Chali Center

The city of Perpignan is located in the southernmost part of the Languedoc in the south of France. It is a perfect destination for lovers of the sea, mountains, nature, history and art. It also possesses mile after mile of wide sandy beaches extending from the Spanish border all the length of the Vermillion coast. It is a not-to-be-missed cultural center for anyone visiting south-west France or northern Spain. The city of Perpignan is located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. Situated on the Mediterranean coast, as a hinterland it has the Pyrenees mountains and the Corbieres wine-growing region. It is the southernmost city in France. Perpignan also has a unique and most interesting...

Over the 2,000 years of its history, Budapest has been ruled at various times by the Romans, Turks, Goths, Germans and until recently the Soviets. They have all left their influences and the combination has given Budapest an ambience all its own. It's a large city that was once considered three cities. Pest, Obuda and Buda were divided by the Danube, which forks in the middle of the city. The three cities were combined in 1873 and Budapest was adopted as the new name.During a stay in Budapest there are a few must see attractions.Spas - Budapest sits on a tectonic plate fault line in Eastern Europe. While earthquakes might seem inevitable, one advantage to the location is the proliferation of...

You may not realize this but the history of christmas trees did not begin in America, England or even Germany. In fact America was one of the last continents to catch on to the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree. The history of christmas trees begins long before the birth of Christ and even before the Egyptian civilizations.Many historians and anthropologists agree that the history of christmas trees begins in post-primeval times, just as agricultural societies were developing across the globe. Christmas did not exist. It was simply, in one culture or another, a pagan celebration of the winter solstice. The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year which usually occurs on the 22nd...

1. What rock star worked as a gravedigger before starting his musical career? A. Roy Orbison B. Billy Joel C. Mick Jaggar D. Rod Stewart1. What famous rock star worked as a gravedigger before starting his musical career? D. Rod Stewart TBD: That wasn't The QuizQueen's guess either, but that's what the research says!2. Which tradition was NOT a precursor to Halloween? A. The Celtic tradition of giving thanks at the close of the harvest season? B. The European tradition of lighting candles and masquerading in costume to scare evil spirits away. C. The celebration of the birth of Marilyn Manson. D. The Irish custom where wealthy landowners would give food to the poor in hopes that the ghosts...

Halloween is full of costumes and candy, trick-or-treating and terrifying haunted houses, pumpkins and black cats. But just where did Halloween come from? Why are we celebrating? The history of Halloween goes back 2000 years. Many believe that Halloween's origins are found in the Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts, who were located in Ireland, the UK and the northern parts of France, celebrated their New Year on the first of November. Samhain was celebrated the night before the New Year. The New Year, Celts believed, marked summer's end, harvest time, and the start of dark, cold winter months. Those winter months were associated with death by these people. On October 31, the night before the New...

From a historical perspective, 'The DaVinci Code' is good fiction ...I do think the book has provided a very real cultural benefit, though. By weaving many tales of medieval Christian mysticism into its story line, the book has stimulated a multitude of readers to look beyond the veneer of printed words in search of higher meanings. This is good, because both literature and history contain them in abundance. The richness of the written word and the refining effects of time have produced works essential to our lives' inner guidance.Hopefully, more people will be inspired by this work of fiction to more fully explore other tomes that have even deeper meanings.I'm referring to the Bible, the Torah, and...

One of my husband's favourite places is Florida, since he is an avid golfer and likes to get away from the cold Canadian winter for his birthday in early December.For a while now we had planned to visit Orlando, but neither one of us are into theme parks. So there was the challenge for me: would we be able to visit Orlando without setting foot into Disney or Universal Studios? For someone as curious as me this was a suitable challenge and I had been doing weeks of searches on the Internet and communicating with the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau to find out about interesting destinations off the beaten path.Well, I am happy to say, we arrived back safely yesterday from our trip, and the trip...

Thousands of years ago, the Celts, a group of independent tribes spread throughout much of current day Europe, were sophisticated artisans, carving knot work patterns that have inspired modern day jewelers to create wedding rings. These motifs have meaning. Yet understanding the knot patterns and why they make such ideal wedding rings can be illusive. The ancient motifs are rooted in mysterious cultures that stretch back well before written history.Though the earliest written accounts of the Celts were from Roman descriptions, some knot work motifs found in Eastern Europe may be as old as 20,000 years. We know the Celts, similar to Native people of North America, viewed that the earth itself as...

