Christmas - Pacific Daily News

Joint Region Edge - 2012 Holiday Guide Nov. 30, 2012
2
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
USO/Matson Run for Our Heroes
Dec. 8; show time is 5 a.m. and start time
is at 6 a.m.
Old “USO” in Piti
Christmas Day Brunch at Top O’
the Mar
Dec. 25 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Top O’ the Mar
Price: $27.95 adults and $13.95, children
USO Christmas Dinner
Dec. 25 from noon to 5 p.m.
USO Guam at the Royal Orchid Hotel
Free turkey dinner with all the fixings,
entertainment and gifts for service
members away from home for the holidays. First come, first serve until the
food is gone.
36TH FSS HOLIDAY
ACTIVITIES
Holiday Door Decorating Contest
Decorate your door for the holidays and
enter the Hotspot’s annual Holiday Door
Decorating Contest. The contest is open to
Andersen Air Force Base offices, dormitory
personnel and housing residents. Judging
will take place Dec. 14 and will be judged
on creativity, originality and holiday
theme. Prizes will be awarded to first,
second and third-place winners.
Registration forms, available at the
Hotspot, must be completed and turned
in by Dec.13. For more information, call
366-2339.
Egg Carton Wreath Crafting
Class is open for ages 6 and older Dec. 1
from 12:30-3 p.m. at the Arts & Crafts
Center. Class fee is $12 per person and
includes materials. For more information
or to sign up in advance, call 366-4248.
Gecko Lanes Pro Shop Holiday Sale
Get 20 percent off selected items Dec. 317. Be sure to shop early for the best
selection. For more information, call 3665117.
Snowman Craft Class
Class is open for ages 6 and older Dec. 8
from 12:30-3 p.m. at the Arts & Crafts
Center. Class fee is $12 per person and
includes materials. For more information
or to sign up in advance, call 366-4248.
Free Outdoor Movie Night
Enjoy the free outdoor movie night at Arc
Light Park Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The movie
will be “Elf” starring Will Ferrell. Movie
will be shown, weather permitting. For
more information, call the Hotspot at
366-2339.
Basic Crochet Classes
Classes are from Dec. 12-13 from 3-5 p.m.
at the Arts & Crafts Center. Students will
learn the chain-and-stitch technique to
make a Christmas Tree Skirt. Class fee is
$25 per person and covers instruction for
both days. Students need to bring yarn,
needle and scissors, or you can purchase
these items from our retail store. For
more information or to sign up in
advance, call 366-4248.
Clothespin Reindeer Craft Class
Class is open for ages 6 and older Dec. 15
from 1-3 p.m. at the Arts & Crafts Center.
Class fee is $12 per person and includes
materials. For more information or to sign
up in advance, call 366-4248.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WEEK
Home for the Holidays:
Chamorro Christmas Night
Dec. 10 from 6-8 p.m.
U.S. Naval Base Community Center
Come and sample some island holiday desserts, iced cocoa, sing songs
and even ride a carabao. Fun for all
those that are young at heart and
those that are in need of some
Christmas cheer island-style.
Home for the Holidays: NBG
Recreation Committee Presents
Children’s Programming
Dec. 11 from 6-8 p.m.
U.S. Naval Base Community Center
Home for the Holidays: Caroling
and Cookie Exchange with U.S.
Naval Base Guam Chapel
Dec. 12 from 6-8 p.m.
NBG Chapel
Bring the children to a caroling
event and let them participate in
the chapel's wonderfully scrumptious cookie exchange. All that is
missing is the snow.
Home for the Holidays: Cmdr.
William C. McCool Middle School
Christmas Concert
Dec. 13 from 6-8 p.m.
The Big Screen Theatre
Join in the Holiday Festivities and
celebrate the season with Cmdr.
Youth Center Christmas Ball
Open for ages 9-12 Dec. 15 from 6-8 p.m.
at the Youth Center. Entry fee is $15 per
person. For more information or to sign
up in advance, call 366-3490.
Teen Center Christmas Ball
Open for ages 13-18 Dec. 15 from 7-9
p.m. at the Teen Center. Entry fee is $15
per person. For more information or to
sign up in advance, call 366-7706.
