Il Blog di Holyart.com
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…
Contents1 Saint Paul of Tarsus2 Saint Camillus de Lellis3 Saint Matthew4 Saint Disma5 Saint Augustine6 Saint Pelagia7 Saint Mary of Egypt Holy sinners. A contradiction in terms? Not always. Here are the saints who converted after a life of sin Is one born or becomes…
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It’s understandable: when we buy items we care about, we want to touch and see them. However, choosing to buy religious items online has numerous advantages. Online stores offer a much wider range than physical ones, the purchase process is more immediate and you have more guarantees on the purchase. Let’s see five good reasons for your online religious shopping.
5 valid reasons to inquire and read the Holyart Blog!
Catholic blogs provide information, stories and curiosities about the Christian world.
Let’s start from the beginning. You are looking for a crucifix or a nativity scene. But what is the best product for your needs? Just open a search engine and query “online crucifix sale” or “online nativity scene sale” you will have taken the first step. Online shopping allows you to compare different products, gather a lot of information – not least, the price! – and evaluate which product best suits your needs. On Holyart.it, you can see the dimensions, the estimated delivery times and decide which is the perfect item for you.
Unlike a bricks & mortar store, where space and the number of accessible products are limited, an online religious goods store can offer a very wide range. Online stores often have warehouses that house tens of thousands of products – as in the case of Holyart – and among them, you will find something that is right for you.
Your online shopping has a big advantage: no stress. To buy online, there is no need to wait in line, move through crowds, face heat or cold depending on the season. You can make your purchases in complete tranquillity, from the sofa at home. You can save travel time and pay more attention to your purchases, without distractions and without the rush of having to go home. There are no timetables online: you can do your shopping on the internet whenever and wherever you want!
Another thing you can avoid online is overly pushy sellers. No embarrassing or stressful experiences: customer service will respond to your requests promptly via email, chat or phone. The customer service staff take care of the person and are available for any clarification you need on orders and products. If you are not satisfied with the purchase, do not worry: the right of withdrawal is guaranteed (and free on Holyart)!
Last, but not least, among the five benefits of buying online is that the product arrives directly at your door. You will not have any transport problems because it will take care of the whole online store. In particular, for bulky or difficult to transport objects, you will not have to organise a crossing by car or van: just wait for the package to arrive at your address.
Still not convinced? To check the reliability of an online store, rely on the reviews of those who have bought before you. Direct customer experience will give you an idea of what awaits you. Also find out by reading the history and values of the site you are referring to: Holyart, for example, is made up of people with 15 years of experience in selling religious articles online and is a leader in Europe in this sector.
Holyart is even more accessible and close to you with the Holyart Religious Articles app! You can enjoy all the advantages of purchasing via the app: a space dedicated to you, at your fingertips, always available and optimized for your shopping experience. With just a few clicks, you can scroll through the items you like, add them to your wish list and create custom lists to literally carry in your pocket. Your wishlists can be both private and public! Choose this shopping experience by downloading the app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
By inquiring, you will discover the value behind items sold online. Holyart supports Made in Italy: most of the products have artisanal origins, are created by experts and have a unique history behind them. You will find lots of information on monastery products, Neapolitan nativity scenes, resin and PVC statues and their history on our site and among the articles on our blog!
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…
Contents1 Anti-wrinkle cream2 Natural anti-ageing cream3 Rejuvenating face cream4 Cleansing milk5 Argan oil Taking care of your facial skin every day is the surest way to keep it young and fresh. Let’s find out the ideal skincare routine together. We live in a society where…
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The feast of Saint Agatha in Catania is one of the largest religious events in Italy. The Saint is remembered with processions accompanied by traditional costumes and elements. Consider that on the days of the feast of Saint Agatha, from 3 to 5 February, more than a million people gather among tourists, citizens and faithful. Although this year may not be so, the fame and special history of this tradition remain.
