Happy New Year !!!

2012... All We Need Is Love!!!

Each year I resolve with the strongest intent
To be better this year than the last.
And I work very hard; the rules hardly get bent,
But this discipline gets old so fast!
But with this new year I just know I’ll win out,
Just watch how I do and you’ll see!
I’m not going to have yet another blowout;
I’ll be good as I know I can be.
But, if wicked things beckon, and I’m not so strong,
If I weaken and fall on my ast,
I’ll be thankful again that you’ll help me along
As you have during all new years past.
I’m so grateful that you’re my friend! 

Happy New Year!

From the movie "Across the Universe" - All you need is love (The Beatles)

Let's start the New Year right

New Year’s Reality Check

 Another year, another chance
To start our lives anew;
This time we’ll leap old barriers
To have a real breakthrough. We’ll take one little step
And then we’ll take one more,
Our unlimited potential
We’ll totally explore. We’ll show off all our talents
Everyone will be inspired;
(Whew! While I’m writing this,
I’m getting very tired.) We’ll give up all bad habits;
We’ll read and learn a lot,
All our goals will be accomplished,
Sigh...or maybe not. Oh well, Happy New Year anyway!

By Joanna Fuchs

New Year is coming with Forever Friends (http://foreverfriends.co.uk).

Cool Fireworks!!!

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

 New years come and new years go,
Pieces of time all in a row.
As we live our life, each second and minute,
We know we’re privileged to have you in it.
Our appreciation never ends
For our greatest blessings: our family and friends. Happy New Year!

By Joanna Fuchs


Carpenters

Maybe it's much too early in the game

Ah, but I thought I'd ask you just the same

What are you doing New Year's

New Year's Eve?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy New Year Wish

 My Happy New Year wish for you
Is for your best year yet,
A year where life is peaceful,
And what you want, you get. A year in which you cherish
The past year’s memories,
And live your life each new day,
Full of bright expectancies. I wish for you a holiday
With happiness galore;
And when it’s done, I wish you
Happy New Year, and many more.

By Joanna Fuchs


Charlie Brown New Year

New Years Eve Auld Lang Syne (Music and fireworks HQ)

Auld Lang Syne has almost the national anthem of New Year Songs! The song is sung at the stroke of midnight on 31st December in almost every English speaking country round the world. Auld Lang Syne song is said to have been at least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, it was first published in 1796 after Burns' death. It is believed that the early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotch tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means 'old long ago', or 'time remembered with fondness' or simply, 'the good old days.'

"Auld Lang Syne" (Longer version)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And auld lang syne?

Chorus:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet

For auld lang syne.

And surely, ye'll be your pint stowp!

And surely I'll be mine!

And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

Chorus

We twa hae mn about the braes

And pou'd the gowans fine;

But we've wander'd mony a weary foot

Sin' auld lang syne.

Chorus

We two hae paidled i' the burn,

Frae morning sun till dine;

But seas between us braid hae roar'd

Sin' auld lang syne.

Chorus

And here's a hand, my trusty fiere,

And gie's a hand o' thine;

And we'll tak' a right gude-willy waught,

For auld lang syne.

Chorus

2012 is coming...

Are you excited about the new year coming up? Did you make any plans for the New Years' Eve? How are you going to spend the New Year Eve that night on December 31, 2011?

Do you like to go out for a fancy dinner at a restaurant, spend time with friends and families and have snacks, appetizers and drinks?

Well, it all depends on the individual's opinion of what he or she had planned for New Year's Eve.

Anyway, it's a good idea watching or light fireworks to mark the incoming year!!!

Nuttin' For Christmas

Even Santa needs a break – so why not the day after Christmas. Have a break. Have a chocolate bar. All you need is a comfortable red armchair, a light stand and somewhere to put your beard. Meanwhile, watch the following video and have fun!

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

... AND MAY WE LIVE

IN A WORLD AT PEACE

AND WITH THE AWARENESS

OF GOD'S LOVE

IN EVERY SUNSET

EVERY FLOWER'S

UNFOLDING PETALS

EVERY BABY'S SMILE

EVERY LOVER'S KISS

AND EVERY WONDERFUL

ASTONISHING

MIRACULOUS BEAT

OF OUR HEART...

WISHING YOU A NEW YEAR FILLED WITH...

NEW HOPE

NEW JOYS... AND... 

NEW BEGINNINGS!!!

