Professional Documents
Culture Documents
RoEnRo - Year I - No 1 - September 2013 - January 2014
RoEnRo - Year I - No 1 - September 2013 - January 2014
RoEnRo - Year I - No 1 - September 2013 - January 2014
Be Multicultural !
A SPOOKY-SPOOKY-SPOOKYLICIOUS
HALLOWEEN 2013
La Tomatina
Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.
(Vincent Lombardi)
To Be or Not to Be Rich ?
Contact: gabritruth@yahoo.co.uk
Gabriela Pachia
Sunt acceptate reproduceri de texte, destinate strict utiliz@rii / cit@rii justificate n
interes }tiin]ific / pedagogic, cu precizarea obligatorie a sursei.
Edi]ia online: http://www.colegiulbanatean.ro
ISBN 978-606-614-084-3
Editura Waldpress / Waldpress Publishing House, Timi}oara, 2014
My name is Alex Szll, I am 23 years old, I study at the West University of Tim}oara, where I am in the
American Studies MA programme and, dear readers, I was once in your shoes, so to speak. Im writing
these lines with the mixture of pride and nostalgia that characterises ex-high school students who loved
every bit of their time in high school. If theres one thing I can say without a shadow of a doubt, its that Id
do it all over again if I had the chance. Why? Because, to me, high-school was EPIC! I know, Americans
have a tendency to use this term in conjunction with everything they like, but in my case, it is absolutely
true! This little piece of storytelling, mixed with some advice, will hopefully show you all why.
Theres no secret in the fact that where there is change, restlessness will follow. In my case, the situation
was blown out of proportion by the fact that I knew myself to be different. You know those high-school
movies you see all the time, with the typical, awkward geek? Well, thats me. Add the fact that I was born
with Cerebral Palsy (basically, brain damage that typically affects limb control and reflexes), and you get a
picture-perfect awkward nerd. When I found out I was officially going to be a part of CNB, I was hyped.
Thats the most accurate description of my feelings that I can conjure. I was going through a melting pot
of feelings clashing with one another. Above all, curiosity reigned. I was one step ahead. One step further
into my future. How that was going to affect me, I did not know for certain. What was I going to learn?
How would that change who I had been up to that moment? But I am as certain of the answers to these
questions nowadays as I was uncertain at the time that I asked them.
Let me assure you, if theres a 4-year period in my humble, nerdy existence that Id relive over and over
again, its my high-school years. Why? Because, in their essence, I believe they were about much more
than the educational process itself. It was during my high -school years that I learned everything there was
to learn about the one thing that should define every young persons life, in my view: friendship.
Friendship should be the number one catalyst in the daily life of a high -school student. Yes, it is very
important to dedicate a significant amount of time to studying, to being at the top of your game. What is
essential, though, is to realise you are doing that as a part of a group, and no group can function without
strong bonding. Thats what made my high-school days memorable. In other words, dont just go to school
like youre only supposed to learn the info in your class, read from your books, take notes, and then go
home, trying to figure it all out after a day of dull writing and even more brain-numbing reading. Find
reasons to enjoy every moment spent there, and broaden your knowledge beyond the things that
teachers tell you during classes. Usually, there are no better reasons to enjoy high-school than your
classmates, so, by all means, find joy in their company, talk to them, every day, about all kinds of things,
share your interests, swap jokes, become artists at hanging out, as the Americans like to say it. If theres
one period in education that celebrates youth at its finest, most beautifully complex stage, it is high-school.
It is the essence of adolescence (rhyme unintended) and should be celebrated as such. Be yourselves,
with all that this implies. Ask questions, for they will lead to answers that might very well have an impact
in your future life. State your opinions, for they will reveal your personality, which is the main aspect you
should be trying to form in high-school. Some of the most impactful moments in my life have happened in
high-school, with friendship at their core, as though it were the Sun, giving light and warmth to every
moment. It is not by accident that I compare friendship to the Sun, for they are both essential in life. Both
are beautiful, both are complex, both nurture, both shine.
My high-school friends truly were my Sun, for I knew, even in my darkest of times, that I could count
on them to show me the bright side. I knew I was not alone, and I got my strength back through their
unity and humour. My classmates were those who taught me the one essential piece of truth that has
defined me since graduating high-school: there is no humour inside of a person who cannot laugh at
themselves. Teenagers are all about fun, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, so try to make
everything fun in high-school, including the process of studying. Be creative, and if you dont find everything
youd like inside yourselves, then look for yourselves inside of everything around you, and set your sights
upon those things that represent you the best. And REMEMBER, REMEMBER, REMEMBER everything!
High-school, if lived accordingly, is the period with the most awesome memories youll ever have, and thus, no
moment should be left to fly by without an emotion attached to it. Seize every opportunity you get, be it a
chance for a good grade, a field trip, a project or simply a party together with your classmates! All these
could well become moments to remember for years and years after you have graduated, and thus, they
should not be wasted, but lived with all the intensity that characterises teenage souls. I remember every
single moment that I spent enjoying myself in the company of my classmates, who did everything in their
power (and they have plenty of that, I assure you), to make me feel like I was an essential part of their
boisterous, fun-loving group. If theres one reason why my awkward shyness is (largely) gone, that reason
came to me in the form of 30 people who saw everything that was a part of me (including my odd tendency to
address them in English all of the time), and accepted it as it was. I felt at ease whenever I would be
around them, the simple presence of their positive energy being enough to make me feel as though I
were able to move mountains. I recall all their antics with great fondness and a fair bit of nostalgia, and I truly
believe that those years were the ones that helped me the most in opening up to people. When there are
people around who reach out in pure friendship, with all the honesty and solidarity that characterises the
notion, one cant help opening themselves more. You, dear readers, can take my word for it, theres seldom a
more likely place for building the foundation of lifetime friendships than high-school. I know for certain that the
people I am proud to call friends for a lifetime are those I met during my high-school years, and I believe it is no
mere coincidence that friendships like these take place during such an important phase of ones education.
For, in my view, education is not simply about the curricular side of things. It is about instilling values
meant to guide, to inspire, and those values can be acquired from anyone who has a positive impact on
ones life. Anyone that inspires educates, and as such, if youre open, you can learn a great deal of things
from your teachers and from your fellow students. The big picture, so to speak is that you should NEVER
go to school and then say I havent learned anything new today. If youre among people that inspire you,
theres no chance of that happening. Every moment spent in high-school, and any other environment, for
that matter, is one that can offer endless possibilities to learn. Challenge yourselves, explore, discover.
High-school can tell you as much about yourselves as you can tell others about it. It is one of the most
intense chapters in the great book that is your life, and whats awesome about it is the fact that youre the
ones who get to write it. Think of it this way: youre given the opportunity to write the most mind -blowing
story youve ever read. Its all in your power, and you have all the things you need to put it together in
four years. Quite an interesting creative endeavour, is it not? Well, at your ages, theres surely a tendency to
appreciate larger-than-life stories, and high-school is a tremendous opportunity to write one, with everything
there is to it: a journey, moments of humour, surprising twists and turns, tears, fears, dreams, places,
personalities, love, loyalty, confessions, secrets, allies, rites of passage, courage, hope, solidarity, honesty,
trust, respect, attitude, gratitude and all the fine things that make up this marvelous collection of happenings
that reveal youth in all its glory. For four years, you have the chance of a lifetime: that of becoming heroes
in your own epic stories. To any open mind, this is a welcome challenge, one that invites the mind and
spirit to grow. One of the concepts that you may be familiar with is that of a bildungsroman, a novel that
is centered around the evolution of its protagonist from a moral / social point of view. I was making an
analogy about writing a mindblowing story earlier on. In my view, the bildungsroman is the most revealing
and rewarding kind of novel, and thus, my advice to all of you who are reading these words is to do your best
Endless Memories
Endless Memories
to make these high-school years an awesome chapter in the great bildungsroman that life is. Be heroes,
inspire your classmates and teachers just as much as they inspire you. Be ready for ups and downs, and face
them all with the same courage. Do not strive for perfection, but do whatever is in your power to become the
best you there is every single day. Find joy in every achievement, humour in every obstacle and an
opportunity in every challenge that comes during these four years.
Most of you are probably thinking a lot about the last year of high-school, the one that comes with the
supreme test of your knowledge. The BAC exam is crucial. However, that does not mean it is to be
looked upon with the fear of impending doom running through your veins. Rather, you should spend
some time preparing yourselves for it every day. Since I want to go on with the whole epic story thread,
imagine the exam as the opportunity to be in charge of a battle . A battle with very personal stakes, but one
you know for certain you can win. The only requirement is that you are well-prepared for it, that your skills are
sharp enough to guarantee a resounding victory, one that will open the gate to all of your future dreams of
success. See it not as an obstacle that is impossible to overcome but as an opportunity that is impossible
to refuse. Every good opportunity comes with some requirements that must be taken into consideration,
and thus, it is only natural that the greatest opportunity of your immediate future should require your
seriousness. Treat it seriously, and you shall have no reasons to be nervous about it when the big day comes.
Be organised in your preparation and favourable consequences shall appear, without a shadow of a doubt.
Assure yourselves that there is no room for uncertainty in your knowledge (we were talking about a
battle, werent we?), so that the future appears exactly as youve always wanted to be.
This is the part in your bildungsroman that should reveal how prepared you are to step into the future,
so do it with the greatest amount of courage and confidence you can summon. This exam is ultimately a test of
how much you really want to have a great future ahead of yourselves. The future is not really that far away
when you come to think of it. It is always in your hands, to do with it as you choose. If that doesnt give
you a feeling of power, I dont know what else will! Just close your eyes and think about it for a few moments:
YOU are those who have the power to shape your future exactly as you choose to. Tell yourselves that at all
times, and you will be motivated enough to start doing it. Make sure you remember that you should fear
nothing and regret even less. Your high-school years should be deeply enrooted in the 4 Ls that are, in my
view, the core of adolescent life: Live, Laugh, Learn, and LOVE. Learn to LOVE, and not only in the
romantic, Hollywoodian way thats been around for so long its become a clich. Love everything and everyone
that gives you the will to carry on being yourselves, dear readers. Do everything you can to spread positive
energy around, and you will be rewarded with moments fit for telling your grandchildren about! At all
times, remember that your choices and opinions matter now more than ever, for they shall have a great deal of
influence upon you in the future. Do not hesitate to act when you have the chance to do so, there are moments
that come only once, and, as said before, this should not be a time for regrets. This 4-year period is your big
moment. Make it as big as youve always wanted your life to be. Never lose the curiosity that you
experienced on your first day as high-school students, and always think of the last day, the moment of your
graduation, as an open door towards your desired future, and pave your way through these 4 unique
years in the most authentic manner you could possibly think of. I did so the best I could, and came to the
conclusion that there is no period in my life more filled with pure emotion, richer in beautiful, heartwarming
memories that still live inside of me and will do so for a long time from now on. If there is one place
where I learned to value the beautiful, inspiring truth that is known as friendship, the gentle force that
binds souls for an eternity, then, in my case, that place is high-school. However great Bacovia might be
considered in Romanian literature, I believe his description of high-school as a cemetary of youth is way off,
so to speak, in my case. I was part of a class of huge-hearted, united and merry people who did their best to
make me feel like I belonged with them every single day. I owe them all of the smiles that I showed in that
period and I would do for them all they did for me and much more, for they, who showed me their best
sides, deserve all the best that life has to offer. It is because of them, as well as all the teachers who guided
my journey through high-school, that I can write these lines for all of you, with all of the gratitude in the
Universe towards those who have inspired them, and tell you all to experience this time in your lives as fully
as possible. Once you do so, you shall be certain of having written the most epic story of your lives. How?
The answer to that is very simple: just like me, when the story reaches the epilogue, and you will have
closed the book, the characters and their evolution will still be alive in your minds and hearts!
With respect and nostalgia,
Alex Szll
Diana Strmbu
Grade: 9th Philology 2
Be Multicultural !
human communication is founded on these entwined basic feelings: trust and the feeling that ones value is
acknowledged (MucAc, 92; 246). Multicultural life is rendered possible by the individuals consciousness of the
inestimable value of their identitary symbols, on condition that they intentionally participate in the intercultural
dialogue, that they possess flexible thinking and place themselves within the unifying sphere of Meaning.
Intercultural communication affects the interlocutors way of thinking, the production and exchange of
culturally-established meanings, since the concept of culture is a concept of value (T. Parson). The new
identitary models imply: the imitation of the European thinking model as the ideological ingredient of the
globalising processess (ZpE, 182; a language, a universal means communication, the internationalisation of
the vocabulary, the languages which substantialise a peoples cultural specificity must surrender to one
language, which nowadays is represented by the English language (lingua franca ZpE, 184); the language of
technology, of the computer; the resubiectivisation of the individual by means of free choices; a new kind of
socialisation, double-oriented, in order to entangle the ens in society structures while allowing society to enter
into mans soul (...) globalisation and mondialisation, if we change our way of being, should also change our
way of thinking, of building ourselves (ZpE, 188).
The thematic areas of the globalised communication include:
1. Pragmasemantic aspects of communication : emotional meanings, argumentative roles, illocutionary
functions, implicit meanings, the extra/linguistic context;
2. Rhetorical aspects of communication : the tropes, the figures of thought, logical fallcies / sophisms; the
political, journalistc, didactic discourse;
3. New media / communication technologies and the related anthropological mutations : cyber-culture and
cyberspace, virtual communities, the second orality, the recreation of the text in context, interprofessional
culture;
4. Re-/Deconstruction of identities : the discourse on identity and cultural diversity; writing the multicultural
self in the media; new conceptions of knowledge, the third culture, interideological communication and the
principle of plurimondism / cross-cultural communication (G. Gardner) etc.;
5. Sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics ;
6. Attitudes towards the critics of the globalised communication : tautism (Sfez), semblance (Baudrillard),
solitary interactants (Wolton) etc.
Multicultural education relates to education and instruction designed for the cultures of several
different races in an educational system. The education for multiculturality envisages building up knowledge,
consensus / harmony, respect for coexisting cultures, interaction and communication between different
cultures (the reduction of ignorance, fears, uninvolvement / personal detachment, disownership), banning
cultural / racial / minoritary / gender prejudices / stereotypes. By closing gaps, by raising consciousness about
the past, multiculturalism tries to restore a sense of wholeness in a postmodern era that fragments human life
and thought (TrotM, 9-10), starting from the harmonious modulation of relationships which represent the
foundations on which various human communities display their existential rituals (PaRe, 13). Although a great
part of our world, as well as of the social psychology researchers, regards multiculturality / interculturality with
skepticism, new concepts redefine life in communities: transculturalism, cross-culturalism, inter/cultural
competences, ethnocultural empathy, Europeanism, cultural diversity, multiculturalism / multikulti,
pluriculturalism, polyethnicity, parallel societies etc. Among the methodological suggestions concerning
the education for multiculturality, we can mention: emphasising similarities rather than differences to dwell
on cultural differences is to foster negative prejudices and stereotypes, and that is human nature to view those
who are different as inferior, we are more alike than different (BennC, 29) , generating a sense of
belonging / the communion culture, avoiding the reiteration of prejudices, stereotypes, bigotry, racism,
respecting historical truths / avoiding idyllic / unrealistic / colour-blinding perspectives, preventing
frustration and heightened resentment, the sense of inferiority / alienation / divisiveness / being atypical
multiculturalism is in fact not about minorities but is about the proper terms of relationship between
different cultural communities, which means that the standards by which the communities resolve their
differences, e.g., the principles of justice must not come from only one of the cultures but must come
through an open and equal dialogue between them (PaRe, 13) , creating a multicultural curriculum, a
learning environment that supports positive interracial contact, teacher training, presenting alternative points
of view (BennC, PiHiRx), fostering cultural pluralism within racial societies (TrotM, 10). In order to add
attractivity to the theoretical content of the curriculum, thus adapting it to the demands of the education for
multiculturality, we have designed chains of interactive learning activities such as Traditional Food Around the
World, Be Multicultural , Good Luck, Bad Luck, Globalisation, including high-school didactic resources.
We had in view enriching knowledge, adding suggestive imagery to the lessons in the handbook, enhancing the
English linguistic potential of the high-school students journey, therefore being an attractive topic for the
debates during the educational classes as well.
COUNTRY
NATIONALITY / PEOPLE
LANGUAGE
1.
PLACES / SIGHTS
CLOTHES
LANGUAGE
Flamenco
Flamenco
style
style
The Louvre
The Louvre
Museum
Museum
Haggis
Haggis
Spaghetti
Spaghetti
Bolognese
Bolognese
llrik
ingsta
rmm
urstr
S
The Louvre
Museum
e
te
Gut ag!
ssGu
a !
A le rtstt g
Alle eburts
u
G
Geb
zum
zum
ry
y
Mer rmas!!
Mert mas
s
iist
hr
r
Ch
C
Mussakas /
Moussaka
KalimEr
a
a
amili
ada F
Sagr
La
Dirndl
s
dresse
k
Teekkrler!
ing
Malmo Turn
r
Torso Towe
Buenosd
das,
Buenos das,
seorD
Daz.C
Cmo
seor Daz. Cmo
se
est?
est?
est
Muy bien. Y tu?
Muy bien. Y tu?
dress
Saya
Chicken
Yahniya
Ba
.
.
.
Dobar vecher.
Dobar vecher.
The Brand
enburg
Gate
Bratwrste
mit Pretzels
Ayasofya /
Hagia Sophia
ncian
Vale lla
Pae
T he C
oloss
T he A
cropo
lis
eum
Crinoline
Talar du
engelska?
Mille-fe
uille
Zlatn pyas /
Zlatnii pyas atsi) /
atsi)
a
ea /
a e ll /
anl
Foust n as
Foust solias
T
Tsoli
kla
va
traditions. For example, wed rather eat pork at Christmas, while the Americans have turkey. It is
recommendable to respect such national or group habits. Lets see how cosmopolitan you are. Lets go
through the quizz.
Think of the superstitions you know as active in some parts of the world. Then fill in the gaps with the
objects or beings which are considered as bringing good / bad luck.
1. Black ............... are lucky, say the British superstitions.
2. In Hawaii a driver should not carry ............... in their car when driving on the Pali Highway since it offences
demigod Kamapua (half-man, half-pig).
3. In Romania, if you spill ............... you will definitely quarrel with somebody.
4. The Chinese throw ............... at wedding for future fertility.
5. Filipinos never take a ............... with 3 people since it will result in the middle person dying first.
6. In some Mediterranean countries, you may give the evil ............... to babies if you praise them too much.
7. In many countries, in Romania as well, the ............... sweeper is thought to bring good luck.
8. Touch ............... is supposed to prevent bad luck in many Christian countries.
9. In France they dont place a ............... on a bed or a table not to have bad luck.
10. The Turks believe that leaving a pair of ............... open in the household will cause much conflict.
7) DECORATING THE CLASSROOM:
The students decorate the classroom with their most representative summer pictures. They create a
pleasant / friendly atmosphere, involving their own summer experiences. They can vote for the most beautiful
summer photograph.
8) SONG LISTENING: From London to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmzKos4cVxE.
