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Contents1 Annunciation of the Lord2 Jesus’s birth3 Epiphany (The Magi)4 The escape to Egypt and the slaughter of the innocent5 When Jesus was found in the temple6 Baptism and Temptations of Jesus7 The public life of Jesus8 The miracles of Jesus9 Entry of Jesus into…
Contents1 Maria Maddalena2 Martha and Mary sisters of Lazarus3 Samaritan at the well4 The bleeding woman What was the role of women in the history of Salvation? Let us discover the relationship of Jesus with the disciples of the Gospel A more incisive female presence…
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Is one born or becomes a saint? Men and women are born, and this is enough to show how each of us can be prey to sin, susceptible to guilt, and even crimes against men and against God. Thus it happened that men who lived part of their lives in sin were converted, at a certain point, and embraced faith and mercy to the point of becoming saints. Holy sinners, therefore, become an example for all of us, not only for their virtue, for the heights of holiness they have been able to reach, but also for the abysses they have debated, coming out better. The message that these characters spread is a message of hope, the hope of redemption that we can all yearn for, because God is always ready to collect our supplications, to forgive our mistakes if we recognize them and are willing to make amends, with the sincere heart and the humility of the penitent.
We see whom the holy sinners are, emerging from the darkness after knowing the fault, to shine even brighter for God and men.
The saints that changed the world
We cannot forget about a list of saints that made a deep impression not only in Church
The saying “Struck on the road to Damascus” comes from one of the most famous and venerated saints of the Catholic Church. We speak of Saint Paul the Apostle, the first, great missionary of the Christian Church, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus and, with this name, a fierce persecutor of Christians. Before embracing the faith, Saul persecuted Christians, in his eyes dangerous subversives, and contributed and participated actively in the arrest and condemnation of many of them. His conversion took place on the road to Damascus, where he was going precisely to torment the Christians of the city in the name of the Sanhedrin of Jerusalem. Bathed in a dazzling light that blinded him, he heard a voice that said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”. And he: “Who are you, O Lord?”; and the voice: “I am Jesus whom you persecute. Rise up and enter the city, and you shall be told what you must do” (Acts 9:3-7).
With the religious zeal and enthusiasm that sustained him for the rest of his life, Paul made everyone forget his past sins, becoming the greatest missionary in the church of all time. He courageously faced imprisonment and martyrdom and left the Letters and many works that are the basis of the Doctrine of the Church as we know it. The conversion of Saint Paul is a symbol of the possibility of redemption for everyone.
A gambling-addicted outlaw, frequenter of taverns and brothels, drinking-and-gambling-addict. You wouldn’t think you were a saint! Yet it was thus that Saint Camillus de Lellis, founder of the Camillians and patron saint of the sick, led the first part of his life. The son of an officer in the service of Spain, he was a soldier of fortune, sick with gambling to the point of losing everything and finding himself living by gimmicks in the street. Welcomed in the Capuchin Convent of Manfredonia, he began a journey of redemption, which continued in the hospital of San Giacomo degli Incurabili in Rome, first as a patient, then as a servant, finally as a treasurer and Master of the House. Here he discovered his vocation for the care of the sick and later gave birth to the Society of Ministers of the Sick, dedicated to the care of men suffering from serious and repugnant diseases, often incurable. Devoting the rest of his life to the care and hospitality of men and women burdened by terrible diseases, he made everyone forget his past as a vicious sinner and his Camillians still bring comfort to those who suffer in every part of the world.
Saint Matthew, chosen by Jesus to be one of the twelve apostles and author of one of the four canonical Gospels, was, first of all, a publican, or a tax collector. At the time he was called Levi, son of Alpheus, and his job was to collect taxes in advance for the Roman treasury, tormenting those who could not pay and ruling as the worst of usurers. In the eyes of the other Jews, Levi was a sinner twice, because he handled Roman money with the effigy of the Emperor engraved, a practice forbidden by priests. Nevertheless, one day Jesus passed by him while he was sitting at the tax office and simply said: “Follow me” (Mark 2:14). And Levi/Matthew followed him, becoming one of his most faithful and preaching His word to the point of suffering martyrdom in His name.
