English

The modern holiday of Halloween may have its origins in the ancient Gaelic festival known as Samhain . The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is sometimes erroneouslyregarded as the "Celtic New Year".Traditionally, the festival was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops. The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, where the bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them.When the Romans occupied Celtic territory, several Roman traditions were also incorporated into the festivals. Feralia, a day celebrated in late October by the Romans for the passing of the dead as well as a festival which celebrated the Roman Goddess Pomona, the goddess of fruit were incorporated into the celebrations. The symbol of Pomona was an apple, which is a proposed origin for the tradition of bobbing for apples on Halloween.

 TRADITIONS:

With Halloween nearly upon us, perhaps it's time to discuss English traditions in regards to this holiday. While modern day Halloween celebrations tend to resemble those in North America (Trick or Treating, pumpkin carving, etc.), older traditions are just a bit different.

One of those traditions is "Punkie Night," which may sound somewhat similar to Trick or Treat at first, but has far different origins. In Hinton St. George, Somerset, children have been participating for a long time in this tradition, which is celebrated on the last Thursday of October. Children generally carve intricate designs out of large beets (although "punkie" is derived from pumpkin) and carry them around as lanterns, begging door to door for money while singing the "Punkie Night Song":

It's Punkie Night tonight.
Give us a candle, give us a light,
If you don't, you'll get a fright.

The custom came about many years ago when the menfolk of Hinton St. George went to the nearby town of Chiselborough to attend the St. Luke's Day Fair. As the men explored the offerings at the fair, they were eventually tempted by drink. When night came and the men had not returned, the women began to get worried. They began carving lanterns, and then made their way to Chiselborough to find their husbands. The men, seeing nothing but a bunch of glowing lights in the distance, mistook them for "goolies" (the ghosts of unbaptized children) and fled in terror.

Halloween is also known as Nutcrack or Snap Apple Night. Families would gather together at the hearth and eat apples and roasted nuts, telling stories and playing games. Snap apple is a game where participants would bite at an apple on a string, trying to be the first to reach the coin inside the apple. Bobbing for apples is a similar custom that also originated in England. There is also a tradition that involves a person dropping a lighted match between two hazelnuts on a grate. If the hazelnuts avoid the flame, it signifies that the person will make a match. If the hazelnuts crack, the person will not have success with love.

                      THANKSGIVING DAY:

INFORMATION:

wonder what the pilgrims and their Native American guests really ate at the first feast? The truth may surprise you. Contrary to popular belief, they didn't sit down to a meal featuring turkey, corn, cranberries, and pumpkin pie (in fact, they didn't even have forks!).
Travel back to Plymouth and discover some of the humble origins of Thanksgiving traditions we celebrate today and what the original celebration was actually like!.

TRADITIONS:

The American traditions of Thanksgiving revolve around a huge and lavish meal, usually with Turkey as the centerpiece. For those who do not like Turkey, a Roast or Prime Rib is common. As tradition has it in most families, a special prayer of thanks precedes the meal. In many homes, family members will each mention something they are very thankful for. Thanksgiving is a time for families to create traditions and memories that last a lifetime.

 SHE WILL BE LOVED
by Maroon 5

Beauty queen of only eighteen,
She had some trouble with herself.
He was always there to help her.
She always belonged to someone else.

I drove for miles and miles
And wound up at your door.
I've had you so many times but somehow
I want more.

  LEARNER DIARY: 

a. Grammar revised +1 link

Present Simple:

Positive Form:

Subject + Verb + Compl.

Negative Form:

Subject + don`t  / doesn`t + Verb + Compl

Question Form:

Do / Does + Subject + Verb + Compl. ?

Present Continuos:

Positive Form:

Subject + am / is / are + Verb ING + Compl.

Negative Form:

Subject + am not / is not / are not + Verb ING + Compl.

Question Form:

Am / is / are + Subject + Verb ING + Compl. ?

Past Simple I:

Positive Form: 

Subject + was / were + Compl.

Negative Form: 

Subject + wasn`t / weren`t + Compl.

Question Form:

was / were + Subject + Compl ?

Past Simple II: 

Positive Form: 

Subject + Verb in Past + Compl.

Negative Form:

Subject + didn`t + Verb in Present + Compl.

Question Form:

Did / Subject + Verb in Present + Compl.?

Used To:

Positive Form: 

Subject + Used To + Verb in Present + Compl.

Negative Form:

Subject + didn`t + Use To + Verb in Present + Compl.

Comparative Adjectives:

Spelling Tips:

Adjective + ER ending.

Adjective consonant + vowel ---- doble the consonant.

Adjective 3 syllable ---- more + adjective + than.

The Superlatives:

One syllable adjective:

Est.

Three or more syllables:

Most.

Same Comparative Level:

As + Adjective + As

Future will:

Positive Form:

Subject + Will + Verb + Compl.

Negative Form:  

Subject + won`t / will not + Verb + Compl.

Question Form:

Will + Subject + Verb + Compl.?

Link:  http://www.ego4U.com/en/cram-up/grammar/future-1.will

 a.vocabulary + 1 link.

"A TROUBLED PRINCESS"

Vocabulary:

was born: nació

royalty: realeza

marriage: matrimonio

troubles: problemas

husband: marido

car crash: choque automovilístico

mourning: luto

buried: sepultada

grave: tumba

seemed: parecía

link: http://www.manythings.com/lulu/

c) what I learn?

I learned much because now I express with more easily because I learned all the time as :

Present Simple, Past Continuos,  used to, future will, comparatives adjectives, between other and vocabulary.  Also learned to worked in texts in english and to expand my vocabulary.

d)   What were the problems I had?  

I not problems.

e)   How I felt in classes?   

In the class I felt very good.

f)     Did I archievemy goals?   

This year I achieves my goals

g) How do I know? 

I have a very good average and I liked much the classroom.