READING No 1

Bonfire Night
If you’re ever in the UK on the evening of 5 November, you might wonder why you can hear
fireworks. Bonfire Night is celebrated all over the country, but what is it about? Find out
about the history of this well-loved event in this article

Bonfire Night can be a hard celebration to explain. It’s also sometimes called Guy Fawkes
Night – but who was Guy
Fawkes and what’s it all about?
Well, Guy Fawkes tried to blow
up London’s Houses of
Parliament in 1605 because he
wanted to kill King James I. So
British people celebrate that
night, 5 November, with bonfire
parties, including huge bonfires
in public parks, and firework
displays.

But isn’t it strange to celebrate a plot to kill the king?

Well, yes, it would be. But if you know more about the history of Bonfire Night and the
Gunpowder Plot, its traditions make more sense. You see, the first Bonfire Night, on 5
November 1606, wasn’t exactly a celebration. It was a warning: ‘This is what happens if you
commit treason.’

Who was Guy Fawkes?

Guy Fawkes was a soldier and he was not the only person involved in the plot to blow up
Parliament. He made his plan with a group of 12 English Catholic gentlemen. The leader was
Sir Robert Catesby. As a soldier, Fawkes was in charge of the gunpowder. The men rented a
room underneath Parliament and filled 36 barrels with gunpowder – probably about 2,500
kilograms. Fawkes stayed to blow up the barrels and then escape. But someone sent a letter
to Lord Monteagle, a Catholic, to tell him not to go to Parliament that day. In this way, the plot
was discovered, and Guy Fawkes was caught before he could carry it out. All the members of
the plot were either killed or arrested and then killed in public. Parliament ordered a national
day to give thanks for the safety of the king on 5 November. People had to go to church and
they celebrated with a big bonfire. By the 1650s, the celebration included fireworks and later a
‘guy’ – a man made of straw and old clothes and burned on the bonfire.

Why was there a plot?

Guy Fawkes and the other members of the plot didn’t like the way Protestant James I (and
Queen Elizabeth I before him) treated Catholics like them. At that time, Catholics couldn’t have
their own churches. They had to practise their religion in secret, and it was very dangerous if
they were caught. The Gunpowder Plot was not the first Catholic plan to try to kill the king, but
it was the biggest. Afterwards, many people were suspicious of Catholics, even as late as the
18th and 19th centuries. This was very unfair, as most Catholics were peaceful and were also
shocked by the plots.

Bonfire Night today

The celebrations have remained mostly the same for hundreds of years, although people
nowadays don’t go to church as part of the day. Most towns and villages organise public
displays where you can stand by huge bonfires and watch the fireworks as you eat a toffee
apple or a hot snack. Many children learn this poem about Bonfire Night at school, and they
look forward to a special evening out:

Remember, remember the 5th of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

So if you’re ever in the UK on 5 November, you’ll now know what all the noise is about!
 READING No 2

VEGANISM
Vegans argue that animal farming is not only cruel but also bad for the
environment. World Vegan Day, on 1 November, puts the focus on the vegan way
of life.

‘All life deserves respect, dignity and compassion. All life.’ – Anthony Douglas Williams

What is veganism and what do vegans do?

Vegans try to live, as much as possible, in a way that avoids exploiting and being cruel to
animals. This means following
a plant-based diet. Vegans do
not eat animals or animal-
based products like meat,
fish, seafood, eggs, honey
and dairy products such as
cheese. For many vegans,
living a committed vegan
lifestyle means not wearing
clothes made from animal
skins and avoiding any
products which have been tested on animals.

How are vegans different from vegetarians?

Vegetarians don’t eat meat or fish but they can eat eggs, honey and dairy products, but
vegans don’t eat any animal-based food products. Vegans argue that suffering is caused in the
production of these foods, for example they say that, on some dairy farms, male calves are
killed because they are too expensive to keep, and on some farms, cows are killed when they
get older and produce less milk. Similarly, on some egg farms, male chicks are killed because
they do not produce eggs. As for honey, vegans say that bees make honey for bees, not for
humans, and that bees’ health can suffer when humans take the honey from them. Vegans
believe that the products they use and consume should be free from not just cruelty but any
exploitation of animals.

When did veganism start?

The Vegan Society was founded in 1944, but there is evidence of people deciding not to
consume animal products over 2,000 years ago. The sixth-century BC Greek mathematician
and philosopher Pythagoras was in favour of kindness to all species, and his diet could be
described as vegetarian. There was a tradition of vegetarianism in the Indus Valley,
Babylonian and ancient Egyptian civilisations even earlier. The Vegan Society points out that
in 1806, the famous romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the first people to publicly
object to eating eggs and dairy products on moral grounds.

Why do many people decide to become vegan?

For many people, the main reason for going vegan is probably that they believe that animals
and all other sentient beings should have the right to life and freedom. However, there are
other reasons. Vegans argue that the production of meat and other animal products is very
bad for the environment. They point out that a huge quantity of water is needed to grow grain
to feed animals in the meat industry. The enormous amount of grain which the meat industry
needs often leads to forests being cut down and habitats being lost. In contrast, much lower
quantities of grain and water are needed to sustain a vegan diet. In addition, many vegans say
that all the nutrients our bodies need are contained in a carefully planned vegan diet and that
this type of diet helps prevent some diseases.

What is World Vegan Day?

On 1 November every year, vegans all over the world celebrate their way of life. There are
workshops, exhibitions and public debates on World Vegan Day, and it is a wonderful
opportunity for anybody thinking of becoming a vegan to learn more about the subject.

Sources:
 https://www.vegansociety.com
 https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-vegan-day-2018
 https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1069748
 READING No 3

HALLOWEEN
October 31 is Halloween and is now celebrated in many countries around the
world, but do you know anything about the origins of this scary special day? Read
the article and find out.

The origins of Halloween

If you think of Halloween, you

probably think of scary carved
pumpkins, all kinds of fancy dress
and children asking for sweets.
And if you think of a country that
celebrates Halloween, you
probably think of the United States
first. Americans and Canadians have adopted Halloween in a big way, but Halloween traditions
actually come from 16th-century Ireland, Scotland and England.

The tradition of Halloween on 31 October comes from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.
Samhain was the Celtic New Year and they celebrated it on 1 November because that was the
end of summer and harvest time (life) and the beginning of winter (death). It was also the time
for ghosts to return to earth for a day. People lit a big fire, wore special clothes made of animal
skin and hoped to be safe from the ghosts and the winter. In AD 609, the Catholic Church put
the Christian celebration of All Saints Day on 1 November. In AD 1000, the church added All
Souls Day on 2 November, and All Hallows Eve – or Halloween – moved to the night of the
31st.

