HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 

Este ano quero paz no meu coração.

Quem quiser ter um amigo, 

que me dê a mão... 

 

 

Mensagem de Ano Novo

New Year Celebrations Around the World 

Introduction     All over the world, people welcome the new year for it is one of the oldest of all holidays.  Most New Year celebrations focus on family and friends.  It is a time to reflect on the past and envision a future, perhaps, in a world where people live together in harmony.
    In the United States we celebrate the New Year on the first day of January but not all New Year celebrations take place on the same day or in the same way!  Sometimes this is because people in different parts of the world use different calendars.  China and Israel keep a lunar calendar.  It is based on the movement of the moon around the Earth.  Some countries celebrate in the spring when new crops begin to grow or in autumn when the crops are harvested.  Adults and children have many different ways of welcoming the New Year.  Wouldn't it be fun to travel around the world and celebrate the New Year all year long?  

 

New Year's Eve or Old Year's Night is on 31 December, the final day of the Gregorian year, and the day before New Year's Day.

New Year's Eve is a separate observance from the observance of New Year's Day. In modern Western practice, New Year's Eve is celebrated with parties and social gatherings spanning the transition of the year at midnight.

Many cultures use fireworks and other forms of noise making in part of the celebration. New Year's Eve is observed universally on 31 December according to the year numbering of the Common Era, or A.D. Anno Domini convention, even in non-Christian nations. New Year's Eve is also the seventh day of Christmas in western Christianity. Traditional and religious celebrations for e.g. the Chinese, Muslim and Jewish new year, which occur on different dates, are still celebrated separately in the 

cultures that observe them, on the appropriate dates each year. 

Brazil

The Ano Novo (New Year in Portuguese) celebration, also know in Brazilian Portuguese by the French word Reveillon, is one of the country's main holidays, and officially marks the beginning of the summer holidays, that usually end by Carnival (analogous to Memorial Day and Labor Day in the United States).
The beach of Copacabana (in Portuguese: Praia de Copacabana) is considered by many to be the location of the best fireworks show in the world. Brazilians usually have a copious meal with family or friends at home, in restaurants or private clubs, and consume alcoholic beverages. They usually dress in white, to bring good luck into the new year. Fireworks, offerings to African-Brazilian deities, eating grapes or lentils are some of the customs associated with the holiday.
The city of São Paulo also has a famous worldwide event: the Saint Silvester Marathon (Corrida de São Silvestre), which traverses streets between Paulista Avenue and the downtown area. It is contested by athletes of many countries, including such Olympic stars as the Kenyan runner Paul Tergat, who won it five times.
''As it is said all the countries without exception celebrate the New Year's Eve and eventually the New year. this is an event that concerns everyone and it is obvious that it is well celebrated!All the countries of the world celebrate in its own manner and the more spectacular it is, the better it is for the eyes of other countries.
Also in Paulista Avenue is a great New Year's Eve, with large fires burning in the midnight. Famous singers in Brazil are in the party. In moving from 2008 to 2009, 1 million people attended the party.

Receita de Ano Novo

New Year Poetry

Counted Nights and Days

Each year does cast a piece of time
One human step for us to climb 

Twelve months of counted nights and days
Completes us through a yearly phase 

One thing's for sure while we do live
We’ll never know what life will give 

Anticipation's just a view
For what may happen, could come true 

So many times we’re filled with thought
Some last a lifetime, some do not 

We live through choices made within
How we should strive to stave off sin 

Pray often for what’s good to be
And let your love spread openly 

God clearly wants for us to know
His way leads to eternal glow 

Do greet first day with hope held high
And keep your heart your watchful eye

©2002Roger J. Robicheau

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

As the new year takes the flying start,may it brings peace of heaven to your house and fills your heart with grace and glory.Wishing you 366 days of nonstop laughter and good cheers. 

