History Behind Spanish Yarn Paintings

The homeland of the Huichol Indians are in the rugged mountains and remote villages of the Sierra de Nayarit (north of Guadalajara) They have many agricultural gods/ godesses. Deer is the most sacred of all animals, its blood a symbol of fertility. Corn is the source of all life, for it was Nacuhue mother of all gods who gave corn to the first man for planting. Lastly Peyote is a means of communication with the gods, and the consumption of peyote by the Huichol people is a deeply religious experience. The unity of these three elements ( deer, corn, and peyote) is the absolute core of Huichol beleifs. The Huichol's yarn paintings are not only beautiful pieces of art but also a symbol of their specific beliefs.

I've never seen a real yarn painting before, but from the pictures I saw from my research I noticed they all looked different. There wasn't one painting that looked the same. This tells me that the artists are very original and really take their time to make their piece the best it can be. Here in the United States many of our paintins are copies of the originals. I wonder if the way the Huichol consume their peyote is similar to the way indians eat buffalo. I heard they eat every part of the bull as a sign of respect. Maybe the Huichol do the same thing, or they might just cook it in a special way.

http://www.lafuente.com/Mexican-Art/Huichol-Yarn-Art/

Technology

In this article it talks about how Spanish households are the most reluctant in Europe to use new technologies. It turns out 45 % of Spanish homes are against using the latest technology in their lives. Their study was based on the four main communication technology services: Internet, mobile phones, landline phones, and digital/ satellite tv. The results showed that 23% of the Spanish household are on the edge of the digital age and have an "emotional barrier" to new technologies. On average each house has 1.3 services in their homes and they dont like services such as Internet because the believe they are a waste of time. Overall only 5% of the population show real interest towards switching to newer technology services in their home.

I think this news is very sad. Here in the United States I think we are very modern. I mean if you think about it,  new cell phones are being released every month. Apple is also continuing to make new products like the iPhone and iPad. These are very popular and top sellers in the United States. It's surprising to me that Spain is not into new technology since they are known for their Tourism. People are always coming in and leaving, so why aren't more new products being discovered?

http://www.euroresidentes.com/Blogs/2005/03/domestic-use-of-new-technology-in.htm

Spanish Wedding Customs

In a tradional Spanish Wedding the groom groom gives a watch to the bride's father when hes proposal is accepted. In earlier times brides would wear black dresses but now they returned to while just like we wear here in the United States. Because dining late is a Mediterranean custom, wedding ceremonies often aren't scheduled until the evening. Usually the bride's father escorts his daughter to the church after having ensured that the groom hasn't seen her the night before the ceremony. The groom's mother walks down the aisle with her son.

Even though I've never been to a real wedding I know of the American Customs. I've never heard of the groom walking down the aisle, let alone with his mom! The brides only have this honor and they get escorted by their fathers. The Spanish traditions also suggest that the bride's father stays with her the night before her wedding making sure the groom is no where to be found. I thought the bachelorette party takes place that night! I also learned that weddings in Spain take place in the evening. Here in the United States most weddings take place in the afternoon and the receptions occur at night. I found it interesting to learn about tradional Spanish Weddings because someday I think it would be fun to attend one!

http://www.worldweddingcustoms.com/wedding_customs/wedding_traditions/spanish_wedding_customs.html

Shopping in Spain's Barcelona

In Barcelona there are around 35,000 shops! Most shops are close to eachother so it's very easy to wander from store to store. There is a very well known 5 KM line of shops. This shop is home to the Ramblas, through Placa de Catalunya along Passeig de Gràcia and up Avenue Diagonal. Some of the big names in Spanish styles include Versace, Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Bally, Cartier and Calvin Klein. The popular European style is called "chic."
I absolutley love shopping! It would be such a fun experiene to shop in Barcelona. 5 KM filled with clothes, jewelry, and shoes is every girl's dream. I bet some of these stores could be compared to the stores on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. I wonder how many people travel to Barcelona each year to go shopping at such fine stores.I also wonder if the popular styles in Spain are similar to the ones here in the United States. I know I've heard of Calvin Klein before and Burberry but I haven't heard about any of the others. Out of all the shopping stores in Barcelona I bet there is one that's the most popular. Here in the U.S I'de say stores like Dash ( Kim and Courtney Kardashian's store) are very well know.

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/shopping/barcelona-spain-shopping.html

President of Spain?

It turns our the President of the Government of Spain is as known to us English as the Prime Minester of Spain. The office is established under the Constitution of 1978. The King of Spain most nominate a candidate for the presidency who stands before the Congress of Deputies for a Vote of Confidence in a process known as a Congressional Investure. The current prime minister since December 21, 2011 is Mariano Rajoy Brey. As for term lengths, there are no limits. Presidents are by conventions, the leader of the victorious party. So no terms are imposed on the office.

Im sure there are many differences with the way America and Spain are run. I mean they are whole different countries. Although the nomination process seems very long and difficult I'm sure it's a very precise system. I found it surprising that there are no term lengths for Spanish Presidents. Here in America we have elections for new presidents every 4 years. I wonder how strict the Spanish democracy is. I know there are many tourists coming in and out of that country so I bet they have to keep a close eye on them. I'm also curious as to if any women have ever ran for presidency in Spain. There have been women who have ran here in the U.S but they never made it the whole way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Spain

Bull Fighting History

Bull fighting can be traces back to 711 A.D. That was when the very first bullfight took place in the celebration of the crowning of King Alfonso VIII. Now a days it is said that the total number of people watching bullfights in Spain reaches one million every year. Originally bullfighting was a sport for the aristocracy and took place on horseback. But King Felipe the fifth took charge and banned the aristocracy from taking part, believing in to be a bad example to the public. After the ban players accepted the sport as their own and since they could not afford horses, developed the practice of dodging the bulls on foot, unarmed. This transformation took place around 1724.

I really believe bullfighting is a dangerous sport. I cant believe people would want to involve themselves in such a harmful sport. Everytime they walk out into the arena they are putting their lives at risk. If something were to go wrong and the bull starting attacking the fighter, they would be toast. I wonder how much money these professionals get payed compared to an NBA basketball player here in the United States. I bet it would be a lot since the risk factor is so high.

http://www.spain-info.com/Culture/bullfighting.htm

Enrique Iglesias

Enrique Iglesias was born on May 8, 1975. He is a Spanish-Filipino-American pop music singer. He was 8 years old when he moved to the US. When he turned 15 he secretly began writing music. On September 25th, 1995 he released his first album. His second album, which was recorded in Spanish was released on January 29th, 1997. Other albums include: "Vivir", "Cosas Del Amor", "Enrique", "Escape" and "Quizas" All together, Enrique has sold over 15 million albums worldwide!

Here is a video of Enrique's hit song "I like it."

I'm very glad Enrique came to America or else we wouldn't have been able to hear any of his songs. His music has impacted many people's lives. He also has many fans. I am sure they are grateful that he began secretly writing music or else he wouldn't be the musician he is today. I wonder what made him and his family move to the United States from Spain. I believe he is the most inspiring Spanish musician to move to America from Spain, because I think that he has such a wide range of musical talents. I hope I can keep learning more about Español so that I can understand more of his songs that are written in spanish.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrique_iglesias