Pumpkins

The Celts carved faces into vegetables like turnips, potatoes and squash (a pumpkin is a kind
of squash) to scare the ghosts and other spirits and make them go away. It was sometimes
called a jack-o’-lantern because of an Irish story about a man, Jack. He played a trick on the
devil and then had to walk the earth for all time as a punishment. Irish people who came to live
in the United States in the 1800s found pumpkins much easier to carve, and the tradition
became the one we see today.

Fancy dress

The Celts were afraid of the ghosts that came on Samhain. If they went outside after dark, they
covered their faces with masks. They hoped any ghosts they met would think they were ghosts
too and would leave them alone. In early America, the Native Americans and the first
Europeans celebrated the end of the harvest, but not Halloween. When Irish people arrived,
the harvest festival started to look more like Halloween and it became popular across the
country. In the late 19th century, people tried to make Halloween less about ghosts and
religion and more about celebrating the season with a party for neighbours and family. That’s
why Americans today wear all kinds of Halloween costumes and not just scary things like
witches and ghosts like in other countries.

Trick or treat

This is another tradition that began in Europe, this time in England. When the church
introduced All Souls Day, rich people gave poor people ‘soul cakes’, a small cake made with
spices and raisins. It replaced the Celtic tradition of leaving food outside houses for the ghosts.
‘Going a-souling’ was popular in England for hundreds of years until about the 1930s. The
Americans kept the tradition, but today children knock on people’s doors and ask for sweets.
Going trick or treating is so popular that a quarter of the sweets for the year in the United
States are sold for this one day.

The rest of the world

Halloween has become the United States’ second-biggest commercial festival after Christmas.
Halloween is also celebrated in other countries, but it’s not as big as in the United States, even
in the countries where the traditions began. Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead from 31
October to 2 November and some of its traditions, like giving gifts of sugar skulls, are starting
to mix with Halloween. In this way, the celebration of Halloween continues to change as new
traditions join the oldest of the Celtic ones.
 READING No 4

DIWALI
Diwali comes from the word deepavali, which
means ‘rows of lighted lamps’. During the
festival, these lamps, called diyas, are used
everywhere. They symbolise the victory of
light over darkness, or good over evil.

Diwali is celebrated differently in different

regions and by different religions and is a
bank holiday in many countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Singapore,
Malaysia, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. It is often considered a
Hindu festival, but in fact it is also celebrated by Sikhs, Jains and Newari Buddhists.

Here are some of the things that happen during the five days of Diwali.

Day One – Dhanteras, or Day of Fortune

The first day has a focus on fortune, both good luck and money or valuables. People may
wash money to show that they intend to use it to do good in the world. It is also a day for
helping people who are not as well off.

It is a lucky day for buying gold and silver and other metals, so people often buy jewellery or
cars, or anything made of metal. It is estimated that last year Indians spent about $3.9 billion
during Diwali.

People also make sure that their houses are clean, ready to welcome in Lakshmi, the Goddess
of Wealth and Prosperity, in the evening.

Day Two – Naraka Chaturdashi

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 and wash and put on clean or new clothes.
Afterwards, they will celebrate by having a special breakfast with their friends and family. This
day, also known as Chhoti Diwali, is a day for visiting friends, business associates and
relatives, and for exchanging gifts.

Day Three – Diwali

In most regions, this is the most important day of the festival. It is the last day of the year in
many regions of India. The story goes that on this day, Lord Rama rescued his wife, Sita, from
the demon Ravana. Candles are lit to celebrate his victory, and to light his way home after the
battle. In the evening, people may set off fireworks.

Day Four – Annakut

Annakut means ‘mountain of food’. Hindus prepare a great deal of food and take it to the
temple to celebrate the beginning of the new year.

Food is important throughout the period of Diwali, especially traditional sweet treats such as
gulab jamun (a very sweet deep-fried doughnut), kheer (a creamy dessert made with rice) or
barfi (a sweet made with condensed milk and sugar).

Day Five – Bhai Dhooj

This is the last day of Diwali, and it also sometimes celebrates the relationship between
brother and sister. Brothers may visit their married sisters’ homes, and they will take gifts.

A universal symbol

Diwali is celebrated by millions of people in India and across the world. The festival marks
different historical events and stories for each faith that celebrates it, but for all the faiths it
symbolises the victory of good over evil, and light over darkness, which means something to all
of us.
 READING No 5

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

World Mental Health Day, on 10 October, is a day to raise awareness of the effects
mental illness has on millions of people’s lives across the world, and to help
educate and inform us all.

Around the world, one in four people will have some kind of
mental illness during their lifetime. Around 450 million
people are living with a mental health problem right now,
making it one of the biggest health issues in the world. Yet
people rarely talk about any mental health problems they
have because there is still a lot of stigma.

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health (WMH) Day was first celebrated in 1992. It was created to raise
awareness of just how common mental health issues are, fight against stigma and campaign
for better conditions and treatment for people who have a mental health problem. The number
of people and organisations involved in celebrating WMH Day has grown and grown, and now
many countries, such as Australia, actually have a Mental Health Week, which includes WMH
Day on 10 October. Each year there is a different theme. For example, in 2017 the theme was
mental health in the workplace.

Mental health in the workplace

Employers should create an environment which supports good mental health. This also helps
to reduce the number of days employees take off work. Employers should help employees to
achieve a good work–life balance by encouraging them to take breaks and holidays and
discouraging them from working at home in the evenings and at weekends. Employees should
also feel that they can talk to their managers about any problems they might have, and
employers should be supportive.

Get some exercise

Of course, we also need to look after our own mental health. Most people know that exercise is
good for your body, but did you also know how good it is for your mental health? Regular
exercise can really help you deal with anxiety and depression. Spending time in nature can
also make people more relaxed and reduce stress. So why not get your exercise by going for a
walk in a park or the countryside?

Eat well

Your diet can also change your mood. If you eat crisps, cake, chocolate, etc., your blood sugar
will rise and fall, making you feel cross and tired. Make sure you are eating enough vegetables
and fruit or you may be missing some nutrients you need to feel good. It’s also important to
drink enough water – being thirsty can make it difficult to think clearly.

Spend time with family and friends

Everyone needs some time alone, but it’s also good for us to spend time with other people. If
you feel lonely, try volunteering. It’s a good way of meeting new people, and you will feel good
for helping others. One survey showed that 48 per cent of people who volunteered for more
than two years said they felt less depressed as a result. If you do have close friends and
family, try talking to them more about how you feel and asking them to support you. Every time
someone speaks to someone else about mental illness, it helps to reduce the stigma.

