Friday 28 December 2018


9 New Year's Eve traditions around the world

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Hoping for love, luck or money in the new year? Make sure your wishes come true by following these simple, sometimes bizarre, traditions from around the world.


1. Wear polka dots, The Philippines

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
Dress in polka dots to guarantee wealth in the coming year. In the Philippines roundness is thought to signify prosperity, so on New Year's Eve locals surround themselves with round shapes, by wearing polka dots, filling their pockets with coins or by eating circular fruits. Stock up on oranges and dress up in dots if wealth is your new year wish.

2. Throw furniture from your window, Italy

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
Toss your old possessions out of the window to symbolise your readiness to accept the new year and all that comes with it. In Naples people have been known to throw items ranging from old toasters to retired fridges from their balconies.

Tossing potentially harmful belongings probably isn't the wisest idea, and is unlikely to bring you much luck, so keep to small, soft items. If you plan on walking around after midnight be sure to keep an eye out for falling objects.


3. Celebrate at a cemetery, Chile

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
Welcome the new year in the company of your deceased family members in your local cemetery. This tradition isn't so much for luck, as it is the chance to be reunited with lost loved ones.

This 15-year old Chilean tradition began when a family in the small town of Talca, jumped the cemetery fence to spend the New Year near their father's grave. Now over 5,000 people head to the local cemetery every year, ambient with dim lights and classical music, where they believe their deceased relatives await them.

4. Place mistletoe under your pillow, Ireland


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
Looking for romance in the new year? Place mistletoe leaves under your pillow before you go to sleep on New Year's Eve to give you luck in love in the coming year.
In Ireland those that are single place sprigs of mistletoe, holly or ivy under their pillows with the hope they'll find their future wife or husband.

5. Burn an effigy, Ecuador

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
As midnight approaches on New Year's Eve gather your family outside your home, and set light to a scarecrow. To many the act of burning an effigy might symbolise anger, frustration or dark magic, but in Ecuador it is believed to destroy all the bad things that took place over the past 12 months, and to scare away any negative energies, bringing only luck and happiness for the new year. Each family builds their own scarecrow, stuffing it with newspaper and pieces of wood, before burning it outside their homes. 

6. Invite a handsome man into your home, Scotland

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
To ensure the best luck for the coming year, make sure the first person to set foot into your home in 2019 is tall, dark and handsome.

In Scotland, this age-old tradition of 'first-footing' suggests the first person to enter your home in the new year, determines the luck for that household over the next 12 months. Tall, dark and handsome men are considered the luckiest – and it's an extra bonus if they come bearing the gift of whiskey.


7. Break a plate, Denmark

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
If you're thinking about getting rid of those chipped old plates and porcelain sitting in your kitchen cupboard, set them aside and save them for the new year. When the big night arrives throw your saved up kitchenware at your friend's and neighbour's doors.

In Denmark it is believed that the more broken dishes you find outside your door in the morning, the more friends and luck you will have in the new year. Now-a-days, this tradition is rarely practised, but why not have some smashing fun?

8. Give an offering to the Goddess of the Sea, Brazil

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
Throw white flowers into the ocean's foaming waves as an offering to the Goddess of the Sea, Yemanja. Every year thousands of Brazilians carry out this custom, hoping that she will grant their wishes for the coming year. Other offerings can include objects of female vanity, such as perfume, jewellery, combs or lipstick, often sent out in small wooden boats. 

9. Eat 12 grapes at midnight, Spain

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
Eat one grape in time with each chime of the clock, to secure 12 months of happiness in 2019. The origins of this Spanish tradition date back to 1909, when there was a huge grape harvest and the King decided to give the surplus to the people to consume on New Year's Eve. It is now believed that whoever can finish the 12 grapes before the chimes end will be rewarded with luck and happiness in the coming year. 

Some of these traditions date back hundreds of years, and may not still be widely practised. But why not have a bit of fun this new year... smash some plates, eat some grapes, wear polka dots and drink whiskey with a tall handsome man.

Happy New Year from Carmen Leal Real Estate!


We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite New Year Tradition? Please share with us in the comment below or on my social media.


Are you interested in selling or buying your home in the next few months? Work with award winning realtor, Carmen Leal and her team that specialize in Real Estate Vancouver and have qualified Buyers that are looking for a home in your area! 604.218.4846 & www.carmenleal.ca  

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
                                                                 This communication is not intended to induce breach of existing listing agreement.
30 Interesting New Year Facts

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

We celebrated Christmas and then we celebrate New Yea. A lot of enthusiasm, a lot of fun, hell lot of resolutions… barrel full of booze, plates full of delicacies. It is one of the most happening times of the whole year and we kinda sit and wait patiently for the time to come. But! Did you ever try to know where this New Year concept originated from? What are the different New Year customs followed all over the world? If not, here is a list of 30 interesting New Year facts that you will really enjoy:


Interesting New Year Facts: 1-10

1. New Year celebrations are not new. The concept actually dates back to 2000 BC. The Mesopotamians used to celebrate New Year!

