Lee Ryder's Blog, page 12

Names for santa around the world

Argentina - Most Christmas celebrations in Argentina are celebrated Christmas Eve. They place a "Peserbe" or nativity scene near the Christmas Tree because most Argentinians are Catholic. For them the Christmas season starts on December 8 which is the date of the Immaculate Conception. They do not neccessarily use fir trees for Christmas any tree can be decorated and they sometimes put cotton balls on the tree to represent snow. On Christmas Eve they go to mass in the afternoon and have a feast around 11pm which includes roast pork and roast turkey as common dishes. At Midnight there are often fireworks and "globos" are lit which are decorations that float into the sky with lights in them. Most Argentinians sleep on Christmas day as some people stay up all night chatting and seeing family and friends.


In Egypt Chrismas is not Celebrated until the 7th of January. They celebrate Advent between the 25th of November and January 6th and most people eat a vegan diet as part of the Holy Nativity Fast. On Coptic Christmas eve which is January 6th most people go to church at 9 pm and some stay till 4am when they get home they eat a Christmas Feast which includes dishes like Fata a lamb soup that includes contains bread, rice, garlic and boiled lamb meat. Sweet rolls called Kahk are given as gifts on Christmas Day. '


At the Beginning of December in Haiti they start looking for a Christmas tree. It can be a branch or it can be a tree brought from the mountains. They put it in their living rooms along with a large nativity set which is an important Christmas decoration sometimes the tree and the nativity take up a huge part of their living room. People often repair and redecorate their homes in preparation for Christmas. On Christmas eve children place freshly cleaned shoes at the door with straw in them in the hopes that tonton nwell will take the straw and place presents in and around their shoes. Houses are open with the lights on until 3am in many places and older children are expected to look after the younger ones. Some people go to a midnight mass on Christmas eve then go home and eat reveillion which is the wake up meal and lasts till the dawn. Christmas day is spent sleeping off the revels of the night before. 

One of my favorite ones that I've found is in Japan the Christmas Meal is Fried chicken, often from KFC and Sponge cake. Christmas is not a religious holiday in Japan so most businesses and stores are open and is considered to be a time of spreading love and happiness through cards gifts and goodwill. Christmas Eve in Japan is considered a day of romance where couples spend time together and exchange gifts. It is the equivalent of our Valentines day and it is often hard to book dinner at a restaurant on Christmas Eve. 

Books you should read at christmastime

Here are 10 books that make awesome Christmas reads for young and old




Tomfoolery and the 13 Yule Lads of Iceland
Synopsis:

Thirteen Santas! How neat! Thinks James as he and Syvok set off on their third adventure. Little did he know the mischief these Yule Lads were capable of getting them all into. 

Join James, Syvok, thirteen Yule Lad's and, of course, Matthias as they cause a raucous, create laughs, and create a Yuletide that you and James will always remember.
My Review:
James is at it again! After a harrowing adventure with the Old Hag the Yule Lads come and stay with James in his bedroom at night! I can tell you he is a very patient host. The Yule Lads are noisy and messy, I'm particular to Pot Scraper, Spoon Licker, and Bowl Licker they remind me of my son who LOVES to eat and is skinny and tall. Tomfoolery and the 13 Yule Lads of Iceland is a story that is great fun, and had me laughing so hard. Wendy's done it again telling an amazing tale of friendship, love and of course Tomfoolery. If you have kids or if you're a kid at heart you're going to love this story!

Synopsis:
Now, Waffles and Pancakes, along with their owners, are about to learn another lesson, A Lesson in The True Meaning of Christmas


Waffles and Pancakes are two hamsters from the same pet store that went to their new homes on the same day. They also happen to be the best of friends. In their first adventure, their owners became best friends, too. Together, the four learned the lesson of true friendship. In their second adventure, they learned how to handle bullies

When hurricane Sandy threatens to ruin Christmas, Danny, Griffin, Waffles and Pancakes gather their friends and try to find a way to help. Together, can they find a way to save Christmas? When Santa sees their act of kindness, what does he do to surprise them all? Find out when you read this heartwarming story of friendship and love.

