Valentine's Day Superstitions & Traditions

Traditionally, spring begins on St Valentine's Day (February 14th), the day on which birds chose their mates. In parts of Sussex Valentines Day was called 'The Birds' Wedding Day'.

Valentine's Day History

St. Valentine was a priest in Rome, and was condemned to death on February 14th 269 A.D. after it was discovered that he had been helping Christian martyrs and secretly marrying couples. The emperor Claudius II had prohibited men in his army to marry, as he felt their strength would be sapped!
Before his execution St.Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, signed 'From Your Valentine', and so began the tradition of sending a card from a secret admirer.

martyr = mártir...............................sap = minar, socavar.
strength = fuerza..........................farewell note = nota de despedida

VALENTINE CARDS

Sending your loved one a card on Valentine's day has been with us  since the 1800's when commercial valentines were first introduced.

 
Valentine's Day
Is a wonderful way
To make "I love you"
Easy to say'.

Nicholas Gordon  

Love Spells (= hechizos)

To discover your true love
Before you go to sleep put bay leaves on the corners of your pillow, and one in the centre. Close your eyes and repeat these words 7 times, counting up to seven between each repetition:

'Dear Guardian Angel, let me have what I so earnestly do crave
A Valentine imbued with love, who will both true and constant prove.' 
 
bay leaves= hojas de laurel...................................earnestly = de todo corazón
pillow = almohada..................................................crave = anhelar
 
Your true love should appear to you in a dream.

Love Divination

If you visit a cemetery on St Valentine’s Eve at midnight and walk around the church 12 times, you should dream of your future husband.

LOVEBIRDS

It was a popular belief that the birds choose their mates on the feast of Valentine - their patron saint.
It is also traditionally believed that a girl is able to tell what sort of man she will marry by the first bird she sees on St. Valentine's day.

Blackbird (mirlo)- Priest
Robin (petirrojo)- Sailor
Goldfinch (jilguero) - a rich man
Sparrow (gorrión) - Farmer
Any blue bird - a happy man
Dove (paloma)- a loving man
Woodpecker (carpintero)- will not marry

Flower Language

Roses Messages

Red - true love
White - I love you not
Yellow - jealousy
Pink - innocent love and happiness
Orange - I love you vigorously
Purple - I will love you forever
Wild rose - uncontrollable desire
Moss rose - I admire you from afar

Funny Valentine

On July 19, 2009 a viral video called JK Wedding Entrance Dance was uploaded to You Tube that received significant media attention, using"Forever"" by Chris Brown as the song for the wedding march. The wedding was between Jill Peterson and Kevin Heinz.
 

 

Imaginative wedding proposal!!.

Third week of protests begin in Cairo

Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Egypt's revolt entered its third week Tuesday as anti-government protesters formed a human chain in Cairo's Tahrir Square, vowing not to budge until President Hosni Mubarak and those around him are forced from office.

Vow = jurar, hacer voto de

Budge = moverse

Forced from office= obligados a dejar el cargo

"Tahrir Square wants Mubarak to go as soon as possible, but it also wants the dismantling of his regime," actor Khalid Abdalla, the star of the 2007 film "The Kite Runner," said Monday. "It wants the dismantling of the police state. It wants the dismantling of the emergency law. It wants the dissolution of the parliament, which was corruptly elected."

dismantling = dermantelamiento

Mubarak has ruled Egypt since 1981, aided by an emergency decree that gives him sweeping powers. Since the protests began January 25, he has appointed a vice president for the first time, reshuffled his cabinet and announced that he won't seek a new term in September. His new deputy, longtime intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, has been holding talks with opposition parties in hopes of creating a smooth transition, and key members of the ruling National Democratic Party --including Mubarak's son Gamal -- resigned from leadership positions Saturday.

rule = gobernar....................................reshuffle = reorganizar

decree = decreto..................................seek a new term = intentar conseguir un nuevo mandato.

sweeping powers = amplios poderes......smooth= suave, tranquilo

appoint = nombrar.............................. resigned from leadership positions = dimitir de puestos de mando

CNN's Anderson Cooper takes on the Egyptian government's claims about its treatment of protesters and journalists.
Write a summary of the report. Here you have some vocabulary to help you:

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH (NGO)

VIDEOTAPE = grabar en video

RELEASE = liberar

HELD 0= retenido(pp HOLD)

HENCHMAN = secuaz, esbirro

OPOSITION FIGURES = miembros/personajes de la oposición

 DENY = negar

TRASH = destrozar

ARREST = arrestar

INVOLVEMENT = participación

MOB=  muchedumbre

PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS = manifestantes pacíficos

SHOTS IN THE AIR= tiros al aire

DETAINED = detenido

INTEND  = tener intención

POLICE STATE = estado policial

ARE YOU INTERESTED? Ask your teacher for further information.

