Maids Of Honour Cakes Recipe

Recipe dated from 1525 AD when Henry VIII tried on at his court.

Ingredients

* 1/2 pint whole milk
* 2 tablespoons fine dried bread crumbs
* 4 oz butter; melted
* 2 ounces ground almonds
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 3 large eggs
* 1 lemon zested
* 2 dozen round puff pastry shells (1 to 2 inches in diameter)


Directions

1. In a saucepan, over medium heat, combine milk and bread crumbs.
2. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the bread mixture, butter, almonds, sugar, and zest; mix well.
4. Preheat oven to 350^F.
5. Fill each pastry shell with a tablespoon of filling.
6. Place on a baking sheet and bake until golden, about 12 to 15 minutes.
7. Remove from the oven and cool completely.
8. Garnish with powdered sugar and serve.

Maid of Honour

Maids of Honour were the junior attendants on a Queen in the royal households of England and later of the United Kingdom. Anne of Brittany is said to have instituted the Queen's Maids of Honour at the court.


Role

Traditionally, a Queen regnant had eight Maids of Honour, while a Queen consort had four.

A Maid of Honour was a maiden, meaning that she was unmarried, and was usually young. Lady Jane Grey, for example, served as a Maid-of-Honour to Queen Catherine Parr in about 1546-48, when Jane was only about ten to twelve years old.

Maids of Honour should not be confused with Maids of the Court. Maids of Honour were almost always in their sixteenth year or older. Anne Bassett was deemed too young to be a maid of honour to Anne Boleyn, but she gained a place under Jane Seymour.[1] Under Mary I and Elizabeth I, maids of honour were at court as a kind of finishing school, with the hope of making a good marriage. Maids of the court could be younger. Elizabeth Knollys was a maid of the court at the age of nine.

Some of the Maids of Honour were paid, while others were not.

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the title 'Maid of Honour in Waiting' was sometimes used.

A Queen mother often also had Maids of Honour. In 1915, for example, Ivy Gordon-Lennox was appointed a Maid of Honour to Queen Alexandra.

At her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II had Maids of Honour who attended her throughout the ceremony, especially carrying the trains of her robes.

The term Lady-in-Waiting is used to describe a woman attending a female member of the Royal Family other than the Queen regnant or Queen consort. An attendant upon one of the latter is styled Lady of the Bedchamber or Woman of the Bedchamber, and the senior Lady-in-Waiting is the Mistress of the Robes. The Women of the Bedchamber are in regular attendance, but the Mistress of the Robes and the Ladies of the Bedchamber are normally only required for ceremonial occasions.

"Maid of Honour" led to the American English term "maid of honor", usually the best friend of a bride who leads her bridal party.

The term also refers to a small cake, the recipe dates from 1525 and the reign of Henry VIII.

Marriage

The gift of sacred marriage is one of God's greatest blessings. In today's world, the understanding of sacred marriage has been limited by concepts and customs that were created in an earlier age. Today, at the cusp of humanity's transformation into a plant of light, the nature of all relationships, including those of sacred marriage, are being raised to a new level of consciousness and awareness.


In God's reality, all is One and all individual souls are part of the One that is God. From the perspective of our individual, human consciousness, we often feel alone and long for connection, companionship, and fulfilling relationships. The aloneness that we feel is a part of the consciousness of individuation that humanity has evolved since taking physical form, and at the current time in our evolution, there is now a much greater possibility to move beyond this to tap into the depth of god's love through our relationships and connections with others.

What makes more possible now in human relationships is related to the expansion of spiritual light on the Earth, which has accelerated humanity's transformational process. This influx of light has begun to awaken the hearts, minds and bodies of many people who are beginning to have a direct experience of god's love and light. This kind of direct experience can transform a life, and can heal that which may have felt impossible to heal.


In previous eras, the nature of sacred marriage was connected with duty, or related to practical necessities. Nowadays, as human relationships transform and become more conscious, the nature of sacred marriage enters a whole new domain of possibility that is related to two souls who become One in God, without releasing their individuality or unique identities.

This new form of relationship is the culmination of humanity's transition process, first from beings of light in the spiritual realms, who then took physical form while retaining their connection to the One... and then as increasingly physical beings, who became immersed in matter and became less aware of the spirit. Now, the circle is completing so that souls who attained the maximum individuation and separated consciousness are beginning to awaken to the remembrance of spirit.

when a soul begins to reconnect with their divine origins, a whole new world opens up before them. Many "needs" that were felt from the ego level of personality begin to disappear once the soul realizes its divine connection with the source of all love. As the soul begins to relax into its spiritual identity, doorways begin to open both emotionally and on the spiritual levels. A divine flow begins that weaves the threads of God's love and light into all aspects of daily life. Relationships take on a new brilliance and fullness, and there is less ego attachment which promotes the open exchange of greater levels of spiritual light.

