When it comes to tying the knot, Canadian couples have a lot of decisions to make. When is the big day? Where will it take place? Who’s going to be in the wedding party? Engaged couples can find inspiration for their nuptials in many places, including friends and family, popular films, cultural customs, and more. Why not Canada? Have you considered showing your country some love during the ultimate celebration of love? Here are some wedding décor ideas inspired by the Great White North.
Coloring Your Day With The Canadian Colors
One of the most iconic symbols of Canada is its distinctive red and white flag with a single red maple leaf. What better way to celebrate your homeland than with a red and white color scheme? White is a symbol of purity and newness, and it’s usually the color of choice for a bridal gown, a grand cake, florals, and sometimes a groom’s tuxedo. Red is widely associated with love, passion, and valentines, especially for hearts and roses. Consider the following ways to work red and white into your wedding celebration:
Attire: Bridesmaids can wear red dresses, while groomsmen go with red neckwear, pocket squares, vests, or cummerbunds.
Flowers: You and your spouse can be the king, queen, or highnesses of hearts with red and white bouquets and floral displays.
“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something red”: Put a Canadian spin on a classic wedding tradition by requesting a gift of something red instead of blue.
Other décor: Play with red and white for your reception, including balloons, table settings, wedding cakes, etc.
Leafing It Up All The Way
Red and white may not be your preferred motif, but you can still be inspired by the Canadian flag. The iconic maple leaf can be the inspiration for your marriage ceremony or reception. Use maple leaves in your bouquets and other floral displays, such as an arch or arbor at the altar. You can also feature a maple leaf in your wedding invitations, programs, and placards. Imagine turning heads with maple leaf–inspired accessories such as cufflinks, pocket squares, and jewelry. Red maple leaves are a fun way to show some national pride on your special day.
Dressing Down To Dress Up
What’s a Canadian marriage ceremony without that classic Canadian sense of humor or irony? One way to acknowledge your country is by having members of the wedding party wear Canadian tuxedoes. The Canadian tuxedo look involves wearing a denim jacket or shirt with matching pants. Supposedly the term originated in the 1950s when American entertainer Bing Crosby was denied entry to a Vancouver hotel for wearing a denim top with bottoms. Jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co fashioned a tuxedo out of denim for Crosby as a publicity stunt. Similarly, wedding apparel made of flannel and plaid can be a fun, tongue-in-cheek nod to Canada.
Topping Things Off In A Canadian Way
If red maple leaves in your cake design are too on the nose, consider topping your cake with figurines dressed up as hockey players from Canada’s biggest teams, such as the Montreal Canadiens, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Vancouver Canucks, the Winnipeg Jets, or the Ottawa Senators. If you’re not a hockey fan, consider figurines dressed up as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Also called “Mounties,” the RCMP are easily recognized by their uniform of a red tunic, brown hat, blue breeches, and riding boots.
Planning a wedding is part of the excitement of getting married. As soon-to-be-spouses, you and your partner get to decide what you’d like to see on your big day. While you can pull inspiration from almost anything, you can also show some patriotism by choosing Canada as your source for décor, apparel, and more.
The humble coffee bean has a surprising religious history that weaves together many fascinating tails and origin stories.
Would you call your morning cup of coffee a mystical experience? In our quest to power up for the day, we probably don’t think about coffee’s origins. Yet this humble bean has a surprising religious history. It’s a fascinating and complex tale that began in Africa many centuries ago.
Coffee’s Ethiopian Origins
Coffee cultivation takes place in over 80 countries today, most of them located in tropical regions. One popular legend claims that an Ethiopian goat herder discovered the plant after noticing strange behavior out of his goats. After finding a green shrub decked with bright cherry-colored berries, he picked some of the fruit and brought it to a local monastery. The caffeine enabled the monks to stay awake, and the rest was history.
Except that it wasn’t really history.
Journalist Livia Gershon explains that the coffee plant did first grow wild in Ethiopia. However, the local tribespeople discovered it first. Thanks to its energizing properties, the bean was used as a sacrament in communal ceremonies. Hunters also imbibed it to stay alert and stave off hunger while seeking their prey. It eventually made its way to other parts of Africa, where other cultures found more uses for it. Some brewed a drink from the vivid red berries, while others roasted them in fat or chewed them without any prep. The Haya people of Tanzania even traded the beans as currency.
Java and Midnight Meditations
Just in case you thought the Ethiopian goat herder would get all the credit, there are two other myths about coffee’s origins. The Spruce‘s Lindsey Goodwin mentions one story in which a Sufi mystic finds and chews the berries during his journey through Ethiopia. Another tale claims that an exiled sheik on the verge of starvation discovered the plant in the wild. When he tossed the berries into his campfire, he fell in love with their aroma but found them too hard to chew. After trying to soften them in water, he drank the liquid and felt invigorated.
