New Year’s Across the World #3

Today we look at how New Years is celebrated in Spain and how it differs to other nations across the world. Many countries have their own distinct traditions and ways in which they celebrate New Year’s. Spain is no exception and they have a range of different traditional approaches to the big day. Here are a few notable traditions carried out in Spain to symbolise the start of the New Year.

The general Spanish approach to New Years is similar to that of many other countries. Late night partying and celebrating is promoted across the country with the main celebrations taking place after midnight and through to the early morning. Before this, there is a traditional dinner held amongst the family to represent the coming of the New Year.

A more traditional and bizarre approach to New Years is the consumption of twelve grapes which match the chimes of the twelfth hour. The eating of each individual grape corresponds with each chime and Spaniards are encouraged to make a wish in time for the New Year during this process. This tradition spans over 100 years and began when vineyard farmers needed a selling point for their left over grapes.

If you need to send a parcel to Spain in the New Year, be sure to make the most of RAND Logistics services throughout 2014. Take a look at our services for more of an insight into what we can offer you.

New Years Across the World #2

It’s the second day of our analysis of the celebration of New Years and today we are focusing on Denmark and the traditional ways in which New Years is celebrated there. The wintry weather in Scandinavia during this time of year often spills over to New Years, resulting in a celebration similar to that of Christmas. Here’s what to expect if you’re celebrating New Year’s in Denmark.

A traditional belief in Denmark is that smashing plates and other pieces of china on people’s doorsteps ensures that they will have a successful year full of social benefits and newfound friendships. This particular routine is carried out at both midnight and throughout New Years Day itself.

In addition, Denmark highlights the New Years Eve celebrations by baking a huge cake known as a Kransekage. This cone-shaped cake is decorated and eaten as a dessert by those who attend the specific event. It is often accompanied by miniature flags, candles and other dramatic decorations to help liven up and represent the day.

If you know someone who requires a gift sent to Denmark in 2014, RAND Logistics can offer you an outstanding shipping service. Have a look at our shipping rates and get yourself a quote today.

 

New Years Across the World #1

It’s the final week of 2013 and the start of a brand new year, so what better way to represent the huge event than to analyse how it’s celebrated across the globe. Many countries have their own distinct ways of celebrating New Years and the first country we are focusing on is Japan.

The Japanese believe that New Years Eve welcomes the God of the New Year, Toshigami. The Buddhist temples across the country symbolise the arrival of the New Year at midnight by ringing the temple bells 108 times precisely. This is seen as a fitting way of welcoming Toshigami and the start of a new year.

With Buddhists welcoming their New Year’s God, the rest of Japan treats the occasion as any other special event. Cards and gifts may be exchanged between friends, family and loved ones, whilst many people will give their homes a thorough clean in preparation for the New Year in a traditional manner. The cards that are exchanged are often a particular form of thank you card that acknowledges the affection shown throughout the year.

If you want to send a parcel to Japan in time for New Years, RAND Logistics can help. Take a look at our services and get a quote for the shipping of your New Years gift today.

Handmade Gifts for Christmas

On the last day of our Christmas week, let us discuss handmade gifts. When done well, with time and effort put in, a handmade gift can be a really sweet way of showing someone you care about them.

handmade

Before you decide to make the gift for your recipient, make sure you know that they would like this type of gift. Like it or not, some people aren’t the sentimental type, so a handmade photo frame might not be the best idea. Handmade gifts can be a heartfelt alternative to buying things off the rack. A necklace or a gold watch might seem romantic, but other people your recipient knows could have received the exact same gift, which makes theirs seem less special.

Put a lot of effort into it, even if you have no experience with making gifts. Try your hardest with your gift, whatever it is, as your recipient will probably see the effort put into the gift, and will be more likely to appreciate it. It helps if your gift is practical in some way, or an accessory, like a pair of warm gloves or a keychain.

Whatever your gift giving ideas are, make someone’s day with a parcel delivered by RAND Logistics. With our competitive rates throughout the world from parcels to Australia, to packages to the Ukraine you won’t need to use any other service for sending parcels internationally.

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.

Watch out for customs! – Prohibited items you might not expect this Christmas

If you are preparing for a Christmas event abroad and need to send various Christmas gifts over to a designated country, you might be surprised to learn that one of the most traditional items during the festive period probably won’t make it there. In fact, sending a certain selection of traditional Christmas items abroad could see you having to deal with customs. Here’s a look at some of the festive items that could be intercepted on their way to your addressee this December.

The first and seemingly most obvious Christmas item that you wouldn’t be able to send to many countries is mistletoe. Mistletoe counts as a plant and therefore could potentially spread disease to plants native to the country you are shipping to. The majority of plants are prohibited for shipping due to the threat of disease, so make sure you check with your addressee before shipping live Christmas decorations such as mistletoe, holly or natural wreaths.

Christmas crackers are one of the key components for any Christmas dinner. However, shipping one across the border could also get you into trouble with customs. Don’t forget that Christmas crackers actually contain small forms of explosive that create the snapping sound when you pull them. Due to the fact that these “devices” could be used in other methods of explosives, they are generally prohibited across the world.

