Santa Claus is the beloved figure of Christmas; his iconic look of a large man with a portly belly, wearing a red coat and hat, with a big white beard is recognised across the world. However, this holiday figure hasn’t always been pictured the way he is today and his origin is a complex story Continue Reading
Food Festivals From Around the Globe
“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” ― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own Food is one among life’s endless delights. Throughout history, everything to do with food; its capture, cultivation, preparation and consumption; has molded human culture.Civilizations were inadvertently shaped by food as the early agrarian Continue Reading
Winter and Summer Solstice
Solstice occurs in June and December, and marks the longest and shortest days of the year, as well as the change of season. It is commonly associated with the ancient European Druids, but many global cultures also hold these times of year as periods of spirituality. ‘Solstice’ means ‘sun stands still’, and hence it has Continue Reading
Heloïse and Abélard
The tale of the two lovers, Heloise and Abelard, and their scandalous affair has incited an exodus of literature, music and art. Hailing from 12th century Paris, both Heloise and Abelard were highly gifted intellectuals, well versed in philosophy and theology. Heloise was a pupil of Abelard who was twenty years her senior, she is Continue Reading
Federation Internationale de Corruptibles
’Absolute power does not corrupt absolutely, absolute power attracts the corruptible.’ Frank Herbert The quote is from from the author of the Dune novels and perfectly describes the situation that occured at FIFA. The scandal sorrounding the international organization arose after the announcement that Russia and Qatar were hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Continue Reading