HOGMANAY - SCOTLAND - 30th DECEMBER-1st JANUARY
There's nowhere better to be at New Year's Eve than Scotland's Capital. Edinburgh's Hogmanay brings Edinburgh's streets alive with non-stop entertainment and enjoyment.
Scottish rock giants Biffy Clyro headline the world famous street party at the concert in the gardens, beneath the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. The party's 100,000 revellers are guaranteed a night to remember with a torchlight procession, music and fireworks spectacular and the fantastic Keilidh.
Scottish rock giants Biffy Clyro headline the world famous street party at the concert in the gardens, beneath the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. The party's 100,000 revellers are guaranteed a night to remember with a torchlight procession, music and fireworks spectacular and the fantastic Keilidh.
28th DECEMBER - DAY OF THE INNOCENT SAINTS
This is one of the most popular and entertaining Christmas traditions in Spain. December 28 is the day when everyone is allowed to play practical jokes and when it is customary to buy joke articles in Christmas markets like the one in the Plaza Mayor square in Madrid.
This celebration appears to have its origins in an event narrated by the Bible concerning King Herod and the innocents, although over the centuries it has evolved to become a boisterous day in which even the media usually reports on some outrageous and completely invented news story.
One of the most widespread jokes on this day is to stick a figure cut out of white paper on someone's back (without them realising). The word in Spanish for this practical joke is an "inocentada". And, in the numerous Christmas markets (usually located in the large squares in the cities) you can find a whole range of joke articles (wigs, itching powder, false ink…).
Many areas in Spain also have other typical local celebrations on 28 December. Examples include the festivity of Los Locos (or "lunatics") in Jalance (in Valencia, the mayor of the lunatics governs the town for 24 hours); the festivity of the Holy Innocents in Nogalte (in Murcia, with popular dancing and bands of singers); the Danza de Los Locos, or "dance of the lunatics" in Fuente Carreteros (in Cordoba); the "Obispillo", or "little bishop" (celebrated in places such as Burgos, Palencia and Murcia, where a small boy is chosen to carry out the functions of the bishop for one day); and the "Festa dels Enfarinats" de Ibi (in Alicante, involving a "battle" fought with eggs, flour and firecrackers).
This celebration appears to have its origins in an event narrated by the Bible concerning King Herod and the innocents, although over the centuries it has evolved to become a boisterous day in which even the media usually reports on some outrageous and completely invented news story.
One of the most widespread jokes on this day is to stick a figure cut out of white paper on someone's back (without them realising). The word in Spanish for this practical joke is an "inocentada". And, in the numerous Christmas markets (usually located in the large squares in the cities) you can find a whole range of joke articles (wigs, itching powder, false ink…).
Many areas in Spain also have other typical local celebrations on 28 December. Examples include the festivity of Los Locos (or "lunatics") in Jalance (in Valencia, the mayor of the lunatics governs the town for 24 hours); the festivity of the Holy Innocents in Nogalte (in Murcia, with popular dancing and bands of singers); the Danza de Los Locos, or "dance of the lunatics" in Fuente Carreteros (in Cordoba); the "Obispillo", or "little bishop" (celebrated in places such as Burgos, Palencia and Murcia, where a small boy is chosen to carry out the functions of the bishop for one day); and the "Festa dels Enfarinats" de Ibi (in Alicante, involving a "battle" fought with eggs, flour and firecrackers).
HAPPY INNOCENT SAINTS DAY
BOXING DAY - 26th DECEMBER
Like Christmas Day, Boxing Day is a public holiday. This means is it typically a non working day in the whole of Britain.
Tradicionally, 26 December was the day to open the Christmas Box to share the contents to the poor.
WHAT HAPPENS ON BOXING DAY IN ENGLAND?
- Boxing Day hunts: tradicionally Boxing Day is a day for fox hunting.Horse riders dressed in red and white riding gear, accompanied by a number of dogs called foxhounds, chase de fox through the countryside in the hope of tiring it out.
- Family time:It is a day of watching sports and playing board games with the family.
- Shopping: In recent times,some shops have broken from tradition and started opening on Boxing Day to start the New Year sales.Hundreds of people spend Boxing Day morning in queues outside shops, waiting to be the first to dive for the sales racks as the doors opened.
