What is Boxing Day?

   LONDON (AP) - In Britain and other countries like Australia and Canada, the day after Christmas is a secular national holiday known as Boxing Day. Here's a brief look at some theories about how the holiday got its name and how people celebrate it:

   NO NEED FOR BOXING GLOVES

   While no one seems to know for sure how it came to be called Boxing Day, it definitely has nothing to do with the sport of boxing. Perhaps the most widely held understanding of its origins comes from the tradition of wealthier members of society giving servants and tradesmen a so-called Christmas Box containing money and gifts on the day after Christmas.

   It was seen as a reward for a year's worth of service. Other believe it comes from the post-Christmas custom of churches placing boxes outside their doors to collect money for distribution to less-fortunate members of society in need of Christmas cheer.

   Some trace it to Britain's proud naval tradition and the days when a sealed box of money was kept on board for lengthy voyages and then given to a priest for distribution to the poor if the voyage was successful.

   There are other explanations, but it's clear the designation has nothing to do with the modern habit of using the holiday for shopping at "big box" stores selling televisions, computers and the like.

   SHARING THE WEALTH, AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH

   No one knows for sure when Boxing Day started, but some believe it was centuries ago, when servants would be given the day after Christmas off as a day of rest after feverish preparations for their masters' celebrations.

   Others trace it back even earlier, to the Roman practice of collecting money in boxes - they say Roman invaders brought this practice to Britain, where it was taken up by the clergy to collect money in boxes for the disadvantaged.

   The tradition gained popularity during the Victorian era and has flourished to this day. The British Empire may now be a thing of the past, but Boxing Day is still celebrated in some other parts of the Commonwealth, including Canada, Australia and Kenya.

   SO IF THEY'RE NOT BOXING, WHAT DO PEOPLE ACTUALLY DO ON BOXING DAY?

   Boxing Day has evolved into a day of relaxation and indulgence - and shopping. It is filled with sporting events (including a marathon soccer schedule tailor-made for TV viewing from a comfortable couch) and it is often a day when people open their homes to family and friends who drop by for turkey, ham and perhaps half-consumed bottles of wine left over from Christmas dinner.

   In Britain it used to be a day for fox hunting in the frost-tinged countryside, but that practice has been mostly banned for more than a decade now. In its place, "Boxing Day Sales" have flourished, with many Britons lifted from their post-Christmas torpor by the lure of low prices in department stores.

Namna na Kuepuka Matumizi Makubwa ya Fedha Kiindi cha Sikukuu

Na Jumia Travel Tanzania

Kwa kawaida kipindi cha sikukuu ni wakati ambao watu wengi huwa na matumizi makubwa ya fedha kwa ajili ya kusherehekea pamoja na wapendwa wao, famila, jamaa na marafiki.

Jumia Travel (www.travel.jumia.com) ingependa kukushauri kwamba ni vema ukawa na mpango madhubuti unaoeleweka wa namna gani pesa yako itakavyotumika ili pindi mwaka mpya utakapoingia uwe mwenye furaha na sio huzuni.

Tenga Bajeti Mapema

Kuna namna nyingi za kutenga bajeti kwa ajili ya matumizi yako kama vile manunuzi ya zawadi kwa watoto, wazazi, kutoa msaada pengine na mengineyo ndani ya nyumba. Endapo utapanga mapema itakusaidia sana kujua utahitajika kutumia kiasi gani kipindi hiki badala ya kukurupuka sikukuu zinapowadia.

Fuatilia Mwenendo wa Matumizi Yako

Kutenga bajeti pekee tu haitoshi bila ya kuwa na mbinu sahihi ya kufuatilia mwenendo mzima wa jinsi pesa inavyotumika. Tenga pembeni bajeti ya sikukuu kwa kufungua akaunti ya benki ili isiingiliane na ya matumizi ya kawaida. Unaweza kutumia mbinu mbalimbali kuhakikisha unafanikiwa katika hili, kwa mfano kuwa na programu ya simu, ambayo utakuwa unaweza kufuatilia kwa ukaribu mwenendo wa matumizi na kiasi cha pesa kilichobaki popote na muda wowote ulipo.

