A Trip Around English Language: 2008

12/17/2008

EB1/PE do SEIXAL

Merry Christmas!

Peace and joy to everybody!

12/15/2008

EB1/PE da Ribeira Seca

We wish our school friends a Merry Christmas and lots of presents.

EB1/PE Ribeira Seca Students (4ºE)

12/01/2008

Christmas in Ireland lasts from Christmas Eve to the feast of the Epiphany on January 6, which is referred to as Little Christmas. Ireland's Christmas is more religious than a time of fun.
Lighted candles are placed in windows on Christmas Eve, as a guide that Joseph and Mary might be looking for shelter. The candles are usually red in color, and decorated with sprigs of holly.
Irish women bake a seed cake for each person in the house. They also make three puddings, one for each day of the Epiphany such as Christmas, New Year's Day and the Twelfth Night.
After the Christmas evening meal, bread and milk are left out and the door unlatched as a symbol of hospitality.
St Stephen's Day, the day after Christmas, is almost as important, with football matches and meetings going on. For children, the Wren Boys Procession is their big event. Boys go from door to door with a fake wren on a stick, singing, with violins, accordions, harmonicas and horns to accompany them. The reason for the ceremony is to ask for money 'for the starving wren', that is, for their own pockets.
Children often put out Christmas sacks instead of stockings.
It is tradition to leave mince pies and a bottle of Guinness out as a snack for Santa.

Ireland's Cristmas traditions are not dissimilar to those found in many other parts of the world - there is lots of shopping, gifts are exchanged, people eat too much turkey and Santa Claus is the main man for most children!
These are some of the most widely practiced traditions surrounding an Irish Christmas, though of course every family will have their own traditions and will celebrate the festive season in their own way.

A Light in the Window

One old custom that many continue to observe is the placing of a candle in the window on Christmas Eve, a symbol to welcome strangers and to remember those who are far away from home.

Decorating the House

Houses are decorated with natural material such as holly, pine cones and ivy but also glass, wooden or plastic ornaments. Many people place a natural holly wreath on their front doors.

The Crib

Most people will have at least a small crib in the house, with the baby Jesus only placed into the manger on Christmas morning.
Cribs are also erected, some almost life size, in churches, town centres and even shopping malls.

Christmas Trees

Natural Christmas trees, usually Noble Fir, are by far the most popular choice, though fake ones are increasing in popularity. Trees are decorated with lights and trinkets, generally the same ones year after year, though some style conscious people create (or buy) a whole new look for their tree annually. The 8th of December, or around that time, is the usual date for putting up and decorating the tree.

Decorating Puplic Places

Town centre decorations are erected and lights turned in late November or early December - it seems to get even earlier with each passing year. Streets are filled with lights, shops vie to have the most impressive window display and huge trees go up in town squares and shopping centres.
Decorating the outside of houses was a rarity until the last 5-6 years but is now becoming more common, with some people putting on quite lavish displays of lights.

The Christmas Swim

There are some intrepid people who get out in the open air and away from all the excess on Christmas morning, though it can be fairly miserable out there at that time of year.
One long standing tradition in Sandycove, a suburb of South Dublin is the Christmas Day Swim - in the sea. Yes, in Ireland, in December, they swim in the freezing Irish sea - crazy but they say it's fun! Quite a crowd of less brave people - wrapped up in coats, hats and scarves - gather to watch the blue swimmers emerge from the water.

The Wren Boys

St Stephen's Day, the day after Christmas, is the day when the Wren Boys come out, mostly in the South of Ireland but also in certain localities elsewhere.

"Hunting the Wren" is an ancient ritual - in its original form a wren was hunted, killed and hung on a holly bush. The wren had, according to legend, earned this cruel punishment by betraying the hiding place of St Stephen, the first martyr, by chattering on the bush where he was hiding. A betrayal which led to the saint being stoned to death.

Nowadays no birds are killed, instead those engaged in the hunt, the so called 'wren boys', dress in straw suits or other costumes (not unlike Halloween costumes) and go from door to door, beating drums and playing whistles, and repeating the rhyme below while asking for "a penny for the wren".

Little Christmas

Also known as 'Women's Christmas' or Nollaig na mBan this falls on the 6th of January (the Feast of the Epiphany), and marks the official end of the Christmas season. Traditionally the men of the house take over for the day, preparing meals and allowing the women to have a rest.
Little Christmas is also the day when the tree and all the Christmas decorations are taken down and put into storage for another year. It is considered unlucky to take the decorations down prior to this.

Sources:

http://www.dochara.com/stuff/whats-it-like.php

http://www.santas.net/irishchristmas.htm

11/26/2008

Christmas in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom Christmas celebrations include the beautiful Christmas music, decorated Christmas Trees and hang up evergreen branches. The English gift giver is called Father Christmas and he wears a long red or green robe, and leaves presents in stockings on Christmas Eve. However, the gifts are not usually opened until the following afternoon.