TEACHER JÔ

Christmas Morning – The Day Kids Look Forward to All Year

Christmas morning is a time of the year that every kid looks forward too. However, there are many children out there who are not as fortunate as others. This is why it is important to donate if you are able to in order to give those less fortunate the ability to have a great Christmas.  Allow those people to look forward to Christmas morning as much as you or your own children do. Although that may seem somewhat like a sombre way to describe what should be a joyous occasion, a thought should be spared for those of us who may not have the financial capacity to celebrate Christmas in a festive fashion in the company of our friends and family.

Returning to the original topic; try and give your children something that makes them excited to wake up to in the morning. A common tradition is to leave milk and cookies (beer and cookies in my house) for Santa. Children are amazed when they wake up the morning to find only crumbs remaining from the food that they left out for him. I also encourage my children to leave a carrot out for Santa’s reindeer (the reindeer have a lot of area to cover in a single night). It is another little thing that can make children excited about the day ahead.

It is a good idea to try and keep the gifts in a place that they will not stumble upon during the night in the event they need to get up to go to the bathroom or get a drink. Sometimes this is easier said than done. If you don’t have an area away from the bathroom; consider waking up early in the morning and placing the gifts under the tree just before they get up. The best Christmas mornings require a bit of tactical strategising. Be a little tricky with your plans to enable your children to be surprised on Christmas morning.

Eventually your children will grow out of celebrating Christmas in this manner – however the memories of Christmas mornings from their childhood will remain. Ensure that these memories are treasured and that they are keen to do the same thing for their children because of the fondness of the memories they have of when they were a child. It is also away to pass on the traditions of how the family celebrates Christmas. Christmas is one time of the year where you are not allowed to be a kill joy.

Early Christmas Morning (Cyndi Lauper - live)

I love holiday traditions. One of the ones I remember from my childhood is opening presents Christmas morning as a family. Presents would be distributed into piles. My parents, siblings and I would each take a turn opening one of our presents. It was great to get to see what others were opening as well as have everyone watching me when it was my turn.

I didn't have my Christmas mornings as I used to... Now I have different ones with my kids and it's awesome!!!

 "Early Christmas Morning"

Listen to the children sing
Watch them dancing all 'round the Christmas tree ...
Waiting for the opening
Early Christmas morning ...

 

All around the world is sleeping
Little children there's no peeping
Wait and see what Santa's bringing
Early Christmas morning ...

Icicles and breakfast cakes ...
Friends and family we will celebrate
Sounds that joy and laughter make
Early Christmas morning ...

All around and far off places
Angels waken smiling faces
Wrapping us with love and graces
Early Christmas morning ...
Early Christmas morning ...

Cyndi Lauper - Early Christmas Morning (Live)

A Christmas Story About An Amazing Friendship

Christmas, my child, is love in action...

Every time we love

Every time we give

It's Christmas!!!

Just watch it...


                 Journey Of The Angels/Silent Night by Enya.wmv 

It is interesting that at Christmas we open "presents", because the present moment is the greatest gift that life gives us. It is the only thing we have at all times, the only real thing that never ends. We eventually end up throwing out most Christmas presents, because they cannot last forever. But the present moment does.

Merry Christmas!!!

Teacher Jô

Christmas Eve and... Hey, it's Christmas!!!

Hello everyone...

Yes, today is 24th December 2011

and it's the Christmas Eve!

^_____^

Wow! I'm sure that my friends that celebrate Christmas are very happy and enjoy!

And the excitement to wait for 25th December might be long time to go through.

^_____^

(For sure they can't wait for their presents and gifts)

Wow!

Enjoy Your Day Friends!

And if I'm not mistaken,

now they should have their diner.

Yeah, you know...gathering diner with family and friends.

Hehe...

It's Christmas Eve everyone...

Enjoy yourself.

Make it as sweetest memory than before!

^_____^

Let's sing and dance Jingle Bells Rock!

^_____^

  

Enjoy your day...

Enjoy your weekends...

Enjoy your meals...

and...

Enjoy yourself...

^____^

I wish that each of you are happy with your family and friends in Christmas.

Amen....

^____^

Well,

I think it's time to go.

I wanna wish my friends also...

Good Bye Everyone.

Enjoy your day okay...

Have a splendid moments.

^______^

The Significance of Christmas Eve

 

Traditionally, Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas. It is a significant time because it is believed that Jesus may have actually been born on this date (or early in the morning on Christmas Day) during the night. It is also important because angels appeared during this time to notify the world that Jesus was going to be born. He was promised as being the new king or saviour of the people. This message was not taken kindly by the establishment of the time – namely King Herod who attempted to track down Jesus and have him killed in order to maintain his rule. It is believed that many babies were slaughtered during this time in order to appease King Herod’s demand that Jesus be tracked down and killed. This is actually one sombre aspect of the birth of Jesus. However, it should not detract from the festivities that are held during the period.