Teacher Jô Piantavinha

Auld Lang Syne - Robert Burns

Origem: Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre.
Auld Lang Syne é uma tradicional canção em inglês, típica de Ano Novo.

Letra e conhecimento popular 

É um poema escocês escrito por Robert Burns em 1788. Foi ajustada para uma tradicional melodia popular, bem conhecida em países ingleses e é muitas vezes cantada para comemorar o início do ano novo. Em países como Estados Unidos e Reino Unido, é conhecida popularmente "The Song that Nobody Knows"' (em português: A Música que Ninguém Conhece) porque, apesar de sua melodia ser muito conhecida, poucos conhecem a letra da canção até o final.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot        

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

and days of auld lang syne?

And here's a hand, my trusty friend

And gie's a hand o' thine

We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet

For auld lang syne 

 

História 

Robert Burns enviou uma cópia da canção original para Museu musical escocês com a observação: “a canção seguinte, uma velha canção, dos tempos velhos, e que nunca esteve na impressão, nem até no manuscrito até que eu o derrubasse de um velho homem"Alguns versos líricos de fato foram "reunidos" e não compostos pelo poeta; o verso "Old Long Syne” impresso em 1711 por James Watson mostra uma semelhança considerável como primeiro verso do poema de Burns. Há alguma dúvida se a melodia usada hoje na Escócia e no resto do mundo é a mesma escrita por Burns. O canto da canção pelos escoceses nas vésperas do ano novo logo virou uma tradição em outras partes do mundo. O líder de banda canadense Guy Lombardo muitas vezes é creditado com a popularização do uso da canção em celebrações de Ano Novo na America pelas suas transmissões anuais em rádio e televisão, começando em 1929. A canção transformou-se sua marca registrada. Além das suas transmissões Lombardo gravou a canção mais do que uma vez. O seu primeiro registro foi em 1939. Uma gravou feita em 29 de Setembro de 1947 foi emitido como um single por Registros de Decca como catálogo *24260. [6] Artigos de jornais descrevem farristas de dois lados do Atlântico cantando a canção para conduzir no Ano Novo:

Eilean Donan Castle - Scotland

• “Partidos de Férias em Lenox" (o Massachusetts, os EUA) (1896)–a companhia juntou as mãos na grande sala de música meia-noite e cantou “Auld Lang Syne”como o último curso de 12 soou e o ano novo entrou.

• véspera de Ano Novo em Londres" (Londres, Inglaterra) (1910)–Costumes usuais observados por Pessoa de todas as classes… A passagem do ano velho foi comemorada em Londres muito como de costume.Os residentes escoceses recolheram fora da igreja St. Paul' e cantou “Lang Auld Syne” no o último curso soados do grande sino. 
•  

Ballachulish, Western Highlands - Scotland

Um manuscrito de “Lang Auld Syne” é mantido na coleção permanente da Biblioteca de Lilly na Universidade de Indiana em Bloomington,Indiana. No Brasil recebeu uma versão de Alberto Ribeiro e Carlos Alberto Ferreira Braga (Braguinha - João de Barro) e ficou conhecida como a "Valsa da Despedida"

Adeus amor

Eu vou partir

Ouço ao longe um clarim

Mas onde eu for irei sentir

Os teus passos junto a mim

Estando em luta

Estando a sós

Ouvirei a tua voz.

A noite brilha em teu olhar

A certeza me deu

De que ninguém pode afastar

O meu coração

Do seu.

Então na terra

Onde for

Viverá o nosso amor.

A luz que brilha em teus olhar

A certeza me deu

De que ninguém pode afastar

O meu coração

Do teu.

No céu na terra

Onde for

Viverá o nosso amor. 

