#💐 — history/culture

[rooksamoris]

i have one more request to get to, but i started working on a leona fic about the shuka, a traditional piece of dress common with the maasai people of kenya and tanzania. the shuka is a patterned cloth that one is to wrap around their body, and it is common the color red, which symbolizes strength and courage, and it is the clothing common among the warriors of the maasai people, who have been famous for their prowess for centuries. the maasai people speak maa which is in the nilotic language family group. my personal headcanon is of leona speaking swahili, which is a bantu language, but that's just because of my bias since im more familiar with swahili. similar to scarabia, savannaclaw could be based on anything since all we really know about the lion king is that it is most likely in east africa which is home to many countries with many languages and ethnic groups. leona could be maasai or he could be from one of the bantu groups. anyways!!

the shuka is known to be worn by the warriors of the group, who are also famous for being able to kill lions, despite the animal's strength and the threat they pose. they say that the bright red color can scare lions away once they see it. my fic is basically yuu wearing it in an attempt to scare leona and leona calling them stupid (its more than that i swear) <3

[flowerandblood]

Ask Game for readers who would like to tell their favorite authors that they love them and their work

copy, paste and send to your favorite writers the phrases that you think best reflect their work and make them smile

👀 eagerly await updates from you every day ⏰ admire how fast you write and that you publish regularly 💀 your scenes of violence grab me by the throat 💌 love your answers to other people's asks about your stories 🤡 love the way your characters use irony 💖 adore literally everything you write 🥵 your smut scenes make me die of thirst 💔 your angst scenes ruins me every time 🍓 your fluff scenes always make me feel pleasantly blissful 🩸 living for your terrifying, disturbing psychos 🎀 you describe tender, soft intimacy wonderfully 🧠 love how your brain works and how you solve plots 🌺 you make me root for your heroes every time 🍄 love how crazy some of the scenes you write are 🩰 have been waiting for a writer like you all my life

🌞 reading your works cheers me up and makes me feel better ⭐️ everything you write draws me in immediately 🎨 Iove your references to art, history, mythology, culture 💡 your ideas are always fresh and surprising 🧸 often go back to your old stories to re-read them 🍀 you can describe emotions and feelings perfectly 📗 when I read your story I feel like I'm reading a book 🧩 adore how you connect different threads together 💐 love your female characters and what they are like 🧶 your dialogues are as if real people were talking to each other 🧊 the changes your characters make don't feel forced 💎 you perfectly portray the mind and thoughts of your characters 💧 there were times when I cried reading your stories 🌌 I love that your stories create whole additional universes 😱 your fics have amazing, unexpected plot twists 🎵 specific songs remind me of your stories 🍇 your intimate scenes are written with great taste 🍆 love the way you write male characters 🪀 your stories are very easy, quick and enjoyable to read 🔮 when I think that nothing will surprise me anymore, you do it 💣 you can build tension in your stories incredibly well 🎬 love to imagine your stories as if I was watching a movie 🎱 you write very satisfying, non-obvious endings 🎩 while waiting for your new chapters I read old ones 🧛‍♀️ crave your new stories like a vampire craves blood

[srbachchan]

DAY 5821

Jalsa, Mumbai Jan 25/26, 2024 Thu/Fri 9:16 AM

Happy Republic Day 🇮🇳 .. greetings 🙏🏻

🪔 ,

January 26 .. birthday greetings to the artist Ef Miten Lapsia .. wishes and love specially to his 🖌️ ..

January 25 .. birthday greetings to Ef Priyanka Verma .. and Ef Tilak Rishi ..

💍 .. greetings to Poet Sahab Ef Pravin Ahuja and his better half Shalini .. on the silver anniversary of their wedding .. on January 23 .. happiness and togetherness .. 💐🙏🏽🚩

.. ✨

The Day of the celebration of the Republic 2024 and my wishes first to all on this auspicious day .. prosperity, belief, progress, development, valour and the integrity of a Nation that strides bravely and with immense pride into the year and days ahead ..

My BHARAT .. My PRIDE !!

🇮🇳

Work load for the day of the 25th kept me away from the detailed missive that is rendered each DAY .. but never ever is there the thought of a leave or a miss in the communication with the Ef ..

and the missive from generated opinion strengthens the day of the celebration and the pride of a nation :

" National pride is a profound sentiment rooted in love, loyalty, and attachment to one's country. It embodies a collective identity, uniting citizens through shared history, culture, and achievements. This pride fosters a sense of belonging and responsibility, motivating individuals to contribute positively to their nation's progress. It often emerges during significant events, such as sporting triumphs or patriotic milestones, instilling a deep sense of unity and purpose. While national pride can strengthen a country's resilience, it should be balanced with an open-minded appreciation of diverse perspectives to promote global harmony. Ultimately, national pride serves as a powerful force, driving communities towards a brighter, shared future."

Labour at work cannot be denied and cannot be reasoned as tiring or giving an inkling of disinterest .. NEVER .. when there is work, there is resilience to complete it and give it the very best at all times ..

What goes out for public consumption, must portray the very best effort .. the audience is not interested in your personal discomfort or circumstance during the creativity it has come to witness .. and they should never be given any indication of its presence if there is temperament .. NO ..

You give me love .. you witness and pursue my creativity .. I must give my very best at any cost ..

be in prepare at all times .. in each fresh avatar or change .. yes rehearse, learn, read and re read again and again .. the writer is supreme .. he writes with the passion he expects you to be in when it is activated .. never ignore his work .. he devises, he creates, he evolves .. we merely follow what he has worked .. that respect must never be forgotten or ignored ..

NEVER ..

sincerity can never be miscalculation .. it has the capacity to be noticed and lauded ..

ALWAYS ..

to expect adulation and praise and notice at all times is difficult .. not just for us but for them that wish to do so ..

Value the moment .. but never let it be the cause for arrogance ..

Officious at work is good .. over officiousness can be very painful for all concerned ..

We understand the work also .. that is why we are hired or remunerated .. give some bearing to that as well dear Officious Master 😁

My care and love as ever ..

❤️

Amitabh Bachchan

[astrhoeluvr]

Astrhoe Observations Pt.4 🫂🥰🫶🏻

(HAPPY SAG SEASON AND ALSO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME😘🫶🏻, I’m back with another one for y’all)

Back to 👉🏻 my materialist 👁️🫦👁️.

a lil disclaimer : these are just my personal observations, so don’t take any of them to heart🥳.Some could be applicable to you and some would differ, so take all of them with a grain of salt OKIE! enough of me blabbing let’s get on with it🫶🏻🥰

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦: The house where your mercury sits in could indicate where your sibling played the most crucial/impactful role in your life.

Eg. Mercury in the 7th house could mean meeting your future spouse with the help of your sibling💍💖, Mercury in the 10th house could indicate working with your sibling or maybe your sibling could have some sort of influence over your career!💼✍🏻📑

🤪🥳: Mutable mercury’s and using a shit ton of emojis 🥰😍🤩😈😘🥲🤪👀🌺💴🤑😍 (esp Pisces, Gemini and Sagitiddies😘🫶🏻, Virgo’s are more of the :) , :0, ,-_- kinda emojis yk? Are these even emojis 😭? Or emoticons? Wtv y’all wanna call it🤷🏻‍♀️) fire mercury’s could also fall under this category 🔥💅🏻!

🥵😩: If you have someone’s Mars in your first house, you’d just wanna get it on w them yk😳🫵🏻 *aggressive lip bite* 🫦👀🔥! The physical attraction is palpable😈😵 pshh this is not always a good thing tho😃🙂🤺 but nevertheless a VERY spicy placement🌶️🥵.

