Feathers In Culture – Brazilian Carnival (Carnaval)

Carnival in Rio “The Greatest Show on Earth”

No one knows for sure where or when the rio carnival actually started. There are theories that it came from the Roman Catholic tradition. Something to do with a period of time before fasting where people would get together and eat drink and be marry because tomorrow we can`t.

What is known is that in the nineteenth century carnival balls became popular, with some really wild parties of the sort over at the Copacabana Palace Hotel.

That just makes me think about the song!

In the 1930`s the Samba Parade started up due to the influence of the Afro-Brazilian Culture. Then just because of the ethnic melting pot culture the carnival was born.

The carnival is based around an actual contest between the Samba schools for the best performance in dance, costume and music.

The samba dancers are the center attraction of the party and that is where the feathers come in.

They are decked out in the most amazing feather costumes and riding on these floats that are decorated with huge feathers.

Each of the Samba schools has its own tradition in many different themes such as politics, arts and sports.

To read up more about carnival, or to buy tickets, take a look at these links.

http://revive-music.com/2011/11/07/carnival-plurality-in-brazil/

http://onemorebiteblog.blogspot.co.il/2011/09/brazilian-day-la-taste-of-brazilian.html

www.rio.com/rio-carnival/rio-carnival-beginners

Kate MccGwire Feather Art

Kate grew up in rural England where she was inspired by the beauty she saw in the nature around her and started to create art at a very young age.

After being even further inspired by the arts that she came in contact to in London and then Paris she began to develop her current style of art and sculptor.

Kate’s works have this incredible felling of fluidness and of something other worldly. But to her they are echo of human life.

She loves the duality in her art and explains its similarity to our world.

I fell that at first it was hard for me to grasp what she was saying but after a bit of thought it became somewhat clear.

So much of our life on the surface is very dry and well measured, but underneath that is the unexplained world of our emotions which in fact are the true driving forces in our life.

http://www.katemccgwire.com/index.php?pid=1

Christian Siriano – Feather Dress

Christian Siriano was the youngest winner of the American design competition show Project Runway. 

He launched his namesake "Christian Siriano" collection in 2008 which made him a millionaire by the age of 24.

At the end of the event Victoria Beckham said that she would love to wear any piece from his collection.

With the money that he won from the contest Christian put out his first line in 2008.

Here is a picture of the two toned feather dress that was at the end of his winning runway show at the Project Runway contest.

Christmas Feather Decorations

Are you still looking for some last minute decoration ideas for this year’s Christmas holiday?

Maybe one of our Christmas feather decorations is just what you are looking for.

Here are our three posts on D.I.Y feather Christmas decorations.

First up the feather tree

What you will need

1- Green feathers

2- Thick wire that you can bend but will hold its shape

3- Green floral tape

4- Small plastic berries

5- Brown crepe paper

6- Paper glue

7- Thin wire for wrapping (about 26 gauge)

8- 3 inch wood cube with a hole drilled in the center to use as a base

Read the whole post on how It’s made

How To Make A FeatherTree

Next we have the feather wreath

Things you are going to need

1- one or two green feather boas

2- green spray paint

3- hot glue gun

4- some thick red ribbon

5- five peacock eye feathers

6- five peacock swords

7- solid wreath frame

8- loose green feathers

To see how it’s made seeour post

How To Make A Feather Wreath For The Holidays

And last these beautiful feather Christmas ornaments

I won’t even start on what you will need, you just need to see the post

Feather Christmas Ornaments

Order what you need today and you can have by the holiday! 

Feather Stocking Stuffers 2013

Hey every one, have you gotten all of your Christmas shopping done yet?  No! well no worries because I bet no one has yet. I would guess that even the people who think they got it all done already will need to pick up a thing or two before the holiday gets here.

Last year I wrote a post about feather stocking stuffers and this is just a continuation of it.

First off are these great feather headbands.

You can order them from http://www.mimiboutique.com/accessories/feather-accessories/feather-headbands or take a look at our post

Create Your Own Feather Headband – Very Easy

Then you have the other great option of feather hair clips these are also available from mimiboutique.com.

And of course we have a post on how to make those as well.

How To Make AFeather Hair Clip – Fast, Easy & Cheap!

And last up for this year’s feather stocking stuffers, feather leg warmers.

Have a look at our two posts;

Feather LegWarmers

&

D.I.Y FeatherLeg Warmers

Take a look at our great ideas from 2012

FeatherStocking Stuffers 2012

Santa Feather Costumes

Who is the one person that on his very own represent the Christmas holiday? Of course it’s the Santa coming in from the South Pole to bring gifts to all the children of the world

.

So here are some ways people have used feathers to dress up as the man himself.

Honestly though, I really wanted to find a men’s Santa costume that had feathers in it but I couldn’t.

First is this adorable feather hemmed dress for little girls.

http://www.etsy.com/il-en/listing/159942987/the-hair-bow-factory-santa-clause?ref=market

Then we have the feather Santa costumes for the big girls.

Never mind the tubby old Santa, take a look at these sizzling hot Santa outfits. I know you want to see your woman in one of these this year for Christmas.

http://www.bosgoo.com/christmas-costume_c338

Of course all you really need is a red dress and you can attach a white feather trim yourself.

Other posts you might like

Feather Stocking Stuffers

Feather Christmas Ornaments

How To Make A Feather Wreath For The Holidays

How To Make A Feather Tree

Our Feathered Friend Who Gets Away

The yearly tradition of the presidential pardoning of the turkey.

“President Ford reprieves a Thanksgiving turkey presented by the National Turkey Federation. November 20, 1975. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library”

http://www.whitehousehistory.org/history/white-house-facts-trivia/facts-thanksgiving-turkey-pardoning.html

Every year before Thanksgiving the president of the United States of America pardons a turkey from being cooked for the festive holiday meal.

The greatest part of the whole story in my opinion is that the turkey that the presedent pardons isn’t just any old turkey. The turkey that gets to live to see another day is from a long line of special show turkeys that are ok with large crowds and flashing lights.

As the story goes the tradition started back when Abraham Lincoln was the president. A turkey had been brought the grounds of the white house to be prepaired for the Thanksgiving meal but the presidents ten year old son, Tad, befriended the bird and even tought it to follow him around the white house grounds and named him Jack.

When the time came to prepare the turkey for the holiday meal, Tad convinced the “executioner” to delay slaughtering the bird, so he could bring Jack’s case before the President. Tad ran and burst into one of his father’s Cabinet meetings. Crying loudly, Tad told his father that Jack was about to be killed. “Jack must not be killed; it is wicked,” Tad pleaded. President Lincoln replied, “Jack was sent here to be killed and eaten…I can’t help it.” Tad, sobbing, said, “He’s a good turkey, and I don’t want him killed.” Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States of America, paused in the midst of the Cabinet meeting. He took out a card, and on it he wrote an order of reprieve. Jack’s life was to be spared, and Tad raced out of the Cabinet meeting to present the presidential order to the executioner.*

*A footnote to the story: On Tuesday, November 8, 1864, Abraham Lincoln was elected to a second term as president. A special polling place had been set up on the White House grounds especially for soldiers who chose to vote. Jack, the turkey, actually strutted in front of some of the soldiers and cut in the voting line. Seeing this, the president looked at Tad and asked if Jack was going to vote. “He is under age,” Tad replied.