Letra 

Genuine Scottish Clothing

Como falado acima auld lang syne significa literalmente "velho longo, uma vez que", mas uma tradução mais detalhada ficaria algo como "muito tempo atrás", "dias de há muito tempo", ou "velhos tempos". "Pelos velhos tempos" ou "para os (bons) velhos tempos". Pode ser expressões dos nossos dias como o uso comum em brindes que fortalece o espírito de auld lang syne.Embora a canção comece com uma pergunta se os velhos tempos devem ser esquecidos, a canção geralmente é interpretada como uma forma de lembrar amizades longa data.As canções selecionadas por Thomsons foram publicadas em 1799, na qual o segundo verso ressalta a saudação e o brinde presente a sua posição atual. A parte da canção mais útilizada geralmente e só o primeiro verso e o coro.A confusão sobre a significação exata das palavras levou a um uso comum de "For the sake of" ou "For the days of" na última linha.

New Year is coming...

Auld Lang Syne is an Old Scottish song that is translated as "Old Long Since" which loosely means: "Days Gone By" or "Long Time Ago". Written as a poem in 1788 by Robert Burns. The movie "Waterloo Bridge" features the song as "The Farewell Waltz" which can be seen at the end of the video. Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor play love interests during the War.
Nowadays, people around the world sing this song to say good-bye to the Old Year and welcome to the New Year... Watch the video. It's really worth! I just can tell you it's the most beautiful one I've seen lately!!!!
Happy New Year, folks!!! 

Auld Lang Syne (Old Long Since) with subtitle (Waterloo Bridge)

Christmas Vocabulary

Já que estamos no Natal que tal aprendermos um vocabulário "natalino"?

 Primeiramente a dica é nunca tentar memorizar palavras soltas, e sim, contextualizá-las, dentro de exemplos que fazem sentido para você. Aprenda sempre a ver o que vem antes e depois da palavra que quer aprender (ver post sobre collocations).

 

Bem, aí vai:

 

• on Christmas Day - no dia de Natal
• on Christmas Eve - na véspera de Natal
• Christmas Carol- canção de Natal, música natalina
• Santa Claus / Father Christmas - Papai Noel
• to put up a Christmas tree - montar uma árvore de Natal
• to take down a Christmas tree - desmontar uma árvore de Natal
• Christmas lights - luzes (pisca-pisca) de Natal
• Christmas ornaments - enfeites de Natal
• What did you ask Santa for? - O que você pediu ao Papai Noel?
• What did you ask Santa for Christmas? - O que você pediu ao Papai Noel de Natal?
• to give presents - dar presentes, presentear
• to get presents - receber / ganhar presentes
• I'll see you at Christmas. - Te vejo no Natal.
• What did you get for Christmas? - O que você ganhou no Natal?
• to go to / to attend midnight mass - ir à missa do galo
• to have Christmas dinner - ter ceia de Natal
• to be open/ closed over Christmas - estar aberto / fechado durante o Natal
• I'm going to spend Christmas at my mother's this year. - Vou passar o Natal na casa da minha mãe esse ano.
• Christmas is coming. - O Natal está chegando.
• to trim the tree / to decorate the tree - enfeitar a árvore de Natal
• to go Christmas shopping - fazer compras de Natal
• to put up a Nativity scene - montar um presépio
• Do you offer / have a gift-wrapping service? - Vocês embrulham pra presente?

Bem, e para finalizar

I wish you all a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!

Start thinking about the New Year

New Year Quotations

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. 

A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."

(Bill Vaughan)

"Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits."

     (Author Unknown)

"New Year's Day is every man's birthday. "

(Charles Lamb)

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."

(Oprah Winfrey)

"Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past.  

Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go." 

(Brooks Atkinson)

"I'm a little bit older, a little bit wiser, a little bit rounder, but still none the wiser."

(Robert Paul)

"One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things."
(John Burroughs)

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, 

and let each new year find you a better man."
(Benjamin Franklin)

“Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”

(William Arthur Ward)

 

 

 

What do you want to be next year?

 Read William Arthur Ward's quote below, 

and choose the best for you.

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”

Mariah Carey Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)[Lyrics]

HAPPY CHRISTMAS - MERRY CHRISTMAS - FELIZ NATAL!!!

