Small world

The world seems smaller and smaller as the years go by, and I'm not talking about anything related to the planet's resources or the whole population issue. Our world feels like it's becoming smaller because we get to know how life is going and how people are doing on other parts of the globe. A business executive in Seoul carrying on a conversation with a group of entrepreneurs in London is not at all surprising nowadays. Indeed, with all the advancements (and resulting convenience) that technology is providing us, getting better acquainted with the rest of the world has become so easy.

But do we really know more about people and cultures other than our own? Is there more understanding between countries now that technology has placed opportunities for learning right at our fingertips? Is there true advancement going on?

Well, a Christmas lantern can hardly be the symbol of advancement, but let it be a start. That's what's in the photo above (the one on the right is closer to the original star-shaped ornament) -- a traditional Christmas decoration that adorns houses in the Philippines once the Yuletide season comes rolling in. The lantern, or "parol," is just one of many symbols of Christmas in this country of 7, 107 islands, but don't take my word for it! Know more about how Christmas is celebrated in this Southeast Asian nation (some more materials here).

I surfed around yesterday, wanting to know how the season is celebrated in Mexico and got a fill of posadas, piñatas, even the same noche buena which is also a staple in Philippine Christmas festivities (here's another site about how the Mexicans celebrate Christmas). Then off to Irish traditions I went. And as a bonus, I even discovered the real meaning behind "The Twelve Days of Christmas" -- which was written as a reminder of significant points about the faith centuries ago, when getting caught with anything in writing that indicated adherence to the faith meant imprisonment or death (so now when I sing about the 7 swans a-swimming or 5 gold rings, I dwell on more than mere fowl and jewelry).

There would have been more here had my computer been cooperating and not going on "time-out" every 10 minutes or so. Africa and Central America were going to be the next stop on my Christmas-tradition research, but that will probably have to wait till next year.

Hope this somehow makes the world smaller for you, too.

Addendum: Found this "Christmas in China" link via A family runs through it. Thanks so much, Phil!