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France Crèche Do you know what a Nativity Scene is? (see picture below) Well, crèche is the French word for nativity scene and you can find one in every French household during the festive season. The display features a village scene with many figurines of Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus. Actually many countries use nativity scenes as decorations; some are elaborate and some are austere. Bûche de Noël (a.k.a Yule Log) The tradition of Bûche de Noël has changed a lot over the years. It started as an actual log, the log was added to the fireplace on Christmas for good luck in the next year. Nowadays, the Bûche de Noël is commonly found at the dinner table as a beautiful and decadent chocolate swiss roll cake! La Fête des Rois: the holiday season continues! The Christmas season starts on December 1st in France, and the holiday season finishes on January 6th. Twelve days after Christmas Day Christians celebrate Epiphany, the arrival of the Three Kings after Jesus was born. It is not a public holiday in France, but it is still widely celebrated in schools and workplaces. They celebrate by having a cake called 'galette des rois' in English this translates to King cake. It is made from a flaky pastry with almond cream. A figurine is baked into every cake and the person served the slice with the figurine is crowned King or Queen for the day! Stockings or Shoes? I think that everyone has seen stockings hanging above a fireplace, but did you know that in France this isn't the case. In France it is common for children to leave their shoes by the fire instead! The Big Meal Is Served on Christmas Eve In France it is traditional to eat their Christmas meal, le réveillon de Noël, on Christmas Eve. When you imagine a Christmas Meal what food do you think of? Did you think of oysters, foie gras and escargot? Well in France this is a common way to start your Christmas meal! Lucky Mistletoe Just like in the U.K and other countries France also hangs Mistletoe. The main difference is in France it is only considered as lucky, so there is no kissing under the mistletoe in one the most romantic countries in the world! Midnight at church Christmas Eve is a busy day in France, it's tradition for French families to attend a midnight church service known as mass. After the service they return home to sleep and await le père Noël (a.k.a Santa Claus). Spain Belen de Navidad In Spain the nativity scene is called belenes and they are very common in Spanish homes and cities. All nativity scenes are unique, but they all have a few things in common: they all contain Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the three kings. Actually you find them in almost every town, village and city in the main square, plaza or in front of the church itself. Spanish Christmas Carols Spain have their own Christmas carols and they are called villancicos. These songs are mostly sung by children over the Christmas period. Villancicos have a very long history and they originally come from poems in the Middle Ages. Most of the villancicos are religious and are sung all over spain and parts of Latin America. Traditionally in Spain two instruments are used over Christmas the 'pandereta' and the 'zambomba'. Christmas sweets (turrón, polvorones and mazapan) Christmas Eve in Spain is called Nochebuena, which means 'good night' in Spanish. On Christmas Eve Spanish families eat a large meal in the evening. After the meal is finished, typical Christmas desserts and sweets are served such as Turron, Polvorones and Mazapan. Turron is a nougat made of toasted almonds and honey. Polvorones are crumbly shortbreads made of flour, sugar, milk and nuts. Mazapan is a traditional Spanish dessert made of almond and sugar paste, then made into small shapes. The 12 grapes at New Years Eve New Year's Eve in Spain is called Nochevieja, which means 'old night'. All over Spain people prepare 12 grapes each to celebrate the New Year. The tradition is, you have to eat one grape for every strike of the clock. It is said if you can eat 12 grapes before midnight, you are guaranteed good luck for the following year. Roscón de Reyes The Roscón de Reyes is traditionally eaten on the day of Epiphany (the arrival of the three kings). The cake is round with a hole in the centre, the cake is decorated with candied fruits. Similarly to the 'gallete des rois' in France, there is a figurine and a bean baked inside the cake. The lucky person gets the figurine, whereas the unlucky person gets the bean! Cesta de Navidad – Christmas basket In the Roman Empire, the sportula was a gift of money or food, usually given at specific events, it also means basket. In Spain today giving a 'cesta de navidad' is still a very important tradition. Many companies give their employees one at Christmas time and dedicate a lot of money to make sure the basket of food is special. The Three Kings Like many countries, Navidades (Spanish for Christmas) lasts until January 6th when the Three kings visited baby Jesus. Often large towns in Spain hold parades on January 5th, this day is known as 'El Día de los Reyes'. This day is loved by children of all ages because there are big floats in the parade that throw candy to the children on the street. Italy Feast of the Seven Fishes Feast of the Seven Fishes is the name the Italians call their Christmas Eve dinner. As the name suggests they eat a lot of fish, seven courses of only seafood! The Italians don't eat meat as part of a tradition connected to the Catholic church; the church believed that not eating meat helped to purify the body. Some common dishes include seafood soup, seafood pasta and marinated anchovies. Midnight Mass Just like the French, the Italians head to their local churches to attend a midnight service after their Christmas Eve dinner. People around Rome can visit the Vatican, where the Pope holds a free service, although the service is actually at 9:30 p.m. Bagpipes of Italy When you think of bagpipe music do you think of Scotland? Well if you go to a town square across Italy over the Christmas period you might hear a strangely familiar sound! Zampognari are musicians who are usually dressed as shepherds and play the bagpipes. Italy's most famous Christmas Carol 'Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle' which means 'You Come Down From the Stars' originally comes from Zampogna music. Presepi (Nativity Scene) We have talked about Nativity scenes from other European countries, but Italy takes them very seriously; they are usually hand-made by skilled artisans, often looking like art rather than a craft display! If you visit Italy over Christmas you are sure to be impressed by the ornate displays around the piazzas and churches. La Befana La Befana is the name the Italians use for celebrating Epiphany on January 6th. In Italian folklore la Befana, or in English the Good Witch, stayed at home cleaning rather than going with the three kings to visit the baby Jesus. According to the tradition, the good witch visits peoples homes on January 6th and fills children's stockings with gifts. So Many Desserts Italy has some of the best desserts on the planet! Christmas is no different, you can find a wide range of sweets from Christmas cookies, Pandoro (Christmas Tree Cake) to a classic Panettone. There are also many regionally specific desserts like the Tuscan Panforte or a Calabrian Nepitelle. So as you can see there are many similarities around Christmas Traditions. People love to eat delicious food, drink lots of alcohol and spend time with their families. Many of the traditions might have different names in different languages, but they all share one thing in common, Christmas Spirit. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone.

