December marks the beginning of the holiday season not just in North America but also in many different parts of the world. Across diverse countries and cultures, a variety of winter holidays are celebrated this month. Whether you are in Toronto or Tennessee, Hong Kong or Hamburg, the holidays described below provide festive reason to travel during the winter months!

Christmas

This holiday, celebrated by billions around the world, is a religious and cultural holiday commemorating the birth of Christ. Common celebrations that are well known in the US include exchanging gifts, playing Christmas music, decorating a Christmas tree, and enjoying a special meal. However, many other nations honor this holiday in unique and unexpected ways. For example, you can travel to the Philippines to experience the longest Christmas celebration in the world; festivities begin in this nation in September and include placing a star shaped lantern, called a farol, in all windows as a reflection of the Star of Bethlehem. If you are seeking a warm destination for Christmas, consider a trip to Australia, as Christmas falls in the middle of the summer in the Southern Hemisphere! You can celebrate the day on the beach with about 40,000 Australians on Bondi Beach in Sydney. Alternatively, if you prefer a more traditional, white Christmas, take a trip to Finland where this holiday is taken so seriously that a Declaration of Christmas Peace is read every Christmas Eve at noon (and has been since the 13th century) in the Southern parts of the country. The declaration notes that any behavior that challenges the holiday spirit “shall under aggravating circumstances be guilty and punished according to what the law and statutes prescribe for each and every offense separately.” So, enjoy your celebrations, but be sure not to get out of line!

Hanukkah

This eight-day Jewish holiday commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem two-hundred years before the birth of Christ. Also known as the “Festival of Lights” or “Feast of Dedication,” this holiday is observed by the lighting of candles or other lights of the menorah, a unique candelabrum.

Each night for the full eight nights a candle or candles is lit (the same number as the day). Many menorah have a spot for an additional candle for the purpose of illumination while the other eight are to be used exclusively for remembering the story of the temple in which a one day supply of oil miraculously lasted for eight days.

For unique Hanukkah celebrations, consider a trip to Alsace, France, to see double-decker menorahs with space for 16 lights that were created to allow fathers and sons to join together as they each light their own lights in one single menorah. For a tasty treat, travel to Santa Marta, Colombia, to enjoy patacones, or fried plantains, instead of the traditional potato latkes.

Kwanzaa

Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1965 as a week long celebration held in the US and other nations of the Americas that would be uniquely African and give an opportunity for unity and reflection on African culture and heritage. The holiday celebrates seven principles of the Kawaida, a Swahili term for tradition and reason. These are: unity, self-determination, faith, creativity, purpose, collective work and responsibility, and cooperative economics.

Families will often decorate their homes with art, colorful cloths and fresh fruit to represent African idealism. It is customary for children to show respect and gratitude to family members and ancestors during ceremonies. Food and drink is usually shared, and, generally, individuals will drink from a common cup that is passed from one to another. Ceremonies include drumming and musical selections, libations, and selected readings.

Kwanzaa is a non-denominational holiday which is celebrated by individuals of varying faiths as it focuses on remembering African history and culture. A notable celebration is held at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in New York City that features interpretive dance and African dance, song, and poetry.

Dongzhi Festival

Literally meaning “the extreme of Winter,” this holiday celebrates the beginning of longer days and thereby increased positive energy from having more light. Dongzhi is celebrated in China and some other parts of Asia.

Traditionally, it is a time for families to reunite, and one activity that commonly happens during these reunions is the making and eating of tangyuan, or balls of glutinous rice. These balls are fairly similar to songpyeon used in the Korean thanksgiving festival of Chuseok. Consider a trip to China during the winter to taste this culinary delight!

Bodhi Day

This day commemorates the day on which the Buddha experienced enlightenment. Celebrated throughout Asia, tradition states that Siddartha Guatauma (the Buddha’s name before he achieved enlightenment) had resolved to sit under a peepal tree and simply mediate until he found the root of suffering and how to liberate oneself from it.

Services and traditions vary amongst Buddhist sects, but all commemorate the Buddha’s achievement of Nirvana and what this means for us today. Many choose to use the day to study Dharma, meditate, or act kindly to one another. Some sects will stay up the entire night practicing meditation as well as sesshin (a Japanese word for intense mediation or gathering of the mind). If you prefer a meditative end to the year, consider a trip to China, Korea, Japan, or Vietnam to celebrate this holiday.

What holiday traditions do you have? Comment below or leave a message on our Facebook page and let us know.

