T8N November 2017

November 2017 t8nmagazine.com

Cocktails!

Let the Holiday Spirits Move You

Ho Ho No? The Dos & Don’ts of Office Festivities

Discover Shumka with John Pichlyk

How to Impress as a Holiday Guest

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November 2017

Contents CONVERSATIONS 6 Keeping Track of Time

The story of the world’s diverse calendars

ARTS & CULTURE 11 Hooked on Storytelling

Connecting past to future with traditional art

14 Meet John Pichlyk

A T8N interview 18 The 8s

Ho Ho No? The dos and don'ts of office festivities

20 THEN & NOW

Advent Calendars Then & Now

LIVING 21 FOOD & GATHERINGS

The Sprit World Warm up to cocktail hour!

26 TRULY DEEPLY MADLY

At the Box Office Divine Comedy

ABOUT THE COVER No epic story ever began with "Last night I ate a salad."

IMAGE BY BRENDA LAKEMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

CITY 27 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 28 MEET YOU THERE

Soul Fitness Mind Body Studios Finding your inner calm through yoga

TRENDING 30 Stranger in a Strange Land

How to impress as a holiday guest 32 OMG (abbr.)

Make no mistake, it’s English

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From the Editor

T8N MAGAZINE

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 11 November 2017

HELLO, COCKTAIL SEASON! Huh. I was sure I

was going to say November. Let me try that again: Ahem… Hell-o, Cocktail Season! Nope. This letter definitely wants to be about cocktails. The question is, how does one work cocktails into an holiday issue that’s themed around faith and religion?

Easy. You let the spirits move you!

PUBLISHER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Rob Lightfoot

Carmen D. Hrynchuk

ART DIRECTION

Carmen D. Hrynchuk, Brenda Lakeman PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT & DESIGN

Correna Saunders

That’s right. This month’s issue is exploring all things “spiritual.”

From the philosophies behind yoga and visual storytelling CARMEN D. HRYNCHUK to the traditions and science that shape our lunar and solar EDITOR-IN-CHIEF calendars, this month’s articles reach for the beyond. But we’re not stopping there. We’re also exploring the practical side of the holiday season. As in, what do you need to know if it’s your first holiday season with your special someone, and dinner with the in-laws involves religious traditions that are foreign to you?

Also on our discovery list: the history of Advent calendars and the origin of OMG and SMS language. I’m also pretty sure someone mentioned cocktails. But rather than revisiting that questionable pun, I’ll just say cheers to November.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Here’s to a joyous holiday season.

OFFICE MANAGER

Brenda Lakeman FOOD STYLING

Little Fire Creative PROOFREADING

Amy Lightfoot EDITORIAL INTERN

Markwell Lyon CONTRIBUTORS

Shawna Dirksen, Jennie Drent, Rhonda Kronyk, Robert Michon Janice Lightfoot CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Image page 6 ©Veroc/Adobe Stock Image page 7 ©James Thew/Adobe Stock Image page 18 © oligliya/Adobe Stock Image page 20 ©kartoxjm/Adobe Stock Image page 26 ©Gluiki/Adobe Stock Image page 30 ©tabitazn/Adobe Stock Image page 32 ©Feng Yu/Adobe Stock

Feature Writers

ISSN 2368-707X (PRINT) ISSN 2368-7088 (ONLINE)

ROBERT MICHON

Robert has a degree in History and English Literature from the University of Alberta and is pursuing a second degree in Communications from MacEwan University. Robert fills much of his free time reading, blogging or writing fiction. But when he doesn’t have a book in hand, he can usually be found outdoors, hiking or enjoying one of Edmonton’s many summer festivals.

SHAWNA DIRKSEN

Shawna is a freelance writer with a strong connection to St. Albert: she lived here for 8 years, and her first writing gig after earning her public relations diploma was with the Arden Theatre and International Children’s Festival. Now in Edmonton, Shawna keeps busy writing for local publications and businesses. When she isn’t hard at work, she enjoys reading, running, skiing, live music and theatre.

For editorial inquiries or information, contact T8N magazine at info@t8nmagazine.com. Have something to say? Letters, suggestions or ideas can be sent to letters@t8nmagazine.com.

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Rob Lightfoot rob@t8nmagazine.com 780 940 6212 or visit t8nmagazine.com T8N magazine is published 12 times a year by T8N Publishing Inc. Copyright ©2017 T8N Publishing Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.

Content marked by the Sponsored Content icon was produced in partnership between content producers and T8N magazine.

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T8N PUBLISHING INC PUBLISHER & PRESIDENT

Visit T8Nmagazine.com to meet the rest of our team and regular contributors.

Rob Lightfoot: rob@t8nmagazine.com Snailmail: #176, 311 Bellerose Drive, St.Albert AB T8N 5C9

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Conversations

KEEPING TRACK

OF TIME The story of the world’s diverse calendars

BY ROBERT MICHON

THE HOLIDAYS AREN’T always easy to

plan for, but if it’s Christian Christmas you celebrate, at least it’s easy to remember when it is: December 25 (January 7 for Orthodox Christians), year after year. If, however, you or any of your friends follow non-Christian faiths, or if you’ve ever taken a close look at the holidays that come preloaded on standard calendars, you might have noticed that the holidays and celebrations of some religions tend to ju mp a rou nd a bit . The Jewish celebration of Hanukah, for example, started on December 24 last year, while this year it will begin on December 12. It might seem odd that these non-Christian holidays don’t align to the calendar properly, but a closer look reveals that they align perfectly well—just to a different 6 T8Nmagazine.com

calendar than the one most of us use.

There are two main calendar systems in the world, and while our Western calendar calculates time according to our orbit around the sun, there are many others that calculate time according to the phases of the moon. Both systems have rich histories and can tell us quite a bit about not only ourselves, but our friends and neighbours as well.

Our Solar Culture Our Western calendar traces its origins back to ancient Egypt. At one very specific time of the solar year, almost like clockwork, the Nile River was known to flood and cover the main Egyptian river valley with nutrient-rich sediment. This annual event allowed the Egyptians to produce crops that most desert cultures could only dream of. It was so important in fact, that this event formed the basis of the Egyptian calendar. Everyone in

Egypt knew that once, every 365 days, when the sun rose along a specific spot on the horizon, the river would flood. If farmers weren’t ready for this, they wouldn’t be able to grow enough food to satisfy the whole population. For the Egyptians, keeping track of the Earth’s orbit around the sun (or, as they would have seen it, the sun’s orbit around the Earth) took on a spiritual significance. Adhering to the solar calendar was a matter of survival. As a result, Egyptian holidays and feast days were set to correspond to the yearly variations of the sun’s position in the sky.

It wasn’t long before the Romans, history’s great imitators, adopted the Egyptian calendar for their own use. Even though the Romans didn’t have a Nile of their own, the Egyptians showed them that studying the sun could lead to other rewards. With a solar calendar, they could predict the seasons. They would know precisely when the rains were coming and when the winter would start. With this

FUN FACT Despite there being billions of suns and billions of moons in our galaxy, we still refer to our sun and moon as “the” sun and “the” moon, as if they were the only ones. In Latin, their proper names are Sol and Luna, which form the basis for the terms solar and lunar. knowledge, they could maximize their agricultural output, support a large population base and even plan their military campaigns during strategic seasons. When their campaigns led them to Greece, they partially adopted the Greeks’ lunar calendar as well, further dividing their 365-day calendar into 12 months (or moon-ths, as the word was originally pronounced in English), which corresponded roughly with the phases of the moon. Just like the Egyptians before them, the Romans found that the solar calendar brought them a great deal of prosperity. It wasn’t long before they began matching their feast days with specific dates on the calendar as a way to both mark and celebrate their good fortune.