As the festive season is almost upon us, I thought it would be a great idea to talk about Christmas traditions from around the world! Great Britain Christmas Cards In the U.K the tradition of sending cards at Christmas dates back to 1843. A man named Sir Henry Cole hired the artist John Calcott Horsley to design him a card, so he could send them to lots of people instead of writing many individual cards! This is how Christmas cards were born! Pantomime (Panto) Pantomimes are a musical comedy show that many British families go to watch at local theatres over the Christmas period. They are usually called 'Pantos' for short. The stories often follow famous fairy-tales and fables, they are always given a modern spin using many cultural references. 'Pantos' are very popular with children and adults alike, whether it's the slap-stick comedy, audience participation or actors dressed in drag, 'Pantos' are fun for all the family! Christmas Crackers Nothing says Christmas to a British family more than a 'Christmas Cracker'. This festive dinner table decorations are pulled apart before you begin your Christmas meal. They contain a small gift, a paper party hat and a joke or riddle. They were started by a gentleman named Tom Smith around 1845. They didn't actually sell very well at first, so to make them more popular he added a small firework inside, this created a 'bang' like a small explosion! Even today crackers contain two strips of card with chemicals on to make a tiny explosion! Mince Pies In the U.K people eat a small pie called a Mince Pie, but don't let the name fool you, they are not made using any meat! These pies used to be made with minced meat and chopped fruit back in the Middle Ages. Today's Mince Pies are filled with a mixture of dried fruits and spices, this mixture is called mincemeat, these pies are traditionally served over the Christmas Period. Christmas trees The tradition of having a tree at Christmas is ancient. There is no definite answer, but Christmas trees probably originated because of 'Pagan Rites' celebrating the survival of nature in winter. The modern Christmas tree tradition comes from Germany and spread throughout the Christian world in the 18th century. Prince Albert was the German husband of Queen Victoria, in the 19th century he brought the tradition to England. Nowadays every city, town, village, department store, shopping mall and even pub have their own Christmas tree! Christmas Carols Singing is part of British life, whether it is singing in the car, the shower, at a footbal stadium or in a church! Christmas carols are familiar to everyone, religious or not. Carol-singing can be seen in many countries around the world at Christmas time, a group of people stand in the street or go door-to-door singing and collecting money for charity. Most churches organize a Carol Service over the Christmas period, these services are for everyone. The Queens/Kings speech The Queen's Christmas Speech has always been one of the most watched programmes on T.V on Christmas Day. Last year approximately 24 million people tuned in to watch! This tradition was started by Queen Elizabeth's grandfather, King George V. He first addressed the British public on the radio in 1932. The radio speech continued each year until 1957, where Queen Elizabeth gave the first televised Christmas speech. Her speeches were always about British politics and the state of the world, here messages were always full of hope. If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend 'The Kings Speech' starring Colin Firth. Mistletoe Hanging Mistletoe in your home dates back to Ancient Britain and the Druids. Mistletoe is supposed to possess the power of good luck and defend your home from evil spirits. Today many people kiss under mistletoe. Kissing under mistletoe first appears to become popular in the 18th century among servants in England before spreading to the masses. As part of the early custom of kissing , men were allowed to 'steal' a kiss from any woman standing under mistletoe, and to refuse was seen as bad luck! Christmas Stockings The tradition of hanging stockings from your fireplace come from a folk tale. The story goes that a nobleman had three daughters, but when his wife died it left him penniless. He had no money for a 'dowry' for any of his daughters. Without a 'dowry' no one would be interested in marrying them, as they were set to inherit nothing. Saint Nicholas (a.k.a Santa Claus) heard of the fathers problems, he visited their home and put solid gold spheres in their stockings so they could get married in the future. There are many versions of this story all with little changes, but the message of the story remains the same. Germany Krampus Night (Krampus Nacht) Krampus Nacht occurs the night before the Feast of Saint Nicholas (on December 6th). People dress up as the devil Krampus and walk through the streets. Traditionally Krampus helps Saint Nicholas give gifts to the good children, but punishes naughty children! Advent Calendars (Adventskalendar) You can buy Advent Calendars all over the world these days, even in Japan, but they originated in Germany. The Calendars were used by a group of German Christians known as Lutherans in the 19thand 20th century. Lutheran families would burn candles or mark walls with a line of chalk, to show the passing days. Clearly the tradition has changed, most advent calendars you see these days are full of chocolate! Christmas angel In Germany you will see a lot of Christmas angels (Weihnachtsengel) in peoples homes. The angel could be on the tree, fireplace or sideboard. Some families pass these angels down through the generations, each angel have a special meaning. Stollen Everyone knows 'Stollen' right? It's probably the most famous festive cake in the world. Stollen is a fruit bread, which consists of nuts, spices, candied fruit and powdered sugar, yummy! In Germany it goes by a couple of names Weihnachtsstollen or Christstollen. Sternsinger Stersigner translates in English to star singers. When children are young they dress up as the Three Wise Men and visit homes in their neighbourhoods with a star on a rod, like they are following the star. They will sing carols and spread happiness. Its like trick-or-treat and carolling combined! Feuerzangenbowle Feuerzangenbowle is a popular Christmas drink in Germany. The name translates to 'fire-tong-punch' the drink is made with wine, rum and fruit juices. It's kind of like a stronger version of mulled wine (hot wine). Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve In Germany, and many European countries, Christmas Eve (Heiliger Abend) is traditionally when families celebrate Christmas. Families will decorate the tree, prepare food, and in the evening they gather around the Christmas Tree. Christmas Day is called 'Erster Feiertag' In England the Christmas celebration is on Christmas day, but in Germany the 25th of December is known as 'Erster Feiertag, this means the first celebration day. Germans open their gifts on Christmas Eve, while Christmas Day is a day to spend with your family and rest! I think many British mothers would love a day to rest over Christmas!