At Christmas 

A man is at his finest towards the finish of the year;
He is almost what he should be when the Christmas season's here;
Then he's thinking more of others than he's thought the months before,
And the laughter of his children is a joy worth toiling for.
He is less a selfish creature than at any other time;
When the Christmas spirit rules him he comes close to the sublime

jingle bells

I'm Your Christmas Tree, All Brightly Lit  

I'm your Christmas tree, all brightly lit,
Hung with angels, colored balls, and elves.
Underneath my boughs your presents sit,
If you've behaved yourselves.

Why must we wait till early Christmas morn
To open up our brand-new games and toys?
Why gifts for us the day that Christ was born
If we're good girls and boys?

Now listen to your Christmas tree: I'm wise
In all the ways of faith that you must know.
I'm here because of what I symbolize:
Green through ice and snow.

There is a world beyond what we can see
Where, by grace of God, we can receive
God's greatest gift: to live eternally,
If only we believe.

Eternal life is what God gave to you
In sending down His son to live on Earth.
This was His gift, so Santa brings gifts, too,
To celebrate Christ's birth.

The baby Jesus got gifts on this day
Because, like any child, He loved to play.
And so God wants to share this special joy
With every girl and boy.

Believe God loves you as your parents do,
And takes great joy in giving gifts to you.
Live well and love, and evergreen like me,
You'll live eternally.

John Lennon - Happy Christmas (War is Over)

A Christmas Prayer 

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 
 
by Robert Louis Stevenson 

Now, a classic Lennon track. No need for words. 

Christmas Eve Celebrations

Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas. The celebration of Christmas begins on the evening of December 24. The importance of Christmas Eve in terms of popular customs is greater than that of the Day itself. On this day, the Christmas-tree is manifested in its glory; then, the Yule log is solemnly lighted in many lands; then often the most distinctive Christmas meal takes place.

Midnight Mass
The Midnight masses was originally celebrated by the Pope towards midnight in the chapel of the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome, before a small congregation. The celebration of mass at midnight is based on the ancient belief that Jesus was born precisely on the stroke of twelve. Solemn and impressive with the happy sound of pealing bells, with light sparkling everywhere and with hymns of joy are some of the inevitable aspect of Midnight Mass.

Christmas Tree   

The Christmas tree is the greatest joy for children. The tradition of deco- rating a Christmas tree include decorations that are made of pieces of straw strung together on a thread into intricate geometrical figures, colored egg shells and pastry were used to make birds, horses, squirrels, lambs, moons, suns, stars, flowers and other figurines. Christmas trees are also decorated with apples, fir or pine cones, nuts and paper cuttings.

Celebrations 

Christmas Eve is the day for family reunions. Many Christians traditionally celebrate a Midnight mass at midnight on Christmas Eve, marking the beginning of Christmas Day. Other churches hold Candlelight service which is typically held earlier in the evening. It is also seen as the night when Santa Claus or his international variants, make their rounds giving gifts to good children.

Mean Girls - Jingle Bell Rock

Para celebrar de maneira divertida o Natal,

postei aqui o video de um filme que gosto muito, Mean girls (Garotas Malvadas), onde as garotas mais populares do colégio cantam e dançam Jingle Bell Rock, canção natalina muito popular nos Estados Unidos. Vale a pena assistir ao video do filme que tem Lindsay Loham (linda, jovem e saudável, numa fase pré-vício) como estrela!

Natal 2010

John Lennon - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) {W/ Lyrics}

Let's sing!!!

HAPPY XMAS!!!!

 

The History of Christmas

The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years as the various custom and tradition associated with the festival of Christmas were celebrated centuries before the birth of Christ. The exact day of the Christ child's birth has never been pinpointed. Traditions say that it has been celebrated since the year 98 AD. In 137 AD the Bishop of Rome ordered the birthday of the Christ Child celebrated as a solemn feast. In 350 AD another Bishop of Rome, Julius I, choose December 25th as the observance of Christmas.

