Inglés (4º), Inglés (5º),

New Year's Day in United Kingdom

New Year's Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom on January 1 each year. It marks the start of the New Year in the Gregorian calendar. For many people have a quiet day on January 1, which marks the end of the Christmas break before they return to work. However, there are some special customs, particularly in Scotland.

At midnight, as the New Year begins, the chimes of Big Ben are broadcast to mark the start of the New Year.

What do people do?

On New Year's Eve (December 31), just before midnight, many people turn on a television to show pictures of one of the four clocks on the Clock Tower on the Palace of Westminster, or Houses of Parliament, in London counting down the last minutes of the old year. At midnight, as the New Year begins, the chimes of Big Ben, the bell inside the Clock Tower, are broadcast to mark the start of the New Year. Champagne or other sparkling wIn different areas there are different traditions about whether the first footer should have fair or dark hair, whether the person should bring coal, salt or other things and what food or drink that person should be served after arrival.

Public lifeines are often served at this point.

Many people hold parties at home or go out to pubs or night clubs. These parties often continue into the early hours of the morning. Hence, for many people, New Year's Day is time for recovering from the excesses of the night before.  For others, it is the last day of the Christmas holiday before they return to work. Some take the opportunity to carry out home improvements or to go for a walk in the country. In many places around the United Kingdom's coast, groups of people dress up in fancy costumes and run into the cold sea.

Many people make New Year's resolutions. These are promises to themselves that they will lead a better life in some way in the coming year. Common New Year's resolutions include stopping smoking, losing weight, eating more healthily, getting more exercise or spending less money. Some types of resolution that would lead to a healthier lifestyle are supported by government advertising campaigns.

In some areas, there are a number of customs associated with New Year's Day. In Scotland many people sing the song 'Auld Lang Syne' at midnight as New Year's Day begins.  In Scotland and northern England, it is customary to go first footing. This is the first person to enter a house on January 1. There are many traditions and superstitions associated with first footing. A male first-footer brings good luck, but a female bad luck.

New Year's Day is a bank holiday. If January 1 is a Saturday or Sunday, the bank holiday falls on Monday, January 2 or 3. Nearly all schools, large businesses and organizations are closed. In some areas stores may be open, although this varies a lot. Public transport systems do not usually run on their normal timetables. In general, public life shuts down completely on New Year's Day.

Background

Now the start of a new calendar year is marked in the winter on January 1. However, this was different in the past. From the earliest times in Europe, winter festivals have been held around or just after the winter solstice (December 21). These have now developed into the Christmas and New Year celebrations that are now held. However, before the present Gregorian calendar was adopted in England, in 1752, the Julian calendar was used. According to the Julian calendar, the administrative year began on March 25.

The Julian calendar was introduced in the Roman Empire 45 years before the birth of Christ. The average length of a year in this calendar was slightly shorter than the actual length of a solar year. For this reason, by the 1700s, the official dates of the winter, spring, summer and autumn equinoxes had moved about ten days from the days on which the actual equinoxes fell. This meant that a correction to the date had to be made, when England changed over to the Gregorian calendar. Hence, in 1752, Wednesday, September 2 was followed by Thursday, September 14.

This had important consequences for the tax, or fiscal, year. The British tax authorities and many landlords were unhappy about potentially “losing” 11 days worth of revenue. For this reason, the 1752-1753 tax year did not end on March 24 but April 4 and so still lasted for 365 days. Another correction was carried out in the calendar in 1800 and again the tax year was adjusted so that it still lasted for the full 365 days. Since then the tax year in the United Kingdom has stated on April 6. This tax year was also used in the Republic of Ireland until 2001, when the start of the tax year was moved to coincide with the start of the calendar year on January 1.

Libros para don Invierno...,

‘La torre del homenaje’ de Jennifer Egan.Autora de las novelas :Look at Mey y The Invisible Circus y del libro de relatos: Emerald City. Sus ensayos aparecen a menudo en The New York Times Magazine, Entre las críticas que este libros ha recibido podemos ver y leer:

Por la ganadora del Pulitzer de ficción 2011.

