Professional Documents
Culture Documents
December Newspaper
December Newspaper
December Newspaper
PRAXIS NEWS
Merry Christmas
What’s inside:
END OF YEAR CELEBRATIONS
WHAT IS CHRISTMAS (AND ITS MEANING)
TOURISM
CANDLES DAY: A FESTIVAL OF LIGHT AND
TRADITION
BLACK FRIDAY AND BUY NOTHING DAY
PLACES WHERE CHRISTMAS ISN'T THE MAIN
EVENT
PROBLEMS WITH BOTTLED WATER
WE WISH YOU A HAPPY XMAS
THE IMPORTANCE OF MUSIC
CINEMATIC MARVELS: FIVE MUST-SEE MOVIES
OF THE LAST DECADE
CURRICULUM VITAES: TIPS THAT CAN HELP
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF JUNK AND FAST FOOD
DAY OF CANDLES IN COLOMBIA
UNIVERSAL CHILDREN'S DAY
WORLD KINDNESS DAY
DIWALI
BONFIRE NIGHT
GENERATIONS
THE DELICIOUS HISTORY OF HOT CHOCOLATE
WHY YOU SHOULDN’T BE AFRAID OF FLYING!
DECEMBER 2023
PRAXIS NEWS
Merry Christmas
END OF YEAR
CELEBRATIONS
EXCHANGING GIFTS
Educational tourism
Young people live as exchange students
in other countries, where they go to CANDLES DAY: A
school and study the language and
culture of the host country. Sports FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
tourism An increasing number of sports AND TRADITION
fans travel to places where special events
are being held. The Olympic Games and Candles Day, or "Día de las Velitas" in
world championships attract visitors from Spanish, is a cherished Colombian
around the world. holiday celebrated on December 7th.
This vibrant festival marks the
Religious tourism beginning of the Christmas season and
Religious tourists go on pilgrimages to holds deep cultural significance for
holy sites. Roman Catholics, for example, Colombians. In this article, we will
travel to Lourdes, Fatima or the Vatican explore the history, traditions, and
in Europe. Muslims are required to go to festivities of Candles Day.
Mecca at least once in their lifetime.
Varanasi , on the banks of the Ganges The Origin of Candles Day
River, is the spiritual capital of the Candles Day has its roots in religious
Hindus. traditions. It commemorates the eve of
the Feast of the Immaculate
Conception, an important Catholic
holiday that honors the Virgin Mary.
DECEMBER 2023
3. China
PLACES WHERE While Christmas is increasingly
CHRISTMAS ISN'T recognized and celebrated in urban
areas, it's not a traditional holiday in
THE MAIN EVENT China. The main festive season in China
is the Lunar New Year (Chinese New
While Christmas is celebrated with great Year), which falls sometime between
fervor in many parts of the world, there late January and mid-February.
are regions where it isn't the focal point
of holiday festivities. In some places, 4. Thailand
cultural, religious, or historical reasons Predominantly a Buddhist country,
have shaped different traditions. Let's Thailand doesn't traditionally celebrate
explore a few of these locales where Christmas. However, with the influence
December 25th might not be as of tourism and globalization, you may
prominent. find some decorations and festivities
inlarger cities and tourist areas.
1. Japan
In Japan, Christmas isn't a national 5. India
holiday, and it's not tied to any religious In India, Christmas is celebrated by a
significance. Instead, it's more of a significant Christian population, but it
secular and commercial event. You'll find isn't a national holiday. Other religions
dazzling illuminations, festive and cultural festivals often take
decorations, and it's common to precedence. Goa, with its historic
celebrate with a special meal, like fried Portuguese influence, stands out for its
chicken from KFC. vibrant Christmas celebrations.
Sleep deficiency can interfere with work, Improve your sleeping environment
school, driving, and social functioning. in any way you can – for example,
You might have trouble learning, focusing, keep it dark and soundproof, turn off
and reacting. Also, you might find it hard lights and wear earplugs if you have
to judge other people’s emotions and noisy neighbours.
reactions. Sleep deficiency also can make Don’t have any distractions in the
you feel frustrated, cranky, or worried in bedroom such as TV or a computer.
social situations. Use relaxation techniques to help you
fall asleep quickly.
The symptoms of sleep deficiency may Seek professional assistance for sleep
differ between children and adults. disorders such as snoring.
