The Cathedral of Braga, one of Portugal’s most iconic religious landmarks, preserves a profound connection between sacred traditions and fertility symbolism. At the core of this association stands Saint Gerald, whose legend recounts a remarkable event—fruits miraculously ripening in the depths of late autumn. This episode gave rise to a lasting ritual: each year, during his feast, his chapel is adorned with fru...
The unicorn is a legendary chimaera that, for centuries, has been present in the mindset of Euro Mediterranean cultures. Although its morphological description changed, tradition identifies it as an animal like a horse, albeit smaller and with a spiralling horn on its head pointing forward. The unicorn has been known since Antiquity, with references by authors such as Ctesias and Pliny. However, its relevance f...
Wheat or rye straw embroideries , typical of the island of Faial (Azores), are the ultimate representatives of a European craft very popular in the XIX century. Our investigation into the cultural use of plants in the Azores presents some examples of straw embroideries and information on the raw materials of plant origin used by the last embroideresses who keep this tradition alive; The authors express their gr...
The art made with white heartwood slices obtained from the young branches of the fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is found only in the Azores (Portugal). It probably began in the convents of nuns, during the XVII century, and soon after the secularization of these institutions continued to be done by artisans. This exquisite traditional art produces light and delicate pieces, and it is now kept by few artisans.
Vegetable ivory is a raw material used to make small objects, such as buttons, adorns for personal use or home decorations. It comes mainly from the seed endosperm of species belonging to the genus Phytelephas Ruiz & Pav.. The collection of Beja Botanical Museum includes a set of historical photos that show all the stages of vegetable ivory processing from seed to buttons, allowing us to have a more complete un...
Violets were an important trade plant, sold in the streets and markets of European and North America cities throughout the nineteenth century up to the 1920’s, when they began to be out of fashion. France was a major producer of violets and many activities associated with them, such as picking and selling, were commonly done by women. Here we present a selection of photos from Beja Botanical Museum's collection...
Wheat or rye straw embroideries , typical of the island of Faial (Azores), are the ultimate representatives of a European craft very popular in the XIX century. Our investigation into the cultural use of plants in the Azores presents some examples of straw embroideries and information on the raw materials of plant origin used by the last embroideresses who keep this tradition alive
Vegetable ivory is a raw material used to make small objects, such as buttons, adorns for personal use or home decorations. It comes mainly from the seed endosperm of species belonging to the genus Phytelephas Ruiz & Pav.. The collection of Beja Botanical Museum includes a set of historical photos that show all the stages of vegetable ivory processing from seed to buttons, allowing us to have a more complete un...
O facto de o Imposto sobre o Valor Acrescentado condicionar, não poucas vezes, a atividade comercial dos sujeitos passivos, nomeadamente por, em determinadas circunstâncias, representar um encargo financeiro, não se adequa com os princípios estruturantes deste imposto de matriz comunitária, que se quer neutro e repercutido até ao consumidor final. Dispomo-nos a fazer uma abordagem sobre o regime legal do reembo...
O facto de o Imposto sobre o Valor Acrescentado condicionar, não poucas vezes, a atividade comercial dos sujeitos passivos, nomeadamente por, em determinadas circunstâncias, representar um encargo financeiro, não se adequa com os princípios estruturantes deste imposto de matriz comunitária, que se quer neutro e repercutido até ao consumidor final. Dispomo-nos a fazer uma abordagem sobre o regime legal do reembo...