In the year 45 BCE, Julius Caesar further refined this calendar into what he called the Julian Calendar (he named it after himself).

In this calendar, Caesar created the 7-day week, the month of July (also named after himself) and the concept of the leap year, which made up for the fact that a solar year isn’t actually 365 days, as was previously thought, but 365.24 days. When Christianity was legalized in Rome 358 years later, Caesar’s 7-day week happened to correspond perfectly to the traditional 7-day week of the Christian Bible, and new converts discovered that their new Christian holidays, which had previously followed the Jewish lunar model, could easily be mapped onto the Julian Calendar. As the Roman Empire continued to expand, Christian missionaries started spreading the word of God to all corners of Europe, and they brought the solar calendar along with them.

The final change to our solar calendar came from Pope Gregory in the year 1582. Gregory’s changes to the Julian calendar brought it even closer in line with the realities of our orbit around the sun by further refining the

concept of the leap year. Caesar had miscalculated the length of a year by 11 minutes.

This doesn’t sound like much, but a loss of 11 minutes per year over a millennium can really start to add up. By Gregory’s time, seasons no longer matched the climate that they were supposed to represent. More importantly though, the Gregorian Calendar, as it became known, allowed the church to more accurately calculate the date that Easter should be celebrated, which had fallen out of sync with its traditional anchor point, the Spring Equinox.

DID YOU KNOW? In addition to recording time in different ways, the calendars of the world all have different start dates.

While it is the year 2017 to us, it is 1439 in the Islamic calendar, 2560 to Buddhists and 5775 according to the Jewish tradition.

We’re still using the Gregorian Calendar today, and even though our society has become more secular and multi-cultural than it was in Gregory’s day, our calendar still acts as a record of society’s Christian past.

The Lunar Method Lunar Calendars follow the same logic as their solar counterparts, but instead of calculating time in 365.24-day solar years, they measure time in a series of 29.5-day lunar months. The main benefit of solar calendars comes from their ability to predict seasonal changes. However, in equatorial

areas of the world that experience low seasonal variation, the sun isn’t as useful as the moon when it comes to telling time.

With all of our bright city lights, we don’t often take notice of the moon and its phases.

But in a pre-electric society, the moon was far more noticeable. A lot can be seen under the light of a full moon. Early humans could hunt, travel, watch for danger or even just socialize late into the night. Under a new moon however, nights became a lot more frightening and unknowable. By knowing which phase the moon would be in at certain times, early lunar cultures were able to maximize their food production and protect themselves much more easily than they would have been able to with solar observation. Just like their solar counterparts, lunar calendars allowed ancient peoples to make predictions and learn how to make the best use of their environments. And, just like our society’s solar predecessors, the lunar cultures of the world were quick to fit their feast days and celebrations into their lunar model.

The Hebrew, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist and Chinese calendars are all lunar-based and traditionally cycle between 29 and 30-day months (to make up for that extra half day in the month). In the same way that our months correspond roughly with the phases of the moon, the months of a lunar calendar are typically grouped in sets of 12 or 13 so that they roughly correspond to a solar year. Since a 365.4-day solar year isn’t divisible by a 29.5-day lunar month, neither system can perfectly represent the other, and solar and lunar calendars will never quite align perfectly. This is why, from a solar perspective, holidays like Ramadan, Diwali, or Chinese New Year seem to be inconsistent from year to year. From a lunar perspective though, our stable Christmas season seems just as variable.

T8N November 2017 7

Creative Alternatives The Earth is a big place that is full of lots of different ideas. As such, there are many cultures that don’t make use of either the sun or the moon to measure time. Early cultures calculated time based on what made the most sense in their own environment, but not all of those environmental cues can be found overhead. Over the millennia, different cultures have come up with some pretty incredible ways to measure time.

In the Arctic Circle, the sun does not rise for a period of four months, dusk and dawn last for three weeks each and for the rest of the year, the sun never sets. The brightness of the aurora, coupled with the sometimes-blinding snow means that the moon isn’t always a reliable timepiece either. The Inuit found a way to calculate time all the same, by watching certain stars rise and set along the horizon during the dark months of the year.

The Coast Salish people of what is now British Columbia knew of the lunar model, but often found it less reliable than studying the migratory patterns of the fish that made up the majority of their diet. Certain types of salmon swim upstream at only certain times of year, and this fish-based calendar allowed them to prosper in ways that studying the sky never could.

During the French Revolution, the new government wanted to distance itself from the Catholic Church and its royalist history.

It started by reforming the calendar into what was thought to be the perfect mathematical representation of time. Each year was divided into 12 months of 30 days each, wherein each week contained 10 days.

Unfortunately for the revolutionaries, this hyper-efficient, mathematical calendar never really caught on, and France reverted back to the traditional Gregorian Calendar.

Perhaps most imaginative of all of Earth’s calendars was the ancient Mayan calendar.

The Mayans knew of the solar model and the lunar model, but dismissed both. Instead, they used their incredibly advanced astronomy skills to study the phases of the planet Venus in the same way that lunar cultures would study the phases of the moon—all without a telescope. Venus was so important to their faith that they based an entire religious calendar around it.

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The Perfect Model Over the centuries, most of the world’s calendars have shifted and changed in order to make use of new information, and oftentimes this involves a blending of solar and lunar models, as well as seasonal information. While we still draw distinctions between different systems of timekeeping, the majority of the world’s calendars are now technically “lunisolar,” meaning that they take attributes from both systems. The Christian holiday Easter, for example, always falls on the first Sunday following the first

full moon after the Spring Equinox. Easter isn’t purely a solar holiday, but it is not fully a lunar holiday either. It is a functional blending of the two.

Timekeeping is such an imprecise art that both solar and lunar calendars end up having their fair share of imperfections. There have been many attempts to create mathematical calendars, like the one used in the French Revolution, but while these ultra-logical models do remove human inefficiencies, they always end up removing the humanity of the calendar as well. Calendars do measure

Food trays from Sobeys can be as simple or elegant as you wish, and best of all, they’re fresh. Every tray is prepared in-store, from cutting up the fruit and vegetables, to slicing the deli meat and cheese and arranging it all professionally on platters.

Nothing is shipped from a main warehouse pre-packaged. You can order your food trays via phone, and soon you’ll be able to place orders on-line through Sobeys’ website. But it’s always best to come into the store and speak to Alison, the Deli Department Manager, in person. Alison will listen to what you want, offer suggestions and place your order immediately. If you come in, all your questions can be answered right then and there, plus you’ll get to see with your own eyes all the available food choices.

Sobeys & Your Holiday Entertaining ’Tis the season for food and family

It’s the season for entertaining whether it be with family, friends or co-workers. Yet for many, finding the time to organize a party can be a struggle. Let St. Albert Sobeys take care of one of the important components of any party—the food—so you can spend more time with your family and guests.

Alison co-ordinates every step no matter how big or small the order. And Cherry in the Produce Department always keeps “on trend” with what customers want for their entertaining fresh-cut fruit and vegetable trays. Don’t forget the dessert!

