Celebrating Easter in Italy

On the penultimate day of looking at various Easter traditions across the world, we’re focusing on how the Christian festival is celebrated in Italy. If you need to send a parcel to Italy, why not make the most of our services here at RAND?

Italy has a huge catholic population with a significant portion of Italians prioritising a visit to church every Sunday. There are plenty of unique traditions held throughout the Easter week in Italy. Here’s what you might expect to see if you’re visiting the country during this time.

The_Pope_speaks_at_the_window,_Easter_2009

For most Italians, Good Friday is a hugely symbolic day. Ceremonies are hosted in cities across the country, commemorating the death of Jesus and his road to crucifixion.  Some of these processions may include symbolic dress to represent the events of Jesus’ death, such as Roman costumes.

Good Friday is, like in many other countries, a sombre day. Churches throughout Italy won’t ring their bells from this day until Jesus’ resurrection. The Pope’s Easter message also takes place on Easter Sunday from the Vatican.

On the Saturday, Italians usually prepare for Easter Sunday by decorating the home and cooking food. Some Christians will attend church in the evening, although the day is usually seen as one of rest and reflection. Easter Sunday is a day of celebration whereby families gather and enjoy a large traditional meal. They also incorporate the inherited pagan traditions of having Easter eggs and other sweets on the Sunday.

 

 

Shipping Restrictions in Lithuania

Make sure to take note of the country conditions for mailing a parcel to Lithuania, otherwise you may face some difficulties in getting your parcel properly imported. Check with your local customs officer for more details on shipping restrictions and prohibited items, but for now, here are a few restrictions to take note of.

Objects of cultural value, such as antiques and works of art can only be imported into Lithuania with a permit from the Ministry of Culture’s Department of the Protection of Objects of Cultural Value. Take care when sending prepared foodstuffs and raw materials of animal origin; if the industrial packaging is damaged or the use-by-date has passed then the packages will be prohibited and may be destroyed.

[rand]sugar blogSugar is permitted for import into Lithuania, but not exceeding 11 pounds or 5 kg per shipment. All articles subject to customs duty may not be sent in ordinary or registered First-Class Package International Service items, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes, First-Class Mail International items, or Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes.

At RAND Logistics, whether you require a specific eBay courier service for sending parcels internationally, or you are simply sending a gift to a friend or relative, we can provide you with first class service at competitive rates. Plus with free tracking options available, you can track your parcel at every step of the journey.

Uses for Junk Mail; Paper Crafts

 

The final day of our environmentally friendly way of reusing all that junk mail we sometimes get piling up focuses on tasks for those more creatively minded. If you were looking for a new challenge, or wanted a nice activity to do with the kids, why not try these two uses for old junk mail or newspapers?

Paper Baskets

Traditionally made in Ancient Egypt, wicker baskets were woven together using reeds. Nowadays wicker baskets are still used for plant pots and even coffee tables and sun chairs. A plain paper home made basket can be used to hold pens, paper-clips or other bits like sewing bobbins and spools of thread. Paper wicker baskets can seem daunting, but in reality it is a lot easier than it looks. There are plenty of guides online, and the end result looks fantastic.

Homemade Paper

Rip up your junk mail or shred it, then add water and put it all in a blender. Blend it to pulp and then you have all the ingredients to make your own paper! Use a guide online, and remember that most methods work for un-waxed paper, so make sure not to use any junk mail that is glossy or shiny.

Sending a parcel to a friend or relative internationally? Use RAND Logistics’ instant quick quote service to find out how much you could save!

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 10

It’s the final day of Christmas gift ideas before the big day and what better way to top it all off than give you the top 5 gifts for all this December 25th. We’ve covered all sorts of different gift addressees in the last month so it’s time to wrap everything up with a top 5 of Christmas panic-buys and homemade items. Here’s what to do if you’re still stuck for ideas with just a few days remaining!

Chocolates

This shouldn’t just be an ordinary chocolate bar. Search around for some truly special chocolate treats, whether it’s to do with a theme your loved one might like or just something a bit more expensive than usual.

Scented Candles

They offer a great service over Christmas time so a pretty-looking candle with a pleasant aroma could be the road to go down.

Custom Cushions

If you’ve got sewing skills at hand, why not try and make something comfortable from a spare scarf or hat you don’t need? It would be decent to wash the scarf beforehand of course…

Hat & Scarf

If you’ve got time, why not try and make your own gift in the shape of a warm hat or scarf? Otherwise, hats and scarves are great gifts that are more than necessary for the upcoming winter.

