Flowers - The Universal Gift Across Occasions

Be it a joyous celebration or a sombre observance of a past event or a sad remembrance of tragic happenings, flowers will serve as the perfect expression of emotions. Sending flowers is a very commonly used yet thoughtful gesture across geographical and cultural boundaries.

Red Rose is the most popular as a symbol of love, beauty, and passion. Pink stands for admiration and attraction, yellow is for friendship whereas a white rose denotes peace.

Irises and Lily stand for resurrection and life. They also represent stars such as the sun, and their blooming and shining are a symbol of the shining rays of the sun.

Poppies are symbolic of consolation in time of death. Red poppies are worn to pay respects to soldiers who have dies in battle in countries like UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Baby's breath with the scientific name Gypsophila or simply 'Gyp' is a blossom that represents festivity. This flower usually acts as an ornament on a flower arrangement and a gift on occasions as Valentines Day.

Carnation's are a favourite on many occasions and they define various feelings as per their colour, pink is for gratitude, red denotes something flashy, striped stands for refusal, white is for remembrance and yellow denotes cheerfulness.

Chrysanthemums of various colours represent varied emotions. Bronze is for excitement, white denotes truth, red symbolises sharing and yellow is a sign of a secret admirer.

Forget-me-nots carry the message of ' remember me forever'. These small flowers usually add to the beauty of a larger flower arrangement.

The qualities that make flower a universal gift are its fragility and beauty. They are also considered the symbol of femininity. Flowers are also representative of all kinds of human emotions and thus suit all kinds of life situations.

Express Love and Romance through Music

The basis of all creativity is the range of human emotions. Music too has not lost out on this inspiration. Anyone associated with music, whether a composer or a musician or a singer is a lover at heart. He/She who is an admirer or lover of music associates it with feelings and emotions too.

Music is poetry in action, and has always been inspired by the various facets of love as well as the other emotions of human nature. Romantic music makes for a great accompaniment as a Valentines Day gift and is responsible for creating the atmosphere in a evening planned around the theme of love.

Music embodies the varied emotions of human nature. It has been aptly said by someone,'there is music in everything, in all of nature'. Artists are especially true to this aspect of music. They get inspired by anything that touches their heart and compose songs. Love songs have kept alive the message of love since time immemorial.

Love is a topic that has been one of the most talked about, discussed and analysed over time. It still remains one of the scarcest things that people are able to amass in their lifetimes. Love is never enough for one who gets it, and humans do not have it. And that is primarily the reason that we as people are so intrigued by it and talk about it on occasions such as Valentines Day.

Say it Through Words on Valentines Day

Love has been kept alive among across the ages through various media. One such medium is the written word. Let us know in detail the mediums that can be used to express the feelings of love on Valentines Day.

Love Messages
One of the primary forms of communication among people in love is love messages. This is one of the oldest ways of expressing ones love. Love messages need not be associated with a day or an occasion. But, they do gain relevance around such celebrations as Valentine’s Day.

Love Sayings
A saying is something that is commonly representative of a tangible or an intangible object. Sayings are never known to have an origin. No one ever remembers the ‘person’ who starts them. But, they keep alive the messages over long periods of time. Love sayings have been able to do the same.

Love Notes
Love notes carry a brief and to the point crux of the message that is to be conveyed. A note does not have an explanatory format. People in love express their feelings for each other through love notes on St. Valentines Day. They may be adorned with love sayings and quotes to add an extra charm to the expression.

Love Poems
It is one of the most thoughtful means of communication the range of feelings one associates with love. Poems are one of the major cause of popularising the romanticism in love that we see today. Even Valentine's Day has gained prominence with the constant talk about love in the poems by famous writers and poets.

Valentine Gift Ideas for Friends

The occasion of Valentines Day is meant to be a celebration of relationships that are bound by love. Friendship is one such bond that is purely of the heart and the emotions. Valentine's Day gives us another reason to rediscover this alliance.

Before selecting Valentines Day gifts for friends it is essential to keep in mind the basic nature of the recipient.

