The Chotki in Slavonic Folklore

In Slavonic and Orthodox culture Chotkis (or Prayer Rope) as an important religious accessory, have always been a bit less popular than the crucifix worn on the neck. Actually in the Orthodox tradition Prayer Rope are rarely worn or paraded otherwise, but they are used a lot during the solitary praying times. Freshly-converted Slavonic monks and priests had been given Chotkis by their spiritual mentors as the "sword of faith" for in Orthodox Christianity (and other flavours of Christianity and even other religions as well) they were thought to be a spiritual weapon capable of guarding off and fighting evil spirits. Laymen in the Eastern Slavonic countries also used Chotkis to make the forces of darkness flee. The common belief had it that if your prayer rope had been placed on the belly of a woman in labour then the baby would be safe from jinx. Wearing or having Chotki with you was commonly considered a way to protect yourself from undead such as ghouls and vampires. Similar superstitions leaked from the Slavonic folklore into the Western world Romantic and so-called Gothic novels. The vampires that are so well scared away by the very sight of a rosary had been known in the Eastern Europe under the name of "upyri" - "those sucking lifeblood, ghouls". Those "upyri" were soulless dead bodies of the villains or debauched maids buried outside the holy ground of the cemetery for their evil deeds without a cross over the grave and without a crucifix or a rosary with them. Slavonic Lestovka Chotki (a praying bead of moderate size made of wood and leather, overall quite reminiscent of a staircase hence the name that can be translated as "stairs") in the Orthodox Church folklore and fables always symbolized the cross between an upwards ways leading to the holiness and pure living (speak of "Stairway To Heaven"!) of a person using them for prayers and the "Alatyr" - the centre of space and the Universe. The flat wooden beads are the steps of such staircase and the two large ornamental leather triangles symbolize the centre point of all the earthly living. The Alatyr-stone was believed to be able to cure any kind of illness so through this ancient pre-Christian belief later transferred into Christianity the power of healing as sometimes attributed to the Alatyr-like Chotkis. This traditional folklore is still popular today, people from Slavonic cultures heard these stories from their grandparents and in turn told them to their children. Their children will in turn tell it to theirs, and so the folklore luckily stays alive. Wonderful isn't it? Maximilian Miatus is a repentant who's passions are hiking, traveling, visiting orthodox monastery's, orthodox religion and world history. For authentic Chrisitan Orthodox Prayer Rope visit: -The Chotki Store or the Prayer Rope Store God Bless Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maximilian_Miatus Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6674556

