Happy Holidays, World!

The holidays are here, and I want to send warm wishes to friends and yet-to-meet friends around the world. So I did a little research and it turns out that "Happy Holidays" translates to "vacation days off" in many languages. And, as we all know, different culture have different holiday traditions. Still most acknowledge holidays in some way and exchange greetings. And the American "Happy Holidays" greeting is known, so I'm sending it out in as many languages as I can with translations that basically mean good wishes. I love reading and saying these words from other languages -- somehow it brings us all closer on this planet, doesn't it? If anybody out there knows "Happy Holidays" in another language, do share...

 Happy Holidays, World! Here's to peace, smiles and joyful reading in 2011!


Korean: 해피 홀리데이 
Greek: Καλές Γιορτές 
French: Joyeuses Fetes!
Spanish: Felices Fiestas!
Mandarin: 恭喜發財 / 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái) 
Hebrew: L'Shanah Tovah!
Hawaiian: Hau'oli Lanui!
Arabic: 'A'yād Sa'īdah أعياد سعيدة 
Gaelic: Beannachtai na Feile!
Japanese: shiawase na kyujitsu
Portugese: Feliz Natal!
Malaysian: maaf zahir dan batin!
Turkish: Mutlu Bayramlar!
South African, Xhose: Ii holide eximnandi
Dutch: Prettige feestdagen!
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Raya!
Swedish: Trevlig Helg!
Portugese: Boas Festas!
German: Forhe Feiertage!
Swahili: Habari Gani !
Russian: С Наступающим!
Vietnamese: Phát tài phát lộc Tấn tài tấn lộc!

Never, Never, Never Give Up!

So who is the patron saint for all writers?


 My vote goes to Winston Churchill, as in that quirky, bald, cigar smokin' fella who led Britain through World War II. As a plain old American who likes my freedom, I thank Churchill for being one of the leaders who stopped Hitler's march for totalitarianism (also known as living without any freedom). The man had guts, passion, and persistence, and that helped save the world.


But there's more... Churchill loved to write. He write 43 books in the course of his life. He painted too. He was a straight shooter who wasn't afraid to speak the truth. And he wasn't Superman in the least. He made plenty of mistakes but was known to pick himself up and begin again and again. The guy worked for 90 years, nonstop too.


When the writing gets tough and I feel like tossing my mouse out the window, I stare up at one of my favorite quotes that hangs on my bulletin board. It's from Churchill and it basically goes like this:


Never, never, never, never give up."

Three cheers for Winston!