Saint Agatha lived in the third century AD when Christianity – along with persecution – spread within the Roman Empire. Agatha’s family, to protect their faith, sought refuge in Palermo but governor Quinziano found them. When he saw Agatha, back in Catania, he fell in love with her.
He tried to make her abjure her faith but the Saint refused, remaining faithful to his choice. Quinziano tried to dissuade her in several ways: seeing that the young woman did not give in, he subjected her to torture and atrocious torments and then died a martyr.
Her fame spread quickly after her death, and she is now venerated as the Holy Martyr of the Catholic Church.
Saint Agatha is the patron saint of many cities and places in Italy and the world. We know her above all as the patron saint of the city and the archdiocese of Catania. She is also remembered for being the protector of women with breast diseases, bell smelters and firefighters.
The annual procession of Saint’Agatha in Catania takes place on 3, 4 and 5 February. The first day is dedicated to the offering of candles: the procession takes place from the furnace to the cathedral. This is the day dedicated to the collection of wax: candles are offered to ask for the protection of the Saint.
The popular custom is that the offered candle must be the same height or weight as the person offering it.
On the second day, the procession gathers in the morning and the procession lasts the whole day. Devotees wear the traditional “sack” – a white tunic – along with a black velvet cap, white gloves and a white handkerchief.
The bust of Saint Agatha is hoisted on a silver fercolo and, together with the casket containing the relics of the Saint, is carried around the outside of the city between the cheers and the festivities. The fercolo, with bust, casket and candles, can weigh up to 30 quintals. The Saint is always preceded by traditional candles, big candles representing the citizens.
On the third day, the procession passes from the centre of Catania and the devotees accompany the Saint until she returns to the room of the cathedral from which she left.
One of the characteristic elements of the feast of Saint Agatha is the famous candelore.
La Candlemas: history and curiosities
La Candlemas, the story of a party with great suggestions that has its roots in pre-Christian rites linked to the triumph of light.
These are large candles, enriched with sculptures and decorations, which always accompany the Saint, preceding the fercolo. Each “cereo” is linked to a group of citizens, which often coincides with a group of workers: from Cereo Fiorai to Cereo Pescivendoli, to Cereo Macellai.
The candles of Saint’Agatha are carried in procession strictly “on the shoulder” – the weight of the candles goes from 200 to 860 kilos – and each cereo has a fixed position in the procession.
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…
Contents1 Why is Saint Anthony Abbot represented with a fire and a pig?2 Prayer to Saint Anthony Abbot3 Temptations of Saint Anthony4 Saint Anthony the Abbot and Saint Francis: what do the two saints have in common? Saint Anthony the Abbot is remembered as the…
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 and hair from the desert wind. It is from their land that the spiny Argania comes, the plant from which this miraculous oil is obtained, also called, and not surprisingly, the ‘tree of life’. A very resistant plant, which has grown only since prehistoric times in the semi-desert plain of the Souss, in Morocco, and nowhere else in the world. Yet in this windswept land worn down by millennia of sandstorms, Argania thrives, cloaking an otherwise barren landscape with forest, with trees over 10 metres high, to which are added the roots that sink into the ground up to to 30 metres, and which can live up to 200 years. Argania produces fleshy fruits similar to olives, and these fruits have a very tough core inside which in turn holds, just like a treasure chest, the Argan almonds.
In these lands are the women who, for millennia, have been harvesting the fruits of Argania and squeezing them to obtain the precious oil, which they call liquid gold, or even gold of the desert because of its colour, but also of its always recognised value. They use the cold pressing technique, in some cases still using a stone grinder, the arzeg, and their hands. But even where machines have taken over, the processing of this precious substance is always very careful not to damage its precious properties.
What is so special about Argan oil?
Few natural substances nourish and moisturise the skin like this oil, and this means that in addition to being used pure, it is the basis of countless cosmetic preparations, including industrial ones. Its richness derives from its composition: unsaturated fatty acids, in particular oleic and linoleic acids, saturated fatty acids, triglycerides, but also omega-3, omega-6, vitamin A and E, in addition to other substances famous for their power in fighting free radicals and ageing.
