2013

The number 13 has been associated with bad luck for centuries. The Last Supper where Jesus gathered his 12 disciples might have originated this controversy. Among other superstitions people believed that if 13 people sat at a table, one would die within a year. 

Nowadays many hotel lack floors numbered 13 and some Airlines skip row 13. 

Reinforcing this reputation, on April 13, 1970, an explosion aboard the Apollo 13 spacecraft aborted the mission. However there is little historical evidence for fearing years ending in 13, despite Shakespeare´s Globe Theatre burning in 1613. For instance, 1913 wasn´t particularly tragic, considering the First World War started one year later. In 1813, Napoleon Bonaparte was conquering Europe. 

Let’s hope that 2013 is another case of nothing particularly notorious or harmful.

Brandenburg Gate

It has been 30 years since I have last visited the capital of Germany, Berlin.
In those times, there was a big wall dividing the city into East and West. I was a student then....



Checkpoint Charlie

The Christmas Broadcast

The Christmas Broadcast (better known as The Queen's Speech) is broadcast every year at 15:00GMT on Christmas Day.

The first televised Christmas Broadcast in 1957

Obama: Person of the Year 2012

For the second time, Time Magazine has named Barack Obama "Person of the Year."

Barack Obama: Person of the Year 2008

Queen Elizabeth Land

The British government announced that the southern part of the British Antarctic Territory has been named ‘Queen Elizabeth Land’ in honour of The Queen’s sixtieth year on the throne. 

The Foreign Secretary said: 

“As a mark of this country’s gratitude to The Queen for Her service, we are naming a part of the British Antarctic Territory in her honour as ‘Queen Elizabeth Land”. 

“This is a fitting tribute at the end of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee year, and I am very proud to be able to announce it as she visits the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.”

Sandringham House

Sandringham House

The Royal Family and Sandringham

Each year, The Queen and other members of the Royal Family spend the Christmas period at Sandringham House in Norfolk, a tradition begun by The Queen's grandfather, King George V. Sandringham House in Norfolk has been the private home of four generations of Sovereigns since 1862.

December 2012 Newsletter

www.clever-pants.com

e-mail: portugal@clever-pants.com

Christmassy Jokes

Did you hear about the dyslexic devil worshipper?

He sold his soul to Santa.

What do you get if you cross Santa with a duck?

A Christmas Quacker!

What do you call Santa's little helpers?

Subordinate clauses!

Snowed under?

Let’s get festive with this seasonal collection of idioms related to the the word season and Christmas

idiom (n): an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made

Off season

Not in the busy time of the year.

 “We don't have much to do off season.” "Things are very quiet around here off season."

Open season (on someone)

A period of time when everyone is criticizing someone. 

"It seems as if it's always open season on politicians."

The silly season 

A period of time in the summer when there is not much news, especially political news, so the newspapers have articles about events that arenot important.

 "It's the silly season again, and as usual, the papers are full of stories about the Loch Ness Monster."

Full of the joys of spring.

To feel very happy and full of youthful energy.

"The sun was shining, and even though it was October, I was full of the joys of spring."

The dead of winter.

Used to describe the middle of winter, when it is very cold and dark.

"He disappeared in the dead of winter: The river was frozen, the streets almost

deserted."

Be as pure as the driven snow

To be morally good

"How dare he criticise me for having an affair? He's not exactly as pure as the driven snow himself."

Be snowed under

To have so much work that you have problems dealing with it all (often + with) "She wants me to take some time off but I'm snowed under with “work at the moment”.

From everyone here at Clever Pants we wish you a very happy festive season, whatever you are celebrating!

See you in 2013!

© Clever Pants 2012

www.clever-pants.com

Victorian Christmas Trees

The Royal Family at Windsor Castle in the Illustrated London News, in1848

Christmas was a special time for Queen Victoria and her family. A decorated Christmas tree was a custom introduced by Queen Charlotte, King George III´s German wife.

William Corden the Younger (1819-1900) Queen Victoria´s Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1850

Albert Chevallier Tayler (1862-1925)The Christmas Tree

O Primeiro Postal de Natal

O costume de enviar cartões de Natal começou em Inglaterra, no ano de 1843. Sir Henry Cole, um alto-funcionário britânico, teve essa ideia de mandar imprimir postais natalícios, para poder enviar a todos os seus amigos e conhecidos as suas saudações de Natal. Assim, encomendou ao pintor John Calcott Horsley a criação do primeiro cartão de Natal, cuja cópia está à vista em cima. Dessa primeira edição foram vendidos 1000 exemplares em Londres. 

Nos nossos dias, está aos poucos a cair em desuso, sobretudo devido à cada vez maior utilização da internet para se remeter todo o tipo de mensagens. Dessa forma perde-se cada vez mais o hábito de se escrever aos familiares e amigos, mesmo nestas ocasiões tão especiais. Cada um escolherá o seu método. Eu, enquanto professora de inglês, aproveito o meu blog para enviar a todos os leitores Merry Christmas and a Very Happy 2013!

O Pai Natal

Esta personagem jovial e feliz tem as suas origens remotas em S. Nicolau, bispo de Myra, no sul da Turquia, onde viveu, há mais de 1600 anos. Tornou-se Santo, devido à sua bondade em ajudar os mais pobres dando tudo o que possuía, com atenção especial às crianças.