In many cases a marriage is recognized both by a church and the state. While the legal requirements for a wedding are established by the state, many couple wish to follow certain religious traditions to have their marriage recognized in their church as well. In the Catholic religion marriage is considered sacred and is one of the sacraments of the faith. The Catholic Church puts forth their own requirements for a marriage to be recognized in the eyes of the church.The Claddagh ring has a special meaning in a traditional Irish wedding. The Claddagh ring is a traditional ring that looks like two hands holding a heart that is adorned with a crown. Tradition holds that Claddagh rings be passed down...

David Muldoon, travel writer explores the delights of a celtic gem, dublin Dublin, the fair city, capital of the Republic of Ireland is situated on the eastern side of the emerald isle and offers the many facilities as any large European city while still maintaining the most traditional of Irish culture and hospitality. Dublin has attractions to suit everyone's taste, from museums to shopping, from castles to sport centres, from churches to restaurants, and of course a very special and exciting night life with pubs, cafés and night clubs. Getting bored in Dublin is virtually impossible.Dublin has some wonderful parts to explore, like the River Liffey that slices the city in half, or Grafton...

Recently someone came up with an explanation as to why someone of the Islamic faith cannot possible be a good American. This is in response to that ignorance. The writer asks.."Can a good Muslim be a good American?" In doing so, he sets himself up for a fall."Consider the following:" And of the Christian Fundamentalist, consider the following as well."Theologically - no. Because his allegiance is to Allah, the moon god of Arabia."And of the Christian Fundamentalist...Theologically- NO Because his allegiance is to God, the Sun God of Egypt. This is why God is Most High (At Noon), Jesus can be seen as an archetype Son of the Sun God and the Gospels are the account of a one year trip of the Sun...

The Kilt is a very old garment that has been around for many years. It is a noble item that came from the early Celtic race of Caledonia. It is argued that the Kilt came from Ireland instead of the Scottish origin. There are two sides to every story and it is up to you on which you decide to stick with.The tartan Kilt has been around for many years in the cultural tradition of Scotland. The features and traditions have been brought in by the Nobles of England and not by Scottish Highlanders.There is a lot of evidence that many of the tartans that are seen to day are made from the inventions of Scottish and English tailors during the reign of Queen Victoria. It has been known and accepted that...

This light house of Alexandria was one of the useful of the seven wonders of the world (for the sailors to return to the Great Harbor), which is a small differentiates it, when compared with the other wonders of the world. The mirror which was mounted on this lighthouse could reflect the light more than 35 miles off-shore. Of the 6 ancient destroyed wonders, this was the last to be destroyed around 1480 AD.Location:On the ancient island of Pharos, now a promontory on the harbor of the city of Alexandria in Egypt.Description:This lighthouse was built around 280 BC and was around 134 m in height. This was built in the city of Alexandria.The light house had a good mirror which can reflect the sun light...

Attempts to classify different types of plants is known to have occurred as far back as since pre-historic periods as shown in the evidence found in the caves of Lascaux in Dordogne, France. These date back to 18,000 B.C. We can only assume that man has always sought the knowledge of plants and had an interest in their cultivation, beyond the simple interest in plants for food.Hippocrates, the "father of medicine" taught in the fourth century B.C. of the value of some 400 plants and herbs - about half of which are still in used today. Aristotle attempted to catalogue the herbs known at the time and Theophrastus, a pupil of Aristotle, created a system of inquiry into plants which was to influence...

The history of names is so ancient that no one know quite where it began. Oral and written history both profess people having names. Earlier names seem to have some sort of meaning, usually descriptive. In contrast, today's names are usually given based upon their popularity or pleasing sounds.Early in prehistory, descriptive names were used continuously. Eventually, a collection of names were formed that identified that particular culture. Today, the meanings of many names are not known, due to the aging history of a name. As time goes on, languages change, and words that formed the original name are often unrecognizable.The rise in Christianity transformed the history of names. Christians were...