☕️😴: I’ve seen a lot of Mutable/Leo and Aquarius placements addicted to caffeine 🤨🤨🧐? Y’all just don’t wanna fall asleep at an appropriate time huh??? YES, I SEE YOU 🫵🏻🧐 IT’s okay you can complete that assignment LATER 📝✍🏻or watch the last episode of a Netflix show the next day!📺💃!! GET SOME SLEEP luvs😴💤

🤥❌: One thing for sure is Y’ALL 👏🏻 CANNOT 👏🏻 LIE 👏🏻 TO 👏🏻 A 👏🏻 MERCURY 👏🏻 IN 👏🏻 SCORPIO 👏🏻 INDIVIDUAL 👏🏻. Even if you try lying straight through your teeth with the utmost of confidence they’d be like “HMMM SOMETHING DOES NOT ADD UP🕵🏻, SEEMS VERY FISHY TO ME🐠🤺” , would definitely look at you like this: 🤨🤨🤨 and will surely find out what sneaky business y’all are up to.👀🧐

📸😀: Okay mercury/neptune/mars - uranus aspects, lemme see your search history real quick📸👀🤨 y’all probably be searching up the most kinkiest/concerning shit😀. My friend has one of these placements and the first thing on his search history was “how do we steal a baby?” And “are polar bears multicoloured?” LIKE BABY WHAT? 😭😭😭😭😀🤺🤺 JAIL. RN.

🥗🍜: Venus- Uranus placements could have a very wide palate when it comes to trying out new dishes🍟🌮🍱🍝🥮🍫🍬🍪. They’re the typa people who are always down to try various cuisines👩🏻‍🍳🍛.

👯‍♀️😘: Venus in the 11th house culture is looking at your homie and saying “I might just kiss you rn” as a joke😏😏and they’d be like “haha bet😏👀”, and BOOM y’all are making out the next minute😭😈. Venus in the 11th 🤝🏻 flirting with their friends as a joke..unless??😏👯‍♀️😍👀.

🤑🛍️: Libra/Leo/Taurus/Cancer placements 🤝🏻 retail therapy 🛒🏬🎁💐👙👗.

🦷😬: Capricorn placements 🤝🏻 having issues with their teeth. Capricorn placements are most likely prone to sensitivity in their teeth or any tooth related problem!! Y’ALL PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHILE EATING ICE CREAM /ANY COLD FOODS OKAY🍦🫶🏻, ik sometimes you just wanna maybe TRY biting into an ice cream but for heavens sake do not let your intrusive thoughts win bwhahaha😀😭. Make sure to get your daily dental checkups y’all, this is not just for cappy placements!! but everyone 😗🥰🫂😁!

Okay that’s all for today luvs🥰🫶🏻

(Please do not copy or plagiarise any of my work <33)

- san✨🍵🪴📖🧘🏻‍♀️

[wen-kexing-apologist]

Hello.....How are you? Thanks so much for sharing your analysis in your blog. I'm new to BL. I felt really helped in finding your blog. I lived in a country where LGBTQ+ is considered taboo and my own family saw it as something sinful. Until I found mlm fanfics (I know it's a ridicilous reason for why now I'm interested in BL & GL media).

Can I ask, what are your top 7 (or top 5) favorite BL media (can be books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series) ? Why do you love them? And your top 5 (or top 3) favorite GL media? Sorry for asking similar question like from someone before (hope you don't mind).

Thanks again, @wen-kexing-apologist 💐🌻🌷

Hello! So sorry this took so long to respond to, I have been really busy and this write up took me a bit of time to get together. 

Thanks for reaching out, I’m sorry that your family sees queerness as sinful. I’m sure we come from different countries, and different cultures, but I hope I can give you some comfort by saying I am proud of who I am and I love being queer. I love my queer friends, they are without a doubt the kindest and most caring people I have ever met. And you do not need to apologize at all for asking a similar question to a previous ask. I also hope you know that it is not ridiculous at all to have your eyes opened by mlm fanfiction, I promise. 

So my list of (some) of my favorite BLs are:

ITSAY/IPYTM

180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us 

Moonlight Chicken

—

The Eclipse 

Our Dining Table

La Pluie

He’s Coming to Me 

What Did You Eat Yesterday? (adding this as a special #8 because it is one of my favorites but may be hard to find)

You’re My Sky

Gameboys

Because this is a similar ask to one I recently got I am going to direct you to that for my explanations on 180 Degrees Longitude Passes Through Us (available on Gagaoolala), I Told Sunset About You and I Promise You The Moon (available on Viki), and Moonlight Chicken (available on YouTube) and add three other shows: What Did You Eat Yesterday?, You’re My Sky, and Gameboys.

If you stick around in this fandom long enough you will start to see that Bad Buddy (available on YouTube) is one of most beloved shows on tumblr. I love love love that show, but it is not in my favorites the way these other shows are. However, I would HIGHLY recommend you watch it if you haven’t already. It is incredible, and a very important piece of BL history both for the level of popularity it gained and the way it subverted BL as a genre. 

That said, let’s get in to my favorite BLs and why I love them, again in alphabetical order: 

Gameboys

(Pinoy BL- Season 1: Available on YouTube or Netflix, Season 2: Available on Gagaoolala in Asia or with a VPN that can make it seem like you are in Asia)

Contains Themes of: Quarantine, COVID, death, queer character being outed against their will

I literally just finished the first season of this show today, but have to thank @bengiyo for telling me this is what I should watch next because I absolutely loved it. It is the story of two boys, stuck in quarantine in the Phillipines during the COVID pandemic that meet over an online game and fall in love. I agree with Ben that this is an incredibly well handled pandemic story, the actors are fantastic, their chemistry is believable and natural, and I appreciate that they let these boys be horny for each other. I loved watching the highs and lows of their blossoming relationship and I am so looking forward to watching Season 2 when they are together in person and seeing if and how that changes their dynamic. 

He’s Coming to Me

(Thai BL- Available on YouTube) 

Contains Themes of: death of a teenager (related to heart problems), murder

I talked about this show in one of my tag games as my pick for most underrated series in Thai QL. Which I stand by because this show did not have the distribution it should have due to fan interference because they were upset about Singto being moved from a match up with Krist to instead star opposite Ohm. 

This is a show that I have labeled as By, For, and About Queer people. This is an Aof Noppharnach piece that is just absolutely beautiful in the way it explores the growing realization about your own queerness as Ohm’s character (Thun) starts to develop feelings for Singto’s character (Med). I love the additional layer to this show that comes with Med being a ghost who can only be seen by Thun, and how we don’t just get an explicitly queer character in an explicitly queer relationship, but that we also get a metaphor for queerness in the fact that Thun has to keep himself and his abilities private. When he hangs out with Med in public, no one can see him, and Thun often ends up talking to air, which results in people constantly staring at him in confusion, concern, or disgust. This show will remind you that Ohm has always been The Actor of All Time, the way his voice creaks in this show still haunts me to this day. I liked the mystery element in this show, I loved the rooftop confessions and the coming out scene. I loved all the ways this show was just so so so queer. Now that it has been released to the general public, I think every person who watches Thai BL should watch this show. 

La Pluie 

(Thai BL- Available on IQIYI) 

Contains Themes of: lying to a romantic partner

God this show is an incredible, brilliant, perfectly executed subversion of the soulmates trope. A theme I am generally sensing in the content I am sharing is that queer characters are allowed to be flawed human beings. Tai needs to learn how to use his words, Patts is perfect but does have a temper that he is managing extremely well, Tien is perfect but does constantly undermine and underplay his own emotions to support the other people in his life, Lomfon is rude. This show has a lot of very smart things to say, and allows its characters to both experience desire, and sexual frustration, it uses giving sexual pleasure as a way for a character to maintain control over new forms of intimacy. Myself and my fellow clowns on this website (especially @bengiyo and @lurkingshan) have fought for this show tooth and nail for weeks upon weeks to make sure that as many people as possible were watching this absolutely beautiful show. 

