10 World's most Expensive Weddings

 Prince Charles and Diana

Wedding gown cost 9000 pounds (25,700 pounds in today's value) 

Wedding cake cost $ 6,000

Wedding ring cost 30,000 pounds (85,700 pounds in today's value)

( Prince William has given his mother's ring to Kate Middleton )

Wedding bill: $48 million in 1981 ($110 million when adjusted for inflation)

 Unfortunately, the wedding ended in a divorce on August 28, 1996.

 Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia

Wedding took place at Vaux le Vicomte in France 

Wedding was a 5-day lavish affair

Invitation was a 20 page silver book

Around $1.5 million was spent on wine

Wedding bill: $60 million in 2005 ($66 million when adjusted for inflation)

Prince William and Kate Middleton

Floral decor cost $800,000 

Security arrangements cost $33 million

Wedding gown costs $300,000 to $450,000

Official holiday on April 29 is set to cost the economy $6 billion

Wedding bill: Estimated to be $50-80 million.

Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin

Hired super-yacht cost 90,000 euro per day for a week for his wedding party

Wedding bill: $8 million in 2008

 Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky

Catering cost: $750,000 

Wedding cake cost: $11,000 

Tables and crockery $109,000 

For toilets: $15,000

Floral decor cost: $500,000 

Wedding bill: $5 million in 2010

 Liza Minnelli and David Gest

Wedding cake cost $40,000 (6ft. tall)

Wedding bill: $3.5 million in 2002 ($4.2 million when adjusted for inflation)

The couple split in July 2003 after 16 months of marriage

Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky

Elizabeth (8th time married) to construction worker Larry Fortensky 

Wedding bill: $2.5 million in 1991 ($4 million when adjusted for inflation)

It ended in a divorce after 5 years.

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills

Fireworks in St. Salvador Church cost $150,000

Wedding bill: $3 million ($3.6 million when adjusted for inflation)

Settling the divorce suit cost a whopping $50 million for McCartney

Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar

An eight-day celebration across Europe and Asia

Wedding bill: $2.5 million in 2007 ($2.6 million when adjusted for inflation.)

This high profile wedding also ended in a divorce

 Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman

Wedding bill: $2 million in 2005 ($2.2 million when adjusted for inflation)

This marriage also ended in a divorce

10 of the Most Oldest Trees Around the World

 

 Sunland Baobab Tree

With a name known to a copy of baobab situated in South Africa. The carbon test has given an approximate age of 6000 years old. An interesting fact to mention that the hollow of its trunk are home to a winery and a bar.

 

 Methuselah Tree

A 4,789 years old Great Basin bristlecone pine tree located in Inyo County, Cal, USA. Oldest currently living tree.

 

 Sarv-e-Abarkuh Tree

Is a 4,000 years old Mediterranean cypress tree located in Abarkuh, Yazd, Iran. Also known as ‘Zoroastrian Sarv’. Iranian have different religious believes regarding this tree.

 

Llangernyw-Yew Tree

About 4,000 years old. The ancient most Yew tree located in Llangernyw, Wales, UK. They are commonly found at cemeteries.  

 The Senator Tree

The Pond Cypress known as ‘The Senator’ which is believed to be 3,400 to 3,500 years old. Located in Longwood, Florida, USA. After being measure by Native Tree Society, it was of 5,100 cubic feet and longest of its kind. Destroyed by fire on January 16, 2012.

 

Patriarca de Floresta Tree

Also known as ‘Patriarca de Floresta’ tree of Brazil. One of the biggest trees in Atlantic Forest. It is said to be almost 3000 years old. Probably the oldest non-conifer in Brazil. Its name translates as 'Patriarch of the Forest'.

 

Alishan Sacred Tree

Believed to be 3000 years old. A Formosan cypress tree found in Alishan National Scenic Area, Chiayi, Taiwan. It is really sacred for the Buddhists living in Taiwan, Collapsed on July 1, 1997 following heavy rainstorms.

 

 Jhomon sugi Tree

Believed to be 2,170 – 7,200 years old. A Japanese cedar with 16.4 m girth. Exact dating is made difficult by the rotten core of the trunk. Located in Yakushima , Japan. Its name is a reference to the Jhōmon period of Japanese prehistory.

