In Britain and the USA, the 31st of October is an important date in the calendar, especially for young children. It is the night of Halloween. The name comes from “All Hallows Eve” .The word ‘hallow’ means ‘holy, saint‘ and ‘eve’ means ‘the day or night before an important day’ so it is the day before 1st November. Before Christianity, the first of November (All Saints’ Day) was the first day of the year. At this time, many people believed that bad spirits of the dead revisited their homes. They also believed that other evil spirits like witches and demons were free, too. For this reason they were scared and stayed at home. However, nowadays it is a different story. Today children have lots of fun on Halloween. They dress up as witches, devils, black cats, skeletons, vampires or other scary characters. With the help of their parents, children make lanterns out of pumpkins (also called jack o’ lanterns). To make a pumpkin lantern you cut out the insides and then cut out two eyes, a nose and a mouth in one side of the pumpkin. Next, you put a candle inside the pumpkin and light it. Now you have a jack o’ lantern; you can make the faces as frightening as you like! Small groups of children dressed up as witches, black cats, etc go into the street and knock on people’s doors. When a person opens the door, the children say “Trick or Treat?” Most people usually say “Treat” and give the children some sweets or small change (some money). However, if someone says “Trick”, then the children do something bad, for example, they put dirty water on the windows or car, ring the doorbell and run away, repeatedly knock on the window or throw flour on the floor... Water guns are very popular, too. After spending the night Trick-or-Treating, the children go back home to eat the sweets. Sometimes, groups of friends have parties, where they eat food in the form of Halloween shapes, and play Halloween games. One game is called “Bobbing for Apples”. In this game you have to pick up an apple with your mouth from a bowl of water, with your hands behind your back (you can’t use your hands!). It’s very difficult and you get a wet face but you have a great time!
Waiter : Good afternoon. How are you doing today? My name is --- , and I’ll be your server for this afternoon. Can I get you any appetizers or drinks to start?
Customers: C1: Yes, we’d like an order of nachos, and I’ll have a coke. C2: I’d like an iced tea, please. C3: Could I get a coke as well? Waiter : Great. The soup of the day is clam chowder. I recommend it. It’s delicious. I’ll be right back with your drinks. Waiter : Here you go. Are you ready to order or do you need a few more minutes? (No) Okay. I’ll be back in a bit. Ordering: I’ll have ~ I’d like ~ Could I get ~ I want ~ Valentine's Day printablesValentine activities
Every February 14, across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. (The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England.) Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia. In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the 17th century. By the middle of the 18th, it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes, and by 1900 printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. |
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