«Jennifer Egan es una novelista placenteramente inclasificable. [...] Es consciente de que el texto está siendo manipulado por su autor, pero al mismo tiempo construye a los personajes y la trama con apasionada convicción. Pocos autores, de esta u otra época, han conseguido esa combinación. [...] Una obra prodigiosamente entretenida y profundamente conmovedora.» The New York Times Book Review

«Un relato hipnotizador que establece sorprendentes conexiones entre personas aisladas, cuyos secretos acabarán transformando la manera en que las vemos. [...] La torre del homenaje es, en definitiva, un canto de amor al impulso creativo.» Newsday 

Inglés (4º), Inglés (5º),

New Year's Eve in United Kingdom

December 31 is known as Hogmanay in Scotland and New Year's Eve in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is the last day of the year, according to the Gregorian calendar, commonly used in modern times.

Many people hold or attend parties in the evening to bid the old year goodbye and to welcome the new year. The past year is also thoroughly reviewed in the media, including television and newspapers.

Celebrations in London are festive and joyous on New Year's Eve.

©iStockphoto.com/ Sean Nel

What do people do?

Many people spend most of December 31 quietly. They may spend time outdoors, reading the reviews of the last year in newspapers or resting in preparation for the New Year's Eve parties that begin in the late afternoon or evening. People who host parties may spend a large part of the day preparing food and arranging drinks. In the evening, New Year's Eve parties usually go on for many hours, well beyond midnight. Some, particularly young people, may choose to spend the evening in pubs, clubs or discos. Although there are many who celebrate the event responsibly with moderate amounts of alcohol, some celebrate the event with large amounts of alcohol, which can lead to fights and other acts of foolishness in the early hours of the morning.

Just before midnight, people turn on a radio or television to see the countdown of the last few minutes of the old year and the display of fireworks just after midnight. At this point, people often hug and kiss each other, even strangers, and many start singing Auld Lang Syne, a poem written by Scottish poet Robert Burns. In Scotland, the Hogmanay celebrations may last for one or two more days, as both January 1 and 2 are bank holidays. In the rest of the United Kingdom, only January 1 is a bank holiday.

In Scotland and some parts of northern England, people may spend the last few hours of December 31 preparing to be or receive first-footers. The first person to cross the threshold of a house after the start of the new year is a first-footer. First-footers are usually men and in different areas have different physical characteristics, such as blond or dark hair, bring different kinds of luck to the household in the coming year. They bring gifts, such as whiskey, shortbread, coal and fruit cake, which are then shared among all of the guests.

Public life

December 31 is not a public holiday. However, schools are closed for the Christmas holidays and many people have a day off work or leave earlier than usual. Stores and post offices are generally open, but may close earlier than usual. Public transport systems may run to their usual schedule, but they may have a reduced service or close down totally in the late afternoon or evening.

In some big cities, public transport services resume services around midnight to enable people attending large scale events to return home safely. Entrance to pubs, clubs and discos may be by invitation or a pre-booked ticket only. Major train and bus stations may be congested as many young people travel to spend New Year's Eve and Day with friends.

Background

Midwinter celebrations have been held by the people of the British Isles since ancient times. These often included parties, special food and large fires to "tempt" the sun to return. After the introduction of Christianity, some aspects of these were included in celebrating Jesus' birth at Christmas. However, this was resisted by the Scottish Presbyterian church. For this reason, Hogmanay was the main winter festival in Scotland until the 1970s. Both Christmas and Hogmanay are now celebrated in Scotland.

Symbols

One of the most widely known symbols of New Year's Eve is the image of the Clock Tower at the Palace of Westminster, in London, counting down the last minutes of the old year. The first chimes of Big Ben, the bell housed in the Clock Tower, in the new year are broadcast live on radio and television. This is followed by a spectacular fireworks performance, often centered on the London Eye, which is claimed to be the largest Ferris wheel in Europe.

¿Quieres un consejo ?,

18
"  Sé humilde, puesto que éstas hecho de tierra. 
                         Sé noble, puesto que éstas hecho de estrellas"

                                            PROVERBIO SERBIO.


Ten una actitud servicial. Con independencia de tu profesión, mantén una actitud servicial. Todos prestamos un servicio a los demás. El periodista, el de informar; el maestro el de enseñar; el tendero, el de vender...Lamentablemente, muchos piensan que ellos son los protagonistas de su trabajo; pero hasta el más afamado cantante y actor deberían saber que están haciendo un servicio a la humanidad, el de entretener.Todos somos instrumentos dela vida para servir a los demás. La humildad y la honestidad son dos valores que deberían regir nuestro trabajo.

Inglés (4º), Inglés (5º),

Boxing Day in United Kingdom

Boxing Day in the United Kingdom is the day after Christmas Day and falls on December 26. Traditionally, it was a day when employers distributed money, food, cloth (material) or other valuable goods to their employees. In modern times, it is an important day for sporting events and the start of the post-Christmas sales.

