Sheltering Stories : The Enduring Art of Oil Paper Umbrellas in Meinong, Taiwan

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Nestled in southern Taiwan’s Meinong, a Hakka haven, exquisite oil paper umbrellas embody cultural heritage. Rooted in ancient Chinese traditions, these handcrafted items blend bamboo frames, layered cotton paper, artistic motifs, and tung oil waterproofing. Symbolizing prosperity and protection, they feature in weddings and rituals. Revived amid modernization, they attract tourists, preserving Hakka artistry and storytelling through vibrant, symbolic designs.

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Welcoming 2026 With What Truly Matters

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As 2026 approaches, joy does not need to arrive loudly. This moment invites a softer celebration, one that honors the quiet choices, steady bonds, and inner shifts that shaped the year behind us. Stepping into 2026 with clarity, calm, and lightness feels less like a resolution and more like a gentle continuation of what already works.

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Silent Night : The Timeless Christmas Carol First Sung on December 24, 1818

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On a serene Christmas Eve in 1818, in the Austrian village of Oberndorf, “Silent Night” was first performed amid post-Napoleonic hardships. Penned by priest Joseph Mohr and composed by Franz Gruber for guitar due to a broken organ, the carol’s lyrics evoke peace, divine love, and redemption. Spreading globally, it inspired the 1914 WWI truce and remains a beacon of hope in today’s divided world, translated into 300 languages.

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From Saint Nicholas to Santa : The Origins of Christmas Cheer

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Saint Nicholas began as a discreet 4th-century bishop known for helping the poor, but his legacy travelled across Europe and eventually transformed into the figure we now call Santa Claus. His feast day on December 6 still brings simple, warm traditions in many countries. His story shows how quiet kindness can shape entire cultures.

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Thanksgiving Finds a New Home in Taiwan

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Thanksgiving in Taiwan turns into a gentle blend of cultures, where traditional dishes mix with local flavors and gatherings feel relaxed and intimate. The holiday isn’t widely celebrated, yet the island’s kindness makes it easy to create meaningful moments. Friends, families, and expats shape their own version of the day, discovering that gratitude travels well across borders.

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Halloween 2025 in Taiwan: A Spooktacular Nationwide Celebration

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Halloween 2025 in Taiwan was one of the most vibrant and widely celebrated editions to date, with festivities lighting up cities across the island from family-friendly parades to high-energy adult parties. Held on Friday, October 31, 2025, the celebrations spanned several weeks, featuring major events in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Hsinchu County, offering immersive experiences

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Taiwan’s Quiet Role in the Shadow of the Opium Wars

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Taiwan was not a battlefield of the Opium Wars, yet the conflicts set it on a new course. Once a frontier of the Qing Empire, it caught the attention of British, American, and French powers. From coal and camphor to naval blockades, the island’s story shifted as the ripple of war drew it into global contests.

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Under the Full Moon, Taiwan Grills and Glows

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As autumn arrives in Taiwan, the Moon Festival brings families together for one of the most cherished celebrations of the year. This ancient tradition combines moonlit gatherings, delicious mooncakes, and barbecues that fill neighborhoods with warmth, creating memories that connect past and present in Taiwan’s vibrant cultural landscape.

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Ode to Summer’s Farewell, and Autumn’s Arrival

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Goodbye, summer of fierce light and sudden storms. You gave us heavy skies split by typhoons, nights thick with heat, mornings of cicadas crying without rest. I will remember the weight of your air, the taste of mangoes, the streets shimmering in late-afternoon sun. You were stubborn, endless, almost unbearable, yet full of life.  

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Tradition Meets Machine : The Chinese Typewriter Saga

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The Chinese typewriter is more than a machine—it is a cultural bridge. From clumsy 19th-century prototypes to elegant designs like Lin Yutang’s MingKwai and IBM’s electric models, each step showed how tradition could bend without breaking. Today’s digital input methods stand as proof that Chinese writing, once seen as an obstacle, remains resilient in the modern world.

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