HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

SAINT LUCIA'S DAY, THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT AND HOPE

 

St Lucia's Day is celebrated on the 13th of December, very close to the Winter Solstice. It is one of the most special days in the calendar and as integral to Scandinavia as glögg and herring. One of the biggest celebrations in December, aside from Christmas, it is an annual celebration born from stories that were told about how Christianity came to Sweden.

St Lucia was a young Christian girl who was martyred, killed for her faith, in 304. The most common story told about St Lucia is that she would secretly bring food to the persecuted Christians in Rome, who lived in hiding in the catacombs under the city. She would wear candles on her head so she had both her hands free to carry things. Lucy means “light” so this is a very appropriate name.

The 13th of December was also the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, in the old Julian Calendar and a pagan festival of lights in Sweden was turned into St. Lucia's Day.

On St Lucia’s Day, you can expect to see churches, town halls, schools, offices and restaurants become a twinkling sea of candlelight. The day is celebrated with a Lucia train procession in which a young girl elected to portray St Lucia leads the way wearing a white gown, with a red sash and crown of candles  which is made of Lingonberry branches, evergreen symbolising  new life in winter. She is trailed by Lucia handmaidens, star boys and gingerbread men  who all carry candles and sing carols.  The tradition dates back to the original story of Lucia, who delivered food to the persecuted Christians, leading her way with candlelight. A popular food eaten at St. Lucia's day are “Lussekatts”, S-shaped buns flavoured with saffron and dotted with raisins which are eaten for breakfast.

St Lucia's Day first became widely celebrated in Sweden in the late 1700s. St Lucia's Day is also celebrated in Denmark, Norway, Finland, Bosnia, and Croatia. In Denmark it is more a of a children's day and in some parts of Italy, children are told that St Lucy brings them presents. They leave out a sandwich for her and the donkey that helps carry the gifts.

https://www.goodcatholic.com/festival-of-light-celebrate-st-lucy-and-st-lucys-day/

 

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/b1-writing/new-years-resolutions

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

https://www.countryliving.com/life/g34240767/thanksgiving-prayers/

https://myblog-inplainenglish.blogspot.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-day.html

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!

 

St. Patrick’s Day observes of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green.  Read here.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” Charles Dickens

THANKSGIVING DAY

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

 

Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on 31 October. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated 1 November  as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.  Read here.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th

HAPPY EASTER!

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!