The History Of Christmas can be traced to some of the popular festival celebrated by early civilization that gave way to Christmas.

Mesopotamian: New Years
Many of these traditions began with the Mesopotamian celebration of New Years. The Mesopotamians believed in many gods, and as their chief god - Marduk. Each year as winter arrived it was believed that Marduk would do battle with the monsters of chaos. To assist Marduk in his struggle the Mesopotamians held a festival for the New Year. This was Zagmuk, the New Year's festival that lasted for 12 days.

Persians and Babylonians: Sacaea
The Persians and the Babylonians celebrated a similar festival called the Sacaea. Part of that celebration included the exchanging of places, the slaves would become the masters and the masters were to obey.

Europeans: Winter Solstice
Early Europeans believed in evil spirits, witches, ghosts and trolls. As the Winter Solstice approached, with its long cold nights and short days, many people feared the sun would not return. Special rituals and celebrations were held to welcome back the sun.

Scandinavia: Yuletide
In Scandinavia, during the winter months the sun would disappear for many days. After thirty-five days scouts would be sent to the mountain tops to look for the return of the sun. When the first light was seen the scouts would return with the good news. A great festival would be held, called the Yuletide, and a special feast would be served around a fire burning with the Yule log. Great bonfires would also be lit to celebrate the return of the sun. In some areas people would tie apples to branches of trees to remind themselves that spring and summer would return.

Roman: Saturnalia
The Roman's celebrated their god Saturn. Their festival was called Saturnalia which began the middle of December and ended January 1st. The celebration would include masquerades in the streets, big festive meals, visiting friends, and the exchange of good-luck gifts called Strenae.

The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also the Persians whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. The Church eventually was successful in taking the merriment, lights, and gifts from the Saturanilia festival and bringing them to the celebration of Christmas.

The Origin of Christmas

The origin of Christmas differs as the precise date of the birth and historicity of Jesus are much debated. Christmas, literally meaning the Mass of Christ, is a traditional holiday in the Christian calendar. The festival of Christmas takes place on 25th December, every year to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is also celebrated as a secular holiday throughout the world, including countries with small Christian populations like India. Various theories of the origin of Christmas exist that give a clear insight into the celebration of Christmas.

Date Of Christmas
Christmas is celebrated on December 25 in all Christian churches including Eastern Rite, Roman & Protestant. Since most Eastern Orthodox churches have not accepted either the Gregorian calendar or the Revised Julian Calendar reforms, December 25 will fall on the civil date of January 7 for the years from 1900 to 2099. It is believed that the nativity was set on December 25th by a Roman bishop around the third century A.D.

The Roots Of Christmas
Christmas is from Christes Maesse, which means Christ Mass. It is referred that during the 4th century, the celebration of Christ's birth on December 25 was gradually adopted by most Eastern churches. In Jerusalem, opposition to Christmas lasted longer as according to them the exact date of birth of Jesus Christ is unknown. It is said that December 17-24th was the period of Saturnalia, a well-known festival in pagan, Rome. December 25th was the birthday of Mithra, the Iranian god of light. This day was adopted by the church as Christmas to counteract the effects of these festivals.

The Acceptation
Though the true origin of Christmas is filled with controversy and compromise, today, Christmas has turned out to be one of the most popular festival that fills joy, happiness and love in people's life. The festival of Christmas has absorbed various customs and traditions of world and 25th December has emerged as the most important day for Christians, irrespective of its roots. It is taken as a day that reflects the power, glory and salvation of Jesus Christ and his message of hope to the world.

Various Theories Of The origin of Christmas
As the origin of Christmas has been a debatable issue, various theories has been suggested, supporting the date of 25th December as the birth of Jesus. Few of them are:

Roman festival of Saturnalia
It is an appropriation by early Christians of a day on which the birth of several pagan gods, Osiris, Jupiter, and Plutus, or the ancient deified leader Nimrod, was celebrated. It is an appropriation of the Roman festival of the birth of Unconquered Sun, celebrated on the day after the winter solstice, or the Roman festival of Saturnalia.

