Christmas Wishes

- Happiness, Prosperity and Success!
- May All Your Dreams Come True!

- From My Home To Yours.

- Warmest Wishes For Christmas!

- Bright and  Joyful Christmas!

- May you have an ocean of happiness!

- Better than any New Year has been and will be, Better than any joy known or to be known, Better than any wish realised or to be realised-that's how, this New Year should be for you. Have a great new year.
- May the New Year brings new hopes, new promises and new reasons to celebrate your presence in your lives.

Have a Joyous New Year! 
- Here is a wishing that the coming year is a glorious one that rewards all your future endeavors with success. 

- New Year is a time for celebration of love, of life, of Friendship. It's the time to thank God for wonderful friends, and to bring to their lives as much magic as they bring to ours... So here's celebrating our Friendship and praying that its magic continues forever. Happy New Year!

- May this New Year adorn your life with many beautiful things and sweet memories to cherish forever. And care of those whom the heart holds close, along with abundant joys and happiness, for you and your family. Wishing you life's best this New Year. 

Go to:
http://audio-class.ru/mailing/english/2010.html,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/15772491

CHRISTMAS IN BELARUS

Winter holiday season is the favorite time for many people and is celebrated across the globe by Christians, people of different denominations and non-believers. In some countries, it has a definite religious coloring due to Christmas celebration, in others, like in Belarus and some other CIS countries, the major event is the New Year. We used to celebrate it with Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) and his granddaughter Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), who recently have been partially replaced by Santa Claus. However, Belarus has distinctive historic folk Christmas traditions of its own, which now, unfortunately, can be observed mainly in the museums. It's sad, isn't it? Just imagine: you come to a different country in hope to see something new, and you see the same Santa and hear the same "We wish you a Merry Christmas". There is nothing wrong with this but for the inadequate scope it has taken. Why should we restrict our choices only to commercial offer? Isn't there something else, more authentic, in this world? Reviving folk traditions of Christmas and New Year celebration of different nations will help people unite in celebration of these major holidays without losing their national identity, offer more choice and ability to explore the cultural diversity of your common planet. One of the places, where you can join in the traditional folk Christmas celebration is the Belarusian State Folk Architecture and Lifestyle Museum in Strochitsa / Strochica  http://etna.by

CHRISTMAS IN BRITAIN

Мost people recognise that the traditional Christmas tree was first started in England in the mid 1800's when the German husband of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, introduced the German tradition of having a tree as a central point of the home into the British homes.  Up to that point whilst Christmas had been celebrated for hundred of years we did not have the tree and lavish decorations which we see today.  It was Prince Albert who was almost singlehanded responsible for bringing us the festivities we see in England today. Today, in the 21st century, things have changed a little.  Whilst the centre of the celebration of Christmas started out as mainly based around the church and it's ceremonies and festivals, it has now moved away from the church as religion no longer has the same pull or influence as it had in those days, but underlying all is still the celebration of the Christian tradition. Today some of the old traditions I was brought up with 60 years ago are still in evidence.  It fills my heart with pleasure to see my five and ten year old grand children being taught the same stories and traditions by my daughter and son in law.  To see the expectation on the face of my five year old grandson when his mother talks to him of Christmas and watch the secret grin on the face of his ten year old sister when their mother gets to the part about the tradition of Father Christmas.  As a child I, and now my grandchildren, were told the same story about Father Christmas flying on a sledge pulled by reindeer from the frozen parts of Lapland to deliver presents to every child on Christmas Eve.  BUT! Deliveries would only be made to children who had been good throughout the year!  In the build up the big day it was remarkable to see the frequent improvement in behaviour when children were reminded of this fact.  Children were encouraged to create a written list of presents they wanted and to post this list up the chimney for Father Christmas in the weeks before his late night arrival.  I can remember many Christmas Eves in my childhood kneeling up in bed to look out of the window behind my bed to see if I could see a sledge racing across the black winter night.  Kneeling there, tired, becoming increasing more cold as time went on I would eventually snuggle down under the bed clothes and try my hardest to keep awake to try and catch Father Christmas delivering my presents.  Of course, it was impossible and I never did catch sight of a large man with a red coat and a big white beard slipping small toys and fruit into the stocking on the foot of my bed.  However, quite often I would wake whilst it was still very dark and as I moved my feet around in bed feeling for the heavy weight of the stocking.  Then the electric joy of realising that he had been, the stocking had been filled and there were toys just waiting for my discovery at the foot of my bed.  There was always a Tangerine and an Apple together with a handful of nuts in the toe of the stocking then the strange unknowable shapes of toys making strange shapes to run my fingers over.

