MAY DAY


The first day of the month of May is known as May Day. It is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is said to be a time of love and romance. It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of different customs that are expressions of joy and hope after a long winter


Traditional English May Day celebrations include :

Morris dancing, a traditional English form of folkdancing, performed by groups of men or women.


 

 crowning a May Queen








and dancing around a Maypole.


On May Day, people used to cut down young trees and stick them in the ground in the village to mark the arrival of summer.
People danced around the tree poles in celebration of the end of winter and the start of the fine weather that would allow planting to begin.





The beginning of Summer
Although summer does not officially begin until June, May Day marks its beginning. May Day celebrations have been carried out in England for over 2000 years.
The Romans celebrated the festival of Flora, goddess of fruit and flowers, which marked the beginning of summer. It was held annually from April 28th to May 3rd.

May Day Bank Holiday
The month of May has many traditions and celebrations. For the convenience of the general public, many May Day activities have now been moved to the new May Day holiday (from 1978) on the first Monday of the month. This Monday is a bank holiday, a day off school and work.

Many of the May Day celebrations take place at the weekend as well as on the 'May Day' Monday. The weekend is know as bank holiday weekend because it comes with the extra day holiday on the Monday.


Are there any special foods for this celebration?                              No

Is there any special person associated with this holiday?                  No

Are there special types of clothing for the celebration of May Day? People who are performing  dress up. (See Morris dancing)


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EASTER

                                                           

How well do you know about the history of Easter?Test your knowledge!!


A few historical reminders :
Easter was originally a pagan festival.
The ancient Saxons celebrated the return of spring with a festival commemorating their goddess of offspring and of springtime, Eastre.
The Christian missionnaries who wanted to convert them decided to do so by allowing them to continue to celebrate pagan feasts, but to do so in a Christian manner. And as the pagan festival of Eastre happened  at the same time of year as the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ.....
A few symbols :
 
The Easter Bunny  : it was the symbol of the goddess Eastre   
 
The Easter egg  : The exchange of eggs in the springtime is a very old custom .  The egg was a symbol of birth in most cultures 





EASTER RECIPES:

The Hot Cross Buns   . Yummy and scrummy !
 These buns are traditionally eaten hot or toasted on Good Friday ( Vendredi Saint) , with the cross standing as a symbol of The Crucifixion.

 

 

Baby Chick Easter Cupcakes     

Ingredients:
  • 1 (18.25 oz.) pkg. devils food cake mix
  • 2 (16 oz.) can vanilla ready to spread frosting
  • Yellow food coloring
  • 48 white dessert mints
  • 48 miniature baking chip
  • 48 pieces of candy corn
Preparation:
  1. Prepare and bake the cake according to the package directions for 24 cupcakes.
  2. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before decorating.
  3. Tint both cans of frosting with the yellow food coloring.
  4. Using a pastry bag with a #17 star tip, pipe the frosting to cover each cupcake.
  5. Pipe on 2 wings per chick by pulling back on the bag as the frosting is released.
  6. Pipe a small mound of frosting onto each cupcake for the chicks head.
  7. Place two dessert mints on the head of each chick for eyes. 
  8. Use a toothpick and dab a very small amount of frosting in the middle of each dessert mint.
  9. Attach a miniature baking chip to each of the chick's eyes.
  10. Place 2 pieces of candy corn, large ends slightly angled one up and one down into the frosting to make the beaks.
Makes 24 cupcakes
Preparation Time:  approximately 30 minutes
Total Time:  approximately 1 hour 25 minutes + cooling time
EASTER TONGUE TWISTERSto tangle your tongue...

Can you say these ten times fast??!
1.  Busy bunnies bring blue baskets. 
2. Each Easter, Eddie eats eighty eggs.
3. Six peeping chicks cheeping cheerily.
4. Jogging jellybeans joke and giggle,
    jogging jellybeans jump and jiggle.
5. Run, Red Rabbit, run!
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SEQUENCE: IRELAND

 Test your knowledge about Ireland

Take a virtual voyage through Ireland's most amazing sites by clicking:
                                                               Ireland
National Dishes
 Ireland is famous for its seafood with smoked salmon, smoked fish, oysters, mussels and
crab topping the bill. The country also produces excellent lamb, beef pork, black pudding,
farmhouse cheese, soda bread and, of course, Guinness and maybe a drop of whiskey!



Irish stew, "ballymaloe" or "stobhach gaelach" as it is called in Gaelic,is a traditional dish made from lamb or mutton as well as potatoes,onions, and parsley. It is a filling, flavourful dish made with the cheapest, most readily-available ingredients. The Irish raised primarily
sheep and root crops for subsistence. The sheep provided wool for warm clothing, milk for drinking and making cheese, and eventuallyfood. Potatoes were the main food crop, prior to the potato famine.