2. 1st January as New Year was never a standard practice. Romans for instance celebrated March 1 as New Year. Some other cultures went for winter solstice or summer equinox.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
3. The Roman Catholic Church was the one to adopt 1st January as New Year. Well, 1st January as New Year was marked by Georgian Calendar.

4. 1st January was accepted as New Year in 46 BC by Julius Caesar. England and the American colonies of England adopted the date long time later in 1752.

5. The month of January derives its name from a two-faced God named Janus. Janus’ one face looked forward while the other looked backward.

6. New Year is usually considered to be the best time for making resolutions. Resolutions usually mean people want to give up some bad habits and pick up some good habits but resolutions may not necessarily be about habits.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
7. New Year gifts also date back to ancient times when the Persians used to gift eggs symbolizing productivity.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
8. Whatever New Year traditions we speak of are actually meant for bringing good luck. For instance, eating black-eyed peas on the day of New Year is believed to bring good luck in several parts of the United States.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
9. Speaking of traditions, we cannot miss out on the Estonian practice of eating 7, 9 or 12 meals on the eve of New Year. They believe that eating that many meals will give them the strength of that many people in the year that follows.

10. Finnish people have a weird tradition which goes by the name molybdomancy. This is all about telling fortunes. A small amount of led is melted in a small pan using a small stove. The melted metal is then thrown into a bowl full of cold water. The liquid metal solidifies and the resulting shape of the solid metal is then analyzed in candle light to tell the fortune of a person in the coming year.


Interesting New Year Facts: 11-20

11. People of Denmark practice throwing dishes at the doorsteps of other people. This is believed to bring many new friends to the person on whose doorsteps the dishes are thrown.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
12. Denmark also has a custom of making an evening meal ending with Kransekage. This is actually the name of a dessert which is actually a cone-shaped cake with a steep slope. The cake is then decorated with flags and firecrackers.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
13. Spanish tradition is to eat 12 grapes at midnight of 31st December. While eating these grapes, Spaniards will make wishes. This tradition is believed to bring good luck for those who practice it. This grape eating tradition started back in 1895.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
14. Then we have Japan where the bells in Buddhist Temples are rung 108 times. They do this to welcome the God of New Year known as Toshigami.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
15. Talk of Greek traditions and you will find kremmida or onions hanging on their doors. They hang the onions on their doors on New Year’s Eve wishing their children’s goodwill.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
16. Greeks also have the tradition of breaking pomegranates right at their doorsteps. This tradition is believed to bring good luck and prosperity.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
17. New Year’s Eve has a special name in Belgium. It is known as Sint Sylvester Vooranvond. People in this country toast with customary champagne and children write letters to godparents or parents on the day of New Year.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
18. New Year is celebrated by several special foods in different countries. For example, in Southern US, Ireland, Germany and Italy leafy greens and legumes are associated with financial fortune.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
19. Japanese eat long noodles on New Year. Long noodles signify long life.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
20. In Portugal, Hungary, Austria and Cuba, pork is a standard New Year food and it signifies prosperity and progress.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Interesting New Year Facts: 21-30

21. Greece, Mexico and Netherlands go for ring-shaped pastries and cakes which signify that the year has come to a full circle.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
22. For ancient Greeks, flooding of Nile every year marked the beginning of New Year.

23. By popping open a bubbly bottle is how many people celebrate the New Year. In America alone, during the holiday season, 360 million glasses of sparkling wine are consumed every year.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
24. The most common New Year resolutions include ‘quit smoking’, ‘lose weight’, ‘stay healthy and fit’, ‘save more money’ and ‘get (more) organized’.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
25. Most English speakers traditionally sing the song ‘Auld Lang Syne’. It is actually a very old song from Scotland and was first published in 1796 poet Robert Burns in the book titled Scots Musical Museum. The literal translation of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is ‘old long since’ and actually means ‘times gone by’.

26. The Dutch people launch fireworks and burn Christmas tree bonfires on street during the New Year Eve. The reason they do this is that burning Christmas tree bonfires signify purging of the old and launching fireworks refer to welcoming the new.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
27. As far as United States is concerned, the most popular tradition is that of dropping the New Year Ball in New York City’s Times Square exactly at 11:59 PM. The ball goes through a minute-long descent and hits the ground at the stroke of midnight.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
28. The dropping of the New Year Ball is actually pretty new tradition that started only in 1907. Though currently the ball is made of Waterford Crystal, it was originally made of wood and iron.

29. America has another pretty popular New Year tradition, which is known as the Rose Bowl. The tradition started back in 1890 featuring the Rose Parade is California’s Pasadena. The parade features floats festooned with eighteen (18) million flowers.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
30. In Australia’s Sydney Harbour, the shoreline stretching 40 miles is crowded by more than a million people just for watching the fireworks show.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

We would love to hear from you! What is your New Year celebration? Please share with us in the comment below or on my social media.


