1º BACH - 2nd TERM SET READER

"MY COUSIN RACHEL" by Daphne Du Maurier. Ed. MacMillan - Intermediate Level

CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT BOTH THE AUTHOR AND THE BOOK.

HALLOWEEN: ORIGINS & TRADITIONS

The origins of Halloween go back to the Celts. The Celts lived in the British Isles during ancient times (5th century BC). They were pagans. They believed in the gods of nature.

There was an important festival on the Celtic calendar: it was called Samhain. It marked the end of summer, on October 31st. Samhain was also the last day of the year on the Celtic calendar.

Samhain was the Celtic god of death. The Celts were afraid of winter. They associated it with death and evil spirits.The Druids were Celtic priests and teachers. They were very important in the Celtic society. Everyone respected them. They practiced magic and religious rituals.

Samhain, on October 31st, was an important day for the Druids. They made big fires to frighten the spirits of evil and death and predicted the future.

Celtic people dressed in scary costumes to frighten the evil spirits. They dressed as witches, ghosts and skeletons. They also played games to bring good luck in the new year. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, ghosts came out of their tombs and the spirits of the dead returned to earth.

TRICK OR TREAT?

American and British children play “Trick or Treat?”. They go from door to door asking for a treat (a sweet) and if they do not receive one they play a nasty trick.

Typical Halloween tricks are: writing on doors with coloured pens, writing on windows with soap, and spraying shaving cream on cars and people!

On Halloween night, almost every home in America and Great Britain has a Jack O'Lantern. It is put in front of the window.

Children play trick-or-treat on Halloween night. They dress up in their costumes and mask. Then they go around their neighbourhood and ring their neighbours' doorbells. When the door opens, the children say: "Trick-or-treat”?

FREAKY THANKSGIVING VERSION

HAVE A GOOD TIME WATCHING THIS VIDEO WITH A SPECIAL "THANKSGIVING" VERSION OF "I WILL SURVIVE"! HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND
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THANKSGIVING: ORIGIN AND TRADITIONS

Thanksgiving is a very important festivity and it is celebrated on the last Thursday of November. However, schools and many shops and offices are closed for four days. Thanksgiving is a very special day for families to be together and to thank God for all they have. Americans travel great distances to be with their families on this occasion.
Why is Thanksgiving such an important day? The tradition started with The Pilgrim Fathers, the founders of America. The Pilgrims left Great Britain in 1620 because of religious persecution. They wanted to start a new life in America and practise their religion in freedom. One hundred men, women and children left Britain on a small ship called The Mayflower. Their sea voyage was very difficult and many Pilgrims died during the voyage.
They arrived on the north-east coast of North America in December 1620 and founded Plymouth. The area was a wilderness. It was almost winter and they had no homes and little food. They immediately built small homes, but it was too late to cultivate crops. The winter was very cold and harsh. Almost half of the Pilgrims died because their living conditions were very bad. The friendly Wampanoag Indians helped them during the long winter.
In the spring the Pilgrims met an Indian called Squanto. He explained how to grow corn, hunt and live in the wilderness. Soon the Pilgrims and the Indians became good friends. The Pilgrims worked hard and cultivated crops. The summer harvest was excellent, and by November 1621 everyone had food and a home. There was hope for the future.
Governor William Bradford, the Pilgrim leader, decided to celebrate with a dinner for the Pilgrims and the Indians. He wanted to give thanks to God. This was the first Thanksgiving dinner and it lasted for three days!.
Today the traditional Thanksgiving meal is similar to the first. People eat roast turkey, sweet potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Most families start the meal with a prayer.
The long Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to start Christmas shopping! Big stores and shops are open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the Christmas shoppers.

1. UNSCRAMBLE THE ANAGRAMS AND THEN MATCH THEM WITH THEIR MEANINGS.

a. REAFMOYWL
b. LESWRIDENS
c. MSIPLGIR
d. ARHSH
e. UNSTOQA
f. OSRPC
g. OLHPTUYM

1. Land that is not cultivated, where wild animals live
2. Very unpleasant
3. The Pilgrims´ ship
4. Fruit, vegetables and corn
5. The founders of America
6. A friendly Indian
7. The colony founded by the Pilgrims

HALLOWEEN POWERPOINT

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