Trick or Treat!

What is the History of Halloween?

Halloween is a holiday of costumes, pumpkins, witches, ghosts, haunted houses and trick-or-treating. What exactly is the history of Halloween? Where did these strange traditions originate?

What is Halloween?

The history of Halloween can be traced back 2,000 years. It was during these ancient times in Europe that the Celts celebrated the beginning of winter on the evening of October 31st. November 1st was the first day of their new year and it also marked the first day of winter.

When Christians began to gain authority in the 800s, the history of Halloween was forever changed; November 1st became known as All Saints Day or All-Hallows. It is believed that the Christians slightly altered the holiday into a church related celebration, honoring deceased saints. Not unlike Celtic tradition though, the Christians too honored the dead on this day. The evening of October 31st soon became known as All-Hallows Eve and was eventually changed to Halloween.

The History of Halloween: Traditions and Customs

Today in America it is traditional to celebrate the holiday by throwing a party in which the guests dress in costume.

The tradition of trick-or-treating and costumes are a little less tied to the history of Halloween. Door to door trick-or-treating began in America. Modern day trick-or-treating is most commonly practiced by children who walk door to door asking for candy. They customarily say "trick or treat" in anticipation that they will be given a treat which is most likely candy.

Today, dressing in costume is also a very popular way to celebrate the spooky holiday. Costumes range 

 from ghost and witch costumes to trendy costumes such as famous characters.

 This is a picture of my son after "trick or treating". He is already in his pajamas and counting all his candy! I'm not sure how much he has already eaten! It appears that he has had too much, but wants one more!

Save the M&M's for me!

Be very careful when working out in the yard!

WSB News

Killer Bees Blamed for Man's Death

By

Jon Lewis

@ October 22, 2010 4:59 AM 

ALBANY, Ga. (AP) Tests show Africanized ``killer'' bees were responsible for the death of a 73-year-old man in Dougherty County.

Curtis Davis was stung hundreds of times when his bulldozer hit an old wooden porch post where the bees had built a giant hive. The insects swarmed him.

Georgia Agriculture Commission Tommy Irvin said Thursday that tests showed the insects were a hybrid of African and European honeybees, sometimes called ``killer bees.'' The bees are extremely defensive, swarm in greater numbers than typical European honeybees and sting with little provocation.

Irvin said the bees spread from Central America and first appeared in Texas in 1990. They have gradually spread to other states. State officials said they will continue trapping and monitoring bee swarms to identify Africanized honeybees.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Which picture demonstrates Americans at a party? The blue one or the red one. The dots are people.

How would the picture look for a party in your country?

Tongue Twisters - maybe it's better not to have a tongue?

A flea and a fly flew up in a flue.
Said the fly to the flea, "What shall we do?"
Said the flea, "Let us fly!"
Said the fly, "Let us flee!"
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

Six slippery snails slid slowly seaward.

She sells sea shells by the seashore.
The shells she sells are surely seashells.
So if she sells shells on the seashore,
I'm sure she sells seashore shells.

Surrender! A good thing or bad thing?

Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7

Surrendering your life means -
Following God's lead without knowing where he's sending you;
Waiting for God's timing without knowing when it will come;
Expecting a miracle without knowing how God will provide;
Trusting God's purpose without understanding the circumstances.

An exercise for the intermediate level

THE THINGS MY TEACHER NEVER TAUGHT ME TEST

1. One of the most important things in this life is _________.

a. love

b. the love

2. Although we like ________ very much, we don't like to be together all the time.

a. us

b. each other

c. ourselves

3. She _______ me math when I was at school. She was a good teacher.

a. teach

b. taught

c. thought

4. She is much more intelligent ____ me.

a. that

b. as

c. than

5. Which river ____ through the Grand Canyon?

a. does run

b. run

c. runs 

6.The U.S. State of Vermont has a French name. What ____ it _______ exactly?

a. does / means

b. do / means

c. does / mean

7.__________ nose grows longer every time he tells a lie?

a. Who's

b. Whose

c. Who

8. What __________ to objects in zero gravity?

a. does happen 

b. do happen

c. happen 

d. happens

9. They took your mother to _____ hospital, ____ excellent hospital.

a. an / an 

b.a / an

c. a / a 

d. an / a

10. I have lots of ______ this weekend, so I won't be going out.

a. homework

b. homeworks

Idiom: FEATHER IN YOUR CAP

Here's another idiom for you. Those of you who have been commenting on this blog- You can put a feather in your cap!!
That's you, Grace, Pei, Susan, Mayumi, Connie, Kelly!.
Meaning of the idiom:

A success or achievement that may help you in the future is a feather in your cap.

Do you recognize this American city?

These photos are compliment of Harry, a member of the Saturday ESL class at Perimeter. Thanks, Harry! Great photos!

If you haven't guessed it yet, this photo has a great clue in it!

Watch this video of the Chinese Circus doing Swan Lake

Just click on this link:

http://www.nzwide.com/swanlake.htm 

The Halthen's have a dancer in the family, as well. This is our daughter Kirsten.