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    “Me Ma Wo Adɛɛ Tokyɛ Oo!” — The Wisdom Behind Asante Traditional Greetings and the Symbolism of the Golden Stool

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    The Asante Kingdom is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, traditional institutions, wisdom and deep respect for authority. From the sacred Golden Stool, known as Sikadwa Kofi, to the colourful regalia of its chiefs, Asante traditions continue to attract admiration across Ghana and beyond.

    Among the Asante people, greetings are more than ordinary exchanges of words. They communicate respect, goodwill, recognition and an understanding of social relationships.

    Traditional greetings and expressions often reflect the status of the person being addressed, the occasion and the customs of the community.

    The wording in the photograph appears to be a playful or stylised Twi expression. Its precise meaning should not be assumed without additional context.

    Nevertheless, it reminds us that language remains one of the strongest instruments through which cultural identity is preserved.

    The Golden Stool, traditionally known as Sikadwa Kofi, occupies a sacred position in Asante history.

    According to Asante tradition, the stool descended from the heavens during the reign of the first Asantehene, Osei Tutu I, through the spiritual intervention of Okomfo Anokye.

    The stool is traditionally regarded as embodying the soul and unity of the Asante people.

    It represents much more than royal authority. It is a powerful symbol of collective identity, historical continuity and the spiritual foundations of the Asante Kingdom.

    The Golden Stool is not an ordinary seat for a chief or king. Its sacred significance is reflected in the special customs governing its preservation and ceremonial use.

    At Ashanti Intelligence (AI) Media, we believe that culture is not merely something to admire during festivals and durbars. It is also a valuable source of historical knowledge and community identity.

    The Asante heritage offers lessons in leadership, diplomacy, unity, accountability and the preservation of institutions.

    Traditional proverbs, greetings, symbols and ceremonies provide opportunities for younger generations to understand the values and experiences of their ancestors.

    A people who understand their history are better positioned to preserve their identity while embracing the future.

    Across Europe, North America and other parts of the world, Asante communities continue to celebrate their heritage through cultural associations, traditional clothing, language, festivals and family gatherings.

    These activities are especially important for children born and raised outside Ghana.

    By teaching young people Twi, explaining the meaning of traditional symbols and sharing authentic historical accounts, families can help preserve their cultural inheritance.

    Modern technology also provides new opportunities to document and share these traditions with a global audience.

    The colourful traditional image accompanying this discussion reminds us of the beauty and enduring appeal of Asante cultural expression.

    However, celebrating our heritage must also involve understanding its historical meaning rather than relying entirely on slogans or social-media interpretations.

    Cultural pride becomes more meaningful when accompanied by knowledge, respect and accurate storytelling.

    Asante culture is not only about colourful kente, gold ornaments and royal ceremonies. It is also about wisdom, identity, history and responsibility to future generations.

    As Ashanti Intelligence (AI) Media continues to celebrate Asante heritage, our message remains:

    From Our Ancestors. Through Sikadwa Kofi. To Generations.

    Ashanti Intelligence (AI) Media — Intelligence • Information • Wisdom

    Website: www.ashantiintelligence.com

    The Bald-Head Warning That Has Shaken the Akatakyie Brotherhood 😝

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    Thank God! After conducting a very serious and completely “scientific” inspection of his head in the mirror, The Only Living Saint can happily announce that he has apparently escaped the Crazy Bald Head Association — at least for now! 😂

    A circulating image claiming that “having an affair with bald men reduces your lifespan” has naturally caused some emergency head-checking among the Akatakyie fraternity. But before anybody starts abandoning his bald-headed husband, boyfriend or classmate, please remember: this is satire. The newspaper image and its supposed “study” should not be treated as established medical research. 😄

    The Only Living Saint therefore wishes to check on some distinguished Akatakyie brothers Apostle Joseph Mintah, Brother Kwame Divine of Jehovah Chambers, Professor Patrick Osei-Owusu, Pastor David Dzrafro Otoo and Prof. B. Darko. Gentlemen, nobody is accusing anybody of being crazy! 😂 We are only conducting a friendly hairline audit. The auditors are still counting what remains! 🤣

    Meanwhile, Franck Ahuma (C1), Tamakloe and the brothers whose hairlines are still negotiating successfully with Father Time should not become complacent. Keep training those bodies! Exercise, eat well and take care of yourselves because today’s full hairline can become tomorrow’s historical photograph. 😝🏃🏾‍♂️

    And to our bald-headed Akatakyie brothers: relax! Baldness is not a character defect, and losing hair does not mean losing wisdom. In fact, some may argue that when the hair disappears, Ashanti Intelligence (AI) finally gets enough space to operate! 😂😂

    So nobody should panic. Whether bald, half-bald, approaching baldness or still carrying a forest on the head, what matters is good character, good health and enjoying life.