Paris
from
Ali
Zafar,
Sunidhi
Chauhan
shrimps all over Asia. Lets remember some more national foods all over the world! In fact, some food
stereotypes!
The students work in pairs. They fill in with the proper national dishes. Use online dictionaries and
images on http://www.google.com/imghp whenever necessary.
1. Cheddar the most famous of the British ............... .
2. ............... is a dish of southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand) consisting of strips of
marinated meat, poultry, or seafood grilled on skewers and dipped in peanut sauce.
3. One of the most popular types of ring-shaped pasta (stuffed with meat, cheese or vegetables) is called
................ .
4. Eaten in North Africa, a national dish in Algeria, ............... is a versatile granular type of pasta, used an
accompaniment to meat, fish, cooked vegetables or tagines.
5. Traditional ............... is a dish popular in the Balkan region of Southeastern Europe, being a mixture of
ground meats (lamb, pork, beef or veal grilled with onions).
6. Black ............... , a type stronger in flavour, is known as red ............... in Mandarin Chinese ( hngch) and
the languages of neighbouring countries.
7. Which would you try? Peking ............... as in China or New York, smoked and fried, with apple-honey sauce,
sweet bean sauce and wild rice, .......... l'orange (roasted and served with an orange sauce), roast ...............
breast on braised red cabbage in Romania?
8. The Mexican tortilla is a kind of thin ............... , folded around a filling such as ground meat or cheese.
9. Pierogi ruskie, a national dish of Poland, are Ruthenian Christmas dumplings with dried ............... .
10. In Canada and the United States, ............... syrup is used to flavour pancakes, waffles, French toast, fritters,
ice cream, hot cereal, fresh fruit, cakes, pies, breads, tea, coffee, sausages, the ............... leaf being otherwise
present on the flag of Canada.
3) GROUP WORK WATCHING A PPS: FOOD AROUND THE WORLD FILL IN:
e.g. T: If I say pizza, youll say...
S: Italy.
T: If I say chili pepper, youll say...
S: Mexico.
The students divide into 2 groups. They fill in the worksheet:
GROUP 1: EXAMINERS write NAME OF THE COUNTRY
GROUP 2: CHEFS write 3 TYPICAL/NATIONAL FOODS.
They use the visual / linguistic prompts. Then the students report their findings, putting them together.
They read the name of the 10 countries and exemplify typical foods.
COUNTRY
1.
Mexican Curry Puffs
Mexican Curry Puffs
Mexican Curry Puffs
Mexican Tortillas
Mexican Tortillas
Mexican Tortillas
Vietnamese Food
Vietnamese Food
Vietnamese Food
Turkish Food
Turkish Food
Turkish Food
Mexican Tacos
Mexican Tacos
Mexican Tacos
Easter. Lets find some other foods people eat on certain occasions, depending on their religion,
traditions, area of the world etc.
The students fill in the missing information on the cultural references to food, using the clues in the
given sentences:
1. It would be wise to bear in mind that ..............., shellfish, and alcohol are forbidden in many Arab countries.
2. If youve invited a Hindu round for dinner, it wouldnt please them to be presented with a plate of beef, as
............... are sacred in the Hindu religion.
3. Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding are served in the United Kingdom as part of a traditional ............... roast.
4. Panettone is a large, round yeasted fruitcake from Italy, traditionally eaten at ............... and ............... .
5. Shrove ............... or Pancake Day (Mardi Gras, Fat or Grease .............. in France and the United States) is
the day before Easter Lent. 'Shrove' means being forgiven for wrong-doings.
6. ............... dinner in the United States and Canada is a large meal, generally centered around a large roasted
turkey.
7. On our birthdays we enjoy having tort or ............... .
8. Red, yellow, white, black, and ............... are to be found in any full-course Korean meal.
9. During the period of ..............., when fasting lasts from sunrise to sunset sufoor and iftar , the Muslims
traditionally eat light, nutritious meals, containing breads, cheeses, fresh vegetables, pistachios, nuts, fruits such
as dates (the food Muhammad ate when he broke from his fast).
10. Most Buddhists follow a strict . diet, not be responsible for the death of any living organism.
5) JOKE FILL IN PREPOSITIONS DISCUSS WHERE IT FITS:
There are two cows (1) ............ a field somewhere (2) ............ Britain. One cow says (3) ............ the other,
Arent you worried (4) ............. it all? The second cow replies, Worried? (5) ............ what? You know, says
the first cow, what they are saying (6) ............ us (7) ............ the newspapers and (8) ........... TV. What are they
saying? asks the second cow. You know, answers the first cow, that we cows are all a bit mad and that we
suffer (9) ........... Mad Cow Disease. The second cow replies, Whats that got to do (10) .......... me? Im a
duck!
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Preyer, G., Borderlines in a Globalized World, in New Perspectives in a Sociology of the World-System, vol. 9, 2002 (sigle: PreB).
Prodromou, Luke, First Certificate Star. Students Book, Macmillan, Heinemann, London, 2003, pp. 31-41, 92-99, 134-139.
Putnam, Robert D., E Pluribus Unum: Diversity and Community in the 21st Century , in Scandinavian Political Studies, No. 30 (2), 2007.
Rusu, Hora]iu, Schimbare social@ }i identitate sociocultural@ , Ia}i, Institutul European, 2008.
Taylor, Kathleen, Sp@larea creierului. {tiin]a manipul@rii, Bucharest, Paralela 45 Publishing House, 2007 (sigle: TaySc).
Trotman, C. James, Multiculturalism: Roots and Realities, Indiana University Press, 2002, pp. 9-10 (sigle: TrotM).
Z@prtan, Liviu, Este globalizarea ideologizabil@? (Sarmalele cu m@m@ligu]@ }i globalizarea), JSRI, No.5 / 2003, pp. 178-196 (sigle: Z@pE).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiculturalism
http://www.createwisconsin.net
http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/
http://www.etsu.edu
http://www.globalresearch.ca
Mdlina Liedl
Most people are satisfied with the junk food being sold as music. (Billy Joel)
Coke
Coke
Red meats
Red meats
White bread and cakes
cakes
White bread and cakes
French fries
French fries
Dried coconut
Dried coconut
Butter
Butter
Chocolates
Chocolates
Cream and icecream
Cream and icecream
Processed cheese
Processed cheese
Cora Petric
Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian, wine and tarragon make it French,
sour cream makes it Russian, lemon and cinnamon make it Greek,
soy sauce makes it Chinese, garlic makes it good. (Alice May Brock)
Tandoori Chicken (Spicy Barbecued Chicken)
Vietnamese Food
Mexican Tortillas
Mexican Tacos
Ingredients
2 pounds boneless chicken thighs or breasts, skin removed
cup plain yogurt
2 teaspoons turmeric, ground
1 teaspoon paprika
teaspoon chili powder
teaspoon garlic powder
teaspoon salt
teaspoon garam masala (optional)
1 lemon
Onion slices (optional)
Procedure
Prick each piece of chicken with a fork, rub the pieces with salt black pepper.
fork, rub
In a separate bowl, combine the yogurt, ground turmeric, paprika, chili powder,
paprika,
garlic powder, salt, and garam masala. Mix well.
Drop each piece of chicken into a bowl, coat with yogurt mixture.
bowl,
Place the chicken in a glass baking dish, cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 1hour.
dish,
Preheat the oven to 350F. Bake the chicken, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes.
350
30When thoroughly cooked, place the chicken on a serving plate.
Slice the lemon, squeeze the juice on top before serving. Top with sliced onions.
lemon,
onions.
Ingredients
1 cup butter or margarine at room temperature
cup heavy cream
cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 pound cooked pasta, such as fettuccini
Salt, pepper, and ground nutmeg to taste
Procedure
Cook pasta according to directions on package. Warm a serving bowl in the
bowl
oven set to the lowest temperature until ready to use.
Place butter or margarine in a mixing bowl, and using a wooden spoon, beat
spoon,
until light and fluffy. Gradually add cream and mix until well blended.
blended.
Add the cheese by Tablespoon, beating well after each addition.
Using oven mitts, remove the heated serving bowl from oven and place on a
place
heatproof work surface.
Place the drained, cooked pasta in the warm bowl and add cheese mixture.
Make sure all the pasta is coated with the sauce.
Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste and continue to coat pasta.
pasta.
Serve while very hot with a side dish of grated cheese.
The dish goes well with a green salad, Italian dressing and warm garlic bread.
salad,
Ingredients
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon fish sauce
Small amount of oil or coconut milk
Fresh coriander leaves
Lettuce leaves
Turkish Food
Food Poisoning
Poisoning
Additives in Supermarkets
RED:
RED: against ovarian
RED: against ovarian
and pancreatic cancer
and pancreatic cancer
ORANGE: against
ORANGE:
ORANGE: against
stomach, breast and
stomach, breast and
ovarian cancer
ovarian cancer
YELLOW: against
YELLOW:
YELLOW: against
esophageal and stomach
esophageal and stomach
cancer
cancer
GREEN: against lung,
GREEN: against lung,
GREEN:
stomach, breast and
stomach, breast and
ovarian cancer
ovarian cancer
NEUTRAL (WHITE):
NEUTRAL (WHITE):
(WHITE):
DISEASES
brain damage, nerve-cell deterioration / inhibition, hyperactivity,
nerveheadaches, schizophrenia, Dementia and Alzheimers, depression,
Alzheimer
lack of energy, extreme fatigue, poor concentration / drowsiness,
drowsiness,
encephalopathy / brain rotting disease
vitamin depletion, cramps, leaky bowels / anal leakage, food dye
dye
sticks to liquids, malnutrition, deficiency (of vital nutrients, oxygen,
proteins, vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K), stomach irritation,
obesity, liver disease, inability to control appetite, fat deposits
deposits
lung / skin / bladder / lymphatic tumours / cancer
infertility, birth defects, miscarriage, major organ damage, growth
growth
problems, muscle weakness (growth), tooth decay
kidneys damage
hearing loss, blurred vision
asthma
artery-clogging, heart diseases, heart attack, stroke
artery- clogging,
immune system disorder
(premature) DEATH / additives kill slowly if ingested regularly
Food Additives
Acids
Acidity regulators
Anticaking agents
Antifoaming agents
Antioxidants
Bulking agents
Food colouring
Colour retention
agents
Emulsifiers
Flavour enhancers
Flour treatment
agents
Glazing agents
Humectants
Tracer gas
Preservatives
Stabilizers
Sweeteners
Thickeners
When diet
is wrong,
medicine is
of no use.
When diet is
correct,
medicine is
of no need.
need.
(Ancient
Ayurvedic
proverb)
WORLD FOOD DAY 16th October 2013, Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security & Nutrition
The International Symposium Nutritive Education and the Contemporary Challenges / The Project We Cherish Health,
Fifth Edition, Liceul Tehnologic de Industrie Alimentar Timioara, 15th November 2013, Partners: M.E.C.T.S., I..J. Timi, C.J.
Timi, Facultatea de Tehnologie a Produselor Alimentare Timioara, Facultatea de Management Agricol, Facultatea de Medicin
Veterinar Timioara, Direcia de Sntate Public Timi, IDREA COOP Italia, FIDEAS SRL OFFIDA, ITALIA, Colegiul Naional C.
D. Loga, Liceul cu Program Sportiv Banatul, coala cu clasele I-VIII Racovia (ISSN 2344-5890, ISSN-L 2344-5890)
Bibliography
Craving for junk food inherited Mothers who eat junk food during pregnancy may be condemning their children to crave the same diet, according to animal tests,
BBC News, 14 August 2007.
Goodwin, Jenifer, Junk Food Addiction May Be Real, Business Week, March 29, 2010.
Junk food ad crackdown announced, BBC News. 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6154600.stm. 2006.
Johnson, Paul M.; Kenny, Paul J., Dopamine D2 receptors in addiction-like reward dysfunction and compulsive eating in obese rats, Nature Neuroscience.
doi:10.1038/nn.2519, 2010.
ONeill, Brendon (November 30, 2006), Is this what you call junk food?, BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine, June 29, 1010.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthy_eating_pyramid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_additive
http://lancaster.unl.edu/food
http://nativeharvest.com
http://ro.stiri.yahoo.com/dr-oz-culorile-alimentelor-care-te-feresc-cancer-084641566.html
http://www.brainyquote.com
http://www.dontgetmewrong.org/2012/01/junk-foodthe-real-junk.html
http://www.famous-quotes.com
http://www.fastfoodcenter.com/junk-food.html
http://www.foodmatters.tv/articles-1/8-additives-from-the-us-that-are-banned-in-other-countries
http://www.homelifeweekly.com
http://www.natural-health-restored.com/unhealthy-foods.html
http://www.pyramiddesignsllc.com
http://www.quotegarden.com
http://www.quotationspage.com
http://www.worldofquotes.com
Shooting stars
Superstition about guessing the desire for a shooting star is somewhat doubtful. The Europeans believed that the
gods sometimes look down, and when they are pushing for this, heavens and the stars begin to fall. The Greeks
believed that the shooting stars were the souls of the people, and made a wish about something they desired. If
you make a wish on a falling star, your wish will come true.
Umbrella indoors
One explanation comes to us from the days when umbrellas were used as protection from the sun. Opening an
umbrella indoors was considered an affront to the god of the sun, and he could punish you by means of failure.
An umbrella protects from lifes troubles, thus, by opening it in the house, you are insulting the brownies (which
also protect you from lifes troubles), they may be offended and leave.
disappears from the body during a sneeze and the heart stops for a moment. Hence the phrase bless you was a
way to greet the man who has come back to life. If you sneeze on a Monday, you sneeze for danger; Sneeze on a
Tuesday, kiss a stranger; Sneeze on a Wednesday, sneeze for a letter; Sneeze on a Thursday, something better;
Sneeze on a Friday, sneeze for sorrow; Sneeze on a Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow; Sneeze on a Sunday,
and the devil will have domination over you all week.
Four-leaf clover
According to tradition, such the four-leaf clover brings good luck to the finders, especially if found accidentally.
Each leaf represents something: the first is for faith, the second is for hope, the third is for love, and the fourth is
for luck. In some traditions, it has also been used to find a husband or a wife. The magic works like this: first you
have to find a clover with four leaves, then you have to eat it (or put in your shoe). After that, you need strength
and good luck to activate the first person you meet, and that person will be your future husband or wife.
Itchy palms
The idea of having an itchy palm generally refers to someone who is greedy or has an insatiable desire for money.
Some people believe that if the right palm itches, you will lose money, while an itchy left palm means that money
is coming your way. If both palms itch, you may want to go to a doctor for that.
Barn owls
In ancient times, barn owls were considered bad omens and witchcraft objects. Their sharp hearing explains their
prey hunt even in the darkest areas.
The threshold
The husband should carry his wife over the threshold of their home. Still, never talk or give objects to someone
over the threshold.
The ladder
It is believed that walking under a ladder is a sign of bad luck. It was believed to be an insult to God since a ladder
leaning agains a wall formed a triangle which symbolised the Holy Trinity.
Salt
A European superstition holds spilling salt to be an evil omen. Judas Iscariot spilled the salt at the Last Supper. Salt
was also a valuable commodity in ancient times, a symbol of trust and friendship. A German proverb said,
whoever spills salt arouses enmity. Salt is also a religious symbol of sanctity and protection, used to make holy
water in the Roman Catholic Church rite. The remedy is throwing or tossing a pinch of salt over our left shoulder
to repel evil or a demon. The belief in the ill luck coming from salt spilt on the table goes back to ancient Rome. In
the Greek folklore, salt is used to chase out an unwanted human guest by sprinkling salt behind them. It is also
customary to sprinkle salt in a new home before you occupy it, driving evil out and away from your family.
Rainbow
If a rainbow appears on your wedding day, you will have a successful and happy marriage. The proverb also says
that there is a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow. A double rainbow is considered double luck.
Daisies
Pulling the daisy petals and repeatedly saying He loves me, he loves me not until the last petal has been pulled
out result in finding a Yes or No answer to the girls question, Does he love me?. Similarly, by picking a bunch
of daisies with her eyes shut, a girl will find out how many years she has until marriage. English milkmaids placed
daisy roots under their pillows to help them dream of love. If daisies were dreamt of in the spring, the person was
supposed to have months of good luck. Dreams of daisies in the fall, however, would bring months of bad luck.
Great Britain
Mistletoe in the house protects it from thunder and lightning. It also cures diseases, as an antidote to poison,
bringing good luck and fertility. A girl standing under a mistletoe cannot refuse to be kissed by anyone who
claims the privilege.
In ancient Britain, women carried acorns in their pockets to stay looking young. The oak tree was believed to
provide longevity and, accordingly, to ward off illness.
Each falling leaf caught in autumn symbolises one lucky month in the year to come.
In mediaeval England, expectant mothers made a Groaning Cheese a large wheel of cheese that matured
for nine months as the baby grew. When birth time came, the cheese was shared out amongst the family.
When nothing but the outer rind was left, the baby was passed through the wheel of cheese on Christening
day to be blesses with a long and prosperous life.
The 19th-century English men avoided salads if they wanted to start a family. It was suggested that since
lettuce was a sterile plant, it would also make men sterile.
In Great Britain, black cats are seen as lucky and are often given in token form to brides. The Scottish believe
that a strange black cats arrival to the home signifies prosperity. In Celtic mythology, a fairy known as the Cat
Sth takes the form of a black cat.
In England, meeting a spotted or black and white dog on the way to a business appointment is a lucky sign.
Old, new, borrowed and blue is a popular wedding tradition from the Victorian era, and it refers to giving the
bride the four gifts. Something old symbolises eternity, something new symbolises hope and the future, the
borrowed thing symbolises happiness, while the latter should be blue to bring purity, love and devotion. Also,
if a bride throws her bouquet and a single woman catches it, the latter will be the next one to get married.
On the first day of the month, it is lucky to say white rabbits, white rabbits, white rabbits before saying your
first word of the day.
Cutting your hair when the moon is waxing brings good luck.
After eating a boiled egg, push the spoon through the bottom of the empty shell to let the devil out.
If you drop a table knife, expect a male visitor; if you drop a fork, expect a female visitor.
In some parts of the UK, meeting two or three ravens together is considered really bad. It is unlucky to see
bats flying and hear their cries. In the Middle Ages, witches were associated with bats. If a sparrow enters your
house, it means the death of a person in the house. Killing a sparrow is bad luck, they were supposed to carry
the souls of the dead. It is unlucky to see one magpie, lucky to see two etc. An owls cry indicates a nearing
death or ill-luck. A cricket in the house brings good luck. If you hear a woodpecker, rain is about to follow.
Peacock feathers in the house bring bad luck since the feathers have an eye shape, i.e. a bad persons eye.
JANUARY : Marry when the year is new, hell be loving, kind and true.
FEBRUARY : When February birds do mate, you wed nor dread your fate.
MARCH : If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both youll know.
APRIL : Marry in April if you can, joy for maiden and for man.
MAY : Marry in the month of May, youll surely rue the day.
JUNE : Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea youll go.
JULY : Those who in July do wed must labour for their daily bread.
AUGUST : Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see.
