England Christmas

by Taide Citlalli García Garduño

The Christmas in England is one of the most important celebrations in the year. I researched that the first Christmas postcard was sending in 1840 and since 1840 every Christmas all the people send another people or their families a postcard. These postcards are making only for Christmas because theirs decoration is in order to celebrate the Christmas.   

The Christmas tree was very popular because the Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, inserted one into of the castle in 1840. Since 1840 Norway every Christmas presents to UK a big Christmas tree.

Also is very popular that the children present to their families or other people Christmas tales and sing Christmas carol. The Christmas carols also are singing for special groups in days before of the Christmas to the whole neighbours.

The children have a special tradition because they hang a big red sock on the fireplace, in order to Santa Clause fills with gifts and candies.

In the Christmas day many families give to their families gifts, and the families goes to church and pray.

In the Christmas dinner, the people frequently eat roast turkey, duck, or chicken with dressing and potatoes. In addition, there are pasties of meat and pudding. The pudding has to prepare weeks before of the Christmas dinner. In England there is a Christmas cake, this cake is makes with fruits, marzipan and glass sugar.

Other tradition are Christmas cookies; they were inventing in 1846 by a baker in London, these cookies are seeming to a big, large and bright candy, but into has a gift.

However, the most important tradition for the people in UK is the “Queen`s message” because is transmitting for television and radio. 

Christmas

by Tanhia Karen García Gómez

The Christmas traditions are influences of several parts of the world. A tradition very common in many places is to sing carols in groups walking on the streets from house to house, this event is known as caroling. “Christmas Carols” give an atmosphere of happiness, hope and celebration, in the house or any other place where it is listened to.

During Christmas, it is common that families send “Christmas Cards” to family and friends, even and they haven’t been seen physically in much time. It is part of the sense of Christmas to reach and to unite to the humanity.

Much people wait for every year the snow.  Many activities come with the snow, including go in sleigh, to ski, to do “ snowmen ”, throwing balls of snow to the other people, and, later the activity returning to the house to take hot chocolate and to warm up themselves and to dry themselves in front of the fire.

Also are very common cooking cakes in family. Most popular they are the sugar cakes. The process is simple, but to be in company of the family is what it makes special, from beating the mass, decorating each cake and finally to cook it.

An element characteristic of Christmas is the decoration of the house. It is very common, that the garden is decorated with lights. The most symbolic element of decoration is the tree or Christmas pine. In the United States, it is very common that the Christmas pine is natural. . One of the most special moments is the process to install the Christmas pine, is the adjustment or decoration of the same, also, the more exciting thing is that it is realized in family.

Santa Claus is the main image of Christmas in the United States. Santa Claus, or San Nicholas, with her particular red shelter arrives at all the houses through the chimneys.

References

http://www.mty.itesm.mx/

http://www.turismoeeuu.com/gente-y-costumbres/

Davis, Fred (1992). Fashion, Culture, and Identity. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, p. 69.

Thanksgiving Day

By Laura Estrada

This day is traditional in the United States of America; it usually is celebrating the fourth Thursday of November although it used to be the last Thursday of November.

This day is celebrated in appreciation for good harvest. The first time of this celebration was in Florida. The first national day of thanksgiving was celebrated by the president Lincoln in 1863 and he proclaim that is going to be held every year from then on.

American people organize a dinner this day with their family. In some homes is common offer a prayer before to eat. Often people cook a big roast or baked turkey. Traditionally this turkey is accompanied with a filling made with corn bread and sage.

Usually the turkey is serving with cranberry sauce red, some vegetables, and sweet potatoes, some desserts like a pumpkin, nut or apple pie.

This day is famous because is a holiday in the Unites States celebrated by all American families so is a good day to go out shopping and buy the ingredients to the turkey. Supermarkets and malls are full and are good business for the traders. The most business and offices are closed this day, but some stores, shopping centers, restaurants and pubs remain open

Thanksgiving Day is considered by many people as the favorite holiday in USA because the family are bring together around the table for dinner.

After sharing dinner people preferred diversions like watching football games and for others like take a nap or simplify spend time with their family.