    Akatakyie, yɛn nyinaa yɛ brothers! ❤️😂

    Moment of Wisdom; Time for Wisdom.

    Disclaimer: This is a humorous/satirical piece written for entertainment. It makes no medical claim about baldness, relationships or lifespan.

    YOUR FUTURE BODY IS BEING BUILT TODAY: WHY DAILY HABITS MATTER AS WE AGE

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    The body we have at 60, 70 or 80 is influenced partly by what happens over many years. Regular physical activity helps maintain cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, balance and mobility. Likewise, nutritious food, adequate sleep, avoiding tobacco and managing alcohol consumption can contribute to long-term health.

    This does not mean everyone needs to become a bodybuilder or marathon runner. Walking regularly, taking the stairs when possible, gardening, dancing, cycling, swimming or doing appropriate resistance exercises can all contribute to an active lifestyle.

    The key is consistency rather than perfection.

    One of the major challenges associated with ageing is the gradual loss of muscle mass and strength. This can affect balance, mobility and the ability to perform ordinary activities independently.

    That is why physical activity should not be viewed merely as a way of looking younger or controlling body weight. Maintaining strength can have practical consequences: getting out of a chair, carrying groceries, climbing stairs, playing with grandchildren and remaining independent for longer.

    For older adults, exercises should be appropriate to the individual’s health, mobility and medical circumstances.

    Healthy ageing does not require dramatic changes overnight. Sustainable habits are usually built gradually.

    Regular movement, balanced nutrition, sufficient sleep, preventive medical care, meaningful social relationships and attention to mental wellbeing can all form part of a healthier life. Someone who has been inactive for years can still benefit from becoming more active; it is not necessary to have started at 20.

    People with disabilities, chronic conditions or mobility limitations can also benefit from appropriate activity adapted to their circumstances, preferably with professional guidance where necessary.

    Longevity is valuable, but quality of life matters too.

    Reaching an advanced age while retaining as much independence, mobility, social connection and mental wellbeing as circumstances allow is an important goal of healthy ageing.

    So whether you are 30, 40, 50, 65 or 70, there is a simple lesson worth remembering:

    Your future health is influenced by many factors, but some of the choices you make today are within your control.

    You cannot control everything about ageing. You can, however, give your future self a better foundation through the habits you practise consistently.

    Move when you can. Eat wisely. Rest adequately. Attend your health checks. Stay socially connected. And keep building for tomorrow.

    Ashanti Intelligence (AI) Media
    Intelligence • Information • Wisdom
    From Our Ancestors. Through Sikadwa Kofi. To Generations.

    #HealthyAgeing #HealthyLifestyle #Fitness #Wellness #Longevity #ActiveLiving #HealthEducation #AshantiIntelligence #AIMedia

    🇬🇭 ASANTE SACRED GOLD: Historic Regalia Taken After the 1874 War to Go on Display in London

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    A significant chapter of Asante history will return to public attention in London in 2027, when the Wallace Collection stages an exhibition devoted to historic Asante gold regalia.

    The museum has officially listed “Asante Sacred Gold” among its 2027 exhibitions, scheduled to run from 12 April to 22 August 2027.

    The exhibition brings renewed attention not only to the extraordinary craftsmanship of Asante goldsmiths, but also to the turbulent circumstances through which important pieces of Asante cultural heritage left Kumasi and eventually entered British collections.

    For Asanteman, gold has historically represented much more than material wealth.

    Gold objects and royal regalia have been connected with authority, identity, ceremony, diplomacy and the institution of chieftaincy. The Wallace Collection’s own educational material explains the importance of gold within Asante society and notes that the Twi word “sika” can mean both gold and money.

    The collection includes a striking solid-gold trophy head, dated to the 18th or 19th century. The Wallace Collection describes it as one of the most important works of Asante art and explains that such heads were associated with ceremonial state swords.