Brenda, the Assistant Bakery Department Manager, will look after the delectable sweet treats from cake samplers to petit fours. If there are special dietary requirements for your guests, “…we definitely make sure we take the proper precautions.

Somebody wants it, we’ll do it,” informs Alison.

Hosting a wine and cheese night? St. Albert Sobeys has a free wine-and-cheese-pairing book to guide its customers through those difficult pairings.

For last-minute get-togethers, Sobeys has a large assortment of frozen nibbles that take no time to heat and serve. Chicken wings, sausage rolls, quiches, Asian-food party boxes and bite-sized cream puffs are just some of the pre-made hors d’oeuvres found in the frozen food section. And for fresh appetizers, there are ready-made fruit, vegetable and spinach dip trays available in the Deli Department, which are always made in-store.

time, but they also preserve our heritage, allowing us a glimpse at the values that our ancestors found important, and the worries that they had. While we no longer rely on these solar and lunar models for our survival, the traditions associated with them are so strong that it’s hard to imagine trading our calendars in for a more efficient model. Our early ancestors were quick to figure out the best timekeeping method, and we’ve all been using it ever since. Time, ultimately, is what we make of it, which makes the perfect calendar whichever model works best for you. t8n

St. Albert Sobeys really understands how important family is. How? Because Stuart Trenchard, the owner of St. Albert Sobeys, doesn’t mind hiring family members in his store. “There are husbands and wives, moms and daughters, and this way our team can keep a very healthy work–life balance. When you shop with us, it just feels like an extension of your home,” says Stuart. And this time of year should be spent with family and friends. St. Albert Sobeys can make those times a little more special by giving you the gift of time by helping you prepare for your loved ones.

GET TO KNOW: Alison Hayduk, Deli Department Manager • Been working for St. Albert Sobeys for 21 years, and is in charge of customer orders.

• “We prefer to talk to customers in person so they get a better understanding of what the tray can look like. They can ask questions, even sample a cheese they don’t know.”

–Alison Hayduk

GET TO KNOW: Cherry Tawat, Fresh-Cut Fruit & Vegetable Supervisor • Been working at St. Albert Sobeys for 5 years, and is in charge of the fruit and vegetable trays.

• “We have special platters for customers.

They can always ask, call our customer service or drop-by. Customers aren’t limited to just the round ones they see on the shelf.”

–Cherry Tawat

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T8N November 2017 9

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Hooked on

Storytelling Connecting past to future with traditional art PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA LAKEMAN WORDS BY RHONDA KRONYK

RUG HOOKING HAS its roots in ancient

England, but the modern form developed along the eastern shores of North America almost 200 years ago. It was a craft for those who couldn’t afford floor coverings and had to make do with what they had. The rugs were fashioned from clothing that was too distressed to be worn. Today, a craft that was once the purview of the poor has become a sought-after art form. The traditional designs use cultural motifs to tell stories, and in St. Albert, one rug-hooker is taking that craft to a new level. Meet Rachelle LeBlanc—artist, visual storyteller and explorer of sense and belonging. Take a look.

T8N T8NNovember November2017 2017 1111

Rachelle LeBlanc grew up in Bouctouche, NB, in her father’s fish store and her mother’s fabric store where “creativity was an escape.” When she was 15 and lost her father, stories and storytelling became acutely important to her. “Losing your father very young changes you,” says Rachelle. “When they die and disappear, stories are all that you have.”

After attending college in Ontario, Rachelle married and moved to Montreal, where she began rug hooking during a stressful time at work. It was then she began integrating her family stories into her pieces. Family and traditions matter to Rachelle, and her craftsmanship and pride of art are evident in her creative process. “How I finish my work looks back on tradition,” she says. “The binding is covered in reproduction Métis sashes that I source from an Indigenous gentleman.

That’s how I connect myself to Canada.”

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After relocating again, this time to Alberta, Rachelle’s work began to tell the story of what happens when people are uprooted and adjusting to a new life. Inspired by her reflections, Rachelle began to create work that explored identity and how “when we are displaced, we carry our traditions, memories and stories with us to create and define a new sense of belonging.”

In her latest exhibit, Transformations—Hooked Sculpture, Rachelle reinvents traditional rug hooking once again, this time experimenting with sculptural pieces. Using her background in the garment industry, she creates the patterns and sews a mock-up of each sculpture. She then hand cuts strips of wool in a variety of widths to “create movement in the finished piece,” then pulls thousands of loops through the linen with a latchhook. Dowels and polyfill give her sculptures structure. Once the pieces are finished, she mounts some of them on pottery plinths that she makes herself.

“Rug hooking slows the whole world down … everything gets quiet” say Rachelle. That slowing of the world gives Rachelle time to reflect on life and plan new projects. And, as she continues to push the boundaries of this traditionally two-dimensional art form, she’s already planning her next show, which will include stories of her life, her family and the home where they have put down strong roots. t8n

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cycle and that thought process. You see a lot of braiding—of hair, or on top of an Easter bread—and there’s a step in Ukrainian dance that braids your feet. And some of the big kicks that you see in Ukrainian dance, a lot of that is tied to the Cossacks that would protect the homeland. There’s talk that some of the kicks are the thrusts that you’d have to make on horseback in battle. Ultimately, what happens is that the lexicon we see today is tied to history, to the land, and that’s why every culture has its different visual presentations, because their story is different, their history is different. t8n: That tie to the land, it also applies here in Alberta, yes?

Photo credit: Epic Photography

MEET JOHN PICHLYK

Discovering identity through dance SPEND ANY TIME in central Alberta

a nd you’ll realize how much the Ukrainian culture has helped define our regional identity. Edmonton’s Ukrainian Shumka Dancers have played a big role in that. Not only have they been around nearly 60 years, according to The Canadian Encyclopedia, Shu m ka may be the best k now n Ukrainian dance company in Canada.

What you might not know is that a lot of Shumka’s success has come under the guidance of John Pichlyk. Gregarious and gifted with a booming voice, the long-time resident of St. Albert and Sturgeon County was Shumka’s 14 T8Nmagazine.com

Artistic Director from 1982 to 1996 and currently serves as its Chair. T8N recently had the opportunity to sit down with John to discuss all things Shumka. Here’s what we learned. t8n: How would you describe Ukrainian dance to someone?

JP: I think what’s important to understand is that, culturally, movement and dance represent the lifestyle, the beliefs, the values of the people. (Ukraine) is an agrarian society, in many ways, that follows the cycles. Within that cycle of life, there’s a need to find a way to express that joy, that hope, that longing, and people turn to song or dance, to movement. A lot of the lexicon of movement has ties to things that are relevant within that

JP: That’s a good point, because in years gone by, Shumka has always portrayed a romantic time frame in our presentations on stage, you know, that village life. And it was important to do so. You end up getting this stereotype, and Ukrainian dance shouldn’t be stereotypical. Every person is different, with different views, and dance should represent those people. It’s really exciting to me, and I applaud Shumka for being able to have the courage to try to represent the feeling of the soul of the people within genres that aren’t stereotypical. And I think that’s really important if dance is going to grow. It’s bigger than the guy that does the splits every time at the end of the Hopak (a.k.a. Ukraine’s national folk dance). t8n: Can you tell us a bit about Shumka’s history?

JP: It’s been around since 1959. I believe that Shumka is the oldest North American Ukrainian dance company. At that point in time, there were all these dance groups in church basements throughout the community.