CHRISTMAS DAY IN BRITAIN
Christmas presents are opened on Christmas Day.
Opening Christmas Stocking Presents
Christmas Day is the favourite day for children. They wake up very early in the morning to find their stockings have been filled by Father Christmas and excitedly unwarp the presents before going down to breakfast.
The Main Presents
Family presents are opened either late morning or during the afternoom.The family gather together to open the presents found under the Christmas tree.
Why do we give each other presents on Christmas Day?
The tradition of giving gifts is thought to be related to the gifts that the wise man (the Magi) brought to Jesus.
TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN BRITAIN
Church service
Many Christians will go to the church to sing carols and to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. More people attend the church on this day than any other day of the year. People put on their best clothes to go to church.
Christmas Dinner and Christmas Tea
The whole family sit down for Christmas Dinner at middday.
Christmas Crackers
The pulling of Christmas Crackers often accompanies food on Christmas Day.
CHRISTMAS PUDDING RACE
The 37th Great Christmas Pudding Race will take place on 2nd December 2017
The Great Christmas Pudding Race has been a London annual event since 1980 and is included in my Top 10 Things to Do in London at Christmas.
Teams of contestants wearing fancy dress have to run around Covent Garden piazza while trying to balance a Christmas pudding on a plate! Obstacles, such as balloons full of flour, are put in their way to make it even more fun to watch. It's a charity event to raise money for Cancer Research.
PRINCE HARRY & MEGHAN MARKLE
Prince Harry 'thrilled' after announcing he is to marry Meghan Markle
Prince Harry has said he is “thrilled” after announcing that he is to marry the American actor Meghan Markle next spring.
Congratulations have flooded in for the couple, who appeared in public for a photoshoot at Kensington Palace on Monday afternoon, hours after making their engagement public.
Holding hands, the couple spoke briefly. Harry, wearing a navy blue suit and matching tie, said he was “thrilled, over the moon”. He declined to give details about the engagement, which happened this month in London, but joked: “Of course it was romantic.” Asked when he knew Markle was “the one”, he said: “The very first time we met.”
Markle, wearing a white wrap coat, displayed her engagement ring and said she was “so very happy”, rubbing Harry’s arm affectionately as the couple smiled for the cameras.
FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN - 23rd SEPTEMBER
On 22 or 23 September, the sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night are nearly equal in all parts of the world.
This day is known as the autumnal equinox.
The Reason for the Seasons
Many people think that some parts of the year are hotter because we're nearer to the Sun, but the real reason is that the Earth is wonky (tilted).
Why do we have seasons?
We have seasons because the earth is tilted (wonky) as it makes its yearly journey around the sun.The Earth's tilt
The Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees. This means that the Earth is always "pointing" to one side as it goes around the Sun. So, sometimes the Sun is in the direction that the Earth is pointing, but not at other times. The varying amounts of sunlight around the Earth during the year, creates the seasons.
The tilt of the Earth's AXIS is the most important reason why seasons occur.
We have hot summers and cold winters because of the tilt of the Earth's axis.
The tilt of the Earth means the Earth will lean towards the Sun (Summer) or lean away from the Sun (Winter) 6 months later. In between these, Spring and Autumn will occur.
Autumn
The north pole begins to move away from the Sun. The Sun rises lower in the sky so the days start getting shorter. When the Sun is at its mid-point in the sky, we reach the 'autumn equinox', around 22 September. Day and night are both 12 hours long and its the beginning of autumn.PRINCESS DIANA, 20th ANNIVERSARY OF HER DEATH
Diana, Princess of Wales
1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997
1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997
Diana, Princess of Wales was killed in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997. The vehicle in which the Princess was travelling was involved in a high-speed accident in the Place de l'Alma underpass in central Paris shortly before midnight on Saturday, 30 August.
Princess Diana was a popular international media icon of the late 20th century as the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981.
WHAT´S FOR DINNER?
FOOD:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Countable or Uncountable Nouns?: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
What's the best measure word?
A/ an: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Some/Any: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
A, an, some, any:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Plural of Countable Nouns: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
There is/are : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
All of this together!: 1, 2
Games How Healthy you are.
