The Target Market

The Target Market Definition: A specific group of consumers at which a company aims its products and services Your target customers are those who are most likely to buy from you. Resist the temptation to be too general in the hopes of getting a larger slice of the market. That's like firing 10 bullets in random directions instead of aiming just one dead center of the mark--expensive and dangerous. Try to describe them with as much detail as you can, based on your knowledge of your product or service. Rope family and friends into visualization exercises ("Describe the typical person who'll hire me to paint the kitchen floor to look like marble...") to get different perspectives-the more, the better. Here are some questions to get you started: · Are your target customers male or female? · How old are they? · Where do they live? Is geography a limiting factor for any reason? · What do they do for a living? · How much money do they make? This is most significant if you're selling relatively expensive or luxury items. Most people can afford a carob bar. You can't say the same of custom murals. · What other aspects of their lives matter? If you're launching a roof-tiling service, your target customers probably own their homes. Once upon a time, business owners thought it was enough to market their products or services to "18- to 49-year olds." Those days are a thing of the past. Because the consumer marketplace has become so differentiated, it's a misconception to talk about the marketplace in any kind of general way anymore. Now, you have to decide whether to market to socioeconomic status or to gender or to region or to lifestyle or to technological sophistication. There's no end to the number of different ways you can slice the pie. Further complicating matters, age no longer means what it used to. Fifty-year-old baby boomers prefer rock 'n' roll to Geritol; 30-year-olds may still be living with their parents. People now repeat stages and recycle their lives. You can have two men who are 64 years old, and one is retired and driving around in a Winnebago, and the other is just remarried with a toddler in his house. Generational marketing, which defines consumers not just by age, but also by social, economic, demographic and psychological factors, has been used since the early 80s to give a more accurate picture of the target consumer. A newer twist is cohort marketing, which studies groups of people who underwent the same experiences during their formative years. This leads them to form a bond and behave differently from people in different cohorts, even when they're similar in age. For instance, people who were young adults in the 50s behave differently from people who came of age during the tumultuous 60s, even though they're close in age. To get an even narrower reading, some entrepreneurs combine cohort or generational marketing with life stages, or what people are doing at a certain time in life (getting married, having children, retiring) and physiographics, or physical conditions related to age (nearsightedness, arthritis, menopause). Today's consumers are more marketing-savvy than ever before and don't like to be "lumped" with others--so be sure you understand your target market. While pinpointing your market so narrowly takes a little extra effort, entrepreneurs who aim at a small target are far more likely to make a direct hit. Conclusion : The Target Market a specific group of consumers at which a company aims its products and services. Target customers are those most likely to buy from you. Do not be tempted to be too general in hopes of getting a larger chunk of the market. Source : http://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/term/82498.html Diposkan oleh Ruyanita Febriani di 19:35 0 komentar Kirimkan Ini lewat Email BlogThis! Berbagi ke Twitter Berbagi ke Facebook Selasa, 15 Mei 2012 An Accounting Overview An Accounting Overview The accounting industry has much to offer in terms of opportunities, professional development, and exciting career paths. To be successful in an accounting position one must possess strong analytical abilities, be detailed-oriented, and have the ability to work very quickly and adeptly with numbers. Moreover, those who are the most successful possess not only strong analytical abilities, but also the ability to synthesize, interpret and develop applicable business strategies utilizing financial data. Thus, a career in accounting offers its professionals the opportunity to challenge themselves, work closely analyzing financial data and provide significant value-add to corporations, governments and organizations around the world. This handout is prepared with the direct assistance of “Vault Career Guide to Accounting,” and various other sources. For more information about a career in accounting, please refer to Kresge Database. A career in accounting can entail many different specific job functions ranging from an audit or tax-consulting career with a public accounting firm, to an accounting position with an industrial company, to a position with the Government Accounting Office or a non-profit organization. Types of Accounting: As noted above, accounting organizations provide a range of services. Traditionally, the two primary services provided are audit and tax. However, many accounting firms have grown their advisor services to offer: corporate finance, risk management, transaction services, business process outsourcing, people and change consulting, IT advising, and personal financial planning. - Audit: An auditor examines the financial statements of a company or organization and independently certifies the statements are valid, accurate, and relevant. Additionally, an auditor often also provides advisory services such as recommending ways to improve profitability, etc. - Tax: Accountants who provide tax services primarily create strategies to minimize tax liabilities for their clients. Additionally, they prepare tax returns, advise on tax laws, assure clients tax law compliance, etc. - Advisor: The advisor role within public accounting serves to analyze key data issues, patterns and trends to identify implications, and improve efficiency and effectiveness for clients. The division of specialty that fall within the advisor line of service differs among the firms. Types of Accountants: - Public Accountants: Public accountants generally work for a public accounting firm (for example: Ernst & Young) and provide accounting services to companies, governments, etc. Large public accounting firms provide the range of services discussed above in “Types of Accounting,” and because public companies are required to have yearly audits, a large part of public accounting firms’ business is providing auditing services to public companies. - Private Accountants: Private accountants work directly for a company, government or non-profit organization. They receive their paycheck from the organization for which they are providing accounting services (for example: Internal Accountant at Kraft Foods). Generally, these accountants prepare the financial statements for the public accountants to audit and certify. Additionally, private accountants may also prepare their company’s tax statements, consult its management on changing accounting principles and ensure the financial integrity of the company’s business transactions. Changes in the Field While students’ interest in accounting related fields ebbs and flows depending on the economy, a career in accounting has long been considered “recession proof” and offers significant job security. In 2008, Forbes ranked Accounting Executive #4 and Accounting Staff #5 in its list of “10 Most Recession Proof Jobs.” Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked Accountants and Auditors in the Top 20 Occupations with the most demand for 2006-2016. Accountants are especially in demand when the economy is in a downturn. This is because in times of economic uncertainty the public becomes distrustful of current accounting and reporting systems, leading to changes in regulation and accounting practices. The collapse of companies such as Enron and Worldcom led to the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The SOX Act enhanced accounting standards for corporations and those auditing corporations and organizations—leading to increased demand for exceptional accountants. With the inception of SOX, public accounting firms began to divest their consulting services to more easily comply with the tighter regulatory scrutiny. However, firms have recently begun to rapidly rebuild their consulting arms and expand hiring to BBAs again. The recent financial crisis calls for even greater accounting scrutiny and stronger accounting standards and offers those entering the accounting field immense potential for an exciting, promising and challenging career. The median base compensation for the Ross BBAs entering the accounting field in 2010 was $55, 000. At the Ross School of Business, the employers of the highest number of BBAs have consistently included the “Big 4” public accounting firms—Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers, as well as mid-tier firms such as BDO, The Rehman Group, and Plante & Moran. In addition to the audit and tax positions available at the public accounting firms, several students each year go to work for industrial employers as accountants and financial analysts. Masters in Accounting In most states, only licensed Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) may provide qualified public opinions and audits on financial statements. In order to qualify for a CPA license, one must fulfill the education and work experience requirements, and pass the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination. Education requirements vary b state, but in most states, 150 credit hours are required to sit for the Certified Public Accounting Examination. Ross students most commonly meet this requirement through a fifth year of education, such as the Masters of Accounting program, at Ross or another institution. Conclusion : To be successful in accounting position we should have strong analytical skills, be detail-oriented, and have the ability to work very fast and nimble with numbers. Source : http://www.bus.umich.edu/StudentCareerServices Diposkan oleh Ruyanita Febriani di 20:04 0 komentar Kirimkan Ini lewat Email BlogThis! Berbagi ke Twitter Berbagi ke Facebook The Target Market The Target Market Definition: A specific group of consumers at which a company aims its products and services Your target customers are those who are most likely to buy from you. Resist the temptation to be too general in the hopes of getting a larger slice of the market. That's like firing 10 bullets in random directions instead of aiming just one dead center of the mark--expensive and dangerous. Try to describe them with as much detail as you can, based on your knowledge of your product or service. Rope family and friends into visualization exercises ("Describe the typical person who'll hire me to paint the kitchen floor to look like marble...") to get different perspectives-the more, the better. Here are some questions to get you started: · Are your target customers male or female? · How old are they? · Where do they live? Is geography a limiting factor for any reason? · What do they do for a living? · How much money do they make? This is most significant if you're selling relatively expensive or luxury items. Most people can afford a carob bar. You can't say the same of custom murals. · What other aspects of their lives matter? If you're launching a roof-tiling service, your target customers probably own their homes. Once upon a time, business owners thought it was enough to market their products or services to "18- to 49-year olds." Those days are a thing of the past. Because the consumer marketplace has become so differentiated, it's a misconception to talk about the marketplace in any kind of general way anymore. Now, you have to decide whether to market to socioeconomic status or to gender or to region or to lifestyle or to technological sophistication. There's no end to the number of different ways you can slice the pie. Further complicating matters, age no longer means what it used to. Fifty-year-old baby boomers prefer rock 'n' roll to Geritol; 30-year-olds may still be living with their parents. People now repeat stages and recycle their lives. You can have two men who are 64 years old, and one is retired and driving around in a Winnebago, and the other is just remarried with a toddler in his house. Generational marketing, which defines consumers not just by age, but also by social, economic, demographic and psychological factors, has been used since the early 80s to give a more accurate picture of the target consumer. A newer twist is cohort marketing, which studies groups of people who underwent the same experiences during their formative years. This leads them to form a bond and behave differently from people in different cohorts, even when they're similar in age. For instance, people who were young adults in the 50s behave differently from people who came of age during the tumultuous 60s, even though they're close in age. To get an even narrower reading, some entrepreneurs combine cohort or generational marketing with life stages, or what people are doing at a certain time in life (getting married, having children, retiring) and physiographics, or physical conditions related to age (nearsightedness, arthritis, menopause). Today's consumers are more marketing-savvy than ever before and don't like to be "lumped" with others--so be sure you understand your target market. While pinpointing your market so narrowly takes a little extra effort, entrepreneurs who aim at a small target are far more likely to make a direct hit. Conclusion : The Target Market a specific group of consumers at which a company aims its products and services. Target customers are those most likely to buy from you. Do not be tempted to be too general in hopes of getting a larger chunk of the market

