There are various conflicting stories about the way in which Zoroaster died. Although this doesn’t change the sombre tone of Zarthost No Deeso – it is worthy of discussion. Some believe that Zoroaster was killed during an invasion by the Turanian Army. While others speculate that the person who was killed was not Zoroaster and he was in fact killed by a lightning strike. The story gets convoluted even further with others suggesting that before a murderer struck Zoroaster down the murderer was struck by lightning that was conjured via divine intervention. After this Zoroaster descended into the sky. Although not all tales of Zoroaster’s death are reliant on divinity – some even speculate he just died in his sleep after living to a ripe old age.

This brings me to the next point about Zarthost No Deeso. During Zarthost No Deeso, Zoroastrian followers discuss the life and teachings of Zoroaster – whether or not this just leads to more speculation on the part of Parsis regarding Zoroaster is a point of contention. However, it does a lot to bring the community together and discuss the prophet while at the same time paying tribute to his memory. These discussions take place in the Fire Temple or in the homes of followers who open their doors to their Zoroastrian kin for the occasion.

Zarthost No Deeso occurs during the month of June on the Zoroastrian calendar. Because of the interest in Zoroaster from westerners and the world wide following of Zoroaster – his death is a symbolic occasion and it is common to find people that are not Zoroastrians mourning his death. Zoroaster was not just a prophet; he was also a philosopher who is held in high esteem by the academic community.

Firstly, an artificial Christmas wreath will not start rotting. If properly cared for you will only ever need to buy a single artificial Christmas wreath. They are just another way to help ensure that you cover all of your bases during the Christmas decoration phase of celebrating Christmas. They also look good and blend in well with the rest of your Christmas decorations. If you are going to do it at all then you really should consider doing it right – having a Christmas wreath in this regard is imperative. Make sure you store your artificial Christmas wreath in a cool dry place when not in use to ensure that it stays in great condition.

Secondly, the berries used in a Christmas wreath that are attached to various Christmas flowers and plants are poisonous. This is a health hazard for you prying fingers that see the berry and assume that it will taste great so they better eat it. While it takes a few berries to actually have some negative effects – it is still not worth the risk. The child who eats it might have been pinching mistletoe berries from every piece of mistletoe they have come across during the Christmas season; you just don’t know.

Don’t assume that you have to go au natural with all of your Christmas decorations. Sometimes the plastic equivalents are better and more attractive than their natural counterparts. They also last longer and are safer for all those who come in contact with them. They are still symbolic and they do not detract from the other decorations that you already assembled in your home so you need not worry yourself with things like that. It can actually be cheaper in the long run as well because you won’t need to purchase a new wreath each year. However, they are starting to treat natural Christmas wreaths now so that they last a few years.

Your children will prefer personalized Christmas stockings because they will think Santa will recognize it as their own. That way he will be less likely to make a mistake when he is divvying out the gifts to all of the children. If you are able to help your children make their own Christmas stockings then it is a good idea to give them some pointers. Try and get them to choose something big enough to fit everything you want to put in it and small enough to look like it is packed to bursting point when you have finished putting goodies into it. Also have them write their name on it with glitter, paint or a thick pen. That way they can be sure that Santa will know who the stocking belongs too. It might also help you differentiate the stockings in the middle of the night.

If you are doing the whole personalized Christmas stocking thing then make sure you understand that it is a special thing for your child. Don’t mock their attempt at personalizing their Christmas stocking. Personalized Christmas stockings may be something that children work hard at putting together. Don’t shatter their confidence by making fun of their handy work. You might end up shattering their confidence in the craft making ability entirely and they won’t want to help with the rest of the Christmas decorating. Trust me, their help will be appreciated when it comes time to make some homemade Christmas decorations or putting up the tree.

Cold weather can also be unkind to plastics and organic material. Extreme cold can actually make plastic brittle so it will easily snap. If you tether it too tightly and it gets cold and the tether contracts then you might end up snapping the wreath. An outdoor Christmas wreath can be a nightmare to care for – however it is worth it in order to compliment your other Christmas decorations. Just keep in mind that not everyone is honest so you will have to look at ways to tether a large expensive wreath. There are few things you can do – if the wreath is just going to be on your door then the likelihood of it being stolen is quite minimal. You won’t really need to tether it in this instance. If the wreath is quite large and placed on your lawn then consider attaching the wreath to the stand it is on.

