Monday, May 25, 2015

Red Cross Folk Hero



Swiss Civic Folk Hero

 Henry Dunant was a civic folk hero. Born in Geneva, Switzerland, this International Red Cross founder and organizer of the first YMCA and organized the Geneva Conventions of 1863 and 1864.  


He was born into a household that was civic-minded, religious and humanitarian. His father helped orphans and parolees and his mother worked with the sick and the poor.

Although he left college at the age of 21 because of poor grades, he went on to publish his very first book, Notice sur la Regence de Tunis. While it contained his travel observations, it also included a moving chapter on the topic of slavery in the United States and elsewhere.


Following the 19th century Battle of Solferino (1859) in which nearly forty-thousand casualties were reported in an effort to drive the Austrians out of Italy, he organized valuable emergency aid services for the wounded. From there he developed a plan that inspired voluntary relief societies in several countries to help alleviate suffering and prevent war.

In 1863, he was a member of the Geneva Society for Public Welfare’s committee appointed to evaluate the possibility of putting the plan into action. Due to its call for an international conference, the Red Cross has founded. On the 22th of August 1864, 12 nations signed the international treaty, known as Geneva Convention.


Dunant’s personal insight was transformed into an international treaty. The scope of the Red Cross has extended, covering naval personnel in wartime and alleviating the difficulties caused by the natural disasters in peacetime. 


However, in 1867, following bankruptcy due to bad management of North African water rights he was involved with, he turned his full attention on humanitarian pursuits, such as hospice. In 1895 he was awarded honors and prizes for his efforts and in 1901, nine years before he died, he became the first Swiss Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

He was buried in Zurich and per his will left funds for a "free bed" in the Heiden nursing home always to be available for a poor citizen of the region.

Read more about Dunant.  To learn about another folk hero who made a nursing difference, click here

Monday, May 18, 2015

Maori Tattoos



Facial Folk Art  

For the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, ta moko (facial tattoos) have long been considered folk art. 

Believed to have been brought from Polynesia this style of facial marking is considered sacred. The Maori believe their heads to be the most sacred part of their bodies and so the artwork applied to the head is, by association, sacred.


Facial tattoos comprised of spiral patterns and curved shapes that covered the entire face were a symbol of prestige, power, social status and rank. It is also a highly ritualized and revered rite of passage that us8ally begins during adolescence. 


Each tattoo is unique and detailed; intricately done to show off the artistry and craftsmanship of the Maori artist (tohunga) – man or woman - who is respected and often recognized as holy. 


History of Maori Tattoos

The historical explanation for the origin of Maori tattoo came from the underworld called Uetonga. Legends state that a young warrior named Mataora fell in love with the beautiful princess of underworld named Niwareka. The princess decided to came above ground just to marry Mataora. Unfortunately he mistreated the princess and she decided to go back to the underworld. 


Mataora felt guilty about his treatment of her and apologized to her parents. Niwareka’s father taught Mataora about the stunning art of ta moko which he brought to his people.



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Monday, May 4, 2015

Global Folklore



 Wanderlust Storybook


Legends and folklore, once the sole property of oral tradition, have evolved to also become the heart of folk literature around the world.  The advent of printing (and publishing) have made it possible for these folklore messages to travel from one language and culture to the next. And cyberspace allows us to do so more quickly than ever before.


One such example of the digital bridge is the Wanderlust Storybook. This beautifully illustrated ebook pulls together enchanting and educational stories that link people to their natural worlds. Sisters as mountains, turtles in lakes, men of steel and more remind us that, despite our diverse backgrounds, we all share similar hopes and dreams, and can find our way through the maze of obstacles and challenges we face.


Conrad Bird selected six stories from such countries and regions as Ghana, Vietnam, Andes, and Australia. These larger-than-life versions of how people find strength, true love, and higher purpose are illustrated by Orhi Draws.  


According to Eebookers.com, this folklore collection is designed to whet your appetite for travel.  It does. Who wouldn’t want to know more about these folklore-rich places?
To learn more, click here.
Illustrations from The Lake of the Returned Sword –Vietnam and The Three Sisters - Australia