Palm Tree Golf Course Pro
Shop Holiday Sale
Get 10-30 percent off selected
items Dec. 17-24. Shop early
for best selection. For more
information, call 366-4653.
Ho Ho Ho 5K Run/Walk
The fun starts Dec. 19.
Show time is 6 a.m. and
start time is 6:30 a.m. The race
starts at the Palm Tree Golf Course
Driving Range Parking Lot. Registration is
not required. For more information, call
366-6100.
Basic Knitting Class
Learn basic knitting techniques to make
Christmas ornaments Dec. 19-20 from 3-5
p.m. at the Arts & Crafts Center. Class fee
is $25 per person and includes instruction
for both days. Students need to bring
yarn, needle and scissors, or you can purchase these items at our retail store. For
more information or to sign up in
advance, call 366-4248.
Ribbon Ornament Craft Class
Class is open for ages 6 and older up Dec.
22 from 1-3 p.m. at the Arts & Crafts
Center. Class fee is $12 per person and
includes materials. For more information
or to sign up in advance, call 366-4248.
William C. McCool Elementary and
Middle School. The middle school’s
band ensemble will ring in the holiday cheer for a wonderful
performance
Home for the Holidays: Guam
Territorial Band Holiday Concert
Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
The Big Screen Theatre
Celebrate the season in the style of
holiday music and cheer with special
appearances by Santa.
Home for the Holidays:
Children’s Christmas Shopping
Dec. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Naval-Marine Corps Relief Society
Thrift Store
Kids can buy a lot for a little at
NMCRS for children’s holiday shopping. Cash only purchases.
Home for the Holidays:
Christmas Dive in Movie
Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.
Charles King Fitness Center Pool
Join us for a Special Dive in Movie
(weather permitting). Flotation
devices are allowed for this special
event. Come out and enjoy a holiday
movie. Bring the family. Concessions
will be available for sale at Beaches
N’ Cream.
Free Outdoor Movie Night
Enjoy the free outdoor movie night at Arc
Light Park Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. The movie
will be “Alvin & the Chipmunks: A
Chipmunk Christmas.” Movie will be
shown, weather permitting. For more
information, call the Hotspot at 3662339.
Magellan Inn Holiday Meal
The Magellan Inn Dining Facility will host
their annual holiday meal Dec. 25 from
10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This special meal is
open to all Department of Defense
ID cardholders and their family
members. It's free for meal cardholders and a la carte pricing
plus applicable surcharge
for all others. Cash payment only. No checks or
credit cards will be accepted. Reservations are not
required. For more information,
call 366-5158.
U.S. NAVAL BASE GUAM
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
NEX Balloon Night
Dec. 7 from 5-7 p.m. at NCTS mini-mart
Child and Youth Program’s Christmas
Program
Dec. 7 from 2:30-4 p.m.
Kids will celebrate the holidays and end
of school. There will be holiday festivities,
entertainment and music. Open to ages112. For more information, call 685-5013.
NEX Pet Pictures with Santa (registration Dec 1-7)
Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
NEX Home Center
MWR Liberty 12 Days of Christmas
Dec. 12-23
Bidding Day Dec. 24
Open to Active Duty Single Sailors
Single Sailor Sanctuary
Navy Exchange Guam Carnival Night
Dec. 14 from 6-9 p.m.
NEX Main Complex on U.S. Naval Base
Guam
Navy Exchange Guam Breakfast
with Santa
Dec. 15 from 8-10 a.m.
Location is to be determined
Navy Exchange Guam Midnight
Madness
Dec. 22 from 7 p.m. to midnight
Navy Exchange Guam main complex
Family Gingerbread house and
workshop Contest
Dec. 17-21 from 2-4:30 p.m.
Workshop is $25 per person (child or
adult) and includes workshop fee per
house, and includes basic gingerbread
materials with professional instructions and guidance from the MWR culinary team. Judging will take place Dec.
24
MWR’s Big Screen Theatre presents
Winter Break Matinees
Dec. 24 to Jan. 4 (Closed Christmas
Day)
The Big Screen Theatre
During the week, while school’s out
come and enjoy a movie matinee.
