Monthly Archives: December 2024

sports

2025 IIHF World Junior Championship

The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship is underway in Ottawa, showcasing the world’s premier under-20 hockey talent. The tournament began on December 26, 2024, and will conclude with the gold medal game on January 5, 2025.

Canada’s National Junior Team, aiming for its 21st gold medal, has experienced a mix of results in the preliminary round. They opened with a 4-0 victory over Finland but faced a surprising 3-2 shootout loss to Latvia, followed by a 3-0 win against Germany.

Hockey Canada

A highly anticipated matchup is set for New Year’s Eve, as Canada faces the United States at the Canadian Tire Centre. This game holds significant implications for group standings and is expected to be a highlight of the tournament.

Yahoo Sports

The tournament has already delivered thrilling moments. In a recent game, Slovakia edged Kazakhstan 5-4 in overtime, with Maxim Strback scoring the decisive goal.

AP News

Ottawa’s hosting of the World Juniors has energized the city, with fans and visitors immersing themselves in the excitement of world-class hockey. The event is not only a celebration of the sport but also a showcase of the next generation of hockey stars.

CTV News Ottawa

As the tournament progresses, teams are vying for favorable positions in the knockout stages, with the ultimate goal of capturing the prestigious gold medal. Hockey enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly following the action, anticipating memorable performances and historic outcomes.

Fun Holidays

Make Up Your Mind Day

“Make Up Your Mind Day” is celebrated every December 31st—a fun, unofficial day dedicated to decision-making! It’s the perfect time to tie up loose ends, resolve indecision, and finalize plans before the new year begins. Whether it’s deciding on New Year’s resolutions, big life choices, or even small things you’ve been procrastinating, this day encourages you to commit.

Ideas to Celebrate:

  1. Tackle One Big Decision – Pick something you’ve been indecisive about and make a firm choice today.
  2. Make a Pro-Con List – Use this tool to weigh the options and help you decide.
  3. Reflect on Past Decisions – Look back on choices you made this year. Celebrate the good ones and learn from the tough ones.
  4. Help Someone Else Decide – Be a sounding board for a friend who’s struggling with their own choices.
Holidays

New Year’s Eve in Japan

New Year’s Eve in Japan and KFC on Christmas Eve are two fascinating aspects of Japanese culture and modern traditions. Here’s a breakdown of each:

New Year’s Eve in Japan (Ōmisoka, 大晦日):

New Year’s is one of the most important holidays in Japan, steeped in tradition and spiritual significance.

  1. Spiritual Preparation:
    • People clean their homes thoroughly (called Ōsōji, 大掃除) to purify the house for the coming year and to sweep away the bad luck of the past year.
    • Many visit temples or shrines for Joya no Kane (除夜の鐘), where temple bells are rung 108 times at midnight to cleanse participants of the 108 earthly desires in Buddhist belief.
  2. Food Traditions:
    • A popular meal on New Year’s Eve is Toshikoshi Soba (年越しそば), a bowl of soba noodles symbolizing longevity and the cutting away of misfortunes from the old year.
  3. Family Time:
    • Families often spend New Year’s Eve together, watching TV specials like Kōhaku Uta Gassen (紅白歌合戦), a famous singing contest.
  4. Midnight Visits:
    • Many people make their first shrine or temple visit of the year, known as Hatsumōde (初詣), right after midnight.

KFC on Christmas Eve in Japan:

This quirky tradition stems from an incredibly successful marketing campaign by KFC in the 1970s.

  1. Origins:
    • In 1974, KFC launched a campaign called “Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii” (Kentucky for Christmas). It was marketed as a way for foreigners in Japan to enjoy a “traditional” Christmas meal, which wasn’t a widely celebrated holiday at the time.
  2. Why it Caught On:
    • Japan doesn’t have a native Christmas tradition, and turkey isn’t readily available. Fried chicken became an easy and festive alternative.
    • The idea of a Western-style holiday meal appealed to families and couples.
  3. The Tradition Today:
    • Many Japanese families pre-order buckets of KFC weeks in advance to enjoy on Christmas Eve. The meal often includes fried chicken, cake, and sides like salad.
    • Some stores offer special “Christmas Chicken” sets with festive packaging.

Why It’s Special:
These traditions showcase how Japan has blended its cultural heritage with unique modern adaptations of Western influences. While New Year’s is a time of reflection and spirituality, Christmas Eve (and KFC) has become a lighthearted celebration of togetherness and fun.

 

local

What’s open and closed

As New Year’s approaches in Saint John, New Brunswick, here’s a summary of what’s open and closed:

Banks:

  • New Year’s Eve (December 31): Most banks operate with reduced hours, often closing early. For instance, some branches may close at 3 p.m.
     
  • New Year’s Day (January 1): Banks are closed nationwide.
     

Federal Services:

  • Service Canada Offices: Closed on January 1.
     
  • Canada Post: Post offices are closed, and there is no mail delivery on January 1.
     

Municipal Services:

  • Saint John Transit: Typically does not operate on New Year’s Day.
     
  • Garbage and Recycling Collection: Services are usually rescheduled if they coincide with New Year’s Day; check the city’s official website for specific details.

Retail and Grocery Stores:

  • New Year’s Eve: Many stores may operate on reduced hours.
  • New Year’s Day: Most retail stores and grocery outlets are closed.

Liquor Stores:

  • New Year’s Eve: Typically open but may close earlier than usual.
  • New Year’s Day: Generally closed.

Recreational Facilities:

  • New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: Many public recreational facilities, such as swimming pools and community centers, may have altered schedules or be closed; it’s advisable to check with individual facilities for their holiday hours.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it’s recommended to contact specific businesses or services directly or visit their official websites.