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Why Arabs write from right to left?

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 23:13:52 +0000

Arab alphabet

The reason is historical. The current alphabet is of Arabic Aramaic source. The first known texts written in Aramaic dates from the IX century BD. This language originated in Syria, but already in the early first millennium BD spread
in Mesopotamia and later in Palestine.

The Aramaic alphabet, in turn, derives from the oldest form of alphabet of the Phoenicians (whose country was the current Lebanon). The Phoenicians invented the ‘alphabet, towards the end of the second millennium BD. Initially, they possessed the letters in a kind of serpentine from right to left, and then, without interruption, ie without the “head”, from left to right.

So from this moment began the writing from right to left (writing clockwise) or right to left (left-hand writing). Starting from ‘XI century BD. prevailed among the Phoenicians the left-handed writing, in that period it was used for the Arabic, Hebrew and the neo-Aramaic (the language of some Jewish and Christian communities originating in Mesopotamia around the world).

The Semitic cultures of Ethiopia preferred writing right-handed, also as the Greeks, birthplace of the West.

U know why it is used to give “Easter eggs”?

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:09:27 +0000

The eggs, perhaps because of their shape and substance very particular, have always played a unique role, the symbol of life itself, but also the mystery, almost sacred. Already at the time of paganism in certain beliefs, Heaven and Earth were considered two halves of the same egg, and eggs were the symbol of the return of life. The birds in fact were preparing the nest used to contain the eggs: then everyone knew that the winter and the cold had passed. The Greeks, Chinese and Persians exchanged them as a gift for the Spring festival, in ancient Egypt decorated eggs were exchanged at the spring equinox, for starting the “new year”, yet when the year was based on the season. The egg was seen as a symbol of fertility and almost magic, because the then inexplicable birth of a living being by an object so particular. The eggs were considered by the special items, and were buried beneath the foundations of buildings to ward off evil, bring in the womb by women which was interested to discover the sex of the unborn child and the wives were used to do it before entering into their new home. The eggs, associated with the spring for centuries, with the advent of Christianity became a symbol of the rebirth not ot nature but of man himself, the resurrection of Christ subject at first sight inert as a chick comes out of the egg , Christ came out alive from his tomb. In symbolism, eggs dyed with bright colors represent the colors of spring and the sunlight. Those colored dark red are the symbol of the blood of Christ. The practice of donating eggs decorated with precious items goes far back in time and already on the books of Edward I of England is marked expenditure for 450 eggs coated with gold and decorated to give as Easter gifts. But the most famous eggs were undoubtedly those of a master goldsmith, Peter Carl Fabergé, who in 1883 received by Tsar Alexander, the Committee for the creation of a special gift for the Empress Maria. The first Fabergé egg was a platinum white enamel that opened to reveal a golden egg which in turn contended a small chick in gold and a golden miniature of the imperial crown. The Tsar were so enthusiastic that a Fabergé ordered to prepare a series of donating eggs every year.

U know why ‘faith wedding’ moves on the left?

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:55:37 +0000

A real reason, both religious and ethical, does not exist, but we can say that faith is carried on the ring finger left hand only for a social “custom”. The exchange of faiths that is between spouses during the wedding ceremony has very ancient origins and comes directly from the Germanic territories, after consolidating in those of the Roman Empire. Only in the Late Middle Ages was officially introduced into the wedding ceremony, with the emergence of a particular liturgy. The custom of putting the ring (both engagement and marriage) to the finger of the left hand comes from a popular inspiration, that the ring runs a vein, called “vein amoris”, which leads directly to the heart. Then, put the ring on his finger left his beloved can be compared to a magical rite so that he can always be tied to us.