Tenses

Nama : Fakhru Rozi Kelas : 3EB08 NPM : 22209623 Tenses 1. While she was trying to read, her friend (was practicing) the piano. 2. He (bought) several jerseys in the last two years. 3. She (will bone) the meat later. 4. By the time you get there they already (left). 5. I (was drowning). Nobody save me. 6. He said she (has not returned) the book yet 7. What (do) you (darn) at the moment ? 8. She (thought) her husband will buy a new fridge. 9. How much (have you spen)t in London so far? 10. In a month’s time I (learned) mord words than ever 11. After he (had seen) the giraffe he spoke to the keeper. 12. He (had bought) weed-killer when they arrested him. 13. The plumbing always (give) trouble during the summer. 14. The trout (had risen) when they reached the lake. 15. (Do you recognize) this statue ? 16. They say they (will not perform) tomorrow. 17. What you have been (doing) since your last recital ? 18. As it was (rain) he put up his umbrella. 19. They (had heard) Beethoven better conducted earlier in the year. 20. What is (going) on here ? 21. I only just (realized) what she meant. 22. I never (planted) crocuses again. 23. (Had you enjoyed) yourself when I saw you at the party ? 24. I (went) to the zoo and I go while they are still talking about visiting it. 25. She (docked) at Tilbury last week. 26. He always (accelerate) too quickly. 27. (Do) you hear that awful noise ? 28. By the time the brigade arrived, the house had (collapse). 29. I saw a new type of windscreen wiper while I (walked) round the exhibition yesterday. 30. They (have been waiting) to take off since ten this morning. 31. She (shot) at least three tigers in India last year. 32. We (saw) what we see. 33. He (heard) an owl hooting as he walking through the wood. 34. They (have been producing) a hundred shirts everyday for two months now. 35. Where were you (going) when I bumped into you ? 36. Who (was told) the grasshopper to dance ? The ant in the fable. 37. They (wears) high heels everyday last term. 38. What (will you do) with a gun in your car ? 39. He still not (found) his watch. 40. I (left) there several years before I found the nest. 41. When it (stung) him ? 42. She (likes) cockles. Naturally she (prefers) lobster. 43. Dragon-flies (have) very beautiful wings. 44. Time and tide (don’t wait) for no man, the saying run. 45. I (bought) some new pruners the other day. 46. The girl in the pay box seldom (smiles) nowadays. 47. The moment he (had opened) the boot the spareel fell out. 48. Too many cooks (spoiled) the broth. 49. He (was leave) Italy by plane yesterday