My Review:We are super Cindy Springsteen fans, each of her books tells a wonderful story with a great moral. This story particularly touched my heart with recent events in the world. It's so awesome to see a story about people helping people shared in such a unique and interesting way. I think this book should be in schools because it really teaches about the meaning and the reason for the season, as well as giving with an open and happy heart. The illustrations are so cool and Waffles and Pancakes look so cute in their hats! This is now one of my favorite Christmas Stories! I also read this to my daughter and she loved it too!

Synopsis:

Illus. in full color. A wordless story. The pictures have "the hazy softness of air in snow. A little boy rushes out into the wintry day to build a snowman, which comes alive in his dreams that night. The experience is one that neither he nor young 'readers' will ever regret or forget."--(starred) Booklist.  

My Review:
This book is amazing, I loved reading the pictures to my children from a young age. They truly enjoyed this book and asked for it to be read to them over and over. 

Free Book PromoFREE December 22nd&23rd, Decem...

  Free Book PromoFREE December 22nd&23rd, December 25th-27thTitle: First Sight : The Deal PrequelSeries: The Deal SeriesAuthor: Deborah AnnRelease Date: September 28, 2015 ~ Before there was The Deal, there was the meeting ~A successful Graphic Designer, who’s sworn off men. A high power Divorce Attorney, with a steadfast belief against commitment and monogamy. And the flight to Toronto that changed it all… ‘First Sight’ ~ The Deal Prequel Their connection is evident upon first sight... The electricity and pull there from the first moment... But Adam Blaire is everything Bethany Drake is sworn against… A wealthy playboy who disarmingly flits from one shattered female heart to the next, leaving a trail of women in his wake. He also happens to be the hottest, damn sexiest man she’s ever laid eyes on. But she can’t risk her heart again… not with her inexplicable knack for always choosing the wrong men. Gorgeous and wildly sexy Adam Blaire is the most sought after divorce attorney in Beverly Hills, and wholly against commitment and monogamy; why should a man settle for just one woman when there are so many beautiful women, just waiting, begging for pleasure? But there’s something about the woman seated beside him on his flight to Toronto. Something different. Something that draws him in, and grabs hold. He has to have her! And he’s not waiting till they hit land… Or taking no for an answer! Bethany can’t fight it, the attraction to this man; the way he touches her, and looks at her… Against her better judgement, and the risk of yet another heartbreak, she throws caution to the wind to indulge in a night of pleasure with the sinfully sexy Adam Blaire. After all, it’s only one night. In a completely different country. She’ll never see the man again. What’s the harm? Learn the details of Adam and Bethany's meeting, the intimate elements of their sexy mid-air doings, and the passionate, lust-filled night that led to their deal... ‘First Sight’ The Deal Prequel Where Bethany and Adam’s story began. ~ * ~ **Warning ~ This book is intended for readers age 18 and above. ~ Follow up 'First Sight' The Deal Prequel with 'The Deal' ~ Adam & Bethany's full story! ~ Here's what reviewers have said about Adam & Bethany in The Deal' ~ Add to Goodreads Book Trailer[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrT_P...] 
     Amazon|Amazon UK ~ Deborah Ann lives in Northern California with her husband and their two children, where she has enjoyed a long career in the Beauty Industry. After years of reading with her children and passing on a love for books, Deborah was inspired to write The Destiny Series. What started out in the beginning, as a celebration of a loving, young, innocent friendship and the affecting separation after a move, spun into a mythical journey of the loving binds of friendship, deep family ties, and an intoxicating fairy tale romance, with the power of love that knows no bounds. ‘Memory Betrayal’& ‘The Deal’ followed, with a leap from young adult romance to adult romance. And while it can be a balancing act at times, Deborah sneaks in as much time as she can to slip into the lives of her characters, and the magical world in which they live...   Social Media Links  Newsletter Mailing List ~ http://eepurl.com/bYrSMH Author Website ~ http://www.DeborahAnnAuthor.com   Author Central ~ http://www.amazon.com/Deborah-Ann/e/B009QQK47I/   Goodreads ~ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6023652.Deborah_Ann   Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/deborah.ann.9212   Fan Pages ~ https://www.facebook.com/DeborahAnnAuthor/   YA ~ https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDeborahAnn/   Twitter ~ https://twitter.com/DeborahAnn11   Pinterest ~ http://www.pinterest.com/deborahanndesti/   Instagram ~ https://instagram.com/deborahannauthor/   Google + (plus) ~ https://plus.google.com/100602507196204293982   Tumblr ~ http://deborahannauthor.tumblr.com/   Wattpad ~ https://www.wattpad.com/user/DeborahAnn11YouTube ~ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxMnHSwhZFRiif7LJIAGquA     -- Thank you Jen Just One More Page www.facebook.com/1morepage http://justonemorepage5.wordpress.com/ twitter: @just_1morepage https://tinyletter.com/justonemorepage