What to do on World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day encourages us to be more aware of both our own mental health and
other people’s. As well as looking after yourself, think about how you could support other
people. For example, you could find out more about common issues such as anxiety and
depression, so you will understand friends’ and colleagues’ problems better. You could also
encourage your workplace to start a wellness programme that would benefit everyone – they
might offer free exercise classes or encourage employees to take walks at lunchtime.
Companies with wellness programmes have found employees take 28 per cent less time off for
sickness.
Anything you do on WMH Day, even just talking to people about it, will help us all to
understand and support people better.
Source:http://www.who.int/mental_health/world-mental-health-day/en/
 READING No 6
WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY

October 5 is World Teachers' Day. Find out which famous people want to say thank you to
their school teachers for their success.

Who shapes the

person you are the
most? Parents or
other family members
are probably at the top
of the list for many
people. But a close
second place is very
likely to go to a
teacher. Some of the
most influential and
successful people in
the world have a teacher in their childhood to thank for their success.

The teachers behind famous people

Can you imagine life without the personal computer? Well, without two of Bill Gates's high
school teachers, that could be our world today. Gates's maths teacher, Fred Wright, asked him
to push himself just a little bit harder. Maybe that's why the founder of Microsoft sometimes
slept under his desk in the office instead of going home to relax after work. And his drama
teacher, Anne Stephens, helped him discover a love of the spotlight when she made the
sometimes withdrawn schoolboy the star of the school play. Gates thanked his teachers,
saying, 'There's no way there would be a Microsoft without them doing what they did.'
And he's not the only one. Oprah Winfrey, talk show host, actress and TV producer, was
inspired by her fourth grade (age 9–10) teacher, Mrs Duncan. Because of her, Oprah says, 'I
felt I could take on the world. You did exactly what teachers are supposed to do. They create a
spark for learning that lives with you from then on. It's why I have a talk show today.'
An adult you can trust
For some children, teachers are the only positively influential people in their lives. Antwone
Fisher, a best-selling writer, grew up in foster homes, and didn't have many adults that he
could trust. But a primary school teacher, Mrs Profitt, was the first adult he ever trusted. 'She
spoke to all of us the same way – with respect. No one spoke to me that way before. I think
that being with her for three years made all the difference.'

Celebrate teachers
There are thousands more stories like this, from famous people and ordinary people all across
the world. That's why UNESCO celebrates teachers on 5 October every year. UNESCO wants
us to remember that education is a basic human right and every child should have free
education. UNESCO hopes to train 69 million new teachers by 2030 so that everyone can go
to school, because, sadly, 264 million children in the world today are not in school because
there aren't enough teachers. Those children are often in places where life is already very
difficult because they live in poor areas or far away from cities and towns, or they are escaping
war in their own countries.

A day to say 'Thank you'

So, if you have a teacher, you're one of the lucky ones. One day, you'll probably look back at
your life, your successes, the dreams you've made come true or the difficult things you've
survived. The chances are high that you'll find a teacher's words have helped you achieve
these things. Perhaps you already know who that teacher will be. Why not find them and say
thank you today on World Teachers' Day?

Sources
 https://en.unesco.org/events/world-teachers-day-2018-international-conference
 https://www.biography.com/people/bill-gates-9307520
 http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/the-teachers-who-changed-oprahs-life/all
 https://sites.sph.harvard.edu/wmy/celebrities/antwone-fisher/
 READING No 7
UN INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY
Knowing how to read and write is a very important factor in most people’s lives. But
some people never learn these skills. How can we make sure that everybody gets
the opportunity to become literate?
Have you ever travelled to a country with a
language that you don’t speak? If so, perhaps you
had trouble understanding the most basic things:
signs, instructions, documents, packaging. Maybe
you felt quite powerless. This is just a simple
example that gives us a small idea of how hard
life must be for a person who is unable to read.
Illiteracy is a major problem around the world. To acknowledge the huge efforts of people
working in this field, the United Nations celebrates International Literacy Day every 8
September.
What is UN International Literacy Day?
Since 1967, this annual celebration has brought attention to people in the world who don’t
know how to read or write. It highlights ways to combat this problem and the huge progress
that has been made. Every 8 September, UNESCO holds an awards ceremony in Paris in
which prizes are given to individuals and organisations who work hard to increase literacy
around the world.
How big is the problem?
It is estimated that around 14 per cent of the global population is illiterate. Within that statistic,
there is some good news and some bad news. On a positive note, the levels of illiteracy have
fallen a lot in recent decades (in just 1980, world illiteracy was at 43 per cent!). However, there
are still enormous differences between regions. In sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia,
illiteracy remains around 30 per cent.
What are the consequences of illiteracy?
There is a strong connection between illiteracy and poverty. People who can read and write
have an enormous advantage over those who can’t when it comes to studying and training.
This means that literate people generally earn more money and even enjoy better health. The
UN also reports more negative attitudes towards women in societies with lower literacy levels.
What is the situation for women and girls?
A study by the UN showed that almost 83 per cent of women and girls are able to read and
write. However, two-thirds of all illiterate people in the world are female. This problem is due to
factors such as insufficient educational opportunities for girls or the tradition in some countries
for girls to get married at a young age. Many organisations work to try to empower women and
girls by teaching them literacy skills.
What is the situation for men and boys?
The same UN study showed that, internationally, 90 per cent of men and boys are able to read
and write. However, in many Western countries, girls generally show better literacy than boys.
Experts suggest that this is due to education techniques which don’t always suit boys, as well
as the opinion among some boys that reading and writing are ‘girly’ things to do.
How is technology changing things?
In the digital era, learning to read and write has become more accessible, with the internet and
the popularity of devices like computers and smartphones. UNESCO suggests that literacy has
become more important than ever as the world changes towards ‘knowledge-based societies’
which depend on communication rather than creating physical products.
What is the future of literacy?
Some experts argue that we need to change our idea of literacy. These days, knowing how to
read is a limited skill if the same person doesn’t know how to use a computer or smartphone.
Some suggest that we need to expand the idea of literacy to include skills such as knowing
how to use a web browser, create a document on a computer or even send a text message by
phone.
How can I participate?
Many libraries and universities organise events to celebrate International Literacy Day, often
inviting famous writers to participate. Check out #LiteracyDay on social media to see what’s
happening in your region.
Source:

 http://www.un.org/en/events/literacyday/
 READING No 8
UN WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY
What risks do people face when they are in countries at war? And why are
humanitarian workers a target for attacks? The UN's World Humanitarian Day puts
the focus on these important questions.

'No one is winning these wars. We are all losing.'

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres

At the United Nations, 19 August is a day to reflect. It was on this day in 2003 that the UN
building in Baghdad was hit by an enormous terrorist bomb. Most of the 22 people who died in
the attack had been involved in humanitarian missions in Iraq. Among the dead was Sergio
Vieira de Mello, the UN's top representative in the country. Every year, the UN commemorates
the loss by observing
World Humanitarian Day.

What is the objective of

World Humanitarian
Day?