Unfortunately you can’t be too careful. If you spend a few hundred dollars on a large wreath for your front yard then you want to make sure it stays safe so you can reuse it. An outdoor Christmas wreath is a great decoration; so don’t be put off by thieves. It may even be a non-issue depending on where you live. You are probably going to be the only one in your neighbourhood who has taken the initiative to display a large wreath so you will get bonus points from your neighbours as well. It is an original idea and you will be congratulated for thinking of it.

The Hemis festival is essentially a Tibetan Buddhist monastery and it is apparent that it takes its cues from Tibetan Buddhist traditions rather than Indian. During the festival monks adorn themselves with brightly coloured clothing and wear their formal monk wear. Men and woman also wear fairly ornate and intricate clothing for the duration of the festival. Families who make their way to the festival usually carry a variety of traditional meals and ingredients localised to the area. It is not unusual to see families hauling pots of yak-butter tea and tsampa. The Hemis festival is celebratory in nature and upbeat.

Celebrations include dancing and traditional brass instruments. Monks perform as devils, evil spirits and re-enact battles that depict good versus evil. The Lamas play an integral role in the celebratory performances and are dressed in finery that compliments the festivals nature. Although many of the dances performed are quite controversial and open to interpretation. The Hemis Gompa is actually decorated quite extravagantly – it is considered to be the richest monastery in Ladakh and its wealth is apparent in the various gold, silver and copper adornments that are on show.

The Hemis Gompa is actually quite a large establishment situated on the banks of the Indus River. It was founded by Stagsang Raspa Nawang Gyatso (first incarnation). The Hemis Gompa is now owned and maintained by a group of Tibetan monks known as the Dugpa Order. The Dugpa Order is responsible for the safeguarding and maintenance of the many valuable relics that are kept at the Hemis Gompa. This is no small task as (stated earlier) the Hemis Gompa is home to a massive wealth of artefacts – some of which predate the Hemis Gompa.

If you are a little short on money or just want to be frugal, consider purchasing some strips of festive material and making your own garland. Many manufacturers charge a great deal for what is essentially a thin strip of cloth with a hem on either edge. You can do this yourself relatively easy if you have a specific theme in mind. Try and stick to the primary Christmas colours such as white, red and green. If you feel particularly adventurous and your decor compliments it – experiment with other colours. Try and use warm, celebratory colours. If the pattern is too noisy it probably is a good idea to reconsider the garland. There are exceptions to this however, tinsel is normally quite a noisy decoration and it still works well.

Try and match the garland with your Christmas tree lights as well. You might also consider using a flame retardant material in order to make your garland. If there is an electrical accident and sparks threaten to burn the tree then you will want to ensure that the garland does not enable the fire to spread any further. Garlands are a beautiful addition to any tree; however they are not really an essential part of the Christmas tree decorating process. If you can afford a garland or have the means to add that little extra to your tree, then by all means, purchase a garland to help accentuate your other decorations. You really are only limited by your imagination.

Previous to the nineteenth century the Gayatri Mantra was limited by caste and gender – this system was abolished as Hinduism saw a revival in the latter part of the nineteenth century. This was to allow greater accessibility on a greater scale to people who wished to become scholars of Brahmin. This removed the male requirement of the recital of the mantra and allowed women to be taught the mantra. Swami Vivekananda was instrumental in this change as it was his belief that the Gayatri Mantra and Upanayana were important for all scholars of Brahmin to be properly initiated into the religion.

The Gayatri Mantra is found in various Vedic texts and not limited to the Upanayana exclusively. It is actually a fairly important mantra designed at invoking the God Savitr. The Gayatri Mantra consists of three Vyahrtis. It appeals to the deity responsible for the creation of the university and meant to give enlightenment to the chanter. Various translations of the Gayatri Mantra exist but many follow this same ideology. The common theme amongst all translations is the acknowledgement of the creator and the sun – referenced often as Savitr.