This rich composition explains the exceptional properties of Argan oil especially as a nourishing and elasticising agent for the skin, its ability to moisturise without greasing even the deepest layers of the epidermis, making it luminous and toned. What’s more, the polyphenols within it help the production of collagen, and thus counteract the formation of wrinkles, erasing existing ones, as well as small scars and signs of ageing.
Speaking of the composition of Argan oil, we mentioned the presence of vitamin E, which is particularly valuable for stimulating hair growth. It stimulates the scalp, keeping it healthy, hydrated and free of dandruff, and helping it to give birth to healthy and strong hair. On the length, Argan oil fights split ends, dryness and in general all the damage caused by dyes, bleaching and chemical agents. The hair will appear shiny and soft to the touch, easy to comb and very fragrant!
Always talking about hair, if during pregnancy they tend to appear thicker and more luxuriant, it is common for them to be weakened and brittle immediately after childbirth. It depends on the changes in estrogen production. Argan oil can prove to be a precious ally during pregnancy, to keep hair healthy without using chemicals that would only weaken it further in the next phase, and later to nourish and hydrate it, also limiting its fall and helping its production of new hair.
But during pregnancy and after childbirth Argan oil can also prove to be a very precious ally for the skin and nails. First of all because, being completely natural, it does not contain substances that are harmful to the mother and the child who is growing inside her. The use of Argan oil on the skin prevents stretch marks, so common among pregnant women, and helps the skin to maintain its balance despite the changes that the unusual production of hormones causes. Used on the hands it will not only keep them hydrated and soft, but it will also help the nails not to become too brittle and not to flake.
Argan oil, thanks to its composition, is an authentic elixir of eternal youth for the skin of the face. A few drops of the pure product used for a small massage illuminate the face, giving the skin elasticity, youth, restoring tone and freshness. Protected and revitalised, our skin will face fatigue, atmospheric agents, make-up without being impoverished and damaged. Furthermore, the wrinkles already present will be reduced, and the formation of new wrinkles will be prevented, for a lasting and natural youth.
The soothing and regenerating properties of Argan oil also help the skin of all ages fight acne. The precious components of this wonderful tonic also help oily skin to regain its proper balance and hydration, and the antioxidants reduce the marks left by acne on the face and body.
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 Magi, fascinating and evocative figures of the Christmas tradition, brought gold, incense and myrrh as a gift to the Child Jesus. But what lies behind the choice of these particular gifts? The Three Kings and their gifts have for thousands of years been the…
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Every year, from October to January, the streets are filled with the warmth that only the Christmas atmosphere can give. We are carried away by this whirlwind of colours, sparkling lights and melodic songs that echo through the streets of the cities. Each of us, in our own small way, tries to recreate the same atmosphere and the same warmth, but to do so, one cannot ignore one of the most popular decorations of recent years: the wreaths. Decorations with a Nordic flavour have spread very quickly also in Italy. Let’s see together some ideas and suggestions to make the most of their potential.
Christmas wreaths are always a valid decoration, of different sizes, styles and colours, they easily adapt to any environment.
Placing the wreath on the front door is just one of the ways they can be used and probably the most classic one too. But are there other ways to use them? Experimentation is always possible just rely on your imagination and inspiration.
It can be used as a centrepiece, perhaps together with candles that recall the colour of the rest of the decorations, hung, like a painting, on a white wall, placed on shelves in your study corner or on the bookcase or as an alternative to classic window decorations, they certainly have more character.
The ideas are endless and trust me, none can be wrong.
The trends of this 2020 now running out suggest that the most popular wreaths are those that have neutral and natural colours at their base, the white of the snow, the green of the fir trees, the brown of the twigs and the red of the berries.
Among our favourites, there are those made solely with pine cones.