This is a day to remember

the brave humanitarian
workers whose daily work
can involve terrible
dangers and even a risk
to their lives. However, it is also a day to build public support for the people at the centre of this
humanitarian work: the many millions of civilians around the world whose lives have been
affected by conflict. Therefore, 19 August is a day to ask world leaders to commit to protecting
vulnerable civilians and to do more to end conflicts in the world.

Where do these conflicts exist?

The UN has recently reported that, at the time of writing, the world's worst humanitarian crisis
is in Yemen. Due to war and a shortage of food, it is said that up to 75 per cent of the
population (that's about 22 million people) are in need of humanitarian aid and protection.
Meanwhile, wars continue in Syria and South Sudan and these are just a few of the countries
where conflict is forcing people to live in extreme difficulty or to become refugees.

What risks do humanitarian workers face?

Humanitarian workers must often risk their own lives to provide civilians with food, shelter or
healthcare. Sometimes these workers are attacked by people who want to steal food or
medicine. Many conflict zones also have big problems with political or terrorist groups who see
humanitarian workers as an ideal target to get international attention.

What is #notatarget?

In recent years, the UN has promoted this online hashtag. Its message is very clear.
Humanitarian workers have just one mission: to help people in need. And they should be able
to do this in safe conditions. They should not be a target. At the same time, these workers
travel to very dangerous places to provide aid for innocent civilians who have not chosen to
live in conflict. The hashtag also implies that civilians should not be a target.

What can I do?

It may seem as if the problems of the world are impossible to fix, but there are a few things that
you can do to help in some way. As a first step, inform yourself about the major humanitarian
problems that the world is facing at the moment. With a quick online search, you will probably
also find online petitions asking global leaders to increase their help for civilians in conflict
zones and for the refugees that come from these situations. Or if you would prefer to help in a
more practical way, try following the advice from previous campaigns for World Humanitarian
Day: do something good, somewhere, for someone else.

Sources:

 http://www.un.org/en/events/humanitarianday/

 http://interactive.unocha.org/publication/globalhumanitarianoverview/
 READING No 9
International Day of the World's Indigenous
The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on 9 August is a day to
promote indigenous peoples' rights and celebrate indigenous communities, from
the Inuit in the Arctic Circle to the Tuareg in the deserts of northern Africa.

Since 1994 the UN has celebrated the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on
9 August with special events, conferences and meetings around the world.
Who are the indigenous peoples of the world?
Indigenous people are the first people to live in
a particular place – the original population that
first created a community on that land before
other people came to live in, conquer or
colonise the area. People self-identify as
indigenous. That means they decide for
themselves whether they consider themselves
to be indigenous.
There are more than 350 million indigenous people living in 90 countries. They represent 5,000
different cultures and speak the great majority of the thousands of languages that are spoken
around the world today. Indigenous communities often have distinct beliefs, culture and
customs. Many indigenous people still live in very close contact with the land, with a respect
for and understanding of their natural surroundings.
What challenges do they face?
Indigenous peoples are not the dominant groups in the societies they live in. The dominant
groups are the people that arrived later. This means that indigenous peoples have suffered
from many problems related to a lack of economic power, social protection and political
representation.
Although indigenous people make up less than five per cent of the world's total population,
they represent 15 per cent of the world's poorest people. They are more likely to have limited
access to healthcare and education, and members of indigenous communities live shorter lives
than non-indigenous groups. Their languages are not normally taught in schools, and many of
these languages are in danger of disappearing. It is estimated that one indigenous language is
lost every two weeks.
Many indigenous peoples do not have control over their land. Governments and companies
take their land to cut down trees, to farm cows or for other activities that use these natural
resources and damage the environment. This often forces indigenous people to leave their
land, losing their ancestral homes and their source of wealth and food.
What has been done?
Recently, in New Zealand, one of the local Maori tribes won a legal battle to protect the river
that runs through their land. The new law protects the river as if it were a person, a Maori
ancestor or a member of the tribe. Another historic legal battle was won by the Waorani people
of Ecuador, when they successfully stopped 500,000 acres of Amazonian rainforest from being
mined by oil companies.
Making sure indigenous peoples have legal rights over their land and resources is a matter of
human rights. It also brings environmental benefits to the planet. Deforestation rates in Bolivia,
Brazil and Colombia were two to three times lower in forests officially belonging to indigenous
communities.
Progress made by indigenous communities is supported by the 2007 UN Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a document that has been agreed on by 148 countries.
Importantly, the declaration defends indigenous peoples' right to make decisions about the use
and protection of their ancestral land. It also sets out many rights, including indigenous
peoples' rights to education and healthcare, participation in political and legal processes and
the protection of indigenous languages.
What more needs to be done?
Despite the progress made, indigenous communities still legally own only a very small
percentage of their land globally. The UN document is an important step, but more countries
need to commit to it, and the countries that have signed need to do what they have promised.
All around the world, indigenous people are fighting for their rights, as well as protesting
against deforestation and climate change. Part of the movement to support them is the
celebration of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on 9 August. Why not
join in?
Source
 http://www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/
 READING No 10

International Day of friendship

July 30 is the United Nations International Day of Friendship. Read about the importance of
friendship and find out why the UN decided to give it a special day.

The importance of friends

Friends come in
all shapes and
sizes. They may
be someone we
met as a child, a
classmate at
school, someone
we met at work
or through other
friends. They
may be friends
who live at a
distance in another country or virtual friends we've made online. Whoever they are, however
we met them, there is a special connection based on a shared history and interests, enjoying
doing things together or simply talking and understanding each other. Friends are there to help
us at difficult times and to celebrate the good times. Doctors say that friends are very important
for both our physical and mental health at all stages in life.

Declaring an international Friendship Day

But friends are not only important on an individual level. Friendship can also be important on a
global level. Friendships that cross borders can help bring peace and avoid war. Learning to
think of other people, people who are different from us, as our friends helps us work together
to build a culture of peace. That's why the UN declared 30 July as its official International Day
of Friendship.
The origins of the day

An international celebration was first suggested by the World Friendship Crusade. This
organisation was founded by Dr Ramón Artemio Bracho and his friends in Puerto Pinasco,
Paraguay, in 1958. They wanted to support the power of friendship and its importance in
creating a culture of peace. So, in the same year, they decided to celebrate Friendship Week
in Puerto Pinasco and other places in Paraguay. The following year, they repeated the week
and finished on 30 July, which they declared as Friendship Day. From there, celebrations of
friendship grew and spread across the Americas, then the world, and eventually the UN
declared an International Day of Friendship in 2011.

Friendship Days around the world

The International Day of Friendship on 30 July is not the only day celebrating friendship around
the world. A number of countries, such as Paraguay, also celebrate on 30 July, but other
countries have different dates. For example, Argentina, Brazil and Spain celebrate Friend's
Day on 20 July, while in India and the US, they celebrate it on the first Sunday in August. In
Finland and Estonia, Friendship Day is celebrated on the same day as Valentine's Day, 14
February.

