Mardi Gras in the USA Mardi Gras, from the French words meaning "Fat Tuesday," combines religious tradition with a carnival or festival to welcome spring. It is also called Shove Tuesday or Pancake Day (in UK pancakes have an important role in celebrating Mardi Gras). Mardi Gras is the final day of Carnival- a festival season. Carnival begins 12 days after Christmas on January 6 and ends on Mardi Gras, which always falls exactly 47 days before Easter. The date of Mardi Gras changes every year. In the year 2008 it is on the 5th of February. "Fat Tuesday" is also the last day that Catholics can eat meat before Lent, the forty-day period of fasting before Easter The cities most famous for their Mardi Gras celebrations include New Orleans, Louisiana; Venice, Italy; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Many other places have important Mardi Gras celebrations as well.
his daughter. If the young man wanted to marry the girl the two fathers negotiated the dowry. A notary came to write a list of the couple's possessions and drew up the marriage contract. Once the contract was signed, the families announced the engagement. The girl's family gave a big dinner at her house where the young man gave her an engagement ring. As a fiancée the young man could visit the girl whenever he wanted and take her out, but they were always chaperoned. A few days before the wedding, the young man gave his fiancée a wedding basket with lacework (handkerchiefs, mantilla, fan), a cashmere shawl, gloves, and jewelry. She could not wear the jewelry before the wedding, nor could she leave the house for three days before the wedding. 4 The Creoles liked to have weddings on Mondays or Tuesdays in Saint Louie Cathedral in New Orleans in the late afternoon. The bride wore a silk dress with pearls and lace. The veil was held in place with a crown of
animals are often strikingly lifelike and artistic. Many of these ancient relics have been destroyed by the ravages of nature and of man. Wind and water have worn away and continue to wear away, unprotected sites. And the paintings and carvings are increaslibly falling victim to vandalism: they have been painted over, spoilt with knives, even used for target practice. The American Rock Art Research Association protects rock-art sites. 2) THE FAVOURITE SPORT IN BRITAIN The most popular sport is probably football. Two kinds of football is played in Great Britain. One of them, which is called association football, is played all over Europe. The other kind: rugby football is also very popular in New Zealand, France, and some other European countries. English boys play it at school, and in public parks. When they grow up, they play as members of important amateur teams or as a professional in teams competing in football ,,leagues". Professional football is as much a business
However it’s not common nowadays because most of the people have to work at that time. There is also High Tea (the traditional 6 o’clock tea). This is the meal that British working population had instead of Afternoon Tea. High tea combined delicious sweet foods, such as scones, cakes, buns or tea breads, with tempting savouries, such as cheese on toast, toasted crumpets, cold meats and pickles or poached eggs on toast. Take-aways became very popular in 80s. The traditional take-away is fish and chips eaten with salt and vinegar and served in an old newspaper. The traditional drink of England is tea. Other main drinks are coffee, bitter and wine. Education Education in England is divided into primary, secondary, further and higher education. Full- time education is compulsory for all the children aged between 5 and 16 and the compulsory education lasts for 11 years. Children are required to start attending school at the start of the
Holidays, Festivals, Cultural events TALLINN - If you're looking for entertainment in Estonia this summer, you are really spoiled for choice. Festivals and events dedicated to the consumption of beer are a lot of fun, but if you want to get the true feel of the country, you need something a little more ethnic. Like a town fair. Just as July becomes August, the seaside town of Haapsalu will host a grand spectacle of rural Estonian entertainment. The White Lady Days is a summer celebration filled with amusement for all the family. Held in and around the remains of the Teutonic-knights-era castles, the fair combines enchanting medieval legends with modern countryside charm to create a comprehensive experience of Estonia beyond the big cities. But the legend of the White Lady of Haapsalu, which is at the heart of the festival, is perhaps the most famous tall tale of the many that are so abundant in Estonia's folklore.
Changing the Guard · Perhaps the epitome of London's surviving pageantry can be found in the ceremonial Changing of the Guard. · A hugely popular spectacle, the Changing of the Guard takes place at a range of royal locations in and around · London daily during the summer and on alternate days for the rest of the year. · There is no ticketing, so make sure you get there early. · Ever since 1660 Household Troops have guarded the Sovereign Palaces. · The Palace of Whitehall was the main residence until 1689 and was guarded by the Household Cavalry. · The court moved to St James's Palace in 1689 and when Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace the Queen's Guard remained at St James's Palace and a detachment guarded Buckingham Place, as it does today.
