EL HOMBRE QUE CALCULABA
2 years ago
Saturday, 28 January 2012
PEACE SYMBOLS By Linda Baxter
The concept of peace is a very important one in cultures all over the world. Think about how we greet people. In some languages, the phrases for greetings contain the word for peace. In some cultures we greet people by shaking hands or with another gesture to show that we are not carrying weapons - that we come in peace. And there are certain symbols which people in very different cultures recognise as representing peace. Let's look at the origins of a few of them.
The dove
The dove has been a symbol of peace and innocence for thousands of years in many different cultures. In ancient Greek mythology it was a symbol of love and the renewal of life. In ancient Japan a dove carrying a sword symbolised the end of war.
There was a tradition in Europe that if a dove flew around a house where someone was dying then their soul would be at peace. And there are legends which say that the devil can turn himself into any bird except for a dove. In Christian art, the dove was used to symbolise the Holy Ghost and was often painted above Christ's head.
But it was Pablo Picasso who made the dove a modern symbol of peace when he used it on a poster for the World Peace Congress in 1949.
There was a tradition in Europe that if a dove flew around a house where someone was dying then their soul would be at peace. And there are legends which say that the devil can turn himself into any bird except for a dove. In Christian art, the dove was used to symbolise the Holy Ghost and was often painted above Christ's head.
But it was Pablo Picasso who made the dove a modern symbol of peace when he used it on a poster for the World Peace Congress in 1949.
The rainbow
The rainbow is another ancient and universal symbol, often representing the connection between human beings and their gods. In Greek mythology it was associated with Iris, the goddess who brought messages from the gods on Mount Olympus. In Scandinavian mythology the rainbow was a bridge between the gods and the earth. In the Bible a rainbow showed Noah that the Biblical flood was finally over, and that God had forgiven his people. In the Chinese tradition, the rainbow is a common symbol for marriage because the colours represent the union of yin and yang. Nowadays the rainbow is used by many popular movements for peace and the environment, representing the possibility of a better world in the future and promising sunshine after the rain.
Mistletoe
This plant was sacred in many cultures, generally representing peace and love. Most people know of the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe at Christmas time, which probably comes from Scandinavian mythology. The goddess Freya's son was killed by an arrow made of mistletoe, so, in honour of him, she declared that it would always be a symbol of peace. It was often hung in doorways as a sign of friendship.
The ancient Druids believed that hanging mistletoe in your doorway protected you from evil spirits. Tribes would stop fighting for a period of time if they found a tree with mistletoe. But you will never see mistletoe in a Christian church - it is banned because of its associations with pagan religion and superstition.
The ancient Druids believed that hanging mistletoe in your doorway protected you from evil spirits. Tribes would stop fighting for a period of time if they found a tree with mistletoe. But you will never see mistletoe in a Christian church - it is banned because of its associations with pagan religion and superstition.
The olive branch
The olive tree has always been a valuable source of food and oil. In Greek mythology, the goddess Athene gave the olive tree to the people of Athens, who showed their gratitude by naming the city after her. But no one knows for sure when or why it began to symbolise peace. There is probably a connection with ancient Greece. Wars between states were suspended during the Olympic Games, and the winners were given crowns of olive branches. The symbolism may come from the fact that the olive tree takes a long time to produce fruit, so olives could only be cultivated successfully in long periods of peace. Whatever the history, the olive branch is a part of many modern flags symbolising peace and unity. One well-known example is the United Nations symbol.
The ankh
The ankh is an ancient symbol which was adopted by the hippie movement in the 1960s to represent peace and love. It was found in many Asian cultures, but is generally associated with ancient Egypt. It represented life and immortality. Egyptians were buried with an ankh, so that they could continue to live in the 'afterworld'. The symbol was also found along the sides of the Nile, which gave life to the people. They believed that the ankh could control the flow of the river and make sure that there was always enough water.
LANTERN FESTIVAL
Chinese New Year celebrations end on the 15th day with the Lantern Festival. On the evening of that day, people carry lanterns into the streets to take part in a great parade.
Choose lantern types from the right-hand panel. Use the tools on the left-hand panel to change the lanterns' characteristics.
Choose lantern types from the right-hand panel. Use the tools on the left-hand panel to change the lanterns' characteristics.
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Friday, 6 January 2012
EPIPHANY AND THE THREE WISE MEN
Today is the feast of Epiphany.
The Christian holiday of Epiphany, celebrated on January 6, commemorates three events:
The Magi, or Three Wise Men, arriving in Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus.
St. John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River.
Jesus performing his first miracle, changing water into wine at the marriage feast at Cana.
The story of the Three Wise Men, Kings or Magi
Epiphany is the day we celebrate the visit of the Magi, or the Wise Men. Not much is known about these visitors. We know they were from the East and studied the stars. We also know that they had some knowledge of the history and prophecies concerning Israel. They followed a star to Bethlehem, but contrary to the popular Nativity scenes, they probably arrived a year or two after Jesus’ birth.
Religious tradition has given them names: Balthazar, Caspar (or Gaspar), and Melchior.
After Jesus was born, wise men came to look for Him, from an area which is now in either Iran or Saudi Arabia. Although they are often called the "Three Kings", the Bible does not say how many there were, or that they were kings. Three is only a guess because they brought with them three gifts: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.Religious tradition has given them names: Balthazar, Caspar (or Gaspar), and Melchior.
They were certainly men of learning - probably today we would call them philosophers or scientists. They had seen an unusual new star in the sky, and knew that it told of the birth of a special king. They followed the direction of the star - East - and eventually found the place where Mary, Joseph and Jesus were staying. To bring honour to the child, they brought rich gifts:
Gold: A gift fit for a King
Frankincense: Burnt in worship of God. It’s a resin which burns with a beautiful smell.
Myrrh: A sign of mortal humanness - it was used to bury the dead. It’s a plant oil with a very strong sweet smell.
Frankincense: Burnt in worship of God. It’s a resin which burns with a beautiful smell.
Myrrh: A sign of mortal humanness - it was used to bury the dead. It’s a plant oil with a very strong sweet smell.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
