Happiness

There are a lot of jokes about happiness vs. money.  I wondered if there are lots of 'recipes' for happiness.  So I went looking to see who has asked about happiness this way.  I found this article at http://jaredakers.com/recipe-for-happiness/ with its excellent introduction.  "The term “recipe for happiness” is interesting… as if you can put in certain ingredients; throw it in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and out pops happiness. Sort of like those cooking shows we’ve all seen where they put the dish in the oven and pull the finished product out of the one below it. Could finding happiness really be that easy?" 1 cup Inner Peace 1 Cup of Spirituality 1 Cup of a realistic Perspective of Yourself 1 Cup of Gratitude A Sprinkle of Service Work Another Recipe for Happiness 2 heaping cups of patience 1 heart, full of love 2 handfuls of generosity plenty of faith 1 handful of understanding dash of laughter  generous sprinkle of kindness Combine patience, love and generosity with understanding. Add a dash of laughter and sprinkle generously with kindness. Add plenty of faith and mix well. Spread over a period of a lifetime. Serve everyone you meet. Another Recipe for Happiness Simply begin with one large scoop of love for yourself, add in a good measure of acceptance and goodwill, then sprinkle generously with equanimity. Combine all the ingredients and place in your heart until all the ingredients have been completely absorbed, then allow to permanently rest in each breath. The cooking/baking analogy seems to bring light-heartedness to the topic that makes it fun.  Today we see a beautiful bougainvillea arch at Hearst Castle in California.

Tropical Interlude

These bougainvillea images were taken in Florida in the Four Arts Garden in Palm Beach.  They are our visual interlude while we travel the Christmas journey learning all sorts of  things about food traditions at Christmas. 

In Japan, a food associated with Christmas is the Christmas cake.  It is a sponge cake with whipped cream, chocolate and strawberries.  Any cake that is not sold after the 25th is unwanted.  This idea was applied to single Japanese women over the age of 25: they used to be called Christmas Cakes.

Part of Spain's celebration of December 28th as a fool's day is to put salt in their cakes in place of sugar to 'fool' children. 

An Italian tradition is Carbone dolce.  This is a rock candy that looks like coal.  It is intended for bad children, and is left behind in place of toys on January 6th, Epiphany the last day of Christmas.

A number of countries have a Christmas Pickle tradition.  It is most attributed to a German tradition of hiding a glass pickle ornament in the Christmas tree.  Ground Zero for this, though, is Berrien Springs, Michigan.  It bills itself as the Christmas Pickle Capital of the World.  Thy have a parade in early December with the Grand 'Dill' meister giving out fresh pickles along the parade route.