Christmas Eve has particular traditional connotations depending on where you live in the world. Masses are held during this time to celebrate the birth of Jesus and remind Christians of the importance of the holiday. The masses are instrumental in reminding Christians why Christmas is an important event and to help ease the commerciality of what the holiday has become in modern times. It is a way to bring Christians the message of what Christmas symbolises which is the birth of their saviour, the son of God. Some countries actually trade gifts on Christmas Eve (in the evening) as this is the time that Jesus was thought to be born. Christmas Day itself is set aside as a day to visit family members and feast on a wide variety of foods. The specific foods also change from country to country. A common food eaten is ham and/or turkey.

In this regard, Christmas is actually celebrated over the course of two days. If you are someone who celebrates Christmas you no doubt start to feel excited on Christmas Even in anticipation of the celebrations to be held the next day. Christmas Eve is significant for people who leave their shopping to the last minute and retailers are all too happy to cash in on this. Many major retailers remain open until midnight in order to allow last minute shoppers the opportunity to finish their Christmas shopping. Whether or not this is because the retailers actually want to help people finish their shopping or just realise it is an extra way to make money is debatable.

The Little Match Girl - A Christmas Story

When I was a small kid I remember grandma reading about the Little Match Girl, a short story by Hans Christian Andersen. Here it is: 

It was terribly cold and nearly dark on the last evening of the old year, and the snow was falling fast. In the cold and the darkness, a poor little girl, with bare head and naked feet, roamed through the streets. It is true she had on a pair of slippers when she left home, but they were not of much use. They were very large, so large, indeed, that they had belonged to her mother, and the poor little creature had lost them in running across the street to avoid two carriages that were rolling along at a terrible rate. One of the slippers she could not find, and a boy seized upon the other and ran away with it, saying that he could use it as a cradle, when he had children of his own. 

So the little girl went on with her little naked feet, which were quite red and blue with the cold. In an old apron she carried a number of matches, and had a bundle of them in her hands. No one had bought anything of her the whole day, nor had anyone given her even a penny. Shivering with cold and hunger, she crept along; poor little child, she looked the picture of misery. The snowflakes fell on her long, fair hair, which hung in curls on her shoulders, but she regarded them not.

Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savoury smell of roast goose, for it was New-year’s eve—yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses, one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of money. Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for they had only the roof to cover them, through which the wind howled, although the largest holes had been stopped up with straw and rags. Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah! perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out—“scratch!” how it sputtered as it burnt! It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a wonderful light. It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and seemed so beautifully warm that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them, when, lo! the flame of the match went out, the stove vanished, and she had only the remains of the half-burnt match in her hand.

She rubbed another match on the wall. It burst into a flame, and where its light fell upon the wall it became as transparent as a veil, and she could see into the room. The table was covered with a snowy white table-cloth, on which stood a splendid dinner service, and a steaming roast goose, stuffed with apples and dried plums. And what was still more wonderful, the goose jumped down from the dish and waddled across the floor, with a knife and fork in its breast, to the little girl. Then the match went out, and there remained nothing but the thick, damp, cold wall before her.

She lighted another match, and then she found herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas-tree. It was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one which she had seen through the glass door at the rich merchant’s. Thousands of tapers were burning upon the green branches, and coloured pictures, like those she had seen in the show-windows, looked down upon it all. The little one stretched out her hand towards them, and the match went out.

The Christmas lights rose higher and higher, till they looked to her like the stars in the sky. Then she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak of fire. “Someone is dying,” thought the little girl, for her old grandmother, the only one who had ever loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.

Little Match Girl

She again rubbed a match on the wall, and the light shone round her; in the brightness stood her old grandmother, clear and shining, yet mild and loving in her appearance. “Grandmother,” cried the little one, “O take me with you; I know you will go away when the match burns out; you will vanish like the warm stove, the roast goose, and the large, glorious Christmas-tree.” And she made haste to light the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother there. And the matches glowed with a light that was brighter than the noon-day, and her grandmother had never appeared so large or so beautiful. She took the little girl in her arms, and they both flew upwards in brightness and joy far above the earth, where there was neither cold nor hunger nor pain, for they were with God.

In the dawn of morning there lay the poor little one, with pale cheeks and smiling mouth, leaning against the wall; she had been frozen to death on the last evening of the year; and the New-year’s sun rose and shone upon a little corpse! The child still sat, in the stiffness of death, holding the matches in her hand, one bundle of which was burnt. “She tried to warm herself,” said some. No one imagined what beautiful things she had seen, nor into what glory she had entered with her grandmother, on New-year’s day.

