domingo, 15 de noviembre de 2009
sábado, 7 de noviembre de 2009
Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while "some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, [it is] more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain or Samuin (pronounced sow-an or sow-in)". The name is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end". A similar festival was held by the ancient Britons and is known as Calan Gaeaf (pronounced kalan-geyf).
The ancient Celts believed that the border between this world and the Otherworld became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family's ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm. In Scotland the spirits were impersonated by young men dressed in white with masked, veiled or blackened faces. Samhain was also a time to take stock of food supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. Bonfires played a large part in the festivities. All other fires were doused and each home lit their hearth from the bonfire. The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames. Sometimes two bonfires would be built side-by-side, and people and their livestock would walk between them as a cleansing ritual.
Another common practise was divination, which often involved the use of food and drink.
The name 'Halloween' and many of its present-day traditions derive from the Old English era
Animal print trend
Revived several years with the impetus that gave Roberto Cavalli in their designs. One of the signature of Italian designer style, which, however, this year is stronger than ever. We got her out of accessories such as handbags and shoes to garments in several versions: jackets, coats, sweaters, even skirts.
Everything to create a sophisticated look when mixed with black or rocker if more details are added as shiny metal, wall or studs. The animal print this season is forgotten even in the monochrome version in black or neutral and risks with bold colors like red or purple
Playstation portable PSP
Sony just announced that its PSP PlayStation Portable goes on sale in Europe on 1 September this year. The Sony PSP is a playstation which also function as video console, is also used to watch DVD movies and playing music.
The new PSP playstation price will be about 249 euros, which is considerably more expensive than the price at which it sells the same model since earlier this year in the United States.
Since it hit the market nine months ago, first in Japan and then in the United States, have sold over a million and half of the PSP worldwide. The launch of Sony PlayStation Portable in Europe had to be postponed to meet the high demand before its release in the United States.
Meanwhile, the company markets its release Nintendo and Nintendo DS in Europe, America and Japan, according to an article in BBC Technology, its sales expectations for the end of March 2005 was 5 million units.
The war of the new generation of video games has only just begun.
Ecology and green are words that have recently entered several areas of our lives. Everything must be organic or at least try to be: cars, houses, utensils and furniture. Even clothes can also be organic. In 2008, the focus sharpens echo, and the trend is natural, organic, and recycled. Interior designers also pay attention to nature but without neglecting the home look beautiful and elegant. The leather comes into this area of organic and has become an absolute favorite chairs and other furniture.
Pica-Pica AnimaThe route of Chaguaramas to Valle De La Pascua there is a legend that is worth keeping in mind to venture out on these roads safer. It happens that many years ago to a carrier was lost a mule for these properties and the search appeared to him the remains of a soldier under a bush of pica-pica. This poor man had managed to flee the frightful slaughter of the Battle of Jacome. However, the carrier reached an agreement with the remains of the soldier: "If you help me to find the mule before dawn, as it should entomb you. The mule appeared and this was the first miracle attributed to him the soul of Pica-Pica. But because the carrier failed to fulfill its part to get home in Valle de la Pascua ill and died but not before asking your children to fulfill their promises. That's why under the tree Pica-Pica is now a holy wooden cross as chauffeur passes there it goes down and lights a candle to her miraculous soul.
The Headless Horseman is a fictional character who appears in Washington Irving's story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow".
In the story, the man who became the Headless Horseman is a German mercenary hired by the British Navy in 1776 to support British troops in the revolution. Of the 548 German mercenaries who were killed during the revolution, he is chased by enemy soldiers near Sleepy Hollow (New York) and decapitated with his own sword. According to local legend, the Headless Horseman appears in spirit form to take the head of the living. The central character in the story, Ichabod Crane, ignored warnings about the danger and is an uncertain fate at the hands of the rider. Although Crane's rival in the story, Brom Bones, who disguises himself could be the rider is not explicit in the story if Crane is with the rider or Brom Bones.
Since the Headless Horseman was introduced into popular culture, this has become an icon of terror, has appeared in many films, television programs, cartoons and video games. In the film, Tim Burton, Sleepy Hollow (1999), the rider is played by Christopher Walken and Ray Park. In the film finds its rider end at the hands of American armed forces, who kill their horse and decapitate him with his own sword.
In October 2007, the Sci Fi channel aired a film called The Headless Horseman starring Richard Moll and directed by Anthony C. Ferrante, which states that the story of Washington Irving is a smoothed version of what happened in reality and true facts shown in this film.