 

 

Oliveira de Santa Iria de Azoia

 A 2,850 years old tree. Magnific Olive tree, probably the last one from a big olive grove. UTAD University and now classified "Public interest tree" by the Portuguese National Forest Authority.

 

 Elia Bouybon Tree

Believed to be 2,000-5,000 years old. An olive species found in Kolymvari, Crete, Greece. Oldest olive tree in the world. Its name translates as 'Olive tree of Vouves'.

10 Most Expensive Exotic Pets

Tibetan Mastiff

Prices range from  $580,000 plus

White Lion Cubs

 Prices range from $138,000 plus

Stag Beetle 

Prices range from $89,000 plus

Platinum Arowana

Prices range from $80,000 plus

Chimpanzee

Prices range from $60,000 plus

Blue Mutation Yellow-naped Amazon

Prices range from $20,000 plus

Lavender Albino Python Female

Prices range from $20,000 plus

Palm Cockatoo

Prices range from $16,000 plus

Reticulated Albino Type II Tiger Python

Prices range from $15,000 plus

Hyacinth Macaw

Prices range from $7,000 plus

10 Highest Prices Paid for Photographs

Richard Prince, Untitled (Cowboy) (1989)

$1,248,000, November 2005, Christie's New York auction.

Alfred Stieglitz, Georgia O'Keeffe Nude (1919)

 $1,360,000, February 2006, Sotheby's New York auction.

Alfred Stieglitz, Georgia O'Keeffe (Hands) (1919)

 $1,470,000, February 2006, Sotheby's New York auction.

Edward Weston, Nude (1925)

$1,609,000, April 2008, Sotheby's New York auction.

Dmitry Medvedev, Kremlin of Tobolsk (2009)

 $1,750,000, January 2010, Christmas Yarmarka, Saint Petersburg.

Unknown photographer, Billy the Kid (1879–80)

 tintype portrait, $2,300,000, June 2011, Brian Lebel's Old West Show & Auction.

Edward Steichen, The Pond-Moonlight (1904)

 $2,928,000, February 2006, Sotheby's New York auction.

Andreas Gursky, 99 Cent II Diptychon (2001)

 $3,346,456, February 2007, Sotheby's London auction. A second print of 99 Cent II Diptychon sold for $2.48 million in November 2006 at a New York gallery, and a third print sold for $2.25 million at Sotheby's in May 2006. 

Richard Prince, "Untitled (Cowboy)" (c.2001-2002)

 $3,401,000, Sotheby's New York, November 14, 2007

1. Cindy Sherman, Untitled #96 (1981)

 $3,890,500, May 2011, Christie's New York.

10 Exciting Facts about Christmas

The Nativity Scene

Everyone knows who Saint Francis is – the famed saint who had an apparent miraculous control over animals, and who travelled to the Middle East to convert the Muslims – offering to be thrown into the fire. And we have all seen nativity sets – little (or sometimes not so little) figurines which represent the people present at the birth of Jesus. What most people don’t know is that Saint Francis invented the nativity set in the 13th century!

Date of Christmas

 The idea to celebrate Christmas on December 25 originated in the 4th century. The Catholic Church wanted to eclipse the festivities of a rival pagan religion that threatened Christianity's existence. The Romans celebrated the birthday of their sun god, Mithras during this time of year. Although it was not popular, or even proper, to celebrate people's birthdays in those times, church leaders decided that in order to compete with the pagan celebration they would themselves order a festival in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Although the actual season of Jesus' birth is thought to be in the spring, the date of December 25 was chosen as the official birthday celebration as Christ's Mass so that it would compete head on with the rival pagan celebration. Christmas was slow to catch on in America. The early colonists considered it a pagan ritual. The celebration of Christmas was even banned by law in Massachusetts in colonial days.

Christmas Tree

The Christmas Tree originated in Germany in the 16th century. It was common for the Germanic people to decorate fir trees, both inside and out, with roses, apples, and colored paper. It is believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to light a Christmas tree with candles. While coming home one dark winter's night near Christmas, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor Christmas tree. The Christmas tree was not widely used in Britain until the 19th century. It was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Germans in the 1820's.