Punguza Matumizi Yasiyokuwa na Tija

Unaweza kuepuka au kupunguza matumizi ambayo si ya lazima ndani ya kipindi hiki ili kufidia gharama kwenye vitu vingine. Kwa mfano, kama ulikuwa na mazoea ya kwenda na familia yako kwenye hoteli ya kifahari kwa ajili ya mapumziko kila wikendi pengine gharama yake ni TSHS 100,000/- kwa wiki ambayo ni sawa na TSHS 400,000/- kwa mwezi, unaweza kuacha kwa mwezi huu ili kuitumia kwa mambo mengine.

Pendekeza Utaratibu wa Kununuliana Zawadi kwa Siri

Kwa bahati mbaya familia nyingi za kiafrika sio wenyeji wa utamaduni huu wa kununuliana zawadi kwa siri au ‘Secret Santa’ kama inavyojulikana kwa lugha ya Kiingereza.  Mbinu hii ina manufaa makubwa sana kama utataka kuepuka gharama kubwa za kumnunulia zawadi kila mwanafamilia, kwa mfano, pengine una baba, mama, kaka, dada, binamu, wajomba na mashangazi unaweza ukautambulisha utaratibu wa kila mtu kumnunulia zawadi mwenzio kwa siri na kumkabidhi siku ya sikukuu. Nadhani inaweza kuleta msisimko zaidi na kila mtu akafurahia.

Epuka Mila Zitakazo Kugharimu

Kuna baadhi ya makabila bado yana taratibu ambao huwalazimu wanakoo kukutana kwa pamoja ifikapo kila mwisho wa mwaka. Watu hulazimika kusafiri na kutumia gharama kubwa kwa karamu ambazo huandaliwa na kujikuta mwaka unaanza wakiwa hawana fedha za kutosha. Unaweza kuepuka hayo yote kwa kufanya vitu vya kawaida ambavyo familia yako itavifurahia na kuvipenda.

Kuwa Mwangalifu na Ofa za Mauzo

Inabidi kuwa makini sana na ofa zinazotolewa na wauzaji wa bidhaa mbalimbali ndani ya kipindi hiki cha sikukuu. Wafanyabiashara ni werevu sana kwani hutumia mbinu mbalimbali za kuuza bidhaa zao kwa kuweka mabango makubwa ya ‘Ofa Ofa!’ huku bei ikiwa ni ileile sawa na siku za kawaida. Kuepuka hili unapaswa kufanya tafiti mapema kwa kutembelea maduka au mitandao ili kujua kama ni kweli kuna unafuu kwenye hizo bei zinazotangazwa.

Jitahidi Kutokuzidisha Manunuzi Yako

Kutokana na ofa kemkem ndani ya kipindi hiki cha sikukuu wateja wengi hujikuta njia panda kwa kushindwa kujizuia kuzidisha manunuzi wanayoyafanya. Inashauriwa kuwa na orodha pamoja na bajeti ya vitu unavyotaka kwenda kuvinunua ili pindi umalizapo usizidishe kwa kutamani vingine. Kama ikiwezakana fanya manunuzi mapema kabla ya sikukuu yenyewe ambapo kutokana na punguzo kubwa la bei ukajikuta unataka kununua kila bidhaa.

Mwisho kabisa Jumia Travel (www.travel.jumia.com) 
inakukumbusha kufanya tathmini ya pesa na matumizi uliyoyafanya ili kujua kama ulikuwa ndani ya bajeti kama ulivyojipangia au la. Kwa kufanya hivyo, utakuwa na mkakati mzuri wa kuanza mwaka mpya bila ya msongo wa mawazo.

Heri ya Iddi!

Nawatakia wadau wote waIslamu Iddi Njema! Eid Mubarak!

Rais Atangaza siku ya Januari 13, 2014 Siku ya Mapumziko

TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI

Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Mheshimiwa Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete ametangaza kuwa kesho, Jumatatu, Januari 13, 2014, itakuwa ni Siku ya Mapumziko (Public Holiday) kwa Watanzania wote kusheherekea miaka 50 ya Mapinduzi Matukufu ya Zanzibar.

Rais Kikwete ameutangaza uamuzi huo mjini Zanzibar ambako leo ameungana na Watanzania na Wazanzibari wote kusheherekea miaka 50 ya Mapinduzi Matukufu ya Zanzibar ya Januari 12, mwaka 1964.