Jewish Festival of Lights
It derives from the tradition that Jesus was born during the Jewish Festival of Lights that falls on 25th December.

Date of Good Friday
The date of Christmas is based on the date of Good Friday, the day Jesus died. Since the exact date of Jesus' death is not stated in the Gospels, early Christians sought to calculate it, and arrived at either March 25 or April 6. Then, wishing to calculate Jesus' birthday, they followed the ancient idea that Old Testament prophets died either an anniversary of their birth or of their conception. In Jesus' case, they reasoned that he died on an anniversary of the Incarnation so the date of his birth would have been nine months after the date of Good Friday-either December 25 or January 6. The date of 25th December became popular.

Christmastime

Test yourself! 

Increase your English vocabulary and knowledge regarding this interesting issue!
Read and and take a quiz! It'll be fun!!

The Date of Christmas The idea to celebrate Christmas on December 25 originated in the 4th century. The Catholic Church wanted to eclipse the festivities of a rival pagan religion that threatened Christianity's existence. The Romans celebrated the birthday of their sun god, Mithras during this time of year. Although it was not popular, or even proper, to celebrate people's birthdays in those times, church leaders decided that in order to compete with the pagan celebration they would themselves order a festival in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Although the actual season of Jesus' birth is thought to be in the spring, the date of December 25 was chosen as the official birthday celebration as Christ's Mass so that it would compete head on with the rival pagan celebration. Christmas was slow to catch on in America. The early colonists considered it a pagan ritual. The celebration of Christmas was even banned by law in Massachusetts in colonial days.
Mistletoe and Holly Two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Druids used mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. They would gather this evergreen plant that is parasitic upon other trees and used it to decorate their homes. They believed the plant had special healing powers for everything from female infertility to poison ingestion. Scandinavians also thought of mistletoe as a plant of peace and harmony. They associated mistletoe with their goddess of love, Frigga. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe probably derived from this belief. The early church banned the use of mistletoe in Christmas celebrations because of its pagan origins. Instead, church fathers suggested the use of holly as an appropriate substitute for Christmas greenery.



Poinsettias Poinsettias are native to Mexico. They were named after America's first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett. He brought the plants to America in 1828. The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. Thus the Poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season. The actual flower of the poinsettia is small and yellow. But surrounding the flower are large, bright red leaves, often mistaken for petals. 

Now, test yourself and have a nice quiz!! Click on the Christmas tree!

 

  How much did you learn?

fonte da pesquisa: http://wilstar.com/xmas/xmassymb.htm 

Christmastime: the time of year when people get ready for and celebrate Christmas : Christmas day and the days and weeks before it ▪ It's fun to be in a large city at Christmastime. [=during the Christmas season]
From the Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

The color of your brain... That's amazing!

Do the test clicking on the picture... It's amazing!!!

The color of your brain...
Click on the image, and answer the quizz classifying the 4 alternatives to each question 
 

Our Planet is a Pale Blue Dot

Curiosities about the language on Christmas time!

Is it Christmas /krɪsməs/ or Xmas /ɛks-məs/? 

Is it Xmas disrespectful to the sacred meaning of Christmas and Jesus' birth? 

Well, it depends on the audience. Be careful to send cards or wish Happy Christmas to people you do not know very well.

'Xmas' for Christmas and 'X' for Christ are not modern or disrespectful abbreviations. Actually these usages are nearly as old as Christianity itself. The fact is that the first letter in the Greek word for "Christ" is "chi" and this letter is represented by a symbol similar to the letter 'X' in the modern Roman alphabet.

The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ's name, "X" in place of the word Christ in Christmas as a shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that X stood for Christ's name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook "Xmas" as a sign of disrespect. 