One of the main founding fathers was Chester Kuc, and what he did was take the elite from all these different church groups and form a company that would be able to boldly represent what we all believe in. And that was the initial forming of the company, and we’ve never looked back. t8n: What led to you becoming a dancer?

JP: I went to a private boys’ school in Roblin, Manitoba. At the end of each year, we would go out through rural Manitoba, all these small towns, and there’d be this concert of song, dance, poetry, whatever. I was physically active, so I got into dance. I realized, physically, I could handle it, but all the

Photo credit: Epic Photography

Photo credit: Epic Photography

went to New York for a number of years, I think five summers, just to try to make up for lost time and try to equip myself. That’s been really helpful to me in terms of my contribution to Shumka, and it continues to this day. t8n: What kind of cultural role does Shumka play in the Edmonton area, through its programs and its touring?

finesse that came with that physicality was a prerequisite that I did not have. So that’s when I made a good decision, and for a period of about 10 years I tried anything I could. I took ballet, character class, contemporary,

JP: There’s a very broad perspective that we’re trying to encourage. It started with an outreach program trying to go into the public school system and take some of the values that we feel are applicable and motivate kids to understand culture and the ethnic diversity within our mosaic of multiculturalism. That’s really, really important. Some of the work that we’re going forward with in our new season, with Ancestors & Elders (April 2018), that’s a big one for us. We’re honouring the relationship between indigenous First Nations and the Ukrainian settlement. That’s a continuation of that outreach, to try to make yourself part of a bigger community,

because that’s what we are and that’s what we need to be. That whole outreach is critical, not just for the survival of Shumka, but for the survival and relevancy of Ukrainian dance as an entity. It has the raw energy, it has the power, it has the ability to impress, but if you don’t give it the context in which to be worthwhile, it becomes… movement.

And movement without emotion and context is not sustaining. t8n: Any moments with Shumka that you’re especially proud of?

JP: When I see a person who knows how to move, knows how to dance, and they come to Shumka… they don’t realize that it’s a personal journey of discovery. You’re using the tools of your trade, but you need to find a context and a purpose and emotion. And that mixture all of a sudden blossoms. This individual that could jump backflips across the room, somehow his backflip looks different.

That’s what performing is. That’s one of my biggest success stories for me, personally, whenever I see that happen. t8n T8N November 2017 15

Images supplied by: Nanc Price

Convenient Homemade Meals A look at the wonder of Dinner Factory

T

here is a lot of power in sharing a meal together. It’s a bonding experience that brings us closer together. But when work becomes a priority, as it so often does, one of the first casualties always seems to be family dinnertime. Even if you leave yourself time to cook after a busy day at work, there is still the meal planning, the shopping and the prep work that needs to come first—not to mention all the cleaning that follows. Just thinking about it can be enough to make you want to reach for the takeout menu again. But that takeout is expensive, not always healthy and never quite as satisfying as you’d hoped. If only there were a way to combine the convenience of takeout with the benefits of a home-cooked meal.

That’s where Dinner Factory comes in. This meal-assembly service makes family dinners not only achievable but also something to look forward to. One visit to Dinner Factory, and your family will fall back into the habit of sharing a nutritious home cooked meal like Grandma used to make!

A NEW WAY TO EXPERIENCE DINNER Dinner Factory owners Edward and Kim Wanat are no strangers to the hustle and bustle of the modern working world. After years of balancing their careers with the challenges of being full-time parents, they came to understand the struggles that many face when trying to balance the needs of work and a home life. They decided to run their business with a simple goal in mind: To reacquaint their customers with the joy of healthy, home-cooked meals, all with a convenience factor that will leave them with time to relax after a busy day at work.

One of the things that really sets Dinner Factory apart from other dinner services is the quality of the food. While other meal services can leave you wondering about the nutritional value, Edward and Kim plan all the Dinner Factory meals themselves and take great pride in

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LOVE TO COOK? …BUT HATE THE TIME IT TAKES TO PLAN, SHOP, CHOP AND CLEAN UP? AVOID FOOD WASTE AND ENJOY DELICIOUS NEW MEAL CHOICES. YOU’LL FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ON A COOKING SHOW WITH ALL THE INGREDIENTS MEASURED AND AT YOUR FINGERTIPS! the quality and freshness of their ingredients. If they wouldn’t feel comfortable serving the meals to their own family, they wouldn’t expect their customers to either. The ingredients are locally sourced, preservatives-free and, above all, delicious.

HOW IT WORKS If you’ve never heard of meal-assembly services before, don’t fret.

They’re incredibly simple to figure out. You start by booking a meal assembly session or pickup time online at the Dinner Factory website and selecting the meals that you want (they come in full-size, serving 4-6 people, or down-size, serving 2-3 or single servings, ideal for seniors). The Dinner factory menus change monthly, so there is no need to worry about food fatigue. While customer favourites do come back into the rotation, every meal can be an exciting new experience.

A RISING TREND

In less than two hours, the time it typically takes to plan, shop, prepare and clean up after one meal, you could leave the DINNER FACTORY with 12 fabulous meals!

When you arrive, the ingredients and the prep tools will be waiting, and you’ll be ready to start preparing your meals. The recipes and staff will guide you through the prep process, and of course, you’re free to customize your meals to meet your family’s specific dietary needs. Depending on how much time you have, you can prep a single meal within minutes, or as many as 12 meals in the span of only a couple of hours.

Once your meals are prepped, packaged and ready to go, so are you.

No cleanup required. Just take them home, stick them in the fridge or freezer and pull them out to cook after a long day at work. In one afternoon, Dinner Factory allows you to make two weeks’ worth of whole, real food for your family. Without all the dreaded shopping and chopping.

This sponsored content was produced in partnership between Dinner Factory and T8N magazine.

SO MANY OPTIONS You’re always welcome to book a prep session at Dinner Factory, no matter the occasion. Whether it’s a wedding shower, date night, girls’ night, family night or just a slow weekend afternoon, it’s never a bad time to stop by. In fact, Dinner Factory’s location on Hebert Drive makes it the perfect stopping point on your drive home from work. After a quick after-work prep session, you’ll have a full meal in your hands that took virtually no time at all. And if you’re really busy, just call ahead, and Edward and Kim will have a meal prepped and ready for pickup, no assembly required. They’ll even deliver. The full dinnertime experience has never been easier to achieve. Dinner Factory is happy to find a way to accommodate your needs. Simply call and see the possibilities. For more information, and to book your first session today, visit www.dinnerfactory.ca.

111–1 Hebert Road, St. Albert Call 780 470-3463 T8N November 2017 17

The 8s

HO HO NO? The dos and don’ts of office festivities

WITH THE HOLIDAY season approaching, decorations

and wishes of Merry Christmas will once again become part of our everyday lives. But it’s worth remembering that not everyone celebrates the same holidays. Canada is made up of over 200 distinct ethnicities, each with its own holiday traditions. So, how do we consider everyone in our office holiday planning? From throwing an inclusive end-of-year bash to decorating the office in style, here are some dos and don’ts to remember when you’re spreading office cheer this holiday season.

1. To Decorate or Not to Decorate?

Everybody loves Christmas decorations, right? That all depends on your office culture and how your boss feels about mistletoe, cedar and Christmas trees in the workplace. And speaking of mistletoe, save that particular tradition for home where it is less likely to cause an embarrassing situation.