Saint Disma represents a unique case: he was the only Saint to be canonized by Jesus himself. He went to Heaven directly, in short, and this is even more surprising if we think that Disma was a criminal, one of the two robbers crucified on the right and left of Jesus on Golgotha. But unlike the other thief who was being tortured, and who continued to make fierce fun of Jesus in agony, Disma used his last breath to defend him, arguing that, unlike the two of them who were rightly paying for their sins, Jesus suffered the same pain when he was innocent and did nothing wrong (Luke 23:40-41). His extreme repentance and demonstrated mercy caused Jesus to promise him Paradise at his side, after a life of sin and crime.
Saint Augustine of Hippo was a distinguished philosopher, a bishop venerated by all and an excellent theologian, as well as Father of the Church and author of some of the most beautiful and intense pages of ecclesiastical literature and not. But before that, he was a sinner. He had for years a mistress, with whom he also conceived a son out of wedlock, and dragged himself throughout his turbulent youth between vices and sins, most often committed out of boredom, not actual necessity, like the famous theft of the pears of which he himself will write once reformed. In the Confessions, autobiography and summa of Augustine’s spiritual and human thought, he turns to God to recount his conversion, his passage from the old self, dedicated to vice and sin, to the awareness of his new “I” and affirms that anyone can change his life at any time, abandoning bad habits and embracing a new path.
Pelagia of Antioch lived in the third century A.D. and before becoming a Saint she was a very famous actress and dancer. She lived a life of pomp and debauchery, surrounded by servants and dressed like a queen, with pearls and precious stones. She had crowds of lovers who adored her and were never full of her. Legend has it that he heard the blessed bishop Grandfather speak, who even pointed to the other prelates as an example of beauty and self-care, where their churchmen did not care enough for their souls. Illuminated by those words Pelagia wanted to be baptized and spent the last part of her life in prayer and hermitage. He was believed to be a man and only after his death was his identity discovered.
Even Mary of Egypt lived her last years as a hermit in the desert, but before that she led a dissolute life, animated by an inextinguishable hunger for sexual experiences. Born in Alexandria in Egypt in 334, she fled home at a very young age and travelled extensively, abandoning herself to every lust and prostitution both out of necessity and for personal pleasure. Now a woman, she joined a group of pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem and seduced them one after another. But once she arrived in Jerusalem, she was seized by repentance and came to life before the icon of the Mother of God and the Cross of Jesus. He immersed himself in the waters of the Jordan to purify himself, and from that moment on dedicated his life to repentance, atonement and prayer.
Contents1 1. Choose the best product2 2. All the choices you want3 3. No stress or anxiety4 4. Helpful and unobtrusive customer service5 5. Receive the goods at home6 Other reasons to choose Holyart Still not sure whether to buy a crucifix or what you…
Contents1 The hierarchy of angels2 Saints and angels3 St. Francis of Assisi4 Saint Theresa of Avila5 Saint Aloysius Gonzaga6 Saint Philip Neri7 Saint Dominic Savio8 Saint Angela of Foligno What are angels and how do they intervene in human life? The lives of the saints…
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We live in a society where appearance is of great importance. It is not just a question of vanity, nor the absurd claim of never getting old. Maintaining a young and attractive appearance is a gesture of self-respect, first of all, and it is easier than it may seem. Without bringing up expensive and distorting surgical treatments, taking care of the skin, especially that of the face, is a secret of beauty and youth within everyone’s reach. We are talking about skincare, a series of small daily beauty rituals that will guarantee us a healthier and younger appearance. Few gestures to dedicate to our face every day, the same for everyone, in their repetition, but different for each person, according to age, skin type, preferred products. We at Holyart particularly appreciate the products of the monasteries, the result of ancient recipes that the monks have been handed down for centuries. We think of the Camaldoli monastery, just to name one, with its ancient pharmacy where medicinal remedies have always been produced, but also creams, tonics and lotions for face and body care.
The monastic community of Camaldoli
The Monastery of Camaldoli is in the heart of a secular forest, in one of the wild and impenetrable areas of the central Appennine ridge.
Let’s discover together the facial care products handed down by the monks, for a timeless skincare routine.