    The history behind these objects cannot be separated from the Anglo-Asante War of 1873–1874.

    British forces entered Kumasi during the conflict, and the royal palace was looted and destroyed. Asante objects were subsequently dispersed, while an indemnity was also imposed on Asantehene Kofi Karikari. The British Museum says objects associated with these conflicts reached European collections through several routes, including military loot and forcibly extracted indemnity payments.

    The Victoria and Albert Museum similarly records that hundreds of pieces of gold regalia were looted from the royal palace in Kumasi in February 1874 and subsequently dispersed among museums and private collections.

    This distinction is important: historical records do not establish that every Asante object now in Britain arrived through exactly the same mechanism. Some were looted directly, some were connected to indemnity payments, while others entered collections through purchases, gifts and later transactions.

    According to the Wallace Collection, its famous gold trophy head was acquired by Sir Richard Wallace from Garrard & Co., the London Crown Jeweller, in 1874, together with other Asante objects including swords, knives and jewellery.

    Historical research published in the British Journal for Military History states that the Wallace Collection holds 18 objects acquired by Sir Richard Wallace from Garrard & Co. in 1874.

    This makes the forthcoming exhibition particularly significant: visitors will not simply be looking at beautiful gold artefacts. They will encounter material connected to Asante political authority, craftsmanship, warfare, British imperial expansion and the complicated history of cultural objects removed from Africa.

    The exhibition also arrives amid a wider reassessment of Asante objects held in British museums.

    In 2024, historic Asante regalia from the British Museum and V&A returned to Kumasi on loan for display at the Manhyia Palace Museum, coinciding with the Silver Jubilee of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the 150th anniversary of the 1873–74 conflict.

    The British Museum also says it renewed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Golden Stool of Asante in 2023 concerning cultural, heritage and museum collaboration.

    These developments have brought questions of provenance, restitution, long-term loans, cultural ownership and access increasingly into public discussion.

    🧠 AI Media Perspective: History Must Be Told in Full

    The 2027 exhibition offers an opportunity to admire the brilliance of Asante craftsmanship, but the beauty of the objects should not obscure their history.

    They tell several stories simultaneously: the sophistication of Asante goldsmithing, the power and symbolism of Asante institutions, the Anglo-Asante conflicts, British imperial expansion and the continuing debate about African cultural heritage held overseas.

    For younger generations of Asantes, Ghanaians, Africans and members of the diaspora, understanding that complete history is particularly important.

    These objects are not merely gold. They are witnesses to history.

    And more than 150 years after the events of 1874, their story continues to connect Kumasi, London and generations of Asante people around the world.

    👑 Asante history lives on.

    Ashanti Intelligence (AI) Media
    🧠 Intelligence • Information • Wisdom
    👑 From Our Ancestors. Through Sikadwa Kofi. To Generations.

    #AsanteSacredGold #Asanteman #AsanteHistory #AshantiIntelligence #AIMedia #Kumasi #Manhyia #AsanteGold #AfricanHeritage #GhanaHistory #SikadwaKofi

    Now Is the Time to Think About Your Small-Business Success

    0

    A coffee break in the United States and elsewhere is a short mid-morning rest period granted to employees in business and industry. An afternoon coffee break, or afternoon tea, often occurs as well.

    The coffee break originated in the late 19th century in Stoughton, Wisconsin, with the wives of Norwegian immigrants. The city celebrates this every year with the Stoughton Coffee Break Festival. In 1951, Time noted that

    “Since the war, the coffee break has been written into union contracts”

    The term subsequently became popular through a Pan-American Coffee Bureau ad campaign of 1952 which urged consumers, “Give yourself a Coffee-Break – and Get What Coffee Gives to You” John B. Watson, a behavioral psychologist who worked with Maxwell House later in his career, helped to popularize coffee breaks within the American culture.

    Coffee breaks usually last from 10 to 20 minutes and frequently occur at the end of the first third of the work shift.

    In some companies and some civil service, the coffee break may be observed formally at a set hour. In some places, a cart with hot and cold beverages and cakes, breads and pastries arrives at the same time morning and afternoon, an employer may contract with an outside caterer for daily service, or coffee breaks may take place away from the actual work-area in a designated cafeteria or tea room.

    More generally, the phrase “coffee break” has also come to denote any break from work. Coffee was initially used for spiritual reasons. At least 1,100 years ago, traders brought coffee across the Red Sea.