If your office decorates, try to keep everybody in mind. But remember it might be impractical to represent every single tradition in your 18 T8Nmagazine.com

decorations. Instead of using cultural and religious symbols, try a more neutral, winter theme so that everyone can feel included.

And, if your company allows it, have workers decorate their personal workspace as they see fit.

2. Does It Really Need to be Called an Office Christmas Party?

That’s an easy one: No. Christmas is only one of the many different holidays that take place in December. While that detail has fallen prey to criticisms of “political correctness,” it’s really just common courtesy in an inclusive workplace. Try calling it the End-of-Year Party instead. More people will be interested in attending. More people means more fun, and celebrating together is what you’re after.

3. O Come All Ye Introverts How do you encourage shy co-workers to participate in the office cheer? Ask for input. It can be as simple as saying “We are planning the end-of-year party and want to encourage everyone to come—not just the party-goers. Do you have any thoughts about how we can do that?” By being open to input, you can learn a lot about the preferences of your co-workers and plan accordingly. People are

usually more eager to participate when they had a hand in the preparation.

4. A Winning Menu Try organizing a potluck where people can share their own favourite holiday treats with their co-workers. Remember to take everyone’s dietary restrictions into account, whether vegetarian, gluten-free, halal or kosher.

Not everyone drinks either, so have a selection of non-alcoholic options available.

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5. Looking Back on the Year that Was In the spirit of including everyone, try focusing a portion of your party on the good work that your organization has done over the past year.

Recognizing the hard work of your co-workers and team can go a long way towards fostering a sense of belonging among your co-workers and building unity in your office.

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6. “But It’s Christmastime!”

In your efforts to be more inclusive, it can be very easy to be inadvertently intrusive with your encouragement for people to join in the holiday fun. Never make attendance at an office party mandatory or forcibly pull people out of their comfort zones. They may have other personal obligations to attend to, or might not be comfortable in social situations.

Also be sure to check your calendar so that you're not holding your party during fasting periods like Ramadan or on the Sabbath when co-workers may be unable to attend.

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7. Never Judge a Book by Its Cover It can be dangerous to assume someone’s culture or religion based on their appearance.

In a multicultural nation, appearances rarely give reliable information. If you’ve made your office holiday season festivities truly inclusive, none of this will matter. Everybody in your office, whether secular or religious, should be able to find a warm space to celebrate unity and look forward to the new year.

8. Holiday Mental Health During the holidays, the stresses of everyday life can be amplified. Finances, family, high expectations and feelings of isolation and loneliness can cause mental health issues for some, and rates of depression increase over the holiday season. One in five people will face a mental illness in their lifetime, so don’t assume that your grumpy co-workers are channeling Scrooge. if someone at your holiday party looks out of sorts, ask them how they’re doing, and be prepared to listen. t8n T8N November 2017 19

Then & Now

ADVENT CALENDARS TODAY’S ADVENT CALENDARS are

big business, charismatically concealing treats that range from the chocolatey to the blush-worthy. But Advent calendars weren’t always novelty treats to enjoy throughout December. They used to be part of a deeply religious ceremony that celebrated the impending coming of Christ. But little by little, Advent calendars changed, as did the traditions of the people who used them. Today, the tradition of having an Advent calendar is enjoyed by both the religious and secular. Here’s how it all began…

1800s According to Christian tradition, Advent is a four-week period used by members of the church to prepare themselves for the celebration of Christ’s birth. There are many different traditions associated with Advent, but modern calendars grew out of a very specific tradition of 19th century Germany.

It was common for families to hang a series of 24 religious images on one of the walls of their home during December, each image referencing a specific biblical story. By the time Christmas came around, there would be a full collage of religious iconography, and the family would be fully prepared to celebrate the birth of Christ.

1900s This practice of hanging icons on the wall spread throughout Germany, and by the 20th century it was a national tradition. However, not everyone could easily afford a set of 24 ornate icons. In 1908, companies in Germany began to mass-produce religious icons on sheets of cardboard and sell them alongside large numbered calendars. Instead of

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hanging an icon on the wall every day, you simply had to paste your daily cardboard image onto your calendar. These first Advent calendars were cheap and allowed families to enjoy a new set of images every holiday season.

FUN FACT Advent chocolates don’t taste the same as your average chocolate bar. This is because they typically use a different set of ingredients, which makes the chocolate cheaper to produce, easier to mould into shapes and more likely to last on a shelf for weeks and months at a time.

1920s In 1920, a calendar producer named Gerhard Lang got the idea to make each day’s image a surprise. He produced a set of calendars with 24 little windows that could be opened day by day to reveal religious images, bible verses or small candies to help people get into the holiday spirit.

1930s The 1930s were a time of scarcity all over the world, Germany included. Limited paper during the Depression and World War II meant that the production of Advent calendars was no longer a viable business venture. Nazi law also prohibited the association of Christianity with Christmas, which made Advent calendars a dangerous commodity if you were caught with one.

1940s In 1949, four years after the end of World War II and the fall of the Nazi regime, Germany’s economy had recovered enough

THEN & NOW

that people were once again ready to spend money on cardboard advent calendars. A German businessman named Richard Sellmer began his own Advent calendar company and re-popularized the tradition.

1950s Sellmer recognized the vast consumer market that existed in the United States and successfully filed for an American patent on his Advent calendars. One of the early American adopters of this German tradition was President Dwight Eisenhower, who posed for Christmas press photos alongside his grandchildren and Sellmer’s calendar. With the endorsement of the president, Advent calendars soon became an American holiday standard.

In 1958, the Cadbury chocolate company started to produce its own calendars in Britain, and decided to release a calendar with a full set of 24 chocolates behind the windows, a decision that soon became the standard for Advent calendars everywhere.

DID YOU KNOW? The word Advent is Latin for “arrival” and refers to the celebration of Christ’s arrival into the world on Christmas.

Today In the early 2000s, toy companies like Lego began experimenting with their own novelty Advent calendars, which were completely secular and themed around their own products.

These calendars were wildly popular with children, and it wasn’t long before adults wanted in on the fun. These days you can find Advent calendars that contain not only chocolate and toys but also things like liquor, tea, cosmetics, short stories and just about anything else you could imagine. t8n

Food & Gatherings

The Spirit World Warm up to cocktail hour

THE WEATHER HAS unequivocally turned, wool socks are no longer

an option and the evenings are meant for cocooning—with cocktails!

From aromatic mulled wine and cognac to Champagne cocktails and Moscow mules, this month’s recipes take the burr out of November.

Ready to warm up? Then wait no longer. It’s the holiday season—let the spirits move you!

T8N November 2017 21

French 75 The best way to describe this cocktail: instant elegance.

Tasty works, too.

1 1/2 oz gin 3/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 oz simple syrup 2 oz chilled Champagne (or cava)

Curl of lemon peel, to garnish For the simple syrup 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water

To make the syrup, bring the water and sugar to a boil in a small pot; reduce the heat to low, and let simmer 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, let the syrup cool to room temperature and place in the fridge to chill.

Pour the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup into a shaker filled with ice, secure the lid and shake until chilled. Strain into a Champagne flute, top with bubbly and garnish with a curl of lemon peel.

Pomegranate Mimosa Holiday brunch has never had it so good. And you, never so easy.

2 oz pomegranate juice 1 tbsp pomegranate seeds Sparkling dry rosé to top (Champagne if you’re splurging)

Pour the pomegranate juice into a Champagne flute, add the pomegranate seeds and top with bubbly. Cheers to delicious.