During the morning we would sit around the coal fire and open our presents whilst trying to make a pretence of eating breakfast.  During the latter part of the morning friends and relations would arrive and be offered a glass of sherry and a mince pie.  By this time us kids were now looking forward to the tradition of Christmas Dinner.  I suppose this is one meal which has not changed in any real way.  Maybe we have added things, but the essentials are still there, still constant.  Turkey, roast potatoes, Brussle Sprouts, stuffing, carrots, followed by Christmas Pudding.
There would then be a temptation to sit and relax in front of the fire, and possibly fall asleep!  A full stomach, early morning and a roaring fire were often guaranteed to knock out any child.Now, it takes a glass or two of wine or bandy.  But some things do not change.

Compare the traditions of Christmas celebrating. How do you celebrate this holiday in your family?

The first Sherlock Holmes story

'

125 years ago Arthur Conan Doyle published his first story about Sherlock Holmes  “A Study in Scarlet”. It took him three weeks to write this novel but made him popular all over the world.

You may read it here: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/244/244-h/244-h.htm

or watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCQk5Gk-dp0

What other stories about Sherlock Holmes do you like?

December, 1 - World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day on 1 December brings together people from around the world to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic. The day is an opportunity for public and private partners to spread awareness about the status of the pandemic and encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care in high prevalence countries and around the world.
Are you ready to take part in such actions?

Are You Enviromentally Friendly?

Are You Enviromentally Friendly?

http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/2SeTGn/Are-You-Environmentally-Friendly

http://www.kidzworld.com/quiz/quiz-how-earth-friendly-are-you

Quotation of the Week

George Eliot said:"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." Do you agree? Is autumn your favourite season?

WHY GOD MADE TEACHERS

When God created teachers,
He gave us special friends
To help us understand
His world And truly comprehend
The beauty and the wonder
Of everything we see,
And become a better person
With each discovery.
When God created teachers,
He gave us special guides
To show us ways in which to grow
So we can all decide
How to live and how to do
What's right instead of wrong,
To lead us so that we can lead
And learn how to be strong.
Why God created teachers,
In His wisdom and His grace,
Was to help us learn to make our world
A better, wiser place.

WORLD TOURISM DAY Many people around celebrate the United Nations’ (UN) World Tourism Day, which is on September 27 each year. The day aims to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.World Tourism Day (WTD) 2012 is being held under the theme Tourism & Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development. Official celebrations will take place in Maspalomas, Spain (September 27).

This year’s theme aims to highlight tourism’s role in a brighter energy future; a future in which the world’s entire population has access to modern, efficient and affordable energy services.Tourism today is at the forefront of some of the world’s most ambitious and innovative clean energy solutions: the aviation industry is implementing cutting-edge technologies to make aircraft lighter than ever before; commercial flights are beginning to use biofuels in their fuel mix; key card systems and energy saving light bulbs are increasingly being implemented in hotel rooms worldwide; and tour operators are asking for energy efficiency throughout their supply chains. Be part of World Tourism Day 2012! What are your ideas of World Tourism Day celebration?