    At first, the Arabians made wine from the pulp of the fermented coffee berries. This beverage was known as qishr (kisher in modern usage) and was used during religious ceremonies.

    Coffee drinking was prohibited by jurists and scholars meeting in Mecca in 1511, but the subject of whether it was intoxicating was hotly debated over the next 30 years until the ban was finally overturned in the mid-16th century. Use in religious rites among the Sufi branch of Islam led to coffee’s being put on trial in Mecca: it was accused of being a heretical substance, and its production and consumption were briefly repressed.

    Coffee, regarded as a Muslim drink, was prohibited by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians until as late as 1889; it is now considered a national drink of Ethiopia for people of all faiths. Its early association in Europe with rebellious political activities led to Charles II outlawing coffeehouses from January 1676. Frederick the Great banned it in Prussia in 1777 for nationalistic and economic reasons.

    “concerned about the price of import, he sought to force the public back to consuming beer”

    Quite a number of members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church also avoid caffeinated drinks. In its teachings, the Church encourages members to avoid tea, coffee, and other stimulants.

    Abstinence from coffee, tobacco, and alcohol by many Adventists has afforded a near-unique opportunity for studies to be conducted within that population group on the health effects of coffee drinking, free from confounding factors.

    One study was able to show a weak but statistically significant association between coffee consumption and mortality from ischemic heart disease, other cardiovascular disease, all cardiovascular diseases combined, and all causes of death. For a time, there had been controversy in the Jewish community.

    Whether the coffee seed was a legume and therefore prohibited for Passover. Upon petition from coffeemaker Maxwell House, the coffee seed was classified in 1923 as a berry rather than a seed by orthodox Jewish rabbi Hersch Kohn, and therefore kosher for Passover.

    Program Will Lend $10M to New Detroit Minority Businesses

    0

    A coffee break in the United States and elsewhere is a short mid-morning rest period granted to employees in business and industry. An afternoon coffee break, or afternoon tea, often occurs as well.

    The coffee break originated in the late 19th century in Stoughton, Wisconsin, with the wives of Norwegian immigrants. The city celebrates this every year with the Stoughton Coffee Break Festival. In 1951, Time noted that

    “Since the war, the coffee break has been written into union contracts”

    The term subsequently became popular through a Pan-American Coffee Bureau ad campaign of 1952 which urged consumers, “Give yourself a Coffee-Break – and Get What Coffee Gives to You” John B. Watson, a behavioral psychologist who worked with Maxwell House later in his career, helped to popularize coffee breaks within the American culture.

    Coffee breaks usually last from 10 to 20 minutes and frequently occur at the end of the first third of the work shift.

    In some companies and some civil service, the coffee break may be observed formally at a set hour. In some places, a cart with hot and cold beverages and cakes, breads and pastries arrives at the same time morning and afternoon, an employer may contract with an outside caterer for daily service, or coffee breaks may take place away from the actual work-area in a designated cafeteria or tea room.

    More generally, the phrase “coffee break” has also come to denote any break from work. Coffee was initially used for spiritual reasons. At least 1,100 years ago, traders brought coffee across the Red Sea.

    At first, the Arabians made wine from the pulp of the fermented coffee berries. This beverage was known as qishr (kisher in modern usage) and was used during religious ceremonies.

    Coffee drinking was prohibited by jurists and scholars meeting in Mecca in 1511, but the subject of whether it was intoxicating was hotly debated over the next 30 years until the ban was finally overturned in the mid-16th century. Use in religious rites among the Sufi branch of Islam led to coffee’s being put on trial in Mecca: it was accused of being a heretical substance, and its production and consumption were briefly repressed.

    Coffee, regarded as a Muslim drink, was prohibited by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians until as late as 1889; it is now considered a national drink of Ethiopia for people of all faiths. Its early association in Europe with rebellious political activities led to Charles II outlawing coffeehouses from January 1676. Frederick the Great banned it in Prussia in 1777 for nationalistic and economic reasons.

    “concerned about the price of import, he sought to force the public back to consuming beer”

    Quite a number of members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church also avoid caffeinated drinks. In its teachings, the Church encourages members to avoid tea, coffee, and other stimulants.

    Abstinence from coffee, tobacco, and alcohol by many Adventists has afforded a near-unique opportunity for studies to be conducted within that population group on the health effects of coffee drinking, free from confounding factors.