 RESOURCES

Thanksgiving Day (en inglés). Encyclopedia Britannica. Consultado el 27-11-2009.

Morill, Ann "Thanksgiving and Other Harvest Festivals" Infobase Publishing, ISBN 1-60413-096-2 p.28

Una historia del día de acción de gracias “thanksgiving day” By Jhon Manuel Cáceres in 2008.

E JOURNAL USA. Sociedad y valores estadounidenses. Julio 2004.  “Celebra el día de acción de gracias” por Neil Klopfenstein

Thanksgiving Day

by Juan Manuel Hernández Vences

Thanksgiving Day is a celebration that most people of United States and Canada celebrate during the holidays. This celebration is each year, the exactly date is on the second Monday of October in Canada, and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. This celebration is a long tradition that people doing with their families. Most people say that when this celebration ends at the next day all things are very cheap in the malls, and the people start to shop for Christmas.

According to this story the principal reason to realize this action is to remember when the Indians helped immigrants who left England, and came to American soil and had a very difficult time. They had nothing to eat and the Indians helped them to not starve.

Actually the American families celebrate this day making family reunions, inviting all the friends and people that don´t have family. Together give thanks to god for all good days and the health all the year, also the people go at the store and buy a lot of things that they need to celebrate this action with the family and friends. The traditional menu is roast turkey, mashed potatoes, caramelized sweet potatoes, green beans and carrots glazed; the typical dessert is pumpkin pie or pecan nuts.

Many people think that this day of Thanksgiving is a wonderful celebration, which gives them a long weekend and enjoy a delicious dinner. Others may think that just the day of Thanksgiving is the beginning of Christmas celebrations. You can go United States of America and celebrate this day if have family there or if don’t have family is not important because you can celebrate this day in a restaurant or wherever you want. The important reason is to give thanks.

References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving 

Baker, James W. (2009). Thanksgiving: the biography of an American holiday. UPNE. pp. 273.

Halloween

By Guadalupe Miranda

Halloween is a festival celebrated in some countries as: United States, Canada, Ireland, etc., on the night of October 31. Its origin is the Celtic Festival and the Christian holiday of All Saints Day

In 1840 this festival comes to America. Irish immigrants passed versions of the tradition during the Great Irish Famine and they were who spread the custom to carve the "Jack-o'-lantern" (hollow giant pumpkin with a candle inside), inspired by the legend of "Stingy Jack."

photo by Shannon Buckley-Shaklee

However, the party did not start mass held until 1921. That year was the first Halloween parade in Minnesota and other states then followed. The party gradually acquired popularity in the coming decades and the internationalization of Halloween took place in the late 70's and early 80's thanks to movies and television series.

This day is often associated with the colors orange, black and purple. The typical activities include the famous Halloween trick and costume parties, besides bonfires, visiting haunted houses, jokes, reading scary stories and watching horror movies.

photo by Shannon Buckley-Shaklee

But the most important legend says: the door between the living world of the beyond opened and the spirits of the dead were a procession in the villages where they lived. On this night the spirits visited the houses of their relatives, and they had to put a candle in the window of the house for each deceased in the family. If there was a candle in memory of each deceased, spirits did not disturb the family, if not, the spirits disturbed at night and they could have terrible nightmares.

Now, Halloween is one of the most important dates in United States. Some Latin American countries have their own traditions and celebrations for this day, but they agree in its meaning: the union or extreme closeness of the living world and the kingdom of the dead.

U.S.A INDEPENDENCE DAY

by Mónica (Moni) Gabriella Ortega Macedo

The U.S.A was formed by people who came from different countries, for example: The Netherlands,Sweden, Germany, France, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, but the main country was England. They came because they wanted freedom; others left their country to escape the war.

The thirteen colonies developed on British traditions, but suddenly they realized that English people devalued the power of the king, and the Americans started to do the same. Americans claimed their rights. That was how the idea of independence started.

After Britain won a costly war with France, the thirteen colonies were asked to:

• ·       Provide food and lodging to the royal solders.
• ·       Americans weren’t allowed to have lands.
• ·       Pay the debt of the war.