Folklore Review - A Magical Adventure

Folklore is a PlayStation 3 exclusive video game that will probably get lost due to the Orange Box madness, but I will try to shed some light on the game. The game is developed by Sony and published by Game Republic. Judging by the title of the game, it is fairly obvious that Folklore is a role playing game. The storyline in the game transpires in Doolin, and Doolin is a village in Ireland. Mysticism and the supernatural beings are a few of many things that haunt this village. There are two protagonists in the game named Ellen and Keats. They are immersed in an eccentric environment that is imbued with spirits and "ghosts." Both of the playable characters in the game have separate objectives. Ellen goes to Doolin in search of her mother because she has supposedly sent a letter to Ellen (sounds eerily similar to the dead wife letter that was sent to Harry from Silent Hill 2). On the other end of the spectrum, Keats is a journalist who travels to Doolin to learn about the strange occurrences that are taking place. I found the plot to be enjoyable, but the game has a storyline that can take some time to develop. The gameplay in the game has two different settings. A location known as The Netherworld is where the combat occurs, and the normal world is where gamers will be achieving typical role playing game tasks. When gamers are in the normal world, they will be collecting items and having conversations with various people. The normal world provides a nice change of pace from the combat. Each character's gameplay is broken down into chapters. To eliminate confusion, it is best to complete one chapter with one character and go replay that chapter again with the other character. For instance, finishing Keats' chapter first and replaying the same chapter with Ellen. I felt like the game progressed in a much more cohesive manner when I took this approach. You can mix and match chapters by playing multiple chapters from Ellen's perspective, but doing this would make the plot completely garbled. The gameplay predominately consists of acquiring souls. All of the adversaries have souls that can be absorbed and used for later use. Since each soul you gain varies, the abilities you gain is also different. For example, one soul can perform an ice elemental damage and another can utilize electricity. Once you take in a soul, you can map if to the four face buttons on the PlayStation 3 controller. Not all souls are proficient in eradicating every foes; furthermore, you cannot expect to beat the entire game with only one sul. There are strengths and weaknesses for each opponent in the game. This makes the game somewhat balanced, but gratuitously time consuming. Personally, I found the guess and check system of finding the correct soul to kill opponents to be rather convoluted. The method needed to capture a soul is unique on its own right. This is where the six axis controller is at its best. The six axis controller is amazing for getting a soul under control, and the controls itself are intuitive. The game developers of the disaster known as Lair should meticulously take notes from the game developers that worked on Folklore. Do you hear me Lair game creators? You guys can learn so much about the six axis controller from the team that worked on Folklore. If anyone who worked on Lair is reading this, then he or she needs to give the game designers of Folklore a phone call and have a long chat about how to make the six axis controller responsive. Look at me going off on one of my tangents again. Alright, back to the review of Folklore. The frame rates appears to be smooth, but I had a problem with the prolonged load times. Regrettably, the audio in the game is utterly ridiculous. A majority of the dialogue is shown via a comic book style. If this comic book style of story telling is tastefully done, then it works to perfection (ala Max Payne and Max Payne 2). The most egregious aspect of the dialogue is that there is absolutely no voice acting during these absurd comic book style segments. I thought the lack of voice acting was an enormous blunder in the game. There should always be voice acting in a next generation console video game (especially considering the fact that this is a PlayStation 3 video game). During the major cut scenes, there is voice acting. Unfortunately, the voice acting is horribly done. Folklore pales in comparison in the voice acting department to other exquisite video games such as Heavenly Sword, Halo 3, God of War, and God of War 2. What the hell Sony? How could the audio in Folklore be this poorly executed? The only saving grace with the audio is the music and sound effects. Luckily, the visuals in the game are incredible. Everything that is seen in Folklore makes it seem like a fantasy. The vibrant colors looks like an extravagant piece of artwork. Environments, flora, and fauna are well designed. Folklore will take gamers approximately nineteen hours from beginning to end. Overall, Folklore is a solid role playing game. It is not as brilliant as Oblivion on the PlayStation 3, but Folklore has just enough to give gamers a reason to play. final verdict 8 out of 10 http://wwwfunnyman.blogspot.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sayed_Islam Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/786543

Br'er Rabbit In African American Folklore

In African American Folklore Br'er Rabbit is one of the more well known characters. Some were introduced to him in the Uncle Remus stories. His character in folklore is known as the trickster. They can take on the form of a god,goddess, or an animal. Usually they will play a trick or disobey normal rules and norms of behavior. Cunning and wit is one of their trademarks. Southern Beginnings The stories of Br'er Rabbit were known to slaves in the US. Later a journalist from Georgia named James Chandler Harris collected these stories told from the oral tradition and put them in book form. He used the dialect spoken at the time. This was post Civil War when it was printed. And the stories told idealized a time that was gone but still yearned for by white southerners. His book has become a part of African American Folklore. To this day his retelling of the stories still bring up lively debate depending on how one looks at it. African Connection Anansi is the name of a trickster whose stories are told in West Africa. There he took on the form of a spider and there are many stories of him playing tricks on others. Those stories are thought to originate with the Ashanti tribe in Ghana. Native American Origins Rabbit/Hare myths were long known to Native Americans in North America and parts of Canada. Primarily the Algonquin tribe with the Great Hare story. Apparently most of the rabbit stories come from Cherokee folklore. No doubt Cherokee Indians and African slaves came into contact. In many cases intermarried. One can see how the Rabbit folklore stories would morph into Br'er rabbit. What The Slaves Did with Br'er Rabbit While Br'er Rabbit played the trickster in African American Folklore he also meant other things. In a sense he represented slaves who used wit to overcome obstacles and adversaries (white slave owners). Not always successful but he was a folk hero. Abbott Lewis reads and write on various subjects. Go to his site learn more about African American Folktales [http://www.africanamericanfolktale.blogspot.com]. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abbot_Lewis Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1922895