Now, how about to listen to this other Christmas story?

The Real Santa Claus - A Short Christmas Story

Merry Christmas!!!!

Thank you, Reiner,  for the contribution to this post!

Reiner is a student of mine. He is at the 5th level of English now! Congratulations, Reiner!

Merry Christmas to you all!!

Nayla

Find more. Click here

Christmas Stories - Rudolphs Birthday

A Little More About Christmas in Brazil and a Brazilian Christmas Message

Christmas without snow???

Yes, that is how Christmas is celebrated in Brazil. We have very high temperatures at this time of the year, specially in Rio de Janeiro (my home city). Summer begins in December, thus we do not have a white Christmas. So, you can guess that Christmas traditions are a little different in my country.

Children do not hung stockings on the chimneys like many other children around the world do. Some children hung their stockings near the Christmas tree,near the window, or near the door because most of the houses in Brazil do not have a chimney.

In Brazil, our tradition is to gather the family together on Christmas Eve. Many families go to the church in the evening. Some people have dinner between 7 and 9 pm and our tradition is to have a 

supper next to midnight and start opening the gifts at midnight. We eat lots of fruits and nuts and dishes prepared mainly with turkey, codfish, potatoes, rice and vegetables. Something that is originally from Portugal, but that is very traditional in a Brazilian Christmas is the "rabanadas" (French toast), made with French bread, eggs, milk, sugar and cinnamon. Ah, we also eat an Italian bread named "panettone" on Christmas morning!

Rabanadas - French Toasts

Bacalhau - Codfish

Panettone

Peru assado - Roasted turkey

When I was a child, my mother used to buy a gift for everyone in the family. As the years passed, new traditions began to appear. Most Brazilian families have something that we call Secret Friend (a kind of Secret Santa), which is a funny way of giving presents without spending a lot of money. 

But what is exactly this "secret friend" tradition? About two weeks before Christmas Eve, or even earlier, those who are going to take part in the "secret friend", gather and someone write their names in tiny pieces of paper and put them all inside a bag. Then, each one take a piece of paper, which has a name on it. If someone gets his/her own name, he/she must put it inside the bag again and take another one. No one is allowed to tell the others who his/her "secret friend" is.

We buy a gift to this person and on Christmas Eve, usually after supper, we begin to distribute the gifts. Someone is chosen to start it and by describing how his/her "secret friend" looks like. All others will try to guess who this person is and once they find it out, the person who received the gift will then describe his/her "secret friend". We do like this until every person has received a gift. We have a lot of fun with the "secret friend". Everyone enjoys it a lot!

Most classmates at school, at college or collegues who work together usually have a "secret friend" party when it's close to Christmas. It's a way of gathering everyone to celebrate the holiday and to give everyone a present.

Now, watch our Christmas message!

  

Text from the internet

Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year (James Brown)

Hi everybody, this is James Brown
This is a very, very unusual way to come to you

But I gotta start by saying thanks
Thanks for such a wonderful year

Not only to you, to God, number one
To you number two and for all
the wonderful things
You know when I look at a beautiful day
I'll say God is there

Let's make this Christmas
mean something this year

Let's make this Christmas
mean something this year

I say it's happy because birds are tweeting

Sun is shining, the wind's blowing the breeze
The leaves are flying, everybody feels nice

Just say, oh God,thanks for all His wonderful things

You even see a little snow sometimes but you know,
God only knows how Christmas is gonna look,
So one more time I'll say

 Let's make this Christmas
mean something this year

Let's make this Christmas
mean something this year

Now let's make our next year
be as nice as this year
Now Christmas gotta be
the kind of a Christmas
That we remember
a long time ago

You remember
when everybody used
to look forward to it,
Santa Claus You'd wanna know
what you gonna have the next day

You couldn't wait until Christmas morning
to jump up

But that's the morning you wouldn't go
to your table
You go straight to your little sack

Hanging on the mantle over
the fireplace

Let's make this Christmas
mean something this year

Let's make this Christmas
mean something this year

You know I just enjoy this and I,
I can't really can't find enough words
That would really make me express myself
The good feelings that I have

But I wanna say thanks, thanks to God and now
Let's make Christmas the kind of a Christmas
that we'd remember

You know, you made Christmas very,
very beautiful for me In my past years
but let's make this Christmas 

Beautiful for everybody the kind of a Christmas
that mom, dad, granddad

Let's make this Christmas
mean something this year

Let's make this Christmas
mean something this year

Christmas in Brazil

Hello, guys and gals!