Do latim 'natális', derivado do verbo 'nascor, nascéris, natus sum, nasci' (nascer), também significando 'natureza', o somatório das forças ativas em todo o universo, Natal, uma das palavras mais pronunciadas em cada final de ano, merece destaque aqui neste blog in December. 

Ah! Só para lembrar: os meses do ano em inglês são sempre escritos com CAPITAL LETTER (letra maiúscula), ok? 

Have you already noticed the preposition used before the month of the year in this post?

Voltando a falar de Christmas ou Xmas, ainda do latim, em italiano, surgiu 'natale'; em francês 'noël'; no catalão 'nadal'; em espanhol 'natal'( navidad de J.C), que tem sido progressivamente substituída por ‘navidad’.

In English, 'Christmas' veio do latim 'Cristes maesse' que evoluiu para 'Christ's Mass", missa de Cristo.

Muitos historiadores localizam a primeira celebração do Natal, em Roma, no ano 336 D.C.

Well, That's all for now! Have a nice weekend, folks!

The most common Christmas traditions

Santa Claus 

The origin of Santa Claus begins in the 4th century with Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, an area in present day Turkey. By all accounts St. Nicholas was a generous man, particularly devoted to children. After his death around 340 A.D. he was buried in Myra, but in 1087 Italian sailors purportedly stole his remains and removed them to Bari, Italy, greatly increasing St. Nicholas' popularity throughout Europe. 

 

Christmas Trees

In 16th-century Germany fir trees were decorated, both indoors and out, with apples, roses, gilded candies, and colored paper. In the Middle Ages, a popular religous play depicted the story of Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden [...]

The Christmas Tree was brought to England by Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert from his native Germany. The famous Illustrated News etching in 1848, featuring the Royal Family of Victoria, Albert and their children gathered around a Christmas tree in Windsor Castle, popularized the tree throughout Victorian England. Brought to America by the Pennsylvania Germans, the Christmas tree became by the late 19th century. 

                       

Let's celebrate Jesus' birth on December 25!

Source: http://www.allthingschristmas.com/traditions.html 

UK Christmas Traditions

Christmas dinner

The majority of families (90%) around the UK will serve up a succulent roast turkey as the centre piece of their festive meal this Christmas.

Turkey is a relative newcomer to the Yuletide table - it was a luxury right up until the 1950's when refrigerators and freezers became more widely available.

It was first brought over to the British Isles in 1526 by Yorkshirman William Strickland who acquired six birds from American Indian traders on his travels and sold them for a tuppence each in Bristol.

Prior to the turkey tradition Christmas fare included roast swan, pheasants and peacocks. A special treat was a roast boars head decorated with holly and fruit.

Christmas pudding, also called plum pudding although it contains no plums at all, is traditionally steamed-cooked in a cloth on "stir-up Sunday" at the beginning of advent.

Culinary for the special day

Wales: Leek and onion sauce to accompany the turkey. Leeks, onion, cloves, breadcrumbs, milk, nutmeg and bay leaves blended to create a thick and creamy alternative to ordinary bread sauce.Scotland - Rich tatties and neeps - a traditional dish made with mashed potatoes, Swede, carrots, onion and butter, garnished with chives and black pepper.

Ireland: Turkey with whiskey glaze - whiskey and honey together with a splash of orange will give an impressive and great tasting twist to the traditional bird.

England: Red cabbage with apple - combining English Bramley apples, red cabbage, cinnamon and brown sugar with a splash of Port or Madeira.

source: www.britishturkey.co.uk/

12 days at Christmas 

On the first day of Christmas my true love said to me... “I’m glad we bought a fresh turkey and a proper Christmas Tree”.

On the second day of Christmas, much laughter could be heard as we tucked into our turkey, a most delicious bird.

