Friday, December 18, 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS

This is Mariah Carey's song " All I want for Christmas is you".
It's not a typical Christmas Carol, but it's a really merry song that you can dedicate to someone special if you feel like it.
Have a great time during the holidays, go to the cinema to see films in English (of course)and enjoy our Spanish Christmas celebrations. Careful with the "turrón"!

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HAPPY NEW YEAR, TOO!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Christmas in U.S.A and Great Britain



In U.S.A:


Santa Claus was born in US in the 1860's he was named this as he had a white beard and a belly, so he was named Santa Claus as this was the Dutch word for St Nicholas, Sintaklaas. Although the Dutch had bought him with them in the 17th century, he did not become an important person at Christmas until the Novelist Washington Irving put him in a novel that he wrote in 1809. This first Santa Claus was still known as St. Nicholas, he did smoke a pipe, and fly around in a wagon without any reindeer, but he did not have his red suit or live at the North Pole, he did however bring presents to children every year.


In 1863 He was given the name Santa Claus and bore the red suit, pipe, and his reindeer and sleigh.


Now Christmas celebrations vary greatly between regions of the United States, because of the variety of nationalities which have settled in it.


In Pennsylvania, the Moravians build a landscape, called a putz - under the Christmas tree, while in the same state the Germans are given gifts by Belsnickle, who taps them with his switch if they have misbehaved.


Early European settlers brought many traditions to the United States. Many settled in the early days in the South, these settlers would send Christmas greetings to their distant neighbors by shooting firearms and letting off fireworks. In Hawaii this practice is still in use as under the sunny skies, Santa Claus arrives by boat and Christmas dinner is eaten outdoors.


In Alaska, a star on a pole is taken from door to door, followed by Herod's Men, who try to capture the star. Colonial doorways are often decorated with pineapple, a symbol of hospitality.


In Alaska, boys and girls with lanterns on poles carry a large figure of a star from door to door. They sing carols and are invited in for supper.


In Washington D.C., a huge, spectacular tree is lit ceremoniously when the President presses a button and turns on the tree's lights.


In Boston, carol singing festivities are famous. The singers are accompanied by hand bells.


In New Orleans, a huge ox is paraded around the streets decorated with holly and with ribbons tied to its horns.


In Arizona, the Mexican ritual called Las Posadas is kept up. This is a ritual procession and play representing the search of Mary and Joseph for a room at the inn. Families play the parts and visit each other's houses enacting and re-enacting the drama and, at the same time, having a look at each family's crib.


In Hawaii, Christmas starts with the coming of the Christmas Tree Ship, which is a ship bringing a great load of Christmas fare. Santa Claus also arrives by boat.


In California, Santa Claus sweeps in on a surf board.


In America the traditional Christmas dinner is roast turkey with vegetables and sauces. For dessert it is rich, fruity Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. Mince pies, pastry cases filled with a mixture of chopped dried fruit.


The majority of Americans celebrate Christmas with the exchange of gifts and greetings and with family visits. For many, the day begins on Christmas Eve with the Midnight Mass. At Christmas it snows in many states, so dinner is usually eaten indoors. Dinner usually is roast turkey, goose, duck or ham served with cranberry sauce, then plum pudding or pumpkin pie followed by nuts and fruit.


American homes are decorated with holly, mistletoe and branches of trees, most have a Christmas tree hung with electric lights, tinsel, baubles, and strings of popcorn and candy canes.


In Colorado, an enormous star is placed on the mountain, it can be seen for many kilometers around, while in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a star is lit in early December.


Polish Americans on Christmas Eve spread hay on their kitchen floor and under the tablecloth to remind them of a stable and a manger. When they make up the table for dinner two extra places are set up for Mary and the Christ Child in case they should knock at the door to ask for shelter.


In Philadelphia, a procession called a mummers parade runs for a whole day with bands, dancers and people in fancy dress.


There are two homes for Santa Claus in the United States one is in Torrington, Connecticut, where Santa and his helpers give out presents. The other home is in Wilmington, New York, where a village for Santa and his reindeer is located.


In Arizona they follow the Mexican traditions called Las Posadas. Families play out the parts of Mary and Joseph searching for somewhere to stay. They form a procession and visit their friends' and neighbors' homes where they admire each family's Nativity crib. In parts of New Mexico, people place lighted candles in paper bags filled with sand on streets and rooftops to light the way for the Christ Child.


In Great Britain


In Great Britain the hustle and bustle of the season begins well before Christmas and there is barely anytime for a break until the Twelfth night. There is preparation going on of foods, the sending of Christmas cards, the decorating of houses and churches, and the readying of gifts keep everyone busy even the youngest family members.