Salamandra, Mountain Leather and Rock Floss - The Folklore of Asbestos

Asbestos has been considered a valuable utility for its fire resistant properties for over 3,000 years. This value was not soon diminished, in spite of the fact that the adverse effects were evident almost instantly after its discovery. It was only as recently as the dawn of 20th century that there's been any sort of consensus on what the fibrous stone material actually is. While we know asbestos today to be the lifeblood of a slew of specialized attorneys, it used to be a major point of speculation among mystics, naturalists, slaves and kings alike. It would ultimately take hundreds of years to learn what asbestos really was, but in interim we were determined to understand it. This is what folklore is for. Salamanders Salamanders are a seemingly unlikely place to start, but they're actually integral to the folklore of asbestos. Some quick research reveals that the word "Salamander" is derived from persian meaning "fire within". This may not seem to have much relevance until you understand that salamanders were thought to be "fire elementals," meaning that they require only fire for sustenance. It doesn't stop there though, salamanders actually may have been one of antiquity's most wildly misunderstood creatures. They were regarded as miraculous, dangerous creatures who were born from blistering bonfires and who could lay entire armies to waste with their poison. When it was discovered that one could weave a cloth from asbestos that couldn't be destroyed by a hot fire, the fibers were thought to be the fur of a salamander. Of course, even if salamanders did have fur, it'd be safe to bet that no one knew what it looked like. This myth remained extremely popular until Marco Polo put an end to it after having visited a chinese asbestos mine and deducing that it was actually a stone that was dug out of the earth. Grifters and Pranksters Many myths surrounding asbestos aren't so much about asbestos itself, but rather the way people used it. There was a lot of wiggle room back in ancient times when it came to utilizing a fabric that wouldn't burn in a fire. One famous group of pranksters, aptly called "The Human Salamanders", was particularly famous for using fire-proof asbestos based clothing to do crazy things such as roast handheld steaks whilst standing inside of an open flame. Others had more nefarious intentions, selling fireproof robes allegedly having belonged to christ was especially common in the dark ages. Asbestos, it's origins, mythology and potential uses eventually came to be known in so many ways, across so many cultures that it was soon interpreted as several different substances altogether with names such as Salamandra, Mountain Leather and Rock Floss. The Disease of Slaves This last bit of folklore, unfortunately, turned out to be completely accurate in hindsight. It was considered a myth, but word in ancient greece was that the slaves that had worked in the asbestos mines weren't worth buying due to their short life expectancy and their tendency to develop pulmonary based illnesses. Initially, before it was known for it's unique properties, asbestos was worn almost exclusively by slaves. However, it was soon used specifically for royalty. Asbestos came to be weaved into napkins, tablecloths and used to make wicks for candles. The effect on the slaves and workers who had no choice but weave the fabric was widely observed. What was in all likelihood Mesothelioma was then called "the disease of slaves". It could be said that a precedence was set for asbestos exposure being considered a poor man's problem as early as ancient Rome. Turns out there wasn't much left to be clarified about asbestos after the salamander fur myth was debunked. Ultimately it's defining characteristics stood out right from the beginning. It can't be burnt in a fire and it will kill you. Hindsight is twenty-twenty and yet, asbestos still seems otherworldly hellish. But this is and always has been the primary role of folklore, to transform and diminish the things that terrify us. Maybe one day as a society we can eventually avoid these things altogether and leave the salamander fur in the ground where it belongs. Thanks for reading! With regard to asbestos this is about as interesting as it gets. But I wanted to write it in order to draw attention to the fact that we've always known about the negative health effects and yet we continue to produce products with asbestos in them across several countries. Most are shocked to realize that this same deadly material is still not fully banned in the US and is fully legal in Canada. Check out some of the other related stuff I've been writing lately here: http://www.yourmesotheliomalawfirm.com/blogs/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gritte_R_Slattery Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8970983