Here are the rules for when to use "A, An or The"

Here are the rules for when to use "A, An or The": • a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with consonants She has a dog. I work in a factory. • an = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with vowels (a,e,i,o,u) Can I have an apple? She is an English teacher. • the = definite article (a specific object that both the person speaking and the listener know) The car over there is fast. The teacher is very good, isn't he? • The first time you speak of something use "a or an", the next time you repeat that object use "the". I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms. I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very good. • DO NOT use an article with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and mountains except when the country is a collection of states such as "The United States". He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier. They live in northern British Columbia. • Use an article with bodies of water, oceans and seas - My country borders on the Pacific Ocean • DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about things in general I like Russian tea. She likes reading books. • DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about meals, places, and transport He has breakfast at home. I go to university. He comes to work by taxi.

Exercise 4, 10, 11

Exercise 4 : Articles In the following sentences supply the articles (a, an, or the) if they are necessary. If no articles is necessary, leave the space blank. 1. Jason’s father bought him a bicycle that he had wanted for his birthday. 2. A Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from a France to a United States. 3. Rita is studying a English and a math this semester. 4. The judge asked a witness to tell the truth. 5. Please give me a cup of a coffee with a cream and a sugar. 6. The big books on the table are for my history class. 7. No one in the Spanish class knew the correct answer to a Mrs. Perez;s question. 8. My a car is four years old and it still runs well. 9. When you go to the store, please buy a botle of a chocolate milk and a dozen oranges. 10. There are only a few seats left for a tonight’s musical at the university. 11. Jhon and Marcy went to the school yesterday and then studied in the library before returing home. 12. A Lake Erie is one of the five Great Lakes in the North America. 13. On our trip to the Spain, we crossed the Atlantic Ocean. 14. The Mount Rushmore is the site of a magnificent tribute to the four great American presidens. 15. What did you eat for a breakfest this morning? 16. Louie played a basketball and a baseball at the Boy’s Club this year. 17. Rita plays a violin and her sister plays a guitar. 18. While we were in the Alaska, we saw the Eskimo village. 19. Phil can’t go to the movies tonight because he has to write an essay. 20. David attended a Princeton University. 21. Harry has been admited to the School of Medicine at the midwestern university. 22. Mel’s grandmother is in a hospital, so we went to visit her a last tonight. 23. The political science class is taking a trip to the Soviet Union in the spring. 24. A Queen Elizabeth II is a monarch of the Great Britain. 25. The Declaration of Independence was drawn up in 1776. 26. Scientists hope to send an expedition to the Mars during the 1980s. 27. Last night there was a bird singing outside my house. 28. The chair that you are sitting in is broken. 29. The Civil War was fought in a United States between 1861 and 1865. 30. The Florida State University is smaller than a University of Florida. Exercise 10 : Subject-Verb Agreement Choose the from of the verb in pareatheses in the following sentences. 1. Jhon, along with twenty friends, (are) planning aparty. 2. The picture of the soldiers (bring) back many memories. 3. The quality of these recordings (are) not very good. 4. If the duties of these officers (aren’t) reduced, there will not be enough time to finish the project. 5. The effects of cigarette smoking (have) been proven to be extremely harmful. 6. The use of credit cards in place of cash (have) increased rapidly in recent years. 7. Advertasements on television (are) becoming more competitive than ever before. 8. Living expenses in this country, as well as in many others, (is) at an all-time high. 9. Mr. Jones, accompained by several members of the committee (has) proposed some changes of the rules. 10. The levels of intoxication (vary) from subject to subject. Exercies 11 : Subject-Verb Agreement Choose the correct from of the verb in the following sentences. 1. Neither Bill nor Mary (are) going to play tonight. 2. Anything (are) better than going to another movie tonight. 3. Skating (is) becoming more popular every day. 4. A number of reporters (were) at the conference yesterday. 5. Everybody who (has) a fever must go home immediately. 6. Your glasses (were) on the bureau last night. 7. There (were) some people at the meeting last night. 8. The commitee (has) already reached a decision. 9. A pair of jeans (were) in the washing machine this morning. 10. Each student (have) answered the first three questions. 11. Either John or his wife (makes) breakfest each morning. 12. After she had perused the material, the secretary decided that everything (were) in order. 13. The crwod at the basketball game (was) wild eith excitement. 14. A pack of wild dogs (has) frightened all the ducks away. 15. The jury (is) trying to reach a decision. 16. The army (has) eliminated this section of the training test. 17. The number of students who have withdrawn from class this quarter (are) appalling. 18. There (have) been to many interruptions in this class. 19. Every elemntary school teacher (has) to take this examination. 20. Neither Jill nor her parents (have) seen this movie before.

