gifts for husband

The complex heritage of Mexico can be seen in their Day of the Dead traditions, which are complicated blends of thought from the ancestors, the Aztec, Maya, and Spaniards, and Catholic belief. Preparing an altar by placing photographs, flowers, candles, favorite foods and drinks of the loved one is an invitation to the spirit of dead loved ones to return home to share memories, laughter and tears.

Since 1910, the Catrina name refers a well dressed woman. She is "The Bony One," "The Skinny One," and death personified. Inspired by the caricatures of lithographer Jose Guadalupe Posada, Catrina is an important personage in Mexico's November 2 Day of the Dead celebrations. She takes center stage in this colorful gift box. Catrina and her husband, El Catrin appear on a set of four decoupage coasters along with a white sugar skull. The skull theme is repeated in a hand-painted candle. A small portrait of Catrina is encased in a petite tin frame, protected by a glass pane, for wall display.

These elegant herons wading in a lotus pond are just a small example of the elaborate wood carvings that decorate buildings throughout Indonesia. This wall hanging is hand-carved of suar wood and signed by Eka, who says her young children give her the motivation to maintain the woodcarving workshop she established with her late husband.

Facing each other, Sita proves her chastity to her husband surrounded by fire and a lotus flower, symbol of their divinity. Nyoman Indrawati Subrata of the Subrata Family details the monarchs with mesmerizing artistry as he carves the wall panel from crocodile wood. She finds inspiration in a passage from the Ramayana that tells how Rama begins to doubt Sita's loyalty after he has rescued her from the evil king. A loving wife, Sita offers to be set on fire to prove her innocence. Rama accepts and watches how, after the fire is consumed, Sita walks away unscathed, thus proving her love to him.

The artisan carries on the extraordinary art work of her late father, Nyoman Subrata.