Children who are sleep deficient might be
overly active and have problems paying
attention. They also might misbehave,
and their school performance can suffer
Sleep deficiency is also linked to a higher
chance of injury in adults, teens, and
children. For example, sleepiness while
driving (not related to alcohol) is
responsible for serious car crash injuries
and death. In older adults, sleep
deficiency may be linked to a higher THE NEGATIVE SIDE
chance of falls and broken bones. OF JUNK AND FAST
Sleep deficiency has also played a role in
FOOD
human mistakes linked to tragic accidents,
such as nuclear reactor meltdowns, Junk foods are food and drinks with low
grounding of large ships, and plane nutritional value (e.g. vitamins, minerals
crashes. A common myth Is that people and fibre) and high in kilojoules, fat,
can learn to get by on little sleep with no sugars and/or salt. On the other hand,
negative effects. However, research fast foods are a type of food you get
shows that getting enough quality sleep at from a restaurant designed to be
the right times is vital for mental health, delivered to you in the quickest way
physical health, quality of life, and safety. possible. Some fast foods can be healthy,
but typically most fast foods are junk
Sleep suggestions food. For example, salad, sushi and
Suggestions on how to get more sleep sandwiches are healthy forms of fast
include: food. However, most fast food
Purposefully go to bed earlier each restaurants, such as McDonalds or KFC
night. serve unhealthy junk food. In Australia,
Don’t smoke or drink alcoholic or 35% of an average adult’s daily energy
caffeinated beverages in the hours intake and 41% of children’s daily energy
before bedtime. intake comes from junk food.
DECEMBER 2023
Day One – Dhanteras, or Day of Fortune take it to the temple to celebrate the
The first day has a focus on fortune, both beginning of the new year. Food is
good luck and money or valuables. People important throughout the period of
may wash money to show that they Diwali, especially traditional sweet
intend to use it to do good in the world. It treats such as gulab jamun (a very sweet
is also a day for helping people who are deep-fried doughnut), kheer (a creamy
not as well off. It is a lucky day for buying dessert made with rice) or barfi (a sweet
gold and silver and other metals, so made with condensed milk and sugar).
people often buy jewellery or cars, or
anything made of metal. It is estimated Day Five – Bhai Dhooj
that last year Indians spent about $3.9 This is the last day of Diwali, and it also
billion during Diwali. sometimes celebrates the relationship
between brother and sister. Brothers
People also make sure that their houses may visit their married sisters’ homes,
are clean, ready to welcome in Lakshmi, and they will take gifts.
the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, in
the evening. A universal symbol Diwali is celebrated
by millions of people in India and across
Day Two – Naraka Chaturdashi the world. The festival marks different
According to Hindu stories, the demon historical events and stories for each
Narakasura was killed on this day. The day faith that celebrates it, but for all the
is all about getting rid of anything bad. faiths it symbolises the victory of good
People get up early and wash and put on over evil, and light over darkness, which
clean or new clothes. Afterwards, they will means something to all of us.
celebrate by having a special breakfast
with their friends and family. This day,
also known as Chhoti Diwali, is a day for
visiting friends, business associates and
relatives, and for exchanging gifts.
BONFIRE NIGHT
Bonfire Night can be a hard celebration to explain. It’s also sometimes called Guy Fawkes
Night – but who was Guy Fawkes and what’s it all about? Well, Guy Fawkes tried to blow
up London’s Houses of Parliament in 1605 because he wanted to kill King James I. So
British people celebrate that night, 5 November, with bonfire parties, including huge
bonfires in public parks, and firework displays.
But isn’t it strange to celebrate a plot to kill the king? Well, yes, it would be. But if you
know more about the history of Bonfire Night and the Gunpowder Plot, its traditions
make more sense. You see, the first Bonfire Night, on 5 November 1606, wasn’t exactly a
celebration. It was a warning: ‘This is what happens if you commit treason.’
Who was Guy Fawkes? Guy Fawkes was a soldier and he was not the only person
involved in the plot to blow up Parliament. He made his plan with a group of 12 English
Catholic gentlemen. The leader was Sir Robert Catesby. As a soldier, Fawkes was in
charge of the gunpowder. The men rented a room underneath Parliament and filled 36
barrels with gunpowder – probably about 2,500 kilograms. Fawkes stayed to blow up the
barrels and then escape. But someone sent a letter to Lord Monteagle, a
Catholic, to tell him not to go to Parliament that day. In this way, the plot was
discovered, and Guy Fawkes was caught before he could carry it out.