From the English we get a story to explain the custom of hanging stockings from the mantelpiece. Father Christmas once dropped some gold coins while coming down the chimney. The coins would have fallen through the ash grate and been lost if they hadn't landed in a stocking that had been hung out to dry. Since that time children have continued to hang out stockings in hopes of finding them filled with gifts.
The custom of singing carols at Christmas is also of English origin. During the middle ages, groups of singers called "waits" would travel around from house to house singing ancient carols and spreading the holiday spirit. The word "carol" means "song of joy." Most of the popular old carols we sing today were written in the nineteenth century.

The hanging of greens, such as holly and ivy, is a British winter tradition with origins far before the Christian era. Greenery was probably used to lift sagging winter spirits and remind the people that spring was not far away. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe
is descended from ancient Druid rites. The decorating of Christmas trees, though primarily a German custom, has been widely popular in England since 1841 when Prince Albert had a Christmas tree set up in Windsor Castle f or his wife Queen Victoria, and their children.
In the UK, the main Christmas Meal is usually eaten at lunchtime or early afternoon on Christmas Day. It was traditionally roast goose, although it's common to have turkey now, roast vegetables and 'all the trimmings' which means stuffing and sometimes bacon and sausages. (In Scotland, some people might even have Haggis instead of turkey!) Dessert is often Christmas Pudding. Mince pies and lots of chocolates are often eaten as well! The dinner table is decorated with a cracker for each person and sometimes flowers and candles.

Here's a recipe for Christmas Pudding.

Christmas puddings take two days to make. On the first day, you mix the ingredients. On the second day, you prepare the basins and steam the puddings.
These Ingredients will make one 2lb / 900g pudding or two 1lb / 450g puddings
Ingredients:
Metric:
200g Currants, washed
200g Sultanas, washed
200g Raisins, stoned and chopped
100g Mixed Peel, chopped
200g Breadcrumbs
200g Demerara Sugar
200g Shredded Suet
The finely grated rind and juice of one Lemon
100g Almonds
200g Plain Flour
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 level teaspoon ground Nutmeg
1 level teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1 level teaspoon Mixed Spice
3 eggs
275ml of old beer or stout
Imperial / American:
7oz Currants, washed
7oz Sultanas, washed
7oz Raisins, stoned and chopped
3 1/2oz Mixed Peel, chopped
7oz Breadcrumbs
7oz Demerara Sugar
7oz Shredded Suet
The finely grated rind and juice of one Lemon
3 1/2oz Almonds
7oz Plain Flour
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 level teaspoon ground Nutmeg
1 level teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1 level teaspoon Mixed Spice
3 eggs
1/2 pint of old beer or stout
Method:
Mix the currants, sultanas, raisins and peel together in a large basin. Stir in the breadcrumbs, sugar, suet and lemon rind. Blanch the almonds; to do this by pouring boiling water over the nuts and then leave them to stand for a few minutes. The skins will now come off easily. Chop the almonds fairly finely and add to the fruit.
Sift the flour, salt and spices together. Beat the eggs and add the lemon juice and stout/beer to them. Add the flour and egg mixture to the other ingredients and mix all well together. Leave overnight.
Next day, brush the basin with melted fat and fill with the pudding mixture. Cover the basin with greased greaseproof paper, pleated across the top, and tie firmly with string. Steam the large pudding for at least eight hours, or the smaller ones for six hours.
When the pudding is cold, re-cover it with fresh greaseproof paper, and store it in a cool, dry place. On Christmas Day (or when you want to eat it!) re-heat the pudding exactly the same way, steaming for at least two hours.

Sources:

http://whychristmas.com/cultures/uk.shtml

http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/worldxmas/uk.htm

http://www.christmas-day.org/christmas-in-uk.html

11/25/2008

USA Christmas Tradition...

Traditional American Christmas dinner consists of roast turkey with vegetables and sauces, goose, duck or ham served with cranberry sauce and rich fruity Christmas pudding such as plum pudding with brandy sauce, pumpkin pie, mince pies, pastries are offered as desserts followed by chopped dried fruits and nuts. Americans visit family and friends and share gifts and greetings on Christmas. In some regions, Christmas Eve to Midnight Mass is the most important part of the festival season. Since it snows in many states on Christmas, dinner is usually set indoors. Holiday home décor in America generally include holly and mistletoe along with Christmas trees decorated with tinsel, baubles, popcorn strings, candy canes and electric lights.

Santa Claus Origins in the USA

The Dutch knew St. Nicholas as Sintaklaas. When they immigrated to United States in the 17th century, they took the traditions of St Nicholas with them. However, it was in 1809 that Washington Irving introduced St. Nicholas in his novel with his original description. He smoked a pipe and flew around the world in his wagon (with no reindeers) and gave presents to children every year. Sintaklaas became popular with the novel. It was in 1863, Santa Claus was born in US in his modern incarnation with a white beard, red suit, a big belly, pipe in his mouth and a sleigh to which reindeers are harnessed.