Traveling overseas for a mission trip is sure to be a fun and fulfilling experience. Whether you are sharing your faith or simply helping an afflicted area, there is a lot to be learned and gained from volunteer travel. Trips like this, however, whether they are for a few days or a few years, bring with them perils that most travelers will never have to deal with. These additional risks mean you will need to be extra prepared. Here are handy tips that will help make your mission trip a success:

1. Be careful of what you drink

Having safe drinking water is key. Although soda is typically a safe bet too, sugary, caffeinated drinks can make you feel sluggish after the initial energy boost subsides, so water is the best way to stay hydrated. Pack a water purification kit so that you do not have to rely on the availability of bottled water.

2. Be physically and emotionally prepared

Any kind of mission travel involves hard work, be it physical or emotional. Exercise daily, eat well, and do everything you can to be physically and mentally prepared for what is to come when you are overseas. You are likely to see poverty that far exceeds anything you have seen in the US, so make sure you have a good support system in place for emotionally challenging experiences.

3. Learn the language

Try to find out about local customs and learn useful phrases if the people speak a different language. In fact, knowing the local language is almost indispensable if you are a missionary staying in country for a long period of time. Being able to communicate will immediately let the locals know that you care about them and the work you are doing. This knowledge will also help keep you out of trouble.

Remember, however, that different words can have very different meanings in various areas. Even if you know the local language fairly well, you’re probably going to make a few mistakes along the way. For example, a common nickname for Ruth in Colombia is an extremely offensive name for a woman in Peru! Most times, people are willing to forgive these mistakes, but having a humble attitude will surely help.

4. Remember to take care of yourself

If you are feeling sick or have an ache that is not going away, allow yourself time to rest and recover. If you don’t take the time to rest, a small injury will never be able to heal and can quickly turn into something much more serious. Although you are doing important work, it is crucial to take time out to address “small” issues as they arise so that you will be able to do more in the long run.

5. Carry a backpack

As a missionary, you are living simply and likely do not need to carry all that much with you on a daily basis, but going without a bag isn’t always the best option. Taking a backpack will allow you to carry crucial supplies like extra water, food, books, pamphlets, and a small first aid kit. Any number of things can fit in a backpack, and all of them can help in your mission.

6. Dress properly

Make sure you dress according to cultural norms and as is most proper for the everyday issues you will face. If you are going to a rainy or wet region, then wear a waterproof jacket or shirts that dry easily. In some areas, there can be extreme temperature differences between night and day, so remember to dress in layers. As you peel the layers off during the day, you can store the additional items in your backpack.

7. Be prepared for unpleasant situations

Unpleasant occurrences are simply a part of the missionary experience, so prepare yourself to face these situations in advance. First, it is very likely you may get a nasty stomach bug that results in vomiting or traveler’s diarrhea. Prepare yourself by packing antibiotics and oral rehydration salts. Also, since you are likely to be in more rural or impoverished regions, the chances you will be bitten by a dog increase. Be sure to talk to your travel health specialist about the Rabies pre-exposure vaccine for added peace of mind overseas.

8. Enjoy your trip

Certainly, your mission trip is going to involve awful days full of shocking experiences, but you are also certain to experience some of the best and most rewarding days of your life. Enjoy your trip, and always look on the bright side of any situation.

For more information on traveling tailored to Mission Groups, contact a Passport Health travel specialist via our website or by phone at 1-888-499-PASS (7277).

A new report shows there has been a sharp decline in Hepatitis A cases in recent years throughout the United States.

An analysis of federal data found that hospitalization rates from this disease have fallen from 7.2 to 2.9 patients per million admitted to hospitals from 2002 to 2011. Hepatitis A cases have fallen by almost 90% over the past 20 years, a major step forward in the fight against the potentially deadly liver disease.

The study was inconclusive on whether this decline was due to increased precautions in restaurants and other public places (where hepatitis A is commonly contracted) or due to the over 70% vaccination rate for Hepatitis A among children, but it is logical that both reasons were likely contributing factors. Another key indicator that may have played a role in the decline of Hepatitis A cases is the increased vaccination rates among travelers to countries where the disease remains endemic.

“Hepatitis A vaccination is very important for everyone, especially travelers to high risk countries,” says Melanie Kohr, Vice-President of Clinic Operations for Passport Health. “Travel trends are on the rise, and, if more people are vaccinated against this potentially deadly disease, then the likelihood of spreading it when a traveler returns greatly declines. This can play a critical role in national health in the long term and for the health of close family members, no matter the situation.”