Cover RevealTitle: The Other WomanAuthor: Noell M...

  Cover RevealTitle: The Other WomanAuthor: Noell MoscoRelease Date: January 10, 2017 “Introvert: a person whose motives and actions are directed inward, who tends to be preoccupied with their own thoughts and feelings, and minimized their contact with other people.” That defines Allyn Anders to a T. She prefers solitude to crowds, working from home to office life, and old music to popular music. Ally, as she prefers to be called, is never one to do anything out of her bubble of comfort until one night.   One night that changes everything.   Cole Clarke is the opposite of an introvert. Hell, he’s the lead singer and guitarist of Sunday Told A Secret, a band that makes Maroon 5 look like child’s play. He’s the band’s “bad boy,” only accepting the title because “loner” and “player” are already claimed by his bandmates, Gunner and Avis.   The night Ally meets Cole is a pure chance encounter. There’s an immediate attraction and the best part? Ally has no idea who Cole is and he kind of loves that.   Fate has more plans that just one night for Cole and Ally. Cole finds that he wants more from Ally, and he wants to give more to her in return. There’s only one problem--he’s married--and his alcoholic wife issues him a new level of misery he never expects.   These two thirty-somethings have decisions to make, messy waters to navigate, and blind faith to trust in this contemporary romance that has a hint of a rock star flair.  \          PRE ORDER NOWAmazon    Noell Mosco is a thirty-something-year-old who lives in southwestern Pennsylvania, born and raised. A country girl at heart, she currently resides in a suburb outside of Pittsburgh with her husband and three furbabies. Writing has been one of Noell’s passions since she was young, completing her first “book” at age eleven. Her full-time day job as a physical therapist means she is compassionate, which allows her to follow-up with her second biggest passion--traveling the world. Noell reluctantly admits to having a strong love of wine, though her poison of choice is generally expensive tequila. SOCIAL MEDIAFacebook|Goodreads|Tumblr|Twitter|Intstagram        

Pre Release Blitz Title: Fighting for UsAuthor: M...

  Pre Release Blitz Title: Fighting for UsAuthor: Mareta L. MillerRelease Date: December 27, 2016 Wesley Draves was a doctor, he was a country club member, and the woman of his dreams just promised him a lifetime together. He never imagined a simple and ever so common mistake would take it all away in an instant. Four years later, he's branded a murderer by some, with the time he's spent paying for that night being really only the tip of the iceberg. Now free, he falls into the world of underground fighting, every day chasing the chance to know the relief that joining her in death would bring. In a surprise attack, he’s finally called to the other side, and he follows willingly until a woman he’s never met begs him to stay and fight for his life. Against all he's wanted for more than four years, he allows the eyes and the voice of this angel to call him back. ~~~~~~~~~~Reanne Lacey lived a simple life. The product of a broken home, she was raised by her grandmother and now owning her own bakery is their dream come true. She has everything a twenty-six-year-old could want, except for love. Her dream required her to put the rest of her life on hold and now dreams of someone to spend it with consume her. Then one night, she's called into the life of a man whom she's never met but will never forget. He begs her to let him go, but she locks her eyes with his and asks him to stay. ~~~~~~~~~~ Fate would save Wes that night, and hand him a second chance he didn’t think he wanted. Now he's running from two pasts, not willing to let either of them ruin his future. But leaving one of those pasts behind won’t be so easy, especially when it refuses to let him go. He’ll be forced to fight again, this time to save her, but it might just cost both of them their lives.
Add to Goodreads ~~ Pre Order Now ~~Amazon| iBooks| B&N My name is Mareta L. Miller, and I’m a thirty-something-year-old Las Vegas native. Trust me when I say that growing up in Vegas, is not as awesome as it sounds. I’ve never lived in a casino and I’ve never been a stripper or a showgirl, but I have spotted Elvis no less than twice a day, my entire life. I’m just your average wife and mother of ten. Yup, I said ten, consisting of three daughters, a stepson, three puppies (because mine will never be dogs), two kitties, and a turtle. I wish I could say I don’t have to work outside of my writing, but I do, and rectifying that fact is on the top of my “When I make it Big” list. Working the standard 40hr week, doesn’t leave much time to write, but I take advantage of every minute I have. Late nights and early mornings make for really long days, but I figure I can sleep later. My writing, which only started a little over a year ago, has become a constant need. It's been my way to deal with fear, but also a way to create hope. Hope that real love exists and can conquer. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment and I love being able to share my stories with all of you. I hope you’ll continue to follow me on this journey because this is only my beginning. Although my wings have begun to flutter, you’ve yet to really see me fly.Xoxo's,MGoodreads| Facebook| Website -- Thank you Jen Just One More Page www.facebook.com/1morepage http://justonemorepage5.wordpress.com/ twitter: @just_1morepage https://tinyletter.com/justonemorepage