What is Kwanzaa? I've never heard of it! Today lets look at a rather new holiday on the American calendar. RODNAE Productions What Religion is it? Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, it's a cultural one. Because of this, people from all different religious backgrounds — including African spiritual traditions — celebrate the holiday. What does Kwanzaa mean? The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase 'matunda ya kwanza', this means 'first fruits.' The extra 'A' was added because 7 children attended the first event in 1966 and they all wanted to represent a letter! Where does it come from? Kwanzaa was created in the 1960's by a man called Maulana Karenga. He created Kwanzaa to help unite and empower the African American community after the Watts Riots. The Watts Riots took place in the Watts neighborhood in L.A from August 11 to 16, 1965. The Watts Riots started when an African-American man was pulled over by the police for drink driving, the following riots resulted in 34 deaths. Karenga styled the holiday on traditional African harvest festivals. What gifts do you give? Gifts are handed out on the last day of Kwanzaa. They are usually homemade by family members, this is to stop the holiday becoming too commercial, and to keep community spirit. Other gifts can include books, music, art, accessories and other culturally appropriate gifts. Kwanzaa or Christmas? People sometimes think that Kwanzaa is a Christmas alternative, but actually many people celebrate both holidays. Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, not religious "Thus, Africans of all faiths can, and do, celebrate Kwanzaa" said Karenga. Karenga has also stated that, non-Black people can also celebrate Kwanzaa, just like non-Mexican people commemorate Cinco de Mayo. Askar Abayev How do you celebrate? There are seven principles to follow when observing Kwanzaa. Celebrations often include singing and dancing, storytelling, poetry reading, African drumming, and feasting. Umoja - unity Kujichagulia - self-determination Ujima - collective work and responsibility Ujamaa - co-operative economics Nia - purpose Kuumba - creativity Imani - faith There are also seven symbols for Kwanzaa that have special meanings, they include: Mazao - crops Mkeka - place mat Kinara - candleholder Muhindi - corn Kikimbe Cha Umoja - unity cup Zawadi - gifts Mishumaa Saba - seven candles All of these items are usually arranged on a table together. Three of the seven candles are red and the represent struggle, another three of the candles are green and they represent the land and hope for the future, the other candle is black and it represents the people of African descent. If you look at images of Kwanzaa many people can be seen wearing these colors and decorating their homes with them too. Askar Abayev Let's eat! Kwanzaa finishes with a feast called Karamu, and peoples tables are filled with the best of everything. The Karamu feast started when Pan-African groups in Chicago wanted a community/ educational event. The initial feast was attended by 200 people on January 1st 1973. The feast's dishes can be family favorites or foods of one particular country. In the spirit of Kwanzaa and learning about African heritage, some families and churches select one country, and the entire Karamu menu includes dishes and foods from that specified place. Why not check out some of these recipes like Jerk Chicken from the Caribbean or Gumbo!