Gift Box

It’s a kind of treasure trove where you collect a selection of treats and store them in a nicely wrapped present box. It’s a gift that might seem small but portrays a huge amount of kindness and effort.

Got last minute gifts to send to someone this year? RAND Logistics are prepared for you whether you need an international service or something a bit more local. Have a look at our services for more information.

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 9

You may well be away from someone this Christmas and in the process of planning the gifts for that particular family or group of people. After covering their gifts, consider if they’ve got any pets as well! Sending gifts to the family dog or other family pet is sometimes essential, especially if you know the pet well. Whatever the situation may be, a gift for a pet can be a heart-warming gesture to the owners as well, so why not consider some of our pet gift ideas this Christmas?

One of the best possible gifts you can get for a pet this Christmas is food. Food for a dog or other household animal can be easily purchased at any general store. In addition, you might want to have a look at some of the luxury food brands for an improvement on your average pet food. Make sure you check countries list of prohibited and restricted items when shipping internationally as food is sometimes present on these lists.

Another gift idea for pets is a toy. Toys are great gifts that are almost certain to work with any animal that you’re specifying. From scratching posts and chew toys through to tennis balls and treats, toys are certain to keep any pet occupied when they are tempted to chew up their owner’s presents!

Are you preparing gifts this Christmas? Whether it’s a family friend or a pet, take a look at RAND’s services this Christmas and make the most of our international parcel delivery option.

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 8

Our Christmas gift ideas continue and today we are focusing on the ideal present for women. It’s no surprise that so many men are panicking up until the last second because they don’t know what to get for their other half. In addition, you might be struggling for gift ideas intended for a female friend who is currently oversees. Whatever you situation may be, take note of our top 3 Christmas gift ideas for women here before you carry your anxieties all the way through to Christmas Eve.

1)      Clothing

It’s not the easiest present to give another woman if you’re a man but in fact, women are very fond of the idea of receiving clothing as a Christmas gift. You might want to ship a gift to Russia such as a comfy scarf or hat that can provide them with warmth during the colder days or you might be able to get some personal advice beforehand regarding a preferred onesie. Ultimately, clothing can be a very safe and realistic option as a gift this Christmas.

2)      DVD Box Sets

Everyone likes a DVD Box set and your wife or girlfriend might really appreciate a whole box set of their favourite show this Christmas. It’s an especially good present if you and a friend are both interested in the show as it highlights some of the significant elements of your friendship. An excellent option if you’ve done the background research.

3)      Beauty Accessories

It’s the easy way out but always an appealing gift. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve known someone for decades or you’re getting your first Christmas present for them, beauty products are an ideal gift for women. They may be temporary gifts that don’t have personal representations but they are a popular gift that always seems to work. If your still stuck for ideas, this is the way to go.

Finding gifts for friends and loved ones can be tough but if you follow our top 3, you may well be sorted for the run in to Christmas Day. Don’t forget to make the most of RAND Logistics services this Christmas as you prepare to ship your gifts both across the country and internationally.

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 7

Today we look at some of the ideas Christmas gifts that men will be after this Christmas. If your struggling to find the perfect gift for your husband or need to send something internationally to a male friend in time for Christmas, you might want to consider a few of the gift ideas we have to offer. There are all sorts of great gifts that would be perfect for men this Christmas, so here’s a top 3 of the some of the best Christmas gifts for men you can get this year.

1)      BBQ

Barbecues are symbolic of the summer months and any guy is going to want to put his barbecuing skills to the test during the warmer seasons. It could inspire them to start cooking more often and it proves to be an excellent alternative to cooking in the kitchen. There are all sorts of affordable barbecues or barbecue products out there, but this is certainly the ideal gift.

2)       Survival Kit

It might seem a bit cliche but pen knives or other outdoor tool kits can really encourage outdoor activities such as camping and hiking. A lot of men seem to have been inspired by famous adventurers such as Bear Grylls and Ray Mears in recent times, so this could be the perfect opportunity to inspire his dream of venturing through the local forests more often. If you are shipping items like this, you might want to consider our shipping restriction guides for each country beforehand.