After those acts the thirteen colonies were encouraged by the discourse of Samuel Adams and later by Geroge Washinton, to fought for the country’s independence.

After a time of fighting the Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson on July 4, 1776. U.S.A become a free nation with universal rights.

That was a little bit of the history of U.S.A independence. But how do the Americans celebrate this day?

The celebration starts one night before the fourth of July with bonfires and fireworks.

During the day, families get together to make a picnic with typical American food. The most common colors, blue, white and red. are used in clothes, balloons, and streamers.

Patriotic songs are listened as the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner", "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country, 'Thais of Thee", "This Land Is Your Land", "Stars and Stripes Forever", all this songs remain the independence war.

Another important event, which takes place on Washington D.C at the middle of the day, is the traditional parade. It is full of balloons and streamers with the traditional colors. In the parade, perform famous bands from all around the country, this bands consists on musical instruments as drums and fifes. It is a wonderful and colorful show.

Another event that caught the eye of the spectators, are the giant balloons of Samuel Adams, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson, which parade along the streets of the city.

I think the celebration of the fourth of July is very important for the American culture, because is the birthday of a free nation, and represents the effort of the people who fought to obtain the independence.

http://www.july4thparade.com/facts_history.html

http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/bbf/biblioteca.htm

CELEBRATION IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (INDEPENDENCE DAY 4 JULY)

by Giovanni Mejia Pedroza 

Independence Day in United States of America is the 4^th July in 1776 on day the country was separated from the British Empire. The hero was George Washington and he want be president.  Washington has a very big statue in a town that has his name.

Every year Americans celebrate this day with a lot of things. For example the big parade on the streets in memory of their heroes, each states traditionally celebrated with plays in their parks, various competitions, the most popular is to eat hot dogs, Who eats the most dogs is the winner, there is also racing and fireworks.

Also the people make representation of theirs heroes of the independence in some schools and in the tethers a lot of people stay with their family and make “barbecues” this are very popular here. 

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

The statue of liberty represent the “freedom." in 1886 France gave the statue to United States because United States was 10 years of independence,  because they had a good relationship. Was inaugurated on October 28^TH and the statue stay in New York, in the island of liberty together the river Hudson. Now the Statue of Liberty is a symbol representative of United States many people from other countries visit the statue because is one of the biggest attractions on the world.

When you visit the statue you can enter in this. The statue has inside stairs and you can climb it. When you arrive at the hand you can see the city of New York. You can also be in the crown and enjoy how beautiful is the city. 

St Patrick´s Day: Green Everywhere

By Alejandra Fabela Martinez

Ireland is an island located in Europe. More than the ninety percent of the Irish are Catholic. The influence of the religion in topics like divorce, abortion, the control of birthrate and social topics is very important. The duration of this festival is five days.

The music and the dances are an important tradition of this country. Also there is a very important day “St Patrick´s day”. It´s a festival celebrated on March 17^th. Since 1903, this day was made a public and official day in Ireland; Nowadays St Patrick is the most famous saint in the entire world. For this day people have to wear green cloths and is very common to eat dishes with cabbage and Irish beverages.

St Patrick was a missioner and a preacher; he is considered the introductory of the religion to the island.

There are four principal components of this festival, the Leprechaun, the beer, the clover and St Patrick. Leprechaun is the goblin and is a typical character of the Irish mythology.

On March 17^th, people don´t eat meat, but the traditional dish is the corn beef, that is raw meat. Also the beer is the most popular beverage.

Bands of bagpipes are the most popular for the festival, Celt music is the official hymn of this party. Instruments like violin, Irish bagpipes, flutes tin whistle and the “bodhran” or drum. The traditional dance to accompanist the music is the Irish “step dance”; a unique dance with difficult leg movements while the body is static.

St Patrick’s Day is one of the most important traditions in Ireland, when Irish celebrated during five days full of green and beer, also the bagpipes and the step dance are protagonist of the party, but the mean reason of this party is to celebrate Saint Patrick and all the Catholics and no Catholics celebrated it.