SEPTEMBER : Marry in Septembers shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
OCTOBER : If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
NOVEMBER : If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
DECEMBER : When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.
Ireland
In old Ireland, it was believed that if you left an empty rocking chair rocking, evil spirits would enter your
home and could even cause a death in the family.
Never give a present of gloves without including a little money!
Avoid complimenting a baby on its good looks just in case it might be kidnapped by the fairies!
The hand of the dead is believed to cure all diseases. The hand of the seventh son can be a cure for rabies.
The ebb tide is thought to carry away ones fever.
People who wash their faces with May morning dew will be beautiful and healthy throughout the year.
May is not a good month to start a marriage.
It is not a good sign if a magpie comes to ones door since it is considered the sign of death.
Never kill a robin redbreast since you will also kill your luck for the rest of your life.
It is not good to give a lock of hair to your loved one.
You will always win at cards if you have a crooked pin in your coat.
Russia
Mothers typically do not show their baby to anyone except the father, the midwife and other close relatives
for forty days after the baby is born.
After someone has left the house on a long journey, their room and/or their things should not be cleaned up
until they have arrived, or at least a day has passed if they are guests in a house.
On examination day, it is bad luck to make your bed, wear anything new, or cut your fingernails.
Birthday parties should be celebrated on or after ones birthday, not before. When ones birthday falls during
the week, its best to celebrate the following weekend. Never give someone gifts before their birthday!
Many Russians consider giving sharp objects, like knives or scissors, as gifts, to be taboo. You can avoid this
taboo taking symbolic little money, e.g. one Russian ruble, in exchange as if it is a trade, not a gift.
Things bought for a newborn baby (clothes, toys, furniture) should only be purchased after the baby is born.
This is usually done in a big hurry.
Before one takes an exam, someone else would say, ! which roughly translates to neither
fur, nor feather! which means good luck. To this, the one taking the exam would reply, ! which
means, Go to the Devil! or To the Devil! which is a way of securing good luck.
There is a belief that unmarried people should avoid sitting at the corner of the table. They will find difficulties
finding their life partner and will not get married.
It is considered bad luck when a cat, especially a black one, crosses in front of you while youre walking. Some
people will avoid them by chasing out or outrun the cat. If the cat already crosses you, then you have to
break the spell by spitting three times over your left shoulder to avoid the bad luck.
Sick animals were driven through fires or over the places where the fires burned the next morning to cure
them.
When giving an animal as a gift (cat, dog, bird), the receiver should give the giver a symbolic sum of money.
If a person is eating and looks in the mirror at the same time, they are eating their luck.
Before travelling a person should sit on their luggage.
If you buy flowers to thank a host in Russia, think twice about the colour and number lest you offend. Yellow
represents infidelity, while Russians give an even dozen common in the U.S. only to the dead.
Bird droppings are considered a sign of wealth. If a bird pokakala on you, your car, or on any of your stuff, its
a good sign for money. The more birds did it for you, the richer youll be. So, the next time you are on
nakakat bird, just consider it a great luck!
Ukraine
Before travelling, a person should take a moment before they leave the house and stand by their luggage.
Its bad luck to shake hands over the doorway.
Germany
It is bad luck for German sailors if someone lights his cigarette with a candle. In olden days, during bad
weather or when they were not at sea, German sailors would make matches and sell them in the local bars to
earn a living. If the locals lit their cigarette with a candle, the sailor could make their living by selling matches.
One superstition held in Germany that, if someone has difficulty dying, one may ease the process by lifting up
three tiles on the roof.
In Germany, some believe that black cats crossing a persons path from right to left is a bad omen. But from
left to right, the cat is granting favorable times.
France
The French believe that handling a loaf of bread upside-down or placing it upside-down on the table brings
hunger and bad luck to both the giver and the recipient.
A wedding on a wet day will be a successful match.
Italy
One should not walk over a child lying on the ground. It is believed that it will bring the child bad luck.
Walking over someone who is lying on the floor is like someone walking over their grave.
In Italy, number 17 is considered unlucky. When 17 is viewed as the Roman numeral, XVII, an anagram or
letters rearrangement of that spells out VIXI, which in Latin means I have lived which describes, My life is
over, or Im dead.
A hat on the bed indicates that death is near since a priest would often place his hat on the bed when reading
someones last rights.
A loaf of bread should never be turned upside down after the first slice has been cut off since the household
will experience terrible bad luck.
Spain
Italy, Spain and even Russia celebrate everlasting love with padlocks of love, fixed to bridges and, recently,
to decorative trees.
On New Years Eve, instead of kissing, the superstitious eat 12 grapes at midnight for 12 months of good luck.
Spaniards making wishes while popping grapes into their mouths strikes us outsiders as odd, locals dont think
twice.
Putting a jumper inside out brings bad luck.
Sweden
It is bad luck to place your keys on the table. In olden days, prostitutes would leave their room keys on the
bar.
Teens skip around to avoid certain manhole covers in Sweden, since they bring bad luck.
Collect seven or nine different flowers on midsummer eve and place them under your pillow and it is said that
you will dream of your future spouse.
Denmark
There is a tradition that the bride and groom must swap clothes to confuse evil spirits and prevent them from
disturbing the couple.
Poland
It is considered bad luck for woman to put her handbag or purse on the floor. Doing that will make you broke
and never have any money in it.
Iceland
It is forbidden to knit on a door step in late winter as it is believed to lengthen its duration.
Turkey
In some parts of Turkey, you have to think twice before you throw in the mouth chewing gum. There goes a
belief that if you chew it at night, it turns into a rotting corpse flesh.
The Turks believe that leaving a pair of scissors open in the household will cause much conflict.
North America
Top 5 Superstitions: Black Cat, Friday 13th, Breaking a mirror, Walking under a ladder, Stepping on a crack
U.S.A.
Many believe that the United States two-dollar bill brings bad luck. Gamblers sometimes call it a deuce, a
term for two. To undo, one of the bills corners must be torn off, forming a triangle, an ancient symbol of life.
If you receive a bill with no corners left, it must be torn all up.
Armenia
Lettuce is believed to have magical powers. Apparently it can counter the effect of wine, as well as helping
fertility and inducing childbirth.
China
According to a Chinese myth, the food a woman eats a few days before conception can determine the sex of
her child.
In China, white is associated with death/mourning. It is best to avoid sending invitations or flowers in white,
money in a white envelopes are called pak kum usually given to the family of the deceased to help with the
funeral cost.
On Chinese New Years Eve, brooms are kept out of sight.
During the Chinese New Year, you have to avoid greeting someone in their bedroom, its considered bad luck.
In order to celebrate the New Year in good luck, the elderly and sick family members will be moved from
their bedroom to the living room on that particular day.
Tetraphobia is widespread in China, Japan, Korea, Hawaii; the use of number 4 is minimised or avoided
wherever possible: the Chinese word for 4, s , sounds nearly the same as the word for death, s . Mobile
telephone numbers with 4 in them sell for less. Some buildings skip level four, labelling it the 5th floor instead.
The longer the noodles, the longer the Chinese will live. Cutting equal noodles means cutting their lives short.
The Chinese believe that the mirrors called pakua ward off the demons since the latter are afraid of seeing
themselves in the mirror. The Chineses hang pakua above the entrances to homes, hospitals, train stations.
Japan
It is believed that youll have a short life if you sleep at night with your head facing north. It is customary that
Japanese corpses are laid with their head facing north during wake ceremony.
In Japan, there is a popular belief that when you see a spider in the morning, it will bring good luck. On the
other hand, it is bad luck to come across a spider during night time.
If a comb breaks whilst in your hair, its a sign of imminent disappointment and misfortune.
Black cats are considered good luck in Japan. Furthermore, it is believed that a lady who owns a black cat will
have many suitors.
India
The evil eye can be avoided by a Nazar battu, an intentional blemish or flaw to prevent perfection, e.g. a black
mark might be made on the face or neck of a loved one.
One who eats a twin-fruit gives birth to twins.
Widows are considered unlucky.
There are many countries in the world that have superstitions associated with blinking of an eye. Sometimes
either your left eye or right eye will blink 3 times repetitively. In India, if your right eye is blinking, theres a
sign that something good will happen, but if your left eye blinks, it is not so good. But thats true only for men.
With women, the meaning of the blinking is the other way round.
Cutting nails, hair, shaving or stitching cloth after sunset is bad.
When there is a birth or death in the family, the family members should not go to a temple or light a lamp at
home, for 15 days. In case of death, they dont attend any marriages and do not celebrate festivals for a year.
An auspicious wedding date is determined by an astrologer who matches the horoscopes of the couple.
It is considered bad luck to wear new clothes when going to bed. It is often associated with the fact that
deceased people are cremated or buried in new clothes.
Philippines
It is bad luck for the bride to try on the wedding dress before the big day, the wedding will not take place.
Filipinos never take a photo with 3 people since it will result in the middle person dying first.
Indonesia
When building a house, one always avoid building a pool inside the house as it will bring bad luck to the
members of the family who will catch illnesses one after another.
People in Indonesia believe that the sparrow brings good luck. If a sparrow enters your house, a wedding will
occur soon. If a woman sees a sparrow on Valentines Day, she will live happily marrying a poor man.
In Indonesia, there is a superstition associated with giving birth. It will be unfortunate if your pregnant guest
suddenly gives birth in your house, it is believed that this will cause bad luck. When this happens, usually
people will advise them to move to another house or place to live.
It is best to avoid sweeping the house at night. There is a belief that sweeping at night will bring bad luck as
you sweep all the good luck out of your house.
Thailand
People avoid building or buying a house with the front door and the back door lined up (you can see the back
door from the front door in straight line). It is bad luck as you will not be able to keep any money in the house
since your money (wealth) will come through the front door and go straight out through the back door.
Eating cold rice mixed with hot rice should be avoided because you will lose your way when you go out.
Avoid eating the leftovers from your child because it will make the kid naughty.
If a lizard / gecko drops from the ceiling in front of you while you are leaving your house to go somewhere,
youd better stay inside and cancel the trip as the rest of the day may be disastrous.
According to popular belief, when you buy your new shoes, you have to bite them before you wear them.
This action is believed to prevent your new shoes from biting your feet.
In Thailand, white elephants were rare and were not forced to work for their upkeep, so that a White Elephant
is an item that is a nonprofit expense. Items kept in our homes as memorabilia could be considered White
Elephants. It is usual that a project or building that were not used or was abandoned is called White Elephant.
One should avoid wearing black when visiting a patient in the hospital. Black is associated with pain and
sadness and black clothing usually worn for mourning.
Do not cut the hair on Wednesday! In ancient times, people believed that Wednesday was an auspicious time,
the day of growth and development. The members of royal family and noble men preferred to have a haircut
on Wednesdays, therefore there was a rule to prohibit common people to have a haircut in the same day.
Thus, it was inauspicious to do the same activity on the same day as if you tried to compare your prestige to
the royal family. Besides, the hairdressers were not available for common people during Wednesdays since
they were brought to the palace to do the haircut for the members of royal family on Wednesdays.
If you eat the last piece of food in the plate, you will get a handsome boyfriend.
If you dream of a snake, you will meet your soul mate. If you dream about snakes wrapping itself around your
body that means your soul mate is on his/her way! In the case you already have a girlfriend/boyfriend, or you
are already married and you dreamt that you found a snake, someone is having a crush on you!
Single ladies should not sing while cooking or eating, or they will end up with an old husband! This taboo
came from the fact that the rice would be burnt (rice cookers didnt exist in the old time, and people had to
use coal) or the ladies would accidentally cut themselves with the kitchen knife while cooking. This taboo was
used to scare ladies working in the kitchen, as ladies at that time usually feared getting old husbands.
If you sneeze, it means someone is missing you or someone is talking about you.
If you are talking about someone and suddenly he/she shows up or you hear from him/her, it means that
person will live long. Thai people say words similar to the English expression speaking of the devil.
A very important Thai practice is consulting the monk or fortune teller to get the good date for wedding or
taking a new car out of the showroom, prior to installing the foundation pile for a new house, and arrange a
house-warming party.
Hawaii
It is considered bad luck to give an empty wallet or purse as a gift since it will cause financial difficulties to the
receiver. It is advisable to include some amount of money in the wallet before offering it.
From the old tale, the Hawaiian believe that bringing bananas on a boat will bring bad luck to the fisherman
such as no catch and other bad things. Most chartered boat captains will not leave the dock if you bring any
bananas with you onboard.
Mexican traditions and superstitions
Asking to have the salt passed to you in hand is seen as asking for anothers bad luck. In Spanish La Mal Sal
means the bad salt or it is used as slang for bad luck. Instead, believers of this superstition must ask for the
salt to be placed down before they can take possession.
Putting your purse on the floor or ground is seen as bad luck. Its thought of as you giving your money away.
It is best to keep the purse near you and guarded.
It is said that sweeping a single (non-married) person's feet is giving back luck. The bad luck is bad
relationships or never being married. In other words you are sweeping any luck of marriage away.
When a woman is pregnant she is to protect her unborn child from diseases, loss, and even deformation from
a full moon. To protect her unborn child she must place a safety pin as close to her belly as possible.
Never scratch an itchy palm since it signals money coming your way. Scratching drives wealth away. Instead,
you are to place money, either coins or dollar bills, in the palm and squeeze until the urge to scratch fades.
A pregnant woman is not to cut or dye her hair. By doing so, she would cut the umbilical cord or cause harm
to her unborn child.
Wearing a pearl on the wedding day means bad luck in Mexico. It is believed that if the bride wears pearls on
her wedding day, she will have bad luck and tears throughout the marriage.
If you cut a babys fingernails before he/she turns one year of age, the child will have impaired eyesight.
Brazil
Cat has been the subject of superstitions for thousand of years. In Brazil, one should never kill a cat. It is
believed that if you killed a cat, you will have seven years of bad luck.
The groom cannot see the bride in her wedding gown before the ceremony, he also cant see her gown until
she arrives for the wedding. If the groom sees the brides wedding dress before the wedding, it is bad luck.
It is believed that if a baby stands on its head, they are demanding another child must join the family.
Venezuela
Women are believed to be lucky all year round if they wear a yellow dress on New Years Eve.
Romania
Spilling salt means bad luck, having a quarrel. In order to avoid the bad luck or to prevent quarrel, one has to
throw but a pinch of salt that was spilled over the shoulder.
Spilling wine before drinking it is believed to honour the memory of the dead.
It is not good to whistle inside a house because you will lose your money.
Never hand over a wedding ring directly to some else because it brings bad luck for the marriage. One should
put the ring on the table so that the other person can pick it up. The same is true for towels, bars of soap etc.
One must avoid meeting a person who carries an empty bucket, basket, or can. If you meet someone with a
full basket, it means good luck.
A child should be wearing something red to prevent the child from bad curses, in case a person should praises
the child, saying What a nice child!, i.e. gives the evil eye. In case the child did not wear anything red, a
person who has experience has to remove the curse and will be asked to speak some formulas to remove the
bad spell. This is also why in Romania horses that pull carts carry red threads.
Bouquets must have an odd number of flowers. Thus, never give 4, 6, 8 flowers to a person since bouquets
with even numbers are for funeral ceremonies or cemeteries.
It is not good to give something to a person while standing on the threshold.
One must not put bread upside down since it will bring bad luck.
If you travel you should not turn half way even when you forget something. This will bring bad luck. In case
you want to, you have to look at yourself in the mirror and make a little grimace.
When your nose is itchy, you will have a party or festivity, an occasion to drink, or you will receive news.
If you put your books or your knitware on the bed, you wont advance in your work and you will forget
everything you have learnt.
If you laugh on Friday, you will cry on Sunday.
When your ckeeks are burning, an envious person or an enemy is talking about you.
If an eyelash falls and sticks to the face, put your finger on it, make a wish and blow on it until it falls off your
finger. It is believed your wish will come true.
If you release a ladybug, say, Wherever you may fly, there in marriage Ill take my try!
Entering or leaving your home with your left foot could bring bad luck.
The Romanians behave cautiously each Tuesday since it is marked by three hours or spells of bad luck.
Never hand someone a knife. Set it down, let them pick it up, or else you will get into a fight with that person.
If you have an unwanted guest in your home, sprinkle salt behind him to chase him out.
Overturned shoes (soles up) are considered extreme bad luck and even omens of death. Never let your shoes
lay upside down. If you accidentally take them off and they land soles up, turn them over immediately and
say Skorda (garlic) and a spit or two wont hurt either.
When two friend say the same words simultaneously, it is a Greeks belief this is an omen that those two
persons will get into a fight. As a remedy, they have to say to Piase Kokkino or Touch Red to avoid the
argument, while touching something red. Any item will do, clothing, food anything.
It is customary for Greeks to use garlic to ward off demons and evil spirits in the same manner that incense
does. Evil spirits fear garlic. If you find garlic hanging in Greek businesses or houses it is meant to ward off evil.
Having an itchy hand foretells money matters. If your right hand is itchy, you will probably get money. If your
left hand is itchy, you will give money. If both hands are itchy, you will both give and receive money.
Tuesday the 13th of the month is considered the unluckiest day of the week in Greece, being the day when
Constantinople was conquered by the Turks. On Tuesday May 29th 1453 the city of Constantinople fell to the
Osman Tribe, the Ottoman Turks. They say businesses that open on this day are doomed, so many Greeks
who believe in this superstition will not venture into a new business on a Tuesday. Number 13 is considered
lucky by Greeks in the setting when it stands alone. When Tuesday and 13 are placed together they are
considered unlucky in the Greek culture. The Greeks will watch out for Tuesday the 13th not Friday the 13th.
Crows are seen as a bad omen, foretelling death. When crows are cawing, it is believed they are announcing
the death of an individual. The Greeks often say to the birds, Go on your way, and bring me good news.
In Greek superstition, if you sneeze it is believed that somebody is talking about you. Since you do not know
who the person is you may try to figure out by saying out peoples names. If you say a name and you stop
sneezing it is thought that that is the person who is talking about you.
Traditional Greek families tend to be very close, placing very high respect on the elders. Therefore, it is
customary for Greek children to ask the blessing of their parents, e.g. in marriage, so as to not have bad luck.
Egypt
If you failed in a relationship or in your studies, someone probably cast a spell on you, i.e black magic.
If the newlyweds want a pinch of good luck for their marriage, the bride should be (literally) pinched by all
women on her wedding day.
Leaving the scissors open or a pair of shoes upside down will bring bad luck.
In Ancient Egypt, the newborn were not bathed for 2 weeks in order to ward off the evil eye.
It was the Egyptians who originated the belief that cats have nine lives.
Black cats are bad omen. Even more, a unique Egyptian superstitions considers owls are also bad news.
Ancient Egyptians placed ladders inside the tombs of the deceased kings to help them climb heavenward.
Suddenly awakening someone is highly dangerous as the persons soul could leave the body in the process.
Ancient Egyptian women believed that throwing some salt over their shoulder (or even gasp while broiling
garlic) prior to cooking a meal would make it taste delicious.
According to ancient Egyptian superstitions, blue turquoise protects you against the evil eye and bad luck.