Our Dining Table

(Japanese BL- Available on Gagaoolala)

Contains Themes of: death, child neglect, grief

This is a very short, very sweet, wonderful spot of comfort and warmth. Its main themes are found family and navigating grief. It has the cutest little boy in the world who is just a bouncing ball of sunshine, and he and this show won my entire heart. I love this show for what it says about family, about care and love, sacrifice and healing. Even for the parts of the show that center around pain, this show is just so full of joy. I loved watching Yutaka open up, loved watching Minoru have a chance to relax, I loved Ueda-san getting to watch his son fall in love to become happier by way of existing around his sons’ happiness. I love that Minoru is very much an older brother to Tane, not a parent, despite how much care he gives him, and I love that Yutaka and Tane are genuinely friends. 

The Eclipse

(Thai BL- Available on YouTube)

Contains Themes of: threats against protestors (including cars rolling in to crowds), suicide, grief, internalized homophobia, homophobia, authoritarianism, emotional manipulation, thoughts of suicide, queer character being outed against their will

This is absolutely one of my favorite BLs, beyond the fact that the acting is incredible, the characters are allowed to be very flawed, very complex, and very morally gray the story itself is incredibly layered and is a huge social commentary on rebelling against authoritarianism, the ways in which identities and oppression are leveraged against marginalized people to get them to commit heinous acts against the people they should be standing with and not against. This show touches on so many different things: justice, hypocrisy, manipulation, love, fear, internalized homophobia, rebellion, activism. This show gave me both my favorite war criminal and his rat bastard boyfriend. It has some of my favorite kisses and favorite crying scenes. And it introduced me to the powerhouse duo of First and Khaotung. 

What Did You Eat Yesterday?

(I am honestly not sure where you can find this easily, outside of @kinounaniresource. there is one season, a special, and a movie. There is a Season 2 on the way, and I am also not sure when it is going to be released or if it is going to be released on any particular platform)

Contains Themes of: internalized homophobia, homophobia, character with history of child abuse

I am honestly not sure if this technically qualifies as a BL, but it is certainly a show that centers around an already established, older gay couple. This is a story about a couple staying together, and there is an undercurrent of long carried pain that is tucked so neatly between the layers of cooking, and eating, and love for one another. I do not really know how to explain this show beyond it just being one of the best things out there. We are so so lacking in elder queer content, honestly this is the only show I have seen out of 60+ QLs I have watched in the last year that has a main queer couple over the age of probably 25. I love the dynamic between Shiro and Kenji so much because who doesn’t love couples comprised of one puppy dog of a man and one man with the energy of a very annoyed cat? 

You’re My Sky

(Thai BL- available on Viki) 

Contains Themes of: betrayal, cheating, sports related injury

This show has some of the most beautiful, saturated coloring of any show I have ever seen, the influence of I Told Sunset About You is incredibly clear (which makes sense because a screenwriter and director on You’re My Sky was a Screenwriter on ITSAY/IPYTM). I am not a huge sports person, but I do love a sports drama, and this one does a stellar job with the way it shoots it’s basketball games. It has Suar, who I was first introduced to as Tien in La Pluie as the main character and he is just SO. GOOD. This dude has been in three shows TOTAL and he just absolutely DEMOLISHES this role, and his role in La Pluie. Seriously, even if you could not give two shits about basketball (as a sport I do not, in this show I care very much) you should watch this show just to see Suar run a masterclass in acting. 

Girl Loves 

Unfortunately, there are not a lot of girl love shows that exist, the only one I have even seen coming out of Asia is GAP the series (a handful more exist, but they either seem to not be popular and/or are hard to access). It is an unfortunate reality that we are still fighting for more WLW content, especially GL content where the romance is the main and central plot. So, I don’t have a strong list to give you, because what does exist is limited and often gets canceled, but I will give you what information I do have:

Carmilla 

GAP the Series 

Carmilla 

(Canada- Available on YouTube)

Contains Themes of: student disappearances, death, undeath 

This is an 8 year old Western webseries based on the book of the same name. I watched this around the time it came out and loved it a lot. There are a couple seasons and a movie, all of it is really really good, and was some of the earliest queer representation I had, including having the first non-binary character I had ever seen on screen (does not mean there weren’t others, this is just the first one that I found). This is a webseries so it takes place almost exclusively in one room. 

GAP the Series

(Thai GL- Available on YouTube) 

Contains Themes of: severe homophobia, suicide, emotional abuse, death of a sibling

GAP was fun, it started out really strong, but it did lose me a little bit at the end. But that is mostly because I am not the biggest fan of boss and employee stories where an equal power balance is not established. I think it s a really solid attempt at kickstarting GL into an industry rather than just an occasional one off. This is required viewing in my opinion because of how it was funded, and because it has some of the highest view rates out there for queer Thai shows, and really helped prove that GLs were stories that people really really wanted to see (read: production companies started to realize they could make a lot of money). 

I can offer you a suggestion from other people: 

She Loves to Cook, She Loves to Eat 

(Japanese GL- I have not seen this yet and I am not sure where you can find this show. But I do know that everyone who has seen it loves it, and I plan to watch it soon. A Season 2 was announced recently but is not out yet)

Non GL shows that either have a lesbian or bisexual character and/or have a GL pairing as a side plot: 

Bad Buddy (the second couple, but still has limited screen time)

Secret Crush on You (very minor couple, but has been in a relationship from the beginning)

La Pluie (A very small part of the story)

Lovely Writer (I have not seen this show, I do not know exactly what the plot is, or what purpose this character serves, but I know there is a bisexual character named Tiffy, who won the BL Bisexual Swag 

The Warp Effect (one of the shows with a pretty strong lesbian couple)

Gameboys and Pearl Next Door

A book I really love with a WLW couple in it and a gay character is The Priory of the Orange Tree

GMMTV has started filming their first GL, which we hope will air late this year (or maybe early next year), it’s called 23.5 Degrees and I am very much looking forward to it!

Queer Shows 

I’ll give you some bonus suggestions that are very queer shows, but aren’t defined as BL or GL

The Warp Effect

Gay OK Bangkok

3 Will Be Free

The Owl House 

Deadend Paranormal Park 

The Warp Effect

(Thai- available on YouTube) 

Contains Themes of: abortion, sexual assault, physical assault, internalized homophobia, transphobia, religious trauma, bodyshaming, slut shaming, kink shaming, workplace sexual harassment, homophobia

If it is queer and from Thailand and I love it, odds are extremely high that Jojo Tichakorn wrote and directed it. Despite some very heavy themes this was a very very fun watch, it is one of the most kink positive, sex positive, and queer shows that I have seen. I have a friend who is a sex educator and I want them to watch this show for it’s public speech announcements about getting HPV vaccines and how pelvic exams work. This is not a show I can explain super well, but it is one that I highly recommend, and if you are planning on watching Only Friends, then it is something I consider a required viewing. 

Gay OK Bangkok 

(Thai- available on YouTube)

Contains Themes of: cheating, HIV

This is a very real look at the existence of gay men in Bangkok, I love it so much. This is a pair up between Jojo and Aof, two of my favorite directors. It is not a feel good show, it is an honest one. I think everyone should watch it. 

3 Will Be Free

(Thai- available on YouTube)

Contains Themes of: cheating, manslaughter, murder, murder of a spouse, kidnapping, domestic abuse, sexual assault, strangulation, transphobia, death, gun violence

Once again, a Jojo show, and once again, despite the list of themes within the show, a very fun watch. This is one of, if not the only GMMTV show with a throuple, and is honestly very hilarious by way of three idiots on the run from the mafia, accidentally through mostly shit dumb luck and the fact that everyone is stupid, taking down a criminal empire. 

The Owl House 

(United States- available on Disney+, season 3 available on YouTube) 

Contains Themes of: white supremacy, child abuse, child neglect, heavy trauma, mind and body control, death, possible world destruction

This is an animated show that I love dearly and one I find incredibly important for the next generation of queer people to see. The main character is neurodivergent, she is bisexual and gets a girlfriend, there is a non-binary side character, and there is also just a lot of casual queer representation. This show has a lot to say, and says it well, it is adorable and heartbreaking and everything in between and the fact that it got canceled is honestly a tragedy. 