Learn to cook:
EASTER SUNDAY IN MÁLAGA
It is Easter Sunday, the Day of Resurrection; the joyful day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the Gospels it is modestly told how, on this sunday morning the women visited Jesus' tomb and realised he had come back to life.
The procession of El Resucitado is Malaga's celebration of the resurrection of the Lord and it is the last procession in the Holy Week Malaga. Nazarenes from each and every one of the societies take part together, creating a colorful cortege.
"EL PASO" THE PASSION IN RIOGORDO (MÁLAGA)
ASCENT TO MONTE CALVARIO - MALAGA
Next to the Santuario de la Victoria, beginning in calle Amargura, there is a small rise topped with a sanctuary, which the people of Malaga call Mount Calvary. Every Friday during Lent, a Via Cruces is organised that leaves from the San Lázaro Church and re-enacts the fourteen Stations of the Cross. The reason that it leaves from San Lázaro is because the processional brotherhood of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno de los Pasos en el Monte Calvario (today known by the name of its Virgin, María Santísima del Rocío ) has organised for many years now the Official Stations of the Cross procession in Malaga, with the first Station being precisely that of San Lázaro. Each participant in the Via Cruces carries fourteen stones, which symbolise fourteen sins. The stones are left at each Station, where the corresponding sin is read, symbolising the discharge of sins following repent. The Via Dolorosa finalises at the Sanctuary of the Calvary, headquarters of the processional Brotherhood that bears the same name.
ROYAL BROTHERHOOD OF OUR FATHER JESUS CHRIST OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE AND OUR LADY OF THE SOLITUDE
The brotherhood REAL HERMANDAD DE NUESTRO PADRE JESÚS DEL SANTO SEPULCRO AND NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA SOLEDAD is one of the oldest in Malaga and their house and museum is based close to the Cathedral and enterance to Alcazaba. In the Hall of Thrones there are two genuine “jewels”, of the Semana Santa (Easter) in Andalusia, such as the Throne of Nuestro Padre Jesús del Santo Sepulcro ( Our Father Jesus Christ of the Holy Sepulchre), designed by the artist from Málaga , Moreno Carbonero , and ensembled at the Father Granda's workshop in Madrid. The second remarkable throne of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (Our Lady of the Solitude) was made at Manuel Seco's workshop in 1950.
The solemn passage of the brotherhood of the sepulchre, considered de facto as the official Brotherhood of the city; the darkness that announces the arrival of the Servite order, order not forming part of the grouping of guilds of Malaga, made his parade processional closing on good Friday. The passage of the throne of Servitas, the smallest of all the Holy week, the lights go off and becomes the silence. All those moments are the tradition of a city which turns on the streets to enjoy his imagery and nights. The end of the Holy week, takes place on Easter Sunday, with the procession called the resurrected by the malacitanos, which includes representations of all the brotherhoods and brotherhoods that make up the group.
GOOD FRIDAY IN MÁLAGA
The day when the glorious Passion of Jesus Christ is celebrated together with his victorious death. Here, the Cross of God is considered the symbol of salvation. Jesus Christ is nailed to the cross between the thieves Dimas and Gestos; after many years of waiting, he can finally fulfil his dreams of redeeming man. Today is the most important of all the days celebrated by the Church.
Silence is the main feature on this day of mouming and reflection of the Holy week in Málaga. Fourteen tronos or floats are paraded through the streets of Málaga as eight different societies carry their sacred images.
The processions of this day are:
CHANGING OF THE GUARD CHRIST OF GOOD DEATH
In the morning at Santo Domingo's church you can see the changing of the guard, which takes about ten minutes in the chapel. This always fascinates, the movements of the guards and their devotion. This is the best free show in Malaga, but occurs only between Monday and Wednesday of Holy Week.
The Spanish Foreign Legion arrives at the port TOMORROW MORNING around 10 am and then they have their fantastic parade downtown at 11 am. For many Malagueños, this is the favorite part of the Holy Week celebrations. The Spanish Legion is very colorful and their march is very fast. Later in the evening they will take part in the procession of the Cristo de Mena, starting at the Santo Domingo Church. When the legionaires start singing their hymn, people start crying because it is so very touching.
