Giving Thanks is Celebrated All Around the World

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and the SEN CHA crew is super excited to indulge in delicious food and partake in the usual family festivities. In the U.S, most of us celebrate Thanksgiving with a big dinner with friends and family. But what do other cultures do to express thanks? Here we take a look at a few other cultures around the globe to see what their version of thanksgiving is like...

The August Moon Festival is celebrated by the Chinese on the 15th day of the 8th lunar moon. This holiday includes lots of food, and instead of a pumpkin pie, mooncakes are baked and sent to friends and relatives as a way of giving thanks. Chinese legend says that the moon is the roundest and brightest on this day, and provides the perfect atmosphere for friendships to be renewed. While in the West, we place emphasis on the importance of the sun, Easterners focus their admiration on the moon. The Moon Festival is also known as the Women's Festival, because the moon is known to represent beauty and elegance.

Kwanzaa is based on African harvest traditions, and it's literal meaning is "first fruits in Swahili." The festivities begin on December 26 and last for 7 days. Don't be fooled by popular belief; Kwanzaa is not a substitute for Christmas. It is a gathering of family to celebrate community and cultural values that are often celebrated in addition to Christmas. The 7 day celebration is based on the 7 basic values of African culture; unity, self determination, collective work, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

The Jewish community celebrates Succoth, which takes place in September and October, starting on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri. Like Kwanzaa, Succoth lasts for 7 days. The reason for the festival is historic and religious; it goes back to a time when Hebrews had to travel through the wilderness on their journey to Isreal. During this time they lived in open booths called Succahs, where they would pray in thanks for crops.

Whatever holiday you are celebrating, Sencha Naturals wishes you a warm, loving and thankful one!

Hint Mint 10th Anniversary Celebration

We love mints, and naturally we have a fondness for our own...but we also support other companies who are innovative and unconventional. Hint Mints don't contain any animal products, and all profits from the breast cancer Awareness Series are donated to charity. We like that.

Our friends over at Hint Mint are celebrating their Tenth Anniversary with 6 weeks of celebration in Venice, California. They've opened up a unique space to display framed artwork used for their stylish mint tins. Along with the discernible Hint Mint artwork, a number of events are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks until December 31, 2009.

We were invited to attend Hint Mint's event with award winning poet Sekou Andrews who shared with us verses about luck. We drew on their gigantic art board, drank Izze sodas with Blue Ice Vodka, and sampled mints at the mint bar. All in all, it was a good night.

Framed artwork by the artist Shag was on display November 13. Hint Mint commissions artists like Gary Baseman and James Jean to decorate the 1920's style mint tins.

SEN CHA Attends the Peace Over Violence Humanitarian Awards

We had the pleasure of witnessing some great things at the Beverly Hills Hotel on the evening of Friday November 6th at the 38th Annual Peace Over Violence Humanitarian Awards.

Peace Over Violence is nonprofit organization which was established in 1971 who works to 'build healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence’ since 1971 in Los Angeles.

The agency is a pioneer in providing crisis intervention and prevention education, as well as a national leader in advocacy and education around disability and victim services.

Whether it’s providing counseling to a woman in a hospital emergency room after the latest assault by her partner; providing comfort to a victim who’s called our hotline; giving legal counsel to a woman on how to get a restraining order; or a high school class where we teach youth that ‘my strength is not for hurting.’

Celebrity supporters of Peace Over Violence were in attendance; Calista Flockart, Pierce and Keely Brosnan, Rene Russo and Mariska Hartigay (Joyful Heart Foundation). Each gave moving testimonies illustrating the organization's positive effects on the community.

At Sencha Natuals, we are proud supporters of organizations who are taking action to improve communities. Green Tea Mint packettes were donated for this years Humanitarian Awards.

For more information about Peace Over Violence and tips about how to support peace in your community visit www.peaceoverviolence.org.

Take 15% off for the Holidays

Yes, it's official; the holidays are right around the corner, and there's no turning back! We are all familiar with the traditional stocking stuffers; fudge, candy canes, shortbread and fruitcake. They call it pound cake for a reason.

Times are changing, and super sweet sugary snacks are making their way out from under the tree. Treats loaded with guilty goodness are proving to be not so great for our health. No one wants to feel lethargic during the holidays, and we all want to look our best.

So what to do? Give the gift of good health! Our Green Tea Mints and Bars fit perfectly into holiday stockings. Not only will you be doing a favor for their bodies, but you'll be doing the planet a favor, too. Green Tea Mints and Green Tea Bars are Fair Trade, made with organic ingredients, and contain real green tea extract.

Enjoy 15% off of your next holiday order! Offer good until December 31, 2009.