All the members of the plot were either killed or arrested and then killed in public.
Parliament ordered a national day to give thanks for the safety of the king on 5
November. People had to go to church and they celebrated with a big bonfire. By the
1650s, the celebration included fireworks and later a ‘guy’ – a man made of straw and old
clothes and burned on the bonfire.
What was there a plot? Guy Fawkes and the other members of the plot didn’t like the
way Protestant James I (and Queen Elizabeth I before him) treated Catholics like them.
At that time, Catholics couldn’t have their own churches. They had to practise their
religion in secret, and it was very dangerous if they were caught. The Gunpowder Plot
was not the first Catholic plan to try to kill the king, but it was the biggest. Afterwards,
many people were suspicious of Catholics, even as late as the 18th and 19th centuries.
This was very unfair, as most Catholics were peaceful and were also shocked by the
plots.
Bonfire Night Today The celebrations have remained mostly the same for hundreds of
years, although people nowadays don’t go to church as part of the day. Most towns and
villages organise public displays where you can stand by huge bonfires and watch the
fireworks as you eat a toffee apple or a hot snack. Many children learn this poem about
Bonfire Night at school, and they look forward to a special evening out: Remember,
remember the 5th of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot.
DECEMBER 2023
I see no reason why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot. So if you’re ever in the
UK on 5 November, you’ll now know what all the noise is about!
GENERATIONS
Comparing youth against elderly, sometimes results complicated. Different life styles,
learning and upbringing are some of the biggest differences, which mark some
generational milestones. The way of life is not the same for teenagers nowadays
compared with teenagers thirty years ago. Taking into account technology, working and
new tendencies which influence our lives. I´m going to tell you from my personal
experience what has changed through the years and molded many of our behaviors and,
too, that no matters the generational differences, but how we are able to conform to
the times.
Learning
The way the last generations learned was somewhat different. For instance, in past,
people used to go to libraries, do homeworks under the light of a candle, even some of
them, took classes from the radio or by correspondence. Those are unthinkable things
presently. On the other hand, today, we have the chance to pay for internet service and
get as much information as we need immediately.
Slangs
The manners, the ways to request anything and common expressions are changing with
the new generations. Normally, people would say often, “good morning, please, excuse
me, etc…” in the past. Youth, in contrast, say contractions, easier and sometimes shorter
expressions. For instance, mixing the words chill and relax, they get the verb to chillax,
or the case of “take it easy. Equally, as some of them in Colombia, when we say “las
lucas, caerle a alguien, el parche, parcero”, etc…
Games
Games like, Marbles, Spining Top, Yermis, among others are so memorable for many
people in Colombia. However, those games could be less interesting for children and
teenagers in 2022. Is very common to listen to the kids to talk about the brand new
tendency, challenge or what´s new to be in, even though it is dangerous.
DECEMBER 2023
Upbringing
Probably you have listened something like women didn’t need a hospital to give birth,
but they did it at home with a midwife, or parents hit children when responded them
wrong. However, they obeyed their parents and family were closer together.
Nowadays, if anyone touch a child then he will have a big problem. What do you think
about it?
Fashion
The kind of garments used in the past were so different. If we compare the 50’s vs
today, we can observe the formal outfits even in children. Presently, we look for
comfort, changing suits for tracksuits and trainers. Sometimes, we can go to formal
meetings and work, using informal clothes on the weekends.
Music
Music were discreet and romantic most of the cases, which could be very boring for
new generations. Instead, they normally prefer new rhythms, accelerated beats and
more aggressive lyrics. In many cases urging to uncontrolled sex, violence and even
decadence. Don´t get me wrong, I enjoy many musical genres, not only one.
Life Style
The way of life is different today. Thanks to technology, we can do impossible things
in past, that go from working at home and getting a university grade. In addition,
troubles like illnesses are changing our behaviors because we must use masks and
keep distance to be safe. Besides, we want to do many things at the same time, which
is stressful and keep us exhausted most of the time.
You might not know these words: Upbringing: the way in which you are treated and
educated when you are young, especially by your parents. Milestone: an important
event in the development or history of something or in someone's life. Mold:
influence on how that person develops. Conform: to behave according to the usual
standards of behaviour that are expected by a group or society. Urge: a strong wish,
especially one that is difficult or impossible to control.
