Santa's helper, Ken's friend, Allan

Santa Claus is the most magical being in the world.  In one night he travels around the world in a  sleigh pulled by 8 tiny reindeer  delivering gifts to all the good boys and girls.  Or does he?

In some countries he appears on December 8th. In other countries, he comes on January 6th.  Maybe your family receives gifts on December 24th.   Perhaps your home is visited by La Befana or Dred Moroz or Father Christmas.   Saint Nicholas is  another welcome guest who brings presents at this time of year.

It matters not, the job gets done on time because Santa has many helpers.  These helpers preside at parties, listen carefully to wish lists while sitting on festive thrones posing for photos with children and pets.  Santa's helpers collect money for charity and ride in parade floats.  They distribute Christmas baskets of food for Christmas feasts.  They help Santa answer the millions of letters sent to the North Pole.

This year, Ken's friend, Allan, wants to be a Santa's helper too.  Ho, Ho, Ho.

Festival of Lights Barbie

Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year and in 2017 falls on December 21.  Winter is a very difficult time in northern climes.  It is depressingly dark, freezing cold and food can be very scarce.

While nothing we can do hastens the passage of the Earth around the sun,  people use sympathetic magic in an attempt to speed the return of long light-filled days.

Decorating our homes with sparkling lights (ostensibly to celebrate Christmas) is really a form of sympathetic magic.  We are trying in vain to lure the sun back.

The ancient tradition of burning a Yule log in the fireplace is based on the same idea.  Thinking that like engenders like, people would build a ceremonial fire in an attempt to bring back warmer weather.  Sometimes, now, we might just eat the rolled cake that represents that solstice fire.  Not everyone has a fireplace and that chocolate icing is delicious.

Barbie thought she'd hang lights on herself.  It may or may not affect how long winter will be.  It will certainly affect how great she looks. 

Ken Celebrates Canada 150

Canada Day in Ottawa was marked by huge crowds trying in vain to get onto Parliament Hill to watch the show. 

I volunteered at the Museum of Nature in the fossil gallery.  I think I talked to a million visitors, many of whom were there for the very first time.  My husband walked up to Major's Hill Park to enjoy the buskers.  He stopped at a booth where a group of Sikhs were teaching people about turbans.  When he met me after my shift, he was wearing a beautiful red turban.

For Sikhs, turbans are symbols of equality and dedication to a life of truthful living and  a high moral standard.  While a turban serves to keep a Sikh's long hair clean and tidy, it is not a hat but a two meter length of cloth that must be wrapped and unwrapped every day thus serving as a reminder of a Sikh's core values.  The colour, size and shape of a turban hold no specific meaning.

Tersh's bright red turban is very festive looking and perfect for Canada Day.  Ken also wanted to celebrate so he got one too.