 

Colcannon is a traditional Irish food made from mashed potatoes, cabbage (or kale), butter, salt, and pepper. It can contain other ingredients such as milk, cream, leeks, onions, chives or garlic. It is a cheap, year-round staple food. 
An Irish Halloween tradition is to serve colcannon with prizes of small coins concealed in it.



Traditional Irish Breakfast - This is one of the glories of the Irish table and can include grilled bacon, black pudding (= boudin noir)and good quality sausages, tomatoes grilled with butter and chives, flat mushrooms and soda and potato bread. Nowadays, with the more hectic lifestyle, it is confined to weekend treats and holidays - not to be missed, it sets you up for the day!










Special thanks to Rémi for his oral presentation on the Irish group U2!:

 


  • The popular Irish group U2 composed the song"Sunday Bloody Sunday " in 1983.It sums up a decade of passion, hatred and violence.

 



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CELEBRATIONS : St PATRICK'S DAY!!

17th March
Happy St Patrick's day!!
                 


Don't forget to wear green ! You will be pinched otherwise...be careful!! 

Thanks to Justine and Fanny for their oral presentation about St Patrick's Day!! Good job!

Here is the video:
1st part:
2nd part:



What do you know about St Patrick's Day? Test your knowledge !

Do the following quiz 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4810000/newsid_4816300/4816346.stm
                                                                

 In the United States and in Great Britain , the Irish communities celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day which is on 17 March.

The Irish community in the USA is very big. During the 1800’s thousands of Irish immigrants went to America to escape poverty and have a better life. They settled in all parts of the country and took their traditions with them.

Who is Saint Patrick and why is he important to the Irish ?


 
Saint Patrick is the patron of Ireland. He left several writings about his life and work in Ireland.

Saint Patrick whose father was a landowner and a Christian was born in Britain in 389 AD. When he was sixteen years old he was captured and taken to Ireland where he became a slave. After six years he escaped to France where he became a priest. (un prêtre)

In 432 AD he returned to Ireland as a bishop in order to convert most of the Irish to Christianity. He was a generous man and dedicated man  who also introduced the Roman alphabet to Ireland.

There are legends about Saint Patrick. One legend says that he banished all the serpents from Ireland, which  is probably not true ! Another legend says that he used a shamrock to teach the Irish about the Trinity. (= The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit), St Patrick used a shamrock.
Today the shamrock he used is still a symbol of Ireland and the Irish.
Saint Patrick died in 461 and his tomb which is at Downpatrick is a centre of pilgrimage.

Today on March 17th there are big parades in big American cities in honour of the Irish . Marching bands dressed in green play lively Irish music. The Irish community organises parades and other colourful events 

 


American and British people wear green clothing on Saint Patrick’s Day. 
The Chicago River is even dyed in green


 Most people wear a green shamrock. Many shops and restaurants are decorated with green shamrocks in honour of the Irish.


Not to forget the Leprechaun who is a solitary creature, whose principal occupation is making and mending shoes, and who enjoys practical jokes.He is said to possess a treasure and if you capture him and theaten( menacer) him , he can tell you where he has hidden it...  
 

Here is the video : St Patrick's Day parade 2012 in Dublin. Enjoy!



In New York (2012)
 
 
 
LET'S PLAY the Snake Game!! 


Snakes alive! Saint Patrick is driving the snakes out of Ireland. Can you avoid his traps and become the biggest serpent on the block?


CLick on the following link ttp://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/spring/patricks/game.shtml:h

 


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CELEBRATION : SHROVE TUESDAY



HAPPY PANCAKE DAY !!!

In the UK, Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day (or Pancake Tuesday to some people) because it is the one day of the year when almost everyone eats a pancake.

In 2012 Pancake Day is on Tuesday 21 February        


What is Pancake Day?                                   
Pancake Day is the last day before the period which Christians call Lent. It is traditional on this day to eat pancakes.

Why are Pancakes eaten on Shrove Tuesday?
Lent is a time of abstinence, of giving things up. So Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to indulge yourself, and to use up the foods that aren't allowed in Lent. Pancakes are eaten on this day because they contain fat, butter and eggs which were forbidden during Lent.

When is Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)?
Shrove Tuesday is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday and is therefore the final day before the commencement of  a Christian festival leading up to Easter Sunday (Easter Day).
Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year and falls between 3 February and 9 March

Traditions in England: The Parliamentary Pancake race

The race, which is contested outside the Houses of Parliament, is held every Shrove Tuesday and sees Lords and MPs from all major parties flipping pancakes around Victoria Gardens, Westminster.
The contest is held to raise awareness for the charity Rehab, which supports people with disabilities, others with brain and spinal injuries and mental health difficulties.
 http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/512339

Special thanks to Elisa and  Solenn for their oral presentation on Shrove Tuesday and for their yummy  pancakes!
Here are some photos.(The video is coming soon!!)
YUM YUM !!


Here is the video (The quality is not very good , sorry !)



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