10 Strange Christmas Customs (well strange to the US at least)

1. In South Africa, a delicacy eaten on Christmas is the deep fried Emperor Moth Caterpillars
2. Austrian Children are taught that if they're naughty Krampus will come and beat them with a stick. So you better be good!
3. On Christmas Eve in Norway they hide their brooms so they won't be stolen by witches or evil spirits.
4. In Greenland sometimes Kiviak is eaten...what is Kiviak? It is 500 Dead Auck birds stuffed in a seal skin and left to ferment for 7 months.
5. This one is one of my favorites, in Germany they hide a pickle on the Christmas tree and the first child to find it gets a small gift. 
6. In Portugal they have a beautiful tradition of eating a morning Christmas feast called Consoda where they lay places for deceased family members. What a great way to remember your loved ones!
7. In Ukraine you won't find ornaments, lights, and tinsel on their Christmas tree. You'll find a web and a spider. (Not for arachnophobes!)
8. Are you a Czech Republic woman looking to see if you will ever be wed? Just throw a shoe out of your door on Christmas and see if it lands with the toe pointing towards you. If it does you'll be married in the next year!
9.You better watch out for the Yule Cat prowling the hills in Iceland. If you don't have new clothes by Christmas Eve you're fair game for the Yule Cat and you'll be eaten! 
10. In Greece you better watch out for the Kallikantzaroi .They are a race of evil goblins who come to the surface and wreak havoc during the twelve days of Christmas.

Whether you have funny or special traditions, I hope that your holidays are filled with family, warmth, joy, and that the new year to come is filled with blessings big and small! 

Title: Stupid CupidAuthor: Annelise ReynoldsGenre: romanc...

Title: Stupid CupidAuthor: Annelise ReynoldsGenre: romance/erotica romance/contemporaryEditor:  Dawn LewisCover Designer: Dark Water CoversHosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

Blurb: After finding out that Cory is her Santa, Katie is furious with herself for letting go during one night of passion. Except, one night of passion is about to turn into a whole lot more... According to Katie, Santa sucks and Cupid is stupid, and the two of them are out to give her more than she bargained for. Cory stumbles across Katie's secret, and he's going to seduce her into 'fessing up, but can he trust what they feel, or is it just the workings of Stupid Cupid?

I spend my days working, my evenings with my two wonderful kids, and my nights are when the characters in my head are given free reign. The tagline for Phoenix Bar, "Beauty After the Burn", holds special meaning for me and really helped to give birth to the story. Like Phoenix, I've had to rebuild my life from the ashes. It's been a long journey with a roller coaster of emotions and stresses, but I can truly say where my life is now is more beautiful than where it was.Author Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Authorannelisereynolds/Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnneliseReynoldAmazon: http://amzn.to/2h3AAkNGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14055728.Annelise_ReynoldsWebsite: http://annelisereynolds.wixsite.com/annelisereynolds a Rafflecopter giveaway

Romance, violence, murder, and mayhem, all twisted togeth...

