THE CURATIVE BENEFITS OF KINDNESS: By Joe Van Langenberg With the festive season already having kicked off and December 25 is slowly but surely fast approaching, with just over four days to go; a feeling of exhilaration especially among the young and carefree, is about to shift gears. For some, or most, with considerable financial wherewithal, Christmas Day is one of enjoyment, with no expense spared and an unrestrained desire to paint the town red. Those who do possess the means to indulge in the niceties of the season, shouldn’t be envied, nor should they be faulted for doing so, given the fact, that it’s their undeniable prerogative. That been said, it ought to be borne in mind, that there are a multitude of others who have the same right, as the rest of society’s affluent to celebrate this Great Day; but are sadly unable to do so, due to ...

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YULETIDE – By Charmaine Candappa   The season of Christmas has begun and the shops, are full of sales, and beautiful Yuletide décor, leading up to Christmas Day. Store decorations and Christmas items begin their seasonal debut as early as October, and enticing sales are everywhere. The Malls are filled with a variety of seasonal goodies for shoppers, as it is in many countries during this time of the year. Celebrations begin with parties and events at this festive time. Tasting eggnog is part of the traditions that enhance the holidays. As the season of goodwill begins, Christmas wreaths appear on door fronts. At night time the yards of homes are all aglow with Snowman, Santa, and candy cane railings, and Christmas ornaments, the entire house on the outside is decked with twinkling festive lights. Even trees and hedges are artistically wrapped and lit up with colored lights.  The magic ...

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – By Marilyn & Jeremy Pritchard Source : Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – December 2022  On the Holy night of December 25, a Child is born, to us a son is given…. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He is the Savior Jesus Christ the King, was born to Joseph & Mary in a stable in Bethlehem. This day is celebrated and commemorated as Christmas Day and cities around the world are aglow with colourful lights and decorations for Christmas. This religious event has now become highly commercialised; shops are adorned with tinsel decorations, shelves full of toys and various types and sizes of Christmas trees are displayed as early as October and November. Shops will aim at making the most of the festive season competing for a share of shoppers who ...

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“IN A NUTSHELL” – by Des Kelly   Famous American Actor Humphrey Bogart was born on Monday January 23rd 1899, died on January 14th 1957, aged just 57+. However, Warner Brothers Pictures claimed that Bogart was born on Christmas day, 1899, in order to romanticize his background. Oscar Wilde, Irish playwright & poet (Oct.16th, 1854- Nov. 30th 1900),changed his birth year- 1856 Like his Character Dorian Gray, Wilde was vain about his personal appearance, and feared becoming old. Top Country Music Star Merle Haggard, whose music sits somewhere on the moon today, had an older brother, Francis, with whom he had fallen out for a long period. This was a little too late, but soon after Francis passed away, Merle wrote a song dedicated to him, titled “Listening to the wind” Merle sings this song, as only he can, and listening to the wind is an important lesson learned. Desmond ...

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  “HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY” – By Des Kelly Seems very strange that even as I was thinking about all the public holidays now enjoyed in Australia, Christmas day, Boxing day, New Year’s day, May-day, , the Queen’s birthday, Good Friday, Easter day, Melbourne- Cup day, plus one or three more special days, where everyone in this great big Land celebrates them in their own inimitable fashion.       Then, out of nowhere, I get this copy of the Sri Lankan Government’s Gazette, declaring their Public and Bank Holidays for 2020, showing the full list, which gets me thinking of yet another “title” for our little homeland in the Indian Ocean. Lanka has been proudly called many things, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Tear-drop of India, among others, so I have now decided to call her “Holiday-Island”. Here folks, is the reason why.    Desmond Kelly.  (Editor-in-Chief)—eLanka.. Govt issues gazette declaring ...

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CHRISTMAS-DAY – by Desmond Kelly ‘the Star of eLanka’ Yes, it isn’t too far away, another Christmas day, Have you bought all your presents ?, well, don’t delay, Next year, in July, also possibly May, Don’t forget your “shopping” for Christmas day. D.K. While I do believe in Christmas, with all it’s trimmings, it is quite possible that Jesus Christ was NOT born on the 25th of December, of that year. History leads us to believe that while shepherds watched their flock by night, all seated on the ground, it would have then been much too cold, with too much snow around. . It would have been the height of Winter, in December, and while the shepherds may have been illitrate, they would not have been fools. All “stock” would have been “under-cover”, their shepherds, with them. I am also “informed” that Christmas was a part of some pagan festival, and do know that ...

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