Dead End: Paranormal Park

(United States- available on Netflix) 

Contains Themes of: possession, murder, death, undeath, paranormal activity, religious infighting, amnesia, animal death, kidnapping, child death, implied transphobia

This is also an animated show that I love dearly and one I find incredibly important for the next generation of queer people to see. The main character is trans, the other main character is neurodivergent and bisexual, there is a lot of casual queer representation. Like The Owl House this show has a lot to say, and says it well, it is adorable and heartbreaking and everything in between and the fact that it got canceled is also a tragedy. 

[I realize for The Owl House and Deadend Paranormal Park that my descriptions are very similar, but I cannot stress enough that these two shows have very different premises and tell very different stories. They are just animated shows that are able to contain a lot more queer representation that the stories that came before them, because of the stories that came before them] 

[journalofanoldsoul]

The Language of Flowers 💐

The language of flowers, also known as floriography, is a symbolic language that uses flowers to communicate messages, feelings, and emotions. It has been used throughout history as a way to convey sentiments that were considered too delicate or inappropriate to be expressed directly.

The origins of floriography are somewhat unclear. However, it is believed to have become popular in the Western world during the Victorian era, which lasted from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.

During this time, it was considered improper for people to express their feelings directly, especially when it came to matters of the heart. As a result, people turned to flowers as a way to convey messages of love, friendship, and other emotions. Floriography quickly became a popular way to communicate sentiments through the use of flowers, with different flowers and colors representing specific meanings and messages.

It is thought that the practice of floriography was influenced by earlier cultures, including the ancient Greeks, who associated certain flowers with their gods and goddesses, and the Persians, who used flowers as symbols in their poetry.

Today, the language of flowers continues to be used as a way to communicate emotions and messages, although it is not as widely practiced as it was during the Victorian era.

Here are some specific examples of floriography in paintings during the Victorian era:

"Ophelia" by John Everett Millais - This famous painting depicts the character Ophelia from Shakespeare's "Hamlet" floating in a river surrounded by flowers. The flowers in the painting, including daisies, violets, and pansies, are believed to have been carefully chosen to represent specific emotions and messages. For example, the daisies symbolize innocence and purity, while the pansies represent love and remembrance.

"Flowers in a Glass Vase" by Édouard Manet - This still life painting features a variety of flowers, including roses, lilacs, and daisies, arranged in a glass vase. Each flower in the painting is carefully placed and arranged to convey a specific meaning, with the roses representing love and the lilacs symbolizing first love.

"Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose" by John Singer Sargent - This painting features two young girls holding lanterns among a garden of flowers, including carnations and lilies. The painting is believed to have been inspired by the language of flowers, with the carnations representing fascination and the lilies symbolizing purity and innocence.

"Irises" by Vincent van Gogh - This painting features a bouquet of irises, which were believed to represent faith and hope during the Victorian era. The bright colors and bold brushstrokes in the painting were meant to convey a sense of joy and optimism.

"The Roses of Heliogabalus" by Lawrence Alma-Tadema - This painting depicts the ancient Roman emperor Heliogabalus suffocating his guests with a rain of rose petals. The roses in the painting are believed to have been chosen for their symbolic meanings, with the red roses representing passion and the white roses representing innocence.

I hope you've enjoyed this post.

xoxo

J.

[shirefantasies]

Hi, I hope you doing good. Can i have a matchup for LOTR and/or HOBBIT please 💐 Firstly English not my first language. I'm autistic. I'm genderfluid, bisexual with male preference.I have long black wavy hair. I have thick black eyebrows, brown eyes. I always have rosy chubby cheeks. I have braces. My body is curvy with very big chest and little tummy. My eyebrows are constantly furrowed. Also I'm 172 cm. I'm Libra. If you interested, my mbti Infp and my enneagram 5w4. I always have poker face. I'm very outspoken, stubborn. I always doing my job alone. I find it difficult to express my feelings and prefer to isolate myself. My best feature is that I know a little about everything, I always surprise people. Those who know me for the first time describe me as cold, scary, quiet, unapproachable and distant, mature. But at heart I'm compassionate and helpful, works for the good of people. And they often think I can't speak and I'm deaf but I'm not. People say I'm extremely chaste. When I enter an environment, I listen to what people say and get to know them well, I decide if there is anyone worth talking to. I'm only close to two or three people. They describe me as cold, soft inside, calm, sarcastic, resourceful and knowledgeable. I am usually a rebellious person. I am the person who stands against injustices and lies in an environment. They say I make clever jokes and I'm the mom-friend. Actually i like to help everyone and it works automatically without me noticing. I will help anyone by giving my all. And i hate phsyical touch. My love language is words of affirmation. If I talk about myself, I've always been on my own. I have family problems, I was never close with my father. Even though we are side by side with my mother, we are distant. I'm just my own mom and dad. That's why I've always focused on academic achievement for salvation. And I think I'm very good at it. My hobbies are drawing, sewing, writing and researching, especially about mythology, cultures, politics, history, fashion. I like to visit second-hand and antique markets. I'm someone who doesn't like to waste money but cares about clothing. I always wear my headphones and listen to music, i listen every genre. I like silence, soft colors, being alone, flowers (especially honeysuckle), spring and breeze. I don't like crowds, noise, children, loud talkers and shiny things. I always wear colorful clothes with floral prints or all black. I also wear interesting earrings and different printed socks. And finally, I don't really have an ideal type. I love every person. I like the fact that there are different people. And I don't believe in love. If I'm going to be with someone, I'll be happy if we have respect, compassion, and loyalty to each other. It is enough that we are in harmony with each other. If I am with someone, I am clearly their mother.

You sure can have a matchup 💐 and your man is…

Beorn! 🐻

You are tired of the world. Tired of all its hustle and bustle and rules and unnecessary noise. It isn’t like you have family back in any of those towns and cities anyway. Nature is your true domain, the place where you can be yourself and feel harmony, stroll through fields of fragrant blooms without prying eyes…or so you think. A small patrol of orcs catches you off guard, brandishing their scimitars and chasing you deeper into the woods you had sought solace in. Your legs pump as fast as they can, but it is hardly enough. Just as you think your burning, heaving chest will give out and fail you, though, a great bear bursts from the woods, making short work of your would-be tormentors. Before your eyes the beast shrinks down, becoming a great man, and bids you simply “Come with me.”

Had you more energy you’d have tried to fight, but as it is you practically shake from the adrenaline and still feel a burning in your lungs; nodding, you just follow him down a trail and across a field to his cottage. Distant, in bloom, populated only by livestock and bumblebees. You like it. Tentatively you smile up at the towering, bearded man. “You have no home, do you?” He asks. You shake your head and he sighs. “That is what I thought.” It seemed he isn’t much one for company, either. No complaints leave his lips, though, as you set down your small pack of possessions, or as you scan the interior of his home, taking in every nook and cranny. “We eat in an hour,” the man simply says.

Beorn. You learn his name over the meal, confirm your suspicions that he, too, has his reasons for isolating from society. Tell him how beautiful his home really is as he speaks of protecting nature’s gifts and feeling no remorse for those who sully them. Respect flows through you at his words, keeps you nodding as he speaks.

When you emerge the next morning, this time clean and in a long dress of floral print, you notice the way Beorn’s bushy eyebrows rise, his expression softens. You practically challenge him as you go outside, exploring and gently tending the livestock. He says nothing, though, save following you and giving you the occasional nod at your kind treatment of his animals. “Keep my house safe,” he tells you at the end of the day, “and I keep the woods safe.” In his way, you realize, he is asking you to stay, and you agree. He makes a nicer meal this night.