Thousands of years ago, the Celts, a group of independent tribes spread throughout much of current day Europe, were sophisticated artisans, carving knot work patterns that have inspired modern day jewelers to create wedding rings. These motifs have meaning. Yet understanding the knot patterns and why they make such ideal wedding rings can be illusive. The ancient motifs are rooted in mysterious cultures that stretch back well before written history. Though the earliest written accounts of the Celts were from Roman descriptions, some knot work motifs found in Eastern Europe may be as old as 20,000 years. We know the Celts, similar to Native people of North America, viewed that the earth itself as...

Okay, you've either gotten married or are planning to pretty soon. Congratulations! I'm sure you're aware that this means you will be responsible for at least half the meals you and your loved one will eat from here on out! Not to mention future children, your visiting family members and - of course - inlaws.A while back, one of my young daughters (who I hope wasn't getting any ideas), asked me which 10 recipes I thought every newly married person should be able to make. After thinking, off and on, about it for a few days, I came up with what I believe are the top ones. Before we get to the recipes, I'd like to just share a few words that would have made life a lot easier on me had someone shared...

Lisbon, 28th of October 2006. According to historic manuscripts, Halloween dates back to traditions and customs of the civilization that occupied Gaul from the years 600 a.c to 800 a.c, where today is Portugal, Spain, Italy and Britain's Islands. The lit up pumpkins and door to door trick or treating became popular in the United States. Traditionally, Halloween was not related to witches. It was a festival marked on the Celts calendar, today a land we call Ireland, by druid priests, who joyfully commemorated their Gods and the dead - The Samhain festival, Lord of the dead, celebrated on the 1st of November. The festival also marked the end of summer, the coming of a new year and the abundance of...

If you are new to investing online, don't put your entire life savings into an online account. Start with a smaller sum, which will be easier to handle and keep track of. Once you feel confident, you can then decide to add more money to your investing online account.Once online, many investors tend to concentrate on stocks, specifically large-cap domestic stocks. While these stocks should make up part of your portfolio, they shouldn't be ALL of it! Take into account your time horizon and risk tolerance to develop a well-balanced portfolio of stocks, bonds, and cash.If you're new to investing online and are looking to open a brokerage account, there are some important facts you should know before...

Halloween Howler 1. What rock star worked as a gravedigger before starting his musical career? B. Billy Joel C. Mick Jaggar D. Rod Stewart 1. What famous rock star worked as a gravedigger before starting his musical career? D. Rod Stewart TBD: That wasn't The QuizQueen's guess either, but that's what the research says! 2. Which tradition was NOT a precursor to Halloween? A. The Celtic tradition of giving thanks at the close of the harvest season? B. The European tradition of lighting candles and masquerading in costume to scare evil spirits away. C. The celebration of the birth of Marilyn Manson. D. The Irish custom where wealthy landowners would give food to the poor in hopes that the ghosts would...

For decades people have been using maps as sophisticated, high-class decorations. An ancient world map can be placed inside a beautiful wood frame and hung on the wall, or put on an office desk depending on its size. It tells people you are a knowledgeable man of refined taste.Many people collect all types of maps as a pastime, and since every demand creates its own supply, this has led retailers to start printing them on all sorts of products imaginable. You can buy a necktie that depicts an ancient world map, as well as footstools depicting the same image. Other products featuring images of an ancient world map include calendars, desk mats, wall hangings, blankets, rugs, framed art, clocks...

It is estimated that almost one in every four American people claim some kind of Irish roots. This is an amazing statistic given that the entire population of Ireland is just over five million people. During the famine times in Ireland in the mid 18th century literally over one million people starved to death while another million people fled to the four corners of the globe. America was the preferred destination of choice but the route was a treacherous and perilous one for those brave enough to take it.A whole new industry has now sprung up in Ireland with thousands of Irish Americans tracing their family roots every year. Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy being but two famous Irish American names...

From its beginnings as nothing more than a simple trading post on the banks of the Missouri river, to its raucous heyday in the 1920's and 30's, Kansas City has retained the independent spirit of its frontier beginnings. Even though an assortment of colorful characters, cowboys, politicians, criminals, and even wagon trains populate the history of Kansas City, you can forget everything you've ever heard about it being a "cow town." Today, the outgrowth of that colorful history and frontier spirit radiates energetically throughout the city and its populace.Widely regarded as the birthplace of Jazz. KC's early reputation as a "wide-open, anything goes" city captivated and allured the musical...