It is not only for the religion. It is because this tradition with special characteristics of Irish people is a big part of their Culture and that things made Ireland unique, and different to other countries.

Sources:

http://eneuropa.about.com/od/FestivalesyFiestas/a/San-Patricio-En-Irlanda.htm

http://sobrehistoria.com/dia-de-san-patricio-una-historia-de-santos-y-duendes-i/

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%ADa_de_San_Patricio

VALENTINE’S DAY

By Cristian De la O Ramírez

Valentine’s Day is one of the most romantic days of the years. For the couples this day is as special as their personal anniversaries or other special days they celebrate throughout the year.

Why do we celebrate such a festival?

According to the legend, this festival is to remember Valentine, who was a priest in Rome in the third century. This priest died in defense of the love, because he did not like the lays of the emperor, about the young men shouldn't marry, because they had to be strong soldiers.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14. It is a festival of romantic love. Also is the most beautiful day because is one day, that is celebrated around the world.


Nowadays, many countries celebrate Valentine's Day. At first, people exchanged small tokens of affection or love messages. Then greeting cards were produced for this festival. Statistics from the Greeting Card Association show that Valentine's Day cards are the second most popular holiday cards after Christmas cards. This day is a good chance to show your feelings for  someone. 

 

For example in the United States of America many people give Valentine's cards which often decorated with images of hearts, red roses or Cupid.

Some traditions of Valentine’s Day On this day, we usually give chocolates to those you love and respect most. ( i.e. lovers, parents or friends ) and sometimes boys will give girls some beautiful flowers and gifts to show their sincerity. Writers even wrote down some beautiful poems to praise this special day.

However, some people use the occasion to present lavish gifts, such as jewelry or presents to their spouse or partner. In Mexico is a little different because, it's not just for lovers, it's also for friends. It's a time for people to show appreciation to the people.  American students said that when they used to be in the school, they used draw names to exchange gifts. They can only pass the Valentine’s Day with their sweethearts.

Valentine's Day cards

So this tradition is the same, over here in Mexico. The students and people celebrate their love with their partners by sending cards or letters, giving gifts or flowers.

In the United States some men give their wife a beautiful dinner in an expensive restaurant, restaurants may be busier than usual as many people go out for an evening with their spouse or partner. Also Valentine's Day is a very popular date for weddings.

In Mexico is traditions buy some flowers, write a poem or make a gift for one of your friends. Some Mexicans, who would like to have a romantic relationship to somebody, may use this occasion to make this known, often anonymously.

I think that this day is the most beautiful for the lovers to enjoy with their couples.

 

 

 

 

 

National Wattle Day

By Gabriela Montes de Oca Casellas

Flowers are so beautiful and some of them help us with illness. The golden wattle is a beautiful yellow flower produced in Australia, and it is one of Australia’s national floral emblems. It produces not only gum for the glues and honey with its blossom but also has antiseptic properties.

In Australia, there is the National Wattle Day, which is celebrated on the 1^st of September.

Usually, people celebrate wearing the blossom or planting the flower.

This day was introduced by the Wattle Day League, a club founded by Archibald Campbell, on 1913.

It became one emblem of Australia on 1912, by the Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher. He suggested that the flower should be included as a decoration surrounding the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.

Is interesting how a flower became so important.

DIA DE MUERTOS (DAY OF DEATH)

By Gabriela Montes de Oca Casillas

For many people, when a person who you love a lot dies, is a good reason to cry.  But in Mexico the Aztecans has a different conception of the death. They thought that when you die, you are a lucky person because you’ll be with god. After the death you won’t feel pain anymore, and for celebrate that they make a banquet, on July 16^th (the original date) these death people come back to take this banquet.

Candy skull

  Nowadays, Mexico celebrates this day on   

  November 1^st and 2^nd. We prepare food

  which was the favorite for death person before 

  to die. Mole, arroz, pollo, atole, tamales and frijoles are the

  traditional food that people make but on November 1^st, we put  

  candies and toys for kids and  2^nd we put alcohol for the adults. 