On Christmas Eve youngsters hang up their stockings on the ends of the beds or by the chimney so that when Father Christmas comes he can leave them something.


On Christmas morning the family traditionally opens their presents and prepares for a big feast which typically is served just after midday. The table gleams with the best china and glassware, and at every place on the table there is a cracker. The meal begins with a toast, followed by the popping of the crackers. After the meal they sit down in front of the Television for the traditional Christmas speech of the British Monarch.


In the afternoon they exchange visits with neighbors other family members.


Some churches in Great Britain have a Christingle service on the fourth Sunday of Advent. This is a carol service of Scandinavian origin at which every child received an orange and candle wrapped in a red ribbon. The candle represents Jesus and the ribbon stands for the blood of Christ and the love of God embracing the world.


In Britain, children write their letters to Father Christmas and then throw them into the fireplace so they will float up the chimney and fly to the North Pole. If the lists catch fire first, they have to rewrite them.


At Christmas dinner, a plum pudding is served with little treasures hidden inside .

Moncef,Diego and Alejandro.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

CHRISTMAS CAROL : PLOT AND CHARACTERS

CHRISTMAS CAROL : PLOT
Is a story of English literature by Charles Dickens that was published in October 1843 and it has been continuously print. It is divided in five chapters.

Scrooge is a mean businessman. He treats his clerk Bob, badly. He refuses to help poor people and he hates Christmas.
On Christmas Eve night he is visited by a ghost who warns him to change, this ghost was a Scrooge’s old business partner.
Later the ghost of Christmas past visits Scrooge and he takes him back to times, long past, when Scrooge enjoyed Christmas before he broke up with his girlfriend.
After that he is visited by the ghost of Christmas present who shows him how his poor relatives celebrate Christmas Eve, and the miserable children who can’t celebrate it. When Scrooge see that he want them to be helped, but he can’t.
The last visitor is the ghost of Christmas yet to come who shows Scrooge a neglected where is writed his name. Finally Scrooge change as consequence of his strange visitors, and he becomes a generous and kind man who loves Christmas.

CHARACTERS.
Main characters
Ebenezer Scrooge is a hard-hearted man, selfish and who despises Christmas, children or anything that engender happiness.

Fred is Ebenezer Scrooge's nephew. Fred is also a gentleman of some means, but unlike his miserly uncle, he is a kind-hearted, generous, cheerful, and optimistic man who loves Christmas. Fred believes that the good in Scrooge can be brought to the surface.
Secundary characters
Spirit of christmas:
-Spirit of christmas past: He radiates a light. He looked like a child .He had a changing and indefinite shape. Represents purity and goodness of spirit. It looked like a child, because the past of every child is.As the distant past is easily forgotten, the images belonging to it can be confused with others.

-Spirit of christmas present: It has a short life. Had eighteen hundred brothers. Hidden under his robe to 2 children. This is brief and quickly becomes past. The ghost counts all persons who were members of Scrooge, and his brothers. For representing the misery and ignorance, feelings and emotions that correspond to the old Ebenezer.
-Spirit of christmas future: No speech. Dressed in black and is hooded. It is the most scary ghost to Scrooge. For so creates a cold environment for Scrooge, and did not say anything further so he can deduct all their own… As death. Since all their actions and movements are set to move to Scrooge, to the point of doing reconsider
Jacob Marley: In life, Marley was the business partner of Ebenezer Scrooge. They have become successful bankers, with seats on the London Stock Exchange; they are also stockholders and directors of at least one major association, but a vast amount of their wealth has been accumulated through usurious moneylending. Scrooge is described as Marley's "sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend, and sole mourner". He has been dead seven years by the time the story begins.

Familia Cratchit: Bob Cratchit Scrooge's employee, despite his poverty and illness of his son Tim, celebrates Christmas.
Sra. Dilber: Mrs. Dilber, Ebenezer Scrooge's diligent housekeeper, answers some of her most frequently asked questions, including how long she has been working for Mr. Scrooge.

Fanny Scrooge: Ebenezer's younger sister, whom he loved, but who died young. She was the mother of Ebenezer's nephew, his only living relative. She was the mother of Ebenezer's nephew, his only living relative.

Bell : Belle is a young woman she once loved and was loved by Scrooge. Unfortunately, his love for her was replaced by his love for money, and she did not want to be second in favor to gold. Unfortunately, his love for her was replaced by his love of money, and she did not want to be the second in favor of gold. She left him and went her own way after that and married. Scrooge Remained alone. The Ghost of Christmas Past reminds him of why Belle left him and shows him where his life began going the wrong direction.