In Brazil, Christmas is one of the most important festive days, or "dia de festas". It is celebrated on 25th December.

Having a multicultural population, the festivities in the country are influenced by ethnic ways. As a former Portuguese colony, they have retained some of the Christmas customs of their former masters. Notable among these is creating a nativity scene or "Presepio". The word "Presepio" comes from "presepium" meaning the bed of straw in which Jesus first slept after birth in Bethlehem. This custom is common in places of north eastern Brazil like Bahia, Sergipe, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Maranhao, Ceara, Pernambuco, Piaui and Alagoas. A Franciscan friar named Gaspar De Santo Agostinho is believed to have first introduced the tradition in the city of Olinda (in the state of Pernambuco) in the 17th century. The practice of setting up presepios continue to this day. Every December, presépios are created during Christmas and displayed in churches, houses and stores. Come January and they are dismantled along with the Christmas trees and lights.

On Christmas Eve, thousands of devout Catholics attend the "Missa do Galo" or Midnight Mass. Masses are also organised on December 25 in the morning and later afternoon.

Christmas decorations in the country involve setting up Christmas trees in individual homes and adorning them beautifully with decorative items such as lights, plastic balls and glass balls. A highlight of Christmas celebrations in Brazil is making huge Christmas "trees" of electric lights. These "electric trees" can be seen against the night skies in major cities such as Brasilia, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro throughout the season.

Caroling is quite a popular custom here. Various christmas carols are sung during Christmas to commemorate the birth of Christ. A number of Christmas songs (pastorils and others) are sung on the occassion. "Noite Feliz" ("Silent Night") is probably the song most associated with Christmas in Brazil.

The beginning of the previous century saw many immigrants coming from Europe and other parts of the world and settling in Brazil. As a natural consequence, the festivals celebrated in the country began to be observed in diverse ways and influenced by different traditions that these people brought with them. Christmas is not an exception. The food eaten in Brazil (specially in the South states) during Christmas came from Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and other countries. The traditional Christmas dinner here includes roasted turkey, vegetables and fruits. Beer and wine are also served often; a German "Stollen" or an Italian "Panetone" often find their way to a Christmas feast held in the southern parts of the country. A huge Christmas dinner menu includes turkey, ham, colored rice, and wonderful fresh vegetable and fruit dishes. The less fortunate have rice with chicken or with beans.
In some regions the feast starts on Christmas Eve around 9 pm, while at other places it is eaten at midnight with the children being served first.

Like Santa Claus in the U.S., Papai Noel (Father Noel) is the gift-bringer in Brazil. According to legend, he lives in Greenland and resembles Santa in many ways. Papai Noel can also remind you of Chile's "Viejo Pascuero" (Easter Old Man). This gift-giver of children is depicted as wearing a red fur coat with boots and carrying a bag full of presents. He is believed to secretly leave gifts at the house of every good child on Christmas Day. Children wake up early on Christmas morning to look for gifts from this benevolent character.

Except for the high temperatures and the absence of snow, Christmas here is pretty much the same as it is in the US.

Source: http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/worldxmas/brazil.htm

Last Christmas (Wham! - remix)

Hello, guys!

"Last Christmas" is a song by British pop duo Wham!, released on Epic Records in 1984, on a double A-side with "Everything She Wants". It was written by George Michael, one half of the duo. The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years.

Here you can see the penguins from Happy Feet movie dancing... Just amazing!!!

Hope you enjoy!

  

Santa is on vacation...

And the Oscar goes to... Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Within. From Brazil!!!

Wagner Moura in Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Within (O inimigo interno)

                                               

"Elit Squad 2…wildly entertaining.”
— Robert Koehler, Variety

 

"A thumping modern policier with a social-conscience edge."
—Trevor Johnston, Time Out London

One of the hottest directors on the international scene is Brazil's Padilha, whose exciting yet thoroughly intelligent approach to action-based drama has garnered awards and critical acclaim, not to mention box-office success.
No need to have seen his earlier international hit ELITE SQUAD to take this stand-alone sequel’s wild ride into the heart of double-crossing police corruption in the slums of Rio. A bungled mission to stop a prison riot results in police captain Nascimento taking the fall, and, to his surprise, getting kicked upstairs. Mounting a citywide campaign against crime and the drug trade using the department’s elite SWAT team as a battering ram, he makes the dangerous discovery that the top cops are the problem rather than the solution. 

Watch the trailer in Portuguese with English subtitles.

Go to Academy Awards, Brazil!!!