VOCABULARY

Computer

Verb Noun

1. Open - Mouse
2. Save - Keyboard
3. Add - Printer
4. Rename - Laptop
5. Remove - Software
6. Restart - Hardware
7. Close - Brainware
8. Refresh - Letter
9. Log Off - Anti Virus
10. Cut - Virus
11. Manage - Speed
12. Paste - Notebook
13. Update - Modem
14. Setting - Monitor
15. Download - Net Book
16. Windows - Game User
17. Enter - Copy
18. Delete - Sender
19. Restore - Server
20. Send - Client
21. Hang - USB HUB
22. Review - Speaker
23. User - Program
24. Tools - CDRoom
25. Format - Virus


Advertising

Verb Noun

1. Plug - Radio or TV spot
2. Promotion - Product Placement
3. Drum Up - Tabloid
4. To write copy - Target audience
5. Distribute - Television
6. Production - Poster
7. Skill - Advertisement
8. Count - Circulation
9. Marketing - Jingle
10. Gloss Over - Slogan
11. Service - Roadside Signs
12. Branding - Motto
13. Designer - Product
14. Research - Gloss
15. Evaluation - Account
16. Logo Job - Announce
17. Editing - Want Add
18. Target - Commercial
19. Programmer - Edventory
20. Organize - Market Leader
21. Writerst - Market Research
22. Mission - Point of sale
23. Vision - House Brand
24. Multimedia Experts - Fictomercial
25. Implemation - Pop-up

Banking

Verb Noun

1. Report - Report Statement
2. Correct - Correction
3. Debit - Debitor
4. Credit - Creditor
5. Journal - Journalist
6. Save - Savings
7. Direct - Director
8. Borrow - Loan
9. Account - Accounting
10. Bank - Banker
11. Deposit - Depositor
12. Document - Documentor
13. Liquid - Liquidity
14. Pay - Payment
15. Check Out - Check
16. Interest Bank - Interest
17. Invent - Investor
18. Lease - Leasing
19. Transfer - Transferring
20. Tell - Teller
21. Owe - Debt
22. Centralize - Central
23. Service Bank - Service
24. Posted - Post
25. Operating - Computere

Marketing

Verb Noun

1. Store - Warehouse
2. Discount - Discounter
3. Promotion - Promo
4. Costume - Cash
5. Import - Retailer
6. Belief - Distributor
7. Supply - Supplier
8. Send - Sender
9. Sales - Salesman
10. Prices - Set prices
11. Discharg - Purchaser
12. Purchas - Payer
13. Retail - Buyer
14. Production - Product
15. Expend - Expenditure
16. Pay - Amount
17. Buy - Management
18. Distribution - Believe
19. Sales - Market Share
20. Manage - Delivery
21. Strategies - Innovator
22. Delivered - Discounter
23. Amounted - Costumer
24. Market - Importir
25. Innovation - Eksportir

Apa Itu Boxing Day?

Disaat hampir semua tim menjalani libur Natal dan Tahun Baru, kompetisi Premier League justru bergulir pada 26 Desember, atau biasa disebut dengan laga Boxing Day. Tahukah Anda, mengapa pertandingan yang dilangsungkan tepat satu hari setelah Natal itu di sebut Boxing Day?

Jauh sebelum kompetisi Premier League digelar, publik Inggris umumnya telah mengenal Boxing Day. Menurut sejarah, Boxing Day mulai dipopulerkan pada pertengahan abad ke-19, saat masa pemerintahan Ratu Victoria. Sebelumnya, perayaan ini dikhususkan bagi para penduduk golongan bawah (pelayan) yang selama satu tahun melayani sang majikan.

