Interesting facts about Raccoons
Raccoons are black, white and gray animals that often resemble little thieves. True to their appearance raccoons have been known to take food that does not belong to them or rummage through trash at night.
Contrary to popular opinion raccoons are very intelligent animals, they have an IQ scale closer to that of a human. I wouldn`t appreciate being compared to a raccoon when it comes to smarts. Anyway, raccoons are known to have an evolving intelligence meaning they are able to learn and change their way of thinking from experiences.
Despite living outside and being known for picking through trash, raccoons are actually very hygienic animals. Whatever food they acquire they make a point of trying to clean it before consuming. If you have a minute search a well known video of a raccoon attempting to wash cotton candy, spoiler there is a rather disappointing but adorable ending.
Mount Fuji is one of the many landmarks one thinks of when thinking about Japan. Most Japanese would say that Mount Fuji is property of Japan but it is actually partly privately owned.
Mount Fuji is also an active volcano, the last eruption was recording in 1707. Beautiful but dangerous, though there has been no news that it would erupt it is a possibility.
Lastly, it is possible to get married on Mount Fuji, the same offered is limited but a wedding on a beautiful active volcano would be an experience.
Rice is a staple in most kitchens and such a universally used product. Rice has many benefits, it is a great source of carbohydrates which is the body`s main source of fuel. Brown rice, especially, is an excellent source of many nutrients, including fiber, manganese, selenium, magnesium, and B vitamins.
In addition to its amazing health benefits, rice can also be used as a beauty product. The starch in rice is known to have brightening properties and rice water has been used to promote good hair health. Rice can even be used as an exfoliating treatment.
Rice water can also be used to water plants. Rice water is a byproduct of soaking or boiling rice and is rich in nutrients that can help your plants thrive. Not only does it contain essential minerals such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but it also has beneficial bacteria that can improve soil health.
Rice really is a multi- purpose product.
Sports day is a holiday celebrated on the second Monday in October. It was formerly known as Health and Sports day. This holiday commemorates the opening of the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo and it exists to this day as a way to promote health and fitness.
Many Japanese businesses and schools close on this day. On Sports day, students are encouraged to play a number of fun games or do activities to keep them active. The games are centered around movement but also on building team spirit and unity.
Like many places in the world Japan celebrates a National Foundation day or Founders day. This is the day the first Emperor of Japan was crowned and it is believed that it was the day that started Japan and Japanese society. This Holiday was later removed after World War II but after some petitioning by Japanese people the holiday was reinstated.
The holiday takes place on February 11th and is a national holiday for the Japanese people to remind themselves of the nation's founding and to show love for their great nation.
Heritage day South Africa
Heritage day is the 24th of September and is used to celebrate and acknowledge all the different cultures and groups in South Africa. The day was previously know as Shaka day as a way to remember one of South Africa`s great Zulu kings. But has since been changed to include all cultures and not just the isiZulu people. Heritage day is celebrated in many different ways, workplaces and churches host heritage day events where you are allowed to dress up in your specific cultures clothing. This is very bright and colorful as many cultures have unique traditional and cultural clothing. In Schools, children are taught about the day and given assignments to research their own heritage. This so special because many children have different family heritages and one child could show case a heritage from two or more different cultures in their family.
Lastly heritage day is a public holiday and many companies and school close on that day, South Africans take this opportunity to braai (barbeque) and spend the day with their families.
Autumn Around the world: India
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights. This holiday is associate with the goddess, Lakshmi who is the goddess of prosperity and Ganesha who is the god of wisdom and the remover of obstacles. This holiday is linked to a lot of different religious practices but at its core it is to celebrate the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. It is a festival of enLIGHTenment.
Diwali is celebrated by lighting candles/ lamps outside ones home and fireworks displays, it is a bright and colorful festival. Families usually go to temple together to pray and then eat an assortment of Indian foods and sweets such as Barfi and Gulsb jamun.
Autumn Around the World: China
The Chinese Moon festival is mid- autumn festival to celebrate the harvest period. It takes place between September and October, this year it will be celebrated on October 6th . It is believed that during this day the moon is the brightest and fullest. This is often referred to as the Harvest moon.
The celebration is bright and festive. Chinese lanterns are lit and families share a pastry filled with salted egg and lotus paste, mooncakes! The lanterns have a special meaning and are said to symbolize beacons lighting the path to good fortune in future and prosperity.
This festival also involves some religious symbols. The moon Goddess in Chinese myth is known as Chang'e. Offerings are made to ensure that she blesses households with good fortune and prosperous harvests during this season. It also sets the intention for the next years harvest.