Essential Family Values Family values are rules or ideals that all family members agree to live by and stay true to. Having strong well defined family values helps solidify the foundation for a strong, tight knit family. Strong and consistent family values are important in building trust and confidence in each family member. The list of essential family values would be a mile long no doubt and the top lists for each family would be as unique as the one that came up with it. Here are my top essential family values. 1. Belonging. It is important that each member of my family feel that they are loved, that they belong and that they matter. Being a cohesive family could mean that you spend every spare minute together doing family activities but keep in mind that everyone is different. Creating a strong family unit is great but each person should be allowed the space and freedom to explore the activities they think they may enjoy. People are more courageous and more willing to take chances if they know they have a safe place to come back to when things don’t quite work out. Coming together for special occasions and holidays and just spending time together as a family is what helps build that sense of belonging. 2. Respect. This is a bit more difficult to define. For my family, to respect each other is to take feelings, thoughts, needs, and preferences in to account when making decisions. It also means acknowledging and valuing everyone’s thoughts, feelings and contributions to the family as a whole. Respect is indeed earned and there is a very fine line between it and fear. The only way to earn and keep someone’s respect is to first show them respect yourself. Respect as an important family value will extend out of the home and into school, work or other social settings. 3. Honesty. This is the foundation of any relationships that are meant to last. Mother-daughter, husband-wife, sister-brother. Without honesty a deeper connection will not form and certainly won’t last. Encourage honesty by practicing understanding and respect when someone tells you of their wrong doings. If we lose it and get angry when we’re told what has happened the other person will be more likely to hide it from you next time simply to avoid the disrespect. 4. Forgiveness. Forgiving people who have wronged you is an important choice to make. Yes, forgiveness is a choice. It is not some feeling that randomly washes over you when you feel the other person has “suffered” enough. This can be tough since a lot of us tend to equate forgiveness with saying what you did was okay. They are not the same thing. Holding a grudge, is not conducive to a close family with mutual respect. Keep in mind that everyone makes mistakes, we all occasionally say things we wish we hadn’t and none of us are perfect. 5. Generosity. Giving without thinking “what’s in it for me” is an important value for anyone wanting to be a responsible, contributing member to society. Through generosity we build empathy since we tend to think more about what people want or need. Being generous doesn’t mean simply handing over money to someone in need. It can also include giving your time, love, attention or even some of your possessions. 6. Responsibility. We’d all like to be considered responsible people. Some of us are and some of us are decidedly less so. Responsibility is something that is learned. As a child you may have been shown how to put your toys away after playing, how to tidy your room or how and when to feed the dog. This sense of responsibility extends well into adulthood. An adult who has an intrinsic sense of responsibility doesn’t require a lot of prodding to show up to work on time, return phone calls or meet deadlines. Setting out individual responsibilities for family members works to instill this quality in everyone. 7. Traditions. This is by far the most fun for me. I think traditions are what make a family unique, they draw people together and create a sense of belonging for everyone. Traditions don’t need to be expensive, elaborate or a lot of work. It can be something as simple as a lazy Saturday morning sipping coffee and chatting or an annual fondue dinner to ring in the new year. If you don’t currently have traditions in your family, create them! All traditions started with one person why not let your family traditions start with you? Get creative and have fun. So those are my top family values. Of course there are others I’ll be incorporating but these are the most important to me. Do we have many in common? What is in your top?

Knowledge Day (the 1st of September) is the day when the school year traditionally starts. This day also marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. It has special significance for the incoming class of first graders who come to school for the first time and often participate in a celebratory assembly on this date. The day also involves the First Bell where a first grade girl is lifted on the shoulders of the 11th grade male pupil, and paraded around, ringing the first bell of the school year. Students in other grades may begin studies on September 1 or a few days later, usually without any special festivities. How do you celebrate Knowledge Day?

August Bank Holidays British bank holidays are public holidays and have been recognised since 1871. The name Bank Holiday comes from the time when banks were shut and so no trading could take place. There is currently a total of 8 permanent bank and public holidays in England, Wales and Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland. These include Christmas Day and Good Friday, which in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are common law' holidays (they are not specified by law as bank holidays but have become customary holidays because of common observance). The last Monday in August was formally made a bank holiday in place of the first Monday in August in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Even though banks are still closed on these days many shops today now remain open. Shops, museums and other public attractions, such as historic houses and sports centres, may close on certain public holidays, particularly Christmas Day.

CHESS DAY - JULY, 20

         The International chess day has been celebrated on July, 20 in the whole world since 1966. This celebration is held by the decision of FIDE the International chess organization (founded in 1924). The name of the game originates from Persian: checkmate the king is dead. India is a birthplace of chess. The chaturanga game which is the ancestor of the chess game appeared in the V century. On the territory of Russia, chess appeared in IX-X centuries approximately.

       Chess is a board game on the 64-checked board, where 32 pieces are placed (16 black and 16 white pieces). Two partners play the game. The purpose of the game is to mate the opponent s king. Almost every city has its own chess club (sometimes there are several clubs), gathering the admirers of this kind of sport. And tournaments and entertainments are held in these clubs on the International chess day.

June 17th - Lily Festival, Japan

On this day every summer, the residents of the city of Nara, Japan collect lily stalks by the thousands which grow on a nearby mountainside. Seven young women dressed in white robes bless the lilies and carry them to the temple ceremony, where the Shinto priest presents a huge bouquet of lilies at the altar. After the blessing, the same seven women carry the lily stalks out, waving them and performing a dance that is meant to cast away the evils of the rainy season, just past. Finally, a huge float of lilies parades around the city, purifying the air. On Lily festival day, have young children dress in white robes (a few bedsheets will do, just secure with a belt, so they won't trip!) and gather lilies (or any flower, if you don't have lilies). Then have them create a dance, holding the flowers, meant to welcome the summer season. 

Would you like to visit this event?

World Environment Day

       World Environment Day  falls each year on 5 June. It is a day when people focus on the environment and it is celebrated in over 100 countries. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. The first World Environment Day was on 1973. World Environment Day is hosted every year by a different city with a different theme and is commemorated with an international exposition in the week of 5 June. This environment day pledge to keep your environment green and clean. Send inspiring world environment day cards and greetings to your near and dear ones. 