5 Steps to Internet Safety For Kids

While the Internet has certainly brought a wealth of information, convenience and has a made the world a much smaller place, the Internet has its liabilities and especially so for children, teens and all minors. The responsibility of protecting children from online dangers lies with parents. There are several steps you can take to provide Internet safety for kids. One solution, which some parents choose, is to completely restrict their children from using the Internet. This solution while keeping your children safe is not always the best option. One, the Internet is here to stay, it is an important part of everyday life, and its use is a skill that is often required by schools and in the work place. Also, if you just tell your kids that they cannot have or use the Internet then you eliminate the opportunity to teach them how to use it safely. So, if they do use it when they are away from you, (which believe me does happen, even with the best of kids) at a friends house or school then they will not have the tools they need to stay safe. Having talks and discussions with children about the risks is very important, and as a parent you should set certain limits and keep the conversation open in regards to Internet safety. The following are 5 hands-on steps you can take to teach, limit and restrict children while they are online and therefore provide Internet safety for your kids. 5 Steps to Internet Safety for Kids: 1. Have a conversation with your kids. Explain to them, in as much detail as their age will allow some of the dangers that exist online. For example, that strangers in chat rooms, are just that, strangers. That they should never agree to meet anyone, give out their phone numbers, personal information like address etc. The same conversation that you had with them about not talking to strangers applies even more so when online, so use that and extend it further. Remember that most of these steps will only apply to computers you have at home. When your children are away from you they will have access to other computers and that is when those conversations will be the guidance that ensures their safety. 2. There is software available, which can help to protect your children from any content that is not appropriate for them. Software like, Microsoft Windows Vista Parental Controls, helps parents to manage, monitor and administer the use of the computer by children. The software, Windows Live OneCare Family Safety, filters certain chosen information and even a child's searches can be blocked by filtering certain keywords. 3. All web browsers allow for parental control settings. You can make personalized adjustments from the browser to set limits that you desire and to insure your child's safety. 4. You can increase children's safety by creating Limited User Accounts for your children from your Administrative Account. This restricts children from changing system settings, installing any new software which includes chat programs, games, etc. You can see the help section of your Operating System for detailed instructions on how to create User Accounts. This is a simple process and the instructions are step by step. 5. Be active and be a snoop. Yes a snoop, keep track of the websites that your kids are surfing. You can view all websites that they visited in the History List or Cookies from the web browser. You can even see the email addresses, correspondence and downloaded files. If you see something inappropriate or dangerous take the necessary parental actions. Sometimes we want to be our children's friend but we have to always be parents first. Always remember that these are concrete steps that will provide Internet safety for your kids and protect them while they are online and still allow them to get the benefits of using and learning to use the Internet. JR Lang is a computer applications specialist and a parent, if you would like to read more about computers, and to browse all laptops and accessories at very cheap prices please visit her website: Used Cheap Laptops and Cheap Laptop Computers. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JR_Lang Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1193569

What Is the Best Martial Art for Kids?

