SOS

SOS

Popularmente se cree que esta señal significa "Save Our Ship" (salven nuestro barco), "Save Our Souls" (salven nuestras almas) o "Send Out Succour" (envíen socorro), sin embargo SOS no es la sigla de ninguna frase y fue seleccionada por su simplicidad. En Código Morse es …_ _ _...

 Fue aprobada durante una conferencia internacional en Berlín en 1906 para reemplazar la utilizada hasta entonces “CQD” en las transmisiones telegráficas en Código Morse.

MAY DAY FESTIVAL IN ENGLAND

MAY DAY FESTIVAL IN ENGLAND

CONTABLE AND UNCONTABLE

CONTABLE AND UNCONTABLE

 

BANK HOLIDAYS

Bank Holidays

What is a bank holiday?

In the United Kingdom and Ireland a bank holiday is a public holiday, when banks and many other businesses are closed for the day.

Bank holidays are often assumed to be so called because they are days upon which banks are shut, but days that banks are shut aren't always bank holidays. For example: Good Friday and Christmas Day are not bank holidays, they are common law' holidays. The dates for bank holidays are set out in statute or are proclaimed by royal decree. The term "bank holiday" was coined by Sir John Lubbock, who felt there was a need to differentiate the two types of holiday.

In England and Wales a bank holiday tends automatically to be a public holiday, so the day is generally observed as a holiday. A number of differences apply to Scotland. For example, Easter Monday is not a bank holiday, and, although they share the same name, the Summer Bank Holiday falls on the first Monday in August in Scotland as opposed to the last elsewhere in the UK.

Origins of bank holidays

Prior to 1834, the Bank of England observed about 33 saints' days and religious festivals as holidays, but in 1834, this was reduced to just four: 1 May, 1 November, Good Friday, and Christmas Day.

In 1871, Sir John Lubbock introduced the Bank Holidays Act, it introduced the concept of holidays with pay and designated four holidays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and five in Scotland. These were Easter Monday, the first Monday in August, the 26th December, and Whit Monday (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) and New Year's Day, Good Friday, the first Monday in May, the first Monday in August, and Christmas Day (Scotland). In England, Wales and Ireland, Good Friday and Christmas Day were considered traditional days of rest (as were Sundays) and therefore it was felt unnecessary to include them in the Act. The move was such a popular one and there were even suggestions that August Bank Holiday should be called St Lubbock's day!

In Ireland, in 1903, the Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act added 17 March, Saint Patrick's Day, as a bank holiday, and in 1926 the Governor of Northern Ireland proclaimed 12 July (Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690) as a bank holiday too. This particular holiday is proclaimed annually by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

In 2006, the Scottish Parliament designated St Andrew's Day, November 30, as an official bank holiday in Scotland. But there is no public holiday for St David's Day in Wales, or St George's Day in England.

From 1965 the date of the August bank holiday was changed to the end of the month in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Whitsun bank holiday (Whit Monday) was replaced by the late spring bank holiday - fixed as the last Monday in May.

Bank holidays today

The Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, is in force today and there are 8 permanent bank and public holidays in England and Wales, 9 in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland.

Ireland has the same eight holidays as England and Wales, plus St Patrick's Day and the Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

In Scotland, since the Scotland Act 1998 Scottish Ministers have the responsibility for setting bank holidays. There are other public or local holidays which can be determined by local authorities, based on local tradition. Since 2007, St Andrew's Day has been an alternative, voluntary public holiday, which can replace an existing local holiday. Businesses and schools are not necessarily closed on Scottish bank holidays, and the Scottish banks only follow the English and Welsh bank holidays for business reasons.

When the usual date of a bank or public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a 'substitute day' is given, normally the following Monday.

Once upon a time everything shut on a bank holiday; offices, banks, shops, but nowadays many offices and shops remain open, only banks are not allowed to operate on bank holidays. Nowadays, the only day that most things close in the UK is Christmas Day.

MOTHER'S DAY

MOTHER'S DAY

Mother's Day is a modern celebration honoring one's own mother, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. It complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Father's Day and Siblings Day.

The celebration of Mother's Day began in the United States in the early 20th century; it is not related to the many celebrations of mothers and motherhood that have occurred throughout the world over thousands of years, such as the Greek cult to Cybele, the Roman festival of Hilaria, or the Christian Mothering Sunday celebration (originally a celebration of the mother church, not motherhood).Despite this, in some countries Mother's Day has become synonymous with these older traditions.



DIFERENCIA ENTRE REMEMBER Y REMIND

DIFERENCIA ENTRE REMEMBER Y REMIND

Remember

No me acuerdo.

I don´t remember.

Acuérdate de llamarlo.

Remember to call him.

(Notice the use of to+infinitive when we refer to something that needs to be done).

Siempre me acordaré de ti.

I will always remember

Remind

¿Puedes recordarme cuando es el exámen?

Can you remind me when is the exam?