In the monastery of Camaldoli, calendula cream is produced, which in addition to having exceptional soothing and antibacterial properties, renews the cells and prevents the signs of ageing, reducing the first wrinkles and giving the skin brightness, firmness and firmness. The anti-wrinkle cream based on avocado oil, rich in vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids and lecithins, which stimulate cell regeneration, is ideal for mature skin. It should be applied at night to prevent wrinkles and reduce existing ones. The skin will appear more elastic and young from the very first application.
Natural products, based on ingredients of natural origin, often from Controlled Organic Agriculture, without parabens, dyes and chemicals. This is the secret of many of the beauty products dedicated to the skincare routine made in the monasteries. An example for all is the Natural Elasticising Anti-Time Cream made according to the recipe of the Ancient Pharmacy of the Camaldolese Monks. It restores tone and elasticity to even the most demanding skin, thanks to vegetable oils (sunflower, jojoba, avocado, horse chestnut, castor, patchouli, ylang-ylang, geranium) and unsaturated fatty acids of which it is very rich, and is suitable for both women and to men.
If the skin on your face tends to be oily, the cream for you is a purifying cream, such as the one with Propolis produced by the Camaldolese monks, ideal for skin characterised by excessive sebaceous secretion. Its purifying and normalising action helps prevent pimples and blackheads, without however depleting the skin with too much degreasing or aggressive agents.
The aforementioned calendula cream is ideal for the most delicate skin, to prevent redness and give brightness and tone.
Calendula cream: properties and benefits
Since their origins, monasteries have not only been centres for meeting and prayer, but also the guardians of ancient knowledge…
What is cleansing milk for? Cleaning the skin of the face every day with good cleansing milk and an effective face tonic keeps it radiant, hydrated and fresh, free from dust and pollutants, preventing wrinkles, pimples and blackheads. Better to choose a Cleansing Milk that cleanses deeply without attacking, based on pure plant extracts with emollient, softening, anti-inflammatory, calming, soothing properties, such as mallow.
Always appreciated for its precious soothing, nourishing and healing properties, aromatic argan oil is a panacea for dry, reddened, chapped skin. Prevents and smoothes wrinkles and hides small imperfections thanks to its healing effect.
Contents1 The history of Sant’Agata2 Saint Agatha, patron saint3 The procession of Saint Agatha4 The candelore of Saint Agatha The feast of Saint Agatha in Catania, with processions, typical costumes and famous candles, is a great event for many devotees. What is it? The feast…
Contents1 1. Values and Mission Holyart2 2. Stories of Saints3 3. Handcrafted nativity scenes4 4. Liturgical Times and Calendars5 5. Made in Italy craftsmanship Catholic blogs provide information, stories and curiosities about the Christian world. This is what drives us at Holyart to give you…
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We have already mentioned Saint Anthony Abbot in an article dedicated to holy healers to turn to against diseases. In fact, among other features that distinguish him, Saint Anthony also had great thaumaturgical abilities that allowed him to heal many people suffering from terrible diseases, as well as free others from demonic possessions. The cult of the Saint and the thaumaturgic power of his relics has origins in France since the twelfth century, and over time its name was also used to define a serious form of herpes, involving epidermis and nerve endings: the famous “Sant’Antonio fire”. But Sant’Antonio over the centuries has often been invoked also against the plague, along with San Sebastiano and San Rocco, and its monks, the Antoniani, treated the sick of leprosy. Here we speak of him as the patron saint of animals.
But who was this holy healer and exorcist?
Saint Anthony Abbot was an Egyptian hermit who lived in the 3rd century AD. Belonging to a wealthy Christian family, he soon remained only to administer the assets and possessions of the family and to provide for his younger sister. But Anthony chose to give everything he owned to the poor and needy and, entrusted his sister to a religious congregation, he took the path of the desert and chose to live as a hermit. For this reason, it is also known as Saint Anthony of the Desert or Saint Anthony the Anchorite. In fact, at that time hermits were also called anchorites, and lived in solitude, devoting every moment of their lives to prayer and meditation. Anthony was no exception, working the bare necessities for his own sustenance and to be able to give alms, and spending the rest of his time alone and in prayer. The famous temptations of Saint Anthony date back to this period: it is said that the Saint was incessantly persecuted by visions that now flattered him, now threatened him, and by devil speakers who tried to tear his soul through beatings.