The natural course of the river flows into the Gulf of California, but the heavy use of the river as an irrigation source for the Imperial Valley has desiccated the lower course of the river in Mexico such that it no longer consistently reaches the sea. The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 1049 km long and is located in the south-eastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names. The river has been dammed numerous times, primarily by Tennessee Valley Authority projects. The Ohio River is the largest tributary by volume of the Mississippi River. It is approximately 1,579 km long and is located in the eastern United States. The river had great significance in the history of the Native Americans. It was a primary transportation route during the westward expansion of the early U.S
Acted like prophets. 2. Stonehenge From prehistoric period. Was built on Salisbury plain between 2500 and 1500 bc. One of the most famous and mysterious archaeological sites in the world. One of the mysteries is how it was built at all with the technology of the time. Another is its purpose. It appears to function as a kind on astronomical clock and we know it was used by the Druids for ceremonies marking the passing of the seasons. It appears in number of novels. These days it is not only the interest of tourists but is also a gathering point of certain minority groups. It is now fenced off to protect it from damage. 3. The Roman conquest Julius Caesar's first raid was in 55 BC but the romans left. Ad 43- the Romans came to stay. The army established Roman rule in the south and SW of the country. The Romans started to introduce their laws to a new province of the Roman Empire and started to build good roads.
Because of the country's great size, the climate in Australia ranges from tropical regions of the Northern Territory to the cool temperate conditions in the southeast and Tasmania, where it often snows in winter. In the north, half the year is `wet' and half is `dry'. From November to April heavy rain fills the rivers and makes enormous lakes where thousands of birds come for the summer. From May to October it is often sunny and dry for weeks, and it is a popular place for winter holidays in the sun. In the hot, flat centre of Australia, there is an area called the `outback'. It covers more than two-thirds of Australia, but its population is less than 100,000. In some places, it doesn't rain for years. There are hills and big dry salt lakes, and it is very difficult to grow anything there. Many people live on sheep or cattle stations, a few of which are as large as the country of England
Some are so different that they do not even remotely resemble the original festival despite sharing the same name and date. There are also various local festivals (e.g. Tobata Gion) that are mostly unknown outside a given prefecture. It is commonly said that you will always find a festival somewhere in Japan. Matsuri is the Japanese word for a festival or holiday. In Japan, festivals are usually sponsored by a local shrine or temple, though they can be secular. There is no specific matsuri days for all of Japan; dates vary from area to area, and even within a specific area, but festival days do tend to cluster around traditional holidays such as Setsubun or Obon. Almost every locale has at least one matsuri in late summer/early autumn, usually related to the rice harvest. Notable matsuri often feature processions which may include elaborate floats. Preparation for these processions is usually organized at the level of neighborhoods, or machi. Prior to these,
...................................14 The Role of the Royals.................................................................................................16 In Chelsea Flower Show have everyday different........................................................18 The Chelsea Flower Show Gala Dinner...................................................................18 The first day - by invitation only..............................................................................18 Two Days for Members Only...................................................................................18 Two Days for the public...........................................................................................18 The Chelsea Plant Sell-Off.......................................................................................18 Judgment Days.............................................................................................................20 ...............................
and Estonia? In England, there's common to sing Carol's and for children, Christmas means pantomimes plays based on fairy tales which combine comedy, dance and song. A traditional Christmas dinner includes roast turkey with roast potatoes, a range of vegetables, cranberry sauce etc., followed by Christmas pudding and Christmas cake. The pulling of crackers(and the wearing of paper hats) before the meal is quite popular. Afterwards many watch the Queen's traditional Christmas address on TV at 3 pm. Christmas actually contains of 3 days: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The latter is the first day after Christmas or the first Monday after Christmas if Christmas is on Friday or Saturday. 3. What is the same and what is different about the way Easter is celebrated in England and Estonia? Easter lasts for 4 days in Britain: from Good Friday to Eas-ter Monday. Schools
Fact from the last Irish census, Sean was the most popular boys name and Emma was the most popular girls name. Ireland has won the Nobel prize for literature on four occasions with George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney. Irish aviation fact = Shannon became the worlds first duty free airport in 1947 There is no death penalty in Ireland. Ireland is a neutral state and is not a member of N.A.T.O. The famous Titanic ship was built in Belfast. Henry Ford of Ford Motor Company was the son of an Irish emigrant.