    One study was able to show a weak but statistically significant association between coffee consumption and mortality from ischemic heart disease, other cardiovascular disease, all cardiovascular diseases combined, and all causes of death. For a time, there had been controversy in the Jewish community.

    Whether the coffee seed was a legume and therefore prohibited for Passover. Upon petition from coffeemaker Maxwell House, the coffee seed was classified in 1923 as a berry rather than a seed by orthodox Jewish rabbi Hersch Kohn, and therefore kosher for Passover.

    Kansas City Has a Massive Array of Big National Companies

    0

    A coffee break in the United States and elsewhere is a short mid-morning rest period granted to employees in business and industry. An afternoon coffee break, or afternoon tea, often occurs as well.

    The coffee break originated in the late 19th century in Stoughton, Wisconsin, with the wives of Norwegian immigrants. The city celebrates this every year with the Stoughton Coffee Break Festival. In 1951, Time noted that

    “Since the war, the coffee break has been written into union contracts”

    The term subsequently became popular through a Pan-American Coffee Bureau ad campaign of 1952 which urged consumers, “Give yourself a Coffee-Break – and Get What Coffee Gives to You” John B. Watson, a behavioral psychologist who worked with Maxwell House later in his career, helped to popularize coffee breaks within the American culture.

    Coffee breaks usually last from 10 to 20 minutes and frequently occur at the end of the first third of the work shift.

    In some companies and some civil service, the coffee break may be observed formally at a set hour. In some places, a cart with hot and cold beverages and cakes, breads and pastries arrives at the same time morning and afternoon, an employer may contract with an outside caterer for daily service, or coffee breaks may take place away from the actual work-area in a designated cafeteria or tea room.

    More generally, the phrase “coffee break” has also come to denote any break from work. Coffee was initially used for spiritual reasons. At least 1,100 years ago, traders brought coffee across the Red Sea.

    At first, the Arabians made wine from the pulp of the fermented coffee berries. This beverage was known as qishr (kisher in modern usage) and was used during religious ceremonies.

    Coffee drinking was prohibited by jurists and scholars meeting in Mecca in 1511, but the subject of whether it was intoxicating was hotly debated over the next 30 years until the ban was finally overturned in the mid-16th century. Use in religious rites among the Sufi branch of Islam led to coffee’s being put on trial in Mecca: it was accused of being a heretical substance, and its production and consumption were briefly repressed.

    Coffee, regarded as a Muslim drink, was prohibited by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians until as late as 1889; it is now considered a national drink of Ethiopia for people of all faiths. Its early association in Europe with rebellious political activities led to Charles II outlawing coffeehouses from January 1676. Frederick the Great banned it in Prussia in 1777 for nationalistic and economic reasons.

    “concerned about the price of import, he sought to force the public back to consuming beer”

    Quite a number of members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church also avoid caffeinated drinks. In its teachings, the Church encourages members to avoid tea, coffee, and other stimulants.

    Abstinence from coffee, tobacco, and alcohol by many Adventists has afforded a near-unique opportunity for studies to be conducted within that population group on the health effects of coffee drinking, free from confounding factors.

    One study was able to show a weak but statistically significant association between coffee consumption and mortality from ischemic heart disease, other cardiovascular disease, all cardiovascular diseases combined, and all causes of death. For a time, there had been controversy in the Jewish community.

    Whether the coffee seed was a legume and therefore prohibited for Passover. Upon petition from coffeemaker Maxwell House, the coffee seed was classified in 1923 as a berry rather than a seed by orthodox Jewish rabbi Hersch Kohn, and therefore kosher for Passover.

    Mark Steinberg Reads Donald Trump’s Mean Tweets on Kimmel

    0

    A coffee break in the United States and elsewhere is a short mid-morning rest period granted to employees in business and industry. An afternoon coffee break, or afternoon tea, often occurs as well.

    The coffee break originated in the late 19th century in Stoughton, Wisconsin, with the wives of Norwegian immigrants. The city celebrates this every year with the Stoughton Coffee Break Festival. In 1951, Time noted that

    “Since the war, the coffee break has been written into union contracts”

    The term subsequently became popular through a Pan-American Coffee Bureau ad campaign of 1952 which urged consumers, “Give yourself a Coffee-Break – and Get What Coffee Gives to You” John B. Watson, a behavioral psychologist who worked with Maxwell House later in his career, helped to popularize coffee breaks within the American culture.