You can have a look at our international parcel delivery page to study the items that cannot be shipped abroad. For more information regarding the services on offer, contact RAND Logistics today.

Tips for Protecting Your eBay Parcel

Christmas time has to be one of the busiest times for RAND and it’s usually due to the large amounts of gifts being sent across the world in time for the big day. In addition, eBay is seeing an incredible amount of people buying and selling their items as people look to find the perfect gift for their loved one. It’s important that you are aware of the basics when it comes to shipping parcels in order to protect the cherished item, so here’s a few tips for all you eBay sellers out there who plan on using RAND Logistics in the near future.

You should always box an item and this really should go without being mentioned. However, you should also fill out the box with protective layering in case the box is thrown about on its way to the addressee, so using bubble wrap to fill out the box is ideal. Try to make sure that the object is fully concealed in the box, however difficult it is to do so. You wouldn’t want to lose parts of the item in the shipping process.

If you’re searching around your home for the perfect box to fit your gift but simply can’t find one, there are a number of packaging techniques and items you can make the most of. From polystyrene and shredded newspaper through to bubble wrap and further empty boxes, there are all sorts of materials you can make the most of. The trick is to keep any spaces in the box covered.

RAND Logistics is a certified eBay courier and we strive to provide the best services for our eBay sellers so you don’t have to be concerned about items going missing in transit. So if you plan on shipping an item to your latest eBay buyer make sure you use the services RAND Logistics has to offer!

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 3

Today we are focusing on the ideal Christmas gift for a partner or loved on.  Whether you’ve just married, have only recently started a relationship or are currently situated away from each other due to a new job or road trip Christmas is the perfect opportunity to state your appreciation for someone and symbolise your loving relationship. So if your loved one is currently based in Dubai on a work trip or journeying through the cold in Russia somewhere, RAND Logistics can transport your cherished Christmas gift for you.

Nothing represents a loving relationship better than a small piece of memorabilia or jewellery. The perfect ring can be loved and cherished for many years in the future, making it the ideal gift to symbolise a strong bond between two people. Other kinds of jewellery including ornaments, bracelets, necklaces, watches and earrings can work just as well especially if they match the style and taste of your loved one.

On the other hand, some people symbolise strong relationships by getting something they know their partner will adore. This could be anything from a rare, special-edition vinyl set by The Beatles to their favourite bar of chocolate from a unique sweet shop. Ultimately, this kind of gift comes down to how much you know the person and since it’s a close relationship, you are likely to be able to really make them happy with your Christmas gift if you take this path.

All in all, the spirit of Christmas is perfect for rekindling long-lost friendships from across the globe, sparking new relationships and building upon existing ones. If you have a special gift to send to anywhere in the world, RAND Logistics can offer you the ideal service.

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 2

Our next Christmas gift idea looks at teenagers and the vast amounts of gift ideas available for this age group. Teenagers are much like children in that a lot of their cherished items will be given to them at Christmas or for their birthdays. The spirit of Christmas is essential for every teenager as they grow up, so it’s important that they embrace the season and are given presents they will always remember. If you have a teenage cousin or nephew living in AustraliaPoland or anywhere else in the world, here are a few great gift ideas that you can ship this Christmas using RAND Logistics.

Teenagers will have identified their preferred theme by now, be it sport, nature, arts and crafts, video games, music or technology. Many younger teenage boys will be really into their sport or their video games, making the latest video game or a new football or piece of memorabilia the ideal Christmas gift.

Teenage girls might be in to all sorts of gifts, so you can play it safe and get something inspirational such as a musical instrument or an artistic set. Both teenage boys and girls will have their preferences, so you might want to find out what it is they like. However, inspirational gifts can be really effective for teenagers to motivate them to get in touch with their passions and talents.

So, if you can’t wait to ship an acoustic guitar, a great new pair of shoes or a toy helicopter to a far-away teenage relative for Christmas this year, make the most of the services RAND Logistics have to offer and get in touch with us today for a wider description of our services.

A History of the Parcel: Day 4

Our penultimate post surrounding the history of the parcel concentrates on significant changes that came around in the 1980’s and 90’s. Whilst these decades may seem particularly recent, there are still plenty of interesting facts to be known about how sending a parcel internationally changed in various ways. Here’s an overview of some of the major changes that happened throughout these particular decades with regards to the postal service.

The United States began using Electronic Computer Originated Mail (E-COM) in 1982. However, E-COM was only in use for a further three years after it was terminated completely by the USA in 1985. A year later, they introduced the ZIP + 4 in order to expand the coded system. In 1985, Jackie Strange became the first female deputy US Postmaster general.

In 1992, Canada became the first country to develop customisable stamps that were intended for greeting purposes. This particular form of stamp has become a phenomenon throughout major seasons such as Christmas and Easter time.

A number of countries began issuing their first ever set of stamps in the 1980’s and 1990’s, including Burkina Faso, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

If you need to send a parcel internationally, why not make the most of the services RAND Logistics has to offer?