Americans has become one of America's favorite holidays. Last year Americans spent more than $3 billion last year on Halloween candy, costumes, pumpkins and decorations. Millions of children (and adults!) look forward to this happy event.But it hasn't always been so. Once upon a time, Halloween was a night to be feared, when the dead walked the earth.The history of our modern Halloween begins with an ancient Celtic holiday called Samhain (pronounced sow-en). The Celts lived in present day Ireland and England dating to about the 5th Century BC.For the Celts, Samhain marked the end of summer. The date is generally given as October 31, but it is unlikely that is the exact date.For the Celts, as for...

In ancient times, tribal tattoos were used to help identify members of different tribes. They were also used to indicate social hierarchy within tribes and document significant events within the history of the tribe, such as major battles and feats of bravery. Skip forward a couple of thousand years and tribal tattoos are a popular fashion statement worn by people all over the world. These days, instead of using tribal tattoos to group people into the same tribe, people use them to express their personality and their individuality. Part of the appeal of these designs is that they represent the only link between the present and the mysterious and elaborate tribal rituals of the past which have been...

The word "Bible" is generically associated with the Holy Bible in Western societies. Nonetheless, a quick search on Amazon will also turn up other applications of the word such as The Barbeque Bible, The Boomer Bible, The Organic Cooking Bible, etc. No matter what kind of itch you have, you'll likely find an authoritative Bible on Amazon that scratches it. Now there's another Bible on Amazon, and it is just as serious, just as large and just as old as the Torah and New Testament combined. It is The Kolbrin Bible and it is first ancient wisdom text to honor the Phoenicians from whom we derived the word "Bible" because of the wonderful gift of knowledge we inherited from them.School children...

We wear jewelry to make the world around us notice. Jewelry is fun to wear. It makes us feel good about ourselves. For those times when you just dont know which jewelry to wear or to buy, here are few ways to help you decide. What Jewelry Should You Wear? If you can't decide what jewelry to wear, then you can let the occasion be your guide. Work or Job Interview During a job interview, wearing jewelry is optional. If you do wear jewelry, make sure you wear what is appropriate. For example, if you want to make a good impression for a job interview at a bank, then you should be conservative in your dress and selection of jewelry. At work, wear something that is appropriate for your position. In The...

Because the historical and archaeological records of most forms of body art are incomplete, we still don't know where and where tattooing originated.Tattooed mummies provide the earliest concrete evidence of tattoo, and these have been found in various parts of the world, from Nubia to Peru. Probably t he most ancient tattooed man is the "Iceman", a Bronze Age man uncovered after being frozen in a glacier on the Tyrolean Alps since 3000 B.C. A tattooed band of stripes was found on his lower back, a simple cross on the inside of his left knee and more stripes on his right ankle.There are many examples of tattooing in ancient Egypt, the oldest found on the mummy of Egyptian priestess of the goddess...

Since the beginning of human experience, plants have played a role in the evolution of our species, not only in the provision of food and medicine but in our deepest spiritual experience and the development of consciousness. Their form, beauty, enchanting scents, their healing and emotional qualities, have all provided a gateway to the Great Mystery of Nature, which our Celtic forebears called "The visible face of Spirit". Though our lands are no longer forested as they were, we try to recreate a sense of their beauty and tranquillity in our gardens, parks, and the green spaces in our cities, giving us at least a taste of Nature with which we can sustain ourselves against the soulless backdrop of...

Why, one might ask, would modern civilization owe a debt of gratitude to the unpopular, infamous Roman emperor Nero, dead two thousand years ago by his own hand? For those folks not tuned in to their own historical roots, Nero is an important part of your culture, not just a computer software tool for burning compact disks. Nero gathered a magnificent collection of classical Greek sculpture from all over the Roman Empire, most of which was lost following his downfall. Why should you care about Nero's story?--because what happened to him influences the way you look at the world every day.You may have heard the tale of how Nero fiddled while Rome burned in 64 A.D. First, let us lay that story to rest...