Mapinduzi hayo yaliyoongozwa na mwasisi wa Zanzibar na Taifa la Tanzania, Hayati Abeid Amaan Karume yalifanikiwa kuung’oa madarakani utawala dhalimu wa Sultan na kuwawezesha kwa mara ya kwanza katika historia Waafrika walio wengine kujitawala ndani ya nchi yao wenyewe.

Yalikuwa ni Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar yaliyofungua njia ya kuzaliwa kwa Muungano wa Tanganyika na Zanzibar – miezi mitatu baada ya Mapinduzi hayo – Aprili 26, 1964.     

Naye Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi Mheshimiwa Ali Mohamed Shein ametangaza kuwa kesho itakuwa Siku ya Mapumziko Tanzania Visiwani kusheherekea miaka 50 ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar.

Rais Shein alitangaza mapumziko hayo wakati alipohutubia wananchi kwenye Uwanja wa Michezo wa Amaan mjini Zanzibar katika kusherehekea miaka 50 ya Mapinduzi.

Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Mheshimiwa Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete ametangaza kuwa kesho, Jumatatu, Januari 13, 2014, itakuwa ni Siku ya Mapumziko (Public Holiday) kwa Watanzania wote kusheherekea miaka 50 ya Mapinduzi Matukufu ya Zanzibar.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nawatakia wadua wote, sikukuu njema ya Thanksgiving. Yaani siku ya shukurani.  Thanksgiving ni sikukuu kubwa hapa Marekani, biashara, mabeni zinafungwa ili watu waweze kuwa na familia zao.

HAPPY THANKGIVING 2012!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is the one holiday in the United States which is about family. Stores close early, the highways, airports, bus terminals, train stations etc. are packed with travelers going to see their loved ones. Everyone celebrates regardless or race or religion.  Ni siku ya shukrani hasa!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Warning Message from the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam

Security Notice November 2010

Date: Monday, November 29, 2010, 2:27 AM

The U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam would like to remind American citizens
that we often note an increase in crime during the holiday season and we
believe this to be the case this year.

In our most serious incident so far, an American citizen was robbed last
week while she was walking on Ocean Road in Dar es Salaam near the ferry
just before noon. She was forced into a vehicle under threat of
violence. The victim complied with the robbers' demands and was held
for some time before eventually being released without injury.

The Embassy urges you in the strongest possible terms to exercise good
personal security practices. Specifically:

- Be exceptionally aware of your surroundings, especially if
you are out walking alone. Walk in groups whenever possible and do not
walk after dark.

- Don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself by your actions
or by carrying valuables.

- Lock all doors - especially at night.

- Be sure your cell phones, and telephones are readily
available and in good working order.

- Use your alarm system. Make sure the members of your
household know where the alarm panic buttons are and how to use them.

- Be especially cautious while driving as there will be a
greater number of drunk drivers on the road during holiday season. Do
not drink and drive.

- Please be sure that your most recent contact information is
updated on our registry.

Please review your security practices and maintain a high level of
vigilance over the coming weeks.

American citizens living or traveling in Tanzania are encouraged to
register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's smart
traveler enrollment program, to obtain updated information on travel and
security within Tanzania. Citizens without Internet access may register
directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy. By registering, American
citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of
emergency. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania can be
contacted by telephone at [255] (22) 266-8001 x 4122 and fax at [255]
(22) 266-8238. You may also contact the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania via
email at drsacs@state.gov. For after hours emergencies, U.S. citizens
should call [255] (22) 266-8001.

U.S. citizens may also call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in
the United States for the latest travel information. The Office of
Overseas Citizens Services can be reached from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday, by calling 1-888-407-4747
from within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling (202) 501-4444 from other
countries.

Kesho ni Sikukuu Kenya

Huko Kenya kesho ni sikukuu. Rais Mwai Kibaki wa Kenya ametangaza kuwa siku ya Alhamisi itakuwa sikukuu ya kusherekea ushindi wa mwana wa Kenya, Barack Obama. Kwa kweli waafrika tujivunie! Tushanglie ushindi wa Barack Obama!

Bibi yake Obama, Sarah Obama, anashangalia kwa kucheza kuko Kogelo. Nadhani hakujua kuwa mjukuu wake atakuwa rais wa Marekani.

Kwa habari zaidi someni:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/3385610/Kenya-declares-national-holiday-in-celebration-of-Barack-Obamas-presidential-victory.html

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/11/kenya-declares.html

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=99737