It’s hard to separate truth from myth, but we do know that Yemenite Sufi Muslims consumed coffee to keep alert during nighttime chanting rituals. Coffee eventually spread throughout the rest of the Muslim world, fueling Yemen’s economy for over 250 years. Many people drank it to stay awake during late-night Ramadan festivities, and coffeehouses sprung up to fuel the demand. More legends propagated about the bean’s origins, with some crediting Muhammed or the archangel Gabriel for gifting it to humanity.
Coffee Comes to Europe and America
Coffee was widely consumed in the Muslim world by the 1500s. Around this time, Europeans began encountering the drink during their travels. Although they found it bitter due to its initial lack of sugar, they loved its energizing effects. The drink soon came to Europe, where it was both loved and considered controversial. Just as in the Middle East, coffeehouses popped up in major cities throughout the continent. They became cultural centers and community meeting places, much like taverns were during America’s colonial era.
One often-repeated legend claims that several clerics asked Pope Clement VII to ban coffee, insisting that it was “Satan’s brew.” Yet when the pope tried coffee for himself, he enjoyed it so much that he gave it his blessing. From there, coffee came to the Americas, where early colonialists embraced the brew. “Coffee makes a man more reasonable, better able to concentrate and hardworking,” comments Laura Turner in the Washington Post. “No wonder people might see it going hand in hand with the Protestant work ethic.”
All Hail the Mighty Bean
Canada ranks third in the world for coffee consumption. For many of us, this bold brew is a must-have that fuels our bodies and minds. Whether or not we thank the divine for our daily drink, it certainly holds a revered place in our modern lives.
By reading literature from the past, we can help make our future better.
The 2017 theme for Black History Month is “The Crisis in Education.” Even though racially separated schools are illegal, many urban neighborhoods that are predominantly African-American still have a crisis in education. Schools are underfunded and overcrowded and fail to deliver substantive opportunities. These gaps have to be addressed to ensure all children have the opportunity to change the world. Take some time to read one of these great books for Black History Month to understand how these artists have made a different in literature.
Literature Based on the Harlem Renaissance
“The Collected Poems” by Langston Hughes
Explore the works of one poet in this collection. Hughes was a writer in the early 20th century who received many awards that allowed him to travel and write. He is a lyrical poet and considered one of the fathers of “jazz poetry.” As a leader of the Harlem Renaissance, he is an influential American who had a way with words.
“Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston
Hurston was a contemporary of Hughes. She experienced literary success in the 1920s, leading her to be an influential figure during the Harlem Renaissance. This novel is considered her masterwork, but at the time it was published, in 1937, it was poorly received.
“Go Tell It on the Mountain” by James Baldwin
This novel, Baldwin’s first, is an autobiographical story of his life as a teenager during the Harlem Renaissance. He draws heavily on the language of the King James Bible and makes several references to stories in the Bible, which are important to his culture. The Church has both positive and negative influences in this classic.
Other Reading Material for Black History Month
“The 100 Best African American Poems” edited by Nikki Giovanni
Giovanni put together this collection of great poetry that celebrates the African-American heritage. It’s probably the best compendium for readers to get a taste of poetry from the lens of the Black poet.
“Native Son” by Richard Wright
Although “Native Son” may seem like a trope of the classic story of an African-American man who kills a white woman, Wright never attempts to justify the behavior; he just explains how it was inevitable. It’s about poverty, fear, fate and free will.
“Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison
Ellison’s novel is a bildungsroman, or coming-of-age story, that discusses many of the social and political issues of the 20th century that affected black men. Time magazine called it more than a race novel, naming the book as one of the top-100 Best Novels from 1923 to 2005
“Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” by Frederick Douglass
There’s probably no other memoir that has been as influential on the abolition of slavery than this one. Even if you don’t enjoy reading, this novel should be on your must-read list as a story of what it was like in the 19th century for a black man.
“The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead
Whitehead writes about a literal “underground railroad” that slaves can take to freedom. This novel, which has won awards, reimagines what we know about the stories of the South. It’s a grim and realistic look at slavery during the Civil War.
Learn From the Past
In order to understand the future, we have to understand history. Knowing the civil rights issues that the African-American faced in the past helps us ensure that our country never returns to that place. Maya Angelou said, “It is impossible to struggle for civil rights, equal rights for blacks, without including whites. Because equal rights, fair play, justice, are all like the air: we all have it, or none of us has it. That is the truth of it.”
