chinese art, food and products Chinese Terracotta Army has Thousands of Warriors!

The Chinese Terracotta Army has Thousands of Warriors!

The Chinese Terracotta Army has eight thousand warriors, and they are all unique! So, if you are looking for a unique gift why not go for one of these soldiers. They come in a variety of sizes, and of course styles, and there are even horses too! Yes, this army is not just infantry but cavalry as well.

Of course the army itself isn't for sale, although you can actually go and view it for real at the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in Xi'an, China. But reproductions of these amazing terracotta statues are available and make pretty amazing gifts.

 

Terra Cotta Warriors at Emperor Qin's Tomb, China

Romantic Legend Behind Double Seventh Festival!

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The La Caja China is used to roast pigs

The "La Caja China" is a box designed to barbecue a whole pig, yet it will cook any other type of meat as well.

The pig (or other meat) is placed inside the box, the lid is attached, and charcoal is placed on top of the lid to roast the meat inside. The grease flows into a catch pan. It's simple, but very effective.

Using this method, you can roast a pig in less than 4 hours. It's very popular for family reunions, tailgating, graduations, Luau's and anytime you want to feed a lot of people. It is very simple to use and is priced affordable for all budgets

Read about the love story of the boy cowherd and the girl weaver!

There is a romantic tale about a cowherd (Niu Lang) and a girl weaver (Zhi Nu) that gives background to this festival. As with many Chinese festivals it is part of the lunar calendar, and has an astronomical underpinning.

Chinese Valentines Day ~ Let's Carve Melons Then!

Image by smiley_river! Who wouldn't want to marry the clever young woman who carved these melons? What about someone who offered you delicious fried cookies, or showed their expertise in embroidery? Domestic handicrafts were traditionally displayed during this festival, so the young women could attract a partner. In addition, altars were prepared, and offerings of pastries and fruit were prayed over, to make them an intelligent and resourceful partner!

Why carve melons? Well, it was traditionally a way to demonstrate the domestic skills of a young woman to any potential suitors! As well as melon carving, they would display samples of fried cookies, embroidery, quilting and other handicraft. More recently, this practice has waned because of the more modern attitude of couples towards shared domestic duties in China. Chinese Valentines Day is also known as "Qixi Festival" (the Night of Sevens), "Double Seventh Festival" or "Magpie Festival". It is not a gazetted public holiday in China, but is still popular amongst young people.

Image by OH SHUT UP!