The Gayatri Mantra is often recited every morning by Brahmin followers. It can be used as an introspective mantra that sheds light on the condition and feelings of the chanter. It is also used during various rituals that give offering to the sun (japa). It is a perfect mantra to introduce young boys to the belief system held by Brahmin worshippers as it embodies the basic theme of wisdom and enlightenment associated with the Brahmin faith. While it is not exclusive to the Upanayana or any specific ritual – it has a very important place in both of these.

After this, the man appeals to the Buddha in order to find a way to save his mother from this wretched torment. He is instructed to pray with monks at fairly specific intervals whilst fasting. Using this method he is able to free his mother from torment – the story itself teaches Buddhists about the values inherent in filial piety. The story itself is interesting because it is actually about saving a soul from the deepest reaches of hell (or Hades). It is a strong fable about the power of faith and dedication. It is a widely spread fable and has deep seeded roots in festival events that are dedicated to leaving charitable offerings for spirits in order to allow them to escape from Hades and into salvation. Quite a noble cause for those of us who are spiritually inclined – although, Buddhists are known for their generosity.

Although some cultures with Buddhism as a predominant religion claim that the Ghost Festival predates the fable – the Chinese folk religion lay a great claim to being the originator of the festival rather than Buddhism – Ullambana is a celebrated Sutra that is not only relevant to a great lesson in morality but offers entertainment. The story itself would form the basis of a great novel without having any religious connotation (besides that of hell). While the story may alter depending on which country (that practices Buddhism) is responsible for proliferating it, the basic tenements of the story remain unchained. The Ullambana Sutra is actually thought to have been written after the death of the Buddha and is a story inspired by followers after the initial creation of Buddhism as a widely followed religion.

You will want to inspire good memories of the day and that is why it is important to be fairly detailed in your decorating of the venue. Good Christmas wedding decoration ideas stem from having a solid them planned prior to the event. There are so many themes you can use for the event that are relevant to Christmas. Consider Joseph and Mary as a couple and the birth of Jesus. Although, dressing as Joseph and Mary might be a little presumptuous, it can also be a lot of fun. Try and keep it fairly tongue in cheek if you are going to be using serious religious themes as the basis of the theme. This will also help create an atmosphere more conducive to fun. Attempting to over play the seriousness of the occasion will just make the day more sombre than fun. Remember the day is also meant to be fun for your guests.

Don’t feel like you are limited to traditional wedding colours planning the decorations for your Christmas wedding. Try and take advantage of all of the colour and excitement that Christmas offers. Take a chance and do something special for the occasion, you are bringing people together during the Christmas season and this is somewhat admirable. It means people can come together to celebrate two festive occasions on a single day. Don’t pressure your guests to focus on the wedding alone as well. Make them feel like they are celebrating Christmas at the same time.

There are many ways to power a lighted Christmas wreath. A lot of manufactured lighted Christmas wreath utilise a simple pair of batteries. There are some lighted Christmas wreaths on the market that allow you to recharge the wreath by plugging it into a wall socket. Depending on how much you wish to spend and how much sunlight your wreath gets during the daylight hours, you might even consider hooking up a small solar panel to the wreath (these are pretty cheap now and some feature a USB connector). You might want to have a look around for different wreaths that light up in a pattern our flicker much like a candle. Whatever you decide, it is worth checking out lighted Christmas wreaths before making a definite purchase on a Christmas wreath.

As previously stated, the symbolism of the Christmas wreath is wrought with tradition. Having a Christmas wreath that adds that extra touch to the decorative mode of the wreath is worth paying a little extra for. It will help to ensure that your decorations are of the most impressive that your family is likely to come across (not that it is a competition). You want your family to bask in the opulence of your decorations. In this regard it is worth going above and beyond the call of duty when you are selecting your decorations. You can even make your own lighted Christmas wreaths if you feel adventurous enough. Just leave the threading of the lights as the last possible step.