Natural or coloured, the pine cones wreaths recall nature without being banal, capable of breaking the monotony of the Christmas tables, especially if enriched with battery-powered LED mini lights.
Obviously, it all depends on the effect you want to achieve.
For those who love colours and prefer a wreath that stands out, an idea could be to buy one made up of many Christmas balls of different colours.
Many elements added to a simple green wreath can give it new life and a completely different character. So go ahead with ribbons, tapes, pine cones and bells to achieve the effect you really want.
For those who love simple and romantic things, a thread of warm lights to wrap a simple wreath of pine needles is the simplest, fastest and most effective solution.
Alternatively, you can choose to attach coloured ribbons or Christmas balls, it takes very little, a thread of twine or hot glue to fix the elements you prefer and obtain an always different effect.
If, on the other hand, you love experimentation and get out of the usual schemes, you can choose something that recalls the not too distant Provence, some sprigs of lavender, dried or fake, can be attached to a simple circular iron wire or for an even more particular effect, you can choose to mix more styles by adding the twigs to your wreath made with pine branches. Really très chic!
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…
Contents1 Red and gold Christmas tree2 White and gold Christmas tree3 Blue and silver Christmas tree4 Multicolour Christmas tree5 Pastel Christmas tree6 Black Christmas tree We have put together ideas to help you choose the combinations and colours, from the most classic to the most…
For Christmas lovers, it is never too early to dedicate themselves to the DIY nativity scene. There are those who create large nativity scenes, rich in effects and characters, carefully choosing the backdrop, the effects and the control units to be inserted in the crib, the accessories and the huts. There are those who, more simply, recover the statues and the moss of last year and reassemble the nativity scene by adding some changes. But if there is something that can make a small domestic crib as special as a large display crib, it is the effects of water. Who doesn’t want to have a river, a water mill or a fountain in their DIY nativity scene?
If you are passionate about the water effect for cribs, you will certainly have something to do with immersion pumps. Each movement of water is in fact obtained thanks to the action of a pump which, through a very simple mechanism, sucks the water from the tank in which it is immersed and makes it flow in a continuous flow.
Nativity Pumps: how to choose the right one
Pumps for nativity scenes, essential accessories to create suggestive effects of moving water for our nativity scene.
We have already talked about how to choose the crib pump that’s right for you, looking at the flow rate and prevalence characteristics. Now instead we come to the critical question of this article: what if the pump stops working?
The malfunction can be caused by limestone, remains of moss, gravel or sand that are deposited inside the mechanism. In this case, the pump can be cleaned with simple maintenance.
If the pump does not work even after cleaning, it is likely that the motor is burned out and needs to be replaced.
Read on to learn the simple maintenance and replacement procedures for the crib pump.
Here is what you need to do maintenance on the crib pump:
First, remove the pump from the tank in which it is located. If it is fixed with glue, you can heat it with a hair dryer to loosen the grip and detach the pump from the tray.
Create a solution by mixing the water with the white wine vinegar in the bowl, immerse the pump and leave it under water for at least 30 minutes. The vinegar will dissolve the limestone.
Then remove the pump from the water and vinegar solution and with the help of a screwdriver open the cover that closes the impeller inside the pump. With a brush remove any residues of limestone, sand, gravel, or moss.
Finally, rinse the pump with clean water.
For even more thorough cleaning, remove the impeller. The attachment is magnetic so it is very simple to both remove and reposition. Clean the impeller separately and insert it back into the pump.
At this point, the pump can be repositioned in the tray and fixed thanks to the suction cup feet or with hot glue, and your water effect will return to amaze as before.
The pump may continue to fail even after cleaning the limescale. The most likely reason is that the moped has burned out. As we explained to you in the article on choosing the crib pump, this can be easily avoided by using the pump always completely immersed in water: the motor is cooled and any risk of overheating is avoided.
In case you find yourself in the situation of having a non-functioning pump, you will have to choose a new pump to replace the broken one.
