Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May.
23 April is a symbolic date for world literature for on this date in 1616, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, Haldor K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.
It was a natural choice for UNESCO’s General Conference, held in Paris in 1995, to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity. In this respect, UNESCO created both the World Book and Copyright Day and the UNESCO Prize for Children’s and Young People’s Literature in the Service of Tolerance.
The year 2012 also marks the 80th anniversary of the Index Translationum. This international bibliography of translation provides a unique tool for the monitoring of translation flows in the world. UNESCO will celebrate this anniversary by organizing a debate on this instrument.
Visit the following websites related to BOOK DAY:
Shakespeare for kids: "To be or not to be-that is the que." Choose a game or activity from the signs at the left. Have fun coloring pictures, solving mazes, and ...
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra: Dedicado a la biografía y bibliografía de este escritor universal.
Garcilaso de la Vega: La página de Garcilaso en Internet. Promovida por la Asociación de Amigos de Garcilaso de la Vega.
World Book Day: Official site of the yearly event. Introduces the day, lists events, and lists book recommendations. Also pictures of past events.
WHAT IS EASTER ?
Easter is the celebration of Jesus Christ’s rising from the dead (His Resurrection) after His crucifixion which took place on what we now term Good Friday.
Easter is usually celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon following the Vernal or Spring Equinox on March 21st. This can be any Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th. It is the most sacred of all the Christian holidays or celebrations.
WHAT IS LENT?
Lent is the forty days special season prior to Easter Sunday. Sundays are not counted because it is the Lord’s Day and should be celebrated and therefore no fasting. Lent is a period of fasting or doing without certain foods, praying and repentance. This is to serve as a reminder of the forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness. Some countries have celebrations like the Mardi Gras, which means "Fat Tuesday" in French, the day before Lent. It is also called "Carnival" sometimes.
WHAT IS THE HOLY WEEK ?
The Holy week is the last week of Lent. It begins with the observance of Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter Sunday. The name, Palm Sunday originated from Jesus’s entry in Jerusalem. The crowd laid carpets of palms on the street for Him. The Last Supper is commemorated on Holy Thursday of special week (often called Maundy Thursday) and Friday is the anniversary of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Lenten season and Holy week end with Easter Sunday (the Resurrection of Jesus Christ).
NAMES OF EASTER
Easter was called Pesach by early Christians. It is the Hebrew name for Passover. Today, the name for Easter in many cultures in Europe are similar to the word Pesah. For example :
France -Paques
Spain -Pascua
Italy -Pasqua
Albania -Pashke
Greece -Pascha
Norway -Paaske
Holland -Pasen
Sweden -Pask
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day falls on 17th March. Although originally a Catholic celebration, it has become more and more secular with parades, music and songs both in Ireland and in countries to which the Irish have emigrated.
This is a selection of website we have selected for you. Happy surfing!!
History.com - St. Patrick’s Day
Kaboose - St. Patty’s Day for Kids
Fun cool facts about Leap Year Day February 29
OK, let’s learn how to say it correctly.
Someone born on February 29 was born on Leap Day,
or Leap Year Day. They were NOT born ON Leap Year.
Leap Year is the year we are in; like 2012 or 2016.
Anyone can be born IN a Leap Year. Leap Year lasts
all year. Leap Day Babies were born ON Leap Day.
THAT is what is rare. In fact, the odds are 1 in 1461!
You don’t have to be born on February 29 to enjoy Leap Day.
|It’s everyone’s extra day!
28 DAYS HAS FEBRUARY
Twenty-eight days has February
A very light load for one month to carry
The other months have 2 and 3 more
Thirty and thirty-one being their big score
In Leap Years the days they do vary
Making 29 days in February
| WHAT DO LEAP DAY BABIES CALL THEMSELVES? We are Leap Day babies, |  |
If you want to carry on reading, click here.
| IF YOU ARE A LEAP DAY BABY... You will hear the same questions for the rest of your life! 1. When do you celebrate? Number 3 - Of course we get a birthday. We age, we The question they are really asking is: What is it like to have a birthday that’s Just explain to them that you do "get" a birthday. Just Let them know what it feels like to you. Be honest. Sometimes, when they know what it’s all about, they |  |
 | IF I WAS BORN ON LEAP DAY, HOW OLD AM I REALLY? When speaking of your Leap-age, it is incorrect to say you are 2 "years" old when you are really 8 "years" old. You are 2 LEAP Years old. Or - even better, just simply 2. When talking about a friend or relative born on Leap Day And watch the facial expressions change. Don’t say "5 ’years’ old" that doesn’t make sense. BUT, stopping at the number has a bigger impact. I was born in 1960, but I turned 12 this last Leap |
Every February we celebrate Valentine’s Day by giving flowers, candy and cards to those we love. We do this in honor of Saint Valentine. You may be wondering, "Who is St. Valentine"? Time to brush up on your Valentine’s history!
Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. There was an Emperor at that time by the name of Claudius II. Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger military base. Supposedly, Valentine, decided this decree just wasn’t fair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine’s actions he had him put to death.
Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor’s daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first ’valentine’ himself when he wrote her a letter and signed it ’Your Valentine’, words still used on cards today.
Perhaps we’ll never know the true identity and story behind the man named St. Valentine, but this much is for sure...February has been the month to celebrate love for a long time, dating clear back to the Middle Ages. In fact, Valentines ranks second only to Christmas in number of greeting cards sent.
Another valentine gentleman you may be wondering about is Cupid (Latin cupido, "desire"). In Roman mythology Cupid is the son of Venus, goddess of love. His counterpart in Greek mythology is Eros, god of love. Cupid is often said to be a mischievous boy who goes around wounding both gods and humans with his arrows, causing them to fall in love.
Find other fun facts about Valentine’s history. And check out other ideas for Valentine’s Day, including creative Valentine cards, Valentine party games, and many more fun activities.
More Valentine’s Day Fun:
Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature’s most iconic novels and characters.
Find more about the author of A Christmas Carol, The Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist or The Pickwick Papers by visiting the Charles Dickens Page.
Chinese New Year is an annual festival based on the Chinese calendar. The date varies slightly from year to year. This year, it will be celebrated on 23rd January. Each New Year is named after one of the animals from the Chinese zodiac. 2012 is the year of the dragon, the only mythical animal.
The Chinese hang red lanterns in their homes at Chinese New Year. Why?
Surf in the net to find out and have fun:
Chinese New Year: 2012 - The Year of the Dragon
Chinese New Year is an annual festival based on the Chinese calendar. The date varies slightly from year to year. This year, it will be celebrated on 23rd January. Each New Year is named after one of the animals from the Chinese zodiac. 2012 is the year of the dragon, the only mythical animal. Just download and you are ready-to-go!
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On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me... (click on the image)
On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Learn about Christmas in England.
Facts about Father Christmas
Father Christmas has two addresses, Edinburgh and the North Pole. Letters addressed to ’TOYLAND’ or ’SNOWLAND’ go to Edinburgh, but letters addressed to ’THE NORTH POLE’ have to be sent there because there really is such a place!
What are the names of Santa’s reindeer?
Father Christmas’ reindeers are called Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner/Donder, Blitzen, and Rudolph. Eight of these names are taken from Clement C. Moore’s "A Visit From St. Nicholas," and the ninth from the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (NB. Donder is also known as Donner.)
Carry on reading here.
On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
The Christmas Story - as told by the children of St Paul’s Church, Auckland (New Zealand).
On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Christmas Songs, Christmas carols, and music for the Holiday Season with lyrics and music to listen to. About 140 Christmas songs listed alphabetically.
On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
WHAT IS CHRISTMAS ALL ABOUT?
Christmas is the date set aside for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christians celebrate it on December 25th all over the world. Jesus was not born on December 25th exactly but this date was chosen to coincide with the pagan Roman celebrations honoring Saturnus (Harvest God) and Mithras (Ancient God of Light). The day of this celebrations came just after the winter solstice, that is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. The celebrations were to make known that winter is not forever. It was a form of worshiping the sun.
Jesus was born nearly 2000 years ago. To the Christians, Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior/Saviour of the world. The Christians believe that He came to die for our sins so that we may go to heaven.
WHAT DOES THE WORD "CHRISTMAS" MEAN?
Christmas actually comes from "Mass of Christ". It was however shortened to "Christ Mass". Sometimes the shorter version "Xmas" is also used.
WHAT IS BOXING DAY?
Boxing Day is the day right after Christmas. This December 26 holiday is observed in England, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. It is a day of giving to the less fortunate and charitable institutions in the form of money and gifts. Some will spend the day doing volunteer work. It is called Boxing Day because it was the custom during those days for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes (gifts) in return for their good and reliable service throughout the year.
Today, Boxing Day is celebrated with family and friends with lots of fun, food and friendship.
WHO IS SANTA CLAUS?
Who is St. Nicholas?
CHRISTMAS SYMBOLS
Christmas is also a time where homes and malls are decorated with all kinds of decorations. Most of the decorations are symbols of Christmas. Without them, it would seem something is missing. Find out more about these symbols here.
DO ALL COUNTRIES CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS ON THE SAME DAY?
Find out more here.
On the 6th day of Christmas my true love game to me....
Play Santa’s On-Line Christmas Games, read Stories, Poems & Christmas Jokes, or send a letter to Santa. Santa’s Kids Zone
On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Click here to have your own on-line ADVENT CALENDAR and learn more about Christmas.
When is Thanksgiving Day?
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