Are you interested in selling or buying your home in the next few months? Work with award winning realtor, Carmen Leal and her team that specialize in Real Estate Vancouver and have qualified Buyers that are looking for a home in your area! 604.218.4846 & www.carmenleal.ca

                                                                This communication is not intended to induce breach of existing listing agreement.

Thursday 27 December 2018

Colour Forecast 2019

While we might have had a slightly wetter and more humid start to spring than expected, there’s no denying that a fresh season is upon us as the flowers come out in bloom.

If you’re considering giving your home a lick of fresh paint just in time for summer, then you’ve come to the right place, as Dulux has released its colour trends for 2019, and we’ve got the inside scoop on which colours will be making a splash in the New Year. 

Let's get started!

Legacy Pallete

What is the legacy we leave behind? Every day we tread the tightrope of time, pulled forward by hot, new trends and futuristic technologies. But there’s no ignoring our past, the ultimate symbol of elegance and time-honoured tradition. Legacy brings the past and present into timeless harmony with an eclectic mix of influences.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

1. Saturated hues are tempered by paler shades such as Legendary Lilac and Pink Linen Half, creating a perfect backdrop to an intermingling of old-world charm and new-world chic.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

2. Purple hues such as Hothouse Orchid and Purple Verbena can exude a certain luxury when paired with pieces that balance elegance and austerity with elements of the precious and plush.


Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal


3. You may fall in love with a fabric, an artwork or the embroidery on your favourite cushion; try sourcing your wall colour from these most-loved elements. Here we feature Deep Aqua, inspired by this botanical patterned bed linen.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

4. A bolder palette than the other 2019 colour trends, Legacy features a range of bright, intense and daring hues with regal purples, attention-grabbing aquas and brown-based pinks.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Repair Palette

Repair helps us revive our relationship with nature and embrace a more holistic and ‘circular’ way of living. Our comfortable, carefree existence begins to fade into the past, as we adopt a wabi-sabi sensibility that appreciates the beauty in faults and flaws.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

1. Staying within a colour family is an easy way to create a harmonious colour scheme. Combine mustard with yellow-based green and warm timber finishes for a cohesive look and feel.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

2. Uplifting colours smooth out the rough edges with their authentic optimism. Highlight cabinetry with colour you love and pare back strong schemes with natural finishes such as timber and concrete.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

3. Hues such as Cinnamon Sand can create a warm but natural colour palette that is perfect in a cosy space. Natural linens, rough painted brick and weathered architectural details create a homely and relaxed atmosphere.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

4. Repair is about using what you have and making it special through the process of mixing and matching with newer, modern pieces. Look for well-loved vintage items that may need some extra care spent to bring them back to life. Use a backdrop of neutral hues such as Ohai Half, allowing furniture details to shine.
It’s time to break out of the mould and show us the real you. Identity speaks to the radical, non-conformist in us all. It empowers us to live on the wild side and express our true inner creative. Who cares what anyone else thinks?

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

1. Anything goes with Identity, so choose what you love, go with what makes you smile and create a bold, optimistic statement in your home. Your bedroom is a perfect place to start experimenting with colour and defining your style.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

2. Bold hues can be used to call out simple, unassuming architectural details transforming them into features within your home. This gives you the option to feature strong statement colours such as Red Clown and Mondrian Blue in small but impactful doses.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

3. Simple geometric features can create amazing backdrops for graphic art. We have selected Mondrian Blue and Mitchell Blue hues to complement this artwork rather than distract from it.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal
4. A mish-mash of modern multi-cultural influences call up the colourful, futuristic vibes of sci-fi fantasy and off-the-wall selfie culture. They empower us to be brave and confident and to flaunt the fabulous, colourful quirks and flaws that make us who we are.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal


Wholeself

Do you feel like your brain is in constant overdrive? It’s time to switch off the smartphone and clear out the mental clutter. Wholeself helps us to create a calm, distraction-free zone where we can dial back the volume and reconnect with ourselves.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

1. Evoke a feeling of relaxation and wellness in your guest room or retreat by using a soft green such as Dulux New Life. For a truly chilled space, choose tonal hues for your other elements.
Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

2. Tonality is key in the Wholeself trend, punctuate your space using accessories to create moments of interest with accent colours that complement your colour scheme but don’t overpower it.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

3. Transform your bathroom into a private sanctuary by using a moody Dulux Modest Mauve. This subtle, greyed-off mauve is a perfect complement to cool colours of natural stone and granite.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

4.
Our search for spirituality and wellness manifests through soothing spaces styled around simple forms and tactile surfaces. Creamy colours such as Ecru create warmth in minimalist interiors.

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal

Vancouver Realtor-Carmen Leal


We would love to hear from you! Which color would you pick for your home? Please share with us in the comment below or on my social media.


Are you interested in selling or buying your home in the next few months? Work with award winning realtor, Carmen Leal and her team that specialize in Real Estate Vancouver and have qualified Buyers that are looking for a home in your area! 604.218.4846 & www.carmenleal.ca


                                                                This communication is not intended to induce breach of existing listing agreement.