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Bourbon Old Fashioned The Old Fashioned is new again. If you’ve never tried one, change that this holiday season.

1 large clementine 3 dashes Angostura bitters 1 tsp brown sugar 1 tsp orange juice

2 oz bourbon 1 splash club soda 1 cherry, to garnish 1 orange slice, to garnish

With a sharp knife, peel 2 wide strips of orange peel from the clementine. Rub the peels on the rim of a tumbler to “season” it; then squeeze the peels above the glass to release the oils. Place the peels in the bottom of the glass. Add the bitters, sugar and orange juice, and muddle them thoroughly. Fill the glass with ice, pour in the bourbon, top with a splash of club soda and stir well. Garnish and serve.

Grand Marnier & Brown Sugar Hot Chocolate The combination of orange and chocolate is iconic during the holidays. And this hot chocolate is what winter nights were made for.

1 clementine Hot chocolate 1 oz Grand Marnier 1/2 tsp instant espresso powder

Whipped cream, to garnish Cinnamon and brown sugar, to garnish

With a sharp knife, peel a wide strip of orange peel from the clementine, and rub it on the rim of a mug to “season� it; then squeeze the peel above the mug to release the oils. Pour in the hot chocolate, Grand Marnier and espresso powder; then stir. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkling of brown sugar and cocoa powder.

Cran-Apple Cider Part apple brandy, part cranberry juice, all kinds of delicious.

A perfect cocktail for ringing in the season.

1 oz bourbon 1 oz apple brandy (Calvados) 1 oz apple cider (the juice, not the booze) 1 oz cranberry cocktail juice 1/2 ounce lemon juice 1 ounce thyme simple syrup 1 dash Angostura bitters

For the thyme syrup 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 4 sprigs lemon thyme 1/2 cinnamon stick 2, 1-inch strips of lemon zest

To make the syrup, bring the water, sugar, thyme, cinnamon and lemon zest to a boil in a small pot; reduce the heat to low, and let simmer 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, strain the syrup and cool it to room temperature before placing in the fridge to chill.

Pour all the cocktail ingredients into a shaker filled with ice, secure the lid and shake until chilled. Strain into an ice-filled tumbler, and garnish with a round slice of apple and a sprig of lemon thyme.

T8N November 2017  23

Cognac Sipping a glass of cognac is a pleasure all its own. Adding chocolates and a book to curl up with is a piece of heaven.

Here’s how to know what you’re buying.

The older the cognac, the better it is, and the label says it all: VS (Very Special) means the cognac is aged at least two years.

VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) is aged four years.

XO (Extra Old) is aged six years or more.

Just remember: Cognacs are usually blended vintages, and the label represents the youngest vintage in the blend.

Classic Mulled Wine Mulled wine is a holiday have-to. Just be sure to use a red wine you’d want to drink on its own.

1 bottle red wine (we used Cabernet Sauvignon) 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 wide strips of orange zest 2 wide strips of lemon zest 4 cardamom pods 3 cloves

3 cinnamon sticks 2 star anise 1/4 cup brandy 1/2 tsp freshly grated ginger 1 mandarin orange, lemon and apple, sliced

Pour 1/2 cup red wine and the brown sugar in a medium-sized pot, and bring it to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low, add the orange zest, lemon zest and spices. Let simmer 5 minutes. Next, add the remaining wine, followed by the brandy, ginger, orange slices and lemon slices. Allow the mixture to simmer (not boil) for 20 minutes, add the apple slices, simmer 5 more minutes and serve.

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Tuscan Rosemary Lemon Drop 1 1/2 oz vodka 1/2 oz limoncello 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 oz rosemary syrup 1/4 cup white sugar mixed with 1 tsp lemon zest (for rimming the glass)

Moscow Mule This just might be the “it” drink of 2017. Warming, aromatic and more delicious with each sip.

2 oz vodka 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice

6 oz chilled ginger beer Lime wedge, to garnish

Pour the vodka and lime juice into an ice-filled, copper Moscow Mule mug. Top with ginger beer, stir gently and garnish with a wedge of lime.

Rosemary sprig, to garnish Cherry, to garnish For the rosemary syrup 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 4 sprigs rosemary

To make the syrup, bring the water, sugar and rosemary to a boil in a small pot; reduce the heat to low, and let simmer 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, strain the syrup and cool it to room temperature before placing in the fridge to chill.

Rim a martini glass with lemon sugar, and set it aside.

Next, pour all the cocktail ingredients into a shaker filled with ice, secure the lid and shake until chilled. Strain into the prepared martini glass and garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a cherry. t8n

T8N November 2017 25

Truly, Deeply, Madly

AT THE BOX OFFICE

DIVINE COMEDY

Dogma (R) Adventure, Comedy Directed by Kevin Smith Stars Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Salma Hayek Heaven Can Wait (PG) Comedy, Fantasy

RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY, BELIEF in

Bruce Almighty (PG-13)

Directed by Warren Beatty, Buck Henry

a higher power… sounds like heady stuff, doesn’t it? But faith need not be serious all the time. After all, people (especially screenwriters) are pretty good at making light of heavy topics.

Want proof? Check out the movies on our “Divine Comedy” list. Some are classics; others are arthouse flicks; all take aim at your funny bone.

Comedy, Fantasy Directed by Tom Shadyac

Stars Warren Beatty, James Mason, Julie Christie, Jack Warden

Stars Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Baker Hall

This Is the End (R)

Blue Like Jazz (PG-13)

Directed by Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen

Comedy, Drama

Stars James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel

Directed by Steve Taylor Stars Marshall Allman, Claire Holt, Tania Raymonde, Justin Welborn

Sister Act (PG)

Oh, God! (PG)

Directed by Emile Ardolino

Comedy, Fantasy

Stars Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Kathy Najimy, Harvey Keitel

Directed by Carl Reiner

Comedy, Crime

Stars John Denver, George Burns, Teri Garr, Donald Pleasance

The Little Hours (R)

A Serious Man (R)

Directed by Jeff Baena

Black Comedy, Drama

Stars Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Kate Micucci, Aubrey Plaza t8n

Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen Stars Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Sari Lennick

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Black Comedy, Horror

Comedy, Romance

Date: November 16 to 19

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR Things to do, watch, hear and see this November.

EXHIBIT

Date: November 4

Ripples of Loss

Where: Red Willow Place, 7 Tache Street

Terry McCue has been painting for over 20 years. A self-taught Ojibwa artist, McCue’s artwork is large, bold and influenced by living and working in First Nations communities. The opening reception is November 4; the walk-through tour is November 16.

For more info visit: stalbertseniors.ca EVENT

Remembrance Day

Location: Art Gallery of St. Albert, 19 Perron Street

Starting at 10:30 am, the Remembrance Day Parade will leave the Legion on Tache Street and head to the St. Albert Cenotaph on St. Anne Street. The ceremony will begin at 11 am. Arrive early.

For more info visit: artgallerofstalbert.ca

Date: November 11

Date: November 2 to December 2

Location: Enjoy Centre, 101 Riel Drive For more info visit: indiehandmade.ca EVENT

Christmas Hamper Campaign Kick-Off The St. Albert Kinettes hold their annual Christmas Hamper Campaign. It starts with a silent auction at The Celtic Knot. Bring your non-perishable food items as well as toys (for children up to 16 years of age) to any red box location.