Boxing Day is traditionally day for sporting events such as fox hunting with dogs (which is now outlawed).

©iStockphoto.com/RUDI TAPPER

What do people do?

For many people Boxing Day is a time to recover from the excesses of Christmas day and an opportunity to spent time with family, friends and neighbors. Some people choose to go for a walk in the countryside, while other flock to the post-Christmas sales in large stores that often begin on Boxing Day. Some people even spend part of the night and early morning queuing to get into the stores when the best bargains are still available.

Boxing Day is also an important day for sports events. Traditionally, using dogs to hunt for foxes was a popular sport amongst the upper classes. Pictures of hunters on horseback dressed in red coats and surrounded by hunting dogs are often seen as symbolic of Boxing Day. Nowadays, fox hunting is outlawed. Horse racing and football (soccer) are now popular sports.

Public life

Boxing Day is a bank holiday. If Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, the following Monday is a bank holiday. If Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, the following Monday and Tuesday are bank holidays. All schools and many organizations are closed in this period. Some may close for the whole week between Christmas and New Year.

Many stores are open and now start their post-Christmas sales on Boxing Day. This makes December 26 a very important day for many retailers. Many public transport services run on special timetables. Many people travel to visit family or friends in this period, so bus, plane and train services can be very busy.

Background and symbols

There are a number of stories behind the origin of the term 'Boxing Day'. It used to be customary for employers to give their employees or servants a gift of money or food in a small box on this day. This is still customary for people who deliver letters or newspapers, although the gift may be given before Christmas Day. In feudal times, the lord of the manor would gather all those who worked on his land together on this day and distribute boxes of practical goods, such as agricultural tools, food and cloth. This was payment for the work that they had done throughout the passed year.

Other stories relate to servants being allowed to take a portion of the food left over from the Christmas celebrations in a box to their families and the distribution of alms from the Church collection box to poor parishioners. These traditions have evolved into the Christmas hampers that many large employers distribute, although these are now often distributed in the week before Christmas.

Inglés (4º), Inglés (5º),

Christmas Day in United Kingdom

Christmas Day is celebrated in the United Kingdom on December 25. It traditionally celebrates Jesus Christ's birth but many aspects of this holiday have pagan origins. Christmas is a time for many people to give and receive gifts and prepare special festive meals.

Family dinners are a popular way of celebrating Christmas Day.

What do people do?

Prior to Christmas Day, people decorate their homes and gardens prior to Christmas Day. These decorations may include:

• Christmas trees.
• Small colored fairy lights.
• Leaves and berries from holly trees and mistletoe bushes.
• Various other decorations with rich colors that spark the Christmas mood.

In many towns and cities, the shopping streets are also decorated with lights and large pine trees, often specially imported from Norway. In some places a Nativity scene is arranged. This illustrates the story of Jesus' birth using statues or actors and live animals. Many churches hold special services in the night before Christmas Day.

Many people spend Christmas Day with family members, with whom they exchange gifts and cards. Many children wake up to find a sock or stocking filled with small gifts on their bed or somewhere else in the house. These have supposedly been brought by a mythical figure called 'Father Christmas' or 'Santa Claus', who lives for most of the year at the North Pole. He travels in a sleigh pulled by reindeer and enters houses by climbing down the chimney. He hopes to enjoy a small snack of mince pies and brandy at each house. He supposedly travels so fast that he can deliver presents to all children in one night, although some in some stories elves help him with his work.

Later in the day, people may attend special church services, even if they do not usually go to church. Nearly everyone prepares and eats a special meal. This often includes roast turkey, potatoes and parsnips, and other vegetables. After the main course, Christmas pudding is often eaten. This is a heavy steamed, dense, cake-like pudding filled with dried fruit and nuts. Burning brandy is often poured over it as it is served, giving a spectacular effect. Mince pies are also popular on Christmas Day. They are sweet pastry cases filled with a mixture of dried fruit, fat and alcohol.

Public life

Nearly all organizations, except hospitals and shelters for the homeless, are closed on Christmas Day. Some public houses and smaller stores selling food may open for a few hours in the middle of the day. Public transport services do not run to their normal timetables and may even not run at all. Public life closes down almost totally on Christmas Day.

Many churches hold special services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Some also organize shelter, company and food for the homeless or those who need help. Others hold events for people who wish to return to the spiritual aspects of Christmas and turn away from the commercial aspects of modern Christmas celebrations.

