tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7390842085053516182.post7167456220053280911..comments2024-01-18T20:50:28.629+01:00Comments on Czech Off the Beaten Path: Holy Days and 4th AnniversarySherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13049105010678817891noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7390842085053516182.post-79661703258257713562011-11-14T09:25:05.517+01:002011-11-14T09:25:05.517+01:00@Karen: Thank you so much, Karen. I struggle with...@Karen: Thank you so much, Karen. I struggle with whether or not to write about my health issues. This blog is about my expat life, but when you move overseas with a chronic health issue, it goes with you. My allergies and asthma have a major impact on my life, and now this back trouble and pain are adding another layer to my expat existence. <br /><br />Writing about these issues helps me to maintain some perspective about my own situation. However, I hope, too, that maybe others who have chronic conditions might be encouraged to live their lives to the full, in spite of their health issues. <br /><br />Anyway, thanks for stopping by and I hope all's going great for you over in Turkey!<br /><br />Have a great day,<br />Sher :0)Sherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13049105010678817891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7390842085053516182.post-59230857522550969402011-11-13T17:18:40.724+01:002011-11-13T17:18:40.724+01:00I'm proud of you Sher for blogging through all...I'm proud of you Sher for blogging through all of your health trials for four straight years. That's an amazing accomplishment. Brava!Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7390842085053516182.post-54734477107455597322011-11-04T11:40:35.183+01:002011-11-04T11:40:35.183+01:00@chaplain: Thank you! It's hard to believe th...@chaplain: Thank you! It's hard to believe this little blog is still alive after 4 years! <br /><br />Yes, I'm trying to get back into more regular posting again. There was a lot going on in my life that had to be dealt with, along with some other projects that were taking up a lot of my time. Now, I'm able to work on blogging again, and it does feel good.<br /><br />I'm with you--I have never really enjoyed Halloween too much. The horror effect is too much stressed. When I was a kid, of course, I did enjoy wearing a costume and trick-or-treating. That part of Halloween is OK. I've also enjoyed costume parties in the past. But the emphasis on horror and death in Halloween I do not and have not liked. <br /><br />I was fortunate in the years before moving to the Czech Republic, to be part of churches that did celebrate All Saints Day. This I truly enjoy. I had cultivated this holy day before moving to the Czech Republic. However, I do really like the way Czechs gather to care of their departed loved ones and care for their graves, etc. I also like the special church services that are held at this time. <br /><br />Living here has helped me to appreciate a new dimension to All Saints, and even to not dread cemeteries. Before moving here, I dreaded cemeteries like the plague. But here, people have a completely different view about cemeteries. When we visited Paris on a past trip, we visited one famous old cemetery. There were benches for sitting on to enjoy the peace--as you see in a regular park. I was very shocked (you can tell this is when I was "just off the plane") to see people eating their lunches in the cemetery! That's a little too out there for me, but why not...cemeteries here are more like being in a park--very beautiful and peaceful places. Plus, there is a lot of history, as you can see when visiting the Slavin.<br /><br />Have a great day,<br />Sher :0)Sherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13049105010678817891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7390842085053516182.post-45380819925508380292011-11-03T10:13:24.668+01:002011-11-03T10:13:24.668+01:00Hi Sher,
Congratulations on the fourth anniversar...Hi Sher,<br /><br />Congratulations on the fourth anniversary of your blog! Also it's good to see you blogging more frequently again after a rather thin period in the middle of this year.<br /><br />I have never liked the way Halloween is celebrated in the US and similarly in the UK as American practices have crossed the Atlantic in the past 15 - 20 years. It seems to encourage children to do what parents spend the other 364 days of the year teaching them NOT to do! It can also descend into a celebration of evil rather than just being a bit of fun.<br /><br />I much prefer to celebrate All Hallows/All Holy Ones/All Saints Day for what it should be celebrated - giving thanks for all the saints who have helped us in our Christian journey & have gone on before us. The Czech practice you describe, of visiting family graves, cleaning them and lighting votive candles, is I believe, a simple expression of this.chaplain.czhttp://www.rickyyates.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7390842085053516182.post-42895401257084306432011-10-31T17:06:13.995+01:002011-10-31T17:06:13.995+01:00@Ivanhoe: Thanks so much! I should have written bl...@Ivanhoe: Thanks so much! I should have written blogoversary--that is more proper! :)<br /><br />Have a great day,<br />Sher :0)Sherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13049105010678817891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7390842085053516182.post-66125405607424692822011-10-31T14:54:42.944+01:002011-10-31T14:54:42.944+01:00Congratulations on your blogoversary! Time sure do...Congratulations on your blogoversary! Time sure does fly :)Ivanhoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14568486975589895670noreply@blogger.com