Monday to Thursday each week, we will
feature matinees at 3 p.m. with the
regular movie schedule on Friday to
Sunday
Movie prices will apply: $3 for adults
and $2 for children. Tickets and concessions are cash only.
MWR Celebrates Christmas Feast at
Top O’ the Mar
Dec. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Enjoy a beautiful holiday buffet spread.
Bring your family and celebrate the day
together with Top O’ the Mar. Cost is
$23 for adults and $11.50 for children.
Reservations recommended. To make a
reservation or for more information,
call 472-4606.
MWR Holiday Cigar Night
Dec. 29 from 5-8 p.m.
Enjoy a three-course meal paired with
your option of three cigar selections
and beer from our preferred list. Meal
will be served on our back patio. Enjoy
music, cigars and great food with
MWR. Cost is $26 per person. To reserve
a table or for more information, call
564-1834.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Molly
McGee’s
Dec. 31 at 9 p.m.
New Year’s party, entertainment, special meal package and more. The special meal package will include three
courses and champagne. Price is $26
per person for meal package. Dinner
and meal package will be available all
day! Special live entertainment by
Navy Entertainment. For more information, call 564-1834 or 688-7038.
DODEA PACIFIC GUAM
DISTRICT SCHOOLS
Winter Break
Dec. 24-Jan. 7
CHAPEL HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
U.S. Naval Base Guam
Catholic Services
Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Mass at 8 p.m.
Dec. 25
Christmas Day Mass at 9 a.m.
Dec. 31
New Year’s Eve Mass at 5 p.m.
Jan. 1
New Year’s Day Mass at 10 a.m.
Protestant Services
Dec. 24
Candle-lighting service at 6 p.m.
Dec. 25
Christmas Day service at 10:30 a.m.
Andersen Air Force Base
Catholic Services
Dec. 8
Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary at 9:30
a.m.
Dec. 11
Parish Penance Service at 6:30
Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Vigil Mass at midnight
Dec. 25
Christmas Day Mass at 11 a.m.
Jan. 1
New Year’s Day Mass at 11 a.m.
Protestant Services
Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Candlelight service at 6 p.m.
USPS HOLIDAY MAILING DATES
From Guam to: First Class
/Priority
U.S. Mainland Dec. 14
Hawaii
Dec. 18
Saipan
Dec. 18
FSM, RMI, Palau Dec. 14
APOs and FPOs Dec. 8
International
Dec. 8
Express
Mail
Dec. 20
Dec. 21
Dec. 21
Dec. 19
Dec. 14
Dec. 14
Parcel
Post
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
HOLIDAY TRAVEL TIPS:
• Research your travel destination
• Plan accordingly with finances in mind
• Pack only what you need as airlines have
specific baggage allowances and will charge a
fee if weight is over their maximum.
• If off island for a long while, ask your
neighbors or a friend to look over your home,
pets and vehicle.
• Give away perishable food items that may
expire while you’re away.
Source: 36th Force Support Squadron, Information, Tickets and Travel
office
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
By Shaina Marie Santos
Joint Region Edge Staff
HOLIDAY DECORATION SAFETY TIPS:
l Keep trees securely upright in a stand to ensure that
it will not accidentally tip over or be knocked over by
children or pets.
l Keep your tree away from any and all heat sources.
This includes electrical outlets, radiators, and heaters.
l Make sure natural trees are well watered.
l If you have purchased an artificial tree, please make
sure it is labeled fire retardant.
l Unplug the tree lights before leaving your home or
before going to bed.
l Avoid using live candles (candles with a flame) on
windowsills and mantles
l Do not let pets or children chew on strands of lights
meant for the tree or home décor.
l Make sure the cords used for lights and other decorations are not frayed. If they are, it is time to get rid of
them. It is easier to buy a new strand of lights then to
try to restore your home after a fire.
l Do not run electrical wires under rugs.
l Make sure all candles are in sturdy holders that will
not tip over and are placed away from
furniture and other home accessories.
l Trim candle wicks to a one fourth-inch in height.
etween cleaning, cooking, decorating and
preparing for festivities
a number of things could
cause potential hazards,
highlighting the importance of maintaining safe habits during the holidays.
Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas Health
and Safety Manager Mellissa Cruz said
the busy, bustling holiday season
provides many reasons to remember safety.
