, how would you like to play hide the pickle?” is an overused, and probably unsuccessful pick up line.

6. Ukraine: In the Ukraine, instead of tinsel and lights they decorate their Christmas trees with fake spider webs and spiders. Apparently they watch The Nightmare Before Christmas  a little too often.

5. China: In China families bring their pets, dogs, cats, and birds to a special mass on Christmas Eve to have them blessed. In Chinese culture it is believed that animals are more susceptible to demonic possession and the ceremony is thought to “cleanse” them for the coming year.  That is why most households have a “lucky cat” statue to ward off evil spirits.

lucky-chinese-cat-27637011

4. Estonia: Families go to the sauna together. I’m cool with going to the sauna, but with my family? Ugh.

3. Great Britain: Tradition dictates that each member of the family must stir the Christmas pudding in a clockwise direction and make a wish. Reportedly 90% of wishes are “I wish is wasn’t cold and rainy.”

funny-picture-weather-in-england

2. Guatemala: They sweep out their houses on Christmas Eve, with brooms they borrowed from the Norwegians, creating a pile of dirt in front of their home. Then they burn an effigy of the devil on top. Geez, Guatemala, lighten up, it’s Christmas! It’s supposed to be fun.

1. Greece: In a twisted version of Elf on the Shelf, the Greeks tell their children that the Kallikantzaroi, a race of evil goblins that live underground, come to the surface to wreak havoc during the twelve days of Christmas. Nice, parenting by terror. What’s more traditional than that?

Well, one of those ten is a completely fake. Which one do you think it is? Have a great Tuesday! ~Phil

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Ranking The Top Ten Holidays Worldwide

Posted on November 15, 2023 | 2 comments

In the States and many other countries, the “holiday season” is here. It occurred to me that I should probably rank the holidays and let you argue with me.

I’ll try to avoid being United States centric. Sure we’ve got a great country with some arse kicking holidays, but thanks to my 18 years in the blogosphere I’ve been exposed to other cultures and subsequently I realize that my point of view isn’t the only point of view. I’d love to hear your thoughts on your favorite holidays and how you think that they stack up against the best holidays in the world.

10. Easter: Nothing like starting my list with a little bit of blasphemy. Easter gets the nod here because as a child on Easter, I would wake up and my parents would have hidden my Easter basket full of candy somewhere in the house. I loved the challenge of having to solve a mystery to get my candy. And then candy for breakfast! They hid my Easter basket every year until I was 18. On the Easter when I was an 18 year old college student I was so disappointed to wake up and discover that they had just left my Easter basket in front of my bedroom door.

9. Bhodi Day: What is Bhodi Day? It’s a Buddhist holiday celebrating Buddha’s enlightenment under a Bhodi tree. Because there are many different Buddhists and Buddhist calendars all over the world, the holiday is celebrated on different dates. When I’m elected President, or Sexiest Man Alive, whichever comes first, I will make sure Bhodi Day always happens on a Friday so we can have a long weekend.

8. Valentine’s Day: A holiday all about love! How could I possibly rank it this low? It was a tough call. Who doesn’t love love? Nobody, right? Nope. That’s not true. People who want a romantic partner and don’t have one are never happy on Valentine’s Day.

7. Eid al-Fitr: If you’re not familiar, Eid al-Fitr is massive feast that Muslims have to celebrate the end of Ramadan, which is a month in which they don’t eat from dawn to dusk each day. I’m all in for a giant feast anytime, especially after fast. I intermittent fast sometimes and I’m ready to binge eat after six hours!

This is a great picture. Thanks People Magazine

6. Day of the Dead: It’s Mexico’s Halloween but it lasts two days! I want to move to San Diego so I can celebrate Halloween on Oct. 31st and then drive across the border and celebrate Day of the Dead for two days. That’s three Halloween days in a row. If Day of the Dead is two days long, then why isn’t it Days of the Dead plural?

5. Halloween: I love the celebration of spooky things. And c’mon! Kids dressing up in costumes and getting free stuff from strangers? I can’t see how that could possibly go wrong! Adults have the opportunity to dress up as their true selves and get drunk at parties. What’s not to like?

4. Diwali: I highlighted this one last weekend. A densely packed population getting drunk and setting off fireworks is tough to beat.

3. Christmas: It’s tough to beat the run up to this holiday. The decorating and complete culture overhaul for one month are not matched by any other holiday.

This one is available on Amazon

2. Hannukah: Gasp! What? He ranked Hannukah over Christian Christmas?!!? Blasphemy! Nope, it’s not blasphemy. It’s simple math. Eight days of presents vs. one day of presents.

1. New Year: Whether it’s New Year in Times Square or the Chinese New Year, the celebration of the beginning of a new calendar year is universal. I have to say that I really respect China for ignoring the rest of the world and having their own New Year celebration 6 weeks later. I also hope that there a lot of people in China who celebrate both New Years. If it’s the best holiday, why not do it twice?

Those are my rankings. How would you rank them? Is there another holiday or two that you want on the list? Answer in the comment section below!

Have a great Wednesday! ~Phil

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May You Have a Great Month!

Posted on April 23, 2023 | 1 comment

A gathering for May 1 “Eid il Fitr” ,which translates to “When Phil Posts to His Blog”

When people think of “the holidays” they usually think of the November-February stretch that includes many of the popular holidays in the English speaking world. If you look a little further, you’ll see that in both English speaking countries and other countries there are a lot of underrated great holidays that occur in the month of May. I’m going to spend the month posting about and making good natured fun of most of these holidays.

Cinco De Mayo Fiesta on the plaza in Mesilla, New Mexico May 06, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL RATJE (Photo credit: PAUL RATJE/AFP/Getty Images)

Three of these awesome holidays occur consecutively during the first week of May. I will list them in a poll below and please vote for the one that you want to learn the most about.

Loading poll ...

Whichever holiday is chosen will be the first post in May. If you have one that’s not on the list, please shout it at me in the comments!

Thank you for your participation! ~ Phil

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Merry Christmas to All…

Posted on December 25, 2018 | 10 comments

If you celebrate the Christmas holiday, then Merry Christmas to you. If you don’t then I hope you have a wonderful and merry day as well. I just want to say thank you to all of you who have read my blog over the past year. You make my day with your comments. I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year as well. Thank you. ~Phil

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