Setelah melayani sang majikan pada hari Natal, keesokan harinya para pelayan tersebut mendapat jatah libur plus menerima berbagai hadiah yang pada saat itu umumnya berbentuk kotak persegi (boxes-red) yang diberikan majikan-majikan mereka. Hadiah tersebut beragam, bisa berupa pakaian, makanan, buah-buahan atau bahkan uang.

Tradisi inilah yang kemudian akrab disebut Boxing Day (Hari pembagian kotak hadiah). Di beberapa bagian Negara seperti Selandia Baru, Inggris, Australia dan Kanada, perayaan ini juga akrab disebut Stephens Day.

Tradisi asli Negara-negara asal Britania ini hingga kini masih dipertahankan. Namun seiring perkembangan zaman, tradisi inipun sedikit bergeser, namun tetap memiliki makna yang sama. Sebagai contoh, kini banyak gereja-gereja memanfatkan momen Boxing Day sebagai hari untuk membagikan sumbangan kepada kaum miskin.

Di masyarakat Inggris, Boxing Day juga dirayakan dengan cara berkumpul bersama keluarga, teman, bertukar kado atau bahkan bersama-sama menyaksikan pertandingan sepakbola. Pada hari ini perkantoran umumnya diliburkan, namun pertokoan seperti mall tetap buka dan menjual barang-barang hadiah yang tentunya dengan harga diskon.

Begitu juga di sepakbola, Boxing Day memang tidak dirayakan dengan membagi-bagi uang, pakaian atau bahkan bola. Akan tetapi, publik Inggris tetap menyelenggarakan pertandingan pada satu hari setelah Natal ini dengan maksud yang sama.

Setiap kontestan di Premiership umumnya bertanding untuk memberikan kado berupa kemenangan bagi para pendukungnya. Oleh karena itu pada ajang Boxing Day nanti kompetisi Premier League bakal tetap bergulir. Dimana semua tim bakal menjalani pertandingan guna mempersempahkan kado berupa kemenangan bagi fansnya.

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DI beberapa negara, kompetisi sepak bola akan libur pada saat Natal. Namun, di Inggris dan beberapa negara persemakmuran, justru akan bermain, tepatnya sehari setelah Natal. Hari pada tanggal 26 Desember itu disebut Boxing Day.

Bagi masyarakat Inggris, ini hari libur dan sangat istimewa. Maka, mereka memanfaatkannya dengan pesta, berbelanja, atau menyaksikan tontonan yang mereka suka. Maka, pada Boxing Day, sepak bola harus tetap bermain. Jika tidak, maka bisa diprotes seluruh rakyat. Sebab, sepak bola sudah menjadi bagian dari hiburan dan wisata wajib bagi sebagian besar orang Inggris.

Hanya saja, Federasi Sepak Bola Inggris (FA) membuat jadwal begitu rapi. Khusus pertandingan pada Boxing Day, diusahakan tim yang bertanding bertetangga, atau jaraknya tak terlalu jauh. Sehingga, suporter dan tim tak melakukan perjalanan terlalu jauh dan dengan begitu tak membuang waktu di hari istimewa itu. Meski begitu, tidak semua partai mempertandingkan dua tim yang berdekatan.

Pada laga Premier League di Boxing Day 2011 ini akan mempertandingkan tim-tim yang berdekatan letaknya. Semisal, Chelsea akan menjamu Fulham. Kedua klub sama-sama dari London.

Kenapa di sebut Boxing Day? Ini bukan hari tinju, bukan pula hari kotak. Namun, nama itu sudah lama dan mentradisi sejak lama, diperkirakan muncul pada Abad Pertengahan.

Ada beberapa versi keterangan. Pada tanggal 26 Desember merupakan hari di mana masyarakat Inggris saling memberi hadiah atau bingkisan yang dibungkus dalam sebuah kotak. Karena itu, tanggal 26 Desember disebut Boxing Day.

Ada penjelasan lain yang mengatakan, tradisi ini muncul di awal era Kristen. Saat itu, sebuah kotak besi ditaruh di depan gereja untuk mengumpulkan sumbangan.