As more souls begin to reconnect with their divine origins, the possibilities for relationships multiply exponentially. Love becomes the guiding force which breaks through all barriers of fear from the ego level of the self, and takes on a life of its own. It can be said that in a divine partnership, two become One within God. In such a divine partnership, two souls come together in surrender to God's will, which directs the relationship.

A sacred marriage comes about when two souls are guided through their love for each other, to join their hearts, minds, bodies and daily lives together into a new entity that is greater than either individual alone. A sacred marriage bond creates a synergy and a blessing that radiates outward to the world, and that can be seen and felt tangibly as the presence of light and love.

Sacred marriage exists in all cultures and religions, for it is not the beliefs or customs related to as marriage which create its sanctity, but rather the sacred intentionality of the participants. In today's world which sees both the dissolution of many marriages, and also much pain and confusion about the nature of intimate relationships, there is little guidance or information available to help those who wish to enter into such a partnership.

Sacred marriage requires an ongoing commitment from each participant, to love fully each day, and to release ego attachments and negativity that would cloud communication and create disharmony within the relationship. This kind of commitment is in essence a spiritual one, which brings the soul into alignment with God's love and divine purpose for that soul. Sacred marriage is a blessing and a gift, which models the way home, to a place and time when all of humanity lives in sacred relationships with each other and with all of life.
from here

Arab wedding customs

Although Christian weddings in the Arab World bear similarities to Western weddings, Muslim weddings in the Arab countries are influenced by Muslim traditions. Muslim weddings start with a Shaikh and Al-Kitab (book) for the bride and groom. It is a western misconception that the groom may not see his bride until the wedding day; indeed, a wedding is not Islamically valid unless both bride and groom are willing, and the groom is often encouraged to visit her before the wedding (as advised in many hadeeths of the prophet Muhammad). However, these visits must be chaperoned to ensure purity of action between the two. Men and women in wedding ceremonies and receptions are segregated, with areas for men and for women.

An old tradition, now rarely observed, involves the women at the ceremony symbolically mourning the loss of the bride by doing the "wedding wail". The bride's dress is an ornate Caftan, and the bride's hands and feet are decorated in intricate lace-like patterns painted using a henna dye. Women guests do not show their hair, shoulders or legs; and all guests at a Mosque remove their shoes on entering. Guests may give gifts to the bride and groom. In many Arab countries including Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories, the practice of carrying the bride and groom on chairs and dancing in a circle around them (dabke) is still carried out. The bride and groom hold separate corners of a handkerchief. Arabs may have Western-like weddings, but still preserve most Arab customs and traditions.[citation needed]
Arabic Weddings, called Farah (ar: فرح ) have changed greatly in the past 100 years, where more preception of Islam, and more understanding of what is Haram and Halal, usually the Arabic Wedding were very much similar to modernday bedouin weddings, and rural weddings, they were unique from region to another, Weddings in Lower Egypt were quite different to ones in Cairo, and in Cairo then Upper Egypt, and so on, even though the Christian Arabs have very similar weddings to the Western Weddings, the Muslim Weddings are greatly influenced by Islam, the Muslim Marriage Process usually starts with the Fixed Meetings, and ends with the "Dokhla", or the entrance, it is usually misconceived in the west that Arab weddings and Muslim weddings forbid the groom from seeing his bride until the wedding day, on the contrary, in fact it will not be considered as an Islamic wedding unless the Bride and Groom agree on the marriage, while the groom is welcomed in the bride's house, but with Parental existence, to maintain the Purity between both sides.

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I don't want cold hands and feet anymore! Please sun, rise and shine for me!

Bridal purses or wedding money bags

Couple of the day: Ana & Ionut

Data nuntii 29 iulie 2006

Couple of the day: Ruxandra & Adrian

Data nuntii 29 septembrie 2007

Can you show me your nails?

I have an idea! show me pictures with your nails. OK? and I'll show you mine!

Some ideas for manicure

Everything has to be perfect on your best day of yur life. So must be your nails.
Here you can find some idea for your manicure.
I never had fake nails, so a part of me wants them. At the same time I have heard they are bad for your nails. And who would really see them? Oh, ME! and I think it's enough! I like them and...I like them!

Wedding cakes of the day

Russian wedding customs

A traditional Russian wedding lasts for at least two days and some weddings last as long as a week. Throughout the celebration there is dancing, singing, long toasts, and food and drinks. The best man and maid of honor are called witnesses, “svideteli” in Russian. The ceremony and the ring exchange takes place on the first day of the wedding.
Throughout the years, Russian weddings have adopted many western cultures, including bridesmaids and flower girls. During the wedding feast any of the guests can start chanting "Gorko" ("bitter") which usually is immediately supported by the rest of the guests. In this case bride and groom should kiss each other and the kiss should last for as long as the chanting continues.