Your motions in the kitchen are something of a dance, Beorn and you all but intuitively moving around the other, working in perfect rhythm. His people have many old songs to learn, and you vow to sing them as best you can as you work. Beorn cleans and bends some old metal scraps, strings a pair of acorns into new earrings for you. Payment for repairing all his blankets, he says, but you catch the faintest of smiles on his lips. Spring explodes across the meadows in great flowery bursts. Soon in your pastures a new calf is born; in a wave of excitement and celebration, Beorn lifts you up by the waist and spins you around. Both of your serious expressions bursting into true joy, utter freedom of care and concern, for the first time in too long. Some may call your life simple, your relationship confusing, but you know what you are to each other deep in your hearts of hearts and you want for nothing that your woods, your little cottage, and each other cannot provide.

Taglist: @lokilover476 @fuckyoumakeart @mossthebogwitch @ibabblealot @kilibaggins @joonies-word @stormchaser819 @pirate-lord-of-narnia | Reply/Ask/Message to join 🥰

[ghostwise]

back for more....so sorry....11, 14, and 18 for all of them? 👁💐

what are their religious beliefs, if any?

Hamal is very devout to the Creators, with special attention to Ghilan'nain, who guides him. When he feels lost he appeals to her. He wasn't always like this, mind you; he got a touch spiritual after his failed attempts on his own life, you know, he reached for some anchor. He loves feeling close to his culture. A shared history a shared belief. It's comfort.

Renata is Andrastian, and in addition was named for a past Divine! She was raised religious and is religious herself.

Neluayo…

Neluayo cannot be the Herald of Andraste while genuinely and truly believing that the Creators have any hand in the world. The whole experience was like a tearing at her soul. She was not too staunchly religious to begin with, but winds up full of doubts in every direction, and it hurts her. She sits and learns about Andrastianism because her every action and word will be interpreted in that lens. How does the world see her? How will she be misunderstood? It's like researching an illness you've contracted. What's the prognosis?

who are they closest to from their family?

Despite everything, Hamal is still very close to Ashalle. Patience of a saint that woman! He's shit at keeping in touch, though he and Zevran do visit from time to time.

I don't think Renata can choose, she loves both her siblings. She puts them above even her parents. They left them in her charge enough that she was much like a parent to them herself.

Neluayo is also closest to her siblings, she has two :) Vero Lavellan and Centino Lavellan.

[thebestofoneshots]

hi i hope you doing good. Can i have a "✩ Star" for Marauders Era please 💐I'm autistic. I'm genderfluid, bisexual with male preference.I'm okay with Poly!Marauders. I have long black wavy hair. I have thick black eyebrows, brown eyes. I always have rosy chubby cheeks. I have braces. My body is curvy with very big chest and little tummy. Also I'm 172 cm. I'm Libra also a Slytherin. If you interested, my mbti Infp and my enneagram 5w4. I always have poker face. I'm very outspoken. I find it difficult to express my feelings and prefer to isolate myself. My best feature is that I know a little about everything, I always surprise people. Those who know me for the first time describe me as cold, scary, quiet, and distant. And they often think I can't speak and I'm deaf but I'm not. People say I'm extremely chaste. When I enter an environment, I listen to what people say and get to know them well, I decide if there is anyone worth talking to. I'm only close to two or three people. They describe me as cold, soft inside, calm, sarcastic, resourceful and knowledgeable. I am usually a rebellious person. I am the person who stands against injustices and lies in an environment. They say I make clever jokes and I'm the mom-friend. Actually i like to help everyone and it works automatically without me noticing. I will help anyone by giving my all. And i hate phsyical touch. My love language is words of affirmation. If I talk about myself, I've always been on my own. I have family problems, I was never close with my father. Even though we are side by side with my mother, we are distant. I'm just my own mom and dad. That's why I've always focused on academic achievement for salvation. And I think I'm very good at it. My hobbies are drawing, sewing, writing and researching, especially about mythology, cultures, politics, history, fashion. I like to visit second-hand and antique markets. I'm someone who doesn't like to waste money but cares about clothing. I always wear my headphones and listen to music, i listen every genre. I like silence, soft colors, being alone, flowers (especially honeysuckle), spring and breeze. I don't like crowds, noise, children, loud talkers and shiny things. I always wear colorful clothes with floral prints or all black. I also wear interesting earrings and different printed socks. And finally, I don't really have an ideal type. I love every person. I like the fact that there are different people. And I don't believe in love. If I'm going to be with someone, I'll be happy if we have respect, compassion, and loyalty to each other. It is enough that we are in harmony with each other. If I am with someone, I am clearly their mother. -🧠

If you want to participate in "TBOS' 400 Followers Celebration" too, you can look at this post for all the options of prompts you can choose form &lt;3

☆ Star: send a short description of yourself and I’ll tell you who I ship you with!

Hey darling! I soooo ship you with Regulus Black. When you two first met, he didn’t know what to make of you, the shy new Slytherin kid. The shyest in your group, he noticed that easily. But there was something about you that sucked him in. Even if whenever your eyes crossed in the common room you would just stare at him for a second and then turn your head, not even making a single expression, nothing.

He was the first to approach you, but he didn’t try to talk to you, in fact, he just walked closer to you as he spoke to Barty, he had realized you liked to listen to what people might have to offer before exchanging a word with them. Barty had tried to talk to you several times before, but you hadn’t replied, so he thought of you as a very rude person. But that day, when Regulus asked if you could pass him something, and you replied with a sweet “sure, here you go,” he was shocked.

“So you can talk?” Barty teased.

“Leave them alone,” Regulus had warned him, with an icy stare, bordering on a threat. Barty had shut up in an instant and he never dared bother you again.

Your friendship with Regulus had developed slowly, you appreciated how he always noticed whether you were presenting as a girl or a boy, and used the correct pronouns with you. It was sweet, and it made you trust him even more. He once invited you to Hogsmeade, and the two of you walked together through the crowded areas, shying away from them and deciding to walk inside an antique store instead. There he purchased a necklace that had caught your eye. You found it laying on your bed, inside a box with a note inside.

There’s something about you that I just can’t put my finger on, there’s nothing like spending time with you, talking about anything and everything like we do sometimes… I enjoy walking with you and looking at you while you’re so focused on getting the strokes of a drawing right, when you’re too preoccupied with getting the seam of a garment to look perfect, or even when you’re just staring at the fire like it’s the most interesting thing in the world. Thank you for being a part of my life (Y/N). -RAB

You smiled, a little giddy after reading such sweet words, and you knew they were true, you had seen the way Regulus looked at you, you weren’t blind, but you had also noticed how respectful he’d been about his admiration, how he’d retracted his hand after reaching out for you several times, as not to startle you, He had watched you, learned your boundaries, and he stuck to them like they were the most important rules on earth.

“I loved your note,” you told him when you saw him again after that. “I also really like spending time with you, It’d be lovely to do it more…” you told him, a little smile developing on your lips.

A/N: Hey hun! I really hope you enjoy this little ship, I read your little prompts and it absolutely screamed Regulus to me, btw I hope I didn't write anything triggering, I tried to be extra carful <3

Side note, I'm so so so sorry for taking so long to deliver this, it's been like a week I know, but I've been working on Gilded Constellations and also a new episode of The Five Senses (that will be dropping later today), bedsides my day job getting a bit heavy on the workload, so it's taking me a bit longer than I expected to deliver the "400 Follower Celebration" gifts. But rest assured, they will all be delivered, I promise.

