Halloween

The true, funny history of Halloween

ST PATRICK'S DAY

Having a look at anglo-saxon traditions we cannot forget St Patrick's Day. On March 17th the Irish celebrate their Patron Saint. However, the festival has spread worlwide and today, St Patrick's Day is probably the most celebrated saint's day in all the world. Watch this video about the history of St Patrick and do the exercise bellow.
According to the video
1.- Where was St Patrick born?
 2.- What was his first "job"?
 3.- What did he do back in Ireland?
4.- Why are snakes mentioned in the video?
5.- What did he use the shamrock for?
 6.- Why does the holiday fall on March 17th?
7.- Why do the cities oo Boston and New York mentioned?
 8.- What does the traditional St Patrick's Day meal consist of?

Notting Hill Carnival

It' s winter, it's February and it's carnival time. When you think about carnivals the first thing which comes to your mind is probably the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, probably the biggest carnival in the world with its music, dancing and colourful costumes or perhaps the carnival of Venice with its impressive masks. But did you know there's another famous carnival in Europe which is not held in February? It's Notting Hill Carnival.
Click on the link and find the answer to these questions.

Notting Hill Carnival

1.- Where is Notting Hill Carnival held?
2.- When is it celebrated?
3.- Where do the origins of this carnival come from?
4.- How long has it been celebrated for?
5.- What did the carnivals in the19th century celebrate?
6.- What did the people at that time try to express with their costumes?

St Valentine's Day

Surely you know February, 14th is St Valentine's Day. But do you know who this Valentine was and why he is considered the patron saint of love?
Watch this video y complete this cloze test.

1.- The origins of St Valentines day can be both in the early Christian and ancient Rome
2.- Lupercalia was a pagan .
3.- Lupercalia honoured either Lupa the she-wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus or Faunus the god of .
4.- The festivities began with an scarifying.
5.- They slapped women with strips of the animal’s skin to bestow for the coming year
6.- Pope Gelasius declared St Valentine’s Day on the XVth .
7.- In order to stop their soldiers from being homesick, Emperor Claudius decided to ban altogether.
8.- Valentine defied the Emperor and continued young couples in secret
9- In reaction, the Emperor decided to sentence Valentine to .
10- Young couples visited him in prison passing him and notes as a symbol of their gratitude.
11- Valentine fell in love with his jailor’s and sent her the first letter signed “from your Valentine”
12- Nowadays, on average, roses are given on St Valentine’s day in the USA
13- Other presents given on St Valentine’s day are , dinners, or diamonds
14- You shouldn’t worry if you can’t afford a present for your loved one. is really all you need.