“Safety is a broad
term, it can
cover fire safety,
food handling
safety and
also child
B
raw meat, poultry, fish and their juices
away from other food; always wash
knives, cutting boards with warm, soapy
water (and) wipe counter tops with your
preferred anti-bacterial surface cleaner
or solution.”
Grocery bags, toys, water and oil on
the floor can also play a role in causing
slips, trips and falls while unattended
utensils pose possible problems.
“Always keep your floors clear and
unobstructed,” Cruz suggests. “Knives
on the counter left unattended or not
properly placed back (can hurt) someone when passing by. Always keep sharp
objects and knives out of reach from
children.”
Cruz said overall, proper safety is crucial when planning for the holiday activities.
“Hazards are what cause injuries and
illnesses; it’s up to you to plan, identify ways to prevent these hazards and finally, monitor the environment to ensure injuries and illnesses are not part of
your holiday plan,” she said.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION:
l Nominate a designated driver at the beginning of
the night
l Don’t mix drinks
l Take a taxi, use public transportation or call a friend
to pick you up
l Arrange to stay overnight
Source: U.S. Naval Base Guam Safety Installation
Gobble, Gobble: Using proper utensils when dealing with food, like cutting
a turkey is one way to maintain safey this holiday season. U.S. Navy photo by
Shaina Marie Santos/Released
Keep financially balanced
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
By JoAnna Delfin
Joint Region Edge Staff
side from the long
lines, busy malls and
trying to figure out
what to get that special someone this time
of year, the last thing anyone wants to
worry about is overspending their
bank account.
Pilar Pangelinan, personal financial management specialist at the Fleet
and Family Support Center on U.S.
Naval Base Guam, said although people may feel inclined to purchase extravagant gifts they need to be aware
of the consequences of breaking
their budgets.
A
“Some people spend to feel good,
to make up for not giving something
equal to the value of what they received the year before,” she said.
“Everyone needs to have a financial
plan or budget for the holidays. Have
a limit of what you want to spend for
each person on your list.”
According to Pangelinan, most people tend to fall into the trap of writing
checks and swiping credit cards which
may hurt them when they receive their
billing statements.
“I hate to see people get in over
their heads over the holidays since it
will be something they may be paying for the next year,” she said. “Your
credit score is yours. The way people
have been handling their credit cards,
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Joint Region Edge - 2012 Holiday Guide Nov. 30, 2012
Safe habits promote
safety,” she said. “The
holidays are where most
people spend their time
preparing (and is) said
to be the leading day of
increased home fires.
Proper planning and supervision are just a few steps
to take to prevent a serious incident from
occurring during your celebration.”
Cruz points out a number of hazards
to avoid while cooking food, especially with children in the kitchen.
“Fire (occurs) due to unattended
cooking on (the) stove top or bad electrical equipment,” she said. “Burns, due
to no supervision when children are
around. Kids are curious and when they
hear sizzling and crackling sounds, they
will come and look and touch.”
To maintain food handling safety during preparation, Cruz suggests keeping
a clean workspace and offers strategies
to avoiding cross contamination.
“Always wash your hands before and
after handling food,” she said. “Keep
especially during the holidays, is they
tend to max them out for the instant
gratification it brings.”
Aside from having a budget for
every good person on your list, Pangelinan suggests getting creative with
gifts instead of spending for presents.
“Consider babysitting for friends,”
she said. “If you know someone
whose spouse is deployed help
them with their car or other necessities. (For me) I don’t cook so I really
appreciate someone feeding me and
my family.”
For more information about how
to manage your finances this holiday
season, call FFSC NBG at 333-2056
or the Airman and Family Readiness
Center on Andersen Air Force Base at
366-8136.
Christmas:
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Joint Region Edge - 2012 Holiday Guide Nov. 30, 2012
Joint Region Edge - 2012 Holiday Guide Nov. 30, 2012
4
CELEBRATING TRADITION
By Shaina Marie Santos
Joint Region Edge Staff
n Dec. 25 people in countries all
over the world will celebrate for
a single reason – the birth of Jesus Christ.
O
According to Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Ianucci,
U.S. Naval Base Guam chaplain, Christmas is
one of the most beautiful holidays for Christians, celebrating when God became human
through the birth of Jesus.