What do people do on the International Day of Friendship?

Wherever it's celebrated, the celebrations are very similar. Friends meet up to spend time
together. They may eat out or have a meal at home. They give each other small gifts: books,
flowers, simple jewellery such as a friendship band (a simple bracelet). Some people send
each other cards and greetings online. Whatever form the celebration takes, the spirit is the
same – to remember the importance of friends and the power of friendship.

Source

https://www.un.org/en/events/friendshipday
 READING No 11

CHOCOLATE
What do you know about chocolate? Learn about the history of chocolate and the
interesting journey from cocoa bean to chocolate bar

World Chocolate Day

Did you know that there’s a World Chocolate Day? It takes place each year on 7 July. To
celebrate it,
read about the
history of
chocolate and
the interesting
journey from
cocoa bean to
chocolate bar.

A brief history
of chocolate

Chocolate
was first used
as a drink over 3,500 years ago in Central America. It was very popular with the Mayans and
the Aztecs, who mixed cocoa beans with vanilla or chilli peppers. In fact, cocoa beans were so
important to them that they were used as money. Cocoa was first grown in Ecuador, which
was, for a long time, the world’s number-one producer of cocoa beans. It is still one of the top
ten producers of the beans, but nowadays more than 70 per cent of cocoa beans come from
West Africa.

Cocoa beans

Cocoa beans come from cocoa trees. These trees grow in tropical forests around the world,
from South America to Indonesia. The beans grow in colourful pods of red, yellow and purple.
Inside the pods are the beans. Each tree grows around 50 pods a year, and each pod can
contain between 20 and 60 beans. It takes around 100 beans to make 100 grams of chocolate.
The pods are picked by hand to protect the trees.

Preparing the beans

Once the pods are picked from the tree, they are opened and the beans are taken out. The
beans need to go through a number of different processes before they are ready to be turned
into chocolate. First, the beans and the pulp are placed in special boxes, where they slowly
ferment for up to five days. Here the beans turn brown and start to develop their special
flavour. They are then put out in the sun to dry for approximately 14 days. After this, they are
roasted for about 15 minutes in preparation for the final stage, when the beans are taken out of
their shells. At the end of this process, we are left with the cocoa ‘nibs’ – chocolate in its purest
form and the basic ingredient for all chocolate products.

From cocoa nibs to chocolate liquor

The first step is to grind the nibs by machine or between two large stones. This produces
cocoa liquor, a semi-solid paste. This is then cooked and mixed continuously for hours or even
days until it is just right. This is also the stage at which other ingredients are added: sugar,
milk, various flavours. Interestingly, chocolate melts at 34ºC. This is just below body
temperature, which explains why it can be so sticky and messy, but also why it melts as soon
as you put it in your mouth.

From liquid to solid

At this point the cocoa nibs are ready for the last stage in the journey. For the cocoa liquor to
turn into solid chocolate, it needs to be heated and cooled and heated again until it forms a
solid mass. And so, at last, the journey from bean to bar is complete.

So now you know all about how chocolate is made, you may want to celebrate the day by
eating one of your favourite chocolate treats!
 READING No 12
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

On World Environment Day people from countries all around the world come
together to take action to defend our planet. Find out about some of the things people
are doing to celebrate this special day.

People celebrate World

Environment Day (WED) in many
different ways all over the world:
planting trees, cleaning up local
beaches, organising meetings,
joining online protests. Each year
the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) chooses a
particular issue to focus on. One
year it might be forests, another
year it might be wildlife. And each year there is a new host; a city which is the centre point for
all the celebrations.

How it first started

The United Nations (UN) named 5 June as international World Environment Day at the
Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment in 1972. The idea was to draw attention to
the many problems that are facing our environment. They wanted to include as many people,
organisations and governments, both local and national, as possible. They wanted to show
that positive change is possible when people work together to fight for a common cause.

The first World Environment Day

The first WED was celebrated in 1974 in the city of Spokane in the USA. The slogan for that
first year was ‘Only One Earth’ and it was celebrated with the world’s first world fair to be
dedicated to the environment. The exhibition lasted for six months.

The hosts
Since 1974 the WED has been hosted by 34 different cities in 25 different countries around the
world, from Cuba to Korea, from Belgium to Brazil. Some countries have hosted the main
celebrations two or more times, including Bangladesh, Canada and China. But that doesn’t
mean that all the celebrations take place in the host country. Every year people from all over
the world take part in a huge number of different events to draw attention to the main issue.

The issues

Each year the celebrations focus on a particular problem. Over the last ten years key issues
have included wildlife, forests and plastic waste, among other things. Each issue has a slogan.
Past slogans include ‘Think. Eat. Save.’, which asked people to think about the issue of food
waste, and ‘Raise your voice, not the sea level’, to focus on the effect that global warming is
having on small island nations around the world. As well as slogans, hashtags have become
important for the campaigns too. In a recent campaign the hashtag #WildforLife became a
strong symbol for the fight against all kinds of illegal trading in plants and animals.

What you can do

If you want to take part in the celebrations, or support this year’s special cause, here are some
things that you can do. You can visit the official website to find out what this year’s slogan is.
You can search for the slogan online to find organisations and events in your area or online.
You can share information about the cause and the events on social media or form a local
action group of your own and organise an event in your community. Whatever you do, you
won’t be alone. Millions of people all around the world will be joining the celebrations and
fighting for a better future for our planet.
 READING No 13
RAMADAN

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. What happens during Ramadan and what does it
mean to millions of Muslims worldwide?

What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is a very special time for
Muslims all over the world.
Observing Ramadan is one of the
five 'pillars' of Islam. During
Ramadan, all Muslims over the age
of about 12, with some exceptions,
are expected to fast between dawn
and sunset.

When does it take place?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which follows the phases of the moon.
This means the dates of Ramadan change each year. The month starts when the new
crescent moon is first visible in the night sky. Fasting ends with the arrival of the next lunar
month, which starts with the first glimpse of the new crescent moon.

How do people fast?

During Ramadan, the day starts early so that people can eat a pre-fast meal before dawn. This
meal, called Suhoor, is important as it will keep them going through the day. During daylight
hours, fasting Muslims cannot eat food or drink water or any other drinks. In late spring or early
summer, this is particularly difficult as the day can be very long. People who live in polar
regions, where daylight can last 22 hours or more, can choose to follow the dawn and sunset
times in Mecca or a nearby country where the sky is dark at night.

Are all Muslims expected to fast?

