SAINT ANDREW'S DAY

November 30th is celebrated across Scotland as Saint Andrew’s Day and is also a national holiday in Scotland. Despite having never stepped foot in Scotland while alive, Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland as well as of Greece, Romania, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and Saint Andrew, Barbados!

According to the Christian religion, Saint Andrew, whose name means ‘strong,’ was originally a Galilean fisherman and one of the first disciples of Jesus Christ. He was the brother of Saint Peter, the founder of the Christian Church and spent many years preaching the Gospel. When he died, his relics were sailed across the sea from Greece and buried in Scotland, in a town now called Saint Andrew’s. The Scottish flag is even inspired by Saint Andrew and is called the Saint Andrew’s Cross.

On Saint Andrew’s Day schools across Scotland hold special events to celebrate, such as meals, singing, dances, storytelling and Scottish poetry readings. The day is often celebrated with family and friends with traditional Scottish food (like ‘haggis, neeps and tatties’ – which is a dish of haggis, turnips and potatoes) and traditional Scottish music such as the bagpipes or the clarsach (which is a small harp). People also host ceilidhs which are Scottish country dances which often go on late into the night.

Saint Andrew’s Day is a significant part of Scottish culture and over the years has become a part of Scotland’s identity.

Source: http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/magazine/life-around-world/saint-andrews-day

On its way to Russia again!

Yes! We received the travelling notebook from Gran Canaria two weeks ago, and we were so excited that we couldn't wait to contribute to it.
They wrote about themselves, so we decided to write about ourselves. We hope they like when it returns to them in May.
This is our contribution on its way to Russia!

POPPY DAY or REMEMBANCE DAY

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month marks the signing of the Armistice, on 11th November 1918, to signal the end of World War One.

At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. Since then, he second Sunday of November is Remembrance Sunday, but what does it all mean? 

This video with Charlie Brown and his friends tells us the history behind Poppy Day or Remembrance Day.

At 11am men, women and children all across Britain hold a two minute silence to remember the millions who have died in war. On a day like that the Queen  and the Royal Family, along with top politicians and religious leaders, gather at The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, for a service.

Wreaths of poppies are laid beside war memorials by companies, clubs and societies. People also leave small wooden crosses by the memorials in remembrance of a family member who died in war.

You can find all the information about this special date in the Powerpoint presentation below made by your teacher Mary.

In 1605, a group of Catholic conspirators plotted to assassinate King James I of England (and VI of Scotland) by blowing up the House of Lords during the opening of parliament.

They hid kegs full of gunpowder (barriles de pólvora) in the cellars beneath the chamber where the king and the rest of the political elite would assemble. Enough powder was stored to completely destroy the building and kill everyone present.

One of the conspirators, Guy Fawkes, was tasked with igniting this huge bomb. It is Fawkes' effigy that is still burned on 5 November bonfires to this day.

Watch the following dramatised video to understand the plot better.

To find out more about this celebration click here and if you want to try yourself and see how much you know about Guy Fawkes and his attempt to blow the Parliament, click here and try this quiz.

You can also have a look at the comic strips your schoolmates from 6th grade have created on this special date.