“For those who celebrate Christmas, Christmas means everything to them,” he said. “It is
when the birth of their savior was born. Faithful Christians know the meaning of Christmas
and they make every effort to celebrate it in
their faith communities.”
Ianucci added though Jesus was born on
Christmas, festivities on Christmas Eve are
just as important as Christmas day.
“Christmas Eve is very special for Christians and most of them go to church on Christmas Eve to celebrate together,” he said. “There
is much preparation that goes in decorating
your home and cooking.”
In preparation for the holiday, many people
put up Christmas trees and decorate their home.
Gifts are wrapped and are usually put under the
tree for exchanging and stockings are hung on
children’s bedposts or near a fireplace, in hopes
of having them filled overnight by the jolly
Christmas inspires
CULTURAL DESSERT
Morale, Welfare
and Recreation
Guam Food and
Beverage Director
Robert Walter said
c u l t u r a l
celebratory foods
bring
nostalgic
warmth and spirit to
the festivities.
leaf at an office
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Navy photo by Shain
moment or place or
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are particularly important during the holBy Shaina Marie Santos
idays because they can remind of happy
Joint Region Edge Staff
times around a table enjoying good food
and quality time with family and friends.”
uring the Christmas season
In the Philippines, a number of
a number of celebrations dishes take center stage during Christmas,
around the world take on but none are so unique and solidly
cultural elements that bring rooted during the festivities as bibingka
character to every celebra- (bih-BING-ka).
tion. One cultural component that varies in
Bibingka is a nostalgic treat for
many
Christmas
t r a d i t i o n s many Filipinos as it is served outside of
is food.
churches during the Christmas season and
D
particularly after the simbang gabi (simBUNG guh-BIH), or midnight mass on
Christmas Eve.
The dish is described as moist and mildly sweet, and can vary depending on the
type of flour it is cooked with and added
ingredients such as grated coconut, butter,
salted eggs or cheese.
“It’s basically six ingredients rice flour,
coconut milk, margarine, sugar, eggs and
salted duck eggs (and) it’s traditionally
cooked in a clay pot,” said local resident
Roel Yutuc.
To add a traditional Filipino flavor to
your Christmas, the bibingka is an easy
treat to make.
BIBINGKA RECIPE
Ingredients:
One cup of rice flour
One-eighth of a teaspoon of salt
Two and one-half of a teaspoon of baking
powder
Three tablespoons of butter
One cup of granulated sugar
One cup of coconut milk
One-fourth of a cup of fresh milk
One salted duck egg, sliced
One-half of a cup of grated cheese
Three raw eggs
Pre-cut banana leaf
First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees
Fahrenheit. Combine the rice flour, baking
powder and salt in a bowl and set aside.
Cream the butter and gradually add sugar while
whisking. Add the raw eggs and whisk until
every ingredient is well incorporated and gradually add the rice flour mixture. Pour in the
coconut milk and fresh milk, whisking for one to
two minutes.
Arrange the pre-cut banana leaf in a preferred
baking pan, pouring the mixture over the leaf.
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Take the pan
from the oven and top with the sliced, salted
eggs and grated cheese. Return the pan to the
oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the
top has turned a golden brown.
Remove from the oven and let cool. Brush with
butter and sprinkle with sugar and if desired,
grated coconut.
Above: A parol hangs at the Our Lady of Assumption Church
in Piti Guam Dec. 19, 2011. The parol is a traditional Filipino
Christmas ornament hung during the holiday season and can
be found in many island homes. Joint Region Edge file photo
Left: Lights sit on display on at the Guam Chamber of
Commerce’s 20th Annual Christmas Festival at Skinner Plaza in
Hagatna Nov. 24. The lights will stay on display from now
through Jan. 3 for all to enjoy. U.S. Navy photo by JoAnna
Delfin/Released
gift-giving Santa Clause. Caroling is also a tradition, as groups take to the
streets, filling the night with an atmosphere
of celebration.
On Guam, novenas or nobenas (nho-behNAHs) are held, which is a ritual that involves
nine consecutive evenings of prayer when a
different story related to Christmas is told
through prayer and song. Nativity scenes, or
belens (BEE-lehns), are also constructed and
depict the finding of the baby Jesus with the
Holy Family in a manger by the three
wise men.