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated over a period of 8 days. It begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month called 'Kislev'(usually in December). It is a celebration of family, freedom and light. As Winter is the coldest and darkest time of the year, people celebrate the light and warmth of light in our homes, local communities and around the world. An importance is placed on music, food and ritual. Families use the eight days of Hanukkah to spend time together. One of the main rituals of Hanukkah is saying blessings as you light special candles. In some families different members of the family, including the children, light their own menorah, as pictured below. Ritual Objects There are some important objects connected to Hanukkah, they include the menorah and the dreidel. Menorah is a Hebrew word meaning 'Candelabrum'. This refers to the ceremonial lamp, which holds the Hanukkah candles. The nine branches represent the eight days of celebration, plus the ninth candle which is called the 'shamash', this is used to light the other candles. A Dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, used in a game played during Hanukkah. It is the Jewish variant of a European 'teetotum', which was used for gambling. In History Hanukkah was one of the few times in the year when rabbis were allowed to play games of chance. On each side of the Dreidel there is a different Hebrew letter, "nun", "gimel", "hey" and "shin". NUN - take nothing - נ GIMEL - take everything - ‬ג HEY - take half - ‬ה SHIN - put one in - ש Since the rules are simple, the whole family can play together and often chocolates are used instead of money. There is also the Jewish prayer shawl called a tallit. It is customarily made with white fabric with black stripes and one blue string. Why Blue? The blue color comes from a blue snail dye that is mentioned in the Torah(Jewish Holy Book). The color blue is also mentioned in other religious writings and therefore is an important color in Judaism. Preparing for the Holiday Before Hanukkah people prepare their menorah candles, and since many families have a separate menorah for each person, that could be over 40 candles! In some instances people can not use an open flame due to their situation, so they use an electric menorah, which have become widely available. Each individual family decides how to celebrate the nights of Hanukkah. This could include family activities like singing, cooking or doing charity work. Families often exchange gifts, sometimes including charitable gifts. The sixth Hanukkah candle is translated as the 'candle of righteousness' this helps to remind people about poverty and to encourage them to make donations. Music There are a variety of traditional and contemporary songs that families enjoy singing as part of the Hanukkah celebrations. See some of the examples below. I Have A Little Dreidel - is a modern children's song Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages) - is usually sang when lighting the candles each night. Light One Candle - written by Peter Yarrow The Latke Song - written by Debbie Friedman FOOD Latkes and Sufganiyot are food cooked in oil and customarily eaten during Hanukkah. In Israel there are shops that specialize in creating evermore delicious and creative Sufganiyot. Other foods that are popular include Bimuelos which are fried dough puffs, Sfenj which is a type of North African yeast donut and Keftes de prasas which is a fried leek patty, yummy! As you can see everything is cooked in oil. This is a symbol to represent the legend of the jar of oil that lasted eight days. Hanukkah this year will be celebrated from Sunday the 18th of December to Monday the 26th of December!

If you have been reading about the Qatar World Cup and the controversy surrounding it, it might interest you to hear that here have been many scandals and controversies throughout modern history. Below are just a few examples! The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, “Olympic Rings,” wikimedia.org, July 28, 2012 Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 There have been many calls to boycott the Beijing winter games in reply to the Chinese governments abuse of human rights. For example, The US held a diplomatic boycott and did not send and any officials to Beijing. China has faced increasing pressure from several countries recently regarding the Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, but China has continuously denied these allegations. Human rights groups have also pointed out the repression in Tibet and Hong Kong, but the Beijing remained the host city. NFL Deflate Gate 2015 The National Football Leagues (NFL) most controversial story comes from the 2015 AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots underinflated the footballs that were used by their opponents. This gave the Patriots an unfair advantage. Tom Brady, the Patriots quarterback and captain at the time, specifically requested for his team to do this, which led to a four game suspension. Berlin Olympic 1936 In 1931, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave the Summer Olympics to Berlin. This choice showed to the world that Germany were returning to the worldwide community after being isolated after the events of World War I. Two years after being awarded the Olympics Adolf Hitler became the chancellor of Germany and the Nazi party started to gain power. There were calls to boycott the Berlin Olympics from many countries. In the US the debate was very intense, as the US usually sends one of the largest groups of athletes to the games. Many Jewish athletes from a variety of countries also chose to boycott the Berlin Olympics due to the treatment of fellow Jews in Germany. In preparation for the Olympics the Nazis built a large sports complex. This included a new stadium and at the time a state-of-the-art Olympic village. Nazi Officials announced that foreign tourists attending the games were exempt from the anti-homosexuals' laws and the criminal penalties. Most tourists and athletes were not aware that the German government ordered the removal of anti-Jewish signs and temporarily rounded up the Roma Gypsies. At the end of the Olympics Germany continued the persecution of the Jews and other groups. Germany invaded Poland on September 1st, 1939. Three years after the Olympic ceremony, the host of an event that is all about community and inclusion started World War 2 and it resulted in the death of millions; making this the most controversial Olympics in history.