On the third day we entertained the people from next door.  The turkey tasted just as good as it had the day before.
Day four, relations came to stay; poor Gran is looking old.  We finished up the Christmas pud and ate the turkey cold.

On the fifth day of Christmas, outside the snow flakes flurried.  But we were nice and warm inside, for we had our turkey curried.
On the sixth day, I must admit, the Christmas spirit died.  The children fought and bickered, we ate turkey rissoles, fried.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love he did wince, when he sat down at the table and was offered turkey mince.
Day eight, and nerves were getting frayed, the dog had run for shelter.  I served up turkey pancakes, with a glass of Alka Seltzer.
On the ninth day our cat left home, by lunchtime Dad was blotto.  He said he had to have a drink to face turkey rissotto.
By the tenth day the booze had gone (except our home made brew).  And if that wasn’t bad enough we suffered turkey stew.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, the Christmas tree was moulting.  The mince pies were as hard as rock and the turkey was revolting.
On the twelfth day, my true love had a smile upon his lips - the guests had gone, the turkey too - and we dined on fish and chips.

Anon

source: stosyth.gov.uk

It's Holiday and Christmas time!

Wish your friends a happy holiday and Merry Christmas!  Now, there's plenty of information about Christmas traditions and symbols especially for you!  Christmas colors are red and green. Today, traditional Christmas activities include caroling, making and giving gifts, sending cards to family and friends, and enjoying festive dinners and parties. Origins of Christmas From the Old English 'Cristes Mæsse' ~ meaning the 'mass of Christ' ~ the story of Christmas begins with the birth of a babe in Bethlehem. It is believed that Christ was born on the 25th, although the exact month is unknown. December was likely chosen so the Catholic Church could compete with rival pagan rituals held at that time of year and because of its closeness with the winter solstice in the Northern hemisphere, a traditional time of celebration among many ancient cultures. source: http://www.allthingschristmas.com/

Christmas cards                                                 The first known Christmas card is printed on the front cover with a date of 1843.  The original was in muted colours, hand painted, printed and sold for 1/- each (5p) - a lot of money in those days.  Despite the date on this card, encyclopaedias say that Christmas cards were first sold in 1846! By the 1860s the idea of sending cards had caught on as they were able to be produced much more cheaply with the invention of less expensive colour printing.  The first Christmas cards had lace and flowery borders, but then they changed to more familiar designs.  The robin became very popular as were Victorian snow scenes, religious pictures, holly, Christmas trees etc.  Many similar scenes are reproduced in our cards today.

The card reproduced above was printed as a postcard and sent in 1905 with a ½d stamp. That's all for now, folks! See you next time!

Gírias de Nova York

 

Gostaria de ensinar hoje algumas gírias de Nova York. Por ser uma cidade grande como São Paulo o sotaque nova-iorquino, como também as gírias, são muito distintas do resto dos Estados Unidos. Aqui vão algumas:
1. My Bad (um jeito de se desculpar)
Foi mal!

2. Jeet? (Did you eat?)
Forma realmente contraída de se dizer “você comeu?”.

3. Hey, was your father a glazier?
Oh, você é filho de vidraceiro?

4. Your mother’s ass (usado quando você machuca a si mesmo)
Cacete isso dói!

5. Scumbag (usado para dizer que alguém é imprestável, um lixo)
Escória! Inútil!

6. Jeet yet? (Did you eat yet?)
Você já comeu?

7. In a walk. (é uma coisa fácil de conseguir, um jogo ganho)
Num estralar de dedos.

Ex.: A foreigner can get lost in São Paulo in a walk.
Um estrangeiro se perde em São Paulo num estralar de dedos.

Mandem suas sugestões para que possamos sempre melhorar nosso trabalho.
Cya!

From: English Experts 

Autor: Alessandro é analista de sistemas e coordenador do English Experts, estudante autodidata, aprendeu inglês por conta própria via Internet. Atualmente trabalha na empresa Inovesys Technologies em projetos na área de comércio eletrônico.