Santa Claus

The original Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, was born in Turkey in the 4th century. He was very pious from an early age, devoting his life to Christianity. He became widely known for his generosity for the poor. But the Romans held him in contempt. He was imprisoned and tortured. But when Constantine became emperor of Rome, he allowed Nicholas to go free. Constantine became a Christian and convened the Council of Nicaea in 325. Nicholas was a delegate to the council. He is especially noted for his love of children and for his generosity. He is the patron saint of sailors, Sicily, Greece, and Russia. He is also, of course, the patron saint of children. The Dutch kept the legend of St. Nicholas alive. In 16th century Holland, Dutch children would place their wooden shoes by the hearth in hopes that they would be filled with a treat. The Dutch spelled St. Nicholas as Sint Nikolaas, which became corrupted to Sinterklaas, and finally, in Anglican, to Santa Claus. In 1822, Clement C. Moore composed his famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," which was later published as "The Night Before Christmas." Moore is credited with creating the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man wearing a red suit. However, his authorship is controversial. Some scholars suggest that it was Henry Livingston Jr. who wrote the poem.

Christmas Word

This abbreviation for Christmas is of Greek origin. The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ's name, "X" in place of the word Christ in Christmas as a shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that X stood for Christ's name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook "Xmas" as a sign of disrespect.

Christmas Lights

The appeal of the Christmas light is often likened to the starts in the sky, or the glisten of freshly fallen snow in the moonlight. Early Christmas lights were not quite as safe as today's light strings. Candles were used in trees inside the home, and lit in windows. Hot flames and live trees were not the safest mix, but the temptation to add lights to Christmas decorating was too strong to curb. Many factors have contributed to the widespread use of Christmas lights, including lighting contests promoted by manufacturers, war propaganda using holidays as an opportunity to bond the nation, and local celebrations across the country to try and start traditions of hope and peace. Light strings are now found in all shapes, sizes, and colors, as well as in cool-to-the-touch LEDs.

Mistletoe and Holly

Two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Druids used mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. They would gather this evergreen plant that is parasitic upon other trees and used it to decorate their homes. They believed the plant had special healing powers for everything from female infertility to poison ingestion. Scandinavians also thought of mistletoe as a plant of peace and harmony. They associated mistletoe with their goddess of love, Frigga. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe probably derived from this belief. The early church banned the use of mistletoe in Christmas celebrations because of its pagan origins. Instead, church fathers suggested the use of holly as an appropriate substitute for Christmas greenery.

Poinsettias

Poinsettias are native to Mexico. They were named after America's first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett. He brought the plants to America in 1828. The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. Thus the Poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season. The actual flower of the poinsettia is small and yellow. But surrounding the flower are large, bright red leaves, often mistaken for petals.

Gifts 

Gift giving, Christmas drinks, Christmas Cards and many other Christmas traditions are not modern gifts of capitalism (though capitalism sure does love it) – they actually come to us via the Ancient Romans who exchanged all of those things on New Year’s Day (Strenae, named after Strenia the goddess of New Year’s gifts). This was initially shunned by the Church (“(Do not) make vetulas, [little figures of the Old Woman], little deer or iotticos or set tables [for the house-elf, compare Puck] at night or exchange New Year gifts or supply superfluous drinks [another Yule custom].” -St Eligius, 7th century) but old habits die hard and it eventually transferred to Christmas.

Candy Cane

Candy canes have been around for centuries, but it wasn't until around 1900 that they were decorated with red stripes and bent into the shape of a cane. They were sometimes handed out during church services to keep the children quiet. One story (almost certainly false) that is often told about the origin of the candy cane is as follows: In the late 1800's a candy maker in Indiana wanted to express the meaning of Christmas through a symbol made of candy. He came up with the idea of bending one of his white candy sticks into the shape of a Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols of Christ's love and sacrifice through the Candy Cane. First, he used a plain white peppermint stick. The color white symbolizes the purity and sinless nature of Jesus. Next, he added three small stripes to symbolize the pain inflicted upon Jesus before His death on the cross. There are three of them to represent the Holy Trinity. He added a bold stripe to represent the blood Jesus shed for mankind. When looked at with the crook on top, it looks like a shepherd's staff because Jesus is the shepherd of man. If you turn it upside down, it becomes the letter J symbolizing the first letter in Jesus' name. The candy maker made these candy canes for Christmas, so everyone would remember what Christmas is all about. [LINK] [LINK].