Sources:
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/2442829/2/istockphoto_2442829-christmas-ornaments.jpg
http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-world/usa.html
http://myspaceisugly.com/files/imagecache/preview_display/files/glitters/hktreegraphic.gif

USA Christmas... the video

Usa Christmas Kitty

From: vieiracarina17,
23 hours ago

Usa Christmas Kitty

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: usatradition christmas)

christmas tradition on the usa

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11/02/2008

Halloween in U.S.A

Halloween tradition on U.S.A

In medieval times, one popular All Souls' Day practice was to make "soul cakes," simple bread desserts with a currant topping. In a custom called "souling," children would go door-to-door begging for the cakes, much like modern trick-or-treaters. For every cake a child collected, he or she would have to say a prayer for the dead relatives of the person who gave the cake. These prayers would help the relatives find their way out of purgatory and into heaven. The children even sang a soul cake song along the lines of the modern "Trick-or-treat, trick-or-treat, give me something good to eat." One version of the song went:

A soul cake!
A soul cake!
Have mercy on all Christian souls, for
A soul cake!

Today, for children, dressing up and trick-or-treating door-to-door is still the main event. Most households in the United States participate. Many adults dress up themselves, to go out with their children or to attend costume parties and contests.
Halloween continues to be extremely popular with kids of all ages; 85 to 90 percent of U.S. children go trick-or-treating or engage in other Halloween festivities every year, and many adults also join in on the fun.

on: http://people.howstuffworks.com/halloween7.htm
Picture:http://www.flickr.com/photos

10/31/2008

Halloween in Australia

In Australia people celebrate Guy Fawkes Eve as the day for Halloween or as it is also known Mischief Night or Danger Night.
On this night it is a day for children to create mischief by doing tricks or getting a treat.
It is not widely done in Australia as it is in America and elsewhere, in fact most children in Australia celebrate it as dance at their schools or in other activities. Not as a day to create lawless or other mischief.

Traditional australian Halloween song

Waltzing Matilda

Waltzing Matilda (Carrying a Swag)

Oh! there once was a swagman camped by a billabong,

Under the shade of a Coolabah tree;

And he sang as he looked at his old billy boiling,

"Who'll come a-waltzing Matida with me?

"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda, my darling,

Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?

Waltzing Matilda and leading a water bag

Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.

Down came a jumbuck to drink at the water-hole,

Up Jumped the swagman and grabbed him in gee;

And he sang ashe stowed him away in his tucker-bag,"

You'll come a-waltzing Mailda with me."

Down came the Squatter a-riding his thoroughbred;

Down came Policeman - one, two and three."

Whose is the jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?

You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me."
But the swagman, he up and he jumped in the water-hole,

Drowning himself by the Coolabah tree;

And his ghost may be heard as it sings in the Billabong

"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?"

A. B. (Banjo) Paterson

Traditional Australian Halloween Recipe

Ingredients:

1 piece of lamb, beef, turkey or even chicken.

1/2 pumpkinpotatoescarrots other vegetables whatever you desire

Procedure:
1. Skin the pumpkin and cut into bite size pieces.

2. Cook the pumpkin and the vegetables in the meat juices for about 1 hour then remove them from the juices and cook them for a further 1 hour in their own juices until dried out.

3. Serve with a roast of whatever meat you desire.

Source:

http://www.jackolanterns.net/traditions.htm

10/30/2008

Halloween in United Kingdom

Halloween is one of the oldeste celebrations in the world. Is always celebrated on 31st October.Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, visiting haunted attractions, carving jack-o'-lanterns, reading scary stories, and watching horror movies.

Celebrating UK Halloween is a fun filled adventure with great costumes, decorations and lots of fun. The UK Halloween is the most creative of holidays, where people make their costumes and head out for fun and competition. The children get candy during the UK Halloween celebration.

Traditional festivals in United Kingdom:

In UK there is a traditional festival called Mischief Night.During the celebratin children knock on doors, demanding a treat( Trick or Treat)and people disguise themselves as witches,ghosts,pumpkins and spiders in order to obtain food and money.

Bobbing for apples is a well-established associated with Halloween. In the game, attempts are made with one's mouth only to catch an apple placed in a water-filled barrel. Once an apple is caught, it is sometimes peeled and tossed over the shoulder in the hope that the strips would fall into the shape of a letter, which would be the first initial of the participant's true love.
Other traditions include apple-bobbing and making toffee-apples and apple tarts.

In the old days people lit bonfires, to scared away evil spirits.They believed that light had power over darkness.
Today, people light candles in pumpkin lanterns and then put them outside their homes to frighten away witches and ghosts.