Date: Begins November 25 with silent auction Location: St. Albert Centre, Servus Place, Fire Station #3 For more info visit: facebook.com/St-AlbertKinette-252456501823310

Location: St. Albert Cenotaph, St. Anne Street EVENT

Red Willow Christmas Market This is the St. Albert Seniors Association’s first Christmas market in its newly renovated building. With over 50 vendors, this market will appeal to anyone looking to purchase unique, handmade gifts for everyone on their list. An executive chef will prepare a festive lunch for all, plus there’ll be fun photo ops and raffles. Free admission and parking.

For more info visit: stalbertlegion.com or stalbert.ca/exp/calendar/events/remembranceday-ceremony-2017 EVENT

Indie Handmade This market is a Holiday shopping wonderland.

More than 110 artists and designers will be selling items such as clothes, toys, jewellery and edibles. Everything is handmade in Canada! Parking is free.

EVENT

Country Fair St. Albert Place Visual Arts Council’s (SAPVAC) annual fundraiser fair brings in over 75 exhibitors from the St. Albert area.

You’ll find pottery, quilts, paintings, paper art and floral work. This is a unique way to find that perfect Christmas gift or two.

Date: November 18 to 19 Location: St. Albert Place, 5 St. Anne Street For more info visit: sapvac.ca/member-events/

T8N November 2017 27

Meet You There

SOUL FITNESS MIND BODY STUDIOS Finding your inner calm through yoga

LISA BABIUK DIDN’T even like yoga

the first time she tried it. “It was too slow,” she says, “and I was really resistant to it.” The owner of Soul Fitness Mind Body Studios had already been teaching fitness and wellness classes for 20 years at that point. While her interest in fitness brought her to yoga, she didn’t really know what to make of it at first. “People were breathing, and it sounded like Darth Vader, and I had no idea what that was,” she says laughing. Needless to say, Babiuk has more than come around since then.

And not only has she been certified as a yoga instructor for nine years, her studio, located in Campbell Business Park, will also be celebrating its eighth anniversary next spring.

The studio’s philosophy from the beginning, as Babiuk puts it, has been “to provide a place for people to come and get away from whatever’s going on outside this space.” To that end, Babiuk emphasizes something she realized early on—that yoga is an intricate thing, and an instructor needs very good training to keep on top of it all. It’s not just about knowing every pose—it’s also 28 T8Nmagazine.com

“Sometimes we realize, ‘Okay, there is lots going on, but I do have this inner strength, I can manage what’s going on, I have the freedom to make change here. I don’t have to be stuck in this situation. And that’s the depth of where we reach in our studio.”

–Lisa Babiuk about paying close attention to the needs of students. As she’s discovered, even the little things matter when it comes to teaching, like arranging mats so that an instructor can see every student’s face, even in large classes. “[Our] teachers are really good at what they do,” says Babiuk. “They’re not just teaching a class that hopefully everybody can keep up with. They’re addressing individual things that may come up.”

Good guidance also comes in handy because yoga is much more than just poses. The physical aspect is really just one stage of yoga practice—there are also spiritual, mental and ethical dimensions to it, and these are every

Soul Fitness at a Glance Location: #10, 20 Circle Drive, St. Albert AB, T8N 4L7 Owner: Lisa Babiuk Programs: A variety of registered programs; yoga teacher training; reiki certification programs; acupuncture and reiki treatments Interesting Fact: Soul Fitness offers two levels of yoga certification: 200 hours and 500 hours

bit as important. For Babiuk, part of a yoga instructor’s work is to remind students—even the advanced ones—not to focus too much on the physical part. “The physical is going to get you there,” she explains. “[But] there are other components that are [just as] necessary.”

ENTER TO WIN a T-shirt, toque, lanyard and a dinner out to Delux Burger Bar!

DID YOU KNOW? Yoga philosophy is largely based on the Yoga-sutras by Patanjali. Little is known about the author, who lived anywhere between the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE. He may even have been several scholars writing under the same name.

Nevertheless, many people wanting to try yoga will probably start by taking a class in a gym, community center or even an instructor’s basement. And walking into an unfamiliar space for the first time as a newbie can be really intimidating. As Babiuk puts it, this is often the most challenging part of yoga for beginners. “I remember walking in the door the first time I went to fitness class, I was scared to death,” she says. “Same thing when I went to my first yoga class.” As a result, she makes a point of showing newcomers around and helping them feel welcome and preparing them a little for what’s in store. “You’re going to move your body in a different way that maybe you’re not used to,” she says. “It’s going to feel different, but it will come.”

So what’s ahead for Soul Fitness as they look ahead to the next eight years? Expanding the studio’s teacher-training program, maintaining high standards and strengthening yoga as an industry—for starters.

The studio is also working with various community groups, such as schools and athletic organizations, to spread yoga practice even further. As more people check it out—and get over their initial doubts—yoga’s popularity in these parts is only going to grow. “It’s a fad that’s been around for 5,000 years,” Babiuk says. “It’s had an ebb and a flow… But it’s not going anywhere.” t8n

Simply follow on Twitter & Facebook for contests throughout the month of November.

T8Nmagazine.com T8N November 2017 29

STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND How to impress as a holiday guest

BY SHAWNA DIRKSEN

IT’S YOUR FIRST holiday season with

your special somebody, and you’re invited to a traditional holiday celebration at their family home. You want to make the perfect first impression, so the pressure is on. But what happens if the home you’re visiting is not only full of people you don’t know but also of religious and cultural traditions you know nothing about? Worry not (or at least a bit less…); we’ve got a holiday “cheat sheet” of what to know when attending a Catholic Christmas dinner, a Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas dinner and a traditional Hanukkah dinner.

A CATHOLIC CHRISTMAS For Catholics, Christmas is one of the most important celebrations of the year (next only 30 T8Nmagazine.com

to Easter). Christmas day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, and Christmas Eve is important because Jesus was believed to be born at midnight.

Midnight Mass On Christmas Eve, December 24, many Catholic families attend midnight mass, a special church service that honours the nativity of Jesus. True to its name, the service usually starts around midnight and lasts about an hour-and-a-half. It’s perfectly acceptable to attend midnight mass as a non-Catholic, so if you’re invited and want to attend, go for it.

Tips for Attending Midnight Mass Dress code: The dress code depends on the church. In some cases, a pair of jeans is acceptable; in others, more formal attire is expected. Ask your significant other for reliable advice before you close your closet door.

Collection basket: A collection basket will likely be passed around the pews during the service. The money goes towards the church’s operating costs. If you’re cool with that, bring a dollar or two to contribute.

Communion: For Catholics, receiving communion is a significant part of midnight mass because it spiritually and physically represents the receiving of Christ. Communion is meant only for practicing Catholics, so when the other churchgoers start lining up at the alter, quietly remain in your seat. If you do end up in the line, cross your arms over your chest when it’s your turn. The priest will recognize this gesture and offer you a blessing instead of communion.

Traditional Christmas Dinner A traditional Catholic Christmas dinner is similar to what you’d find in many nonCatholic homes on Christmas day: turkey,

stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce are the staples. Traditional Christmas treats include raisin or plum pudding, pumpkin or apple pie, shortbread, butter tarts and, of course, eggnog (often mixed with rum!).

Partaking in Prayer Christmas dinner will likely begin with a prayer to acknowledge Jesus’ birth. One person will typically lead the prayer, while everyone at the table bows their heads.

Even if you don’t share the family’s religious beliefs, consider quietly complying with this brief ritual to show respect.