The World Cup is just around the corner, lets talk controversy! The Al Thumama Stadium in Doha. Pic: AP Qatar 2022 - World Cup There are many allegations surrounding the current World Cup, they range from the weather to woman's right. Giving an impartial opinion on some of these topics is difficult, but I will try to share the facts as clearly as possible! Corruption Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 Men's World Cup by 14 votes to eight over the USA. Soon after the vote FIFA started investigating Qatar for corruption, but in FIFA's own words they found "no evidence of any improper activity by the bid team". However, an American lawyer, who was involved in the investigation, found that Qatari conduct "may not have met the standards required by FIFA". Mohammed bin Hammam was a Qatari businessman who served on the executive committee for FIFA from 1996 to 2011 and eventually became the vice president. He was banned from all football activity in 2011 by the FIFA ethics committee due to his "conflicts of interest". In 2014 it was revealed that Mr. bin Hammam made payments to various football officials totaling $5 million. People say this is evidence that he exploited his position and bribed people to give Qatar the votes needed to be the hosts. Migrant workers Qatar needed to build 7 new stadiums for the World Cup and the 8th stadium needed major renovations. Qatar has a population of around 2.9 million, so this meant many people involved in the construction had to come from overseas. Qatar has a labor law known as 'kafala system' which allows businesses and Qatari nationals to confiscate passports to prevent their workers from leaving the country. Human rights groups have said that this gives employers the ability to exploit the migrant workers by putting them in difficult working conditions for low pay, and not allowing them to return home until projects are finished. The International Trade Union Confederation estimated the death toll at in Qatar would be at 7,000 by the time the World Cup starts. Among the main causes of death are road accidents, falls from tall structures and mechanical related issues. Qatar argues that its 'kafala system' has partially been dismantled and the human rights allegations are unfair. LGBT rights Under Qatar's Sharia law same-sex partnerships are illegal. The punishments range from time in jail to death. Qatar has stated that 'everyone is welcome' at the World Cup and the Qatari government has publicly confirmed that there are no restrictions for non-married friends or couples' staying in the same room; this includes people from the LGBT community. However there are reports that same-sex couples are still being refused bookings in hotels during the World Cup. Usually non-married couples also face severe punishment for showing in any form of intimacy. Qatari officials have said they will not change their laws, but no fans will be discriminated against during the tournament. High profile footballers and broadcasters have voiced their concern about LGBT peoples rights in Qatar. Treatment of women Another Sharia law in Qatar is that women are required to get permission or be accompanied by a male guardian, either their father, brother or husband for many things like getting married, travelling or even working in the government. Women also do not have primary guardian rights for their children even if they are divorced and have legal custody. Foreign women must also have a male guardian to get a visa and need permission to have a drivers license or work. However, one positive step for women's rights is that at this years World Cup there will be 3 female referees for the first time! Alcohol consumption and Accommodation It is illegal to drink alcohol in some countries, including Qatar. Usually drinking alcohol is restricted to hotels and other locations that have a license. But because Qatar is hosting the World Cup these locations have been extended to fan zones outside the stadiums. Alcohol will be made available for 3 hours before each kick-off and 1 hour after the final whistle, but NOT during the matches themselves. It has been said that Qatar will use dedicated zones for drunk fans, so that they can sober up. Making rude gestures or using bad language could see fans face jail or deportation. Speaking of hotels, the Qatar Tourism Authority said that there are approximately 33,000 hotel rooms available, but 1.5 million people are expected to travel for the World Cup. There have been reports that cruise ships and other private apartments will be made available for the travelling fans. Another option that is being offered in Qatar is 'five-star beach camping' otherwise known as glamping. Some fans will be staying in Dubai instead, where laws are less strict for foreign tourists. What does Qatar say? Qatari officials have said ''We have committed every effort to ensuring that this World Cup has a transformative impact on improving lives, especially for those involved in constructing the competition and non-competition venues we're responsible for protecting the health, safety, security and dignity of every worker contributing to this World Cup is our priority.'' However, many nations have made comments about Qatar being the host. The Australian team released a statement criticizing Qatar's human rights record. Denmark will wear shirts that criticize the human rights record of the host nation Qatar and to honor migrant workers who died during the construction work. The captains of eight nations will wear a distinctive OneLove armband during the tournament featuring a heart with colors representing all backgrounds.

Your guide to the most controversial World Cup ever! It's been twelve years since the host nation was announced and during this time the World Cup has been overshadowed by accusations of bribery, corruption, slavery and problems surrounding LGBTQ+ rights in football. But it is still a World Cup with all the excitement that it brings. Japan is hoping to get lucky in Qatar, as they launch their latest bid to make it through to the World Cup knockout stages. Japan has qualified for the last six consecutive World Cup tournaments prior to 2022, and the Samurai Blue's have some exciting young players supported by veterans. So let's looks at some of the details of this exciting and controversial World Cup... When does the World Cup kickoff? The World Cup is set to officially start on November 21st, with the Group A opener between Qatar and Ecuador at 1 a.m in Japan! One of the earliest controversies surrounding the upcoming tournament was the scorching temperatures of the host nation. Typically the World Cup is held in summer, after the regular football seasons of many professional leagues has ended; however because Qatar is so hot this tournament will be the first to be held in winter. Japan World Cup group In the first round of the World Cup teams must do well against the