When it comes to tying the knot, Canadian couples have a lot of decisions to make. When is the big day? Where will it take place? Who’s going to be in the wedding party? Engaged couples can find inspiration for their nuptials in many places, including friends and family, popular films, cultural customs, and more. Why not Canada? Have you considered showing your country some love during the ultimate celebration of love? Here are some wedding décor ideas inspired by the Great White North.
Coloring Your Day With The Canadian Colors
One of the most iconic symbols of Canada is its distinctive red and white flag with a single red maple leaf. What better way to celebrate your homeland than with a red and white color scheme? White is a symbol of purity and newness, and it’s usually the color of choice for a bridal gown, a grand cake, florals, and sometimes a groom’s tuxedo. Red is widely associated with love, passion, and valentines, especially for hearts and roses. Consider the following ways to work red and white into your wedding celebration:
Attire: Bridesmaids can wear red dresses, while groomsmen go with red neckwear, pocket squares, vests, or cummerbunds.
Flowers: You and your spouse can be the king, queen, or highnesses of hearts with red and white bouquets and floral displays.
“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something red”: Put a Canadian spin on a classic wedding tradition by requesting a gift of something red instead of blue.
Other décor: Play with red and white for your reception, including balloons, table settings, wedding cakes, etc.
Leafing It Up All The Way
Red and white may not be your preferred motif, but you can still be inspired by the Canadian flag. The iconic maple leaf can be the inspiration for your marriage ceremony or reception. Use maple leaves in your bouquets and other floral displays, such as an arch or arbor at the altar. You can also feature a maple leaf in your wedding invitations, programs, and placards. Imagine turning heads with maple leaf–inspired accessories such as cufflinks, pocket squares, and jewelry. Red maple leaves are a fun way to show some national pride on your special day.
Dressing Down To Dress Up
What’s a Canadian marriage ceremony without that classic Canadian sense of humor or irony? One way to acknowledge your country is by having members of the wedding party wear Canadian tuxedoes. The Canadian tuxedo look involves wearing a denim jacket or shirt with matching pants. Supposedly the term originated in the 1950s when American entertainer Bing Crosby was denied entry to a Vancouver hotel for wearing a denim top with bottoms. Jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co fashioned a tuxedo out of denim for Crosby as a publicity stunt. Similarly, wedding apparel made of flannel and plaid can be a fun, tongue-in-cheek nod to Canada.
Topping Things Off In A Canadian Way
If red maple leaves in your cake design are too on the nose, consider topping your cake with figurines dressed up as hockey players from Canada’s biggest teams, such as the Montreal Canadiens, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Vancouver Canucks, the Winnipeg Jets, or the Ottawa Senators. If you’re not a hockey fan, consider figurines dressed up as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Also called “Mounties,” the RCMP are easily recognized by their uniform of a red tunic, brown hat, blue breeches, and riding boots.
Planning a wedding is part of the excitement of getting married. As soon-to-be-spouses, you and your partner get to decide what you’d like to see on your big day. While you can pull inspiration from almost anything, you can also show some patriotism by choosing Canada as your source for décor, apparel, and more.
The humble coffee bean has a surprising religious history that weaves together many fascinating tails and origin stories.
Would you call your morning cup of coffee a mystical experience? In our quest to power up for the day, we probably don’t think about coffee’s origins. Yet this humble bean has a surprising religious history. It’s a fascinating and complex tale that began in Africa many centuries ago.
Coffee’s Ethiopian Origins
Coffee cultivation takes place in over 80 countries today, most of them located in tropical regions. One popular legend claims that an Ethiopian goat herder discovered the plant after noticing strange behavior out of his goats. After finding a green shrub decked with bright cherry-colored berries, he picked some of the fruit and brought it to a local monastery. The caffeine enabled the monks to stay awake, and the rest was history.
Except that it wasn’t really history.
Journalist Livia Gershon explains that the coffee plant did first grow wild in Ethiopia. However, the local tribespeople discovered it first. Thanks to its energizing properties, the bean was used as a sacrament in communal ceremonies. Hunters also imbibed it to stay alert and stave off hunger while seeking their prey. It eventually made its way to other parts of Africa, where other cultures found more uses for it. Some brewed a drink from the vivid red berries, while others roasted them in fat or chewed them without any prep. The Haya people of Tanzania even traded the beans as currency.
Java and Midnight Meditations
Just in case you thought the Ethiopian goat herder would get all the credit, there are two other myths about coffee’s origins. The Spruce‘s Lindsey Goodwin mentions one story in which a Sufi mystic finds and chews the berries during his journey through Ethiopia. Another tale claims that an exiled sheik on the verge of starvation discovered the plant in the wild. When he tossed the berries into his campfire, he fell in love with their aroma but found them too hard to chew. After trying to soften them in water, he drank the liquid and felt invigorated.