CONVOCATORIA DE UNA BECA PARA PARTICIPAR EN EL

INSTITUTO DE VERANO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 2011

EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA PARA JÓVENES ENTRE 16 Y 18 AÑOS

La Embajada de los Estados Unidos en España selecciona un estudiante español o residente en España, para participar en el Instituto de Verano Benjamin Franklin 2011, programa financiado por el Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos para promover las relaciones entre las jóvenes generaciones de europeos, asiáticos y norteamericanos. 

El estudiante seleccionado participará en un programa intensivo enfocado en los asuntos globales a los que se enfrentan los jóvenes a ambos lados del Atlántico.  El Instituto tendrá lugar en una localidad norteamericana - aún por determinar - durante cuatro semanas en junio-julio de 2011 y reunirá aproximadamente a 45 estudiantes de distintos países de Europa y Asia Central con 10 estudiantes norteamericanos.  Los participantes llevarán a cabo una gran variedad de actividades: seminarios, programas de apoyo comunitario y voluntariado, viajes de estudio y eventos culturales.  Trabajarán en un proyecto conjunto y explorarán como los jóvenes de hoy interactúan con los medios de comunicación, tanto en su faceta de consumidores como de productores de información.  Abordarán también como la libertad de expresión impone a los ciudadanos tanto derechos como responsabilidades. 

Dotación: Todos los gastos (viaje, alojamiento, manutención, seguro médico y de accidentes y visado) correrán por cuenta del Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos de América.
Requisitos y criterios de selección:

• Excelente conocimiento del inglés. Es imprescindible adjuntar un certificado del centro de enseñanza, Escuela Oficial de Idiomas o academia acreditando una calificación de “Sobresaliente” o equivalente (C1^[1]) en la asignatura de inglés.
• Excelencia académica. Los candidatos deberán adjuntar un certificado de su centro de enseñanza que refleje una nota media mínima de “Notable” (7.5) en su expediente académico.
• Deberá también adjuntarse a la solicitud al menos una carta de referencia.
• No se considerarán solicitudes de candidatos que hayan participado previamente en viajes de estudio a los Estados Unidos.
• Se valorará muy positivamente la participación en actividades de voluntariado y/o proyectos de servicio comunitario.

Envío de solicitudes: Cumplimentar este formulario, adjuntar una o varias cartas de referencia siguiendo el modelo adjunto, certificados de notas e inglés y remitirlos por correo postal, electrónico o fax a:

                                               Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América

                             Sección Cultural

                             Serrano, 75 – 28006 Madrid

                             Fax: 91 576 8464 – morenoma@state.gov

Fecha límite de recepción de solicitudes: Martes, 1 de marzo de 2011 – 18:00h

Resolución de la beca: Prevista para finales de marzo 2011.                         

---

[1] Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - CEFR

Peace Day at A Sangriña

MANDALA is an ancient Sanskrit word that means “sacred circle".
It most often refers to spiritual or religious art that is created in the form of a circle. 

The word is specifically associated with traditional Hindu and Buddhist artwork, but mandalas can be found in perhaps all of the worlds spiritual traditions. We find them in the rose windows of the great cathedrals, Native American medicine wheels, the I Ching, and Zen circle paintings, among numerous others.The sacred circle can be found in every inch and corner of our living universe.

rose windows = rosetones

medicine wheels = ruedas medicinales

every inch and corner = en cada pulgada y esquina (en cada rincón)

Have you ever noticed how important circles are to the functioning of the universe, it radiates, contains, and directs the movement of things?
 . .* the sun emanates light
 . .* a sound wave expands in all directions
 . .* a flower displays itself with a fountain of petals emerging
 . .* the  circle contains water in every drop of rain
 . .* the circle protects every baby bird forming within its egg
 . .* in a circle that we do not ordinarily see, we find everything that constitutes our homeland, Planet ...Earth

Have you ever noticed = alguna vez te has dado cuenta?