Martial arts is a very helpful addition to a healthy lifestyle. The mental and physical training necessary to be successful in any martial art will give students helpful skills they can apply to a number of other facets of their lives. With so many martial arts schools in even the smallest cities it may be a overwhelming task for parents to evaluate them and figure out what is the best martial art for their kids. Although there's no single martial art that is best suited specifically to all kids there are some which are more suitable than others. Some styles may focus more on the physical tournaments and preparing for them, while others may have an increased emphasis on character and self esteem developing. Furthermore two schools that provide the same style will teach that style distinctly, setting greater emphasis on different aspects of the style, for example mastering the formal movement patterns vs a focus on the sparring aspects. In this short article we hope to help you with some information regarding the best martial art for kids. Firstly you being a parent have to be sure you understand the reason you are searching for a martial art for your kids. There are a number of skills to be acquired through martial arts, such as self-defence, fitness improvements, teaching self-confidence, or training to compete in competitive events. While most if not all martial arts are in some ways acceptable for kids, the same can't be said for all schools or coaches. That is the reason why the initial step when choosing a martial art for your kids should be to determine which of the martial arts styles offered in your area are most suited for your kids, and then assess the schools within driving distance, the instructors in those schools and then the type of training they provide to both students and to instructors. Begin by exploring several of the schools found in your community to determine what their primary styles are. The World Wide Web is an excellent resource for this as you can get a quick summary of the tenets, history and styles involved with each individual martial art. Consider not only your goals for your kids, more self-confidence or building physical strength for instance, but also the skills of your child when deciding which martial arts may be best suited for them. Judo and mixed martial arts both have some focus on grappling, which is locking or pinning opponents down. So these may not be the best martial arts for kids which are claustrophobic. On the other hand these styles will probably be great at helping your child build their physical strength and stamina. Once you've a list of styles that could be right for your kids, start calling the schools in your neighborhood that instruct those styles. The research should match up with the details that the school supplies. For example, Taekwondo has only two recognized branches, the Kukkiwon/World Taekwondo Federation branch and the International Taekwon-Do Federation branch. If a Taekwondo school can't verify that they are associated with one of these organizations then their training, and the belts they grant to students, may not be valid or authentic. Inquire if they have programs created specifically for children, or if the children are grouped into a general class. If your kids are intimidated when in a group of older kids, teens or adults then perhaps a general class may not be best suited for them. Find out how many students and instructors are in each class, as a high student to teacher ratio will reduce the amount of time your kids will have with the instructor for one on one training. Ask if the instructors have certifications in first-aid or child education. Find out if the schools have formal training classes for their coaches, to train them the way to teach. Keep in mind that being a champion at a sport doesn't mean that a person can teach well; consider the number of great hockey and football players have experienced stunningly poor coaching careers. Find out how much experience the master or senior teacher has with kids. Get an idea of what ongoing costs should be to go to the school, which includes items such as promotion testing fees, uniforms, and additional equipment needs like arm and shin guards for fighting practices. Find out just how long the school has been in business, how long it's been at its existing location and whether the school gives back to its neighborhood through fundraising events or group volunteer activities. These things are important indications of the commitment level that the instructors and masters have to the school. Now that you've found a school you have to inspect the physical location itself. The physical location of the school or the equipment the school uses may not be tolerable to you once you actually see it. More than likely you are going to want to visit the school without your children, in the event that they may be anxious to begin training there and you determine that you are not comfortable with the school. A number of schools will allow you to view or even participate in a free class, to help you get a better appreciation of the teaching style and use of the facilities. Introducing your kids to the school should be done only after you are satisfied with the school, the style and the level of instruction that your kids will receive. Other Tips: Children can be more committed to the martial arts training if it becomes a family activity. To help your kids be more dedicated to physical activity outside of school you could consider signing yourself up for family martial arts classes. Many schools emphasize discipline and respect for parents, instructors and elders. Practicing this respect at home may require your reinforcing its importance away from the school. The history of the martial art and/or the club itself, the grand-master or the organizations the club is part of may be required learning at the school that your kids go to. Be sure to help your kids with some research into these aspects. Paul Thibault is a fifth Dan Master in World Taekwondo Federation Taekwondo. Paul has been teaching Taekwondo in Calgary for many years, developing hundreds of black belts and dozens of provincial and national champions. Studios Group Martial Arts Calgary has customized classes to teach what we feel is the best martial art for kids, to assist in growing self confidence, physical strength and conditioning. We have a particular emphasis on using martial arts and confidence to stop bullying in schools. Please visit our website or drop in to our martial arts school facility in Calgary for more information. Copyright Studios Group Martial Arts Calgary. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to publish this article on your site if the author's byline is included and all links are hyperlinked without alteration. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Thibault Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6842730

Homeschool Curriculums - Which One Is For You?