Much Love, Lilly xx

[zaldritzosrose]

For the reading ask game:

👀 eagerly await updates from you every day ⏰ admire how fast you write and that you publish regularly 💌 love your answers to other people's asks about your stories 💖 adore literally everything you write 🥵 your smut scenes make me die of thirst 💔 your angst scenes ruins me every time 🍓 your fluff scenes always make me feel pleasantly blissful 🧠 love how your brain works and how you solve plots 🍄 love how crazy some of the scenes you write are 🌞 reading your works cheers me up and makes me feel better ⭐️ everything you write draws me in immediately 🎨 Iove your references to art, history, mythology, culture 💡 your ideas are always fresh and surprising 🧸 often go back to your old stories to re-read them 🍀 you can describe emotions and feelings perfectly 📗 when I read your story I feel like I'm reading a book 🧩 adore how you connect different threads together 💐 love your female characters and what they are like 🧶 your dialogues are as if real people were talking to each other 💎 you perfectly portray the mind and thoughts of your characters 💧 there were times when I cried reading your stories 🍇 your intimate scenes are written with great taste 🍆 love the way you write male characters 🪀 your stories are very easy, quick and enjoyable to read 🔮 when I think that nothing will surprise me anymore, you do it 💣 you can build tension in your stories incredibly well 🎬 love to imagine your stories as if I was watching a movie 🎩 while waiting for your new chapters I read old ones 🧛‍♀️ crave your new stories like a vampire craves blood

The shopping list is done. Love you 💜

My darling girl! You have spoiled me with this!

My life if infinitely better for having you in it and I have no idea how much I love and adore you ❤️

[rooksamoris]

one of these days, imma just become a twst/genshin cultural commentator. i want to talk about red dead redemption 2, but i feel like the fandom is kind of dead. also, castlevania. would love to give historical and cultural tidbits about castlevania.

[flowerandblood]

✨ Request are Open ✨

For fanfics and headcanons with Aemond, Michael & Ettore

This time I want to write exactly what is an ideal request for me and what is not, what is in my comfort zone and what is not. (I think it's very important that you are not disappointed).

✨ Requests for fanfics and headcanons apply to both modern and canon Aemond, Ettore and Michael ✨

Or Aemond, Ettore and Michael as a characters referring to other characters from pop culture, but here it will depend on whether I know and feel good in a given universe.

What's a perfect request for me:

A brief outline of the plot, who, where, why. There may be a brief mention of the character's history, profession or interest, an event that led to the meeting, problems or traumas from the past, reasons for misunderstanding or establishing a bond. You can also include references to culture, books, works of art or films, if something like that comes to your mind. 😇😇😇

What I would like you not to include in your requests:

Long, detailed descriptions of the entire plot or sexual acts or accurate descriptions of the heroine. I write best when I only have certain clues and I create the rest myself according to my own feeling of what will be good for the story. 😵😵😵

What I definitely won't write: Threesomes, infidelity, physical violence or humiliation (does not apply to Ettore), typical daddy/mummy issues, comedy, a plot related only to the kink itself, a relationship with another man. I don't write Alysmond or Lucemond too.

And yes, I know that sometimes I write stories in which there is betrayal, kinks, violence or humiliation, or I create physical character traits for the heroine − but I prefer to decide for myself whether I think it will fit well into the story or whether it will only be forced because someone requires it.

Please, just accept it.

If not me, there are plenty of authors who will be willing to write about your ideas. 💐

However, if you really want it to be me because, for example, you like my stories very much, please do so. If you're not sure if something would be comfortable for me, you can always ask.

[positivelyruined]

How I See Mita | happy golden birthday, lolu! 20 years old on the 20th of May @lorcandidlucienwill

Animal 🦊 FOX

The phrase “cunning as a fox” came about for a reason. Nearly every culture regards the fox as stealthy, and smart. However, their intelligence is related to their comfort. As creatures, they become incredibly well-acclimated to their surroundings and can navigate with surprising speed. Immediately, Fox represents the elusive and mysterious adaptability to dwell in difficult environments, but never lose their playful edge.

Place 🌌 TOYAMA BAY, JAPAN

Toyama Bay, Japan is one of the few locations worldwide where you can see the inner workings of nature lit from below — instead of above. Most blue beaches are the result of bioluminescent algae, but in Toyama, the bright glow is caused by an active gathering of the Firefly Squid. The species glows at night, lighting the beaches, and attract visitors from near and far.

Flower 🐯💐 TIGER LILY

The Tiger Lily is a bright, eye catching addition to any flower garden. However, these striking blooms are more than just aesthetically pleasing. They also hold significant spiritual and symbolic meaning throughout history. In many ancient cultures, Tiger Lily flowers were considered sacred. The bright orange color of the petals is an embodiment of life energy and was thought to represent creativity and passion. Tiger Lily flowers were often used in rituals as an offering to invoke healing, protection, and good fortune.

Character 🪷 KATE SHARMA

Ah, Kathani Sharma — a quick-witted, bold, and stubborn heroine — who puzzles Anthony Bridgerton to his very end. Kate possesses a true essence of independence, which was rare for women of her time. Positioning herself as an outsider in the ton made it much easier for her to handle the sharp words of those who disagreed with her fiercely formed opinions. Underneath her sharp exterior is a deeply loyal sister, dedicated friend, and passionate woman. Her story is a journey of learning to respect her own needs and desires after a lifetime of putting others first.

Season 🍁 AUTUMN

The beauty of Autumn is in the change. Autumn’s fiery colors are embraced around the world; but they are not the only part of it which holds beauty. Autumn is the blender on a painter’s palette, taking all the best of both summer and winter, and merging their drastically different elements into warm and comforting creations. Apple Cider, anyone?

Hobby 🗺️ ADVENTURING

Adventure is the call to action, no matter where, no matter when. The hardiest of souls can find adventure within the great scope of nature or in the quiet lore of an old bookshop. Wherever they go, adventurers bring with them a sense of excitement for whatever lies ahead. Don’t let them get bored — they can cause trouble when not properly occupied.

Color 💃🏻 MAROON

“And I chose you

The one I was dancing with in New York

No shoes

Looked up at the sky and it was

So scarlet, it was maroon.”

MAROON — Taylor Swift

Gemstone 💎 AMBER

Amber frequently holds once living things, so the ancients believed that amber possessed the essence of life itself. Colored with the drops of the sun, there is little question as to why. Its warm beauty is still associated with positive energy, warmth, and connection.

Food 🥟 SAMOSAS

Samosas are a triangular shaped, South Asian pastry filled with spiced potatoes, meat, or fish. They can be served as an entree, appetizer, or snack. Their origin dates back to the Medieval Times, in the Middle East.

[batbrownies]

I want to start using tumblr more!!! So here's an intro :3

Get to know me!

-Basic information-

My name's Robin (or Victor!!, I love this name but nobody calls me Victor anymore, it upsets me 🌝), I use he/him and if I were to describe myself shortly I would say I'm an old ladyman who loves the calmer bits of life and will turn into a more lovable being when given a cup of tea.

-What I will share-

My art mostly! This strongly correlates with my interests, although sometimes it's just boring study. Therefore...

-My interests-

So, currently my brains rotting over animal crossing, however, there's a long list to go.

The three columns on which my brain stands are history, theatre, fashion and art, often combined. Heavy on fashion history, since I dream of one day working on theatre costuming in historical plays (to me that's anywhere before the 70s, but my favorite eras in fashion are the ones between 1860-1935~).

My favorite painters and plastic artists of all time would have to be Sorolla, Mucha, Schiele, Sargent and Millais. I adore the Pre-Raphaelites :3

My favorite playwrights, writers and poets are Lorca, Miguel Hernández, Bequer, Mary Shelley and Kropotkin (sometimes, other times he leaves me half satisfied sadly). My favorite play is Bodas de Sangre by Lorca. Perhaps you can begin to tell that I'm Spanish hehe

On the more pop culture side of things:

I love wwdits; ofmd; good omens (about the Neil thing, yep, screw him, I'm here for the gays and historical costuming); Gotham; Yaelokre; anything old school vkei, I'm extremely basic my favorite band will forever be malice mizer; lolita fashion, specially gothic lolita; 80s counterculture; Adventure time, bonnibel and I are the same being except for the dictator thing🌝; Over the Garden Wall; Gilmore Girls, I've watched it 7 times+random episodes, help aaaaand that's about it!