Not all Muslims are expected to fast. Children under the age of 12, people who are travelling,
elderly people, pregnant women and others where it may affect their health are exempt. Those
who can't fast for any reason can offer to feed poor people for each day they miss during
Ramadan.
What happens at sunset?
People can eat and drink again once the sun has set. The traditional way to break the fast is
by eating dates and drinking a glass of water. Then, the evening meal, Iftar, is a social event
that can go on for hours. It is common for people to eat together in large groups of family and
friends. Special foods are prepared and shared, and desserts are particularly popular. Muslims
often include charity in Iftar as well, sharing Iftar with members of the community who cannot
buy or make their own food. Across the Muslim world, mosques and aid organisations set up
tents and tables for the public in poorer communities to eat free Iftar meals every night of
Ramadan.
Why do people fast?
Muslims fast during Ramadan to bring them closer to God and to remind them of the suffering
of people who are less fortunate than themselves. Fasting is an exercise in self-control. As well
as not eating, drinking or smoking, Muslims try to avoid bad actions, like talking about people
behind their backs or using bad language. Ramadan is a time for people to work on being
more patient, more tolerant and more mindful of the people around them. It is a moment to
reflect and work on being better people.
Many Muslims also donate money to charities during the month, and a lot of Islamic charities
organise food packs for people in poorer countries or refugee camps. Giving donations to
charity, known as Zakat, is particularly important during the holy month, and so is prayer,
meditation and reading the Qur'an.

How is the end of Ramadan celebrated?

Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the month of fasting. There are many Eid traditions, mainly centred
around family, food, generosity and festivities. On Eid ul-Fitr, Muslims wake up early and dress
in their finest clothes to attend the Eid prayers. After prayers, they wish each other a happy Eid
('Eid Mubarak' in Arabic) before spending the rest of the day with their extended families,
enjoying good food and sharing gifts with children and loved ones.
 READING No 14
APRIL FOOL’S DAY

April Fool's Day is a special day for jokes and tricks in many countries. Read this
article to find out all about it.

April Fool's Day is celebrated on 1 April in many countries around the world. On this day,
people traditionally play practical jokes on each other and have fun trying to make other people
believe things that are not true.

April Fool's traditions

In the UK, jokes and tricks can be played up until noon on 1 April. After midday it's considered
bad luck to play a trick. Anyone who forgets this and tries a joke in the afternoon becomes an
'April Fool' themselves.
So, what kind of jokes do people play? Well, a
simple example would be telling your friend
that their shoelaces are undone. Then, when
they bend down to do them up, you shout,
'April Fool!', and they realise their shoelaces
are fine. Maybe it's not your kind of humour,
but watch out, there's always someone who
will find it hilarious! In Ireland, a popular prank
is to send someone on a 'fool's errand'. The victim is sent to deliver a letter, supposedly asking
for help. When the person receives the letter, they open it, read it and tell the poor messenger
that they will have to take the letter to another person. This continues and the victim ends up
taking the message to several different people until someone feels sorry for them and shows
them what the letter says: 'Send the fool to someone else.'

In France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and French-speaking areas of Canada and
Switzerland, the 1 April tradition is known as the 'April Fish'. A common joke is to try to stick a
paper fish onto a victim's back without being noticed.
April Fool's Day in the media
Some newspapers, TV channels and well-known companies publish false news stories to fool
people on 1 April. One of the earliest examples of this was in 1957 when a programme on the
BBC, the UK's national TV channel, broadcast a report on how spaghetti grew on trees. The
film showed a family in Switzerland collecting spaghetti from trees and many people were
fooled into believing it, as in the 1950s British people didn't eat much pasta and many didn't
know how it was made! Most British people wouldn't fall for the spaghetti trick today, but in
2008 the BBC managed to fool their audience again with their Miracles of Evolution trailer,
which appeared to show some special penguins that had regained the ability to fly. Two major
UK newspapers, The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mirror, published the 'important story' on
their front pages.

On April Fool's Day 1998, the American hamburger chain Burger King announced that it had
created a left-handed hamburger. The advert for the 'new product' explained that all the
ingredients had been rotated 180 degrees so that it was more comfortable for left-handed
people to pick up and eat. The following day, Burger King admitted that this advertisement had
been a hoax, but said that thousands of customers had gone to restaurants across the USA
asking for a left-handed burger.
April Fool's Day controversy
April Fool's Day fans say it encourages fun and laughter, and one study found that it reduces
stress and therefore could be good for your heart. Other people point out that it can have
negative consequences, like confusion, worry or wasting time and resources. For example, a
spokesperson for Dublin Zoo said staff had 'lost their sense of humour' after they received
more than 100,000 calls asking for invented names such as Mr C Lyons, Anna Conda and G
Raffe! The callers were victims of a phone hoax, who contacted the zoo after receiving a text
message encouraging them to make the call.
In the era of 'fake news' it's often hard on a normal day of the year to work out when we're
being tricked into believing something that isn't true, but on April Fool's Day you need to be
even more alert. No one knows exactly how the tradition started, but there are plenty of people
who enjoy this light-hearted day and are happy to keep the tradition alive.
 READING No 15
HOLI

Holi is sometimes called the festival of colours. Find out more about this very special
springtime festival in this article

What is Holi and why is it celebrated?

Holi is an ancient Hindu festival that
originated in India and Nepal and is
now celebrated in many places around
the world. The date changes each
year depending on the full moon, but it
is held some time between the end of
February and the middle of March,
and lasts a night and a day. It also
represents the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. An important part of the
celebration is forgiving anyone who has upset you and repairing any broken relationships. Holi
is sometimes called the festival of colours.
What happens on Holika Dahan?
The festivities start the night before Holi, which is called Holika Dahan. People build bonfires
which represent good winning over evil and the end of winter. They perform rituals around the
fire. In ancient stories, Holika was a devil whom the God Vishnu destroyed through fire. People
start collecting wood for the bonfires several days before so that they can build really big fires.
What happens on Rangwali Holi?
The next day is called Rangwali Holi. In the morning everyone goes into the streets and people
throw coloured powders and water at each other. Some people use water guns and water
balloons. After a few hours everyone is soaking wet and covered in a rainbow of different
colours. Many people prepare themselves by putting oil on their skin and hair to make it easier
to remove the colour afterwards. In the evening people put on clean clothes, go and visit their
friends and family and exchange sweets and other delicious food.
Why do people throw colours?
Some people say that the colours are a way of celebrating the many colours of the flowers in
springtime. But in the area around Mathura and Vrindavan the people also tell a story about
the god Krishna. Krishna was passionately in love with a girl called Radha but he was worried
that she would not love him because their skins were different colours. He didn't need to worry
because Radha let him paint her face the same colour as his to show that she loved him. It is
said that lovers nowadays often paint their faces the same colour during Holi to remember this
story.
There is a spirit of togetherness and equality during the Holi festival as people from all
backgrounds and walks of life celebrate and have fun together.
 READING No 16
NOWRUZ

Nowruz is an important festival in Iran, Central Asia and beyond. Read on to find
out how people celebrate the Persian New Year.