In Egypt, as well as in the Arab world (North Africa and the Middle East), the figure of a blue bead, blue eye
and a human palm wards off from evil, just like the Palestinian hamza.
Africa
Ivory is supposed to prolong life and increase strength. Anything made of ivory is a lucky item.
African superstitions are related to witches which have been blamed for drought, strong winds, infertility,
illness, hunger, misery, and other disasters. Women and even children are accused of witchcraft, of having
night meetings in the forests and seas. Many nocturnal animals, especially birds, are suspected of being
witches. Mainly, African superstitions refer to the belief in evil spirits.
If you dream fish, someone will have a baby.
Pregnant women should not go to the zoo.
During the first year of life, a baby shouldnt have its hair cut.
Children are not allowed to sweep the floor since this will invite unwanted guests.
Men shouldnt buy their wives shoes as gifts since they will pass away wearing them.
When you are walking with someone, you shouldnt let any pillar, sign or tree between you or you may have
trouble on the road.
When your ear rings, someone is talking about you.
Bibliography
Daniels, Cora Linn, Stevans, C. M. (Eds.), Encyclopaedia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences of the World, Honolulu, University
Press of the Pacific, 2003.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_superstitions_in_India
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_superstitions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstition
http://list25.com/25-strangest-superstitions-ever/
http://traditionsacrosseurope.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/romanian-superstitions/
http://wiki.answers.com
http://worldsuperstitions.blogspot.ro/
http://www.babble.com/latina/10-superstitions-my-mexican-family-believes/
http://www.corsinet.com/trivia/scary.html
http://www.dictionarycentral.com/definition/taboos-and-superstitions.html
http://www.faliraki-info.com/susie/superstitions/greek-traditions.htm
http://www.latinabroad.com/2011/08/22/egyptian-superstitions-part-7-of-series/
http://www.paralumun.com /asuperstition.html
http://www.superstitions.ca/Superstitions.html
course of modern history and who will surely continue to leave his mark long after his death at the age of 95
is widely credited with helping to avert race-driven chaos as South Africa emerged from apartheid,
although he could not forge lasting solutions to poverty, unemployment and other social ills
earned international acclaim for his activism in overcoming apartheid and fostering racial
reconciliation, coming to be viewed as "a moral authority" with a great "concern for truth".
was a devout believer in democracy, driven by a belief in natural and human rights, also abiding by
majority decisions, and holding the conviction that "inclusivity, accountability and freedom of speech" were
the fundamentals of democracy
spent 27 years in prison, led South Africa out of apartheid
served as his nation's first black President of South Africa (1994-1999), as President of the African
National Congress (1991-1997), and as Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement (1998-1999).
was married three times, fathered six children, had 17 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren. He
could be stern and demanding of his children, although he was more affectionate with his grandchildren.
had come to be widely considered "the father of the nation" within South Africa, "the founding father of
democracy", "the national liberator, the saviour, its Washington and Lincoln rolled into one", "a golden age of
hope and harmony", "a secular saint" who was "so powerful that it blurs the realities".
in 1993, he received the joint Nobel Peace Prize with F. W. de Klerk, while in November 2009, the
United Nations General Assembly proclaimed Mandela's birthday, July 18th, as "Mandela Day".
"I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader
because of extraordinary circumstances."
Africans call him by his clan name, "Madiba", which means "reconciler", as a token of affection and respect.
Mandela was confined to the harsh Robben Island prison off the coast of Cape Town for most of his time
behind bars. He and others quarried limestone, working seven hours a day nearly every day for 12 years,
until forced labour was abolished on the island. In secret, Mandela (inmate No. 46664) wrote at night in his
tiny concrete-floored cell.
Mandela studied law at the University of Fort Hare, the University of London External System,
University of South Africa, and the University of Witwatersrand, being the only native African student
(1943-1949). Though facing racism, he befriended liberal and communist European, Jewish, Indian students.
Stevie Wonder dedicated his 1985 Oscar for the song "I Just Called to Say I Love You" to Mandela,
resulting in his music being banned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
Mandela's last public appearance was in 2010. Bundled up against the cold, he smiled broadly and waved
to the crowd at the Soccer City stadium during the closing ceremony of the World Cup, an event that
allowed his country to take the world spotlight.
Mandela has been depicted in cinema and television. He was portrayed by Danny Glover in the
1987 HBO telefilm Mandela. The 1997 film Mandela and de Klerk starred Sidney Poitier as
Mandela. Dennis Heysbert played him in Goodbye Bafana (2007). In the 2009 BBC telefilm Mrs
Mandela, Mandela was portrayed by David Harewood. Morgan Freeman portrayed him in
Invictus (2009). Terrence Howard portrayed him in the 2011 film Winnie Mandela. He is portrayed
by Idris Elba in the 2013 film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
As a private person, Mandela often concealed his emotions and confided in very few people. Privately,
he lived an austere life, refusing to drink alcohol or smoke, and even as President made his own bed, although
was also renowned for his mischievous sense of humour. He was known for being both stubborn and loyal, at
times exhibiting a quick temper. He was typically friendly and welcoming, quite relaxed in conversation with
everyone, including his opponents. Constantly polite and courteous, he was attentive to everyone, irrespective
of their age or status, and often talked to children or servants. In later life he always looked for the best in
people, even defending political opponents to his allies, who sometimes thought him too trusting of others.
Mandela was highly image conscious. Throughout his life, he sought out fine quality clothes, with many
commentators believing that he carried himself in a regal manner. His official biographer Anthony Sampson
commented that he was a "master of imagery and performance", excelling at presenting himself well in press
photographs and producing soundbites.
"I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all
persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities."
MAHATMA GANDHI
(18691948)
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is widely recognised as one of the 20th-century greatest political and
spiritual leaders. Honoured in India as the father of the nation, he pioneered and supremely practised the
principle of Satyagraha, i.e. resistance to tyranny through mass nonviolent civil disobedience.
While leading nationwide campaigns to ease poverty, expand womens rights, build religious and ethnic
harmony and eliminate the injustices of the caste system, Gandhi played a key role in freeing India from
foreign domination. After his law studies in London, he worked as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa. His
return to India in 1915 marked the upheaval of protests organised by peasants, farmers, and urban
labourers against excessive land-tax and discrimination. He also assumed leadership of the Indian
National Congress in 1921. He was often imprisoned for many years, sometimes for years, but he
accomplished his aim in 1947, when India gained its independence from Britain.
Due to his stature, he is now referred to as Mahatma, meaning great soul, venerable in Sanskrit. In
India he is also called Bapu, a term of endearment meaning father / papa in Gujarati. His birthday
October 2nd is commemorated as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday, and worldwide as the
International Day of Non-Violence. World civil rights leaders from Martin Luther King, Jr. to Nelson
Mandela have credited Gandhi as a source of inspiration in their struggles to achieve equal rights for
their people.
Gandhi is generally considered one of the most influential world leaders. From humble beginnings he
gained world prominence, helped achieve independence for India and left a lasting legacy for us all.
Many of Gandhis core principles are remarkably relevant. This is especially true of Gandhis thoughts and
practices in the realm of leadership competencies and self-development. Above all, he believed in
achieving Swaraj, i.e. self-rule. His strong belief was that You must not lose faith in humanity.
Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.
Be quick, be brief, be gone! Personal meetings with Gandhi were very short, generally lasting a couple
of minutes. However, in those minutes people felt that Gandhi made people feel as if they were the only
person in the world that Gandhi would have liked to talk at the time.
Gandhi was not a very skilled public speaker; generally he was believed to be quite average. On the
other hand, he was an exceptional listener of both the articulated and the unsaid.
Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader. He had chosen a path of non-violence and truth for himself and
his followers. Moreover, he lived modestly in a self-sufficient residential community, eating simple
vegetarian food, undertaking long fasts as forms of both self-purification and social protest. Similarly, he
wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with yarn hand-spun on a charkha. All his life he
fought against the imperial powers only with the weapon of non-violence. Its also necessary to be clear
as to what are the outcomes of effective leadership. In his ideal society, there is no room for weapons
other than nails of a woman. Security has nothing to do with weapons of any sort in the Gandhian
arrangement of things. Gandhi is in favour of a nonviolent and more civilised life style. Gandhis approach
had always been holistic as human life is a synthetic whole, which cannot be divided into watertight
compartments of social, religious, political life etc. As a result, he pleaded for a free India based on
religious pluralism. Nevertheless, the religious violence involving Hindus, Muslims, and Shikhs brought about
Gandhis assassination by a Hindu nationalist.
Bibliography
1. Chander, Jag Parvesh, Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Osmania University, The Indian Printing Works, 1945.
2. Gandhi, Mahatma, An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth, 1927.
3. http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi
4. http://inspiringquotes.in/mahatma-gandhi-quotes/
5. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mahatma_gandhi.html
6. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=398141173580337&set=a.398141166913671.92089.398136516
914136&type=1&theater
7. http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Mahatma_Gandhi/
8. http://www.slideshare.net/bright9977/10-leadership-lessons-from-mahatma-gandhi
Selective Bibliography
Bennis, W.; Parikh, J.; Lessem, R., Beyond Leadership: Balancing Economics, Ethics and Ecology, Cambridge,
Mass., Blackwell Publishers, 1994.
Covey, S. R., The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Restoring the Character Ethic , New York, Simon &
Schuster Publishers, 1990.
Fiedler, F., A Theory of Leadership Effectiveness, New York, Mc Graw-Hill Book Company, 1967.
Hakala, David, The Top 10 Leadership Qualities, in http://www.hrworld.com/features/top-10-leadership-qualities031908/, March 19, 2008.
Hersey, P.; Blanchard, K., & Johnson, D., Management of Organizational Behavior: Leading Human Resources,
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2008.
Kotter, J. P., A Force for Change: How Leadership Differs from Management, New York, The Free Press, 1990.
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z., The Leadership Challenge, San Francisco, Ca., John Wiley and Sons., 2002.
Welch, Jack, Winning, New York Boston, Harper Collins Publishers, 2005.
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/leadership
http://www.free-engineering.com
http://www.govleaders.org
http://www.leadershipcenter.ro
http://www.leadershipnow.com
http://www.wisdomquotes.com
http://www.worldofquotes.com
Choose from the following nouns 10 odd items which do not refer to leadership qualities.
A SPOOKY-SPOOKY-SPOOKYLICIOUS
H A L L O W E E N 201 3
H AL L O WE E N F UN
Gabriela Nicoleta Mazuru
Grade: 9th Philology 2
Q: What do you do when 50 zombies surround your house ?
A: Hope it's Halloween
Q: What is the most important subject a witch learns in school ?
A: Spelling.
Q: Why didn't the skeleton want to go to school ?
A: His heart wasn't in it.
Q: Why didn't the skeleton cross the road ?
A: He didn't have any guts
Q: Why did the skeleton cross the road ?
A: To get to the body shop.
Q: Why didn't the skeleton go to the Halloween party ?
A: Because he had no BODY to go with.
Q: What does a witch ask for when she goes to a hotel ?
A:Broom service
Q: What do you call a fat pumpkin ?
A: A plumpkin.
Q: What room does a ghost not need ?
A: A living room
Q: Why are ghosts so bad at lying ?
A: Because you can see right through them
Q: Who did Frankenstein take to the dance ?
A: His}ghoul~ friend
Q: Why is Superman's costume so tight ?
A: Because he wears a sizeS.
Frankenstein: Witch, can you make me a lemonade ?
Witch: Poof, you are a lemonade
Q: What do you get when you cross a witch with sand ?
A: A sand-witch.
Q: Who are some of the were-wolves cousins ?
A. The who-wolves, the what-wolves and the when-wolves
Halloween Wishes
Since this is the time for goblins and bats,
Halloween spirits, ghosts and cats,
Weird happenings and witches brew,
These are the things I wish for you.
May the only person you chance to meet
Be the spirit of love and warm friends sweet
May the tricks that you are askes to do
Be a trick to help you gain a friend or two
So, by tomorrow, pick three friends sweet,
And give them all a Halloween treat
You only have one day, so hurry
Leave a treat on the doorstep, flee in a hurry
Pumpkins
Suzy Wolf
Pumpkins are a curious thing,
They dont dance and they dont sing.
They dont have hair, they dont meow,
They dont look much like a cow.
They just sit around all day,
Out in the fields among the hay,
Sometimes they gather by the stable,
Sometimes they end up on the kitchen table.
But what brings a pumpkin to full life
Is a guided hand with a carving knife
Trick or Treat
Trick or treat Trick or treat
Give me something good to eat
Give me candy Give me cake
Give me something good to take
HALLOWEEN
Cora May Preble
Im not afraid on Halloween
Because my Mother said
I should not fear those funny things
But laugh at them instead.
For orange faces in the night
That stare with eyes so wide
Are only pumpkins on a porch
With candlelight inside.
And there are no such things as ghosts
Those figures shining white
Are only children just like me
Wrapped up in sheets so tight.
I do not fear a single thing
On Halloween, you see,
Because I know they really are
Not what they seem to be.
For ghosts and goblins, witches, spooks,
And other scary folks
We hear about at Halloween
Are really only jokes.
Could Be Halloween
Yowling, prowling, growling cat
Why do you switch your tail like that ?
Why do your eyes flash gold and green ?
Could be must be Halloween
Slinky, inky, blinky cat,
Why do you arch your back like that ?
What scary creatures have you seen ?
Could be must be Halloween
Halloween
We mask our faces
And wear strange hats,
And moan like witches
And screech like cats,
And jump like goblins
And thump like elves,
And almost manage
To scare ourselves
Its Halloween
Jack Prelutsky
It's Halloween It's Halloween
The moon is full and bright
And we shall see what can't be seen
On any other night.
Skeletons and ghosts and ghouls,
Grinning goblins fighting duels,
Werewolves rising from their tombs,
Witches on their magic brooms.
In masks and gowns
We haunt the street
And knock on doors
For trick or treat
Tonight we are the king and queen,
For oh tonight it's Halloween
Jack-O-Lantern
Jack-o-lantern pumpkin head
He is a fearful sight.
If I were you, I'd be afraid
To meet him in the night.
By day he is a pumpkin,
But just you wait 'til night.
When out of eyes and nose and mouth
There shines a yellow light
The Owl
Lord Alfred Tennyson
When cats run home and light is come,
And dew is cold upon the ground,
And the far-off stream is dumb,
And the whirring sale goes round,
And the whirring sale goes round,
Alone and warming his five wits,
The white owl in the belfry sits.
When merry milkmaids click the latch,
And rarely smells the new-moan hay,
And the cock hath sung beneath the thatch
Twice or thrice his roundelay,
Twice or thrice his roundelay,
Alone and warming his five wits,
The white owl in the belfry sits.
Theme in Yellow
Carl Sandburg (1916)
I spot the hills
With yellow balls in autumn.
I light the prairie cornfields
Orange and tawny gold clusters
And I am called pumpkins.
On the last of October
When dusk is fallen
Children join hands
And circle round me
Singing ghost songs
And love to the harvest moon;
I am a jack-o-lantern
With terrible teeth
And the children know
I am fooling.
Happy Meow-ween
Meow-ween
Hugs and kisses
Have yourself a
spookylicious Halloween
Be my Halloween
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://poetry.about.com/od/ourpoemcollections/a/halloweenpoems.htm
http://www.dennydavis.net/poemfiles/hallownp.htm
http://www.guy-sports.com
http://www.halloween.co.uk
http://www.halloweenrecipes.org
http://www.hellokids.com/c_11863/reading-online/poems-for-kids/halloween-poetry
http://www.theholidayspot.com
Obon or Bon is a Japanese Buddhist holiday to honour the ancestors spirits, which are supposed to
revisit the household shrines. This Buddhist-Confucian custom has evolved into a family reunion during
which people return to ancestral family places, visit and clean their ancestors graves, and return their
kindnesses. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years, starting as a practice in the imperial
court. Some people refer to Obon as the Japanese Halloween or the Japanese Thanksgiving.
Nowadays, people think this ceremony will prolong the life of parents and remove all suffering and
anguish. Bon Odori Festivals are also held in Argentina, Brazil (home to the largest Japanese population
outside Japan), Korea, Malaysia, the Unites States, Canada.
Obon comes from Urabon-e which is derived from Ullabana, an old Indian word. According to the
Bussetsu Urabon Sutra, this tradition goes back to a ceremony performed by Shakyamuni Buddha for the
deceased mother of Maudgalyayana, one of the Buddhas immediate disciples. Ullabana means
hanging upside down and it was by means of this ceremony that the suffering of that world in which she
lived (the suffering was so intense, like hanging upside down) was removed.
The festival of Obon lasts for three days. Its starting date varies within different regions of Japan. When
the lunar calendar was changed to the Gregorian calendar at the beginning of the Meiji era, the localities
in Japan reacted differently, which resulted in three different times of Obon. Shichigatsu Bon (Bon in
July) is based on the solar calendar, being celebrated around 15th July in Eastern Japan (Kant region
such as Tokyo, Yokohama and the Tohoku region). Hachigatsu Bon (Bon in August), based on the lunar
calendar, is celebrated around the 15th of August, being the most commonly celebrated time. Kyu Bon
(Old Bon) is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, and so it differs each
year. Kyu Bon is celebrated in the Northern part of the Kant region, Chgoku region, Shikoku, and the
Okinawa Prefecture. These three days are not listed as public holidays though customarily most people
have time off work and many businesses are closed.
Bon-Odori, meaning Bon dance, is a style of dancing performed to entertain the dead and show thanks
for their sacrifices. Originally a Nenbutsu folk dance to welcome the spirits of the dead, the style of
celebration varies from region to region. The music can be songs specifically pertinent to the spiritual
message of Obon, or local min'yo folk songs. Hokkaid knowns the folk-song Soran Bushi. The song
Tokyo Ondo takes its name from the capital of Japan. Gujo Odori is in Guj, Gifu prefecture is famous
for all night dancing. Gsh Ondo is a folk song from Shiga prefecture. Kansai area enjoys the Kawachi
ondo. Tokushima in Shikoku is famous for its Awa Odori, or fools dance. In the far South one can
hear the Ohara Bushi of Kagoshima. The typical Bon dance (Kagoshima Ohara and Tokushima Awa
Odori) involves people lining up in a circle around a high wooden scaffold called a yagura. The yagura
is also the bandstand for the musicians and singers. Some dances proceed clockwise, others counterclockwise around the yagura. Some dances reverse during the dance. At times, people face the yagura
and move towards and away from it.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hungry_Ghosts_Scroll_Kyoto_4.jpg
http://global.sotozen-net.or.jp/eng/event/summer/o-bon_sejikie.html
http://thisjapaneselife.org/2011/08/10/japan-obon-holiday-story/
http://www.japancast.net/?s=wp
http://www.japanesesearch.com/festival-of-obon-%E3%81%8A%E7%9B%86/
http://www.plastiquemonkey.com/tag/obon/
Bibliography
Antonia Albani, Miruna Boce]i, Mircea Holho}, Melani Zarici, Grade: 11th Philology 1
Cinzia Bia, Marco Cristea-Nicolici, Laura Maria Fordea, Bianca Eva Kele,
Andreea Iulia Marton, Andreea Toma, Cosmin Alexandru Vlcu, Grade: 11th Philology 2
Match the following festival descriptions and pictures with the name of the corresponding festival.