-Extra facts-

💐My favorite flowers are lilies of the valley and popies.

🎞️ My favorite movies have always been, since I was tiny weenie Cabaret (1972), Ponyo, Totoro and Princess Mononoke. But I also love Little Miss Sunshine, The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari, Bright Young Things and any movie Conrad Veidt starred in.

🎂My birthday is the 18th of Novemeber

🍇 My favorite color is purple. Specifically dark, blueish purple.

🖼️ My favorite place on earth is the Sorolla Museum.

📽️ One of my favorite shows is Celia, which is based off of the book series of another writer whom I love Elena Fortún!!

- my instagram handles are @/likefireincairo for my personal and @/runningvictorianfish for art-

That is all! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy my blog. I would love to make friends!!!!! Please note talking through screens is not my forte, but that does not mean I dont enjoy talking to folk. Have an awesome day 💐🌝

[3rdeyeblaque]

Today we venerate Ancestor Virginia Hamilton on her 89th birthday. 🎉

An icon of classic Black Literature & THE most decorated author of children's literature in the U.S., we have Sister Hamilton to thank for preserving old time Hoodoo Culture & Tradition keeping our oral tradition alive through the art of children's storytelling.

Virginia Esther Hamilton was born the youngest of 5 children bound to a legacy of promise & prayer rooted in the Underground Railroad. She passion for writing that fueled her dream of becoming a published author, carried her from the farmlands of Yellow Springs, Ohio, through Ohio State's campus, to the hustle & bustle of NYC. She'd go on to write & publish 41+ children's books across multiple genres with a strong focus on traditional Black American culture.

It is because of her tireless work that the timeless oral tradition classics (i.e.: The People Could Fly, Bruh Rabbit, etc.) borne of Centuries old memories & ancestral wisedom, character, spirituality, history, etc., not only survived the brutal test of time - from Maafa, through post-Emancipation, through Jim Crow, to present day -, but have flourished in the modern age & continue to carry these storied generational legacies today.

"I call myself a wordkeeper, or a keeper of words. I enjoy words and looking at them on all sides… Words are magnificent… They form rhythms of living in meaningful prose… It is the force of my desire, my wish to make myself understood, that powers these words.” - Virginia Hamilton in reflection.

We pour libations & give Venerable Henriette Delille her 💐 for her fierce perseverance & commitment to the selfless service. Her patronage is that of racial, gender, healthcare, education, & social equality.

Offering suggestions: pour water libations, 50s nightclub jams, & read/ share her work.

🌟 FINAL copies of The2023 Hoodoo's Calendar are available for purchase (once sold out, that's it)! Subscribe to the official e-newsletter for the latest updates & exclusive content access. https://thehoodoocalendar.square.site 🌟  

[pixoplanet]

💐 The Fascinating Origin and History of Mother's Day

The Ancient Roots of Honoring Mothers

Mother’s Day is a holiday we celebrate every year to show our appreciation for the mothers and motherly figures in our lives. But how did Mother’s Day actually come to be? The history of Mother’s Day involves both ancient and modern traditions.

Mother-honoring traditions have deep roots in ancient cultures around the world. Many ancient religions and civilizations revered a mother goddess – a powerful female deity who represented motherhood, fertility, and the life-giving forces of nature.

The Venus of Hohle Fels is the oldest undisputed example of a depiction of a human being and is believed to represent a fertility goddess. The figurine is made of mammoth ivory that was unearthed in 2008 in Hohle Fels, a cave near Schelklingen, Germany, within the Swabian Jura United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. It’s dated to between 38,000 and 33,000 BCE, which is associated with the earliest presence of Cro-Magnon humans, the first early modern humans, in Europe.

The worship of mother goddesses was still prevalent tens of thousands of years later in Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and other ancient civilizations. Some of the most well-known ancient mother goddess figures include Isis in Egypt, Cybele in Anatolia, Demeter in Greece, and Juno in Rome. 

These mother goddess figures were celebrated through festivals, rituals, and temple worship ceremonies. These events often included pilgrimages and elaborate offerings that honored the sacred role of motherhood in sustaining life and the maternal activities of creation, nourishment, and protection.

Reverence for mother goddesses laid important groundwork for the modern celebrations of Mother's Day and the honoring of mothers in many cultures today. Understanding these ancient origins can provide context and meaning to how we continue to celebrate and appreciate mothers in the present day.

Modern History of the Mother's Day Holiday

Mother’s Day is unique in that it has a totally feminist history. The idea of Mother’s Day started taking shape in America in 1868 when social activist and leader of a West Virginia women's group Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis created “Mothers’ Friendship Day.”

Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis brought mothers together from both sides of the Civil War to promote peace and reconciliation. She conducted meetings and workshops where mothers discussed health, hygiene, proper care, and welfare of mothers and children.

She also started “Mother's Day Work Clubs” to raise money to buy medicine and provide assistance to poor families who were suffering from high mortality rates due to disease. These clubs were a huge success and soon spread all across the country.

In 1870, Julia Ward Howe wrote the Mother’s Day Proclamation as a mother's response to the American Civil War. Her proclamation called on women to use their positions as mothers to influence society to end all wars. She advocated for women to fight against the unjust violence of war through their roles as mothers and protest the futility of their sons killing other mothers’ sons.

Howe wrote: We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy, and patience. We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.

In 1905, Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis died. Her daughter, Anna Maria Jarvis held a memorial for her in Grafton, West Virginia which was attended by over 400 people. Anna Maria Jarvis was inspired by her mother's work in organizing women's groups dedicated to social causes to begin working for establishment of an official national day of honor for all mothers.

Anna Maria Jarvis started a letter-writing campaign to prominent political and business figures, urging them to support a national Mother's Day holiday. Her efforts paid off when in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. This official recognition of Mother's Day made it a US national holiday.

The first official Mother's Day was celebrated in the US on May 9th, 1914. The holiday quickly grew in popularity and has flourished ever since, thanks in no small part to the flower industry. The owners of the Florists Review business journal publicly admitted to their desire to exploit the holiday. Anna Maria Jarvis, on the other hand, vehemently opposed the commercialization of Mother’s Day.

Anna Maria Jarvis’ original intent for Mother’s Day was to honor and appreciate the sacrifices and struggles of mothers and to recognize mothers’ contributions to society and their families.

Anna Maria Jarvis spent the remainder of her life trying to return Mother’s Day to its original, more modest roots. She was arrested for protesting the sale of flowers and even petitioned to prevent the creation of a Mother’s Day postage stamp.

The spirit of Mother’s Day envisioned by Jarvis, although weakened by commercialization, is still definitely alive today in that it remains a symbol of the enduring bond between mothers and their children.

How Mother's Day Became a Global Tradition

The celebration of Mother’s Day in modern times has spread from the US to other countries, including Canada, Australia, Mexico, and more.

Mother's Day is observed on different dates globally, though the most common date is the second Sunday in May. Italy celebrates Mother’s Day on the first Sunday in May. Other countries like the United Kingdom and Ireland celebrate their version of Mother’s Day, “Mothering Sunday,” on the third Sunday before Easter.

Across the world, Mother's Day traditions often include the giving of cards, flowers, treats. and other gifts. Family gatherings, special meals, and acts of service are also common ways to honor mothers on Mother’s Day. Some countries have unique customs, like Mexico’s Dia de las Madres celebration.

While the specific rituals may differ, the core purpose of Mother's Day in all countries is to recognize and appreciate the vital role that mothers play in our lives and communities.

Honoring Mothers in Modern Times

While some traditional Mother's Day traditions such as handmade crafts and homemade meals remain popular today, others have evolved to reflect the changing dynamics of family life and societal norms. It’s still celebrated, though, as a day to honor those women who’ve worked so hard and who’ve sacrificed so selflessly to raise us to become decent human beings.

The range of Mother's Day gift ideas is expanding, catering to the diverse interests and needs of modern mothers. From tech-savvy gadgets to personalized jewelry, from self-care products to experiences like cooking classes or travel packages, the number of thoughtful and meaningful gifts is growing exponentially.