Soon other men gathered around him, some because they wanted to be cured by him in body and soul, others who wanted to follow his model. Several communities of hermits were formed, who lived in the desert caves, led by a spiritual father, and with Saint Anthony as a reference. These are the first forms of monasticism.
Later Anthony supported his friend and bishop Athanasius of Alexandria in the fight against Arianism. Saint Anthony died at the age of 105, living until the end of his days as a hermit in the desert, growing a small vegetable garden and praying.
Saint Anthony is remembered among other things as the patron saint of pets. Every year, on the occasion of his feast, January 17, they bring to bless the pets and in the countryside even those of the stables. This tradition was born in medieval times, when the Antonians, the monks of Saint Anthony, raised pigs that were given to them by the farmers and used them to feed the poor, as well as to create medicated ointments with their fat combined with medicinal herbs. Saint Anthony thus became the patron saint of the pigs first, and of all the pets and the stable at a later time.
Legend has it that on the night of January 17 the animals acquire the faculty to speak. This is why in ancient times the people of the countryside kept away from the stables on this night: hearing animals speak is not a good omen!
The pig therefore often occurs in the iconography of Saint Anthony the Abbot, who is often depicted with a pig at his feet or a pig in his arms. In addition to the already mentioned tradition linked to the Antonians, this link between Saint Anthony and the pig is also due to some legends.
While Saint Anthony Abbot was travelling by sea, a sow laid a sick pig at his feet. The Saint healed him with the Sign of the Cross and from then on the little pig became for him an inseparable companion.
According to another legend, the patron saint of animals descended to Hell to confront Satan and save some souls. To distract the other demons he sent his piglet, which had a bell tied around its neck, to wreak havoc, and took advantage of this to steal the hellfire to make a gift to men. This legend binds Saint Anthony to pre-Christian traditions, associating him with mythical figures such as Prometheus or Lug, a Celtic deity who symbolized new life, and to whose were consecrated boars and pigs.
It is no coincidence that fire is another of the symbols with which the saint is often represented, also called Saint Anthony of Fire. Even Saint Anthony over the centuries has been associated with the concept of renewal and has always been venerated in the countryside as a figure linked to the flow of the seasons, the time of harvest and sowing. In some areas the bonfires are still lit on the night of January 17, to burn the evil of the past months and embrace the new year with positive energy. The symbology of fire associated with Saint Anthony has been linked over the centuries to its ability to heal from the Saint Anthony’s Fire, with which many skin diseases were once indicated that were treated by the Antonian monks with the methods indicated above.
Even the bell, with which the saint is often depicted, was a distinctive sign of the Antonians.
There are many prayers composed in time to celebrate Saint Anthony the Abbot. Some are used to ask for special graces, others to invoke the defeat of the evil one who threatens our lives every day, and still, others to obtain the protection of the saint on animals from stable or companion.
Here is a very powerful prayer to say on January 17 or at any time if you feel the need.
O true miracle of the Anchorites,
glorious St. Anthony our patron Abbot,
Here we prostrate before you to venerate
with your other heroic virtues
that prodigious fortress with which
you resisted the temptations of the devil
and won them after a long labour.
With the power of your name alone
you freed the air, the earth, the fire, the animals
from its evil influences.
Deh! Let us, imitating also your
invincible steadfastness in the assaults of our spiritual
enemies, obtain from God to participate in
Paradise in your glory, and here on earth in
your blessings, which we invoke upon the air,
on the earth, on the fire and on the animals
that serve our food.
Pater, Hail and Glory.
We have already mentioned the terrible temptations to which Saint Anthony was subjected by the devil in his years as a hermit in the desert.
They have inspired many famous artists over the centuries, becoming the subject of paintings and frescoes of great majesty and beauty. Just to mention a few we think of the cycle of frescoes in the church of San Francesco in the town of Montefalco, in Umbria, realized in the mid-fifteenth century perhaps by Andrea di Cagno, or the triptych painted by Matthias Grünewald between 1512 and 1516, or the one made by Hieronymus Bosch, both full of terrifying and frightening details.
