Posted by Dan on Dec 12, 2008 in
Lucky Hit Did you spend your last weekend consuming movies, DVDs, CDs, books, etc, too? Have you thought how rewarding getting creative yourself can be?
I want to show you three different ways to get creative! I will cover three different fields, so there will be something for everyone. The three different fields are reading, knitting and making a photo calendar.
My first idea for getting creative is making a special bookmark: a funny bookworm bookmark. I found this on a german website on bookmarks called lesezeichenladen.de. You can find the instructions in the section Bücherwurm basteln. Have Fun!
The second idea, although I must admit that most probably this will appeal more to women, is to knit a nice looking cap for the colder season. A fine set of instructions can be found on wunderfaser.de, the section is called Mütze stricken. I personally own one of those (to be honest, it was a present, but it was made using these instructions…)
The third idea for you creative minds out there is to make a photo calender with your own pictures. It is done using all free software. The instructions and the software can be found on www.naturfotokalender.de (section: Kalender mit Fotos selbst erstellen.)
Hope you enjoy my tips for a creative time! Go and do something yourself, you will be proud of it!
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Posted by Dan on Dec 12, 2008 in
Lucky Hit History of Mistletoe
The mistletoe, native to the forests of Northern Europe, is a parasite implant on deciduous and evergreen trees which produces yellowish flowers and waxy white berries. Its closest relative in North America has yellowish flowers and waxy white berries, and is also commonly known as mistletoe. Notably, it is the official floral emblem of the State of Oklahoma.
The name mistletoe came about from two Anglo – Saxon words: mistel which means dung and tan which means twig. And so, mistletoe quite literally means dung on a twig. Mistletoe infers that life can spring up from dung. This leeching plant grows and thrives on the dung of birds on the branches of trees. As a result, mistletoe became the symbol of vivacity and fertility.
The Christmas and New Year tradition of embracing for the bashful and kissing for the brazen under a sprig of mistletoe dates back to olden Britain. Also, it was prevalent among the Druids who were the learned class of the Celts.
The Druids celebrated the beginning of winter ( winter solstice ) by collecting mistletoe and burning it as a sacrifice to their pagan gods. To ensure a year of good faith, peace, and familial harmony, they hung sprigs of mistletoe around their homes. Twigs of the evergreen displayed visibly outside their homes welcomed relatives, friends, neighbors and weary travelers and the mistletoe within encouraged them to embrace shamelessly. Feuding parties or foes who happened to meet under trees that contained mistletoe were required to lay aside their weapons and settle their differences.
The Druids believed that the mistletoe had healing properties. It was often prescribed for female infertility and as an antidote for poisons of all kinds. The gathering of mistletoe was a ceremony by the highest priests using gold knives. Such a carefree rite of harvesting mistletoe is dramatically portrayed in Bellinis opera Norma.
The Celtic Druids were not the only people who ascribed so many marvelous attributes to the mistletoe, the Scandinavians, who called it mistilteinn; also believed that it was the plant of peace, the plant of hope and the plant of harmony. The Scandinavian lore claims that the mistletoe belonged to Frigga, the Scandinavian star of inclination, and the embracing and kissing custom is thought to have come from this notion.
Mistletoe was also used for a decorative green in the Roman Empire during their feasts of Natalis Solis Invicti and Saturnalia. Due to its ties to idolatrous festivities, the Church banned the use of mistletoe when Christmas on December 25 was officially recognized as the birth of Christ in the the fourth century.
As an alternative to the mistletoe, the holly was ironically proposed even thought it too had strong associations with atheist rituals. Nevertheless, the hollys white flowers were to signify the purity of Christ, the acerbic leaves were to symbolize the thorns in Christs crown and the red berries as drops of His blood. Thus, the Holly became a Nativity tradition, but, surprisingly enough, the churchs ban on mistletoe which was in effect throughout the Middle Ages still persists today.
How To
Posted by Dan on Dec 12, 2008 in
Lucky Hit Party favors that are practical are a sure way to get your wedding or party to be remembered by all your guests as they will go away with something that can be used afterwards. While it may not seem important, it is nice when your guests have made the effort to attend your wedding ceremony, perhaps traveling some distance, for them to have something of value but useful as a remembrance.
You also want your guests to appreciate the wedding favors as well which is not likely to happen if you decided to choose the easy wedding favors option as many do. These favors may not be the most romantic but they are much more likely to be appreciated by your guests than more whimsical items such as figurines and potpourri.
Coasters are one idea for wedding favors which can be romantic or suit the theme of your wedding but can also be very practical and you can purchase coasters in a variety of shapes including hearts to provide for your guests as wedding favors. As everyone uses coasters they will probably be used all the time and with your wedding theme on them they will be a constant reminder of theta special day. It is easy enough to arrange to have coasters with an image that resembles the theme of your wedding but as something a little different, only place the image on one coaster leaving the rest empty so each guest can place whatever wedding image they choose on them.
Practical wedding favors can also be something that can be used on a daily basis like key chains for instance and they come in a huge range of styles but consider carefully which design you will choose for the men and again for the women. This may prove to be a compromise as to be used every day they will need to be strong but also be memorable enough so that everyone will instantly recognize where they received them.
Another popular wedding favor but practical nonetheless are candles as they can be used at anytime but come in a wide variety of styles. Candles are still very romantic and in recent years they have become en vogue again and now many people use them routinely, especially scented candles as they provide a nice light and can be very calming. People are likely to use the candles in the future as opposed to setting them aside and forgetting about them which might happen with other less practical favors.
Wine charms in a shape such as hearts or another romantic theme are also very practical favor ideas for a wedding as wine charms by themselves are somewhat romantic but when they are designed in shapes such as hearts, wedding bells or other romantic shapes they are very appropriate for a wedding. They are also a very practical favor idea because many people will not have this type of item but can really use a set of small charms which can be placed on the wine glass to distinguish one glass from another. Particularly useful for large gatherings, wine charms can actually be used at your wedding and the guests will not have to wait for another occasion to use them.
Find some really good buys on discount baby shower favors at this online store. They also can help you select some of the more popular baby shower party favors. You will love these cute baby shower party favors.
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