other countries in their group. Group E is arguably the toughest group at this years World Cup. Japan will have their work cut out for them if they are to progress to the next round. Japan Group E fixtures and match schedule: Date Match Time Wed, Nov. 23 Germany vs. Japan 22:00 p.m. Sun, Nov. 27 Japan vs. Costa Rica 19:00 p.m. Thurs, Dec. 2 Spain vs. Japan 04:00 a.m. Soccer Football - International Friendly - Ecuador v Japan - Merkur Spielarena, Dusseldorf, Germany - September 27, 2022 Japan players pose for a team group photo before the match REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen/File Photo Can Japan replace players on World Cup roster? Once each country announces their 26 player roster they can only make changes to the team before the first game. Also, they can only make a change to the squad under extraordinary circumstances. According to the World Cup official rules a player may only be replaced if they have suffered a serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before the first game. This country would have to submit a medical report to FIFA. Even then, the replacement player can't just be anyone, they have to come from a preliminary list of players submitted to FIFA in October. Because of this monitoring players injuries and performance is a big part of preparing for the World Cup. Finally, who are the Hosts and why are they problematic? As we mentioned, this years World Cup host is Qatar, a country between Saudi Arabia and the Gulf of Oman. You may have seen Qatar mentioned online, in newspapers or magazines recently due to the ongoing controversies. Not only is this the first winter World Cup, this is the second Major sports event hosted by a country that has a problematic human rights record! (Check out our next article to read about more controversies!) For example there are innumerous allegations of worker abuse and slavery while Qatar pushed to build their new stadiums at record speed. There are also fears for LGBTQ+ fans planning to travel to Qatar where homosexuality is illegal. Many people feel that FIFA should have chosen a safer and better prepared country. If you want to know more about the World Cup and the controversies there are many articles online! Now for the big question... After an eventful month of football the final will be held on December 19 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, so which teams are your bet for the final? 《BONUS》 ☆= essential words! Some Football/Soccer Language you may hear Woodwork - Goal Post Hat-trick - The same player scores 3 goals Brace - The same player score 2 goals Nutmeg - the ball is kicked between a players legs Clean Sheet - The goalkeeper lets 0 goals in ☆Own goal - a player scores a goal into his own teams goal ☆Dive - a player fall down without contact / fakes contact Formation - how the team lines up using a strategy Set piece - the ball is returned to open play following a stoppage ☆Booked - Yellow Card ☆Sent Off - Red Card Gaffer - Head Coach / Manager Game of two halves - When the events change in the second half of the match Dark Horse - A team that is not expected to win or people don't know Giant Killing - When a smaller team beats a much bigger team Group of Death - The most difficult group at the tournament into row z - to kick the ball from danger high into the stadium hoof - to kick the ball far from danger with no aim park the bus - to be very defensive minded screamer - a shot that is hit with lots of power sitter - a really easy opportunity to score skipper - the captain

A festival of light and a fight between good and evil! What is Diwali? Diwali goes by many names; it is a “festival of lights” that celebrates the triumph of light over dark / good over evil, and the blessings of victory, freedom, and enlightenment. The name comes from the traditional language of India: Sanksrit. On the night of Diwali people celebrate by lighting candles and clay lamps known as 'diyas'. They put them throughout their homes and in the streets to light up the night. Many people celebrate Diwali a little differently depending on local stories. For example, in northern India they celebrate the story of King Rama's return after he defeated Ravana. In southern India they celebrate Lord Krishna after he defeated a demon, and in western India they celebrate the day Lord Vishnu defeated a demon king. The common theme among all of the different stories is the victory of good over evil. Who celebrates Diwali? Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and some Newar Buddhists all celebrate Diwali. These are all followers of different Indian Religions and each sect has its own spin on the meaning of the festival. For example Hindus celebrate the return of their deities (Gods) Rama and Sita after their 14-year exile. But during Diwali, Jains celebrate the moment when the founder of the religion, Lord Mahavira, reached a state of nirvana. Sikhs and Newar Buddhists also have their own versions! How do you celebrate Diwali day-to-day? Day 1 - Dhanteras, or Day of fortune On the first day of Diwali people clean their homes and businesses to welcome Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. It is a lucky day to buy gold or other metals, so people buy jewelry, cars and other goods made of metal. It is estimated that ¥580,000,000 is spent by Indians over Diwali! Day 2 - Naraka Chaturdashi The second day is spent preparing or buying special food (especially sweets, called mithai), as well as praying for the spirits of ancestors in the afterlife. According to Hindu stories, the demon Narakasura was killed on this day. The day is all about getting rid of anything bad. People get up early, wash and put on clean or new clothes. Afterwards, they will celebrate by having a special breakfast with their friends and family. It is a day for visiting friends, business associates and relatives, and for exchanging gifts. Day 3 - Lakshmi Pujan On the main day of the festival, families gather together and pray to Goddess Lakshmi, followed by delicious feasts and fireworks. Day 4 - Annakut Annakut means ‘mountain of food’. Hindus prepare lots of food and take it to the temple to celebrate the beginning of the new year. Communities will prepare over one hundred dishes, which are dedicated to Krishna before being shared among the community. Also, Hindu temples on this day prepare and present "mountains of sweets" to the faithful who have gathered for a visit. Day 5 - Bhai Duj Bhaj Duj literally translates as 'brothers day'. This is the last day of Diwali, and it celebrates the relationship between brother and sister. In historic times, this was a day in the autumn when brothers would travel to meet their sisters, or invite their sister's family to their village to celebrate the seasons harvest. Though the stories and traditions can vary, the celebrations for Diwali always include lots of food, time with family and sharing Prosperity.