  

  Also the water, salt, candles and  cempasúchil flower are 

  important. The water calms down their thirst because they walk a

  long road. The salt is to purify their souls.  The candles help to light

  up their road. And the cempasúchil flower that is orange and has a

  hard smell to attract these people.

Cempasúchil flower

This day is very special in Mexico; a lot of people can see their family that is dying, now. For example, my mother every November 2^nd smells like peppermint, and in the evening, she dreams with her grandfather. She smells like peppermint because her grandfather loved the peppermint. Also I want to know him, but He died before I borned. So one day of death, I dream with an old person who has a hat and white. He talked with me and also I met my aunt who died very young. When I woke up, I told to my mother what I dreamt; She was surprised, because I described her grandfather very well.

Banquet for death people

These kinds of things happen with a lot of people. Is very usual here in Mexico and also is a holyday very fun and beautiful.

QUINCEAÑERAS

By Laura Antolin Antolin

The quinceañeras are a group of girls that have the same age (fifteen years old) are called in this way because this age for the Mexican people is very important.

The tradition in Mexico is that the people said that the girl who has 15 years old is a change from girl to woman. As we know the girl has different changes in his body for example emotional, physical, physiological this changes convert the girl in a new person.

The dream of all the mexican girls is to have a wonderful quinceañera´s party, they usually start to find for things that they could use in the party. There are a lot of things that the she have to prepare for the party. The most important are the dress, mass, change of slippers, the waltz and the traditional cake.

The color of the dress it will be depend of the likes of the girl the most popular colors are pink, blue, and red, they usually going to the center of Mexico to the mall called “Lagunilla” to buy the dresses. For the mass the  family, friends and chamberlains (between 6 boys that accompanying the girl in this celebration)cof the quinceañera go to the church , when the mass finish the quinceañera and his guests go to the reception and then the parents of the girl give a food for all the guests. The food that give in this kind of party are carnitas, rice, chicken with chocolate sauces and for to drink the people usually drink soda and tequila. In the evening the quinceañera dance his waltz with her 6 chamberlains, the principal music that the woman dance is romantic and the other it depends of the likes of the quinceañera, it could be music pop, reggaeton, etc.

During the waltz exist a change of slippers that is important too because is the signal that now the girl is a woman. The pastel is other thing that can´t miss , is amazing that in some parties the pastel is for 15 floors that represent the age of the quinceañera .In this kind of party is common to see a lot of teenagers enjoy with the celebrated.

The quinceaños in Mexico is the most important dream of the girls because they wish to have a great party in this age. The special of this kind of party is that every mexican give a different style for the celebration.

Toluca the community of Chorizo… Yummy!!!

By Yessica Yazmin Cruz Resendiz

Chorizo is the best dish in Toluca, nothing looks like Chorizo of Toluca, the longaniza looks like a chorizo but this chorizo is not separated.

Chorizo is a regional sausage made of ground pork and tomato sauce, and other ingredients such as vinegar, cumin, cinnamon, marjoram, salt, pepper, almonds, potatoes, onion, garlic and chili, but the best chorizo contains pumpkin mole, pipian, white wine or vinegar.

Almost every one that eats this dish shouldn`t forget a tortilla because in general when people eat chorizo, it is in a taco of chorizo that has fry onion, potato and lemon juice.

If you visit Toluca, you will eat Chorizo!!!

The city of Toluca is famous for the preparation and the variety that made of this dish. One specialty in Toluca is the green chorizo, called thus because of the ingredients it has like tomato and some plants, any one that prepares chorizo should put peanuts and others secrets ingredients.

Some people who eat chorizo in other places, say that it is better to eat in Toluca than eat if in another city, this is because it doesn´t exist some delicious dish that the chorizo of Toluca.

To eat alone, uncooked, dried, prepare or fry, the variety of chorizo are delicious dishes that every person must eat when they visit Toluca, although not born in this place, the city has the recipe and the picture of the best dish that the people never forget.

The people of Toluca are called “chorizeros” and the team of football in the city is identified for this dish.

Remember if you visit Toluca you must eat chorizo!!! You don´t forget the delicious flavor that this food has.