Namun, di Inggris, tradisi ini muncul saat para baron dan bangsawan memberi hari libur kepada para budak dan pembantunya di tanggal 26 Desember. Mereka diberi kesempatan mengunjungi keluarganya. Masing-masing pembantu atau budak diberi kotak berisi hadiah atau bonus. Sebab itu, kemudian muncul tradisi memberi hadiah pada 26 Desember dan kemudian dinamai Boxing Day.

Meski begitu, Boxing Day bisa berbeda-beda penafsiran di setiap negara. Yang pasti, di Inggris ini hari istimewa, hingga sepak bola pun harus tetap berlaga.

Boxing Day kini juga berkembang menjadi tradisi belanja besar-besaran di Britania Raya. Sebab, pada hari itu, hampir semua toko menawarkan diskon besar-besaran pula. Maka, selain ke stadion, pada hari itu masyarakat Inggris juga akan berduyun-duyun ke shopping center.

Mitos “Boxing Day”: Dulu dan Kini

Tanggal 26 Desember merupakan hari yang ditunggu-tunggu oleh warga dunia yang tergabung dalam negara-negara Commonwealth, seperti Inggris Raya, Selandia baru, Australia dan juga Kanada. Hari itu dikenal dengan nama “Boxing Day” yang merupakan hari libur nasional. Dalam sejarahnya, Boxing Day awalnya hanya sebuah perayaan tradisional pada abad pertengahan, yang secara kultural setiap orang kala itu tergerak hatinya untuk memberikan hadiah yang dibungkus dengan kotak (box) kepada para pekerja, orang-orang miskin dan kelompok-kelompok sosial yang berada di kelas bawah.

Seiring perkembangan zaman, tradisi “Boxing Day” ini berubah dari akar sejarahnya. Di Kanada, tempat tinggal saya saat ini, Boxing Day bisa dikatakan sebagai hari Discount terbesar tahunan. Betapa tidak, saat hari ini tiba semua supermarket dan gerai-gerai elektronik menurunkan harga termurah, seperti Future Shop, Best Buy, Wallmart, The Source. Begitu pula gerai-gerai kecil lainnya. Aneka iklan dan promosi ditampilkan dan disebarkan pada semua orang. Bentuk-bentuk promosi dengan “Boxing Day Sale”, “Boxing Week Sale’, “Crasher Shop”, “Amazing Price” memancing konsumen untuk turut juga memburu barang-barang belanjaan.

Bukan hanya itu, para pembelipun rela antri berjam-jam. Bahkan diantara mereka ada yang mulai antri pukul 6 pagi, padahal toko akan dibuka pukul 1 siang. Termasuk saya yang juga antri dari mulai jam 10, agar dapat membeli Canon, Digital Camera Super Shoot 10 MP.

Negara lainnya seperti Inggris, perayaan “Boxing Day” juga mengalami perubahan kebudayaan yang cukup berarti. Bahkan Boxing Day disana lebih dikenal sebagai hari berolahraga. Padahal dalam sejarah Inggris, setiap tanggal 26 Desember itu merupakan hari dimana orang melakukan tradisi berburu rubah (fox hunting). Tradisi berburu kini telah menjelma menjadi tradisi sepak bola, balap kuda dan kriket. Untuk itu, tak mengherankan jika sepak bola di hari Boxing Day benar-benar menjadi sorotan semua orang, bahkan media di sana mempublikasikan secara besar-besaran setiap pencetak gol dan pemenang di Liga Inggris pada tanggal 26 Desember. Ini sekaligus menandakan bahwa hari tersebut benar-benar bukan hanya sekedar mitos, tetapi juga merupakan hari keberuntungan bagi setiap orang.

Hari libur memang mempunyai makna tersendiri bagi yang merayakannya. Seiring perkembangan zaman dan budaya manusia, perubahan nilai-nilai yang terkandung di balik hari-hari itu juga tak dapat dihindari. Begitulah sejarah, adakalanya bertahan dan ada pula yang harus berubah, seperti tradisi “Boxing Day”.