Background and symbols

Christmas Day is often seen as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago. However, many aspects of the celebration have their origins in the Pagan traditions of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. These include bringing pieces of evergreen trees into homes, lighting fires, holding parties and eating special foods. When missionaries converted the inhabitants of these countries to Christianity, many of these customs were included in the Christian celebrations.

There are many Christmas symbols. These include leaves and berries from the holly tree and mistletoe bush, pine trees, candles and small lights. Figures associated with the season are Father Christmas or Santa Claus, the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the other characters from the Nativity story. Presents and Christmas food, such as turkey, Christmas pudding and mince pies also symbolize Christmas. A special mention should be reserved for the robin red breast. This small bird, with its red feathered breast, is at its most beautiful in the middle of the winter and is often seen as a decoration on Christmas cards, wrapping paper and cakes.

Libros para don Invierno...

"Trenta doblones de oro" de Jesús Sánchez Adalid, extremeño y juez durante un par de años, aunque actualmente lo podemos escuchar en RNE.
En un noble caserón,el joven Cayetano sirve como contable de don Manuel de Paredes, cuando se recibe una  fatal noticia: el navío Jesús Nazareno se ha hundido por un temporal; la preciada carga se ha perdido en el fondo del mar, naufragando las últimas esperanzas de salir de la ruina de don Manuel, su esposa y su servidumbre, que habían invertido todos sus bienes en la empresa.
Sin perder el tono aventurero, el autor nos introducirá en el misterio profundo del ser humano, sus temores, sus dudas y sus esperanzas, entre originales episodios llenos de humor y vitalidad.

¿Quieres un consejo ?,

17
"Sal al jardín y presta atención al silencio que existe entre los ruidos: Ésta es la verdadera música de la naturaleza."
                               Proverbio Zen.

Cantaba Javier Gurruchaga:" La ciudad donde vivo es un monstruo de cemento". Nunca mejor dicho. El asfalto, los grandes edificios y los abundantes bienes materiales de los que vivimos rodeados nos impide recordar que formamos parte de la madre tierra. No somos ajenos a la tierra que pisamos. Cuando muramos, volveremos a nutrirla. De vez en cuando, busca refugio en algún jardín de tu pueblo o ciudad o piérdete en un campo y siéntate sobre el suelo. Capta la energía y dale gracias por los alimentos que te proporciona. Es tu madre tierra.

Christmas Eve in United Kingdom

Christians in many parts of the world celebrate Christmas on 25 December. This festivity celebrates

the birth of Jesus Christ.

Member of the Russan and Serb Orthodox Church celebrate on 7 January.

Christmas Eve is the Day before Christmas Day, which is annually on December 24, according to the Gregorian calendar. It is not a public holiday in the United Kingdom but it is a day of preparations for the Christmas season. The Christmas season includes the public holidays on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and January 2 (Scotland only).

It is a popular tradition to hang Christmas stockings for Santa on Christmas Eve.

©iStockphoto.com/ Brad Killer

What do people do?

Christmas Eve is the last day for many people to shop and prepare for the Christmas celebrations and festive meals. Stores, particularly those selling food and gifts, are usually busy. Some families put up their Christmas tree and other seasonal decorations, although others may have done this as early as late November.

People may attend a church service, often called midnight mass, on Christmas Eve, even if they do not regularly attend church services. Traditionally, midnight masses started at midnight, as Christmas Eve becomes Christmas Day, but now often begin earlier in the evening. In addition, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is broadcast on radio throughout the United Kingdom and across the world from Kings College Cambridge. This service consists of the same nine bible passages each year, with a selection of modern and ancient hymns.

Christingle services for children are usually associated with the four Sundays of Advent, but may also be held on Christmas Eve. During the service, each child is presented with a decorated orange, which represents the world. A piece of red ribbon is tied around the orange's circumference to represent the blood of Jesus and sweets or dried fruits are placed on four toothpicks poked into the orange. These represent the four seasons and the fruits of the earth. A candle is inserted into the top of the orange to represent Jesus Christ.

Many families with children end Christmas Eve by hanging Christmas stocking up. These were traditionally socks, but are now often oversize sock-shaped sacks. Children hope that a mythical figure, called Father Christmas or Santa Claus, will visit the house during the night. He enters homes by climbing down the chimney and, if he thinks that the children have been well-behaved all year, fills the stockings with presents, gifts and sweets.