Hepatitis A is an acute liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It does not lead to chronic infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It is transmitted by the ingestion of contaminated food, fecal matter, or close person-to-person contact. The CDC estimates that more than 2,000 new cases happen every year and suggests vaccination for all children starting at age 1 year as well as travelers to certain high risk countries.

What other factors could play a role in this decline in hepatitis A infections? Please tell us your thoughts in a comment below.

Passport Health and the innovative ride-sharing service Uber have teamed up yet again to bring flu vaccine to UberHEALTH users free of charge – this time in Chicago. Protein Sciences Corporation, maker of the revolutionary flu vaccine – a latex-free, egg-free, and preservative-free flu vaccine – generously provided the vaccine for today’s event.

“When we heard about UberHEALTH, we knew this was a fresh approach to public health, and we wanted to play a role,” said Manon Cox, President and CEO of Protein Sciences Corporation. “We are thrilled to be able to take part in this creative partnership and bring flu vaccine to Uber users in Chicago.”

The vaccine is an exciting, new class of flu vaccine that is highly pure; it contains no egg protein, gelatin, thimerosal, latex, or influenza virus; and is manufactured in the United States using DNA and cell culture technology.

Like the first UberHEALTH events that took place last month in Boston and Washington, DC, Uber drivers will pair with registered Passport Health nurses to deliver no-cost flu vaccines and flu-prevention kits to UberHEALTH users in Chicago. The event runs today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST.

As flu season ramps up, finding ways to increase access to flu immunizations is a priority not just for Passport Health, but for public health advocates everywhere. The total economic impact of the flu is over $10 billion annually, the result of some 62 million flu cases and 226,000 hospitalizations in the United States each year.

Despite that, fewer than 40 percent of adults 18-64 years of age get their annual flu shot. In Illinois, just 35.7 percent of adults in that age range take the CDC’s recommendation to receive their yearly influenza immunization.

With fewer Americans seeking flu vaccines in a traditional setting, Passport Health knows that innovation is key to improving vaccination rates. That’s why Passport Health is excited to once again be working with UberHEALTH to bring flu prevention kits and flu vaccines directly to users.

For 20 years, Passport Health has provided its clients with protection against vaccine-preventable diseases, including the flu. This year, Passport Health launched FluFree.com, a website designed to address the growing gap between the need for vaccination and the number of people who actually chose to get vaccinated.

“People know they need to get their flu shot, but sometimes life gets in the way of taking care of your health,” said Fran Lessans, RN, MS, Founder, President and CEO of Passport Health. “That’s where partnerships like this one make such an impact. It’s hard to say no to a flu shot on demand!”

For more information on influenza, flu vaccines and flu safety, visit FluFree.com, or contact a Passport Health immunization specialist at 1-844-FLU-FREE.

A new study found that military personnel who were taught to give themselves nasal spray flu vaccinations had the same level of immunity as those who were given the vaccine by health professionals.

This is a huge step forward for MedImmune’s nasal spray vaccine, which is the preferred method of vaccination for most healthy kids aged two to eight years. However, don’t expect to be giving it to your own child anytime soon. The nasal spray may be (relatively) easy to administer, but there are still some risk factors involved.

“It’s a very interesting concept and I can definitely see some benefits” says Dr. Jonathan Temte who heads a panel that advises the CDC on vaccine policy. “Before anyone could endorse this in children, one would have to have an appropriately designed study that shows equal efficacy, equal safety, and then the acceptability.”

In this case, safety is key. Self-vaccination with nasal flu vaccine isn’t as easy as it sounds, and vaccinating children is more of a science than simply spraying something up their noses. While everyone over six months old should get a flu shot, according to the CDC, special vaccination guidelines apply to children when they receive their first vaccination, and medical history should always be reviewed before a vaccine is administered.

The nasal vaccine is also a little trickier to apply than a nasal spray you might be accustomed to using for allergies, for example. Health workers that administer the vaccine need to be sure that it has fully entered the nose and that children, and parents too, don’t squirt it out of their nose.

Whether self-vaccination will become something more common in the future is unknown due to regulatory guidelines and a lack of testing, and, as Dr. Temte put it, we are still a long way from anything definitive. However, the topic is certainly an interesting one.

So, we want to hear from you! Would you vaccinate yourself, or would you prefer the help of a professional? Feel free to leave a comment below and let us know what you would choose to do!