Medieval costumes are not just for Halloween. A lot of people will have a theme party and go medieval. When it comes to the uses of medieval customers, the possibilities are endless. Of course you would see them at a play like Romeo and Juliet or Julius Caesar, but you will also see medieval customers at other sites too.Many areas will have a fall ball, which is much like a fall festival. They are medieval balls where people who work the festival dress up and all the good food and games are also from the medieval times. They are very interesting to attend because some people will get into their character and even do the accent. It is a great way to learn about history, look at amazing costumes...

Torrential rain fell from a brown-grey sky. Impromptu streams formed themselves inthe middle of the roads, making driving difficult. It was very cold.I have often had the experience, in my researches, of penetrating into ever more remote areas of the county, only to find even more obscure communities that lie beyond. Just as you think you know a region, it surprises you with yet another aspect that appears, as if from nowhere.Such a district is the south-easternmost part of the escarpment (the hills peter out, but unexpectedly appear again, at a lower level, hidden by trees). This group of wooded hills is crossed by a confusing cats cradle of lanes between two market towns. There is an unsettling...

Ancient Egyptian Art is one of the most recognized, admired and collected art in the history of the world. From delicate gold jewelry to vivid paintings to massive statues dozens of feet tall, for over 5,000 years Egyptian art has fascinated, delighted and awed generation after generation with its beauty, style and mystery. While genuine ancient pieces of art are rare and extremely valuable, modern Egyptian artists make beautiful art and jewelry that is inspired by some of the greatest recovered works from ancient sites, and which adheres strictly to the styles used by ancient artists. Jewelry in gold and silver with inlaid stones are fashioned after pieces of jewelry recovered from ancient tombs...

The wedding event consists of numerous acts, objects and things required to be put together duly arranged in the chain system. If any of the links is missed the event turns to the flop-show. The Wedding costumes or dresses and the Wedding Ornaments in particular need the most attentions much longer before the day of Wedding. Of course there are hundreds of Jewellery designers who provide all the required assistance in making the ornaments of your choice and within your specific budgets too. For this you must plan out the entire deal well in advance enabling the jeweler to shape up the ornaments exactly to meet your design and tastes. This may also enable you both to go for any addition or...

There are few holiday events, celebrations or rituals like Halloween. Especially for kids, it is a time for them let loose and pretend, feel emotions they wouldn't often feel, and spend time with their friends in an unstructured environment. It's one tradition we should hold onto and enjoy more. What started centuries ago in Ireland as All Saints Day to honor Catholic Saints, became All Hallows Eve and evolved to a strange ritual with an almost slang expression, Halloween. Rather than warding off evil spirits, Halloween in modern times for kids is more of an opportunity to scare and be scared safely. It is the only celebration of the year where whole communities become one big family and youths walk...

Painting is the art of applying pigments to a surface whether it is on paper, canvas, a wall or any other medium, to create an image with lines and colors. The image can represent real objects found around us or imaginary ones. It may also be an arrangement of abstract forms. The art of drawing is very essential in painting as one step together with composition and other aesthetic consideration in forming the finished work. History has allowed painting to serve a variety of functions. It was an important part of religious rites during prehistoric times. It was also the most common means of providing a visual record of events and people. By the 20th century, painting has become a medium of...

The contemporary celebration of Halloween comes from the ancient Celtic festival of `Samhain. It is an annual celebration observed on October 31. It is a tapered version of All Hallows Eve. Halloween came to America through the Irish, who are believed to be modern descendents of the Celts. When the potato crop failed in Ireland, they migrated to America and brought their cultural practices with them. Halloween was also observed as a harvest festival and New Year by the Celts. It also served as a vent for high morale before the onset of winter. In fact, in the 5th Century B.C. in Celtic Ireland summer officially ended on October 31 and the Samhain was observed on this occasion. Masks are now used as...

The port of Civitavecchia is located at one and half hour by minibus from Rome and is becoming more and more important every year bringing more customers early in the morning to explore the treasures of Rome. Few people know that the fast highway that connects Rome from its port can take you directly to see the Colosseum and the ancient roman ruins. The early history of Rome, is composed by legend and mythology, and sometimes remembers facts belonging to the jewish people, like for example the episode of Romulus and Remus suckled by the shewolf. A good personal shore tour of Rome must start from the city center of Rome, Piazza Venezia. The monument to Victor Emmanuel has been erected there to...