Feathers symbolize ascension to the spiritual plane. In most cultures, feathers represented higher thought and spiritual progression. Birds were considered divine creatures because they are of the sky and therefore closer to God. Feathers were worn by the Native Americans to symbolize their communication with the Great Spirit and to convey their celestial wisdom. Feathers […]
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I often use symbols in my stories, although readers may not always be aware of them. Since I minored in Art History, I have studied works of art from Egypt to modern times. The focus in all my studies was symbolism. Symbols are used in various art forms to convey different connotations from their literal
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Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading refers to the act in which the decapitation is carried out for execution. Beheading as a form of punishment has been around for centuries. This form of punishment was performed by axe, sword, knife, or a wire. The Romans considered beheading a more humane
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My favorite animal happens to be the hawk, although the falcon is a close second. Birds of prey fascinate me. I find myself stopping my car often to take pictures of hawks that I see in the wild. Hunting with raptors is believed to have been initiated in Mesopotamia as early as 2000 BC. Falconry
Since Valentine’s Day is almost here, I thought to do an article on Cupid. Cupid evolved in Roman mythology and is known as the god of desire, affection, and erotic love. He is the son of the Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Although Cupid’s paternity is vague, he is often believed to
Raglan Castle is a late medieval castle located in the village of Raglan, in the county of Monmouthshire in southeast Wales. The castle dates back to the 15th century, but construction on the castle continued to occur through the early 17th century. Raglan castle featured a beautiful gatehouse, and a large hexagonal keep, known as the Great
A Short History of Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day is an international holiday celebrated on February 14th. Due to the patron Saint Valentine, February has long been celebrated as the month of love and romance. In the United States, the day is often celebrated with candy, gifts, and flowers being exchanged between loved ones. According to The
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Christmas is both a religious and secular holiday. Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries around the world, including many whose populations are mostly non-Christian. Many of the traditions that we observe, such as exchanging gifts, decorating trees, sharing food with family and friends, and burning Yule logs, were
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Throughout history, mankind has celebrated bountiful harvests with thanksgiving ceremonies. The first American Thanksgiving was a celebration between the pilgrims of the Plymouth Plantation and the Native American Wampanoag tribe, which took place in the autumn of 1621. After a hard and devastating first year in the New World, the Pilgrim’s fall harvest was very successful
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Halloween is one of the world’s oldest holidays. The yearly celebration is observed in many countries on October 31st to honor the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day. All Hallow’s Eve or Halloween (as it was called in 1745) originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain over two thousand years ago. The Celts
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