SPANISH LEGION IN MÁLAGA -CHRIST OF THE GOOD DEATH
One of the highlights in Malaga is Maundy Thursday, when hundreds of Spanish legionnaires arrive from Melilla, a Spanish enclave in north Africa to carry the wooden figure of Cristo de la Buena Muerte (Christ of the Good Death) in the visually stunning Procession of the Cross.
The Spanish Legión (Spanish: Legión Española, La Legión or colloquially El Tercio), formerly Spanish Foreign Legion, is an elite unit of the Spanish Army. Founded as the Tercio de Extranjeros ("Foreigners Regiment"), it was originally intended as a Spanish equivalent of the French Foreign Legion, but in practice it recruited almost exclusively Spaniards. The Spanish Legion's animal mascot is the Legión's goat.
Novio de la Muerte (Bridegroom of Death) is the official hymn and regimental slow march of the Spanish Legion, made in 1921 with words by Juan Costa set to music by Fidel Prado.
MAUNDY THURSDAY IN MÁLAGA
It was on this day that Jesus attended the Last Supper, where he created the Eucharist and washed the feet of his disciples to show that we must clean our hearts. Following the betrayal of Judas, Jesus Christ was arrested, judged before Pontius Pilate, and condemned.
The Thursday is without doubt the most popular day of the Holy Week Malaga in terms of attendance, which makes it difficult to get around and find spots that are not too crowded.
- Morning -
We suggest that you be at the Malaga port for 11:00 to witness the legionary troops as they arrive in Malaga; these soldiers lift El Cristo de la Buena Muerte onto its processional trono (12:00) and subsequently carry it to the society's procession. After midday, a visit to the temple-museum of the Esperanza society to take a closer look at the tronos of El Nazareno del Paso and La Virgen de la Esperanza on the biggest trono of the world (More than 5 tons of weight and carried by more than 260 members) is a must.
We suggest that you be at the Malaga port for 11:00 to witness the legionary troops as they arrive in Malaga; these soldiers lift El Cristo de la Buena Muerte onto its processional trono (12:00) and subsequently carry it to the society's procession. After midday, a visit to the temple-museum of the Esperanza society to take a closer look at the tronos of El Nazareno del Paso and La Virgen de la Esperanza on the biggest trono of the world (More than 5 tons of weight and carried by more than 260 members) is a must.
- Afternoon/evening -
We recommend that you head for Calle Carretería at 17:30 to see the departure of the Viñeros society and witness the ceremonial placing of the key in the hand of the Nazarene. Afterwards, at 18:30, make for the Alameda Principal to see the walking catherdrals that are the tronos of La Sagrada Cena and La Virgen de la Paz. At the nearby Puente de Tetuán you can admire the procession of the Congregación de Mena accompanied by the Legion and the Navy. Then, if you can manage to exit the Alameda Principal via a side street, go to Calle San Agustín to follow the sombre cortege of La Santa Cruz until it reaches Plaza de la Merced at around 21:00.
- Night -
After a visit to one of the restaurants in the town centre to sample the wide variety of tapas and dishes on offer, you can enjoy the visual feast provided by La Misericordia in front of the cathedral in Plaza del Obispo. Then, head for the Alameda Principal to witness a unique sight in Malaga's Easter week; the crossing of the processions of La Esperanza and Mena at around 23:50. Afterwards, go to La Tribuna de los Pobres to hear the people of Malaga pay compliments to La Virgen de la Amargura (Zamarrilla) as it returns to its home district. Stay at this spot to receive the blessing of the Nazareno del Paso and accompany La Virgen de la Esperanza on its return home across the carpet of rosemary that now covers the streets of Malaga. And if you still have sufficient strength, head for the church of San Juan to witness the moving departure of the Cristo de la Vera-Cruz on its way to the cathedral.
We recommend that you head for Calle Carretería at 17:30 to see the departure of the Viñeros society and witness the ceremonial placing of the key in the hand of the Nazarene. Afterwards, at 18:30, make for the Alameda Principal to see the walking catherdrals that are the tronos of La Sagrada Cena and La Virgen de la Paz. At the nearby Puente de Tetuán you can admire the procession of the Congregación de Mena accompanied by the Legion and the Navy. Then, if you can manage to exit the Alameda Principal via a side street, go to Calle San Agustín to follow the sombre cortege of La Santa Cruz until it reaches Plaza de la Merced at around 21:00.
