Kul aam wa anti be kheir Azizti Hanan!!!

Count your life by smiles, not tears.
Count your age by friends, not years.

May this day bring to you all things that make you smile!

Happy Birthday!
Parabens!!!

Ana

Kul aam wa anti be kheir Azizti BUBA!!!

Kul aam wa anti be kheir BUBA!!!

Now you have to learn it in portuguese: Parabens!!!

We wish you beautiful memories and okbal meet sanaa y rab, wenshoof baad lama nseer ajayeez!!!

Mashaal, Sawsan, Haifa, Wafa, Hanan, Abir Sakeena and Ana

Eid al fitr - 20th September

Eid al-Fitr Arabic: عيد الفطر (also spelled Eid ul-Fitr) is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. The word Fitr means "to break", which symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period and of all evil habits.

Muslims are commanded to complete their fast on the last day of Ramadan and then recite the Takbir all throughout the period of Eid.

The first Eid was celebrated in 624 CE by the Prophet Muhammad with his friends and relatives after the victory of the battle of Jang-e-Badar.

Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting, but thanking Allah for the help and strength that he gave them throughout the previous month to help them practice self-control.

The festival begins when the first sight of the new moon is seen in the sky.

The celebratory atmosphere is increased by everyone wearing best or new clothes, and decorating their homes.

Eid is also a time of forgiveness, and making amends, spiritual renewal, as well as celebration and feasting with friends and relatives.

Eid Mubarak!

Happy Birthday Natalia!!!

Desejamos-te um dia muuuuuito feliz!!!

Bebe um birinaite por nos!

(Desta vez vais ter postal, embora um pouco atrasado)

Beijos XXL

Ana & Amer

Kulaam Inta be kheir Abu Amer!!!!!

Kul aam wa anti be kheir Genna!!!

It's 7th September!!!!!

Happy Birthday Piriquita Genna!!!

Parabens!!!!

May this birthday be just the beginning of a year filled with happy memories, wonderful moments and shining dreams!

Ana

Ramadan - 22nd August 2009

In Arabic: ن‎ رمضا‎ (also written Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, Ramdan, Ramadaan) is an Islamic religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar; the month in which the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

In the western calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving forward about ten days each year. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, sexual conduct, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until sunset.

Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality. Ramaḍan is a time to fast for the sake of Allah, and to offer more prayer than usual. Muslims also believe through good actions, they get rewarded twice as much as they normally can achieve.

During Ramaḍan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.

(source: wikipedia)

I wish you all Ramadan Kareem!

14th February

It’s Valentine’s Day!!!!

Let me introduce myself. My name is Valentine. I lived in Rome during the third century. That was long, long ago! At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. I didn't like Emperor Claudius at all, and I wasn't the only one! A lot of people shared my feelings.

Claudius wanted to have big armed forces. He expected men to volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to fight in wars. They did not want to leave their wives and families. As you might have guessed, not many men signed up. This made Claudius angry or better… furious! So what happened? He had an unwise and crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was nasty and cruel. I thought it was ridiculous! I certainly wasn't going to support that decree!

By the way, did I mention that I was a priest? One of my favourite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, I kept on performing marriage ceremonies (secretly, of course). It was really quite stimulating and exciting! Imagine a small candlelit room with only the bride and groom and myself... We would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers.

One night, we did indeed hear footsteps. It was creepy! Thank God the couple I was marrying runaway in time. I was caught. (Not quite as light on my feet as I used to be, I guess.) I was thrown in jail and told that my punishment and sentence was death.

I really tried to stay positive and cheerful… but do you know what? Wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love and friendship.

One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit me in the cell. Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits and emotional state up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, "Love from your Valentine."

I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember me. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh, because they know that love can't be beaten!Celebrate it!

Don’t let it end!

27th January

It's Chocolate Cake Day !!!

When : Always January 27th

In my research I did not discover the foundation of this day. Maybe it was a baker, perhaps it was a food company… Most likely it was a chocolate cake eater!

If you have any information about this holiday, please let me know!

Chocolate Cake Day is a chocolate lover’s pleasure and a day, of course, to eat cake.