DITEMUKANNYA KAPAL NABI NUH

Dikisahkan, sekitar 4.800 tahun lalu, banjir bandang menerjang Bumi. Sebelum bencana mahadahsyat itu terjadi, Nabi Nuh -- nabi tiga agama, Islam, Kristen, dan Yahudi, diberi wahyu untuk membuat kapal besar -- demi menyelamatkan umat manusia dan mahluk Bumi lainnya.

Cerita tentang bahtera Nabi Nuh dikisah dalam berbagai buku, sejumlah film dan lain-lain. Sejumlah ahli sejarah dari berbagai negara sudah lama penasaran dengan kebenaran kisah ini.
Untuk membuktikan kebenaran cerita itulah, kelompok peneliti dari China dan Turki yang tergabung dalam 'Noah's Ark Ministries International' selama bertahun-tahun mencari sisa-sisa perahu legendaris tersebut.
Kemarin, 26 April 2010 mereka mengumumkan mereka menemukan perahu Nabi Nuh di Turki. Mereka mengklaim menemukan sisa-sisa perahu Nabi Nuh berada di ketinggian 4.000 meter di Gunung Agri atau Gunung Ararat, di Turki Timur.

Mereka bahkan mengklaim berhasil masuk ke dalam perahu itu, mengambil foto dan beberapa specimen untuk membuktikan klaim mereka.

Menurut para peneliti, specimen yang mereka ambil memiliki usia karbon 4.800 tahun, cocok dengan apa yang digambarkan dalam sejarah.

Jika klaim mereka benar, para peneliti Evangelis itu telah menemukan perahu paling terkenal dalam sejarah.
"Kami belum yakin 100 persen bahwa ini benar perahu Nuh, tapi keyakinan kami sudah 99 persen," kata salah satu anggota tim yang bertugas membuat film dokumenter, Yeung Wing, seperti dimuat laman berita Turki, National Turk, 27 April 2010.

Grup yang beranggotakan 15 orang dari Hong Kong dan Turki hadir dalam konferensi pers yang diadakan Senin 26 April 2010 lalu.

Kepada media yang hadir saat itu, mereka juga memamerkan specimen fosil kapal yang diduga perahu Nuh, berupa tambang, paku, dan pecahan kayu.

Seperti yang dijelaskan para peneliti, tambang dan paku diduga digunakan untuk menyatukan kayu-kayu hingga menjadi kapal. Tambang juga digunakan untuk mengikat hewan-hewan yang diselamatkan dari terjangan bah -- begitu juga dengan potongan kayu yang dibuat bersekat untuk menjaga keamanan hewan-hewan.

Penemuan besar ini jadi amunisi untuk mendorong pemerintah Turki mendaftarkan situs ini ke UNESCO -- agar lembaga PBB itu ikut menjaga kelestarian perahu Nuh.

Awalnya, direncananya para arkeolog akan menggali perahu itu dan memisahkannya dari gunung. Namun, hal tersebut tak mungkin dilakukan, meski nilai sejarah penemuan ini sangat tinggi.

***

Diyakini, ketika air surut, perahu Nuh berada di atas Gunung. Meski tiga agama besar mengabarkan mukjizat Nabi Nuh, tak ada penjelasan sama sekali, di mana persisnya perahu itu menyelesaikan misinya.

Sejak lama penduduk lokal Turki yang tinggal di pegunungan maupun kota-kota lain percaya bahwa perahu Nabi Nuh berada di Gunung Ararat.

Apalagi, pilot pesawat temput Turki dalam sebuah misi pemetaan NATO, mengaku melihat benda besar seperti perahu di Dogubayazit, Turki.

Pada 2006, citra satelit secara detil menunjukan benda mirip kapal yang diduga perahu Nuh itu adalah gunung yang dilapisi salju.

Beberapa ahli lain berpendapat bahwa sisa-sisa perahu Nuh menjadi bagian dari pemukiman manusia -- yang selamat dari bencana banjir bah.

Namun, peneliti yang mengklaim penemu perahu Nuh membantahnya. "Kami tak pernah menemukan ada manusia yang bermukim di ketinggian 3.500 meter dalam sejarah umat manusia."

Cuaca sangat dingin di ketinggian 4.000 meter itu oleh para penemu diyakini menjaga kondisi perahu Nuh selama ribuan tahun.