Most Filipinos on island display the parol,
or star lantern, which is hung around homes
to represent the star of Bethlehem that
guided the three wise men in their search
of Jesus.
Other holiday traditions include attending
midnight Mass and Christmas Day Mass to
mark the occasion.
Though it may seem the festivities end on
Christmas, Ianucci said the season is not over
Dec. 25, but continues during the 12 days of
Christmas or the 12 days after Jesus’ birth.
“In the early church, Christmas was celebrated on Epiphany, which is Jan 6,” he said.
“Epiphany is when the three wise men visited the baby Jesus.”
Though the season celebrates a number of
miracles and religious faith, the real miracle
is in the spirit of the holiday, bringing families and communities together.
“People like to share their Christmas
with other family members or friends,”
Ianucci said. “It is a time to come together
and rejoice.”
Story of Christmas: Several different types of nativity scenes, or belens (BEE-lehns), sit on display at the
Christmas Village in Sinajana Nov. 25, 2011. Many local families have belens in their homes and conduct a
nine-day novena in preparation for Christmas. Joint Region Edge file photo
Island Spirit: Entertainers perform a traditional dance during the the Guam Chamber of Commerce’s
20th Annual Christmas Festival at Skinner Plaza in Hagatna Nov. 24. U.S. Navy photo by JoAnna Delfin/Released
Buñelos dågu:
TRADITIONAL LOCAL HOLIDAY TREAT
By JoAnna Delfin
Joint Region Edge Staff
he coconut trees are swaying, the ocean is still as
blue as the sky and the
temperature is still the
same. So how can you tell
that the holiday season is in full swing on
Guam?
One hint is the sweet smell of buñelos dågu (boo-NYE’-lus DAH’-goo).
This dessert is a traditional holiday
fritter made from local yam. The deepfried treat is typically served during November and December and can be found
on almost every Thanksgiving or Christmas table.
“Dågu is usually planted during these
months and is grown for about a year,”
said Roland Quitugua of the University
of Guam.
Preparation of the fritter is a tedious
process that includes pulling the yam
from the ground, cleaning and finely grating it. For those looking to prepare buñelos dågu, be very careful as the sap from
the yam can make a person’s hands very
T
itchy. Be sure to use latex gloves while
preparing the dish to avoid irritating your
skin.
“I remember when I was younger and
my dad would send me out to get dågu,”
recalled local resident Mark Acosta. “It
was a lot of hard work and our hands
would get really itchy when we grated the
dågu but it was worth it when he would
cook it and we’d eat it with sweet syrup.”
Most people on Guam opt to enjoy
the fritter with syrup as the doughnut itself is not sweet.
Acosta said because the doughnut is
prepared during this time of the year, it
reminds island residents that the holiday
season is here.
“Buñelos dågu is synonymous with
Christmas on Guam,” he said. “When I
was younger we’d always eat it during
Christmas so when you grow up with
those kinds of memories, it kind of sticks
with you as you get older. Now, when I
see buñelos dågu I know it’s time to shop
for Christmas gifts.”
Instead of leaving cookies for Santa
near the Christmas tree, give him a sweet
taste of Guam with this delicious treat.
BUNELOS DAGU
RECIPE
Ingredients
Two pounds of dågu
Two-thirds cup of sugar
One-and-a-half cups of
flour
Two-and-a-half cups of
water
Five cups of vegetable oil
Peel the dågu with a standard
vegetable peeler and grate
finely into a large mixing
bowl. For those with sensitive
skin, please be sure to wear
latex gloves as the sap of the
yam will cause itchiness.
Once your dågu is grated add
flour, water and sugar and
mix well. If your mixture
seems too watery, add more
flour as needed. The consistency should be similar to cake
batter though slightly more
solid.
Heat oil in a deep frying pan
Simply Delicious: Buñelos dågu (boo-NYE’-lus DAH’-goo), or yam
doughnuts, are a favorite Christmas season treat on Guam. This simple
snack signifies to many that the start of the holiday season has arrived.