DECEMBER 2023
After skating, skiing or shoveling snow, nothing warms you up better than a cup of hot
cocoa. Although today’s typical toppings— whipped cream, marshmallows, crushed
peppermint candy—may be modern marvels, chocolate was first consumed in liquid
form by the Olmec people of northwestern Central America around 1500 B.C. It was
even enjoyed by the Aztec emperor Montezuma, and the Aztec word for it (xocolatl,
pronounced shoh-kwah-tl or shoh-kwahlah- tl) evolved into the English word chocolate.
But the Aztecs didn’t serve their cocoa hot. And since sugar had not yet arrived from
Europe, back then, the drink was often flavored with peppers and spices. It may not have
been quite as indulgent as today’s version, but it was more palatable if you believed, as
the Aztecs did, that chocolate was a gift from the gods and had healing properties.
After the Spanish arrived in the Americas in the 1500 s, liquid chocolate made its way
across the pond, where wealthy Europeans added sugar and drank it warm. In Chocolate:
History, Culture and Heritage, author Bertram Gordon says hot chocolate became “the
beverage of the aristocracy,” as sugar was still a luxury. (Marie Antoinette even had a
servant with the title Chocolate Maker to the Queen.) Doctors also began using it to
mask the unpleasant taste of medicines—and some doctors today still suggest that
parents try that.
Soon enough, though, hot chocolate caught on with the masses. Chocolate houses—a
cross between cafes and casinos— started popping up around 17th-century Europe. In
these lively places, hot chocolate was poured from gilded pots into elegant cups.
(Anyone looking for such a posh experience can still find it today at the famed Parisian
tearoom Angelina’s, which also has a location in New York City.) But by the end of the
18th century, chocolate houses had mostly died off, partly because the cost of chocolate
was much higher than that of coffee or tea.
Instant cocoa is another American invention, created in the late 1950s when dairy
company owner Charles Sanna faced an oversupply of powdered coffee creamer. His
solution: mix the creamer, sugar and cocoa powder together, thus creating the original
Swiss Miss formulation.
DECEMBER 2023
Taking a tour of international cups of cocoa, in Italy, you can try cioccolata calda, a
thick, puddinglike version. In Colombia and Ecuador, chocolate caliente is served with
a dollop of soft farmer cheese—a divinely gooey experience. And Filipino hot
chocolate, sikwate, is served with mango chunks.
However you choose to jazz up your own cup, the simple pleasure of drinking a warm,
chocolaty beverage is one that hasn’t gotten old for thousands of years. A gift from
the gods? Perhaps. But it’s certainly one that keeps on giving.
Of course, that doesn’t stop some people from being afraid of flying. The idea of hurtling
through the atmosphere at hundreds of miles per hour can be intimidating for many.
One of the main reasons that people are afraid to fly is that passengers lack any control
over the airplane, and have to place their trust in the hands of the pilots. Many people
would prefer to remain in control!
Comparing the number of deaths caused by cars, trains, and airplanes is very difficult.
Many more people drive than fly. The easiest way to compare deaths is per billion
kilometers. This means, how many people will die per billion kilometers travelled?
Motorcycles, for example very dangerous and 108.9 people will die per every billion
kilometers traveled. Cars are less dangerous, with 3.1 people dying per billion killometers.
DECEMBER 2023
Trains are quite safe, with only 0.6 people dying per billion kilometers traveled.
Subway and metro rails are even safer, with only 0.24 people dying per billion
kilometers traveled. Do you know what’s even safer? Air travel! Only 0.05 people
were killed per billion kilometers. This is far lower than most other forms of
transportation.
Commercial flying is especially safe. When a commercial aircraft crashes, it gets a lot
of attention. Sometimes, hundreds of people can die in a single crash. Yet part of the
reason these crashes get so much attention is because they are so rare. In fact,
aviation accidents involving civilian aircraft carrying 19 or more people have actually
declined over the years. In 1972, there were more than 40 accidents. In 2014, there
were fewer than ten. This is especially reassuring given that there are far more people
flying now than there were in 1972.
Most crashes that do occur actually involve smaller personal planes, which lack the
advanced features found in modern commercial aircraft. Another reason people fear
flying is “terrorist attacks”. Terrorist attacks are extremely rare, however. You are far
more likely to die of the common flu, than you are to die from a terrorist attack.
Furthermore, increased security at airports and on airplanes makes it even less likely
that a terrorist attack will bring down an airplane.