Recuérdale a tu hermano que tiene que estudiar

Remind your brother that he has to study

DIFERENCIA ENTRE REMEMBER Y REMIND

DIFERENCIA ENTRE REMEMBER Y REMIND

Remember

No me acuerdo.

I don´t remember.

Acuérdate de llamarlo.

Remember to call him.

(Notice the use of to+infinitive when we refer to something that needs to be done).

Siempre me acordaré de ti.

I will always remember

Remind

¿Puedes recordarme cuando es el exámen?

Can you remind me when is the exam?

Recuérdale a tu hermano que tiene que estudiar

Remind your brother that he has to study

WATER CYCLE

WATER CYCLE

LABOUR DAY FOR CHILDREN

History of Labor day

• Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September. It’s a day dedicated to the everyday worker. This holiday gives tribute to the working class contributions to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. Labor Day became an official national holiday in 1894. This holiday is usually celebrated with summer activities – swimming, camping, picnics, etc. Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer in the Northern part of the U.S. Most schools usually start sometime during the week after Labor Day.

Labor Day became a National Holiday on June 28, 1894

Labor Day Activities and Ideas:

•This labor day why not have a family program in your living room and show your children what labor you perform in your comunity. Maybe you are a doctor, teacher, salesman or nurse. If the timing is right go on a field trip and show them where you work. You might round out the program by having each person in your family share what it is they think would be the most fun work to do when they grow up. Then don’t forget the treats.
• Take some time, at dinner for example, and talk about all the contributions children can and do make. Here are some ideas – Baby sit, Deliver newspapers, magazines or flyers, Walk dogs/care for pets, Do yard work, grass cutting, Help a neighbor with chores, Do chores in your own home, Be a tutor, Help out at kids clubs, Teach computer skills, Volunteer. All of these things are important because they contribute to society – kids do make a difference.

LABOUR DAY

LABOUR DAY

Labour Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of worker. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. For many countries, Labour Day is synonymous with, or linked with, International Worker's day, which occurs on 1 May. For other countries, Labour Day is celebrated on a different date, often one with special significance for the labour movement in that country. In Canada and the USA, it is celebrated on the first Monday of September and considered the official end of the summer holiday for most of the respective countries, as public school and university students return to school that week or the following week.

COMPARATIVOS IRREGULARES

COMPARATIVOS  IRREGULARES

POSITIVO	COMPARATIVO	SUPERLATIVO
Bad: malo	Worse: peor	Worst: el peor
Beneath: debajo	Nether: inferior	Nethermost: el más bajo
Fore: delantero	Former: anterior	Foremost: el primero
Far: lejano	Farther: más lejano	Farthest: el más lejano
	Further	Furthest
Good: bueno	Better: mejor	Best: el mejor
Hind: trasero	Hinder: posterior	Hindmost: el trasero
In: dentro	Inner: interior	Inmost: el más profundo
Late: tardí­o	Later: más tarde, después	Latest: el más reciente
Little: poco	Less: menos	Least: el menos
Many: muchos (contables)	More: más	Most: lo más
Much: muchos (incontables)	More: más	Most: lo más
Nigh: cerca	Nigher: más cercano	Nighest: el más cercano
Near: cerca	Nearer: más cercano	Nearest: el más cercano
Old: viejo	Older: más viejo	Oldest: el más viejo
	Elder	Eldest

HOT CROSS BUNS

HOT CROSS BUNS

It is traditional to eat warm hot cross buns on Good Friday, usually at breakfast or morning tea. The spicy, sweet and fruity flavours of hot cross buns have long been an Easter tradition, there is even an old rhyme about the buns:

"Hot cross buns, Hot cross buns,
One a penny, two a penny,
Hot cross buns."

There are plenty of traditions and superstitions around hot cross buns, which are really just a simple spiced fruit bunwith pasty in the shape of a cross laid over the top to symbolise the cross which Jesus died on.

Baking hot cross buns on Good Friday was believed to bring amazing luck and many people believed that hot cross buns made on the holiest day in the Christian calendar never went mouldy and could be kept for up to a year.

Some people would keep the hot cross buns in the belief it would protect the house from ever catching fire and others grated up the hot cross buns into warm milk to heal upset tummies.

Hot cross buns are not as difficult to make as many people imagine. Why not try these recipes and see if you can make your own luck on Good Friday?

APRIL FOOL DAYS FACTS

April Fools Day Facts

§                  The exact origin of April Fool’s Day is unknown however the most popular theory has to do with a change of a calendar.

§                  It is believed that April Fool’s Day may started in France when Pope Charles IX changed the calendar to go with the Roman calendar.

§                  In France before 1582 the new year started on April 1st.  It was changed to January 1st in 1582.

§                  Some of the people there did not know about the change and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1st.  Those people were considered “April Fools.”

§                  Other people believe that April Fools came from the Roman Festival of Hilaria, a celebration of the god Attis.  The Festival of Hilaria was held on March 25th and was a Roman day of laughing and telling jokes.