    Coffee breaks usually last from 10 to 20 minutes and frequently occur at the end of the first third of the work shift.

    In some companies and some civil service, the coffee break may be observed formally at a set hour. In some places, a cart with hot and cold beverages and cakes, breads and pastries arrives at the same time morning and afternoon, an employer may contract with an outside caterer for daily service, or coffee breaks may take place away from the actual work-area in a designated cafeteria or tea room.

    More generally, the phrase “coffee break” has also come to denote any break from work. Coffee was initially used for spiritual reasons. At least 1,100 years ago, traders brought coffee across the Red Sea.

    At first, the Arabians made wine from the pulp of the fermented coffee berries. This beverage was known as qishr (kisher in modern usage) and was used during religious ceremonies.

    Coffee drinking was prohibited by jurists and scholars meeting in Mecca in 1511, but the subject of whether it was intoxicating was hotly debated over the next 30 years until the ban was finally overturned in the mid-16th century. Use in religious rites among the Sufi branch of Islam led to coffee’s being put on trial in Mecca: it was accused of being a heretical substance, and its production and consumption were briefly repressed.

    Coffee, regarded as a Muslim drink, was prohibited by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians until as late as 1889; it is now considered a national drink of Ethiopia for people of all faiths. Its early association in Europe with rebellious political activities led to Charles II outlawing coffeehouses from January 1676. Frederick the Great banned it in Prussia in 1777 for nationalistic and economic reasons.

    “concerned about the price of import, he sought to force the public back to consuming beer”

    Quite a number of members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church also avoid caffeinated drinks. In its teachings, the Church encourages members to avoid tea, coffee, and other stimulants.

    Abstinence from coffee, tobacco, and alcohol by many Adventists has afforded a near-unique opportunity for studies to be conducted within that population group on the health effects of coffee drinking, free from confounding factors.

    One study was able to show a weak but statistically significant association between coffee consumption and mortality from ischemic heart disease, other cardiovascular disease, all cardiovascular diseases combined, and all causes of death. For a time, there had been controversy in the Jewish community.

    Whether the coffee seed was a legume and therefore prohibited for Passover. Upon petition from coffeemaker Maxwell House, the coffee seed was classified in 1923 as a berry rather than a seed by orthodox Jewish rabbi Hersch Kohn, and therefore kosher for Passover.

    The Definitive Guide To Marketing Your Business On Instagram

    0

    A coffee break in the United States and elsewhere is a short mid-morning rest period granted to employees in business and industry. An afternoon coffee break, or afternoon tea, often occurs as well.

    The coffee break originated in the late 19th century in Stoughton, Wisconsin, with the wives of Norwegian immigrants. The city celebrates this every year with the Stoughton Coffee Break Festival. In 1951, Time noted that

    “Since the war, the coffee break has been written into union contracts”

    The term subsequently became popular through a Pan-American Coffee Bureau ad campaign of 1952 which urged consumers, “Give yourself a Coffee-Break – and Get What Coffee Gives to You” John B. Watson, a behavioral psychologist who worked with Maxwell House later in his career, helped to popularize coffee breaks within the American culture.

    Coffee breaks usually last from 10 to 20 minutes and frequently occur at the end of the first third of the work shift.

    In some companies and some civil service, the coffee break may be observed formally at a set hour. In some places, a cart with hot and cold beverages and cakes, breads and pastries arrives at the same time morning and afternoon, an employer may contract with an outside caterer for daily service, or coffee breaks may take place away from the actual work-area in a designated cafeteria or tea room.

    More generally, the phrase “coffee break” has also come to denote any break from work. Coffee was initially used for spiritual reasons. At least 1,100 years ago, traders brought coffee across the Red Sea.

    At first, the Arabians made wine from the pulp of the fermented coffee berries. This beverage was known as qishr (kisher in modern usage) and was used during religious ceremonies.

    Coffee drinking was prohibited by jurists and scholars meeting in Mecca in 1511, but the subject of whether it was intoxicating was hotly debated over the next 30 years until the ban was finally overturned in the mid-16th century. Use in religious rites among the Sufi branch of Islam led to coffee’s being put on trial in Mecca: it was accused of being a heretical substance, and its production and consumption were briefly repressed.