Modern Mother's Day celebrations often go beyond traditional gift giving. Many families now plan special outings, such as brunch at a favorite restaurant or a day of pampering at a spa. Other families organize activities like picnics, hikes, game nights, or trips to zoos or museums – all designed to allow mothers to spend quality time with their loved ones.

Animals Have Moms, Too

It’s undeniable that human moms go above and beyond for their kids, proving that mothers are really one of nature’s most giving and loving creations. But this unconditional love and care is not limited to the human world. We human beings don’t hold the patent on good parenting. The animal kingdom is full of moms who are just amazing! 

While some animal moms neglect their offspring as soon as they lay their eggs, and others may even kill and eat them, there are many animal moms on the other side of the spectrum who go to great lengths to keep their children safe!

Where survival is the biggest challenge right from the start, these animal moms take extraordinary steps to nurture and raise their babies. They feed their young, often at the expense of their own needs, and protect them – with ferocity, if necessary. 

On this Mother's Day, let's explore some of the ways animal mothers nurture and care for their offspring:

1. Protection

One of the most obvious ways that animal moms protect their young is by physically shielding them from harm. This can take many forms, such as huddling together to stay warm in cold weather or by forming a circle around their young to protect them from predators. For instance, herds of elephant moms often form circles around their young to protect them from lions and hyenas. Kangaroo moms carry their vulnerable offspring in their pouches for several months, maintaining uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact. Panda moms constantly cradle their little ones to keep them close, as the cubs are born extremely tiny and fragile.

2. Camouflage

Another way that animal moms protect their young is by using camouflage. Many animals, such as deer and rabbits, have fur coats that blend in with their environment. This helps hide them from predators. In addition to camouflage, some animals, such as birds, squirrels, and apes, build nests high in trees or cliffs, where they’re difficult for predators to reach. 

3. Teaching Them Life Skills

Animal moms teach and train their young to survive in the wild. This includes showing them how to find food and water, how to avoid predators, and how to navigate their environment. For example, lionesses teach their cubs how to hunt by allowing them to play with live captured prey. This helps the cubs develop their hunting skills and also teaches them the importance of teamwork.

4. Scent Markings

Many animals, including big cats like lions and tigers, use scent markings to protect their young. By marking their territory with their scent, they warn other animals to stay away and thus avoid potential conflicts. For example, a female tiger marks her territory with urine. Other tigers can tell by the scent whether she has cubs or not. If she has cubs, the other tigers know to stay away.

5. Relocation

Some animal mothers start to look out for their children even before they arrive. They'll migrate or move to an ideal environment for their children. For instance, salmon and arctic terns often migrate to find the best breeding grounds for their young ones with the fewest predators, cleanest environments, and most abundant food sources. Polar bear moms dig snow dens to protect their cubs from harsh Arctic winds and cold temperatures. 

Here’s a look at five of the world’s many outstanding animal mothers who go the extra mile for their young:

African Elephant

Not only does an African elephant mom give birth to one of the largest babies on earth – about 200 pounds – but she also has to endure a 22-month pregnancy! That deserves an extra special Mother’s Day present from her calves. A new elephant mom gets lots of help in raising her young. Elephants live in matriarchal societies, so other females in her social group help her newborn calf to its feet and show it how to nurse. All of the females join the mother in regularly making affectionate contact with the calf. The older elephants will adjust the pace of the herd so the calf can keep up with them and also help teach the calf where to find edible plants and water. 

Red Fox

A red fox mother dotes on her kits. She cares for them continuously for their first two weeks, relying on her mate to hunt and bring her food. If something happens to him, it makes life hard for her, but she doesn’t abandon them; she takes over the tasks of finding food and raising them alone. Otherwise, both she and her mate raise their young (usually five) together, teaching them hunting and other survival skills. Red foxes are playful parents, taking time to roll around and play with their kits. The father leaves in the fall. The kits leave when they’re six or seven months old, although females sometimes remain with their mother for a year. 

Orangutan

The bond between an orangutan mother and her young is one of the strongest in nature. During the first two years of its life, a young orangutan relies entirely on its mother for both food and transportation. Mom stays with her young for six to seven years, teaching them where to find food, what and how to eat, and how and where to build a sleeping nest. Female orangutans are known to visit their mothers until they reach the age of 15 or 16.

Owl

Mother owls go to extraordinary lengths to keep their chicks well-fed. With super vision and super hearing, a mother owl can identify the slightest movement before she swoops down to grab her prey. Able to hear her chicks before they’re even hatched, a mother owl is always listening to her chicks; much like our dear moms.

Polar Bear

Polar bear mothers usually give birth to twin cubs that stick by her for about two years to learn the necessary survival skills in the cold climate. The mothers dig dens into deep snow drifts, creating a space to protect them from the elements. They usually give birth between November and January and keep the cubs warm and healthy using their body heat and milk. The cubs leave the den in March and April to get used to outside temperatures before learning to hunt.

Criticisms of Mother's Day

While Mother's Day is a widely celebrated holiday honoring mothers and motherhood, it's also faced criticism over the years.

Like many holidays, Mother’s Day isn’t unique in the sense that it suffers from over-commercialization to the point where much of its history has been stripped away.

Over time, the holiday has become increasingly commercialized, with businesses heavily promoting the sale of cards, flowers, gifts, and other products. This commercialization has led to backlash from many people who feel the true meaning of the holiday has been overshadowed by consumerism.

Critics argue that the pressure to buy expensive gifts and participate in elaborate celebrations takes away from the genuine appreciation and recognition of mothers – that we often end up spending more time and effort feeding money into a system that exploits our love for our mothers than actually celebrating them.

Additionally, the holiday has been criticized for excluding or marginalizing certain types of mothers, such as single mothers, adoptive mothers, lesbian and gay mothers, and those who've experienced pregnancy loss. There are also concerns that the holiday reinforces traditional gender roles and expectations involving motherhood.

In Julia Ward Howe’s 1870 Mother’s Day Proclamation, she called on women to use their positions as mothers to influence society to end all wars. She called for mothers to protest the futility of their sons killing other mothers’ sons.

And yet, 150 years on, our planet is still infected with multiple wars that continue to claim the lives of thousands of mothers’ sons and daughters. Are modern-day mothers protesting enough?

On this Mother’s Day, let’s remember that all mothers, all women, and all people have a stake in war and a responsibility to protest the incredible violence that so many victims around the world are suffering through.

Despite all of these criticisms, Mother's Day remains a significant cultural event, with millions of people around the world pausing to take the time to honor and appreciate the mothers in their lives. As the holiday continues to evolve, it will be important to find a balance between commercialization, activism, and the genuine, well-deserved celebration of motherhood.

Conclusion: Celebrating the Spirit of Motherhood

In conclusion, the history of Mother’s Day is a rich one, tracing back to ancient civilizations and evolving into a modern-day holiday that is celebrated around the world.

From the early efforts of an activist mother and her devoted activist daughter to the later support of political leaders, Mother’s Day has become a day to honor and appreciate mothers and motherly figures for the love and care they provide our families and communities. It’s a day to recognize the sacrifices that mothers make every day and to shower them with the appreciation and gratitude they deserve.

Mothers are the bedrock of our families, offering unwavering love, guidance, and support through every stage of our lives. Their selfless dedication and tireless efforts shape us into the individuals we eventually become. From the earliest moments of our existence to the milestones that define our growth, mothers are there, nurturing our dreams and championing our successes.

Motherhood is a testament to the power of the human spirit, embodying resilience, compassion, and an unbreakable bond that transcends time and distance. As we honor mothers everywhere, let’s celebrate the profound impact they have on our lives and the legacy they leave for our descendants. So, to all you mothers, thank you for always being there. Happy Mother’s Day – this day and every day! ☮️ Peace… Jamiese

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