Pesach

Pesach, or Passover, begins this evening at sundown, when Jews around the world remember how God led them forth from Egypt in the days of Moses. The celebration lasts a week, but tonight is when most families gather for the traditional sedar meal. Max-to-the-well wrote Pesach in LEGO form. Pesach Sameach!

Saint Patrick

I arise today, through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

Saint Patrick wasn't just a leprechaun who could drink you under the table, he was also the figure largely credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. The lines above are the opening of the "Breastplate of Saint Patrick", a prayer attributed to him, emphasizing the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. He supposedly illustrated this doctrine using a shamrock as an analogy. This would really be an illustration of the non-Christian doctrine of partialism, but it makes for a nice story and a good national symbol. Here is a scene of Patrick preaching by David FNJ, and shamrocks by Kreativ Snail and Plucky Duck.

Jesus walking on water

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” - Matthew 14:25-27

Legozilla designed this mosaic of Jesus walking on water for this year's VBS (vacation Bible school) at his church. He doesn't say, but I assume this was a group project where different kids built squares that were then assembled into the larger mosaic.

What child is this?

Several years ago, Eric Harshbarger made this great nativity scene mosaic.

Happy Reformation Day

In addition to being Halloween, the eve of All Souls Day, which is Día de Muertos in Mexico, and also connections to the occult in some people's view, today is celebrated in Protestant circles as Reformation Day. On this day 498 years ago, Martin Luther sparked the Protestant Reformation by challenging the Roman Catholic teaching on indulgences. Here are two of the giants of the Reformation, on display at Expolorraine 2013: John Calvin (left) and Martin Luther (right).

Palm Sunday

When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Mark 11:7-10
Kids at Legozilla's church collaborated on this Palm Sunday mosaic to start off Holy Week (presumably Legozilla designed the mosaic and organized the event).

Buddha's Birthday

Two days ago many around the world celebrated the birthday of Prince Siddhartha Gautama about 2500 years ago in Nepal. Andybear and Aki made this mosaic. They include a lotus flower in the picture; in Buddhism this is a symbol of enlightenment. The lotus grows in murky, muddy water, which is symbolic of the natural state of the person, but then the flower struggles and grows and rises above, and eventually opens up into a beautiful bloom, symbolizing the enlightened soul.

Creation of Adam

Nathan Sawaya made this detail from Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, illustrating Genesis 2:7. The original, of course, is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

Merry Christmas

David Alexander Smith depicted Joseph and Mary on the road to Bethlehem in Little Donkey.

Pope Francis

Raúl Segarra designed this mosaic of Pope Francis.

Luther's Rose

Legozilla made this mosaic of Martin Luther's seal. The cross in a heart symbolizes Christ's sacrifice and a belief in this 'from the heart'. The white rose symbolizes joy, comfort and peace. The blue field is for a heavenly future surrounded by a golden ring symbolizing eternity.

Pope Francis

Raúl Segarra posted this virtual mosaic of Pope Francis.

What do you see?

4estFeller designed this artistic cross. It kind of reminds me of the 'what do you see' type optical illusions like the famous old woman/young woman optical illusion or this Jesus bumper sticker.

Buddha's birthday

Yesterday many Buddhists around the world celebrated the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. Andybear, a LEGO builder from Hong Kong, made this mosaic (via the Brothers-Brick).

Bob and Larry

Veggie Tales is a series of Christian children's videos where vegetables (yes, if you don't believe me, you'll just have to watch them) act out Bible stories and other tales with moral messages. The main characters are Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber, and they've also inspired several LEGO representations.

BriXwerX made this Bob and Larry as a gift. They were a scaled-down version of an earlier MOC.



I've previously noted Joshua Christenson's MOC.


Chris Howard made a great mosaic.


Goldcreek made several characters.

Benedict XVI

Keeping in the theme of Pope Benedict XVI, also from Legoland Windsor we get this picture of the Wall of Fame, full of famous figures. There in the bottom row you can see the outgoing pontiff - right between Hagrid and Madonna. I'm sure he's proud.

Bangsangsi Tal

Painted masks, or tal, have had a place in Korean culture going back to prehistoric times. These play roles both in dramas and in religious settings. Some were revered in Shamanistic (Muistic) shrines. These masks often have traditional identities and features. One such is Bangsangsi (here by Amida). This character is an exorcist, with four golden eyes to see evil. The dancer with this mask traditionally leads funeral processions and also the Narye, a New Year's Eve ritual, to drive away any evil spirits.

Uffington White Horse

The Uffington White Horse (here in LEGO by Bill Anjo) was carved into a hill in southern England probably around 3000 years ago. While it is unknown what the original purpose was, many speculate that it had religious significance to the original carvers. It may have been associated with the worship of a horse goddess known as Epona by the Celts of Gaul and Rhiannon by the Celts of Britain. Another proposal is that it was an offering to the sun god Belinos, who rode on a horse.

Yin and Yang

The concept of yin and yang is important in various Asian religions and philosophies. The concept is that the world is full of various dualities, such as dark and light, or male and female. These dualities are interdependent, and in their interaction they create new things. These are all manifestations of the yin and the yang. This symbol has been recreated in many ways in LEGO form:

My all time favorite has to be this by Noddy.

To fully appreciate this MOC, you have to also look at it from above.


Lego27bricks recently did something similar.


Here's my own effort.


The yin/yang symbol provides a backdrop to martial artists by pguenthe ...


... and Collin Ballantyne.


Heath Flor celebrated Talk Like a Pirate Day a couple of years back with ninjas vs pirates.


The opposition is shown here by Madformax1.


Here's Remyth's Temple of Yin and Yang.


Jim Walshe ...


... and ANVRecife have had some fun with photography.

Yin and Yang

Often times in the west we think of the Yin and Yang symbol as a battle between good and evil, but that's not how it really works in Taoism and other aspects of Chinese religion and philosophy. The idea is more that there are opposite qualities that work together in a balanced system. These could be light and darkness, or, as in this Yin/Yang mosaic by Sharon Prue, hot and cold. This beautiful MOC won 'Best Fire' at a recent gathering of LEGO builders.