3)      Docking Stations/ Speakers

Finally, docking stations and speakers are actually a great gift for any man, whether it’s from wife to husband or one mate to another. The amount of speakers available nowadays means there are products that suit a variety of budgets and all sorts of different purposes. You can maybe get some speakers that accompany a cycling journey to work or a larger surround sound speaker for the TV. Either way, this is sure to be a big hit as a gift this Christmas.

Make sure you make the most of RAND Logistics this Christmas to ship your parcels internationally. Take a look at our list of services for more information.

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 6

It’s a new week of Christmas gift ideas as we build up to the big day here on the RAND Logistics blog. Today we’ll be having a look at some of the worst and weirdest Christmas gifts to be sent across the globe and some of the reasons why they have become notoriously bad gift ideas. No one’s perfect and sometimes the Christmas presents we get may not be fully appreciated for all sorts of reasons. Here’s a list of some of the most bizarre festive delights to be shared across the world.

The Bling Mug

It’s something that would probably make Del boy jealous. This particular cup of tea has a certain shine to it as the handle is made out of dazzling sovereigns. It’s an excellent gift for the boss but an absolutely diabolical object to look at. This has to be in our list of worst Christmas gifts.

The Voodoo Kitchen Knife Holder

Imagine a knife holder shaped as a human being. I think you know what comes next. Sort your kitchen knives by placing them through various areas of the human body. Probably the perfect gift for someone you really hate, then again it could work wonders if you’re feeling pretty stressed after a hard day’s work.

Panic Button

Every keyboard needs one of these, especially if your work colleague is absolutely tied down with work on a regular basis. Give them an easy way out with this red panic button, which is shaped like a key on the average computer keyboard.

You might be tempted to invest in some of these whacky gift ideas this Christmas, so if you are make sure you make the most of RAND’s international parcel delivery service and get your brilliantly awful presents sent to someone you love.

Brazil World Cup 2014 – More than just a tournament?

The Football World Cup draw was held this time last week to decide who would be playing who in the group stages in Brazil next summer. The World Cup is a massive event that brings a vast amount of tourists together to celebrate football in the form of a tournament. Brazil is often seen as the home of attractive football and this is why next summer could be one of the greatest World Cups ever hosted. We take a look at how the country has developed and how football has played such a big role in inspiring the people of Brazil.

Brazil has always been a country full of culture and passion. The countries population generally consists of people with little wealth yet a truly incredible level of pride and inspiration. Football has played a big part in keeping young Brazilians inspired and passionate about their future, whilst it also brings the country together with famous Brazilian footballers regularly visiting their childhood favelas and districts to help motivate young children and poor families in the area.

With the World Cup being an international spectacle, the whole world will be watching Brazil next summer and this could work wonders in promoting awareness of the deprived areas in the country. If you are aware of a sporting organisation or individual in Brazil that may benefit from a gift being shipped internationally to the country, this is one of many ways that you can play a huge part in maintaining the footballing spirit that is present there.

With the World Cup edging closer, there is no doubt that the awareness of deprivation in Brazil will be noticed and we will hopefully see a wonderful World Cup hosted that promotes equality and inspiration for all.

If you want to send a parcel to Brazil for a family member or any other particular cause, why not have a look at some of the services that RAND Logistics have to offer? You can also contact us for further information regarding our services.

Christmas in Australia – How is it different?

Whilst we shiver in our front rooms and keep close to the comforting portable fires whilst covered in blankets and sipping hot drinks, those native to Australia are enjoying the warmth of the sun at this moment in time. Since it’s currently summer in Australia, Christmas seems to have quite a different style over there. Sending a parcel to Australia might be on your plans this Christmas but there’s absolutely no need to give someone over there a scarf or woolly hat this year. Here are a few things to consider when sending a Christmas gift to Australia.

Australia is located in the southern hemisphere so the seasons are opposite to that of the northern hemisphere. Australia experiences some of its hottest weather in December which makes Christmas Day an experience unlike that of most other countries. Many tourists head down under to experience Christmas in this particular climate instead of the colder temperatures back home.

The blazing heat in some parts of Australia at this time of year means one thing. They’ll be hitting the beach to celebrate Christmas Eve in a rather unique fashion compared to the vast majority of other European countries. If you’d rather not make them laugh with a huge woolly coat as gift, why not get them some typical summery items such as sportswear, sunglasses or maybe even a smoothie maker?

If you want to send a Christmas gift to Australia or anywhere else in the world, check out RAND Logistics services and discover how we can ship your parcel across the globe.