- Night -
After a visit to one of the restaurants in the town centre to sample the wide variety of tapas and dishes on offer, you can enjoy the visual feast provided by La Misericordia in front of the cathedral in Plaza del Obispo. Then, head for the Alameda Principal to witness a unique sight in Malaga's Easter week; the crossing of the processions of La Esperanza and Mena at around 23:50. Afterwards, go to La Tribuna de los Pobres to hear the people of Malaga pay compliments to La Virgen de la Amargura (Zamarrilla) as it returns to its home district. Stay at this spot to receive the blessing of the Nazareno del Paso and accompany La Virgen de la Esperanza on its return home across the carpet of rosemary that now covers the streets of Malaga. And if you still have sufficient strength, head for the church of San Juan to witness the moving departure of the Cristo de la Vera-Cruz on its way to the cathedral.
The processions of the day are:
TRADITIONS AND LEGENDS - ZAMARRILLA THE BANDIT
As it happens the only place he could find was under the cape of a figure of a Virgin Dolorosa that was worshipped there. The bailiffs arrived and though the searched the whole chapel from one end to the other, none of them discovered “ El Zamarilla ” in his original hiding place. Desperate and furious they left to comb the area. A little later, feeling safe, the bandit left his refuge and in improvised thanks for having saved him, he broke off a white rose that grew by the side of the path and pinned it on the breast of the figure, using his own dagger to hold it. At this moment the rose turned scarlet. Terrified, the bandit knelt before the image of the Virgin, begging pardon for his wrongful life and from then on “ El Zamarilla ” became a hermit, coming down from the hills only to visit his beloved Virgin. On one of these occasions he himself was attacked by bandits and though “ El Zamarilla ” still had the vigour of his youth and he put up a fight, he was mortally wounded by one of them before they fled. With great difficulty he managed to reach the door of the sanctuary, carrying in his hand, as he always did, a red rose to offer the Virgin. Before he died his eyes turned towards the Virgin and then he saw that the rose he carried in his hands had turned white. She had pardoned him. Today, Our Lady Virgen de la Amargura continues in the sanctuary called Zamarrilla , She continues to wear a red rose held with a dagger, except on Good Friday when She wears a white rose, pardoning all Mankind for the death of her Son.
HOLY WEDNESDAY IN MÁLAGA "LA PALOMA"
The procession of the Paloma (Dove) is uniquely and pleasurably marked with the release of hundreds of doves
HOLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING
We can start off by visiting the temples of the societies of La Paloma, in Plaza de San Francisco, and Sangre, which is nearby. Heading along Calle Carretería we come to the church of San Juan where we can look on as El Cristo de Animas de Ciegos is carried to its processional trono on the shoulders of paratroopers at 12:00. Finally, we must not forget to call in at the temple-museum of the Expiración society, which houses an art collection of great merit; this visit is an absolute must.
AFTERNOON/EVENING
NIGHT
After keeping our strength up by sampling 'pescaíto frito' (fried fish) and other culinary delights to be found in the old town centre's many bars, we shall head for the Alameda Principal at 21:30 to see the magnificent tronos paraded by the Paloma society, in which doves, the birds that give the society its name, are set free.
Then go to the end of Calle Carretería to witness the vibrant meeting of the tronos carried by the Sangre society at La Tribuna de los Pobres. Finally, we recommend that you try to find a seat in the Alameda Principal in order to enjoy the procession of La Expiración and appreciate both the components of its cortege and the immense artistry of its tronos. If you wish to see one of the tronos returned to its temple, we suggest you watch El Rico in Calle Cister at about 01:00.
The processions of this day are:
PAST SIMPLE AND PAST CONTINUOUS
"Jealous Guy" is a song by John
Lennon from The
Beatles. Jealous is an adjective that describes a person
who wants what other people have.
The song is good to practice English because it uses the past continuous.
Beatles. Jealous is an adjective that describes a person
who wants what other people have.
The song is good to practice English because it uses the past continuous.
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