This theme has fascinated artists of all times, who have interpreted in a personal way and adapted it to their own times the struggle of the Saint against the flattery and threats of the Devil, against the promises of gold, the offerings of lust, and the beatings inflicted by devils. Examining these very different works makes us understand the evolution of the concept of temptation and sin over the centuries, but above all it makes us perceive the moral strength and the unshakeable faith of this Saint.
There are several aspects that unite Saint Anthony abbot and Saint Francis of Assisi.
The first that catches the eye is the love for animals and their presence in the traditions and stories related to the life of these two saints. We have seen how Saint Anthony became the patron saint of pets, of his connection with pigs, in particular, and we certainly remember how in many tales of Saint Francis and even in his prayers there were birds, fish, lambs, even a wolf, usually associated with evil.
The Canticle of the Creatures of St. Francis
Close to the poor, brother of the least, he made love for all God’s creatures his life mission and the emblem of his faith.
Then there is the cross in the shape of Tau, so dear to the poor man of Assisi. Well, in sacred iconography Saint Anthony is often depicted with a stick with a T-shaped handle, or with the letter Tau on the cassock. This is because the Tau was a symbol of the Alexandrian Christians. The Antonian monks who treated lepers adopted the cross made in Tau as an amulet to defend themselves from the terrible disease. Probably inspired by them, Saint Francis decided to make the Tau his symbol and seal.
In addition, both Saints Anthony and Francis welcomed the vocation at a young age and chose to give up all their possessions to follow the example of Jesus and live in poverty and prayer. And their example gathered around them other men and women who chose to imitate them, giving rise in the case of Anthony to the first congregations of monks, in the case of Francis to a new concept of monasticism, devoted to poverty and the example of Christ.
Argan oil: an everlasting beauty elixir. Let’s discover its amazing properties Argan oil excels among the products of the monasteries whose qualities we will never tire of praising. Berber women call it liquid gold and have used it since ancient times to protect their skin…
Contents1 Three or four wise men?2 The gifts of the Magi3 Artaban, the fourth King The Three Wise Men have always had a great fascination, although nothing is known about them. Today we want to tell you about a character whom we know even less:…
The Three Kings and their gifts have for thousands of years been the protagonists of stories and legends, in which popular folklore is mixed with historical events, religion and even more ancient traditions. We have already deepened these figures in an article that explained who the Three Wise Men were, where they came from and even what the origin of their names was.
Who were the Wise Men and their names
We all know the Three Wise Men as the three men who faced a long journey chasing a star with the sole purpose of paying homage to the “King of the Jews”.
In a further article, we deepened the figure of Artaban, the fourth Wise Man, who arrived late to the appointment with the three most famous Magi, but no less important.
In this article, we want to dwell on gold, incense and myrrh, or the gifts that the three Magi Kings brought along on their journey in the wake of the comet Star, through the desert, with its pitfalls, dodging the dangers and intrigues of King Herod, to reach the hut of Bethlehem where in a manger the King of the World had seen the light.
In the history of the Three Wise Men, legends are intertwined with other legends, in a game of evocative references. For example, the journey of the Three Wise Men would also involve the Befana (Epiphany), another character very dear to the Christmas imagination, with the Three Kings celebrated on the day of the Epiphany. She would meet the three travellers and be there to join them. Left behind, she would then dedicate the rest of her life to searching for the Child Jesus, just like the fourth Wise Man we mentioned before, bringing gifts to all children to compensate for his lack.
An element in common between the Three Wise Men and the Befana is surely the fact that they carry gifts.
If the gifts of the old lady with the hooked and lumpy nose are now an exclusive prerogative of children (strictly good, of course), the gifts of the Three Wise Men guard in itself a very deep symbolism, which contains nothing less than the mystery of the dual nature of Jesus, Man and God. Over the centuries many theologians have tried to identify the true symbolic meaning of the gifts of the Three Wise Men. Some wrote that gold symbolizes faith, incense symbolizes holiness, myrrh symbolizes passion. For others, the three gifts coincide with the three theological virtues: gold is charity, incense is faith, myrrh is free will.