    Coffee, regarded as a Muslim drink, was prohibited by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians until as late as 1889; it is now considered a national drink of Ethiopia for people of all faiths. Its early association in Europe with rebellious political activities led to Charles II outlawing coffeehouses from January 1676. Frederick the Great banned it in Prussia in 1777 for nationalistic and economic reasons.

    “concerned about the price of import, he sought to force the public back to consuming beer”

    Quite a number of members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church also avoid caffeinated drinks. In its teachings, the Church encourages members to avoid tea, coffee, and other stimulants.

    Abstinence from coffee, tobacco, and alcohol by many Adventists has afforded a near-unique opportunity for studies to be conducted within that population group on the health effects of coffee drinking, free from confounding factors.

    One study was able to show a weak but statistically significant association between coffee consumption and mortality from ischemic heart disease, other cardiovascular disease, all cardiovascular diseases combined, and all causes of death. For a time, there had been controversy in the Jewish community.

    Whether the coffee seed was a legume and therefore prohibited for Passover. Upon petition from coffeemaker Maxwell House, the coffee seed was classified in 1923 as a berry rather than a seed by orthodox Jewish rabbi Hersch Kohn, and therefore kosher for Passover.

    How Nancy Reagan Gave Glamour and Class to the White House

    0

    A coffee break in the United States and elsewhere is a short mid-morning rest period granted to employees in business and industry. An afternoon coffee break, or afternoon tea, often occurs as well.

    The coffee break originated in the late 19th century in Stoughton, Wisconsin, with the wives of Norwegian immigrants. The city celebrates this every year with the Stoughton Coffee Break Festival. In 1951, Time noted that

    “Since the war, the coffee break has been written into union contracts”

    The term subsequently became popular through a Pan-American Coffee Bureau ad campaign of 1952 which urged consumers, “Give yourself a Coffee-Break – and Get What Coffee Gives to You” John B. Watson, a behavioral psychologist who worked with Maxwell House later in his career, helped to popularize coffee breaks within the American culture.

    Coffee breaks usually last from 10 to 20 minutes and frequently occur at the end of the first third of the work shift.

    In some companies and some civil service, the coffee break may be observed formally at a set hour. In some places, a cart with hot and cold beverages and cakes, breads and pastries arrives at the same time morning and afternoon, an employer may contract with an outside caterer for daily service, or coffee breaks may take place away from the actual work-area in a designated cafeteria or tea room.

    More generally, the phrase “coffee break” has also come to denote any break from work. Coffee was initially used for spiritual reasons. At least 1,100 years ago, traders brought coffee across the Red Sea.

    At first, the Arabians made wine from the pulp of the fermented coffee berries. This beverage was known as qishr (kisher in modern usage) and was used during religious ceremonies.

    Coffee drinking was prohibited by jurists and scholars meeting in Mecca in 1511, but the subject of whether it was intoxicating was hotly debated over the next 30 years until the ban was finally overturned in the mid-16th century. Use in religious rites among the Sufi branch of Islam led to coffee’s being put on trial in Mecca: it was accused of being a heretical substance, and its production and consumption were briefly repressed.

    Coffee, regarded as a Muslim drink, was prohibited by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians until as late as 1889; it is now considered a national drink of Ethiopia for people of all faiths. Its early association in Europe with rebellious political activities led to Charles II outlawing coffeehouses from January 1676. Frederick the Great banned it in Prussia in 1777 for nationalistic and economic reasons.

    “concerned about the price of import, he sought to force the public back to consuming beer”

    Quite a number of members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church also avoid caffeinated drinks. In its teachings, the Church encourages members to avoid tea, coffee, and other stimulants.

    Abstinence from coffee, tobacco, and alcohol by many Adventists has afforded a near-unique opportunity for studies to be conducted within that population group on the health effects of coffee drinking, free from confounding factors.

    One study was able to show a weak but statistically significant association between coffee consumption and mortality from ischemic heart disease, other cardiovascular disease, all cardiovascular diseases combined, and all causes of death. For a time, there had been controversy in the Jewish community.

    Whether the coffee seed was a legume and therefore prohibited for Passover. Upon petition from coffeemaker Maxwell House, the coffee seed was classified in 1923 as a berry rather than a seed by orthodox Jewish rabbi Hersch Kohn, and therefore kosher for Passover.