Because it resembled a submarine for its shape, people began to call them “submarine sandwiches”. According to another version, the sandwich was created during World War II by an Italian shopkeeper named Benedetto Capaldo in New London, CT. When the navy servicemen from the submarine base in the town of Groton across the river began ordering 500 sandwiches a day, the sandwich became irrevocably associated with submarines. The third popular theory claims that the term comes from Dominic Conti, an Italian who immigrated to New York in the early 1900s. His granddaughter Angela Zuccar has stated that her grandfather started a grocery store, called Dominic Conti's Grocery Store, on Mill Street in Paterson, New Jersey, selling the traditional Italian sandwiches there. He had brought the recipe from Italy. According to Zuccar, her grandfather first used the term when she was 16 years old at
Britain in the reign of Elizabeth 3 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born 21 April 1926) is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms, and head of the 54-member Commonwealth of Nations. In her specific role as the monarch of the United Kingdom, one of her 16 realms,
single kingdom. Subsequently, in 1801, Great Britain united with the neighboring Kingdom of Ireland, forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. When five-sixths of Ireland seceded from the United Kingdom in 1922, the state was renamed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 1.2 National Symbols and Nation Building The nation is visible through its symbols (flags, anthems, emblems), ceremonies (national days, sporting events), monuments (memorials, buildings, national museums), the land itself (landscape), its borders (insiders and outsiders) and the capital city. This assumption is illustrated by the fact that all nations, in order to be accepted internationally, must have a certain number of characteristics. The nation is usually known by six essential elements: a name, a capital city, clearly defined borders, a national flag, a national anthem and a national day. (Scott, 2000)
the Declaration of Independence was issued in 1918. During occupations, the flag has been banned several times. In a good, snowy winter, the Estonians' favourite leisure activity is probably skiing. In spring, Estonians often leave the cities for the weekends. Many families have a cottage in the countryside. As approximately half of Estonia is covered with woodlands and wetlands, going for long walks in the wild is also very popular among Estonians. Since a forest is seldom farther away than a half-an-hour's drive, people often go there for a mushroom hunt, to watch the beautiful wildlife or just for a relaxing walk. Regardless of their age or whether they live in a city or the countryside, an important weekend ritual for many Estonians is the Saturday sauna. Christmas time is the most important holiday celebrated in Estonia. Like in other Nordic
3. What is Remembrance Day all about and why is it celebrated at that time? It is about the men (and women) who lost their lives fighting in the World Wars. It's celebrated then, because that's the day WWI was ended with a treaty. 4. Which powers does the Queen of the UK have? The Queen has to sign all the bills for them to pass. She is the one who opens the Parliament every fall for the next session. She is however more of a representative than an actual decision maker these days. 5. What is the British Parliament made up of? What are their roles? It's made of 3 parts: the monarch, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Lords can ask the House of Commons to rewrite parts of the bill. The bill needs the Queen's signature to pass. The House of Commons writes the bills. 6. What do you know about the Wars of the Roses? It was a war between two families, one had a red rose as their symbol and the other had a white rose as their symbol
assumption of independent statehood, usually after ceasing to be a colony or part of another state, more rarely after the end of a military occupation. In Estonia it's celebrated on February 24.Estonia got independence from the Bolshevist Russia in 1918.Estonia regain independence in 1991 from NSVL when it fall a part. People make some preparations before Independence Day, like they look up if they have a flag. Independence Day is celebrated with victory parade, flag raising and speeches , but some famililies have a lavish feast and parents talk to their children that how and when Estonia got independence.Many of people just watch victory parade from TV. On this day people are very calm and they enjoy to be Estonians. St. John's Day In Estonia, aside from Christmas, St John's Day is the most important days in the calendar. The short summer seasons with long days and brief nights hold special significance for the people of
mainstream of western European culture. Unlike the German invasions, the Norman invasion was small-scale. On 14 October 1066, an invading army from Normandy defeated the English at the Battle of Hastings. The battle was close and extremely bloody. At the end of it, most of the best warriors in England were dead, including their leader, King Harold. On Christmas Day that year, the Norman leader, Duke William of Normandy, was crowned king of England. He is known in popular history as “William the Conqueror” and the date is remembered as the last time that England was successfully invaded. There was no such thing as a Norman area of settlement. Instead, the Norman soldiers who had invaded were given the ownership of land and of the people living on it. A strict feudal system was imposed. 12. Magna Carta. In 1215 King John was forced to sign the document, drawn up by the noblemen of England
French. The first village founded by the English settlers was in Virginia in 1607. It was called Jamestown. In 1620 a new group of British settlers reached Plymouth, Massachusetts, called 'Pilgrims' due to their strong belief in religion. They became farmers and businessmen who coped with the Indians and in 1621 had a big dinner to thank the Indians as they had helped them to survive the hard winter. That day is now known as Thanksgiving and is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in America. More and more people arrived. Over a time settlers from many other countries joined the English in America the French, the Spaniards , the Dutch. Africans were first brought to Virginia in 1619. By 1770 there were thirteen British colonies in America who weren't pleased with their lives because they had to pay high taxes. In 1773, the 'Boston Tea Party' took place
The Roman stone wall, parts of which can still be seen on the territory of the Tower, may have been a small Roman fort near the river. The White Tower, called so on account of the white Caen stone Brought from Normandy, is the original Norman stronghold. It is the central building of the Tower of London. The white tower has three small square towers and one round one. Later other buildings were added. It has served as a palace as well as a fortress, but it is as a prison that it is known best. Many people have been locked in the Tower, for religious beliefs or suspected treason. Traitors' Gate, set in the southern wall of the Tower, has steps leading down to the river Thames. Countless prisoners, including the future Queen Elisabeth I, were brought to the Tower by barge and went up the steps before being imprisoned for many it was their last moment of freedom before their death. Fortunately, Elisabeth was released from the Tower and later became Queen.