Russian wedding

The two golden rings are a symbol of Russian marriage. It is common to see this image on wedding invitations.
A traditional Russian wedding lasts for at least two days and some weddings last as long as a week. Throughout the celebration there is dancing, singing, long toasts, and a lot of food and drinks. The best man and maid of honor are called witnesses, “svideteli” in Russian. The ceremony and the ring exchange takes place on the first day of the wedding and on this special day many events take place. Throughout the years, Russian weddings have adopted many western cultures, including bridesmaids and flower girls. Russian traditional wedding is different from what people are used to in the United States of America. There are no rehearsals, bridesmaids, and flower girls. The best man and the maid of honor are called “witnesses” or in Russian “svideteli”. The wedding celebration usually lasts for two days (or more) and requires preparation of about 1 to 6 months. The registration of marriage takes place at the department of public services or in Russian - “ZAGS”. Nowadays many couples also choose the church ceremony.

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Traditional wedding rituals

A friend of the bride who is already happily married places first earring on the bride-to-be.
• Paying the ransom - Once the groom arrives at the bride’s home, he must pay a ransom for the bride, a term in Russian known as “vykup nevesty”. The entire event is played out in a comical fashion and everyone is entertained. At first the groom comes and gives something (often vodka) for the bride, and so the parents of the bride bring out a woman or man (the latter for amusement) that is not the actual bride, but is dressed up like one, covered in veil, so the groom can't see the face. When the groom realizes that it is not his bride, he asks for his love, but the family of the bride will demand a bigger ransom to be paid. So, upon satisfaction with the ransom given, the bride's family give away the bride to the groom.
• Traditional Ceremony - In the next step, the bride and groom have an optional traditional ceremony in a church. In Russian this is called the “venchanie”. Churches do not have official government status and a civil ceremony must be held.
• Civil ceremony - Following the traditional ceremony, the couple must have a civil ceremony called “rospis v zagse”. This ceremony takes place at the department of public services, formally known as ZAGS. At ZAGS the couple is greeted by family members with bread and salt. The ceremony ranges from 15 to 30 minutes and during this time the rings are exchanged and the couple is pronounced husband and wife.
During the civil ceremony, the parents offer the married couple two crystal glasses, which they are asked to break. The more shards of glass they create, the greater the number of years of happiness they will spend together. It is also customary for the married couple to release either balloons or, better, two white doves to symbolize their love and partnership which is written in the sky for all to see. And the bride also releases another balloon with her maiden name written on it, as she embarks on her new life.
• Tour of the city - Following the civil ceremony, the newlyweds and their witnesses, travel around the city on a limousine and view many historical sights. Sometimes very close friends join as well. This presents the primary opportunity for the majority of the wedding photographs that are taken at varying historical places around the town/city.
• Reception - After touring the city for several hours, the couple meets the guests for the reception.
o The first toast is made to the newlyweds and after the first shot, the guests begin to shout “Gorko, Gorko, Gorko,…”. “Gorko” means “bitter” and the guests are referring to the bitter wine. At this point the couple must kiss for a long time to take out the bitter taste of the wine.
o The second toast is made to the parents.
o The new couple dances the first dance of the night.
o As the night continues the guests dance, sing, play games, and make toasts.
o For the next several days, the family continues to eat, drink, and celebrate.
o It is traditional to have an entertainer, in Russian "Tamada", who organises games, the disco and ensures the guests get to know each other and are looked after.

The Honeymoon

The term "honeymoon" is though to originate from the times when a man captured his bride. The couple would hide from the bride's parents before marrying. The couple would remain in hiding for a further cycle of the moon after the wedding. During this period they drank honey wine.
In Scotland the custom was for a woman with milk in her breasts to prepare the marital bed to encourage fertility in the newlyweds.
In Ireland a laying hen was tied to the bed on the first honeymoon night in the hope that some of its fertility would be passed on to the couple. Eating a double yolked egg was also thought to bring fertility

The Best Man

It is the best man's duty to protect the groom from bad luck. He must ensure that once the groom has began his journey to the church he does not return for any reason.
He must also arrange for the groom to carry a small mascot or charm in his pocket on the wedding day.
When the best man is paying the church minister's fee he should pay him an odd sum to bring luck to the couple.

Crossing The Threshold

After the wedding the bride must enter the new marital home through the main entrance. It is traditional for the groom to carry the bride over the threshold when they enter for the first time. The reason for this is uncertain. One explanation is that the bride will be visited by bad luck if she falls when entering. An alternative is that the bride will be unlucky if she steps into the new home with the left foot first. The bride can avoid both mishaps by being carried. A third explanation is that it symbolises the old Anglo-Saxon custom of the groom stealing his bride and carrying her off.
Hindu's have a similar tradition. The bride is carried by her new husband so that she does not touch the threshold when entering her new home