Let’s see the gifts of the Magi one by one.
The incense, offered by Gaspare, the youngest of the Magi, is a resin obtained from the bark of plants of the Burseraceae family, originating from the Arabian Peninsula and north-eastern Africa, in particular the Boswellia cateri, and in this case, the correct name of the resin is franchincenso. Also called “gum of olibanum”, or simply olibanum, incense has been used since ancient times in religious ceremonies and rituals.
The smoke rising from the incense burned was considered a welcome offering to the gods and favoured meditation and purification. The same word “incense” probably comes from the archaic Latin “incensum”, lit, ignited and indicates how this substance was used.
But the use of incense went beyond religious ceremonies and purification rites. Their fumes also had disinfecting properties for the environment and for healing purposes. In particular, incense has a powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial charge. Its qualities make it very effective to relax the mind and body, to counteract intestinal and respiratory disorders. A warm bath enriched with drops of incense oil combats stress and transmits a feeling of peace and relaxation to those who dive.
Mixed with toothpaste is a valuable ally for oral hygiene. Its astringent properties facilitate the weakening of wrinkles and signs of ageing, but also of scars, wounds, acne and stretch marks. It fights gastrointestinal disorders, from indigestion to irritable bowel syndrome. It also affects the hormone level, balancing the levels of hormones and eliminating any imbalances.
Many of these applications aimed at the health of body and spirit must have been well known in antiquity. By giving incense to the Infant Jesus the Magio Gaspare on the one hand honoured Him with something precious and useful to preserve and cure the body, on the other hand, he recognized His divine nature, offering him a gift that was usually offered as a sacrifice to the gods and burned in their temples.
Also the myrrh, or myrrh incense, brought as a gift by Baldassarre, the dark-skinned Magio, is a resin. It is also extracted from the trunk of a Burseracea, although of another kind than incense: the Commiphora myrrha. The term “myrrh” comes from the Semitic word murr which means “bitter”.
It is native to Somalia and Ethiopia, and it is no coincidence that what, among the Three Wise Men, was characterized by somatic features attributable to the people who lived in those lands. In fact, the reasons that led religious iconography to depict Baldassere as an African, with dark skin, frizzy hair, snub nose, are very complex and have developed over time.
On the one hand, there was the will to attribute to the three Magi characteristics that made them the personification of the three continents and the three human races, but this happened in medieval times. On the other hand, we should dwell on the new traditions that came to the West around the twelfth-thirteenth century, on the martyrs-soldiers of the Theban Legion, who were Nubians, and therefore of black skin, or on the figure of the “Priest Gianni”, described by Marco Polo, which overlapped that of the Ethiopian emperor. These characters infused a new vision of black people into European peoples, accustomed to associating black skin and certain facial features with the devil and demonic creatures.
What interests us here is myrrh, the precious substance with an extraordinary perfume that this Wise Man brought as a gift. Since ancient times myrrh was known and appreciated for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It was mainly used in the liquid state, or in powder, mixed with oil and balsams.
Still today it is used in various forms and with countless purposes, for its anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and soothing virtues. It is used as a remedy for respiratory diseases, but also in case of food poisoning, and as incense is burned to purify the environment and infuse peace and well-being. In addition, the oil derived from myrrh has exceptional soothing and nourishing properties, valuable to moisturize delicate and sensitive skin without greasing it. It’s perfect for cracking, too.
As for the symbolism of myrrh as a gift to Jesus, as incense indicates the recognition by the Three Wise Men of His divine nature, myrrh celebrates His humanity. This is because in ancient times myrrh was used among other things for the cult of the dead. Already in ancient Egypt, it was used in the process of embalming, and it was thought that it was decisive in the victory of life over death. In the Bible, it is mentioned many times, both in the priestly sphere, as it was used as anointing oil for priests and to perfume the ceremonial garments, and as a bearer of wisdom and love (its aroma was considered an aphrodisiac).