The doughnuts are a simple mixture of flour, water, sugar and local
yams that can often be found growing wild in the jungles of Guam, at
local flea markets or at roadside fruit and vegetable stands. Buñelos
dågu are often dipped in warm syrup. Joint Region Edge file photo
for five minutes. Take a handful
of batter and squeeze portions
of it between your thumb and
index finger so the batter
comes out from the opposite
end of your hand. Portions
should resemble the size of a
golf ball.
Fry for 10-15 minutes or until
golden brown. Serve with
warm syrup.
Hanukkah: H
By Shaina Marie Santos
Joint Region Edge Staff
Joint Region Edge - 2012 Holiday Guide Nov. 30, 2012
6
CELEBRATING THE
LIGHT MIRACLE
anukkah, which is also
known as the festival of
lights, is celebrated by
Jewish people around
the world, in memory of
a gift of light they were
given after a long, difficult battle for
their faith.
“I think Hanukkah is important because it is a story of hope – it commemorates the rededication of the temple,
thousands of years ago,” said local resident Maureen Maratita. “We don’t celebrate Hanukkah at home as much as
we used to when our children were little; but there is usually a Jewish Community of Guam party.”
The story of Hanukkah begins with
the invasion and capture of Jerusalem by
King Antiochus of Syria. With his rule,
the Jewish people were not allowed to
practice their religion for more than three
years.
The oppression against the
peoples’ freedoms led to a
revolt by the Maccabees,
who gained a victory
over their dictator and
were able to restore
and rededicate
their temple.
L t . C m d r.
Thomas Ianucci,
U.S. Naval
Base Guam
chaplain, said
it was during
the restoration
of the peoples’
temple that the miracle of Hanukkah occurred.
“While they were purifying the temple, they found they only had one flask
of oil,” he said. “The oil from theflask
lasted eight days, until new oil was delivered. It is a miracle for the Jewish
people and they remember it each year.”
The oil was to light the menorah or
hanukkiah, a nine-branched candelabra
which is a symbol of God’s presence.
Though the oil to light the flask would
have lasted but a day under normal circumstances, the candles were lit for eight
days, which was roughly the amount of
time to prepare more oil.
“That’s why Hanukkah is known as
the Festival of Lights,” Maratita said.
“That’s why we celebrate lighting candles for the eight days of the holiday.”
According to Maratita, today’s
Hanukkah celebrations not only revolve
around the lighting a menorah.
“A tradition of the holiday is playing
with a dreidel, a usually wooden toy
shaped like a top with a square top to it
and Hebrew letters on the side,” she said.
“It’s actually a betting game, though the
stakes are usually items like candy.”
Traditional holiday foods served are
usually fried in oil, such as latkes or potato pancakes and sufganiyot or jamfilled donuts in remembrance of the
Hanukkah miracle
Ianucci said Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish peoples’ dedication to
religion.
“Hanukkah is a very beautiful celebration because it is remembering the rededication of the temple after Macabees’
victory and the Jewish people once again
being able to worship freely.”
Miracle of Lights: Yeoman Seaman Kevin Tucker, from Quaker Town,
Penn., lights the Menorah during the third day of Hanukkah while Lt.
Cmdr. Ryan Hayes, from San Diego, reads a Jewish scripture in the chapel
aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) Dec. 3, 2010.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A.
Cox/Released
Traditonal Latkes:
By Shaina Marie Santos
Joint Region Edge Staff
atkes are unlike many
other treats consumed
during the holidays in
that it is not so much a
seasonal food, but instead is one that celebrates the miracle
of Hanukkah. Also known as potato
pancakes, latkes are shallow-fried pancakes of grated potato, flour and egg
that are often flavored with onion or
garlic and seasoning.
According to Morale, Welfare and
Recreation Food and Beverage Director Robert Walter the significance of
Hanukkah dishes is in the use of oil,
which corresponds with the historical
miracle from which holiday became a
celebration.
“Hanukkah celebrates the miracle
of the oil that burned for eight days
when the Maccabees re-dedicated the
holy temple in Jerusalem after their
victory over the Syrian-Greeks,” he
said. “Fried foods like potato pancakes
and doughnuts are traditional
Hanukkah treats because they are
cooked in oil.”
