Per Annum Company Blog | The Forward Thinker

We Want Your Feedback!

It’s that time of year again! All of us at Per Annum really take the time to go over your feedback and any comments you have, whether it be over the phone, through the mail or our website. At the end of the day, we create our city information products for you -- so each and every one of your ideas, critiques and suggestions counts.

The best way to give us your feedback is to fill out the CRC provided in your 2009 Diary, which you can tear off and mail to us (shown below), or use our online form at http://www.perannum.com/crc.aspx. This will help us keep everything organized so we can sort through all your answers in a timely manner and get the 2010 Diaries out to you even faster.

If at any time you are stuck or need clarification when filling out your CRC’s, feel free to contact us at 800.548.1108.

We are anxiously waiting!  And we thank you for your support throughout the years.

Merry Armenian Christmas!

Don't forget to submit your favorite holiday photos by January 8 for a chance to win a Per Annum Prize Pack. Submit all photos to nora@perannum.com.

Merry Armenian Christmas!

That’s right, I said Merry Armenian Christmas. I find it interesting that there is so much information we don’t know regarding different cultures and religions. Being an Armenian American, I get to enjoy both traditions and also get to share them with my friends. Since today is Armenian Christmas I wanted to tell you why we celebrate Christmas on January 6th instead of December 25th:

Why Do Armenians Celebrate Christmas on January 6th?

It is frequently asked why Armenians do not celebrate Christmas on December 25th with the rest of the Christian world. Obviously, the exact date of Christ's birth has not been historically established— nor is it recorded in the Gospels. However, historically, all Christian churches celebrated Christ's birth on January 6th until the fourth century.

According to Roman Catholic sources, the date was changed from January 6th to December 25th in order to override a pagan feast dedicated to the birth of the Sun which was celebrated on December 25th. At the time Christians used to continue their observance of these pagan festivities. In order to undermine and subdue this pagan practice, the church hierarchy designated December 25th as the official date of Christmas and January 6th as the feast of Epiphany. However, Armenia was not affected by this change for the simple fact that there were no such pagan practices in Armenia on that date, and the fact that the Armenian Church was not a satellite of the Roman Church. Thus, remaining faithful to the traditions of their forefathers, Armenians have continued to celebrate Christmas on January 6th until today.

Now, there is a lot more where that came from but I wanted to keep it short and sweet.

I would love to hear from my fellow Armenians, and I would also love to learn about any other cultures/traditions that the rest of the world may not know!

Happy New Year from Per Annum!

Just wanted to take this opportunity (before the champagne clouds my mind!) to wish you all a very happy and healthy new year from your friends here at Per Annum. As always, we appreciate you, our customers, more than anything -- not just your business, but your comments, suggestions, criticisms and continued loyalty to our products. Let's hope that 2009 brings good things to us all -- or, in the words of my grandfather, "May the best of 2008 be the worst of 2009." Think about it....

By the way, if you haven't already, don't forget to order your 2009 City Diary so you can easily keep track of your life as the year progresses. Consider it your first New Year's Resolution -- and one that is very easy to keep -- just click here!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Per Annum bloggers!

I wanted to tell you about our next fabulous photo contest. This time you get to show us what the holidays mean to you. Show us your holiday spirit by taking a photo of your Christmas lights, or tree, or even your favorite Santa. If you celebrate Hanukkah, show us your menorahs or all the wonderful gifts you received. The winner will get a special prize pack from Per Annum. Submit your photos by January 8. Voting will be from January 9 to January 15. So get creative and let the competition begin! Send all submissions to nora@perannum.com. P.S. Thank you to Sweeties Sweeps for listing our blog giveaway.

Here is a great poem I found that I wanted to share on this day... enjoy:

Christmas in the City
by Bailey Christine Goebel

Listen not to the grumbling herd,
The hustle and bustle is truly obsurd.
'Tis not about the gifts, giving or receiving;
'Tis simply about the joy that comes with believing.

Gather your family from place to place,
Worry not, and lessen your pace.
Close your eyes and open your ears,
Cherish the memories for years and years.

Watch the snow fall and hear silver bells ring;
You might even hear an angel sing.

For this, my friend, is the true meaning:
A babe was born one frosty evening.
A miracle that many come to believe;
But some are still yet to perceive-
The thought of a man coming from above;
Wanting only to do with spreading faith, hope, & love.

Let us treasure once more this Holiday Season,
And celebrate for all the right reasons.
Like the Christchild who came from above;
Have a very Merry Christmas and spread the love.

Merry Christmas from the Per Annum Bloggers

Happy Hanukkah!

Just wanted to take a minute to wish you all a Happy Hanukkah from Per Annum!

One of my best friends is Jewish, and while we were in college I ended up spending a few years worth of Rosh Hashanahs with her family and friends. Her dad is an excellent cook and always served the best meals, and I really enjoyed learning about and taking part in all of their traditions. It was always such an entertaining and warm evening, and I was surprised at how much I missed taking part in those holidays with her and her family after graduating.

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?