There are two things to watch out for:
Once you have purchased a suitable crib pump, you can proceed with the replacement.
First, disconnect the hose to which the broken pump is connected; then, with the help of a hair dryer if it is fixed with glue, remove it from the tray.
Attach the hose to the new pump and place it in the bowl. To fix the hose to the pump and the pump to the tank you can use hot glue.
The water effect will be ready again to make your nativity scene special!
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…
Contents1 A wall with lights and photos2 Glass vases with Christmas lights3 Christmas Lights for Outdoors: a must-have for the whole year4 Christmas lights in the bedroom, a magical touch for children5 Bookcase with Lights6 Safety, an aspect not to be underestimated Christmas lights are…
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At Christmas, the nativity scene cannot be missing in the home of a Christian family. It does not need to be large, with many characters and scenarios, even just a small representation of the Nativity is enough, with the Holy Family united in a symbolic picture of love. The Madonna, Saint Joseph, the Child Jesus, and perhaps the ox and the donkey.
All over the world, the nativity scene is a symbol of Christmas, and in our country in particular it boasts an ancient tradition full of suggestions still alive and felt today, which are renewed every year, as we can admire in the cities and villages that host the most beautiful and famous nativity scenes in Italy.
But the representation of the Nativity of Our Lord is widespread all over the world, with different declinations, characteristic characters, settings that are only apparently far from what we are used to knowing and conceiving us, the hut of Bethlehem, with its now codified protagonists, many of which symbolic, as in the Neapolitan crib.
What we want to focus on in this article dedicated to crib control units is that all Christians in the world celebrate the birth of the Son of God, and those who love the crib want to make it unique and unrepeatable every year. We think in particular of the DIY nativity scene enthusiasts, who create real reconstructions of the Nativity, small domestic works of art, but also of those who simply want to make their home nativity scene more evocative and atmospheric.
Here’s how a crib controller can help us.
To begin with, let’s clarify what crib control units are and what they are for. These are electrical devices that help us create various scenic effects in our crib. This can be light, sound or motion effects. In any case, they can greatly contribute to making our small or large crib really special.
There are two types of control units: traditional incandescent or LED ones. In this article in particular we will deepen the traditional ones.
The traditional incandescent control units can in turn be of different types:
In general, all our systems provide for the possibility of connecting multiple devices, even using a power strip, to regulate multiple lighting, audio or movement effects. Just stay within the power allowed by the control unit. For example: if the control unit supports 80W, then you can put 2 movements of 40W or 4 movements of 20W. If during the day you need the synchro effect for the movements of characters such as the baker, butcher etc., for the night you can put a sleeping figurine or a scene with a drunk instead. In addition, with our control units, you can move ovens and fires, fountains, and streams.
In general, it is very important to be careful of the maximum limits of the power of each grip and not to exceed them, to avoid problems. If too many devices are connected to the control unit, the fuse may blow. In this case, it will need to be replaced. All our control units have an integrated spare fuse.
Let’s start with the simplest control unit, the one that has only two phases: day and night. The device we propose is the Natalino 200R: day and night fade control unit, equipped with two sockets to which the lights for the two phases day and night are connected.
Natalino determines a cycle of fading between the lights, with a transition effect that recreates the atmosphere of the alternation of day and night.The cycle duration can be set with a small controller and ranges from a minimum of 20 seconds to a maximum of about 3 minutes.
Even if the device has only two sockets, it can also support more lights, using a power strip or an adapter, as long as the voltage limits supported by the control unit itself are respected. Suitable for a small nativity scene with statuettes that remain stationary.
If you need to recreate the day/night alternation not only with the lights but also accompanying it with differentiated movements, you can orient yourself towards the next model, the Natalino 2 + 2 which provides both the day and night fading effect and a series of synchronized movements.