A
1. Up Helly Aa
2. Saint Patricks Day
3. Aloha Festivals
4. Sinulog Festival
5. The Annual Harbin International
Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival
6. Holi Festival
7. Rio de Janeiro Carnival
8. Carnival of Venice
9. Chiang Mai Flower Festival
10. Oktoberfest
A. . It is a culture, heritage and folk festival. You can immerse yourself in the rich culture and learn
about the islands unique music, history and dance, including the legendary hula which combines elements of
all three. The Festivals were established in 1946 as Aloha Week, and over the past six decades has become
a celebration of Hawaiian culture, integrating the traditions and cultures of the Islands through music, dance,
cuisine and art. The opening ceremonies on Oahu take place at the Royal Hawaiian Center in downtown
Honolulu. The Festivals are celebrated on six islands Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and the Big Island of
Hawaii, over the course of six weeks between August and October. Each island has its own celebration, the
famous Festivals Parade, Street parties called Hoolaulea. Each island chooses a king, queen, prince, princess
and attendants, all of them of Hawaiian descent. The investiture of each islands Alii is a wonderfully colourful
affair, accompanied by conch shell blowers, ladies-in-waiting and others. More than 30,000 people volunteer
to plan, organise and provide labour for the Festivals each year. Their efforts entertain over 1,000,000 people
from throughout the state and visitors of the world. The Festivals have a different theme each year.
B. . The annual Festival was originated from local Harbiner traditional ice lantern show garden party in
winter (1963). Harbin is located in Northeast China, under the direct influence of the cold winter wind
from Siberia, where the average temperature in summer is 21.2 degrees Celsius, 16.8 degrees Celsius in
winter. Annual low temperatures below 350C are not uncommon. Officially, the festival starts on January 5th
and lasts for one month. Ice sculpture decoration technology ranges from modern (lasers) to traditional (ice
lanterns, chisels, ice picks, saws). Its world features illuminated full-size buildings made from blocks of 2-3 feet
thick crystal clear ice directly taken from the Songhua River. Deionised water can be used, producing ice
blocks as transparent as glass to make clear sculptures rather than translucent ones. Multicoloured lights give
colour to the ice, creating variations on sculptured spectacles when lit up especially at night. Some ice
sculptures made in previous years include: buildings and monuments of different architectural types and styles,
figures including animals, people, and mythical creatures, slippery dips or ice slides and lanterns. The festival is
the largest ice and snow festival in the world. It was a Guinness Record of the largest snow sculpture: 250
metres long, 28 feet (8.5 m) high, using over 13,000 cubic metres of snow. The composition consisted of
Niagara Falls and Crossing the Bering Strait, the latter depicting the migration of the First Nations.
C. . It is held in India (as a national holiday) and Nepal each spring, being also called the Festival of
Colours. It is an ancient Hindu religious festival, popular with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, but
also spreading to Europe, South Africa, and North Americas as a spring celebration of love (Lord Krishna /
Vishnu), frolic and colours. Holi is celebrated at the approach of vernal equinox, on the Phalguna Purnima (Full
Moon). Due to the Hindu calendar, the festival date varies each year, and typically comes in March, but
sometimes in February. It signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, the end of winter, and
for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, sing and dance, forget and forgive, end conflicts and
repair broken relationships. It also ritually aims to generate harmony in society. The carnival of colours
celebrates agriculture, good harvests and the fertile land. Therefore, people enjoy springs abundant colours.
Children and the young people spray coloured powder solutions and coloured water at each other, while the
elder people smear dry coloured powder on each others face, using water guns and coloured water-filled
balloons. Everyone, irrespective of age, gender, or social status, takes part in the fair fight with colours,
which is allowed in the open streets, open parks, outside temples and buildings. Traditionally, washable natural
plant-derived colours (turmeric, chickpeas, amaltas, marigold yellow; palash or tesu tree, Indian berries,
Indigo, blue hibiscus, jacaranda flowers blue; beetroot magenta and purple; palash or tesu tree, red santal
wood, hibiscus flowers, madder tree, radish, pomegranate, lime with turmeric powder, saffron / kesar deep
orange and bright red; mehendi, gulmohur tree, spring herbs green; dried tea leaves, clay brown; grapes,
amla / gooseberry, charcoal black and grey; neem, dhak, kumkum) are used, but water-based commercial
pigments are increasingly used, all colours being allowed. The entertainment is accompanied by groups of
drum and other musical instruments players. Holika Bonfires precede the event as a form of punishing evil.
People visit family, friends and enemies, play with colours on each other, laugh and chit chat, then share Holi
delicacies, food and chilled drinks. In the evening, after sobering and cleaning up, people dress up, visit their
friends and family. The next festival is on Monday, 17th March 2014.
D. . It is the most famous beer festival in the world and a sign of great Germans generous hospitality.
It is the worlds largest Volkfest (Peoples Fair), held annually in Bavaria, with over 6 million visitors attracted
to the beer tents every year, a 16-day (now a 17- or 18-day) festival running from late September to the first
weekend in October. The locals simply call it Wiesn after the colloquial name of the fairgrounds
(Theresienwiese), situated near Munichs centre. It has been held since 1810, being spread in many cities
across the world under a similar name. Large quantities of beer are consumed, with almost 7 million litres
served during the 16-day festival in 2007. Whilst Munich offers the famous steins (the drinking tankards) and
German sausages, the true enjoyment factor comes from hospitality, accompanied by traditional German
songs. Visitors may enjoy a wide variety of traditional food: Hendl (roast chicken), Schweinebraten (roast
pork), Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Wrstl (sausages), Brezen
(pretzel), Kndel (potato or bread dumplings), Ksesptzle (cheese noodles), Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes),
Sauerkraut or Rotkohl / Blaukraut (red cabbage) along with such Bavarian delicacies as Obatzda (a spiced
cheese-butter spread) and Weisswurst (a white sausage). The waitresses wear a dirndl, a traditional
womens dress of Bavaria. Traditional visitors wear Bavarian hats (Tirolerhte), which contain a tuft of goat
hair. In Germany, goat hair is highly valued and prized, making it one of the most expensive objects for sale.
The more tufts of goat hair on your hat, the wealthier you are considered to be. In the beer tents, Munich
breweries offer only original Munich beer, characterised by a long tradition, much experience in brewing and
and the strict adherence of the Reinheitsgebot (Bavarian Purity Requirements). The six Munich Oktoberfest
breweries are: Augustiner-Bru (1328; 6% alcohol), Hacker Pschorr-Bru (1417; 5,8% alcohol), Lwenbru
(15th century; 6,1% alcohol), Paulaner (1634; 6% alcohol), Spatenbru (1397; 5,9% alcohol), and HofbruMnchen (1589; 6,3% alcohol).
E. . Originating in the 1880s, in the town of Lerwick, the capital of Scotlands Shetland Islands, it has
been an annual occurrence for centuries, taking place on the last Tuesday of January every year (initially,
Epiphany, January 6th). Marking the end of the yule holidays, this northern Mardi Gras is a celebration of
Shetland history, a triumphant demonstration of the islanders spirit and a superb spectacle with worldwide
recognition as Europes biggest fire festival. In pre-Christian times, the Norse ancestors welcomed the return
of the sun god, It has firmly made its mark as an iconic celebration on the Scottish calendar, being more than a
sub-arctic bonfire party on the small, remote island of Shetland. The event is listed as one of only two mustdos in British travel publication, Wanderlusts top ten festivals worldwide. Local participants called guizers
celebrate their Norse heritage, dressing in Viking gear and marching through town with battle axes and
torches as they drag a ceremonial Viking longboat to a large open field. The day-and-night-long celebration is
planned a year in advance by several thousand people and preparations are shrouded in secrecy. The biggest
secret of all is what the head of the festival, the Guizer Jarl, will wear on the day. Kitted out in a ravenwinged helmet, axe and shield, the Jarl leads over 800 men in Viking disguise through the streets of Lerwick
with blazing torches before setting fire to a long ship in the city centre. In true Scots style, the hardy
partygoers dance the Guizers hop. At the end of the procession, the guizers hurl their torches onto the
longboat and set it ablaze. After the flames die down, guizers sing the traditional song The Norsemans
Home before a night of partying. Celebrations go on through the night into the next day with gatherings in
halls throughout the town. The next day is a public holiday.
F. . It is an annual festival, held in Italy. It ends with Lent, forty days before Easter on Shrove Tuesday
(Fat Tuesday or Martedi Grasso, the day before Ash Wednesday). The Carnival started from a victory of the
Serenissima Repubblica against the Patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrico, in 1162, when people celebrated by dancing
and making reunions in San Marco Square. It became official in Renaissance times, prestigious in the 17 th
century, and famous during the 18th century. It encouraged licence and pleasure, but it was also used to
protect Venetians against the anguish for present time and future. It knew moments of decay, banishment,
absence, private feasts, until 1979, when it was revived by the Italian government and turned into a tourist
trade. Today, more than 3 million visitors come for Carnival every year. One of the most important events is
the contest for la maschera pi bella (the most beautiful mask), at the last weekend of the Carnival, and
juried by a panel of international costume and fashion designers. Masks were allowed between the festival of
Santo Stefano (St. Stephens Day, December 26th) and the start of the carnival season at midnight of Shrove
Tuesday, on Ascension and from October 5th to Christmas, so people could spend a large portion of the year
in disguise. Maskmakers (mascherari) enjoyed a special position in society, with their own laws and guild.
The original masks were rather simple and had a symbolic and practical function. The Carnival masks can be
made of leather, porcelain, beads, with the glass technique, while nowadays, they are made with the
application of gesso and gold leaf, being hand-painted and decorated with natural feathers and gems. Several
traditional styles of mask are worn at the baroque Carnevale di Venezia, arising from the historical needs of
a standardised society, based on equality and anonymity: the bauta (batta), the Columbina (Columbine,
Columbino, the servant), Medico della peste (The Plague Doctor), the moretta (dark one lady) or
servetta muta (mute servant woman), the volto (face) or larva (ghost), Pantalone (he who wears the
pants or father figure), Arlecchino (harlequin, a devils horn, the noble savage), the Zanni (stupidity).
G. . It is an annual Feast of Saint Patrick is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on 17th March. It
is named after Saint Patrick (c. AD 385-461), the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of Ireland. It
is a Chrisitian, national and ethnic feast day which commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity
in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public
parades and festivals, cilithe, the wearing of green attire (green ribbons, badges, uniforms) or shamrocks,
drinking Irish beer and Irish whiskey, reviving the Irish language and culture. According to legend, Saint Patrick
used the three-leaved shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish pagans, Christianising the Irish from
their native polytheism. Christians attend church services, while the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking
alcohol are lifted for the day. It is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland (1903), Northern Ireland,
Newfoundland and Labrador and Montserrat. It is also widely celebrated by the Irish diaspora around the
world; especially in Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.
H. . It is an annual festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, Maasin City, Southern
Leyte, and Balingasag, Misamis Oriental in the Philippines. It commemorates the Filipino peoples pagan origin,
and their acceptance of Roman Catholicism. The celebration lasts for nine days, culminating on the final day
with the Sinulog Grand Parade. The day before the parade, the Fluvial Procession is held at dawn with a statue
of the Santo Nio carried on a pump boat from Mandaue City to Cebu City, decked with hundreds of flowers
and candles. The procession ends at the Basilica where a re-enactment of the Christianising (the acceptance of
Roman Catholicism) of Cebu is performed. In the afternoon, a more solemn procession takes place along the
major streets, which lasts for hours due to large crowd participating in the event. The street parade presents
participants in bright coloured costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets and native gongs. The
Sinulog dance steps or the movements of the river (two steps forward, one step backward, done to the
sound of drums) are believed to originate from Rajah Humabons adviser, Baladhay. The name itself comes
from the Cebuano adverb sulog which roughly means like water current movement, describing the
forward-backward movement of the Sinulog dance. Candle vendors at the Basilica continue to perform the
traditional version of the dance when lighting a candle for the customer, accompanied by songs in the native
language. After the conquest in 1521 by the Portuguese and the Spanish, a popular theme among the dances is
Queen Juana holding the Santo Nio in her arms and using it to bless her people who are often afflicted by
sickness caused by demons and other evil spirits. The dances dramatise the coming of the Spaniards and the
presentation of the Santo Nio to the Queen. Starting in 1980, the Cebu City government organised the
Festival and gave incentives to tribal dance groups. The first parade was held in 1980. The Festival focuses on
the historical aspects of the dance, which, as it has been said, represents the link the countrys embrace of
Christian faith. Smaller versions of the festival are held in various parts of the province, celebrating the Santo
Nio (Jesus Christ). There is also a Sinulog sa Kabataan performed by the youth of Cebu a week before the
parade. The Sinulog Contest is usually held in the Cebu City Sports Complex.
I. . It takes place annually, on the first weekend of February since 1977. The place is an exotic travel
destination, a city saturated with an age-old civilisation: archaeological sites, ancient temples, shimmering
pagodas, and time-weathered city walls. It is the uncommon natural beauty the city possesses that makes
possible to use a large variety of floral species. Besides the a tropical climate suitable for raising of such
flowers as orchids, its high-altitude areas and cool winters allow it to be home to cold weather flowers such
as lilies and carnations. The city has gained the title of The Rose of the North. The flower beds in public
spaces all around the town are especially beautiful at this time of year. Everywhere there can be found
gorgeous displays of yellow and white chrysanthemums, the Damask Rose, a variety found only here. Also, the
pink and purplish Dendrobium orchids, and the yellow Daoruang. The real focus of the Festival, however, is
the public garden of Suan Buak Haad on the south-western corner of the moat. The best part is the Festival
Parade. Its nicely decorated floats, pretty girls, beauty contests, stage entertainment, exhibitions, and hill tribe
people in their colourful costumes move very slowly down the streets and stop frequently. Dancers in
traditional costumes perform Thai dances, those in the perfumed parade hand out roses to the spectators.
Each contestant wears local Northern costumes, giving visitors the rare opportunity to witness the traditional
local dress. Each flower, each petal, each shade of colour in the flower floats is carefully selected and
positioned on the float to form patterns, words and pictures. Each float conveys a unique message: the rich
heritage, the Thai lifestyle, a religious principle or some event of Buddhas life, the historical past, and still a
contemporary idea with abstract and modern designs. The Festival is similar to: Taiwans In-Season Flower
Festival, Japans Sakura Festival, the Netherlandss and Belgiums Flower Parades.
J. . Natives affectionately call it The Greatest Show on Earth. Held before Lent (February or March)
every year since 1823, it is considered the biggest carnival in the world with two million people per day on
the streets. The historians consider it a collective disposal of foods before the Lent. It begins on Friday and
ends on Ash Wednesday, but the Winners Parade happens on Saturday after the carnival ends. The theme
here is samba, samba, samba, a Brazilian dance with African influences. The typical carnival parade on
the Sambodromo is filled with revellers, floats and adornments from numerous samba schools in Rio (more
than 200, divided into 5 leagues / divisions). A samba school is composed of a collaboration of local
neighbours who want to attend the carnival together, with some kind of regional, geographical common
background. The competition between the samba schools is the climax of the carnival. Each school chooses a
theme to portray in their entry. The samba schools work to build the best floats, fancy costumes, lyrics,
aesthetics, to represent their themes (enredo), and to include the best music from their drumming band
called the bateria. There are many parts to each schools entry including the six to eight floats and up to
4,000 revellers per Samba-school (Special group). There is a special order every school has to follow with
their parade entries: comisso de frente (Commission of Front, the first wing), abre-alas (Opening Wing,
the first float), the porta-bandeira and mestre-sala, destaques (floatees), the ala das baianas
(passistas, 100 females). A bawdy music and dance festival, a parade of the most distinguished samba schools
The Top League , ornate and lavish costumes, indefatigable dancers, elegance and extravagance, more than
5 million people (2012) this is a promise for February 28th through March 4th, 2014.
Bibliography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Festivals
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_of_Venice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai_Flower_Festival
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbin_International_Ice_and_Snow_Sculpture_Festival
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oktoberfest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Carnival
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patricks_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinulog_festival
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_Helly_Aa
EVALUATION PAPER
SEMESTER I
Name..................................................... Date.....26th November 2013.... Grade... 12th.......
SUBJECT 1
__________
__ 50 POINTS
___
A. Reading comprehension
a. Read the text below. Are the sentences 1-5 Right (A) or Wrong (B) ? If there is not enough
information to answer Right (A) or Wrong (B), choose Doesnt say (C). Mark A, B, or C on your sheet
(10 points):
D. I remember one interview I attended with a company that makes ice cream and other dairy products. I
didnt know much about the company, and it was brought home to me that I should have found out some basic
facts. I turned up in a smart business suit and tie, only to find that my prospective employers were in jeans!
They believed in being casual: no private offices, everyone ate in the same canteen, people all used first names
with each other etc. I realised I should have done more research. Needless to say, I didnt get the job. On
another occasion, at the end of an interview, I was asked if I had anything to say. I was so relieved that the
interview was over that I just smiled and blurted out: No, thanks!. I later realised that this was a mistake. A
candidate should decide in advance on at least ten things to ask the interviewer: its not necessary to ask more
than two or three questions, but you need to have some in reserve in case the question you wanted to ask is
answered in the course of the interview.
E. Preparation is of extreme importance; things like finding out what the form the interview will have. Will
there be any sort of written component, for instance, and will you be talking to one person or a panel? And of
course, you need to prepare answers to those awkward questions designed to find out more about your
character. For example, you might be asked about your most important achievement so far; dont answer this
in a way that makes you seem swollen-headed or complacent as this will suggest that you dont learn easily.
Actually, its not so much what people say that makes them seem arrogant as the way they sit, how they hold
their heads, whether they meet the interviewers eye, so bear that in mind. Another question interviewers
sometimes ask, to find out how well you work in a team, is about mistakes you have made. You should have an
example ready and admit that you were at fault, otherwise it looks as though you are the kind of person who
shifts the blame onto others. But you should also show that you learnt from the mistake and wouldnt make it
again.
F. Being nervous can make you forget things, so always take detailed notes with you to an interview, even
about the simplest things this will help you feel less nervous. I also think you have to strike the right balance
between being too arrogant and too self-effacing. For example, if you are asked where you see yourself in five
years time, dont be diffident about showing that you are ambitious. You could even say youd like to be doing
the interviewers job! Show that your ambition is the force that drives you employers are happy to see this
characteristic because it also suggests you will work hard. Take every opportunity to reinforce the impression
that you are eager; one way is by asking questions about the job. This suggests that you will take it seriously.
You could also ask what made the last person to fill the position you have applied for successful, or what you
could accomplish in the job that would satisfy the interviewer. Naturally, the answers to questions like this are
valuable in themselves, but frankly, the main reason for asking is to ensure you made the right impression.