BE OF GOOD CHEER No matter the culture, it’s just good manners to bring a small gift for your host or hostess. Consider bringing baking, chocolates, a bottle of wine, a candle or flowers.

A UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS Like Catholic families, Ukrainian Orthodox families celebrate the story of Jesus’ birth at Christmastime. However, some Ukrainian Orthodox churches follow the ancient Julian calendar rather than today’s Gregorian calendar, meaning Christmas falls on January 7, not December 25.

Traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve Dinner For the Ukrainian Orthodox (and Ukrainian Catholics), Christmas day marks the beginning of celebration after a 40-day fast from meat, dairy and alcohol. That makes Christmas Eve dinner—or the Holy Supper—the last meal during the fasting period. The meal, therefore, is meatless, dairyless and boozeless. The Holy Supper, which traditionally begins when the first star is visible in the sky, includes 12 courses—one for each of Jesus’ apostles.

Dinner starts with kutia (a sweet porridge made of wheat) and includes other traditional dishes such as kolach (braided bread), borscht (beet soup), pierogi (perogies), sauerkraut, stuffed cabbage and fish.

Christmas Day Dinner Like the Holy Supper, Christmas dinner will include many traditional Ukrainian dishes, but this time, meat, dairy and alcohol are back on the table.

ASK & TELL If you’re unsure about what to expect at the celebration you’re attending, ask your significant other for answers—reliable ones.

He or she can give you an idea of what to do (or not to do) at the family function. Also, if you have allergies or dietary restrictions, make sure he or she passes that info along to the host—and well in advance!

Ukrainian Orthodox Traditions Carolling is a popular tradition and is often done after holiday meals. It is also customary to leave a plate on the table during dinner to recognize loved ones who have passed.

Partaking in Prayer A Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas meal traditionally begins with a prayer. Afterward, the head of the household may anoint the people present with honey, making the sign of the cross on their foreheads and expressing good wishes for the new year. As a guest, consider graciously accepting the gesture.

(a nine-branched candelabrum). This tradition represents two ancient miracles: a small Jewish army (the Maccabees) defeating a large Greek army to reclaim their Holy Temple, and a small flask of oil that should have lasted only a day burning for eight days, keeping the temple’s menorah aglow.

Another Hanukkah tradition is playing the dreidel game, a gambling game played with a spinning top.

Traditional Hanukkah Dinner Hanukkah dinner is all about oil (another nod to the ancient miracle oil that burned for eight days). The main dish is latkes (potato pancakes) served with sour cream or applesauce.

Jelly doughnuts are also a traditional Hanukkah food. It’s not the day to skip dessert!

Partaking in Prayer Jewish families often give two blessings in Hebrew as they light a candle on the menorah.

No one will expect you to participate, but do listen to the beautiful language and respectfully remain quiet and engaged during the ritual. t8n

Traditional Ukrainian Christmas Greeting In Ukrainian homes, Merry Christmas works.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try “kbrystos razhdaietsia” (Christ is born).

CELEBRATION OF HANUKKAH Hanukkah, known as the Jewish festival of light, is an eight-day celebration remembering the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after it was occupied by the ancient Greeks. Hanukkah is a well-known Jewish holiday across many Christian and Orthodox faiths because it falls around Christmastime; however, to Jewish people, Hanukkah is considered a minor holiday and many are ambivalent about it. What it isn’t—no matter what the funny section in the card store tells you—is “Christmaskah” or “Jewish Christmas.”

So never call it that.

Hanukkah Traditions Hanukkah’s main tradition is a candle-lighting ritual. For eight consecutive nights, Jewish families light a new candle on a menorah T8N November 2017 31

etc.,” such as the surprise you might want to express when you learn that OMG actually predates texting by eight decades! Recently someone turned up a 1917 letter—from a retired admiral to future Prime Minister Winston Churchill—in which the word makes its earliest known appearance.

SMS AROUND THE WORLD

OMG (abbr.)

Make no mistake, it’s English.

IF YOU’VE USED a cellphone or gone

online anytime in the last… well, ever, you’re probably familiar with these three capital letters: OMG. Like LOL or TTYL, OMG is an example of short message service (SMS), otherwise known as texting language.

Ex pressed via text messages a nd online com mu nication , OMG a nd other terms have become so common that even dictionaries are adding them to their pages. But is this a symbol of our lazy, distracted times, or just proof of a language’s evolution? Well, the sky isn’t falling just yet... AFAIK.

A New Way of Writing As the name tells us, we have text messaging to thank (or blame) for giving us SMS language.

The first text message was sent in December 1992. Reading—you guessed it—“Merry Christmas,” this brief message was quite a technical feat for its time. Sure, it’s a little ironic that the scientists who sent it didn’t just go with “Merry Xmas,” but they didn’t exactly have precedent for what they were doing. Back then, the OMGs and ROFLs of the world only existed in online chat rooms and discussion boards. No one had any clue how popular SMS would become or how it would affect our language.

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But as texting caught on, those abbreviations and acronyms quickly made the jump to our cellphones, and it’s easy to see why—its simplicity: SMS was cheap, easy-to-use and worked well across scores of cellphone networks. Simplicity has its limits though, which is why texters had to keep their messages within 160 awkwardly thumb-typed characters, making some everyday comments difficult to communicate. The solution? SMS users said goodbye to long-winded phrases and spellings (like “see you tomorrow”) and hello to enough initialisms, acronyms and abbreviations (“c u tmrw”) to make a purist’s head spin.

SMS MINI-GLOSSARY

mdr: (French) Mort de rire, “dead of laughter” mr6: (French) Merci, “thanks” hla: (Spanish) Hola, “hello” q tal?: (Spanish) Qué tal, “what’s up?/how are you?” gn8: (German) Gute nacht, “good night” bjs: (Portuguese) Beijos, “kisses” 555: (Thai) Pronounced “hahaha,” used to express laughter But OMG as we know it really belongs in the Internet age. According to Merriam-Webster, which added OMG in 2009, the word “gained traction as we moved towards communicating online.” While it was text messaging that first spread OMG and other SMS terms, it was on the Internet that these expressions really dug into our zeitgeist, through incessant use in memes, instant messaging and blogs.

That was part of the reason Merriam-Webster entered OMG when it did. The dictionary says it was aware of OMG for at least 15 years but waited until it had clearly become widespread, both online and offline, before entering it.

The Ruin of English? afaik: As far as I know Even though some of us may wince a little c u: See you when we hear about dictionaries making idk: I don’t know “slangy” words like OMG official, it’s nothing imho: In my humble/honest opinion new to wondering about where English is headed. The good news (if you’re needing lolz: LOL, in the plural some) is that SMS language probably isn’t zomg: OMG x 10, used sarcastically doing much harm. While some anecdotes OMG. LOLZ! K SRSLY? Technically, OMG is an initialism, formed from the first letters of the phrase it replaces—usually “Oh my God,” although the “G” can also stand for “goodness” or “gosh.” Oxford English Dictionary, which added both OMG and LOL in 2011, defines it as an informal exclamation for expressing “surprise, excitement, disbelief,

and studies suggest that students’ grammar, spelling and punctuation use have weakened, others indicate that both the use and influence of SMS language have been exaggerated. Generally speaking, most kids aren’t peppering their book reports with IDKs and IMHOs. And if it’s any consolation, English is a sturdy language.

It survived Valley Girls and will probably survive this, too. t8n