Welcome to our blog! At S.E.C Fukuoka we try and make our blogs about learning English accessible for everyone. You might see posts about Grammar, Idioms, Cultural topics and more... So lets talk a little about why we started a 'Blog' in the first place. As our small school has grown we have seen the value in sharing personal stories and anecdotes with our students. We believe that these stories can really help people understand difficult points in English, as it puts you (the student) in our (the teachers) shoes! If you have ever wondered about the differences between 'there, their and they're' or have trouble understanding 'idioms' in movies. We have your back (we will support you). Hopefully you will be able to join us on this ride and enjoy reading our 'Blog' and maybe enjoy learning some English too! If you ever feel like reaching out and asking a question, or maybe requesting a topic, feel free to visit our website and send us an email. We, at S.E.C Fukuoka, look forward to hearing from you. Make sure you check out Instagram as we post a wide variety of content from seasonal vocabulary to events from around the world. Good News everyone! We also post weekly content on our Pinterest. Everything you could ask about grammar or alternative phrases to use in conversation. So please like and follow us on social media to stay up to date with all the new content. Sincerely,

Silent letters are the letters that you don't pronounce when you say the word. These letters are only used when written. For example when you spell the word 'write' you do not say the letter 'W'. Got it?! No? Okay let's talk more about the history and rules of silent letters. Letters in the alphabet There are 26 letters in the English Alphabet and 21 of these letters can be silent! So before we get to a long list of helpful rules for those 21 letters, let's talk about the etymology and a brief history of why English is weird. Expand, Borrow and Differ There are 3 main factors to silent letters in the English language. First of all, as the language's influence grew it needed to adapt to the variety of cultures and accents from place to place. This resulted in a change of pronunciation of certain words. The second factor was the English Empire and its expansion across the globe. This led to the term 'borrowed words' where the English Language takes words from other languages. These words usually kept the original language's spelling, but when that was difficult they were adapted. These new words often sounded very different to the way they were spelled, which in turn meant some of the letters ended up being silent. The last factor is the easiest to understand. There are many examples where a silent letter has been introduced to make the spelling different between two words that have the same pronunciation. For example Nose/Knows or Night/Knight. Golden Rules and Exceptions So now we know a little bit more about why silent letters exist. Lets look at some rules to follow when using them. Silent B - Rule 1: The letter 'B' is not pronounced after the letter 'M'. e.g. bomB, comB, climB, lamB, thumB Rule 2: The letter 'B' is not pronounced before the letter 'T'. e.g. deBt, douBt, suBtle Silent C - Rule 1: The letter 'C' is not always pronounced when in combination with 'S' - 'SC' e.g. disCipline, sCene, sCience, sCissors Rule 2: The letter 'C' is usually not pronounced before the letters 'K' and 'Q'. e.g. craCk, duCk, piCkle, loCker / aCquire, laCquer, raCkuet Silent D - Rule 1: The letter 'D' is not pronounced when it appears before the letters 'N' and 'G'. e.g. briDge, pleDge, weDnesday Rule 2: The letter 'D' is not pronounced in the following common words. e.g. hanDkerchief, hanDsome, sanDwich, weDnesday Silent E - Rule 1: The letter 'E' is not usually pronounced at the end of words. e.g. abovE, besidE, tacklE, therE Rule 2: When the letter 'E' comes before 'D' in the middle or end of the word it is sometimes silent. e.g. archEd, borEd, dicEd, dishEd, smugglEd Silent G - Rule: The letter 'G' is not pronounced when it comes before the letter 'N'. e.g. aliGn, beniGn, desiGn, foreiGn, siGn There are some exceptions to this rule. e.g. cognitive, magnet, signature Silent GH - Rule 1: The letters 'GH' are not pronounced if they follow a vowel. e.g. eiGHt, neiGHbor, weiGH, cauGHt, dauGHter, douGH, throuGH Rule 2: The letters 'GH' are pronounced separately in compound words. e.g. doGHouse, foGHorn, juGHead, lonGHorn Rule 3: The letters 'GH' can sometimes sound like the letter 'F'. e.g. couGH, lauGH, lauGHter, rouGH, touGH Silent H - Rule 1: The letter 'H' is usually silent when it follows the letter 'W'. e.g. wHat, wHere, wHy, wHere, weatHer Rule 2: The letter 'H' is not always silent after 'W'. e.g. wHo, wHose, wHoever, wHole Rule 3: Most words beginning with 'H' are not silent. These words often use the article 'a'. e.g. Hair, Happy, Help, History Rule 4: The letter 'H' is silent at the beginning of the following words. These words often use the article 'an'. e.g. Heir, Honest, Honour, Hour Silent K - Rule: The letter 'K' is never pronounced when it is in front of the letter 'N'. e.g. Know, Knight, Knife, Knife, Knowledge Silent L - Rule: The letter 'L' is not usually pronounced after vowels A, O , U. e.g. caLf, haLf, paLm, couLd, wouLd, shouLd, foLk, yoLk Silent N - Rule: The letter 'N' is not pronounced if it follows the letter 'M' at the end of a word. e.g. autumN, columN, damN, solemN Silent P - Rule: The letter 'P' is not pronounced at the beginning of certain words containing PS, PT or PN. e.g. Pneumonia, Pterodactyl, Psychology, Silent PH - Rule: The letters 'PH' when pronounced together often sounds like the letter 'F'. e.g. PHoto, telePHone, elePHant, graPH, PHysio Silent S - Rule: The letter 'S' is not pronounced after the letter 'L' in the following words. e.g. aiSle, iSland, iSle, iSlet Silent T - Rule: The letter 'T' is not pronounced in the following words. e.g casTle, chrisTmas, fasTen, bereT, whisTle, thisTle, busTle, hasTen, sofTen, rapporT, gourmeT, balleT Silent U - Rule: The letter 'U' is not pronounced if it follows the letter 'G' before a vowel. e.g gUide, gUest, gUard, gUess Silent W - Rule 1: The letter 'W' is not pronounced at the beginning of the word if followed by the letter 'R'. e.g wRite, wRong, wRist Rule 2: The letter 'W' is silent in all of the following: Who, Whose, Whole, Whom, Whoever, ansWer, sWord, tWo Now we have read the rules, hopefully you have a better understanding of the pronunciation. If you need any further examples of the individual letters we have some helpful posts on our pinterest.