(Charles Osborne, CAE Practice Tests, 2006)
1. A job in an advertising company requires being good at intrapersonal skills.
A Right
B Wrong
C Doesnt say
2. Weaknesses can be presented as strengths.
A Right
B Wrong
C Doesnt say
3. The interviewer might criticise the applicants.
A Right
B Wrong
C Doesnt say
4. Asking the interviewer some penetrating questions is the key to success.
A Right
B Wrong
C Doesnt say
5. Previous preparation and ambition are the interviewees driving forces.
A Right
B Wrong
C Doesnt say
b. Read the text above. For questions 1-10, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best
according to the text (40 points):
1. Dealing with clients on a face-to-face basis means .......... .
A making faces at the interviewer
B facing many challenges
C being in each others presence
D drawing each others portrait
2. When applicants speak about themselves, they should ......... .
A include their family tree
B describe their hobby
C get overenthusiastic
D keep to the point
3. During a job interview .......... !
A ask the interviewer about his or her wages
B dont reveal your weaknesses
C dont conceal your real character
D criticise your former employer
B. Writing
You have entered a high-school essay competition. Write your final 180-200-word for and against version on:
Ambition Is a Two-Way Process (40 points).
NOTE: 10 points for granted
10
B. Writing 40 p
Marking Scheme
Task: for and against essay (creative writing)
task achievement & original input
15 p
relevance of ideas to topic
7p
organization
7p
- organization / layout
4p
- cohesion and coherence
2p
- length constraint
1p
language accuracy and variety
6p
- correct use of grammar structures
5p
- accurate spelling and punctuation
1p
register and vocabulary
5p
- appropriate register and vocabulary
2p
- range of vocabulary
3p
___________________________________________________________________________________
Lucrare de evaluare semestrial Semestrul I
Limba englez Clasa a XII-a L1
Test elaborat de prof. Gabriela Pachia
Walt Disney got rid of the chip-on-the-shoulder boys and the world-owes-me-aliving lads.
Are you more everything-all-at-once or slowly-but-surely?
No more store-bought chemical-laden ketchup for me!
Everything feels loosey-goosey, kind of easy-breezy today.
Each of us has that do-nothing, watch-a-little-more-television place in our hearts
and that harder-to-engage work-well-and-think-intensely place.
Preserve the you-mind-your-own-business-and-I-will-mind-mine spirit.
As a young man, I sought my fortune. Now it is time for me to sit by the fire, searching for the
precious and much-desired answer to the timeless question, What did it all mean?.
The dictionary offers the most up-to-date coverage of the main elements of sociology and social
research, both quantitative and qualitative.
He is extremely excited, moving quickly and busily, bustling about in the office.
It is a fair noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow,
there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour. (Charles
Dickens, A Christmas Carol)
Be aware that sugar is present in foods you may not suspect, like ketchup and fruit juice, not to
say anything about the food on store shelves, filled with harmful chemicals.
Remember that you dont have to do all these things in a short period of time, but little by little,
making better food choices, exercising regularly, finding the proper balance to help you reverse your
insulin resistance within weeks.
Her parents hated her careless attitude about rules, visibly uninvolved in money matters and
relaxed about future life issues. A come-whatever-may attitude!
Gray or white hair throughout dark hair is not caused by a true gray or white pigment, but is
due to a lack of pigmentation and melanin.
In Tokyo, cramped subway conditions and grueling commuters are a normal part of city workers
life.
Holidays such as Christmas or St Valentines polarise people two approaches emerge: those
who love celebrations and those who detest them, but willy-nilly both categories obey traditions.
Sometimes we indulge in hobbies, deals with trifles or undertake chores superficially.
They were very affectionate and holding hands under the table all night, as a witness told the
New York Post.
Beware of people who expect opportunities to fall on their laps, who expect reaping without
sowing, or permanently bear a grudge against realities.
Personal wellness is conditioned by peoples mutual respect of privacy, i.e. a you-tend-yourgarden-and-I-will-tend-mine kind recommendation.
! Gndurile cele mai adnci }i cele mai scumpe sunt acelea pentru care regret@m c@ n-avem
lacrimi. (E. M. Cioran)
! Ct@ vreme st@ ntre dou@ suflete o minciun@, de o iubire adev@rat@, ntreag@, nu poate
fi vorba. (Alexandru Vlahu]@)
! ngmfarea nu a }tiut niciodat@ s@ fie prudent@. (Tudor Arghezi)
! Fericirea nu ]i-o poate da cineva, cineva ]i-o poate doar lua. (Ileana Vulpescu)
! Muzica este un r@spuns c@ruia nu i s-a pus nicio ntrebare. (Nichita St@nescu)
! Dac@ nu exist@ ferestre, ele trebuie inventate. (Marin Sorescu)
! Lac@tele din noi se deschid cu o lacrim@. (Octavian Paler)
! Cite}te! Citind mereu, creierul t@u va deveni un laborator de idei }i imagini, din care vei
ntocmi n]elesul }i filosofia vie]ii. (Mihai Eminescu)
! Podoaba vie]ii este talentul, cununa talentului caracterul. (Simion Mehedin]i)
! Trecutul este u}a viitorului. (Bogdan Petriceicu Ha}deu)
! Numai n imperfec]iune se poate nv@]a. (Emil M. Cioran)
! Cine ]i-a f@cut o nedreptate nu r@mne cu o datorie fa]@ de tine, ci o pierdere fa]@ de
el nsu}i. (Nicolae Iorga)
! Via]a se aseam@n@ cu o spiral@. Nu }tim n ce direc]ie este ]inta ei, dar trebuie s@
mergem n direc]ia pe care o credem cea just@. (Constantin Brncu}i)
! Dezva]@-te s@ respec]i fa]ada, pn@ ce n-ai v@zut interiorul. (Tudor Arghezi)
! Nu rupe firul unei prietenii, c@ci, chiar dac@ l legi din nou, nodul r@mne. (Octavian Paler)
! Niciun paradis nu e frumos ca acela pe care }i-l construie}te omul n sufletul s@u. (Liviu
Rebreanu)
! La sfr}itul fiec@rei zile, socote}te nu ceea ce al]ii au f@cut fa]@ de tine, ci ceea ce tu ai
f@cut fa]@ de al]ii. (Nicolae Iorga)
! Cei tineri spun ceea ce fac, cei b@trni povestesc ceea ce au f@cut, iar cei nebuni ceea
ce vor s@ fac@. (Anton Pann)
! Dac@ a} avea dou@ inimi, una a} vrea s@ gndeasc@. (Grigore Vieru)
! Dragostea e nostalgia de ceva necunoscut n care presim]i frumuse]e. (Ionel Teodoreanu)
! Nicio avere mai cu temei ca n]elepciunea. (Iordache Golescu)
! Liberatea omului e partea divin@ din el. (Petre [u]ea)
! n]elepciunea vie]ii e simpl@: f@ ca pe unde ai trecut tu s@ fie mai bine ca nainte.
(Nicolae Iorga)
! A vorbi despre limba n care gnde}ti este ca o s@rb@toare. Limba romn@ este patria
mea. De aceea, pentru mine, muntele munte se nume}te, de aceea, pentru mine, iarba iarb@
se spune, de aceea, pentru mine, izvorul izvor@}te, de aceea, pentru mine, via]a se tr@ie}te.
(Nichita St@nescu)
! Un om care nu munce}te nu }tie s@ pre]uiasc@ munca altora. (Alexandru Vlahu]@)
! Str@lucit@ este acea tinere]e la care se ajunge prin maturitate. (George C@linescu)
! Tradi]ia adev@rat@ e singura merinde sufleteasc@. (Liviu Rebreanu)
! Nu e mare opera unde e mult material, ci aceea unde e mult suflet. (Nicolae Iorga)
! Nu pre]uiesc o carte dect prin tulburarea, prin otrava pe care-o toarn@ n mine. (Emil
M. Cioran)
! S@ nu ui]i n via]a ta meritul niciodat@ }i nu te pleca lipsei meritului niciodat@. (Tudor
Arghezi)
! Cine nu renun]@ nseamn@ c@ are prea mult de dat. Cine se resemneaz@ nseamn@ c@ nu
are nici ce primi. (Emil M. Cioran)
! Scrie cu sufletul t@u }i recite}te cu sufletul altora. (Nicolae Iorga)
! Iremediabil@ este numai gre}eala de a te l@sa strivit. (Octavian Paler)
! Any idea proceeds as a paradox, abides as a platitude and ends in being a prejudice.
(Grigore Moisil)
! People fall into two categories: those who seek the meaning of life without ever finding
it and those who have found it without ever seeking. (Emil M. Cioran)
! A truly good man is the one who could have been wicked and nevertheless he was
not. (Nicolae Iorga)
! Taking pride in ones social connections means admitting ones worthlessness when
lacking in them. (Emil Cioran)
! When you miss someone, dont close your eyes. Youll miss them even more. (Tudor Mu}atescu)
! The straight line is the shortest way between two points and the longest path between
two souls. (Nicolae Iorga)
! Better loved and lost than never loved at all. (Mircea Eliade)
! Equally beware of your enemys friendship and of your friends enmity. (Nicolae Iorga)
! Do you want to know the world? Watch it from anigh. Do you want to like it? Watch it
from afar. (Ion Luca Caragiale)
! Intelligence cannot be neglected in miracles. (Nichita St@nescu)
! You may emblazon yourself with someone elses feathers, yet you cant soar with them. (L. Blaga)
! Having much often means mastering little. (Tudor Arghezi)
! Poetry is not a sequence of experiences, but a sequence of visions. (Ana Blandiana)
! Language is the first great poem of a people. (Lucian Blaga)
! The mill of hopes has been grinding for thousands of years. (Tudor Arghezi)
! Having a friend is more vital than having a guardian angel. (Nichita St@nescu)
! The most noteworthy things in the world have been accomplished by people who
persisted in trying even when there seemed to be no glimmer of hope. (Ion Luca Caragiale)
! Every man should have both friends and enemies. His friends teach him what he must
do while his enemies force him to do what he must do. (Nicolae Iorga)
! If you dont know what to ask from life, life will not know what to offer. (Ileana Vulpescu)
! A true friend is someone who advises you wisely, not the one who praises your follies.
(Anton Pann)
! All our lives we strive to minimise the distance between what we are and what the
people who love us fancy about us. (Octavian Paler)
! The more subjective you become, the more you realise that you come across an everincresing number of fellows. (Marin Sorescu)
! Work alone is the spring of freedom and happiness. (Mihai Eminescu)
! You must ceaselessly endeavour to climb very high should you wish to be able to
behold very far off. (Constantin Brncu}i)
! What is the word, any word? Nothing but a wound of speechlessness. (Lucian Blaga)
! The human body is beautiful inasmuch as it mirrors ones soul. (Constantin Brncu}i)
! The word is sound and colour, it is the messenger of the human thought. (Tudor Vianu)
! Some people like merely what they can understand, others can understand merely what
they like. (Lucian Blaga)
! Our most profound and cherished thoughts are those for which we regret not having
enough tears. (Emil M. Cioran)
! As long as a lie stands between souls, true, consummate love is out of the question. (Al. Vlahu]@)
! Haughtiness has never known prudence. (Tudor Arghezi)
! Happiness cannot be bestowed upon you, it can only be stolen. (Ileana Vulpescu)
! Music is an answer which comes without having asked any question. (Nichita St@nescu)
! Where there are no windows they ought to be invented. (Marin Sorescu)
! Our inner padlocks can be unfastened with tears. (Octavian Paler)
! Keep reading! By reading relentlessly, your brain will grow into a laboratory for ideas
and images, whence you will work out lifes meaning and philosophy. (Mihai Eminescu)
! Talent is lifes adornment, character is talents crown. (Simion Mehedin]i)
! The past is the futures entrance door. (Bogdan Petriceicu Ha}deu)
! Learning takes place merely inside imperfection. (Emil M. Cioran)
! He who has wronged you is not left with a moral duty towards you, but finds himself at
a loss. (Nicolae Iorga)
! Life resembles a spiral. Little do we know about its goal, nevertheless we must follow
the direction which we consider righteous. (Constantin Brncu}i)
! Quit respecting the faade prior to having seen the inside. (Tudor Arghezi)
! Dont cut the thread of friendship since, even if you tie together the loose ends, the
knot is still there. (Octavian Paler)
! No paradise is as beauteous as the one which man builds up in his soul. (Liviu Rebreanu)
! At the end of each day, do not sum up what the others have done to you but rather
what you have done for the others. (Nicolae Iorga)
! Young people speak about what they are doing, elders retell what they once did, and
fools brag about what they are going to do. (Anton Pann)
! If I had two hearts, I wish one of them could think. (Grigore Vieru)
! Love is the nostalgia for something unknown in which you sense beauty. (Ionel Teodoreanu)
! No fortune possesses a more solid foundation than wisdom. (Iordache Golescu)
! Mans freedom is his divine side. (Petre [u]ea)
! Lifes adage is simple: act in such a way that things should be better than before
wherever you lead your life. (Nicolae Iorga)
! Speaking about the language in which you think is like a holiday. The Romanian
language is my Motherland. That is why, for me, the mountain is called mountain, that is
why, for me, the grass is named grass, that is why, for me, the spring springs, that is
why, for me, life is lived. (Nichita St@nescu)
! He who does not work cannot value the other peoples toil. (Alexandru Vlahu]@)
! How magnificent is the youth attained after passing through maturity! (George C@linescu)
! Genuine tradition is the only food for the soul. (Liviu Rebreanu)
! Its not the exceeding content that makes a work great but the passion it conveys. (Nicolae Iorga)
! I treasure a book merely for the disquietude, the poison it pours out on me. (Emil M. Cioran)
! All your life be mindful of your worth and never submit to worthlessness. (Tudor Arghezi)
! He who does not give up means having too much to offer. He who resigns himself
means having nothing to receive. (Emil M. Cioran)
! Write with your soul and reread with the other peoples souls. (Nicolae Iorga)
! The only irremediable mistake is accepting to be crushed. (Octavian Paler)
Mihai Eminescu
Mihai Eminescu
( 1850 188 9)
( 1850 188 9)
De ce nu-mi vii
Mihai Eminescu
Mihai Eminescu
Att de fraged@...
Mihai Eminescu
Mihai Eminescu
Pe aceea}i ulicioar@
Pe aceea}i ulicioar@
Bate luna n fere}ti,
Numai tu de dup@ gratii
Vecinic nu te mai ive}ti !
{i l@sndu-te la pieptu-mi,
Nu }tiam ce-i pe p@mnt,
Ne spuneam att de multe
F@r-a zice un cuvnt.
{i n farmecul vie]ii-mi
Nu }tiam c@-i tot aceea
De te razimi de o umbr@
Sau de crezi ce-a zis femeia.
Gabriela Pachia
Inoxidabile monograme
Aliteraie, te uii la noi fatidic i guti creanga albastr,
piroclastitele frunii nalte din era buiastr...
Nu fi descumpnit, codobatura e monogam.
Ipsosul gloriei te-nham, luna n-are zor-nevoie de reclam !
Te mpresoar virgin creativitatea noastr...
Dect o laud optit, mai bine-mi cumpr alt glastr !
Sufletul se-mbrac pur n sigilii cu monogram...
Jumtile de ap muc din maluri cuvintele de flam !
C-n creier vidul cernit dureaz pan de curent
nu-i regretabil, nici nemaipomenit, e excelent !
E ludabil c ngdui, tot mai des, s strluceasc
lumina profeticului soare abstract, regeasc... !
Frete, Isus mi ine mereu parte : mai vnd o carte
garania cireului glasat pentru rumenire i nemoarte
fac dou inoxidabile drumuri mistice cu taxiul...
Ce-ndemnatic este campionul ndesirii grul... !
Copacu-mi vorbitor descuie frunzele tcerii,
scormonete bruma, alung intoarele mustrrii...
i-apoi pdurile-mi vor nrdcina fulgurante uitri
i neptuniene heletee frapante prin defiridizri...
Gabriela Pachia
Stainless Monograms
Dear alliteration, you stare fatidically, sample our blue bough,
the lofty foreheads pyroclasts from our ebullient periods...
Dont be disconcerted, the wagtail is monogamous, though.
The plaudits plaster reins you, the moons not hasty to play ads !
Our creativeness besieges you virginal dendrograms ...
Be your words of praise whispers, Id rather buy new flowerpots !
Our souls sublimate into immutable seals with monograms...
The water moieties bite the blazing vows from riverside sand lots !
Its not unprecedented or deplorable the widowing void
breeds power outage in your sullen brain, its excellent !
How applaudable you tolerate, cyclically, the paraboloid
light of the abstract, prophetic sun in pure imperial refinement... !
Fraternally, Jesus is on my side : I sell another florescent book
the glac cherry trees guarantee for ripening and immortality
I smooth two inoxidable mystic taxi rides, buy a prayerbook...
How masterfuls the wheat champion of deepening density... !
My rhetorical tree unspells the leaves of voicelessness,
rummages the hoarfrost, dismisses the demons of castigation...
Soon my forests will take root for fulgurating forgetfulness
and Neptunian ponds striking through irrepressible iridizations...
Gabriela Pachia
Asclepian vs. Caducean
ntr-un trziu, cnd ne vindecm de-a cerurilor privire,
lanternele srturoase nu ne mai dau nimic de tire...
Nu ne mai dau clasice bti de cap oaptele din havuz
de-ndat ce microfoane mic-burgheze ne mntuie de auz.
Privighetorile zboar la fel de programat ca oimii,
safire ne oblojesc amintirile i drumul noimii...
Inelele trunchiului ncing tceri desvrite,
pentru sfaturi apelm la bumeranguri nestrunite.
Clopotele grdinii cu so ne vindec de dormire,
pitici pietrificai n rou mac pzesc lecia de citire.
Cu fiece trosnet al cercului se nasc ngeri, nesc pantere...
Sub stratul de argil, ampermetrele ne vindec de avere.
Cnd restaurm mituri, negarea negaiei le maltrateaz.
Simplificnd, turnm bitum peste iubiri ce parial rimeaz.
Apoi motocerbii galopeaz confuz, nemaivrnd s rite,
autoportretele constelate ne lecuiesc de fluturite.
i-ar mai fi tinctura de vindecu, puful de Saga Spray,
duetele ntr-o lume cu exces de-albumin i hamei,
predilecii pentru Passiflore, ciocolat menaj i moroi,
cura de-ntuneric anafilactic, naterile imature de sloi...
Greu se desprind oamenii de iluziile-anaconde...
Tandreea urban emite pe frecvene joase din rotonde...
Cu faa spre Cordelia, stivuim crmizi de cea,
ne aflm n treab, n posesiune, saturai de via.