The "Sri Yantra" above is considered the most holy image of the Hindu..tradition and represents the timeless creative principle of the universe..This one was painted in Rajasthan, India circa 1700.

How to Grow a Mandala:
This simple and easy method of mandala drawing is also a powerful form of meditation, relaxation, prayer, and creative expression. It is similar to methods that have been practiced for thousands of years. It only takes 5 minutes to learn, and all you need is a piece of paper and pen or pencil.
Give yourself a 5-minute meditation break, listen to calm music and...Give it a try!

out of nothing = de la nada..................choice = elección

ground = terremo, suelo, base..............it's never about.. = no se trata de...

seed = semilla.....................................next step = siguiente paso

top and bottom = arriba y abajo............care = cuidado, cariño

 pick = escoge....................................there's no such thing as a mistake = no existe el error

shape = forma....................................what's next? = qué es lo próximo?, qué viene ahora?

size = tamaño.....................................accept what comes = acepta lo que venga


                                                                         INFO from:  www.premaspace.com

Variety indeed...

Happy New ...Term, everyone! SMILE!!!!!

Hey Door!

..................................................Don’t yell, he gets unhinged…

yell = chillar
unhinged = trastornado (HINGE = bisagra)

And the clock struck 12... Happy 2011 everyone!

London Fireworks on New Year's Day 20011... AWESOME!
......

Happy New Year to all of You

The New Year is upon us

Bringing hope and anticipation 

And if in our faith we trust,   faith = fe
There is cause for celebration.

 ....

May all your dreams come true,........que todos tus sueños se hagan realidad
Whatever that dream may be............cuaquiera que sea ese sueño
May good health always follow you,..que la buena salud te siga siempre
And bring blessings to your family......blessings = bendiciones
May you build memories to treasure...memories = recuerdos
May your wishes be granted as well...que también se concedan tus deseos

May this year bring you much pleasure,

And leave you with great stories to tell.

May you find happiness in your heart,

May you find joy and never be sad.

May your resolutions give you a good start,...resolutions = propósitos
And this be the best year you've ever had.

We wish you a Merry Christmas!!!!

 

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

The author and composer is unknown.
However, this song may date back
to the 16th century.

We wish you a Merry Christmas.                                               

We wish you a Merry Christmas.                                           
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year.

Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin.
Good tidings for Christmas
And a Happy New Year.

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding.
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding.
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding
And a cup of good cheer.

We won't go until we get some.
We won't go until we get some.
We won't go until we get some,
So bring some out here. 

to wish = desear

tidings = noticias

kin = parientes

figgy = con higos

cheer = ánimo

Christmas Traditions in UK

The Christmas Dinner is the main Christmas meal and is traditionally eaten at mid-day or early afternoon on Christmas Day in England, and also in the rest of Britain.
A traditional English and British Christmas dinner includes roast turkey or goose, brussels sprouts, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce, rich nutty stuffing, tiny sausages wrapped in bacon (pigs in a blanket) and lashings of hot gravy.

main = principal...........................................cramberry sauce = salsa de arándanos

roat turkey = pavo asado..............................nutty stuffing = relleno con frutos secos

goose = ganso ............................................wrapped = envuelto

brussel sprouts = coles de bruselas................lashings = montones

gravy = salsa o jugo de carne

 For pudding (dessert) we eat a rich, fruity pudding which is doused in flaming brandy – said to ward off evil spirits. This rich, fruity pudding is called the Christmas Pudding.

doused = empapado

flaming = en llamas

ward off = repeler

A Turkey Wishing Tradition
A Christmas tradition involving the turkey is to pull its wishbone. This is one of the bones of the turkey which is shaped like the letter 'Y'. Two people will each hold an end and pull. The person left with the larger piece of the bone makes a wish. 

wishbone = hueso de la suerte, espoleta

Christmas Crackers
Traditionally a Christmas cracker is placed next to each plate on the Christmas dinner table. When the crackers are pulled, out falls a colourful party crown, a toy or gift and a festive joke.

.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Mr BEAN