Commonwealth. The Head of State was the British monarch. Nowadays, the word "dominion" is not used. 6. The British Commonwealth of Nations freely unites Britain and its former colonies. Ireland 1. The first inhabitants were hunters and fishers from the European mainland in 6000 BC. In 200 BC, the Celts arrived. 2. Christianity was established during the 5th century by Saint Patrick, who is also Ireland's patron saint. His feast day is on 17th of March, the day he died. 3. The English conquest of Ireland began in the 12th century by Henry II. 4. King James I settled English and Scottish Protestants in the province of Ulster. This has resulted in conflicts between the Irish Catholics and the "planted" Protestants. 5. Home Rule was the name given to the Movement of Independence in 1916. Ireland demanded independence, self-government and freedom from the UK. 6
5C was recorded in the valley. The place got its name because of gold seekers. Hoping to find a shorter way to gold fields, many of them died crossing the valley during the 1849 Gold Rush. 6 Economy, Agriculture The United States is a country of highly developed economy. Most American industry is located in the eastern and Midwestern parts, around the Great Lakes and also on the Pacific coast. The U. S. engineering products are known all over the world the country produces planes, rockets, spaceships, cars, agricultural machinery, ships etc. Electronics has become a major industry. The role of service and leisure industries has also grown. Canned fish and timber are the chief products of the state of Alaska, while Hawaii's are sugar, nuts and canned pineapple. Textile industry is also well-developed, especially in the South near the large cotton plantations in the Mississippi Valley.
Southwark, in an area then largely occupied by prisons and bear pits. Stuart London 1603-1649; 1660-1714 In 1603 when James the IV of Scotland became James I of Scotland and England, he united the two countries under one king. In 1642 the Civil War broke out between supporters of the king and parliamentary forces, led by Oliver Cromwell. King Charles I lost the war and was beheaded in London in 1649. Britain became a republic known as the Commonwealth. In 1660 London welcomed the restoration of the monarchy. The second half of the century was even more devastating. Two Disasters stroke London. The Great Plague and the Great Fire. The Great Plague in 1665, killed a significant part of the population, but it was not until after the Great Fire in 1666 that London became safe again. The Great Fire was even more catastrophic to the buildings of London. It destroyed almost
will enjoy good luck. Another treat is Mince Pies. Some Australians and particularly tourists often have their Christmas dinner at midday on a local beach, Bondi Beach in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs attracts thousands of people on Christmas Day. Other families enjoy their day by having a picnic. If they are at home, the day is punctuated by swimming in a pool, playing Cricket out the backyard, and other outdoor activities. The warm weather allows Australians to enjoy a tradition which commenced in 1937. Carols by Candlelight is held every year on Christmas Eve, where tens of thousands of people gather in the city of Melbourne to sing their favorite Christmas songs. The evening is lit by as many candles singing under a clean cut night sky. The sky with its Southern Cross stars is like a mirror. Sydney and the other capital cities also enjoy Carols in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Summers are generally cool, but due to global warming they are starting to get drier and hotter. Hot weather causes terrible congestion on the roads as Britons rush to the coastal resorts. Winters are generally mild, with the most frequent and prolonged snowfalls in the Scottish Highlands, where it is possible to go skiing. If it does snow heavily in other parts of Britain, the country often comes to a standstill. Trains, buses and planes are late. Contrary to popular opinion, it doesn't rain all the time. There is certainly steady rainfall throughout most of the year, but the months from September to January are the wettest. Thanks to the rain Britain has a richly fertile countryside which is famous for its deep green colour. History The first inhabitants were Iberians and Celts who settled on the land and were often at war with eaeh other. In AD 43 the Roman Emperor Claudius invaded, and made Britain a Roman province
people (usually in Australia and North America). Celebrations are generally themed around all things Irish and, by association, the colour green. Both Christians and non-Christians celebrate the secular version of the holiday by wearing green or orange, eating Irish food and/or green foods, drinking Irish drinks(such as Guinness or Baileys Irish Cream) and attending in parades. Primary and high schools also often dress up in green on St Patrick's day The St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, Ireland is part of a five-day festival; over 500,000 people attended the 2006 parade. As well as being a celebration of Irish culture, Saint Patrick's Day is a Christian festival celebrated in the Catholic Church