The Serbian folk costume for women includes: headwear (the trvelji or two plaits made by
weaving woollen strands together), scarves, towels and caps / hats bordered with cords and having
a shorter or longer flap at the back, skirts (zaprega and vutara) of plaited or gathered and
embroidered linen, with tkanice serving as a belt, woven sashes and aprons (pregace) decorated
with floral motifs, but also geometric ornaments, tunic-like shirts richly decorated with silver thread
and cords, upper sleeveless dresses (sukman, litak, manovil) of red and blue cloth (hemp, flax or
cotton fabrics), knee-long, richly decorated and buttoned in front (zubun), the Jelek a waistcoat
made form wool or velvet, womens jackets being lined with fur, footware (opanci, socks), jewellery
and accessories with an apotropaic role (earrings, rings, hairpins, diadems, pearls strings, frontlets,
silver or gold coins, necklaces, bracelets, breast ornaments, pafte or gold or gilded ornamental
clasps, trimmings, flowers), tassels and fringes. The traditional womens folk costume varies
according to the festivity or celebration, as they have similarly arisen form various everyday or
functional situations. These components take into account the womans age, her social or marital
status, the season, the specific occupation, the symbolic message, the geographic distribution etc.
Victor Sceleanu
Grade:
10th
Darius Serafin
Mathematics-Informatics 1
Last year I had the opportunity to visit the Holy Land Israel. I really wanted to get to the place
where Jesus Christ was born, lived, was buried, and has been resurrected. Israel has a population consisting
mostly of Jews. It is considered one of the most advanced countries in Southwest Asia in economic and
industrial development. An important place in its economy is represented by the diamond processing. Milliondollar affairs are sealed only with a handshake accompanied by the traditional phrase Mazal UBracha. Israel
is a leading country in the development of solar energy, a global leader in geothermal energy and water
conservation, while its development of cutting-edge technologies in software, communications and the life
sciences have allowed comparisons with Silicon Valley. Although rain is rare from May to September and
water resources are scarce, Israel has developed water-saving technologies, including drip irrigation. Israelis
also take advantage of the considerable sunlight available for solar energy, Israel being the leading nation in
solar energy use per capita (every house uses solar panels for water heating). The vegetation and the fauna
are meager. I saw mandarin, orange, banana, citrus, and palm tree plantations. Due to the diversity of land
and climate, Israel grows an impressive range of crops: wheat, sorghum, and corn, vegetables and fruit:
tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, citrus, avocados, kiwifruit, guavas, mangoes, melons, pears, apples,
grapes, cherries, dates. Drip-irrigated cotton crops place Israel among the highest world producers.
The area is known as the Holy Land, holy for all Abrahamic religions including Judaism, Christianity,
Islam and the Bah Faith. Jerusalem is the capital city, although Tel Aviv is appreciated as the city that
never sleeps and a party capital. I visited many touristic attractions: Bethlehem of Galilee, Our Lords
birthplace, Nazareth where Joseph and Mary lived and Jesus grew up. I went for a dip in the Jordan River
where Jesus was baptised by St. John the Baptist. I walked the 14 Stations of the Cross Road or Via
Dolorosa (Way of Grief), reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where I was impressed by the crowd
which wanted to touch the Tomb stone for a few seconds. In Bethlehem we visited the The Great Lavra of St.
Sabbas (St. Sava) the Sanctified, known in Arabic as Mar Saba. An important objective was the Dead Sea. Its
high salinity makes life impossible but its water is beneficial for the treatment of respiratory or skin diseases.
All the places I visited are in my mind and every time I recollect them I feel great joy ! I definitely
want to go back with as many of us since Israel is a wonderful country to visit. Yet let me tell you a secret:
our country, Romania, is the most beautiful in the world !
Anemone coronaria Israels national flower; The Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem); Tel Aviv; Shavuot celebration in
kibbutz Gan Shmuel; Mar Saba; Hanukkah sufganiyot with strawberry jelly and powdered sugar.
Simona Hrihor
e-mail: simona.hrihor@yahoo.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/simona.hrihor
Hi ! My name is Andrei Candit Sava and I am a student in the 12th grade, at The Banat High School
(Colegiul Na]ional B@n@]ean) in Timi}oara.
I have been practising Karate since I was 12 years old. Quite a long time ! Karate is a Japanese martial
art whose physical aspects seek the development of defensive and counterattacking body movements.
From the beginning, I enjoyed the liberty of being on the move, without craving for awards or shining
medals.
I took part in many champioships, such as the European Championship in Pordenone, Italy, where I was
awarded a bronze medal, a silver medal, as well as a gold medal together with my team.
After years of hard training, everything seems so natural ! I am a 10th Dan (Black Belt), after passing
the exam at Geoagiu-B@i, on 21st August 2013.
Recently, I have been awarded 3 bronze medals at the World Championship Juniors, IKU
International Karate Union, in Caorle, Italy, as well as 2 bronze medals together with the Romanian
team at KUMITE TEAM (11th - 13th October 2013). My coach is Sensei Coca George, to whom I am deeply
indebted and grateful. It was an amazing experience. I saw so many powerful teams and nations, I
encountered extraordinary people and sportsmen. This has encouraged me to further train and fight
for higher achievements.
Nevertheless, the Martial Arts emphasise the balance of the mind and body. Both should work as one.
Gichin Funakoshi, in his book The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate , reveals the necessity of a
balance between the fighting aspect and the way of the art. Students should not focus only on the
physical aspect of Karate, but should also take the time to study the true meaning behind Karate-Do
and Martial Arts. Limiting yourself to the physical aspect of Martial Arts will only result in learning
just one element. The mind and spirit combined with the physical power accomplish the whole, which is
the essence of Karate and the Martial Arts. Karate offers calm, discipline, mental and persistent
physical training, greater character development, a stronger spirit, a confident mind, a greater
consciousness of oneself, the freedom to know you are doing the right thing by your being. Thats why I
consider that I have lived the greatest emotions, feelings, and challenges in the world of sport.
Accordingly, giving up vain pleasures or disturbing activities seems quite easy. After a days work or
after 5 or 6 classes a day at school, I train at the gym. Thus, I learn the value of time, of well-done
work, I learn how to fight for my goals, I learn how to be a dignified survivor. None of my sacrifices
were worthless, since the people I have worked with and the good command of my body and mind are
the true lifetime rewards. Now I look deep into the meaning of the thoughts behind the words.
If Karate had to be described in only one sentence, the most suitable would be, You never attack
first. In the Martial Arts, everything begins and ends with osu / os / oss, the Japanese word
which means RESPECT. The Western equivalent would probably be Yea, which is Yes with the
ending chopped off, the sort of thing you might say when lifting a heavy object and someone asks if
they can open the door for you. The word is a compound of two other words, Oshi Shinobu, as a
component of the term Nin (as in Ninja). When applied to a person, it becomes Shinobi (another
term for Ninja). Besides being an interesting linguistic diversion, Shinobu means to persevere or
endure - the original name for ninjutsu is the techniques of perseverance. Oshi means
pressure. Together, the phrase would mean something like to endure under pressure. The
contraction of these two terms becomes Osu, or Os as it is pronounced. My Sensei described it as
having a deeper meaning than to continue despite hardship. For the samurai, failure to perform at a
task meant death. Your failure would have rippling repercussions - your family and your servants
also needed to be killed (nobody wanted people around to get revenge for the death of their father or
lord). What Osu meant, when uttered by a Samurai, was that whatever task was agreed to, it
would be carried out under the strictest of penalties. Answering the Osu way is like saying I will die
before this task is left uncompleted to the masters satisfaction. Pretty extreme ! For the average
budoka it goes like this: when you enter the dojo, when your Sensei gives you instructions on what
techniques to carry out, when your Sensei corrects you, you respond with Osu in a clear and
affirmative voice. You are saying that you will do as they have instructed without delay. You will not
do something outside of that scope. Obviously, one must remark the seriousness of a budo.
Today we are happy to talk to George Radu [ig, the CNB karate champion. He is a student in the 11th
grade, Philology 2, at The Banat High School (Colegiul Na]ional B@n@]ean) in Timi}oara. From the age of 8,
since he was a little boy, he quitted childhood games and entered the world of karate. He is 18 years old
now and displays a large collection of medals and cups, which makes us a little envious indeed. He is eager
to answer our questions about his sporting life.
R: What has determined you to enter the fabulous world of karate ?
GR[: When I was in the kindergarden, although I couldnt read, I watched lots of fight movies which
impressed me deeply. But while growing up, I realised this sport can help my life and perfect my character.
R: What does karate mean to you ?
GR[: At the moment, this sport is my life and I dont know if I could have done anything else besides karate.
But let me explain ! Karate developed partially from the indigenous martial arts of Ryukyu Islands and from
the Chinese kenpo. It literally means empty hand. In English, the word karate is used in a generic way
to refer to all the striking-based Oriental martial arts. A karate practitioner is called a karateka.
R: I see, Mr. Karateka. But what movements are specific to karate ?
GR[: You know, karate is a striking art which uses punching, kicking, knee strikes, elbow strikes, but also
open-hand techniques such as knife-hands, spear-hands, and palm-heel strikes. Some styles make use of
grappling, throws, joint locks, restraints, and vital-point strikes.
R: Is karate a mysterious way of fighting, capable of causing death or injury with a single blow ? I mean, the
way we see in movies and on TV ? Is it an art ?
GR[: Unfortunately, the mass media present karate as a pseudoart. Shoshin Nagamine, a Japanese author,
soldier, police officer and karate master (Hanshi, 10th Dan, founder of Matsubayashi-ryu Karate), nicknamed
tenacious pine tree, said that Karate may be considered as the conflict within oneself or as a life-long
marathon which can be won only through self-discipline, hard training, and ones creative efforts.
R: Which are the most important awards acquired in the latest 10 years ?
GR[: The most important awards I received in 2013 at the European Championship in Caorle, Italy, are: 2
First Prizes and 2 Second Prizes.
R: Wow ! Amazing ! If you could turn back time, would you follow the same way, go through the same
experiences ?
GR[: Without doubt, as Ive said before, karate is my life so Ill never regret the decision I made many years
ago
R: Did you ever feel that you had to take a break, or to quit karate ?
GR[: Of course, there were times when I had breakdowns and wanted to give up But eventually I got gack
to the gym.
R: Where do you see yourself in 10 years time ? Doing the same thing or do you intend to deal with
something else ?
GR[: I cant tell what Ill be doing in 10 years time, probably karate, but the future is still uncertain
R: Are you proud of yourself and of everything you have achieved as yet ?
GR[: Yes, Im very proud, Im also very happy I chose to practise this sport and Ive got such results.
R: If youd like to conclude, which is your advice for those who have read this interview ?
GR[: Lets all practise a sport, whichever you choose, since nowadays there are many talented children we
take pride in. They represent our future.
R: Thank you and we wish you a gorgeous career !
GR[: Best wishes to everybody and dont forget that, as Kenwa Mabuni said, Karate is a lifetime study !
A Tasty Festival
La Tomatina
Raluca Andreea Petru}
Grade: 11th Philology 2
Hi ! My name is Raluca Andreea Petru} and I am the right person to give you advice about what festivals you
should attend at least once in your life ! Let me introduce you to La Tomatina , a food fight festival held on
the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Buol near to Valencia in Spain.
Did you know that this Spanish festival has its origins in the town of Buol and it is considered a strange way of
celebrating by some people nowadays ? La Tomatina is basically a tomato fight which goes on for over an
hour and a half. But what is it after all ? It is Worlds Biggest Food Fight . The week-long festival features
music, parades, dancing, and fireworks. Over 50,000 people make their way from all corners of the world to fight
here. More than one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets.
How did it all start ? It was a surprise for me to find out that this tradition was born about fifty years ago when
a group of young men began throwing tomatoes at people in the religious procession. Was it a local food fight
among friends, a juvenile class war, a volley of tomatoes from bystanders at a carnival parade, a practical joke on
a bad musician, and the anarchic aftermath of an accidental lorry spillage ? Nobody can tell anymore ! One
popular theory is that disgruntled townspeople attacked city councilmen with tomatoes during a town celebration.
Since then, the fight takes place every year and people from all over the world come to Buol. The travel guides
say the festival is in honour of the towns patron saints, Luis Bertran and the Mare de Deu dels Desemparats, i.e.
Mother of God of the Defenseless, a title of the Virgin Mary.
If you are curious, the ritual goes like this : On the night before the tomato fight, participants of the festival
compete in a paella cooking contest. At around 11 a.m., the first event of the Tomatina begins. Many trucks haul
the bounty of tomatoes into the center of the town, Plaza del Pueblo. The tomatoes come from Extremadura,
where they are less expensive. Technically the festival does not begin until one brave soul has climbed to the top
of a two-story high, greased-up wooden pole and reached the coveted ham at the top. In practice this process
takes a long time and the festival starts despite no one reaching the meaty prize. The signal for the beginning of
the fight is firing of water cannons, and so the chaos begins. Once it begins, the battle is generally every man for
himself. The participants are strongly encouraged to wear protective safety goggles and gloves. In addition, they
must squash the tomatoes before throwing for safety precautions.
Ensure you keep a safe distance from the lorries ! Another rule is that no one is allowed to bring into this fight
anything that may provoke someone into a more serious brawl, such as a glass bottle. Although it is forbidden to
tear someone elses clothing, the crowd tends to ignore this and invariably will rip the shirt of any clothed person,
man or woman. Fun, isnt it ? Do you think youll manage ?
What happens next ? After exactly one hour, the fighting ends when the water cannons are fired once more to
signal the end. As soon as you hear the second shot, you must stop throwing tomatoes. The cleaning process
involves using fire trucks to spray down the streets, with water provided from a Roman aqueduct. The authorities
seem more concerned with cleaning the town than cleaning the visitors, so some people find water at Buol River
to wash themselves, although some kind residents will hose passers-by down. Once the tomato pulp is flushed, the
ground is clean due to the acidity of the tomato.
Personally, I enjoyed myself throwing tomatoes at totally unknown people and they didnt get angry because
everyone was in a high mood. My T-shirt was painted red, but I didnt care. Entertainment requires sacrifices after
all. But let me give you some tips ! Wear some old or shabby clothes, because you might never be able to wear
those ever again ! This way you wont have any regrets during the festival. Wear closed shoes that you dont
mind throwing away afterwards. If you wear flip-flops, you may get hurt, or you could lose them easily during the
battle. You may find goggles useful. However, it is safer if you just ensure that you always have something clean
to wipe your eyes with. The best thing is if you tuck your T-Shirt into your shorts to keep the bottom part of your
T-shirt clean and dry. If you are planning to take pictures, bring a waterproof camera ! Do not bring bottles or
hard objects as they can cause accidents and hurt other participants ! Do not rip other peoples T-shirts !
More tips ? Do not miss the Palojabn a soap-covered pole with a Spanish ham at the top : whoever can climb
the pole and get the ham can keep it !
Where to stay ? If youre not from Buol, and you want to stay overnight, dont forget to look for and secure
accommodation in advance. There is limited accommodation for people who come to La Tomatina, so many people
take the easier option of staying in nearby Valencia just 38 km to Buol by bus or train. In preparation for the
dirty mess that will ensue, shopkeepers use huge plastic covers on their storefronts in order to protect them from
the carnage.
How to get there ? Buol is a town and municipality in the province of Valencia, Spain and is situated
approximately 38 km west of the provincial and autonomous community capital city, Valencia. There are several
ways to get to Valencia from London. If booked reasonably early availability to Valencia is good and flights are
quite competitive. Easyjet fly from London Stansted, London Gatwick and Bristol. Ryanair fly from London
Stansted, Liverpool, East Midlands and Dublin. Clickair fly from London Heathrow. Iberia fly from London
Heathrow.
We are expecting you in Buol next year for La Tomatina 2013 ! Dont forget to drink a lot of tasty tomato
juice until then ! And keep training !
Biobliography
Virginia Evans, Successful Writing. Proficiency, Express Publishing, Newbury, 2002, pp. 34-36.
Virginia Evans, Successful Writing. Upper-Intermediate, Express Publishing, Newbury, 2000, pp. 20-23, 99-103.
http://www.en.wikipedia.com
http://www.latomatina.org
http://www.spanishfestivals.com
Tomato Fun
http://comicsidontunderstand.com/wordpress/2013/07/19/tomatoes/
ACROSS
DOWN
5. tomatoes
1. analyses
6. teeth
2. studios
8. pimentos
3. antennae
9. ospreys
4. zoos
10. bacilli
7. sheaves
1
2
5
6
10
http://puzzles.about.com/od/wordsearches/ig/FoodDrinkWS/
http://puzzles.about.com/od/wordsearches/ig/FoodDrinkWS/
Tantalising Tomatoes
M@lina Georgiana Pena, Ana Maria Popescu
Grade: 9th Philology 2
Prof. Gabriela Pachia
http://www.public.asu.edu/~hruzsa/gra294/jquery/thirdjoke.html#
Knock-knock.
Whos there ?
4211.
4211 who ?
4211 PLU sticker number for conventionally grown tomatoes.
Knock-knock.
Who's there ?
94211.
94211 who ?
94211 PLU sticker number for organic tomatoes.
Knock-knock.
Who's there ?
84211.
84211 who ?
84211 PLU sticker number for genetically modified tomatoes.
http://www.luggagetuesdays.com/2011/11/tomato-jokes-2011.html
Wise Owl
@ Red Quotes @
Teofil Marius Stupar, Grade: 9th Philology 2
Prof. Gabriela Pachia
As red as any rose (William Shakespeare)
Red as a matchtip (James Reiss)
(Tongue) red as a pomegranate (Miles Gibson)
Red as a radish (Anon)
Red as a robins breast (Anon)
Red as a roosters comb (Dorothy Canfield Fisher)
Red as a strong mans heart (Robert Tristram Coffin)
(Lips) red as a sun rising on the Atlantic and setting on the Pacific (Mary Morris)
Red as a wound (Jon Silkin)
(A cloak) red as blood (William Shakespeare)
(Hair) red as chili powder (Saul Bellow)
Red as fire (William Shakespeare)
(Lips) red as hell (Dame Edith Sitwell)
(Fingernails) red as satin ribbons (Diane Ackerman)
(Leather seats of a showy car) red as spilt blood (Saul Bellow)
Red like poppies (Charlotte Bront)
Thin streaks of red, like veins in marble showed on his chalky teeth (Wright Morris)
Lady in Red
Emerico Toth
Giovanni Boldini
Jacopo Pontormo
To Be or Not to Be Rich ?
Isabell Vajda
I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for
a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. (Jesus
Christ)
Richness is not abundance of worldly goods, rather, richness is richness of the heart. (Prophet Muhammad)
Who is wise? He that learns from everyone. Who is powerful? He that governs his passions. Who is rich?