Sr. Fezzwig: Fezziwig Scrooge was a kind and generous employer. He revisits the memory of his employment with Fezziwig when the Ghost of Christmas Past shows him great Fezziwig's Christmas party. The memory of this kind makes Scrooge employer feel a twinge of regret at how poorly he treats Bob Cratchit, his own employee.

Joe : These are the poor who steal Scrooge when he dies because there was no one in your life that could leave their wealth. They took many of his valuable possessions to sell them, and they have no remorse for their thievery Because he was such a cruel, cold man. Scrooge sees them without knowing that he is the man from whom they steal, and he is disgusted by their greed. But he also pities the man they have robbed Because he sounds like a miserable wretch Despite his wealth.

Tiny Tim : is the youngest son of Bob Cratchit. Is very ill. Because Bob's salary is so poor families can not afford treatment for Tim.



Carmen , Sara, Clara y Lucía.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

CHARLES DICKENS


Charles Dickens

He was the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era, and one of the most popular of all time.

He created some of literature's most iconic characters, with the theme of social reform running throughout his work. The continuing popularity of his novels and short stories is such that they have never gone out of print. Much of his work first appeared in periodicals and magazines.

He was born on 7 February 1812, in Landport the seconf of eight children , a clerk in the Navy pay office at Portsmouth, and his wife, Elizabeth.

His family's early, moderate wealth provided the boy Dickens with some private education at William Giles's School.

His family was encarceled by debts except him, and he was enslaved he grew up faster for his hard life.and his experiences served to influence ficcion and essays books.

After only a few months in Marshalsea, John Dickens was informed of the death of his paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Dickens,and witth her money, witch the familly inherited John payed his credits and they left of the prision.

Dickens loved the style of 18th centur gotic romance. The writing style is florid and poetic with a strong comic touch.

On April 1836 he married Catherine Thomson Hogarth (1816-1879) the daughter of George H. editor of the evening chronicle. After a brief honeymoon in Chalk Kent, they set up home in Bloomsbury.

On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered a stroke at his home, after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. The next day, on 9 June. and five years to the day after the Staplehurst crash, he died at Gad's Hill Place never having regained consciousness.

  • His most importants novels are:

  • The Pickwick Papers
  • The Adventures of Oliver Twist
  • The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
  • The Old Curiosity Shop Barnaby Rudge
  • The Christmas books:
    • The Chimes (1844)
    • A Christmas Carol(1843)
    • The Cricket on the Hearth(1845)
    • The Battle of Life(1846)
    • The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain(1848)

      ALICIA RUPEREZ, CELIA PEDRAZA, MONICA OVEJERO, ELENA PEREZ.

      Wednesday, December 9, 2009

      The new Disney film: Christmas Carol

      On Christmas Eve in Victorian England, Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter and miserly old moneylender, holds everything that embodies the joys and spirit of Christmas in contempt, refusing to visit his cheerful nephew Fred's Christmas dinner party with his family, and forcing his underpaid employee Bob Cratchit to beg to take the day off for his own family. That night, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who had died seven years prior on Christmas Eve and is now forced to spend his afterlife carrying heavy chains forged from his own greedy ways. Marley warns Scrooge that he will suffer an even worse fate if he doesn't repent, and foretells that he will be haunted by three spirits that will help guide him.

      The first spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Past, shows Scrooge visions of his own past that take place on or around the Christmas season, reminding him of how he ended up the avaricious man he is now.

      The second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, shows Scrooge the happiness of his fellow men on Christmas Day. Before the spirit dies and vanishes, it warns Scrooge about the evils of Ignorance and Want, showing them as terrifying, uncivilized children doomed to grow into savage, despicable individuals.

      The third and final spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, shows Scrooge the final consequences of his greed and even toys with him a few times, chasing him through the streets on a coach (pulled by two black hellish horses with flaming eyes) and shrinking him down to an inch high. Unwilling to let this grim future come to pass, Scrooge begs to be given a second chance as the spirit forces him into his deep and empty grave to fall into his coffin, which sits atop the fires of Hell.

      Scrooge awakens to find himself in his bed on Christmas morning, the three spirits having guided him over the course of one night, and immediately sets out to atone for his sins, making donations to the poor and becoming a better person with his family and his friends. Scrooge spends the remainder of his life a new man embodying the spirit of Christmas itself.






      Jim Carrey plays the main characters of the film: Ebenezer Scrooge, Ghost of Christmas Past, Ghost of Christmas Present and Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Gary Oldman plays Jacob Marley, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim, Colin Firth is Fred and finally Bob Hoskins appears as Mr. Fezziw.

      Alejandra, Andrea and Monica A.