Looks Based
Some people are extremely particular about their looks. They love pampering themselves with things that enhance their appeal. If your friend is someone with these attributes then the perfect Valentine Day gift for him/her is clothes, beauty products and accessories like belts, ties, scarves, boots, shoes, perfumes etc.

Thought Based
If your friend is someone who gives more value to the emotional value of a gift over its material value. You should go in for simple yet creative gifts to make the occasion memorable for a long time to come. Gifts that would help you in achieving this result are simple handmade or personalised gift items like paintings, decoratives, flowers etc.

Adventure based
If your friend is someone who seeks adventure in life,then the ideal Valentines Day gift ideas are those that bring out this streak in him/her. Find out ways of making this day special for your friend by sponsoring an adventure trip which can include traveling to exotic locations with them. Adventure sports like Scuba Diving, Rafting, Para Sailing, Rock climbing can be a part of the itinerary too.

Gift Ideas For Silver (25th) Wedding Anniversary

25 years have gone by since you or someone you love formed a bond of a lifetime. A quarter of century is a long time and it is most natural to feel nostalgic and euphoric at the same time.

After all, it is the celebration of more than two decades of togetherness and a love that has matured over time. Here are some appropriate yet thoughtful gift ideas for a silver marriage anniversary.

The traditional symbol that is associated with this wedding anniversary is also the namesake for 25 years of married life, Silver. Some gift ideas on 25th wedding anniversary made of Silver can include jewelry, photo frame, paper weight, tableware, key ring, an engraved keepsake, decoratives that can also include flowers made of Silver.

Also, some precious stones that are representative of a 25th marriage anniversary and thus a good idea for a gift are Silver, for its radiance and brilliance and Tsavorite, Green Garnet.

For someone who wants to keep things economical and simple, common gift ideas like flowers, chocolates, decoratives would save the day.

Gift Ideas for Singles on Valentines Day

If your relationship status says single this Valentines day, it should not stop you from enjoying this day to the fullest and celebrating your individuality. This is also an occasion that is most suited for finding your Valentine.

Gift Basket
Your gift basket on Valentines Day can include a range of gifts from flowers, chocolates, cards, snacks and other such goodies that suit the taste and choice of the recipient.

Pet Gifts
Pets make for excellent companions and are responsible for spreading positive vibes in a house. Some pet accessories that can be gifted on Valentine's Day are collars, bowls, pet houses and clothing accessories for pets.

Accessories
These accentuate the looks and the dressing style of a person,they can be the perfect choice of a gift for someone who loves to dress up on occasions. Some examples such gifts on Valentines Day are cufflinks, ties, pendants, rings and watches for single men and scarves, handbags and jewelry for single women.

Relative to Arts
For music lovers the gift can be a musical instrument or the tickets to the concert or performance of their favourite artist/artists. Paintings and sculptures are the perfect Valentine Day gifts if the person loves to add to his/her collection of art.

Views on Valentines Day Celebrations

There are conflicting views on the celebration of Valentine's Day.

Some people still recognise it as a Christian festival. And thus, do not even acknowledge its presence as an event to be marked in a calender year. The people who are critical of Valentines Day have two reasons to back their approach. One is the distinct religious leanings of this celebration. The other is that some people simply find this celebration silly, frivolous and impractical.

Then there are those who are not bothered about the origins of this festival and associate it with rediscovering love and romance. It is to this group of Valentine Day lovers that this day owes its popularity to.

Valentine's Day has also undergone a transformation from a quiet, unassuming observance to a loud commercialized affair. There are different takes on this aspect among the world population. Some people celebrate this day with pomp and gaiety whereas others keep it a private affair.

This approach to festivities of Valentines Day depends on two factors, one of which is the cultural and familial influences, the other is the age factor. There is an age and stage for these celebrations, but then some people never lose their innocent approach to love and life.

Variety of Valentines Day Cards

With changing times there have emerged numerous ways of sending wishes on Valentines Day. But, Valentine's Day cards are still the most popular of them all.