Romance, violence, murder, and mayhem, all twisted together in off-beat, action packed stories featuring the Zeta Cartel in Mexico. 
The Zeta Cartel CollectionBy AJ Adams
This collection bundles together three complete novels: The Bonus, Songbird and Dirty Dealings.

Buy The Zeta Cartel Collection on Amazon
Buy The Zeta Cartel Collection on Amazon UK
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Buy The Zeta Cartel Collection on B&N
Buy The Zeta Cartel Collection on iTunes

  Inside The Zeta Cartel Collection   #1 The Bonus

Chloe is a seasoned drug courier who finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Facing a lingering and painful death at the hands of the Zetas, Mexico’s most brutal cartel, she persuades their enforcer to claim her. Has Chloe made a huge mistake, or will her choice prove her salvation - and his?
#2 Songbird

When cartel boss Arturo Vazquez discovers his girlfriend Gina is a DEA rat and his deputy Escamilla is staging a take-over, Arturo fixes his problems by killing everyone - except for Solitaire, Escamilla’s unwilling mistress. Solitaire is intelligent, tough, and shares Arturo’s interest in BDSM. Arturo falls head over heels but someone is leaking information - and the evidence point at Solitaire.




#3 Dirty Dealings

Quique is having a bad time. Back in Mexico his marriage has fallen apart and his wife has made him a laughing stock. Now he’s in London and out of his depth with a complex commercial deal. Worse, Natalia Truelove, chef and pub manager, is blackmailing him. Quique is ready to commit murder and he’s pretty sure who his first victim will be.



Check out some of the verified purchase reviews on Amazon...


The Bonus: “O.M.G.!!! Love this book! It is messed up, really adult subject matter and content, but HOLLY COW I loved it! I have read Chloe and Kyle's story several times and dang...it leaves me reeling every time! AJ Adams does a wonderful job with these characters!!” Swensgirlon






Songbird: “I liked the way the 2 main characters talked to the reader as if they were present. The darkness lures you in from the start, and holds you till the last few pages. AJ doesn't shy away from the really vengeful reactions to betrayal and understands the need to not show weakness. Part of me thinks I shouldn't enjoy books about being on the wrong side of the law but there's no stopping who you love right?” Cuckfield Carol


Dirty Dealings: “Such a fabulous book! It is hard to find a book with the perfect mix of violence and romance but this hit a perfect balance for me. I started reading this morning. I thought I would read for a short time before starting my day! My plans definitely went out the window because I could not put this book down! Natalia is such a fabulous and brave heroine even if a bit foolhardy! Of course, I loved the one-man-army, Quique. Adams has not written a miss yet in my opinion! Can't wait for the next one!” Helen

Buy Links Buy The Zeta Cartel Collection on Amazon
Buy The Zeta Cartel Collection on Amazon UK
Buy The Zeta Cartel Collection on Smashwords International
Buy The Zeta Cartel Collection on B&N
Buy The Zeta Cartel Collection on iTunes

Stalker Links I have an AJ Adams Facebook page, but I’m not on it much. My personal profile is public, though, so you can follow and comment without being my friend - although it’s always nice to be asked!
My personal pageMy AJ Adams page
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10 Crazy Laws in the USA

10 Crazy Laws in The USA
1. No dwarf tossing in Florida, bar owners can be fined up to 1000.00 if they sponsor dwarf tossing competitions.
2. No eating people in Boise Idaho, unless you are in extreme circumstances where it's a matter of life and death
3. In Kalamazoo Michigan it is a felony to cheat on your spouse.
4. You may not wear a funny fake mustache in Alabama churches that would cause laughter in the church.
5. Only those that believe in God can run for office in Texas.
6. You are not allowed to swear in front of two or more people in Mississippi. You can spend 30 days in jail and be fined 100.00
7. No singing off key in North Carolina
8. In Massachusetts it's illegal to give Beer to hospital patients.
9. In Massachusetts snoring is prohibited unless all bedroom windows are shut and locked (yes I looked this up it's nuts)
10. Roadkill may be taken home for supper in West Virginia.
Thoughts?

Heckuva party going on!

Come on over for fun and frolicking all day long! 
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