To celebrate the miracle of
Hanukkah in your home or to add diversity to your table, latkes can make
an easy and delicious addition.
L
LATKES RECIPE
Yields 12 to 16 latkes
Ingredients:
One pound of potatoes
One large egg, lightly
beaten
One-half to three-fourths
of a cup of olive oil
One-half of a cup of finely
chopped onions
One-half of a teaspoon
of salt
Sour cream and applesauce
First, preheat your oven to
250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Peel your potatoes and
coarsely grate them by
hand, transferring them into
a large bowl of cold water
as you grate them. Soak the
potatoes for one to two
minutes after the last
batch is added to the water
before you drain them in
a colander.
Spread the grated potatoes
and onion on a kitchen
towel and roll them in the
towel like you would a jelly
roll to wring as much liquid
JEWISH DISH SURE TO PLEASE
out as possible. Transfer the
potato mixture to a bowl
and stir in the egg and salt.
Heat one-fourth of a cup of
oil in a 12-inch non-stick
skillet over moderately high
heat until hot, but not
smoking. Working in batches of four, spoon two tablespoons of the potato mixture per latke into the skillet, spreading them into
three-inch rounds with
a fork.
Reduce the heat to moderate and cook latkes until the
undersides are browned,
which should take about
five minutes. Turn them
over and cook until the
other side is browned,
which should take another
five minutes.
Transfer your latkes onto
paper towels to drain and
season them with salt. Add
more oil to the skillet if
needed to continue. To
keep your latkes warm, set
them on a wire rack in a
shallow baking pan in
the oven.
Photo courtesy of jewishjournal.com
7
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd
Class (SW) Corwin Colbert
Joint Region Edge Staff
wanzaa is an
African-American
and Pan-African
holiday which celebrates family,
community and
culture and is cele-
K
brated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
The holiday is derived from its origins
as the first harvest celebrations of Africa
from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza”
which means “first fruits” in Swahili, a
Pan-African language which is the most
widely spoken African language.
Kwanzaa it is not a religious holiday
but a cultural holiday practiced by
Africans and African descendants of all
religious faiths and countries who come
together based on the rich, ancient and
varied common ground of their
African roots.
HISTORY AND TRADITION
The first-fruits celebrations date as far
back as ancient Egypt and Nubia, and
appear in ancient and modern times in
other classical African civilizations such
as Ashantiland and Yorubaland.
The holiday is based on five fundamental concepts:
l A time of ingathering of the people
to reaffirm the bonds between them.
l A time of special reverence for the
creator and creation in thanks and respect
for the blessings, bountifulness and beauty of creation.
l A time for commemoration of the
past in pursuit of its lessons and in honor of its models of human excellence,
our ancestors.
l A time of
recommitment to
o u r
high-
est cultural ideals in our ongoing effort to
always bring forth the best of African cultural thought and practice.
l A time for celebration of the good,
the good of life and of existence itself, the
good of family, community and culture,
the good of the awesome and the ordinary,
in a word the good of the divine, natural
and social.
KWANZAA IN AMERICA
Kwanzaa was established in the U.S.
in 1966 in the midst of the black
freedom movement.
Maulana Karenga, professor of
Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach created the event.
She stressed the dire need to preserve,
rejuvenate and endorse African-American
culture.
Kwanzaa was also reintroduced in
America to familiarize and reinforce the
Nguzo Saba (the Seven Principles.)
These seven communitarian African
values are: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia
(self-determination), Ujima (Collective
work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).
During Kwanzaa, there are seven candles which sit in a candle holder. Each
night rituals are held to celebrate one of
the seven principles and include activities
such as a discussion of the African principle of the day, a candle-lighting ritual,
artistic ceremony and a feast.
Unique in the U.S. Kwanzaa develops
as a prosperous branch of the AfricanAmerican life and struggle as a re-erected and expansion of ancient tradition.
*Summarized from -- Maulana Karenga,
Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community
and Culture, 2008, Los Angeles: University of
Sankore Press (www.sankorepress.com)
www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org
Joint Region Edge - 2012 Holiday Guide Nov. 30, 2012
First-fruit celebration
Joint Region Edge - 2012 Holiday Guide Nov. 30, 2012
8
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