Handmade Cards
Handmade cards are a Valentine Day gift that will never go out of use. The reason for the same is two-fold. There is a lot of effort that goes behind making a handmade card which becomes quite evident to the receiver which makes it a memorable gift idea. Also, these cards have a quality of appearing more personal and intimate as a medium of expression.

E-Cards
To reduce the effort and the planning that goes behind making cards can be overcome by sending ready made cards present on the Internet. These are more famously known as e-cards. There is a lot of variety to choose from among e-cards available in the e-marketplace today. These include musical cards to flash greetings to funny cards and so on.

Personalised Cards
These are e-cards or handmade cards with a difference in that they have an additional feature of having been personalised. Personalisation involves the name of the sender and the receiver mentioned in the Valentines Day card. This can be taken a step ahead with a customised text or even the picture/pictures of the receiver and/or the sender.

Nature of Celebrations On Republic Day

Republic Day is observed in India on 26th January of every year. It is a day that fills our heart with pride for our country as it was on this day that we became free from an imposed governance and adopted our own constitution.

Republic Day is popularly known for a national parade which moves from Rashtrapati Bhavan to the Red Fort in the capital of India, Delhi. Before the beginning of the parade, the country's leaders, President, Prime Minister and the commanders of the Indian Armed Forces salute the brave martyrs who gave up their lives to defend the nations honour. Another head of state is invited as the chief guest on this occasion.

The President of India who is also the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces takes the salute of the Republic Day parade. This parade showcases the military strength of our country through floats (depicting the technological advances in weaponry) and marching columns of the different regiments of the Army, Navy, Air Force and other central armed forces. This parade also displays the cultural richness of our country through colourful floats and performers who dance and sing throughout the parade. Bravery awards are given before the parade to the heroes of the armed forces (for their exemplary service) and chosen young children for their bravery in everyday situations. The parade concludes with a flypast of the Indian Air Force jets showering flowers over the dias where all dignitaries are seated.

The Republic Day parade is followed by millions of viewers across the country. Republic day parades are also held in the various other administrative regions of of our country. Also, Indians across the country sport miniature national flags and badges and greet each other with sweets while wishing each other 'Happy Republic Day'.

Pointers For Choosing Valentines Day Gifts

It is easy to get your inspiration from a multitude of Valentines day gift ideas out there. But, it is important to understand what will go in your favour, as no one knows your Valentine better than you.

To begin with be well prepared and to start planning for that Valentine day gift at least a few weeks in advance.

Before deciding on a gift, analyse the stage of your relationship with the person whom you plan to surprise or delight with a Valentines day gift.

The gift should be in tune with the nature of your beloved and his/her preferences and tastes.

If you do not know the nature of your 'to be valentine' then try to know him/her better by talking to the people who do.

It is essential to remember that even if the gift is inexpensive, it should be tasteful and should conform to the nature of the occasion.

What All Constitutes a Gift?

Nature of a Gift
A gift can be in the form of monetary presents or objects of use or decorative objects. But, the universal appeal of a gift is in the thought behind it. A gift whether simple or creative, expensive or free becomes priceless if it is thoughtful in nature.

Emotions That Define a Gift
There are many emotions associated with a gift idea, it is responsible for making a person happy or sad, nostalgic or reflective. A gift is thus also representative of the feelings of gratitude and solidarity for the giver. It is something which is bestowed voluntarily without expectation of anything to be found in return. It is also known as the act, right or the power of giving. Though we as a people tend to be expectant when giving a gift, the beauty of a gift lies in this very art of selflessness.

Presentation
The presentation of a gift is very important as a beautifully decorated gift leaves a good impression on the receiver. Any gift is usually wrapped with a wrapping paper and a note is added to it which denotes the name of the sender with the message that he/she wants to convey.

26th January - Republic Day of India

We all feel proud to be Indians. This identity is reflected in the various 'days' of national significance that we observe. These are Independence Day (15th August), Gandhi Jayanti (2nd October) and Republic Day (26th January). Republic day is celebrated every year in remembrance of the adoption of the Indian constitution and the subsequent acceptance of India as a republic.