Na Holanda chamam-lhe Sinterklass e é especialmente querido pelos mais pequenos. Foram os emigrantes holandeses, que introduziram a sua figura nos EUA. De início era representado com as vestes de Bispo. Mas, no início da década de 1930, um anúncio da Coca-Cola decidiu apresentá-lo, alegre e redondo com um fato vermelho, as cores daquela marca, com o objetivo de levar o público a consumir mais daquele refrigerante também no inverno. O sucesso foi grande e, hoje, este velhote bonacheirão de belas barbas brancas faz as delícias das crianças em todo o mundo. Nos EUA, por influência do nome holandês chamam-no Santa Claus ou simplesmente Santa. No Reino Unido preferem chamá-lo Father Christmas 

December 8

Manuel da Rocha. Coroação de Nossa Senhora. Retábulo em talha dourada e policromada. Séc XVII. Sé Nova de Coimbra



December 8 is Immaculate Conception Day in Portugal

Showcase 4

Wonderful Madeira

 Madeira: "Sea of clouds"

Christmas in Funchal, Madeira island

Wonderful Madeira | Photo by: João Fernandes

Saint Andrew

Saint Andrew was an Apostle, the older brother of Saint Peter. He went to Greece to preach the gospel, where he was martyred by crucifixion at Patras in Achaia, being tied to a cross which was shaped like the letter X; called ever since the “Saint Andrew’s cross” (it is said that Saint Andrew felt unworthy to be crucified on the same type of cross on which Christ had been crucified). He made his cross a pulpit and even preached from it before dying.

The flag of Scotland is the Cross of St. Andrew, and this is widely displayed as a symbol of national identity.

The Ruins of the Castle of St Andrews by Captain John Sleezer (1814 edition)

The relics of Saint Andrew were brought to Scotland in Antiquity by St Rule and placed in a specially constructed chapel in Scotland. This chapel was replaced by the Cathedral of St. Andrews in 1160, and the town of St. Andrews, which took its name from the Apostle, became the religious capital of Scotland and a great centre for medieval pilgrims who came to see the relics. St. Andrews Cathedral was destroyed during the Scottish Reformation and is now in ruins.

St. Andrews from the Pier. Engraving by William Bartlett (over 100 years old)

St Andrews from the Pier nowadays

Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Romania, Russia, Greece and Scotland. He died in the year 61 and his feast day is on  November 30, the national day of Scotland.

The town is home to the University of St Andrews, the third oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Britain's most prestigious. It is now 600 years old. This university became famous worldwide in 2011, when Prince William married Kate Middleton, since both had been students at the university where they met for the first time.

Rug at the entrance of the library.

Students from all over the world attend the university as either undergraduate or postgraduate students.

Graduation Day is a memorable day for students and their families.

St Andrews is a very charming, ancient town, in Fife, near a coastline with picturesque fishing villages.

It is also known worldwide as the "home of golf".

Two years ago I spent some days at St Andrews and I must admit that those were indeed very relaxing holidays!

St. Andrews, 2010

70 Years Ago...

Exactly 70 years ago, Casablanca premiered at the Hollywood Theater in New York. This is a tribute to one of the greatest movies of all time- Casablanca

National Day of the Sea

On November 16 we commemorate the National Day of the Sea in Portugal.

Strait Magellan

Portuguese Sea

O sea, how much of your salt

Is sharp with the tears of Portugal?

How many mothers have wept

And sons prayed vainly to cross you

And maidens remained unmarried

That we might claim you our own

O salty seas of Portugal.

And was the price too high?

Not if the soul can pay it

Not if the soul is big enough

To round the cape and discover

Further perils beyond

For God who created the waters

Made them also mirror his heaven.

  Fernando Pessoa (transl. John Betjeman)

                                                    Cape Horn, 2007 




                                                                        

November 11

 November 11 :

It is Veterans Day in USA.
Remembrance Day or Poppy Day in the UK. 

TEFL 2012

23 - 24 November 2012 

(Auditoriums 1 and 2, FCSH) 

15 December 2012 

(workshop follow-up exclusive for English teachers in Portugal who need creditation; Auditorium 2, FCSH) 

Foodscapes

Foodscape photographer Carl Warner uses fresh fruit, vegetables and meat to bring his imagination to life. He compares his work to Willy Wonka's creations in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. His new pieces were aimed at encouraging healthier eating among younger children: "I use my work as a vehicle to get kids to think about what they are eating,"

Fishscape features rocks made of oyster shells and crab claws, boats made of marrows and asparagus, and a shining, silvery, slippery sea of fish.

Pumpkin Paradise

Mr Warner, who was born in Liverpool, said the work rekindled the 'childhood imagination' in adults.

Mr Warner starts work by drawing his ideas on paper. He then buys the produce and spends between one and three days assembling it with the help of pins and superglue. He then photographs it layer after layer from the foreground to the background and assembles them into one image in post-production. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinkpicturegalleries/9664001/A-World-of-Food-amazing-foodscapes-by-Carl-Warner.html?frame=2392485

How this happened

President Obama won the presidential elections.


He kindly sent all supporters this email (at 6:28):

Teresa --

I'm about to go speak to the crowd here in Chicago, but I wanted to thank you first.

I want you to know that this wasn't fate, and it wasn't an accident. You made this happen.

You organized yourselves block by block. You took ownership of this campaign five and ten dollars at a time. And when it wasn't easy, you pressed forward.

I will spend the rest of my presidency honoring your support, and doing what I can to finish what we started.

But I want you to take real pride, as I do, in how we got the chance in the first place.

Today is the clearest proof yet that, against the odds, ordinary Americans can overcome powerful interests.

There's a lot more work to do.

But for right now: Thank you.

Barack