The Natalino 2 + 2 is also extremely simple and practical: there is a DISSOLV. socket DAY, to which all the lamps necessary for daylighting must be connected, and a DAY SYNC socket to which you will connect all the movement effects relating to the day. The same happens for the night, with the two DISSOLV. sockets. NIGHT and NIGHT SYNC. A knob adjusts the duration of the entire cycle.
The difference between the light sockets and the motion sockets is clear: the fader sockets for the lights send a current that gradually increases in power creating the effect of fading in transition, while the sync sockets send the current all at once. It is very important not to be mistaken and not to connect the crib lights to the sync socket and the other motion devices to the fading socket, because if the motion device receives current gradually, problems are created for the mechanisms.
Another fundamental thing is that you connect only resistive loads to the FADE OUT sockets, i.e. incandescent or halogen lamps at mains voltage, such as filament bulbs (220V).
Obviously, if you need elements that continue to move both day and night, indifferently, such as a river or a waterfall, you will have to connect the movement device to a separate socket, not subject to the day and night cycle.
In our catalogue, you will also find 4-phase control units, which provide for the alternation of SUNRISE-DAY-SUNSET-NIGHT.
The Natalino N502, equipped with 6 sockets, provides 4 fading phases for the DAWN-DAY-SUNSET-NIGHT lights and 2 synchronized sockets with the phases for the other effects, such as character motors, sound recorders, movements, electronic effects and whatever else.
The DAY EFFECTS socket is synchronized with the SUNRISE-DAY-EVENING phases, the NIGHT EFFECTS socket is synchronized with the NIGHT socket. We, therefore, have 6 sockets, 2 for the night (NIGHT EFFECTS FADE) and 2 for the day (DAY EFFECTS FADE) and another 2 fades for DAWN and EVENING, to which we can connect lights with suitable colours to create the transition.
Then there are even more complex devices, such as the talking Natalino with kit Fading dawn, day, dusk, night. The basic structure is the same as the traditional Natalino, but this device is technologically much more advanced and improved in performance. The main innovation was the elimination of 220V for absolute safety, and the fades of the various phases are all LED.
In addition, the system allows dynamic adjustment of the cycle duration from one minute to ten minutes and is equipped with a new audio system, stereo and with external amplifier socket.
In addition to fading effects between the various phases of the day, this device allows you to adjust sounds, lights and effects: fading stars with flickering, house lights, fire LEDs, soundtrack with adjustable volume and audio jack, for birds chirping, the crowing of the cock, the lightning and thunder effect (possibility to exclude it if unwanted).
The audio system automatically recognizes the duration of the phase and programs itself accordingly. The outputs of the stars and of the house lights have been doubled and expansions will be possible for the use of numerous other accessories. SYL devices can be added separately and connected to other phases if 230V sockets are required.
Of course, our catalogue also offers a wide range of nativity lights, as well as lamps, lamp holders and jellies to create your favourite colour effects. For example, the 40W wood effect filament lamp is a must for all cribs.
It is a filament lamp with a wood effect that can also be used in fading, essential for the night effect lighting of small cribs, but also very useful for adults. Its matching E14 lamp holder is also available.
Even in the section of the moving figurines for cribs, you can indulge yourself. In particular, you will find a truly varied and rich catalogue of moving figurines made for the Neapolitan crib, one of the cribs par excellence of our tradition.
Animated statues in the Neapolitan Nativity scene
The Nativity scene is one of the most famous and spread traditions connected to Christmas.
All the figurines of the Neapolitan Holyart nativity scene are made entirely by hand in Italy, in Naples, and come alive thanks to motorized systems hidden in the folds of the clothes, gears manufactured by hand by highly experienced artisans, to give life to your nativity scene and recreate a timeless atmosphere.
Finally, even the nativity hut needs accessories that embellish it and make it truly the beating heart of the nativity scene. Especially if you have opted for a DIY nativity scene, in our catalogue you will find many solutions suitable for all needs and budgets, to create your perfect nativity hut and give it all the realism and magic it deserves.