He that is content. Who is that? Nobody. (Benjamin Franklin)
No legacy is so rich as honesty. (William Shakespeare)
An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics. (Plutarch)
No man is rich enough to buy back his past. (Oscar Wilde)
Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor. (Benjamin Franklin)
Poor and content is rich, and rich enough. (William Shakespeare)
Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better
than the wealth of the ignorant. (Epictetus)
Youth is the best time to be rich, and the best time to be poor. (Euripides)
Riches dont make a man rich, they only make him busier. (Christopher Columbus)
True it is that covetousness is rich, modesty starves. (John Milton)
He that is rich is wise. (Daniel Defoe)
What is the matter with the poor is Poverty; what is the matter with the rich is Uselessness. (G. B. Shaw)
We are rich only through what we give, and poor only through what we refuse. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone. (Henry David Thoreau)
You have to be very rich or very poor to live without a trade. (Albert Camus)
There are people who have money and people who are rich. (Coco Chanel)
That man is rich whose pleasures are the cheapest. (Henry David Thoreau)
He who wishes to be rich in a day will be hanged in a year. (Leonardo da Vinci)
He who could foresee affairs three days in advance would be rich for thousands of years. (Th. Carlyle)
Let me smile with the wise, and feed with the rich. (Samuel Johnson)
Always borrow money from a pessimist. He wont expect it back. (Oscar Wilde)
If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it. (John D. Rockefeller)
Ive been rich and Ive been poor. Its better to be rich. (Gertrude Stein)
Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich. (S. Bernhardt)
Of course, to have money is just great because you can do what you think is important to you. I always
was a rich person because moneys not related to happiness. (Paulo Coelho)
Some people are so poor, all they have is money. (Patrick Meagher)
So when these people sell out, even though they get fabulously rich, theyre gypping themselves out of
one of the potentially most rewarding experiences of their unfolding lives. Without it, they may never know
their value or how to keep their newfound wealth in perspective. (Steve Jobs)
IRIDESCENCE
For a major impact, slip on a holographic dress or skirt. For a more subdued effect, grip an iridescent clutch, instead..
MESH
During fall and winter, layer the netted fabric over a heavier material for insulation. Come spring, wear mesh over a black, or a
daring neon hue, camisole. Master the art of sheer layering and transparency.
FULL SKIRTS
The voluminous ladylike silhouette is here to stay. Pair the tea-length skirt between midi and maxi with tights and
boots during the winter. While the midiskirt may be the ultimate transition piece, the tea-length is for spring. The ladylike
hemline is as modern as a mini, so pair it with a cropped top to offset the length and make you look taller. Also make it
modern and sexy by baring some arm or a little shoulder.
The classic white button-down was reinterpreted. Add a necktie detailing, embellishments or asymmetric cuts. The Shift
Blouse, almost like a dressy version of a T-shirt, seems easy to wear but is more sophisticated. The near-elbow-length
sleeve and boxy silhouette keep the look flattering and versatile. Add extra details, such as exciting prints, luxurious
textures, and varying necklines. The crisp, menswear-inspired dress shirt enjoys a makeover with inventively cool,
contrasting colour with/without textured collars and cuffs. It is an elevated essential wardrobe item, perfect for your work
outfit (if buttoned up all the way !).
LUXE SWEATSHIRTS
Sweatshirts are no longer relegated to the gym. The slouchy silhouette gets a makeover for spring by brighter hues and
splashier patterns.
You will risk looking like a boss in a power suit if you choose a bold pattern or colour. The trend is boxy, cropped (nonmoto) jackets, in a plethora of prints and textures. The spring sporty jackets come with adventurously colourful prints, luxe
textures and fabrics, sporty-cool detailing, such as mesh weaving and perforations. Pair them with a fit-and-flare or bodycon dress, tailored trousers, office-ready skirts, and go-to jeans. The cool bomber jackets are ultra versatile to temper the
girliness of a dress or complement the athletic chicness of dressy shorts. Collarless coats are in fashion: long, streamlined
coats minus the collar or lapel. They come in neutral or solid colours, but you should risk with fun prints and embellished
denim. They go with dressy trousers, a pencil skirt for the office, spring leather pants, or a date-night body-con dress.
The billowy wide-leg trousers are easy to wear and ultra chic for spring. Choose a pair that is leaner on the flare and higherwaisted to create an elongated look. Dungarees have made their comeback, from classic denim to luxurious statementmaking leather. Culottes are ultra-chic.
SWEATER DRESSING
Spring knits are boldly printed or inventively cut, so that the seasonal sweater is an easy-chic piece to pair with tailored
pants, flirty skirts, and blousy short, or simply over a light dress.
PASTEL-HAPPY
Spring 2014 appeals to your sweet side with pretty icy pastels in mint green, lavender, sexy lilac, blush pink, and sporty
baby blue a rainbow of soft springtime shades. This allows you to pick your most-flattering colour. For winter, use
jewelled tones and leather. Also, expect many dazzling prints and floral prints.. Dont forget electric blue !
Black and white is proving its staying power. No shades of gray this year, so look crisp and cool in contrasting colours..
The New York Fashion Week proclaimed this fiery colour for clothes, bags, and shoes.
ATHLETICISM
The athletic look took over with its baseball caps, tennis-inspired dresses, and varsity jackets, worn separately or all
together. In 2014, tuxedo-meets-athletic-striped trousers are in fashion. The athletic stripe smartens up with tuxedo
detailing on these sporty-meets-sophisticated tailored trousers. To look modern but refined, opt for a streamlined
silhouette in unexpected white (black is so traditional) and pair the pants with a casual non-button-down top. Take
inspiration from Costello Tagliapietras reverse tuxedo, with striping that runs along the inseam instead..
GEOMETRIC PRINTS
Flashback to geometry with grids, triangles, concentric circles, and many more ! Enjoy the mosaic-inspired prints, filigree
sunglasses from Dolce&Gabbana, with delicate small filigree flowers manually applied by artisans. The ancient gold-working
traditions of antique gold filigree has been used to make a corset top, shoes and bags in the fashion show. The jewellery
Byzantine-inspired rosaries, crosses, beads, and the crowning glory of the collection: the all-important tiara . Indulge in bold,
wearable topography: slogans, statements, abstract lettering LOGO-MANIA. Invest in fringing and tassels !
WEIRD TOUCHES
Roman coins were a key theme at the Dolce & Gabbana show, seen on dresses. The Kenzo show produced cult items
fisherman hats, coil necklaces, chunky-soled shoes, and trainers in the water-themed collection. There is an abundance of
off-the-shoulder dresses. The exposed midriff is for spring since Spring/Summer 2014 is the sexiest, boldest, and most
jewel-encrusted collection. From Aztec prints and fringing to a palette of teal, purple and camel, the Valentino show had a
southwestern vibe, but with the lace and romantic maxi-dresses Valentino is known for.
Bibliography
http://www.elle.com/fashion/spring-2014-fashion-trends
http://www.fashionising.com/trends/b--fashion-trends-in-2014-66588.html
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/galleries/TMG10554161/Fashion-trends-for-springsummer-2014-and-how-to-shop-them.html
http://www.glamour.com/fashion/2013/09/most-wearable-spring-2014-trends-from-nyfw
http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/fashion/new-trends/spring-summer-2014-fashion-trend-guide
http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/general/photos/0,,20720151_20749547_30042441,00.html#30042465
http://www.thestylistme.com/2013/10/23/love-filigree/
Christmas Traditions
Christmas traditions are of several types. There are traditions of the church, traditions which are
public celebrations and traditions, kept by families. These traditions are different in different times, places,
cultures and even families. The celebration of Christmas is a very important time for churches. Almost every
church has special services or celebrations. It is the custom in many churches to set up a Crib (or Creche)
scene of the Nativity or birth of Jesus. The first scene of this type was set up by St. Francis of Assisi in the
13th century. They have been very popular in Italy ever since then, the custom being spread to other countries.
The Advent wreath is a circle of leaves, usually pine boughs, ivy and holly, with five candles in it which is
hung up in a church. The candles are lit on each Sunday in Advent, the central candle is lit on Christmas
morning. Churches are often decked with green branches and leaves, having a Christmas tree. Each year at
Christmas there are Bible readings from the Gospels, telling the story of the birth of Jesus. These are
combined with other readings about the sinfulness of humans, and how God promised to send the Messiah.
On Christmas morning the main Bible reading in is the part of the Gospel of John which says that Jesus is
the Word of God, who was with God before the world began and who came to earth to teach all people to
become Gods children. A popular tradition in churches is the Carol Service by candlelight. The carol service
includes lots of singing and Bible readings. There is a tradition in England which began in the Temple Church
in London and has now spread to many other places for a service of Nine Lessons and Carols. Some carols
are sung by a choir, others by both choir and congregation. Every year one of these services is recorded in a
large English Church, often Kings College Chapel, Cambridge, to be broadcast on radio and television,
enjoyed by people who love carol singing, but particularly for people who cannot go to a Christmas service.
Many cities and towns celebrate by putting up Christmas decorations. These may be banners and
bunting strung from buildings or lampposts. They may be Christmas lights which can also decorate buildings
and street trees. Many large cities put up a huge Christmas tree in a public place, such as in Trafalgar Square
in London, Times Square in New York, and Martin Place in Sydney. This is often combined with an appeal to
the people of the city to give money or gifts to help the poor and needy. The usual shopping hours are made
longer before Christmas so workers have more time to buy Christmas food and presents. Shop windows are
decorated with Christmas scenes, department stores often have animated scenes to entertain children.
Shopping malls and big stores often have a Santa Claus, who sits on a throne, while children tell him what
they want for Christmas, and have their photos taken. Many towns hold Christmas parades, street
entertainment and concerts. The arrival of Santa Claus at the end of the evening is accompanied by a firework
display. A traditional part of Christmas is the theatre entertainment. This includes the performance of classical
music such as Handels Messiah as well as orchestral concerts and band recitals. Pantomimes are often
played. The favourites include Peter Pan and Wendy and Cinderella.
Family celebrations are often very different from each other, depending on where a family comes from,
and the customs that have grown in particular families. Most families think of Christmas as a time to get
together with other members of the family. Big family parties are usually a time of joy. In most homes, people
set up a Christmas tree in the house. This old Yuletide custom began in Germany as the Tannenbaum
(German for Fir Tree). These are traditionally evergreens, the best type being the Fir Tree which does not shed
its needles or lose its fragrance. The tree may be a cut tree bought from a plantation or taken from the forest.
Artificial trees are sometimes preferred to real trees. The Christmas tree is decorated with lights, shiny
coloured balls, sparkly tinsel, candy canes, angels, and other ornaments. A wreath of leaves or pine is often
put on the front door of a house as a sign of welcome. Other plants which have special significance at
Christmas are holly which is used as decoration and mistletoe which is hung in the centre of a room, but also
red amaryllis, the poinsettia (a native plant from Mexico), and Christmas cactus. The tradition says that people
who meet under the mistletoe must kiss. In the 15th century, it was recorded that in London it was the custom
at Christmas for every house and all the parish churches to be decked with holm, ivy, bays, and whatsoever
the season of the year afforded to be green. The heart-shaped leaves of ivy symbolise the coming to earth of
Jesus, while holly was seen as protection against pagans and witches, its thorns and red berries held to
represent the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus at the crucifixion and the blood He shed. The traditional
Christmas colours are GREEN and RED. White, silver and gold are also popular. Along with a Christmas tree,
the interior of a home may be decorated with plants, along with garlands and evergreen foliage. The outside of
houses is decorated with lights, illuminated sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures.
The giving of Christmas gifts comes from several different ideas. One is that God gave his son, Jesus, to the
world at Christmas. There is also the story of the Wise Men who came to the baby Jesus with three gifts,
gold, frankincense and myrrh. For centuries it has been the custom for people to give small gifts at Christmas,
also to give generously to the poor and needy to help them through the winter. Another tradition linked to this
one is Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, thought by many children to be the bringer of presents on Christmas
Eve, December 24th. The tradition seems to have originated from Saint Nicholas (a 4th-century bishop),
celebrated on December 6th. Santa is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins.
Christmas Dinner, usually eaten in the middle of the day, is an important part of the family celebration.
In the United Kingdom, Christmas dinner is usually eaten in the afternoon of December 25th. The food differs
from country to country, from family to family. In the Northern Hemisphere, roasted meat and vegetables is
generally the main course of the meal. Often several types of meat are served, which may include turkey,
ham, roast beef or lamb. There are often several courses, with special Christmas treats. Some regions, such
as Sicily, have special meals for Christmas Eve, when 12 kinds of fish are served. In England and countries
influenced by its traditions, a standard Christmas meal includes turkey or goose, meat, gravy and sometimes
forcemeat, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes (also boiled or mashed), vegetables (usually boiled or steamed),
particularly brussels sprouts, parsnips and carrots, sometimes bread and cider. They are served with stuffing,
cranberry sauce or redcurrant jelly, and bread sauce. The special desserts are Christmas pudding, mince pies
and fruit cake. In Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, fish is traditionally used for the
main course, but richer meat such as lamb is increasingly served. In Germany, France and Austria, goose and
pork are favoured. Beef, ham and chicken in various recipes are popular throughout the world. The Maltese
traditionally serve Imbuljuta tal-Qastan, a chocolate and chestnuts beverage, after Midnight Mass and
throughout the Christmas season. Slovaks prepare the traditional Christmas bread potica, bche de Nol in
France, panettone in Italy, and elaborate tarts and cakes. The eating of sweets and chocolates has become
popular worldwide. Sweeter Christmas delicacies include the German stollen, marzipan cake or candy, and
Jamaican rum fruit cake. As one of the few fruits available to Northern countries in winter, oranges have been
long associated with special Christmas foods.
The earliest extant specifically Christmas hymns appear in 4th-century Rome. Latin hymns such as
Veni redemptor gentium, written by Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan, were austere statements of the
theological doctrine of the Incarnation in opposition to Arianism. Corde natus ex Parentis (Of the Fathers
love begotten) by the Spanish poet Prudentius (d. 413) is still sung in some churches today. In the 9th and
10th centuries, the Christmas Sequence or Prose was introduced in North European monasteries,
developing under Bernard of Clairvaux into a sequence of rhymed stanzas. In the 12th century the Parisian
monk Adam of St. Victor derived music from popular songs, introducing something closer to the traditional
Christmas carol. By the 13th century, in France, Germany, and particularly, Italy, under the influence of Francis
of Asissi, a strong tradition of popular Christmas songs in the native language developed. Christmas carols in
English first appear in a 1426 work of John Awdlay, a Shropshire chaplain, who lists twenty-five caroles of
Cristemas, probably sung by groups of wassailers, who went from house to house.
Singing of carols initially suffered a decline in popularity after the Protestant Reformation in Northern
Europe, although some Reformers, like Martin Luther, wrote carols and encouraged their use in worship.
Carols largely survived in rural communities until the revival of interest in popular songs in the 19th century.
The 18th-century English reformer Charles Wesley understood the importance of music to worship. In addition
to setting many psalms to melodies, which were influential in the Great Awakening in the United States, he
wrote texts for at least three Christmas carols. The best known was originally entitled Hark! How All the
Welkin Rings, later renamed Hark! the Herald Angels Sing. Completely secular Christmas seasonal songs
emerged in the late 18th century. Deck the Halls dates from 1784, and the American Jingle Bells was
copyrighted in 1857. In the 19th and 20th centuries, African American spirituals and songs about Christmas,
based on their tradition of spirituals, became more widely known. An increasing number of seasonal holidays
songs were commercially produced in the 20th century, including jazz and blues variations. In addition, there
was a revival of interest in early music, from groups singing folk music, such as The Revels, to performers of
early medieval and classical music.
The songs we know as carols were originally communal folk songs sung during celebrations such as
harvest tide and Christmas. It was only later that carols began to be sung in church. Traditionally, carols
have been based on medieval chord patterns, therefore having uniquely characteristic musical sound. Some
carols like Personent hodie, Good King Wenceslas, and The Holly and the Ivy can be traced directly
back to the Middle Ages. They are among the oldest musical compositions still regularly sung. Adeste
Fidelis (O Come all ye faithful) appears in its current form in the mid-18th century, although the words may
have originated in the 13th century.
Minstrels
by William Wordsworth
The minstrels played their Christmas tune
To-night beneath my cottage-eaves ;
While, snitten by a lofty moon,
The encircling laurels, thick with leaves,
Gave back a rich and dazzling sheen,
that overpowered their natural green.
Though hill and valley every breeze
Had sunk to rest with folded wings :
Keen was the air, but could not freeze,
Nor check, the music of the strings ;
So stout and hardy were the band
That scraped the chords with strenuous hand.
And who but listened ? till was paid
Respect to every inmates claim,
The greeting given, the music played
In honour of each household name,
Duly pronounced with lusty call,
And Merry Christmas wished to all.
Christmas Bells
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men !
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men !
Till, ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men !
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The Carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men !
And in despair I bowed my head ;
There is no peace on earth, I said ;
For hate is strong
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men !
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep :
God is not dead ; nor doth he sleep !
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men !
Santa's Lap
I like to visit Santa Claus
When Christmas time is near.
It's fun to climb up on his lap
And whisper in his ear.
He says, My dear, have you been good ?
Have you done what Mother said
you should ?
Do you brush your teeth and hair each day ?
Are you kind to others when you play ?
I listen to each question
And answer every one.
Although I am ashamed to say
I must say 'no' to some.
But Santa never scares me ;
He doesn't even scold.
He just says, Try again, my dear,
You're a fine lad, I am told.
Gee, I like to visit Santa Claus
When Christmas time is near.
It's fun to climb up on his lap
And whisper in his ear . . .
O Christmas Tree !
O Christmas Tree !
O Christmas Tree ! O Christmas Tree !
Thy leaves are so unchanging ;
O Christmas Tree ! O Christmas Tree !
Thy leaves are so unchanging ;
Not only green when summers here,
But also when tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree ! O Christmas Tree !
Thy leaves are so unchanging.
O Christmas Tree ! O Christmas Tree !
Much pleasure thou canst give me ;
O Christmas Tree ! O Christmas Tree !
Much pleasure thou canst give me ;
How often has the Christmas Tree
Afforded me the greatest glee !
O Christmas Tree ! O Christmas Tree !
Much pleasure thou canst give me ;
O Christmas Tree ! O Christmas Tree !
Thy candles shine so brightly !
O Christmas Tree ! O Christmas Tree !
Thy candles shine so brightly !
From base to summit, gay and bright,
Theres only splendour for the sight.
O Christmas Tree ! O Christmas Tree !
Thy candles shine so brightly !
O Christmas Tree ! O Christmas Tree !
How richly God has decked thee !
O Christmas Tree ! O Christmas Tree !
How richly God has decked thee !
Thou bidst us true and faithful be,
And trust in God unchangingly.
O Christmas Tree ! O Christmas Tree !
How richly God has decked thee !
Jingle Bells
Bibliography
http://www.carols.org.uk/christmas_poem.htm
http://www.christmasimg.com
http://www.en.wikipedia.ro
http://www.imgchristmaswikispaces.com
http://www.jingle-bells-lyrics.com/
http://www.thefreedictionary.com
http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/worldxmas/manylanguages.htm
Josh Groban
You Raise Me Up
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary ;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be ;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains ;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas ;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders ;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains ;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas ;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders ;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.
There is no life no life without its hunger ;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly ;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains ;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas ;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders ;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains ;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas ;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders ;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.
You raise me up... To more than I can be.
by Robert Burns
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne ?
/Chorus/
The twa hae run about the braes,
And poud the gowans fine ;
But weve wanderd mony a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.
/Chorus/
The twa hae paidld in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roard
Sin auld lang syne.
/Chorus/
And theres a hand, my trusty fere,
And gies a hand o thine !
And well tak a right gude-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.
/Chorus/
Fill in the following sentences with the corresponding missing words, which you have encountered while
reading this issue of RoEnRo.
1. The immune system and digestive system of our body must be in position to enable us