The US has large deposits of coal, iron ore, natural gas, and petroleum, which are vital to the country's industrial strength. Its many other important minerals include copper, gold, lead, silver and zinc. To meet its needs the US must import additional amounts of iron ore, petroleum, and other minerals.Most American industry is located in the eastern and mid- western parts, around the Great Lakes and also on the Pacific coast.The US engineering products are known all over the world. The US produces planes, rockets, cars, agricultural machinery, ships, etc. Electronics has become a major industry.The role of service and leisure industries has also grown. Canned fish and timber are the chief products of the state of Alaska, while Hawaii's are sugar, nuts and canned pineapple. The value of American manufactured goods is greater than that of any other country. Factories in the US turn out a tremendous amount of producer goods, such as sheet metal and
It celebrated on February 14th. It is traditionally day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards. Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Saint Patrick's Day is a religous holiday on the 17th of March St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by the Irish and Irish at Heart in big cities and small towns alike with parades, "wearing of the green," music and songs, Irish food and drink, and activities for kids such as crafts, coloring and games. Its a time for fun. April Fools' Day is celebrated in the Westrn world on 1st april of every year The day is marked by the commission of good humoured or funny jokes hoaxes and other practical jokes.
The basic ingredients, when fresh, are so full of flavour that British haven't had to invent sauces to disguise their natural taste. What can compare with fresh pees or new potatoes just boiled and served with butter? Why drown spring lamb in wine or cream and spices, when with just one or two herbs it is absolutely delicious? If you ask foreigners to name some typically English dishes, they will probably say "Fish and chips" then stop. It is disappointing, but true that, there is no tradition in England of eating in restaurants, because the food doesn't lend itself to such preparation. English cooking is found at home. So it is difficult to a good English restaurant with a reasonable prices. In most cities in Britain you'll find Indian, Chinese, French and Italian restaurants. In London you'll also find Indonesian, Mexican, Greek... Cynics will say that this is because English have no "cuisine" themselves, but this is not quite the true. Vocabulary: to criticize - tasteless
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the modern world. It is located off the northeast coast of Australia. It's the largest coral reef on earth, extending for 2000 kilometres along the coast of Queensland. It consists of more than 600 islands. Most of the islands are uninhabited, but some have been developed as tourists resorts. Scientists estimate that the Reef is more than 30 millions years old and it had it beginning in a tiny animal known as polyp. There are more than 300 varieties of coral, which is a ultimate dream of every shell- collector. There are undersea observations, glass-bottomed boats and water scopes for undersea viewing, as well as skin-diving equipment. The Great Barrier Reef is and ideal place for a sunny holiday. The relief: Australia is an old and low continent with simple relief. Plains cover the greater part of the land
The leader of the winning party becomes Prime Minister, his first job is to choose his Cabinet, consisting of the most important ministers in the government. Each member of the Cabinet is a minister responsible for a government department. The Cabinet meets at the Prime Minister's house 10 Downing Street. Cabinet ministers are responsible to Parlament and may all be questionised and held accountable for governmet actions and decisions. Even the Prime Minister must answer questions every Tuesday and Thursday in the House of Commons. The UK is the fourth largest economy in the World and the second largest in Europe. It is one of the strongest in Europe; inflation, interest rates, and unemployment remain low. During the 19th century Britain used to have many coal and iron mines and had the natural resources to make textiles, steel and ships. Today, coal and textiles can be produced more cheaply in other countries and so many British factories and mines have closed
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