§                  Some people believe that April Fools came from Sizdah Be-dar.

§                  Sizadah Be-dar has roots in Zoroastrian (an ancient Iranian religion) belief that laughter and joy symbolize throwing away bad thoughts.

§                  Sizdah Be-dar began around 536 BC.

§                  Iranians play jokes on each other on Sizdah Be-dar the 13th day of the Persian New Year which is celebrated on April 1st or 2nd.

April Fools Day Around the World

§                  April Fools is celebrated in many countries.

§                  In France, Italy and Belgium people celebrate April Fools by trying to stick paper fish on someone without them noticing then yell April Fish in their language.

§                  In Scotland April Fools is called Hunt-the-Gowk Day.  A day of pranks and jokes.

§                  In Denmark April Fools is celebrated on May 1st and is called Maj-Kat.

§                  In Spanish speaking counties such as Spain and Mexico April Fools is celebrated on December 28th the Day of Holy Innocents.

Here is a list of funny April Fools Day jokes and pranks parents can play on their children:

1.            The night before April Fools day put googey eyes on everything in the refrigerator.  The kids will open the refrigerator in the morning and be very surprised.

2.            Toilet paper everything in their room while they are at school or if your real good you can do it while their sleeping.  If you don’t want to do the entire room toilet paper their beds or dresser.

3.            The night before pour some milk into a cereal bowl and put it in the freezer for the night.  In the morning take the bowl out of the freezer fill it with cereal and more milk. When they put their spoon in they will notice it’s half frozen!

4.            Do the cereal change up.  Take two boxes of cereal and change the contents inside.  When they pour the cereal it will be different.

5.            Weird Milk!  Add a couple of drops of food coloring in the milk.  When the kids go to use it, it will be green, blue pink or which ever color you use.

6.            Mash Potato Mix Up- Add some food coloring to your children’s mash potatoes.  They get a kick out of some purple or green mash potatoes.

7.            Rising Pancakes!  This one requires kids help. Add quick acting dry yeast to the pancake batter.  Have the kids help make the pancakes.  While they are cooking the pancakes will rise and get bigger and rise and get bigger.

8.            This one is good for little boys.  Pour some baking soda in the toilet.  When your little guy goes to use the bathroom in the morning it will fuzz up.

9.            Underwear line!  Safety pin 7-10 pairs of your child’s underwear.  Then put them back in their drawer.  When your child goes to get dressed in the morning and pulls one pair of underwear out the rest will follow.

10.        Make a small hole in an apple.  Stick a gummy worm in it.  While your kids are eating the apple they will notice the wormy surprise.

APRIL FOOL DAY

APRIL FOOL DAY

PALM SUNDAY IN ENGLAND

PALM SUNDAY IN ENGLAND

PALM SUNDAY

PALM SUNDAY

What is Palm Sunday?

 The Sunday before Easter is known as Palm Sunday. It celebrates Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of Passover. Great crowds of people lined the streets waving palm branches to welcome him. The people were very excited. They spread branches on the road – and even laid down their clothes. They shouted 'Hosanna!' which means 'Save us Now!'

We wave our UK flags at parades. They waved palm branches.

Why is it called Palm Sunday?

The Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday because the crowds waved palm branches as they followed Jesus' procession into Jerusalem.

What happens on Palm Sunday in England?

On Palm Sunday, children are given crosses made from single palm leaves. Traditionally, many churches will have a procession in or around the church while people sing songs of praise and wave palm leaves. 

Pax Cakes

In some English churches small buns called pax cakes (symbolic of peace and goodwill) are given to the congregation as they leave after a Palm Sunday service.

Palm Sunday also has the nick name 'Fig Sunday' because Christ had wanted to eat some when travelling to Jerusalem

Palm Sunday 

Customs and Traditions in England

In some areas of the country Palm Sunday was a traditional day for visiting wells and leaving an offering for the spirit of the well. In some places pins were dropped in the wells whilst in other places rags were hung around the wells. It was thought by doing this the spirit of the well would keep the water fresh and clean.

Sallow, or pussy willow, was used in many places as a palm substitute, and was commonly known as English Palm amongst country folk. Box, yew, hazel, common willow and daffodils (Lent Lilies) were other alternatives in the days before palm was easily available as an import from Spain.

SOLAR ECLIPSE

SOLAR ECLIPSE

SAINT PATRICK

SAINT PATRICK

LENT

LENT

Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter(Sundays are not included in the count).

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.

ASH WEDNESDAY

ASH WEDNESDAY

The first day of Lent is known as Ash Wednesday. Ashes are something that are left when something is burned. Christians use them as a symbol of being sorry for things they have done wrong and want to get rid of forever. In many Christian churches there are special services where the vicar or priest makes the shape of a cross with ash on the forehead of each person. The ashes come from last year's palm crosses which are burned and mixed with holy water.