Origin of Cross Stitch Cross-stitch is a popular form of embroidery that uses X-shaped stitching in tiled patterns to form pictures. Cross-stitch has been a traditional sewing art in continental Europe for centuries and is one of the oldest forms of embroidery. Countries in Eastern and Northern Europe, such as Hungary and Germany, have particularly [...]
It’s one of the most well known features of the Chinese calendar: the zodiac of twelve animal signs. Featuring such classics as the pig and the rat, but also dragons and tigers, the twelve companions take turns in representing a year. Last year was the year of the monkey, a inquisitive, sharp-witted, agile sign. The [...]
Known more commonly in the West as Kwan Yin, this merciful Goddess is worshipped and revered all through Chinese culture. She is considered a bodhisattva, a being in Buddhism that has achieved a high level of enlightenment. For non-Buddhists, she is simply seen as a Goddess. In some regions, early images of Guanyin are male [...]
As we near the end of 2014, it’s time to look ahead to the next year on the Chinese calendar: the year of the Sheep. Sometimes associated with the ram or the goat, the new year starts on February 19th 2015. If that seems different from last year, it’s because the Chinese year is based [...]
In Chinese culture, the symbol of the sheep is a very lucky one and the docile animal plays a role in many myths and tales through history. The written character for “sheep” was often used for “luck”, and the animal has been considered lucky ever since. Sheep were a common wedding gift, adding to their [...]
To people who’s first language is English, trying to understand Mandarin Chinese can seem like an impossible task. It’s certainly not going to be something you can master in a single afternoon but there are a few handy hints to helping you pronounce Mandarin Chinese. The language has 21 consonants and 16 vowels, and there [...]
We’ve all eaten dishes of Chinese cuisine with unusual names, or at least seen some of these mysterious foods on the menu. Ever wonder what the story is behind their names? Here are some of the more popular Chinese foods that you might be curious about. Kung Pao Chicken This spicy stir-fry is a very [...]
For varying reasons, many Americans are looking to China to adopt babies. For one thing, the process for Chinese adoptions is very well-documented and it’s a more predictable system than American adoptions. All adoptions for the entire country are managed by the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) so you always know who you have [...]
Representing the Chinese Emperor himself, the symbol of the dragon is a potent one in Chinese culture. Of all the many animal symbols that are important in the history and culture of China, it’s the dragon that reigns supreme. Unlike the dragon found in Western mythology, a Chinese dragon is usually a long and sinuous [...]
Shoes are usually the last thing a bride and groom think about when planning their wedding, but shoe etiquette has long played an important role in Chinese weddings. The Chinese word for ‘shoe’, xie, sounds similar to the word for ‘harmony’, and so they were considered an important symbol for weddings. In China, it is [...]