Janie Butler
Holidays of the Season
December celebrations around the world
Whether you celebrate or not, once December rolls around, the thought of Christmas is on everyone’s mind. “My family gathers together to share special foods, especially homemade tortellini, panettone and pandoro and gifts on Christmas Eve,” says Sara Platto, who is from Brescia in northern Italy. “There is lots of talking and singing and plenty of relatives gathered together to make it a big celebration. I am pregnant, and will be going home to Italy for Christmas and to have my baby, so this year it will be a double celebration.”
Mother Knows Best
Tried-and-true home remedies for the common cold
Sneeze once and you will have a long life of 100 years; sneeze twice and you will live 200 years; sneeze three times and your longevity will last 300 years or more. So goes an old saying in Beijing. And with the cold season fast approaching, there may be many sneezes to come.
Almost every household boasts a home remedy for the common cold or sore throat. An Australian mother of three, Adele Doherty, remembers her mother dabbing eucalyptus oil on her handkerchief and pillowcase at night so she could inhale its aroma to help clear nasal passages. “Eucalyptus is readily available in Australia, and we would use it often to help with congestion and as an aid to cure colds,” says Adele.