What is Nowruz?
Nowruz means 'new day' in Persian and is the most important festival of the year in Iran. It is
also celebrated in a number of
other countries across the Middle
East, Central Asia, South Asia,
the Balkans and East Africa, and
dates back at least 3,000 years.
The holiday has changed over
the thousands of years that it has
been celebrated, and different
regions have preserved or
developed different traditions, as
well as adding new ones. But wherever it is observed, it celebrates the original message of
rebirth and renewal.

When is it celebrated?
Nowruz marks the spring equinox, when night and day are of equal length. This is usually on
20 or 21 March. It's the day when winter changes into spring in the northern hemisphere, and it
feels like a new beginning. In Iran it is followed by four days of public holidays, and schools
and universities close for two weeks.

How do people prepare for Nowruz?

People start their preparation for the festivities weeks beforehand. They clean their homes
from top to bottom, including carpets, windows and curtains. Everyone in the family helps out.
Anything broken is repaired or replaced and the house is decorated with flowers. By doing this
spring cleaning, people wash away the bad things from the previous year and prepare for
better things to come in the new year.
People prepare a special table in their homes, where they place small dishes holding seven
symbolic foods and spices. The names of these foods all start with the letter 's' in Persian and
so the table is called the 'seven s's' (haft-seen). The dishes generally contain wheat or bean
sprouts (sabze), vinegar (serke), apples (sib), garlic (sir), a wheat-based pudding
called samanu, a red spice called sumac, and senjed, a kind of wild olive which is common in
the region. Other symbolic objects can include goldfish, painted eggs, candles and a mirror.
The seven s's symbolise life, love, health and prosperity.

How is it celebrated?
Fire forms an important part of the celebrations, and bonfires are built and lit on the streets for
four Tuesdays in the weeks before Nowruz. On the last Tuesday, people observe the Festival
of Fire (Chaharshanbe Suri), which involves jumping over these fires, which is believed to
bring health and good luck in the new year.
Iranians spend the night of Nowruz with their family. The traditional new year dinner is white
fish with rice and herbs. Many families give a money gift (called eidi) to the children to mark the
new year. People often visit each other's homes and always bring traditional gifts.
People also celebrate on the street. Traditional poetry, song and dance play a key role in the
celebrations, and people fill the streets to watch and take part in the performances. Traditional
sports are also popular. They often involve horse-riding or wrestling.

When does it end?

The festivities end on the thirteenth day after Nowruz, when people traditionally spend the day
picnicking outside. The countryside is full of families eating, dancing, singing and enjoying the
last day of the holidays.
 READING No 17
VALENTINE’S DAY

Valentine's Day is celebrated in many countries, but what are the differences between
today's celebration and in the past? Read the text to find out some curious facts about
the most romantic day of the year.

Valentine's Day is on 14 February,

and it can seem as if the world is
full of couples who are celebrating
their love. Some couples might
celebrate with dinner at a nice
restaurant, flowers, chocolates or
other presents. Some single
people might put a post on social
media about why they hate 'V-
Day' or maybe they just avoid it
completely. But it's impossible not to know that Valentine's is happening. And that's not
surprising when over half of all Brits and Americans celebrate Valentine's in some way.

The price of love

For most of these romantic people, Valentine's Day means spending money. British people
spend much less than Americans. The average Brit spends £28.45, while the average
American spends $221.34 (approximately £170.81). Interestingly, in the UK, all three adult
generations are likely to buy something for Valentine's (around 68–69% of them). But in the
USA, millennials spend slightly more than Generation X, and both spend almost a third more
than baby-boomers. Across all generations, on both sides of the Atlantic, men spend more
money than women.

The beginning of modern Valentine's Day

Today Valentine's is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, France, Denmark, Italy and Australia as
well as the USA and England. But it's the USA where the celebration really became mass
market, because of a woman called Esther Howland. She became known as the 'mother of
Valentine's' after she created a successful business making and selling greetings cards in the
1840s. She got the idea from valentine cards from Europe that were decorated with lace and
flowers and were very expensive. Then, in the early 1900s, two things happened that meant
valentine cards became really popular: cheap printed cards were made by the greeting cards
company, Hallmark, and the price of postage stamps fell.

Vinegar valentines
At about the same time as this, another kind of valentine card was popular. 'Vinegar
valentines' were nasty, anonymous cards that people sent to someone they didn't like. This
pre-social media way of trolling people was popular for a hundred years, but not many
examples of the cards are in museums today. Museums have big collections of traditional
valentine cards, but it's no surprise that not many people kept an unkind valentine card.

Further back in history

Valentine's Day has been celebrated in some way for 600 years. As far back as the 17th
century, people gave cards or presents, but the very first valentine messages were written
down in the 1400s. In 1415, the Duke of Orleans in France sent his wife a Valentine's Day
letter while he was in prison in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt. It is the
earliest example of a written valentine message. However, the exact history of Valentine's Day
is not known because there were three saints with the name Valentine. One story says that
Valentine was a priest. He performed marriages at a time when the Emperor thought that
single men were better soldiers than married men. The Emperor was so angry that he
punished him with death. Another story says that Valentine helped Christians escape from
Roman prisons. A third story says he sent a letter to a girl while he was in prison and signed it
'From your Valentine'.
Whichever story is true, the Catholic Church chose 14 February for St Valentine's Day in AD
270. They probably wanted to replace the pagan festival of Lupercalia on 15 February with the
new Christian celebration.
 READING No 18

HANUKKAH
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that is celebrated for eight days, usually in December. It is
also called the Festival of Lights. Find out why and learn about what people do to
celebrate this special holiday

Hanukkah, or the Festival of

Lights, is a Jewish
celebration. Its date changes
from year to year, but it
always takes place either in
November or December. It
lasts for eight days and is
celebrated by Jews around
the world.

The menorah
The most important part of Hanukkah is the lighting of the menorah (a special candleholder
used in Jewish ceremonies). For Hanukkah, there is a special menorah with nine candles.
Eight of the candles represent the eight days of the festival. The ninth candle is used to light
the other eight. On the first day, only one candle is lit, on the second day, two candles, and so
on, until all the candles are lit on the last day. The candles are lit at sunset and should burn for
at least half an hour. They are usually put at a door or a window so that people can see them
from outside.

The history behind the festival

The festival celebrates when a group of Jews won back a temple from the Greeks in the
second century BC. They made a new menorah to replace the one that had been broken. But
when they went to light it, they could only find one small bowl of the special oil they needed.
There was only enough oil to last one night but they knew it would take them eight days to
prepare more. They lit the lamps with the oil on that first night, thinking it would burn for just
one night. But the oil lasted for another seven nights and this event gave birth to Hanukkah,
the Festival of Lights.