Try to make a card with the help of photoservice Smilebox:  http://www.smilebox.com

Watch more: http://www.unep.org/wed/

Is there tomorrow for you?

What can help you change your life?

June,1 - International Children Day

The World Conference for the Well-being of Children in Geneva, Switzerland proclaimed June 1 to be International Children's Day in 1925. It is not clear as to why June 1 was chosen as the International Children's Day: one theory has it that the Chinese consul-general in San Francisco (USA) gathered a number of Chinese orphans to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in 1925, which happened to be on June 1 that year, and also coincided with the conference in Geneva.
The holiday is celebrated on 1 June each year. It is usually marked with speeches on children's rights and wellbeing, children TV programs, parties, various actions involving or dedicated to children, families going out, etc.

How do you celebrate this day?

May, 31 -World No Tobacco Day

 

Ash trays with fresh flowers are a common symbol of World No Tobacco Day

 World No Tobacco Day  is observed around the world every year on May 31. It is meant to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption across the globe. The day is further intended to draw global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to negative health effects, which currently lead to 5.4 million deaths worldwide annually. The member states of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987. In the past twenty years, the day has been met with both enthusiasm and resistance across the globe from governments, public health organizations, smokers, growers, and the tobacco industry.

Do you agree?

What do you think about it?

15.05. - FAMILY DAY

I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich.  
                       Dan Wilcox
 

What is a family for you?

St. George’s Ribbon: Symbol of Victory Day

Black and orange ribbons start to flicker around the streets of Russian and Belarussian cities in early May. They stand out well on people’s clothes, bags, body parts, antennas and in any other places wherever they can be attached. These are St. George’s Ribbons—new symbol of Victory Day.

The “St. George’s Ribbon” initiative started in 2005 in a bid to revitalize patriotism and modernize the Victory Day. Since then it has become so popular that a Victory Day celebration cannot be imagined without it. Today it is held in many countries around the world including not only ex-USSR members, but also partly Europe and North America. The ribbons are distributed for free in the streets weeks ahead of Victory Day—May 9.

The black and orange ribbons mimic Russian historic Ribbon of St. George, which was initially a part of The St. George Order—the highest military decoration in the Russian Empire before 1917 (it was re-established in 1998 as the top military Order in the Russian Federation). During the World War II, almost identical ribbons were used in the “The Order of Glory”—an important military decoration, given to the soldiers of the Red Army for valor and bravery.

Today it is the most popular symbol of the Victory holiday. Its primary aim is to show respect to those who put their lives on the line to defend their country and their nation, as well as to remind younger generations of Russia’s great heroic past.

WORLD DANCE DAY

On the 29th of April, as every year since 1982, Dance Day will be celebrated all over the world by the international community of dancers. It is an initiative of the International Dance Council CID, UNESCO.
We have prepared the following guidelines as a checklist for persons institutionally involved
in the wider field of dance: teachers, choreographers, group leaders, journalists, researchers,
associations, suppliers, organizations etc.
The main purpose of Dance Day events is to attract the attention of the wider public to the art of dance. Emphasis should be given to addressing a “new” public, people who do not follow dance events during the course of the year.
Dance Day events may be special performances, open-door classes, public rehearsals, lectures,
exhibitions, articles in newspapers and magazines, dance evenings, radio and TV programs, visits, street shows, parades, shop window decorations etc.
Events are primarily organized by dance companies, amateur groups, schools, associations
and other institutions active in dance.

The April 22 Earth Day

Earth Day takes place on April 22nd and the occasion is over forty years old. It was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson, was first organized in 1970 to promote ecology and respect for life on the planet as well as to encourage awareness of the growing problems of air, water and soil pollution.

Earth Day stems back to when people stared to realise and recognise the importance of our planet. Earth Day offers us the chance to recognise what we can do to play our part in facing up to the challenge of global warming. It also highlights what each individual can do to play a part in building a clean world and use its resources without damaging our surroundings.

The April 22 Earth Day is usually celebrated with outdoor performances, where individuals or groups perform acts of service to earth. Typical ways of observing Earth Day include planting trees, picking up roadside trash, conducting various programs for recycling and conservation, using recyclable containers for snacks and lunches. Some people are encouraged to sign petitions to governments, calling for stronger or immediate action to stop global warming and to reverse environmental destruction.  Television stations frequently air programs dealing with environmental issues.

Symbols used by people to describe Earth Day include: an image or drawing of planet earth; a tree, a flower or leaves depicting growth; or the recycling symbol. Colors used for Earth Day include natural colors such as green, brown or blue.  

Share your ideas how to spend this day

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