Let's talk about Halloween and its roots! Today many people around the world like to put on costumes and decorate their homes or workplace. You can see Halloween being celebrated in many cities across the world ! Some examples of Halloween activities are 'Pumpkin carving' and going 'trick or treating'. These activities are very popular in the U.S, but are becoming more popular in many other countries too. But where did Halloween come from ....? Origins : Samhain There is no precise date for the start of Samhain, but it was around 2,000 years ago. It comes from a group of people called the 'Celts'. The 'Celts' lived in an area that included Great Britain, Ireland and parts of France. They didn't use the same calendar as we do today, so their New Year began on November 1st. On October 31st they would hold a festival named 'Samhain'. Celts in Europe What is Samhain? 'Samhain' was a celebration to show the beginning of winter and the end of the harvest. It was also believed to be a time that ghosts could come out. The Celts would traditionally build bonfires and communion with the dead. The Romans conquered a lot of the Celtic land and had their own festival for the dead called 'Feralia'. So the Romans implemented some of 'Samhain's' traditions into 'Feralia'. After time the Romans also incorporated the celebrations of the Goddess 'Pomona'. Her symbol was the apple so people believe that this may have contributed to the Halloween game 'bobbing for apples'. How did Samhain become Halloween? As Christianity spread across Celtic lands the Church leaders tried to relabel Samhain as a Christian event. In the 5th century the Pope moved the celebration to May 13th to celebrate saints, but the fire festivals in October and November continued. In the 9th century a different Pope moved the celebration back to the Autumn. The Pope declared November 1st as All Saints' Day and November 2nd was All Souls day. October 31st became known as All Hallows Eve or Halloween. In the 19th century many Irish immigrants continued Halloween traditions upon arriving in the U.S.A. Halloween Traditions Trick or Treat The custom of 'trick or treating' comes from the UK. On the night of Halloween boys and girls would misbehave. In the North of England (Yorkshire) it used to be called Mischief Night. Mischief Night involved dressing up in costumes, knocking on doors in their neighborhood, making noises of ghosts and then running away! In the 15th century Christians had their own customs for 'trick or treat'. People would visit houses and take 'soul-cakes', these cakes were meant to represent the dead. People would often sing under windows asking for 'soul-cake' it was known as 'Souling'. Costumes During Samhain the Celts would dress up and wear masks to disguise themselves from spirits. The masks were usually made from animal skin. Jack O'Lanterns In the past, people would carve scary faces that resembled demons into turnips to prepare for Halloween. When the turnips were hollowed out a candle would be placed inside. These scary faces and shadows were reminders of death. These turnips were often referred to as 'punkies' or 'Jack O'lanterns' named after spirits of the dead. Over time, the Halloween tradition of a jack-o-lantern came to America where pumpkins were in abundance! Many people think these are American traditions, but in many ways, they are just a modern spin on very old traditions.

Your English guide to American Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is an annual holiday in the U.S.A and Canada to celebrate the harvest. The American Thanksgiving is believed to be based on a Harvest Feast in 1621. The English colonists known as the 'Pilgrims' shared a meal with the 'Wampanoag people'. There are many stories and legends about this event. Nowadays typical Thanksgiving foods are turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberries and pumpkin pie. This holiday is often the busiest of the year, as families come together to celebrate. A quick history lesson In September 1620, 102 people left Plymouth, England on a ship called the Mayflower. The passengers were a variety of religious separatists who wanted a new home to practice their faith and others who were seeking a new life in the 'New World'. The trip across the Atlantic took 66 days they eventually dropped anchor near a place called Cape Cod, but this was much further north than the destination they were aiming for. One month after their arrival, the 'Pilgrims', as they are commonly known, established a village. They called this village New Plymouth, named after their departure location in England. In November 1621, the Pilgrims' had their first successful harvest of corn. The Governor at that time organized a feast to celebrate the success. This feast was attended by 90 Wampanoag people, including their chief, and 53 Pilgrims. It lasted for three days! This is now remembered as America's 'first Thanksgiving'. But less widely known is an earlier Thanksgiving celebration in Virginia in 1619 by English settlers, who had just landed at Berkeley Hundred on the ship 'Margaret'. Thanksgiving Dinner Thanksgiving Traditions Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Macy's is a department store that holds a Thanksgiving Parade each year. In New York City thousands of people line the streets to watch the giant inflatable balloons travel amongst the skyscrapers. It has quickly become one of the most famous Thanksgiving traditions. Breaking the wishbone The wishbone is a Y-shaped breast bone, after carving the turkey, the 'wishbone' is put to one side. Once the meal is over, two people make their wishes and break the wishbone. Ancient Romans believed that chicken bones held the power of good fortune. When two people pulled apart a wishbone, the person left with the larger piece would receive good luck. Watch an American football game American Football is the most watched sport in the U.S on Thanksgiving. This is not a recent addition to Thanksgiving, games have been played on Thanksgiving Day since as early as 1876! Families and Friends will often gather around to support their favorite teams and watch the T.V together. Some people will even play tag football to burn off those extra calories! Eat a traditional Thanksgiving meal Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without a traditional meal. The side dishes may vary across the U.S (just look at that map!), but roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes and gravy are all must haves! If that wasn't enough then there are also an assortment of desserts. Most famous of all: pumpkin pie! via zippia.com