Public life

December 24 is not a public holiday. However, schools are closed for the Christmas holidays and many people have a day off work or leave earlier than usual. Stores and post offices are generally very busy, but may close earlier than usual. Early in the day, many public transport systems run to their usual schedule, but they may have a reduced service or close down in the late afternoon or evening. There may be a lot of congestion on the roads, at major train and bus stations and airports. This is because many people travel to spend Christmas Day and Boxing Day with family or friends.

Background

In the United Kingdom, Christmas Eve is both the religious and secular start of the festive season at the end of the year. For Christians, the celebration of the birth of Jesus is an extremely important part of the festivities. However, celebrations of life and light around the winter solstice pre-date the introduction of Christianity to the British Isles by thousands of years. People lit fires that were kept burning day and night to 'tempt' the sun back after the darkest part of the year and decorated their homes with leaves or branches from evergreen trees to symbolize everlasting life. These customs continue today as people put up Christmas trees and decorate their homes with small electric lights.

Symbols

A wide variety of things symbolize Christmas Eve. These include Christmas trees, including the decorations and lights that people hang on them, and other evergreens, such as holly, ivy and mistletoe, which are used to decorate homes and other buildings. Other symbols are: the Christmas stocking; and Father Christmas (or Santa Claus), who travels on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, to fill these stockings with gifts; as well as the glasses of sherry and mince pies that people leave out for Father Christmas.

Libros para el otoño

"Las chicas de campo " de Edna O´Brien.Publicada en 1960, atrajo las iras del poderosos clero de su país, porque el texto supone no solo el reconocimiento de una sexualidad adolescente sino, sobre todo, una celebración de la libertad e independencia femeninas. Edna O´Brien (Tuamgraney, Irlanda, 1932), es una de las voces más prestigiosas de la narrativa en lengua inglesa de nuestro tiempo.Sencillez y autenticidad  son dos de las virtudes de ‘Las chicas de campo.".

¿Quieres un consejo?

16

"Todos los hombres estamos hechos del mismo barro,
   pero no del mismo molde."

                              PROVERBIO MEXICANO.

Aprecia las diferencias de los demás. Ser diferente no es ser mejor ni peor.Todas las personas tenemos cuerpo,alma,corazón y mente.A partir de ahí, todo son diferencias...Unas son bajas y otras altas.Unas son generosas y otras egoístas.A unos se les da mejor el pensamiento abstracto y, a otros, el concreto. ¿Has pensado las posibilidades de aprendizaje que eso te ofrece?. Tantas como personas hay en el mundo. ¿A qué esperas para asumir el reto?.
                                 

¿Quieres un consejo?

15
   "Un hombre es sabio mientras busca su sabiduría.
      Cuando cree que la ha encontrado se convierte en tonto."
                             
                                  TALMUD.

Rectificar es de sabios. Te llaman cabezota y te cuesta admitir tus errores.Es una actitud muy común en muchas personas e, incluso , puede que todos en algún momento nos hayamos comportado así. A partir de ahora, cada vez que te halles en esta incómoda situación para ti y para el resto, recuerda que rectificar te libera, te humaniza, te acerca a los afectados por tu error y que con ello te ganas el perdón y la admiración de los demás por haber reconocido tus limitaciones. Todos las tenemos.Así que no te preocupes.

    

¿Quién fue Nelson Mandela ?
Ante todo, "Un hombre muy grande", una de esas personas que con su ausencia física desaparece parte de nuestra historia...esa que cada uno hemos ido formando a través de nuestras vivencias,unas veces transmitidos por nuestros padres y entorno querido y otras, la propia vida y sus experiencias ante las situaciones. La gran fortuna nos llega cuando comprobamos  que la vida física no puede hacer olvidar todo lo transmitido por un noble corazón y una persona especial...de esas que un ser superior nos manda para poner un poco se sentido común en este mundo de guerras, odios, prejuicios y maldad que los seres humanos nos empeñamos en fastidiar. Ahora unos datos sobre "Madiba" y su vida...
"Nelson Mandela, considerado sinónimo de paz, lucha y reconciliación, fue el primer presidente negro de Sudáfrica y el más querido en el país y en todo el mundo por luchar durante 67 años contra el régimen de segregación racial (apartheid).
A continuación 10 hechos que marcaron la vida de Mandela, quien falleció hoy a los 95 años de edad:
1.- Mandela, conocido como Madiba (título honorífico otorgado por los ancianos de su clan), se graduó como abogado en 1942 a los 24 años de edad en la Universidad de Witwatersrand.