Which homeschool curriculum is for you? Next to the act of parenting, there is no greater privilege than to be given the opportunity to educate your child in the privacy of your own home, and the freedom to select the information you choose to teach your child. Fortunately, we live during a time when the amount of curriculum that is available at our disposal is virtually limitless. One of the biggest perks of homeschooling a child is the simple fact that no one knows your child better than you do. If your child happens to be a strong reader, then you, as their primary educator, can customize what your child will learn at home during the school year, and include lots of read-alouds, historical fiction, Christian missionary biographies, and so on. And because you know your child so well, choosing a curriculum for him or her may actually mean not following any given curriculum, but by taking bits and pieces from the many different programs available. Whether you prefer the structure of a textbook, concentrated unit studies, consumable workbook studies or interactive web-based programs, the goal of any Christian educator should be to keep God central to all that you are working on with your children. Below are some of the various homeschool curriculums: Monarch: Monarch is a new Christian, internet-based homeschool curriculum that is targeted for grades 3 through 12. Monarch's curriculum encompasses core subjects as Bible, history and geography, language arts, math and science. Additionally, this homeschool program offers 35 elective courses to round off your child's school day. Monarch uses interactive web-based lessons interspersed with fun graphics, engaging learning games, web-related links and much more. LIFEPAC: This curriculum is a work text program that weaves Scripture into each core subject and elective and includes chapter lessons, activities, quizzes, tests, and fundamental truths necessary for daily Christian living. Horizons: Horizons is a best-selling Bible-based curriculum in a consumable workbook format that is sure to engage learners of all ages. Horizon's curriculum integrates the truth of God's Word into each subject, and is an award-winning reading-based program. Sonlight: If you have a child who loves to read and be read to, Sonlight offers a great selection of quality, age appropriate literature for your homeschooled child. Sonlight can be purchased in customizable units or in pre-made all-inclusive packages. Switched on Schoolhouse: This multi-media based curriculum includes the core subjects and up to 35 electives. Switched on Schoolhouse can be customized to meet your student where he or she is at. This program is also geared towards grades 3 through 12. Scriptural truths coupled with Christian living applications make this curriculum a good foundation for your child. The Weaver Collection: The Weaver Collection is a Bible-based unit study that uses God's Word as its core. This collection is ideal if you have multiple grade levels in your family because you (the teacher) can formulate each study to be simple for your younger grades or more intricate for your older children. Choosing the correct homeschool curriculum is really done by trial and error, and what works for one child in your family may not have the same desired effect on the other children in your household. But choosing a curriculum should not stress you out; it should be lots of fun. Remember, you know your son or daughter better than anyone else in the world. Selecting a program that you know will speak to your child's heart in terms of having a strong Biblical foundation is key. So, as you are considering curriculum for your child, envision how your child would react to certain manners, methods and modalities of teaching, pray about whether a certain curriculum will build your child up and encourage him or her in his daily walk, and ask seasoned homeschool moms what curriculum worked best for their family. If you are shopping around for curriculum for an older child, include them in the selection process. Not only will you wind up with a more suitable match, but having that little say-so in choosing curriculum may prove to be very meaningful to your child. Erin is a Christian homeschooling mom of five, who is neck deep in classical curriculum, learning disabilities, diapers, and slobbery kisses. A self-proclaimed non-fiction junkie who delights in anything on attachment parenting, learning differences, motherhood, and biblical growth. A desire to connect with other like-minded mothers stumbling through this precious privileged journey of motherhood. In what little free time is available Erin also runs her own homeschool community. --Transparentmom.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erin_Theo Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6070276