On this day, a white or yellow cake will not do at all! Nor will part chocolate or part white will meet requirements… It must be chocolate, all chocolate! You can make milk chocolate, dark chocolate, fudge, or any other type of chocolate cake.

The only allusion to Chocolate Day it’s just cards and calendar websites. This might lead you to conclude that this is a day for (and by) the cards companies. ;)

But we know it better - this day is for you, and all chocolate lovers!

There are three objectives of Chocolate Cake Day: To bake a chocolate cake, to decorate a chocolate cake and to eat a chocolate cake. Of course, if you are to busy to bake or decorate a cake, then just eating a chocolate cake will certainly do!

Hey, it's Chocolate Cake Day! The perfect time to pamper yourself and your cute loved ones!!!

16th January 2009 - Religious Freedom Day

16th January

Religious Freedom Day

But Not For Everyone...

Today is National Religious Freedom Day in the United States, an event that celebrates one of the most cherished freedoms in EUA. It was on this day, January 16, in 1786 that the Virginia State Assembly adopted Thomas Jefferson's famous Virginia Stature for Religious Freedom. This landmark legislation became the foundation for the freedom of religion granted under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The freedom of religious expression in the U.S. has remained unshaken for 221 years, and it has been the inspiration for religious liberty around the globe.

The goal of Religious Freedom Day is to promote and protect students' religious expression rights by informing educators, parents, and students about these liberties.

The White House issued this proclamation:

Quote:

Religious Freedom Day, 2009 A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

Religious freedom is the foundation of a healthy and hopeful society. On Religious Freedom Day, we recognize the importance of the 1786 passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. We also celebrate the first liberties enshrined in our Constitution's Bill of Rights, which guarantee the free exercise of religion for all Americans and prohibit an establishment of religion.

Our Nation was founded by people seeking haven from religious persecution, and the religious liberty they found here remains one of this land's greatest blessings. As Americans, we believe that all people have inherent dignity and worth. Though we may profess different creeds and worship in different manners and places, we respect each other's humanity and expression of faith. People with diverse views can practice their faiths here while living together in peace and harmony, carrying on our Nation's noble tradition of religious freedom.

The United States also stands with religious dissidents and believers from around the globe who practice their faith peacefully. Freedom is not a grant of government or a right for Americans alone; it is the birthright of every man, woman, and child throughout the world. No human freedom is more fundamental than the right to worship in accordance with one's conscience.

Religious Freedom Day is an opportunity to celebrate our legacy of religious liberty, foster a culture of tolerance and peace, and renew commitments to ensure that every person on Earth can enjoy these basic human rights.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2009, as Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to reflect on the great blessing of religious liberty, endeavor to preserve this freedom for future generations, and commemorate this day with appropriate events and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
GEORGE W. BUSH

Unquote
(Courtesy: The White House / Washington)

Personally, I don’t think that President Bush is the right one to talk about culture of tolerance and peace…

Let freedom ring!!!

I wish you a pleasant Religious Freedom Day!

Ana

Season's Greetings Dec/Jan

Season’s Greetings !!!!!

With Christmas and New Year just about the corner, it's the time of the year to be cheerful and merry. Celebrate the warmth of the season and multiply the happiness around. It’s also time for Holiday Thank You! Be grateful for the gifts that your friends/ family/ loved ones have given you. Thank them for making your Holiday Season a great one!

Around the world, holiday greetings are a selection of greetings that are often spoken with good intentions to strangers, family, friends, or other people during the months of December and January.

Holidays with greetings include Christmas, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Ramadan (which falls at a different time each year; every year it goes back a month) and recently, Kwanzaa. Some greetings are more prevalent than others, depending on the cultural and religious status of any given area.

Typically, a greeting consists of the word "Happy" followed by the holiday, such as "Happy New Year", although the phrase "Merry Christmas" is a notable exception.

The tradition of sending Christmas cards originated in the mid-1800s when a few people began to design handmade cards to send to family and friends. A man named John Calcott Horsely is credited as being the first to actually print Christmas cards. The card depicted a family enjoying the holiday, with scenes of people performing acts of charity. The card was inscribed: "Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to You".

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Wise new Year!