HALLOWEEN TIME!!!!

Ancient Celts
Centuries ago, people believed in spirits, both good and evil (diabólico). They believed that spirits sometimes helped and hurt (herían) people. Some of those people who lived long ago were known as the Celts. They lived in what are now England, France and Ireland. The Halloween story begins when these people spent all spring and summer growing (cultivando)food to last them through the winter. When it was time to harvest all the food, the Celts held a festival to thank the good spirits for their help. This festival was called Samhain (pronounced sow-en). It was held on the day that marked the end of warm light weather and the beginning of dark cold weather-November 1. As part of the celebration, people wore costumes, told fortunes and ate plenty of good food. They also made sacrifices to keep bad spirits away.

All Saint's Day

Several hundred years later, other beliefs and religions spread to the Celtic lands. The new religion, Christianity, believed that November 1 was a day to honor people who died for their religion. Celtic people understood how November 1 was a good day to honor good spirits-they had been doing it for centuries. The day became known as "All Saint's Day" or "All-hallowmas." The night before the festival day, October 31, became known as "All-hallows Eve" or "Hallowe'en."

Early Halloween
Because November 1 was a day for good spirits and souls, the night before was thought to be (se creía que era) the time for bad spirits to roam free. Halloween turned into a scary time for people who believed that evil spirits would wander the earth to do mischief (travesuras) and cause trouble. To feel safe, people began to put lanterns in their windows and in front of their doors to scare away spirits. They made lanterns out of carved turnips and other vegetables and, in general, did not consider the time a happy Halloween.

Modern Halloween

Today's Halloween celebrations combine the joyous (alegre)fun and food of the Samhain festivals of the Celts with the more creepy and spooky aspect of All Hallows Eve. Costumes, pumpkins and imaginary spooks all combine to make one of the more popular holidays in the United States where people wish each other a "Happy Halloween."

Test taken from here

I want an eggs-box XD

I've found a really funny BBC video which plays with the meaning of words. It is with subtitles, but if you don't understand it, don't worry, we'll try to see it in class and I'll explain it.



Have fun!!!















SCRIPT

[Ronald Balfour "Ronnie" Corbett, (born 4 December 1930)]

I bought something from you last week and I’m very disappointed.

[Henry Richard "Harry" Enfield (born 30 May 1961)]

Oh, ya, what’s the problem?

[Ronnie Corbett]

Ya, well, my blackberry is not working!

[Harry Enfield]

What’s the matter, it run out of juice?

[Ronnie Corbett]

No, no, it’s completely frozen!

[Harry Enfield]

Oh, ya, I can see that! I’ll tell you what, let’s try on an Orange.

[Ronnie Corbett]

That’s got a few black spots – you see!

[Harry Enfield]

Oh, dear! Oh, ya, sorry about that ya

[Ronnie Corbett]

Ronnie Corbett : Would you get my Blackberry working?

[Harry Enfield]

Well could be an application issue. Where did you store the blackberry

[Ronnie Corbett]

It was on my desktop.

[Harry Enfield]

Well you could use a mouse to drag the blackberry to the trash then after you’ve done that you might want to launch the blackberry from the desktop.

[Ronnie Corbett]

I’ve already tried that few times, all it did was mess up windows.

[Harry Enfield]

Well it might be worth waiting a couple of weeks, they got the latest blackberry coming in then.

[Ronnie Corbett]

Do you have a date?

[Harry Enfield]

Certainly.

[Ronnie Corbett]

Let me put that date in my diary.

[Harry Enfield]

Anything else I can help you with?

[Ronnie Corbett]

Yes, yes, I’ve also got a problem to be honest, with my apple

Harry Enfield :

Dear oh dear, that is an old apple isn’t it? When did you buy it?

[Ronnie Corbett]

Last week.

[Harry Enfield]

Last week? They’ve brought out two new apples since then. What’s the problem with it?

[Ronnie Corbett]

I’m trying to put my dongle in it and it won’t fit.

[Harry Enfield]

Oh yeah, and how big is your dongle?

[Ronnie Corbett]

Well I don’t know much about these things but my wife has seen a few dongles in her time and she says a little bit on the small side.

[Harry Enfield]

Frankly there’s nothing I can do about it. Tell you what? Let me try booting it. There it’s crashed. Anything else I can help you with?

[Ronnie Corbett]

Funnily enough yes. My grandson’s birthday is soon. Now he’s already got an apple and a blackberry. I mean do you have anything else he might just like?

[Harry Enfield]

Well we’re doing a special on these. I can’t make head or tail of them. The kids seem to like them egg box..360!

(JUST IN CASE: if the link to the video doesn't work, please try this link, and it will lead you to the video with subtitles)

Thanksgiving day

My pupils from 2nd year C have created some beautiful comics around this topic. Have a look!!! I haven't uploaded all of them , just some as an example. Hope you like them!!!


see you in class

V for Vendetta

Watch and listen to this EXTRACT from the movie


You'll find it easier if, first, you have a look to the script:

Good evening, London. Allow me first to apologize (pedir disculpas) for this interruption. I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of every day routine — the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke (tipo). But in the spirit of commemoration, whereby (por el cual) those important events of the past, usually associated with someone's death or the end of some awful bloody struggle (lucha), are celebrated with a nice holiday, I thought we could mark this November the 5th, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat. There are of course those who do not want us to speak. I suspect (sospecho)even now, orders are being shouted into telephones, and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because while the truncheon (porra de policía)may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means (los medios) to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit (veías apropiado), you now have censors and systems of surveillance (vigilancia)coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad(multitud) of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in your panic you turned to the now high chancellor, Adam Sutler. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent. Last night I sought to end that silence. Last night I destroyed the Old Bailey, to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than 400 years ago a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind (recordar) the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives. So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you then I would suggest that you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek (buscar) as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament, and together we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever be forgot.

CAN YOU TELL ME IN WHICH WAY GUY FAWKES IS CONNECTED TO "V"?

Who was Guy Fawkes?

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8yR1nzHlXk

This Rhyme is to remember a man who was caught in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament with several dozen barrels of gunpowder. Guy Fawkes was subsequently tried as a traitor with his co-conspirators for plotting against the government. Fawkes was sentenced to death and the form of the execution was one of the most horrendous ever practised (hung ,drawn and quartered) which reflected the serious nature of the crime of treason.

In England the 5th of November is still commemorated each year with fireworks and bonfires culminating with the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes (the guy). The 'guys' are made by children by filling old clothes with crumpled newspapers to look like a man.

Tradition allows British children to display their 'guys' to passers-by and asking for " A penny for the guy".

source

So... Tomorrow is Guy Fawkes and we will say the rhyme!!!

See you in Class!!!