In the Passion of Christ myrrh is present first mixed with wine to relieve His sufferings, then it is used by Nicodemus to wrap His body deposed from the cross. Again, on Easter day, the women who go to the tomb bring aromatic ointments for the body of Jesus. They were probably based on myrrh, and in this sense, this substance is linked to the Resurrection, a sign that the love of Jesus is stronger than death.
Finally the gold, gift of Melchior, the oldest of the Three Wise Men. His very name means King, and the gift he bears, gold, is precisely the symbol of the recognition of the kingship of Jesus by the Three Wise Men. In fact, gold was the gift reserved for the Kings and Jesus was in the eyes of the Magi the King of Kings. This precious metal has always been associated with light, the sun, with the ability to spread strength and energy. All great civilizations have used gold to glorify their rulers and gods.
According to several legends, Melchior offered gold in the form of a golden apple, representing the perfection of the world, and thirty denarii. In the hands of Jesus the apple was reduced to dust, to symbolize that the Child had come to bring a new world.
The thirty dinars of gold would have been those which Abraham had used to buy the burial ground for himself and his family, the same offered to the brothers of Joseph when they sold him as a slave, then came across the Temple of Jerusalem, where Melchior would take them as a gift to Jesus. But the legend goes on: Mary lost the thirty denarii during the escape to Egypt and with them all the other gifts. A sick pastor found them in the desert, on his way to Jerusalem to be healed by Jesus, who had meanwhile become a man. To Him, the shepherd offered the gifts and the thirty denarii, and Jesus offered them to His turn to the temple. Those same thirty denarii would have paid Judas’ treachery.
There is also an interesting theory about an erroneous translation of the gospel from Aramaic, according to which the gold mentioned is not the metal, but the gold of the East, or turmeric. This spice, which has the colour of gold, is endowed with great healing virtues, and this would connect it to the properties of incense and myrrh. In this way, the Three Wise Men would have given to the Child Jesus two incenses and one spice, all precious materials, all deeply linked to the spiritual life of the ancients, to religious worship and to that of the deceased, but also to the care of the body, health, the triumph of life. This interpretation would therefore also be appropriate.
Contents1 Where to put the Christmas wreath?2 Christmas Wreath: Which to Choose?3 DIY Christmas Wreath: Ideas and Tips Round, colourful and gorgeous, Christmas wreaths can be a perfect decoration for both indoors and out. How to use them? Where to place them? Customise them or…
Contents1 Choose the Christmas tree2 What to put on the foot of the Christmas tree3 How to put the lights on the Christmas tree4 Christmas tree decorations, how and where to put them December 8th is the day when traditionally people gather to kick off…
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Decorating the tree is one of the most anticipated and beautiful moments of all the Christmas holidays, but if you don’t have clear ideas on how to do it, it can also become the most stressful.
Every year the styles and fashions to decorate the Christmas tree change, and the range of colours that can be used becomes vaster and vaster, so you can understandably find yourself confused.
Let’s try to clarify what colours are always valid and the coolest ones for this Christmas season.
Gold and red are the two most used colours, together or separately, to decorate the Christmas tree, a great classic that can be extremely modern.
If you prefer balls with an opaque finish, the effect will be more contemporary than shiny ones which instead retain a traditional charm.
The combination of colours is nevertheless timeless, do not be afraid of making mistakes but be careful not to fall back into banality, perhaps adding some personal touch or a few balls of value.
Another combination of evergreen colours is that of gold with white.
An idea to mix colours in an original way could be to buy a white tree and place decorations in different shades of gold on top, from champagne to more intense ones or if you like to dare, choose a golden tree and hang some white and transparent balls.
Ton sur ton is also to be evaluated.
For a tree with a cold shade, the most classic choice is the one that sees the combination of silver and blue.
Blue offers almost infinite shades to choose from, from electric blue to midnight blue through peacock blue up to classic blue, Pantone colour 2020. All these variations could be enough to create perfect harmony, the addition of silver, while not essential, allows the blue to stand out and light up.
For an enchanting effect, choose a completely white or silver coloured tree.
Mixing several colours to decorate a single Christmas tree can be risky, you need to have an eye and be skilled to be able to obtain a pleasant result.
Are you people who love to experiment? You can also decide to insert decorations that are out of the ordinary and with a pop flavour. Travel, candy or animal-themed decorations can be for you.