India became independent from the British rule on 15th August, 1947. The draft committee under the supervision of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was appointed (right after independence) in August 1947 to finalise the Indian constitution. The draft constitution that was submitted to the Indian assembly in November 1947 was discussed over and modified for the next 166 days, spread over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 18 days, in open public sessions. The hand written document in two languages (both Hindi and English) was then signed by all 308 assembly members on 24th January, 1950.

The significance of the date chosen as the Republic day of India was due to some other reasons altogether. It was on this day in the year 1927 that members of the Indian National Congress had pledged their votes for complete independence from the British dominion. This date was thus chosen to respect the wishes of the freedom fighters who had initially wanted this day to be the Indian Independence Day. It was thus that the Indian constitution came into effect from 26th January, 1950 and it was on this date that India became a self governed nation with elected representatives of its people. We, as Indians celebrate this historic event on the 26th of January every year.

Significance of Love Symbols on Valentines day

Love is one of the most beautiful of all emotions known to man. There are many symbols of love that can be associated with Valentines day as well. Some of the more familiar ones are,

Cupid - It is believed that when someone gets hit by a Cupid's arrow they fall in love with the person they have met right then.

Heart – When it comes to feelings, we tend to 'think' from our hearts rather than our minds. And thus, heart has been representative of love and is one of the most used symbols on Valentines day.

Chocolates and Candies – These are one of the most popular among all Valentines day gifts. The reason for the same is that these are a true symbol of love and sensuousness.

Fruit - Apple has always been associated with beauty, fertility and consequently with love and Valentine's day.

Flower – Of all the blossoms the one that comes the closest to defining love is rose. Even among roses, it is the red rose that speaks of romance and passion.

Birds – Doves and Love Birds represent togetherness for life which is one of the most important qualities for someone in love.

Harvest Festivals of India

India is a land that thrives on its primary occupation, agriculture. It is also the backbone of the Indian economy and of the social structure of our country. An agriculturist is dependent on the seasonal changes and the natural reservoir of resources to get a bountiful harvest every season. Thus new beginnings, occasions to celebrate have always been marked around these seasonal climatic changes only.

If we talk with respect to the farming community, the time of harvest is for leisure for the farmers, a time to be spent celebrating a good season gone by or an excellent produce. There are various festivals in India that are marked around the harvest season. Some of these are,

The midwinter festival known as Lohri is celebrated in north India, in Assam it is called Bhogali Bihu, in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar it is known as Sankranti whereas in Andhra Pradesh it is celebrated as Bhogi, when each household puts on display its collection of dolls. Holi in Eastern India is a springtime harvest festival which has more of a religious flavour than in other parts of the country. In Kerala the harvest festival which comes in after the rainy season is called Onam. Pongal is a midwinter harvest festival celebrated by the people of Tamil Nadu.

Though all these festivals have cultural differences, but they do have something in common. All of them signify peace, prosperity and progress. They are also a time for communal celebrations and for family gatherings.

Sending Wishes on the Festive Season

It is the festive season here and all of us are in the mood for celebration. This is also the time to remember your near and dear ones and acquaintances too. We all have our own way of reconnecting with people around us. These are some of the ways of doing the same.

Sending Gifts
If you are someone who loves to express yourself through gifts, festive season gives you another reason to do the same. Gifts are a very thoughtful idea and remain in the memories for along time to come.

Sending Messages
This is a new age tool which is put to the maximum use during the festive season. These days if the season to celebrate is round the corner the process of sending and receiving bulk messages is underway.

Calling Up
Another use of telephones or mobiles is making calls to people and wishing them on important occasions. And especially so since these days occasions have started acquiring a universal appeal. One needs to take an initiative and remember people who matter, especially so during the festive season.

Sending Mails
E-wishing is a brand new phenomena. It is more economical and far reaching in terms of frequency of people you want to reach out to too. And this is an ideal tool for those who love to write and keep in touch with people around them.