  2.- En 1943, fundó la Liga Juvenil, organizó movilizaciones de protesta contra el sistema de segregación racial (apartheid) y en 1944 ingresó en el Congreso Nacional Africano (CNA), un movimiento de lucha contra la opresión de los negros sudafricanos.
3.- En 1944, Mandela se casó por primera vez con la enfermera Evelin Ntoko Mase, con quien procrea dos hijos y dos hijas, sin embargo se separaron en 1957 debido a que la filiación de ella a los Testigos de Jehová le impedía implicarse en política.
4.- En junio de 1958, Mandela contrajo segundas nupcias con Winnie Madikizela, 18 años más joven que él, pero dispuesta a involucrarse a fondo en el movimiento de liberación de su pueblo y apoyar la lucha de su marido. Con ella tuvo dos hijas, Zenani y Zindziswa.

  5.- En 1964 Mandela fue condenado a cadena perpetua y fue encarcelado en la prisión de Robben Islandfrente a Ciudad del Cabo, donde pasó 17 años en precarias condiciones, así como en otras dos cárceles, donde estuvo otros 10 años, sumando una pena total de 27 años.
6.- Tras salir de la cárcel, el 11 de febrero de 1990, fue elegido presidente del Congreso Nacional Africano y dirigió las negociaciones para conseguir, sin guerra civil, una democracia multirracial en Sudáfrica.
7.- En 1993, Mandela obtuvo el Premio Nobel de la Paz por sus labores a la reconciliación entre negros y blancos de Sudáfrica, aunque recibió más de 250 premios y reconocimientos internacionales durante cuatro décadas.
8.- El 10 de mayo de 1994 se convirtió en el primer presidente de color de Sudáfrica al lograr la victoria en las primeras elecciones libres (27 de abril) tras el fin de la segregación racial.
9.- En 1998, Mandela se casó por tercera vez con Graca Simbine, justo en su cumpleaños número 80, ell 18 de julio.
10.- En 2010 apareció en la ceremonia de cierre del Mundial de Futbol, organizado por Sudáfrica, en su última aparición pública y desde entonces vivía en Qunu, el pueblo de su infancia, en la provincial rural de Cabo Oriental (sur).
Hasta siempre Nelson.

Libros para leer en otoño...

"EL CANTO DEL CUCO"de ROBERT GALBRAITH, seudónimo de la por todos conocida J.K.Rowling, la autora de la archiconocida saga de Harry Potter."The Times" que dice de ella "Una deslumbrante novela ambientada en el mundo de las modelos, los raperos, los diseñadores de moda, las drogas y las relaciones ilícitas.

La escritora nos ofrece en esta ocasión una entretenida novela de misterio con una curiosa historia ya desde el momento de su publicación, Rowling utilizó un seudónimo para huir de la presión de la crítica, pero su identidad fue desvelada por un abogado provocando una “conmoción literaria”. La autora ha ganado la demanda contra el abogado. Tenemos ante nosotros una novela de misterio, una interesante trama de intriga que mantiene el interés hasta el final, cuidada ambientación, acertado desenlace y unos protagonistas que seguro darán mucho de qué hablar y que disfrutaremos en nuevas historias, seguramente.

Inglés (4º), Inglés (5º),

First Sunday of Advent in United Kingdom

The first Sunday in Advent is the Sunday closest to St Andrew’s Day.  This date marks the start of the liturgical or church year. It marks the start of the Christmas season for many people in the United Kingdom.

What do people do?

Some Christians attend special church services on the first Sunday in Advent. Some churches also hold a Christingle service for children and families. During a Christingle service, each child is presented with or carries a Christingle. Parishioners collect money for the Children's Society to help support children facing violence, neglect or poverty in their daily lives.
Many people put up Christmas decorations in their homes, schools and offices on or just after the first Sunday in Advent. Some people write or post Christmas cards to family members and friends. Others bake a Christmas cake or cook a Christmas pudding on this date.
The Christmas lights in town centers and shopping centers and lights on large Christmas trees in public places are also turned on in ceremonies in this week. The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square in London is an annual present from the Norwegians to express their gratitude for the UK’s support for their country during World War II.

Public life

The first Sunday of Advent is not a bank holiday in the United Kingdom. Churches and shopping centers may be busier than usual as people prepare for the Christmas season.

Symbols

Advent wreaths are groups of four candles with leaves and twigs from evergreen trees and plants. People light one candle on the first Sunday of Advent, two on the second Sunday, three on the third Sunday and all four on the fourth Sunday. Some people then continue to light all four candles during the Christmas period.