It’s hard to separate truth from myth, but we do know that Yemenite Sufi Muslims consumed coffee to keep alert during nighttime chanting rituals. Coffee eventually spread throughout the rest of the Muslim world, fueling Yemen’s economy for over 250 years. Many people drank it to stay awake during late-night Ramadan festivities, and coffeehouses sprung up to fuel the demand. More legends propagated about the bean’s origins, with some crediting Muhammed or the archangel Gabriel for gifting it to humanity.
Coffee Comes to Europe and America
Coffee was widely consumed in the Muslim world by the 1500s. Around this time, Europeans began encountering the drink during their travels. Although they found it bitter due to its initial lack of sugar, they loved its energizing effects. The drink soon came to Europe, where it was both loved and considered controversial. Just as in the Middle East, coffeehouses popped up in major cities throughout the continent. They became cultural centers and community meeting places, much like taverns were during America’s colonial era.
One often-repeated legend claims that several clerics asked Pope Clement VII to ban coffee, insisting that it was “Satan’s brew.” Yet when the pope tried coffee for himself, he enjoyed it so much that he gave it his blessing. From there, coffee came to the Americas, where early colonialists embraced the brew. “Coffee makes a man more reasonable, better able to concentrate and hardworking,” comments Laura Turner in the Washington Post. “No wonder people might see it going hand in hand with the Protestant work ethic.”
All Hail the Mighty Bean
Canada ranks third in the world for coffee consumption. For many of us, this bold brew is a must-have that fuels our bodies and minds. Whether or not we thank the divine for our daily drink, it certainly holds a revered place in our modern lives.
By reading literature from the past, we can help make our future better.
The 2017 theme for Black History Month is “The Crisis in Education.” Even though racially separated schools are illegal, many urban neighborhoods that are predominantly African-American still have a crisis in education. Schools are underfunded and overcrowded and fail to deliver substantive opportunities. These gaps have to be addressed to ensure all children have the opportunity to change the world. Take some time to read one of these great books for Black History Month to understand how these artists have made a different in literature.
Literature Based on the Harlem Renaissance
“The Collected Poems” by Langston Hughes
Explore the works of one poet in this collection. Hughes was a writer in the early 20th century who received many awards that allowed him to travel and write. He is a lyrical poet and considered one of the fathers of “jazz poetry.” As a leader of the Harlem Renaissance, he is an influential American who had a way with words.
“Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston
Hurston was a contemporary of Hughes. She experienced literary success in the 1920s, leading her to be an influential figure during the Harlem Renaissance. This novel is considered her masterwork, but at the time it was published, in 1937, it was poorly received.
“Go Tell It on the Mountain” by James Baldwin
This novel, Baldwin’s first, is an autobiographical story of his life as a teenager during the Harlem Renaissance. He draws heavily on the language of the King James Bible and makes several references to stories in the Bible, which are important to his culture. The Church has both positive and negative influences in this classic.
Other Reading Material for Black History Month
“The 100 Best African American Poems” edited by Nikki Giovanni
Giovanni put together this collection of great poetry that celebrates the African-American heritage. It’s probably the best compendium for readers to get a taste of poetry from the lens of the Black poet.
“Native Son” by Richard Wright
Although “Native Son” may seem like a trope of the classic story of an African-American man who kills a white woman, Wright never attempts to justify the behavior; he just explains how it was inevitable. It’s about poverty, fear, fate and free will.
“Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison
Ellison’s novel is a bildungsroman, or coming-of-age story, that discusses many of the social and political issues of the 20th century that affected black men. Time magazine called it more than a race novel, naming the book as one of the top-100 Best Novels from 1923 to 2005
“Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” by Frederick Douglass
There’s probably no other memoir that has been as influential on the abolition of slavery than this one. Even if you don’t enjoy reading, this novel should be on your must-read list as a story of what it was like in the 19th century for a black man.
“The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead
Whitehead writes about a literal “underground railroad” that slaves can take to freedom. This novel, which has won awards, reimagines what we know about the stories of the South. It’s a grim and realistic look at slavery during the Civil War.
Learn From the Past
In order to understand the future, we have to understand history. Knowing the civil rights issues that the African-American faced in the past helps us ensure that our country never returns to that place. Maya Angelou said, “It is impossible to struggle for civil rights, equal rights for blacks, without including whites. Because equal rights, fair play, justice, are all like the air: we all have it, or none of us has it. That is the truth of it.”
