Today’s Wacky Word Wednesday paints the quintessential picture of ancient Greece and Rome, combining food, relaxation, and ancient customs.

Here is the definition of today’s wacky word from TermWiki.com:

ac·cu·ba·tion [ak-yoo-bay-shun] -noun the act of reclining on a couch, as practiced in ancient times at meals

The etymology is simply enough: accubation is derived from accubare, Latin for “to recline”.

The  ancient Greeks and Romans influenced one another greatly with many overlapping similarities, from shared mythological gods and goddesses to dining habits. Just from researching the furniture of these ancient civilizations alone, one can imagine how prominent accubation was while dining. For the ancient Greeks, a kline was used for both sleeping and eating, the design of the furniture encouraging accubation. This type of couch included a headboard, but no footboard, and was high off the ground; a footstool was sometimes necessary for occupants to climb up onto the kline. The height allowed easy access to food, and tables could fit under the kline before and after meals.

Hi everyone! For those who didn’t know, last Tuesday was China’s official kick-off to the new year, closing up the Year of the Tiger and welcoming the Year of the Rabbit. The Chinese New Year period is also known as Spring Festival, which is an interesting and firecrackin’-fantastic time of the year to see family, travel, and relax.

In today’s Straight from the Source we’ll share some stories from various members of the CSOFT family, providing insight into Chinese New Year and different ways to celebrate.

How did you celebrate Chinese New Year?

Today’s Monday Morning Quote is by the world-renowned artist who was officially baptized as Pablo Diego Jose Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Maria de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santisima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruiz y Picasso, more widely known as Pablo Picasso.

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. - Pablo Picasso Artist and Purchaser of Stolen Goods

Throughout the span of his 91 years, Picasso produced numerous works of art and is recognized as being one of the creators (along with George Braque) and great influencers of Cubism. Picasso’s father was also an artist and professor of drawing, but after recognizing his son’s natural talent, he soon resigned from ever painting again.