Mix them wisely with basic balls for a fun and not tacky effect.
The trend of recent years is pastel colours, delicate and soft, so beautiful that they are able to become protagonists even in the most lively and brilliant period of the year. And so even the Christmas trees are tinged with unusually soft colours: cerulean, cornflower, wisteria, lavender, powder pink.
They can be used alone for a monochromatic effect or in combination with each other.
It is well known, black is the colour of elegance, and this is particularly true when it comes to clothing, but what about Christmas trees? will it be the same?
The trend of recent years is the black, eccentric and glamorous Christmas tree. It moves away from what is the classic idea of Christmas by perfectly marrying houses with a modern style and the taste of those who are not afraid to take risks.
One way to enhance it is to combine bright colours such as gold, white or silver, but if you want it to be the only protagonist, you can opt for something decidedly more minimalist by decorating your tree with only a few strands of light.
The water effects such as fountains, rivers or waterfalls make the DIY nativity scene special. But what to do if the water pump stops working? Two ways: clean the pump of limescale and debris or replace the pump. For Christmas lovers, it is never too…
Lovers of the DIY nativity scene, dive into the world of rock paper! Which one will you choose: traditional or modelable rock paper? Christmas is approaching and, while the mass market focuses on sequins and glitter decorations, there are some who are thinking of stocking…
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Led lights are a decorative element that can be easily and immediately connected to the Christmas atmosphere, recalling the joy and warmth of those festive days surrounded by friends and family, food and gifts.
A string of lights that surrounds the window or twisted in a classic way to the Christmas tree or even as a decoration in the bushes of the garden are just some of the ways in which they can be used during the holidays. But waiting for Christmas? Are we forced to keep our lights in the box? The answer is No.
The bright decorations are perfect to be used at any time of the year, just give free rein to the fantasy “et voilà” with a touch of light, and each room acquires a romantic and welcoming atmosphere. Let’s see together how to do it and where to place them.
How to place the lights on your Christmas tree
It will soon be the time to begin thinking about how to decorate our home in view to Christmas.
Memories deserve to be illuminated. If you love simple but effective touches, hanging photos on a string of lights is an easy and inexpensive solution that can be right for you.
Just attach a string of lights, current or battery, to nails following the design you prefer and then hang the photos with small wooden pegs.
You can choose to use the Christmas lights in the bedroom or even in the living room, the WOW effect is guaranteed!
Yes, the transparent vases with simple and clean lines can become in an instant a design element, the fulcrum of a room. A very versatile solution that can be inserted anywhere: in a small corridor, in the living room or even in the bathroom, no place is unsuitable.
To evaluate the combination of lights and flowers, a real touch of glamour, of great elegance.
The most scenic place where Christmas lights can be used even in the hottest period of the year is, without a doubt, the garden.
Lights of different shapes and colours can be used to frame pergolas, railings, illuminate paths and gazebos.
And for those who do not enjoy the good fortune of having a garden, no fear, the bright decorations are also perfect on balconies and terraces, ideal for a romantic dinner or to risk your corner of relaxation.
Children will love their bedroom illuminated by many small lights, they will feel pampered and safe and will no longer be afraid of the monsters hidden under the bed.
Star-shaped cascading lights may suffice that descend on the headboard of the bed or, if you want to be more creative, get yourself a wire, shape it into the shape you prefer and wrap it with battery-powered lights. Now you just have to hang them on the wall and that’s it.
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Among the various furnishing components, the bookcase is certainly the one that best reflects the tastes and style of its owner. Depositary of culture and memories accumulated over the years, the bookcase is an essential element in every home and deserves small tricks that make it unique.
How to do? Frame the frame of the bookcase with a romantic chain of golden lights or place light points between the shelves perhaps in combination with candles, you will get a chic and original effect.
A little advice: use this type of solution with bookcases with simple and essential lines, in wood or metal.
All the ideas we have proposed can really give an extra sprint to your furniture but it is important not to underestimate an essential factor: SAFETY.
The rules to follow are few and simple:
If you want to learn more, read our article on how to use Christmas lights safely.
