Tuesday, February 28, 2012

A project I did with my friend at school...

How will the world be in 50 years?

A lot of things will have changed in 50 years. Scientists have made lots of predictions, but nobody can be certain.

In my opinion, major changes will have been made. First of all, technology will have advanced. The world will be full of robots and skyscrapers. People will be driving flying cars which will be faster than ordinary cars. We will live for longer, but there will be wars because of people’s need for oil and petrol.

To sum up, I feel that our lives will be quite different in the future. All WE can do is waiting!Add Image



Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Extra reading at home!

Let's see who loves reading stories in English! :-)

Two very easy stories to choose from:

The Little Hunters:
http://markaki-reading.wikispaces.com/The+Little+Hunters+%28Story%29

Sherlock Holmes and the important exam paper:
http://markaki-reading.wikispaces.com/Sherlock+Holmes%2C+C%27+Class%2C+The+story

After you read one of the stories (or both!), you can express your opinion about them on your blog.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year begins according to the Chinese calendar. This calendar is based on two different systems and New year can begin any time between late January and mid-February. Each year takes its name from 12 animal names. So, year names are repeated every 12 years. January 23 2012 was the first day of the Chinese New Year-Year of the Dragon.

Chinese New Year is the longest and the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays.

People spend money to buy decoration, presents, clothing and food. Housewives also clean the houses in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good in coming luck. On New Year's Eve, people get together to have a meal which include pig, duck, chicken and sweet deicacies. They also end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning children willl greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year and receive money in red paper envelopes.

Celebrations start on the first day of the new yera and end with Lantern festival which is on the 15th day.

During the celebration people wear red clothes because red symbolizes fire which according to legend can drive away dad luck.

The highlight of th Lantern Festival is the dragon dance. The dragon-which might be a hundred feet long-is made of silk, paper and bamboo. The dragon is held by young men who dance as they guide the colourful beast through the streets.

New Year's Day is also called Lunar New Year and in China it is known as "Spring Festival".


Monday, February 13, 2012

CHINESE NEW YEAR

Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the New Year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the New Year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade. 

The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-yearcycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.

The sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family.

The presence of the ancestors is acknowledged on New Year's Eve with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the onset of the New Year as one great community. The communal feast called "surrounding the stove" or weilu. It symbolizes family unity and honors the past and present ge
nerations.

THE LANTERN FESTIVAL