The great evergreen tree has been a mainstay in festive cultures long before Christianity, with early Pagan celebrations taking place around its fragrant branches. A pillar of holiday purpose, the Christmas tree is the ultimate symbol of the world’s most…
“Every man should pull a boat over a mountain once in his life,” opined acclaimed director Werner Herzog, and the mountain wave tattoo would no doubt appeal to this sensibility. Breathtakingly beautiful to behold, the mountain wave tattoo is a…
It’s no secret that the bear is one of the most powerful creatures in existence, and an equally formidable animal totem. Man has alternately hunted, fled from, and sought to lived alongside the bear, and to this day the balance…
Famously misunderstood and possessing a beauty unmatched both within and outside of its habitate, the wolf has long been an obsession of man. Frequently hunted and often the subject of cruel superstition, the wolf continues to survive and stand against…
How strange that many of the simplest symbols and accoutrements can strike the deepest of chords within us. Seemingly inconsequential objects take on an overwhelming significance where memory is concerned, and the paddle is a prime example of such. For…
Its name translated from Spanish to “Rich Port,” Puerto Rico’s history is indeed as rich as it is worth celebrating. Originally inhabited by the Taíno tribe and claimed by Christopher Columbus for Spain in 1493, Puerto Rico has endured numerous…
“Who could refrain that had a heart to love and in that heart courage to make love known?,” penned William Shakespeare, and no truer lines have ever been written in regards to the most famous, fiery organ of all. The…
Guilty pleasure or proud indulgence, there’s no denying the heavenly addiction that accompanies cheese. Curd to calzone, every culture around the world has staked its claim in the mouthwatering creation of cheese dishes, and it was only a matter of…
The image of Saint Nicholas has undergone a number of transformations over the years, but the message behind his likeness remains unwavering. In his red robes and white beard, gift sack slung over his shoulder and kindness twinkling in his…
The first snowfall of winter is a truly magical time, when the world falls silent and is quickly transformed into a separate realm entirely. One never grows out of his love for that mystical wonderland, nor the joys of crafting…