Special Hanukkah food

Oil is an important part of the Hanukkah celebrations and all kinds of food made with oil are
eaten on the eight days. In central and eastern Europe they make latke, fried potato
pancakes, that they eat with apple sauce or sour cream. The favourite treat in Israel
is sufganiyot (doughnuts filled with strawberry jam). Other popular festival foods include apple
cakes and pretzels (bread made in the shape of a knot).

Celebrating with family and friends

Family and friends are very important during the festival. It's traditional to invite people to your
home to have dinner and to play games together. The most traditional game is played with
a dreidel, a wooden spinning top with four sides. There are four Hebrew letters on the four
sides and, depending on which letter your top lands on, you win or lose. The game is usually
played with nuts and dried fruit and sweets.

Hanukkah gifts
Lots of families give presents during the festival, especially to children. These are often games
that the whole family can play together or books and other small gifts. It is also a tradition to
give money to children (Hanukkah gelt) and to encourage them to donate some of their money
to good causes.
 READING No 19

THANKSGIVING
Every autumn, Canadian and American families gather for a day centred around
community, food and giving thanks – the day of Thanksgiving. Where did this holiday
come from and how is it celebrated today?

The history of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving combines the traditions of different groups of people. Travellers and migrants
brought different religious
traditions from Europe to the
United States and Canada.
Several celebrations are
claimed as the first
Thanksgiving. The best
known is the celebration held
by the pilgrims in what is now
Plymouth, Massachusetts
after their journey across the
Atlantic Ocean on the famous Mayflower ship. Like the pilgrims, many groups held days of
prayer, fasting or feasting to give thanks for successfully making the long boat journey. Later,
settlers celebrated their successful harvest in a new land by holding feasts with their Native
American neighbours. Over time, the Canadian and American traditions have become similar
and developed into the modern holiday of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving today
In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. In the United States,
it is on the fourth Thursday in November. Although its origins are religious, today, Thanksgiving
is a largely secular holiday. For most Americans and Canadians, it is a day for coming together
with family and friends to share a large meal. It is an occasion to spend time with loved ones
and express gratitude for the year that has passed. In many households there is a tradition of
everyone seated at the table sharing what they are most grateful for.

Thanksgiving food
Thanksgiving is also about food. Thanksgiving dinner traditionally includes roast turkey,
mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and, for dessert, apple, pumpkin or pecan pies. Every
family has its own recipes, sometimes secret recipes handed down through generations.
Turkey, a bird native to North America, is the unofficial mascot of Thanksgiving, with roast
turkey on the menu and turkey decorations on the wall. In the United States, a tradition of
gifting turkeys to the President has more recently evolved into a humorous turkey ‘pardoning’.
At this light-hearted ceremony, the President issues an official pardon for one or two turkeys,
saving them from being cooked for supper.

More than food: football, parades and traffic jams!

Beyond food and gratitude, there are some unexpected sides to the American and Canadian
holiday. One of these is football. This popular sport is an important part of the holiday, when
families gather around to cheer on local or national teams. American football and Canadian
football are both similar to rugby, played primarily not with the feet but with the hands.
Parades are another common part of the festivities. In the United States, the Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place in New York City on the morning of Thanksgiving. It’s
one of the world’s largest parades and is broadcast nationwide. A similar Thanksgiving parade
happens in Canada as part of the Kitchener–Waterloo Oktoberfest, a multi-day autumn
festival.
Unfortunately, heavy traffic is also common at Thanksgiving. In both countries, the week of
Thanksgiving is one of the most popular travel times of the year, as everyone heads home to
visit their extended family. So try to avoid any road trips if you’re visiting North America during
this holiday!
 READING No 20

SAINT PATRICK’S DAY

Get ready for green lights, green hats, even green beer! Saint Patrick's Day is on 17 March.
Why is Ireland's national day such a worldwide party?

In the 1971 film The

Flight of the Doves,
an Irish policeman
lifts up a little English
girl so that she can
see the nearby
parade for Saint
Patrick's Day. He tells
her, 'It's a great day
for the Irish.' The
little girl exclaims,
'I'm not Irish!', to
which the policeman
replies, 'You don't
have to be Irish to be Irish!' Saint Patrick's Day is the national day of Ireland. Every 17 March, the day is
celebrated around the globe by millions of people, Irish and not-so-Irish.

Patrick, the man

Did you know that Saint Patrick himself was not actually Irish? It is thought that he was either Scottish or Welsh,
coming from a wealthy Christian family. Ancient documents suggest that, as a teenager, he was taken by Irish
pirates to work as a slave in Ireland. Once in his new country, he began to talk to Irish people about God,
introducing his Christian beliefs to the country.

Patrick and the snakes

Old legends say that, years ago, Ireland had a lot of snakes and that Saint Patrick used his powers to chase them
all into the sea. To this day, Ireland has many old statues of Saint Patrick, often with snakes at his feet.
Apparently, this is why Ireland has no native species of snakes (though most scientists suggest that this fact
could be more related to geographical reasons!).

International popularity

March 17 is a day for huge celebrations in Ireland. However, due to Ireland's history of emigration, many people
around the world consider themselves to be partly Irish because of their ancestral connections. This means that
Saint Patrick's Day parties take place around the world, from Boston to Tokyo, Sydney to Buenos Aires. In fact,
Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in more countries than any other national festival.

Big parades

The most famous celebrations on Saint Patrick's Day are the parades. These are carnival-like events, where
people dress up and walk along the street, dancing or playing music. Often the parades include big lorries,
specially decorated in green. Many of the world's major cities have enormous parades. The largest is in New
York, where 150,000 people participate in the parade and millions of people watch. The second largest is in
Dublin, Ireland's capital city.

More 'modest' parades

Ireland itself is a relatively small country with few cities. However, most of its towns and villages have their own
'mini' parades. Sometimes, these simply include a few tractors and the children from the local school. The
shortest known parade used to take place in the village of Dripsey, in southern Ireland. The length of the parade
was just 23 metres, between the village's two pubs. However, the Dripsey parade came to an end when one of
the two pubs sadly closed down!

A day for green

Another well-known aspect of Saint Patrick's Day is the colour green. Around the world, many people wear
green clothes as a way of marking the day. In major cities, green lights illuminate famous global landmarks such
as the Colosseum in Rome or the Christ The Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. In Chicago, thousands of people
watch as special boats dye the river a bright green colour. Students at Miami University in Ohio, USA, even have
a 70-year-old tradition of drinking special green 'Saint Patrick's' beer!

Wherever you're from, make sure you celebrate this 17 March by watching your local parade, drinking some
Irish beer or perhaps just by wearing a silly green hat. And don't forget to wish your friends a wonderful Saint
Patrick's Day, or, as they say in Ireland, 'Happy Paddy's Day!'