International Women’s Day

Special Days March 8th, 2010

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Today is International Women’s Day. It is a global celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.

Think about how women work in your life? Your mum, your grandmother, teacher, doctor, baker, dentist…etc.

Remember to appreciate their work (and that of men worker’s,too!)

Pancake Day

Special Days, Traditions February 16th, 2010

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Today is Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day as it’s often called in England, and people celebrate the day before the beginning of lent by using up fats eggs and flour to make pancakes.filloas

In Galicia we also celebrate “martes de Carnaval” by making  “filloas”  which are very similar to pancakes, but are thinner.

People eat pancakes with different fillings and other prefer to eat them plain and simple…with nothing. How about you?

What do you like to eat with your pancakes? Mark your answer on our poll.

Doves of Peace

Special Days January 30th, 2010

dovesToday is Peace Day. In 1964, it was decided that the 30th January (the anniversary of the death of Mahatma Gandhi) would be a day for school children to promote peace and tolerance and to stress the importance of living together in harmony.

Click here to play The Peace Doves  game

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Happy Australia Day!

Special Days January 26th, 2010

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Today is Australia Day! It’s a special day for Australians to celebrate all the great things about their people and country.

Click on the image to play an Australian game.

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A Special Year for Santiago de Compostela

History, Special Days January 9th, 2010

Santiago de Compostela is the capital of Galicia in the north-west of Spain. The city’s cathedral contains the tomb of the Apostle St. James and since the Middle Ages pilgrims have travelled from around the world to visit it. The cathedral is truly impressive and is well worth a visit regardless of your beliefs. In 1993 it was declared a World Heritage Site.

puerta santa santiagoThis year is a special year as it is the “Xacobeo 2010″ – a Jubilee year. This only occurs when the feast of  St. James falls on a Sunday. On the eve of the Jubilee year a special ceremony is held to open the “Holy Gate” – which is in fact sealed by a wall and is knocked down by three strikes of a silver hammer- to mark the beginning of the Jubilee year.

If you want to learn more about the “Xacobeo” click on the Xacobeo Blog

Santa Claus vs. The Three Kings

Special Days January 6th, 2010

In Spain today is the day that children will be waking up early to open their presents.
How lucky they are! Children in other countries will be waking up to go to school!

Traditionally in Spain children receive their presents from the Three Kings on the 6th of January – the feast of the Epiphany, but nowadays some children also receive presents from Santa Claus. That means they get TWO lots of presents!!!

Take part in our poll and tell us who brings YOU presents.

Happy New Year 2010!

Special Days January 2nd, 2010

Here is how the New Year began around the world.

Remembrance Day

Special Days November 11th, 2009

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On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, World War I ended, after four  years of war.

Remembrance Day is held on the 11th November every year to remember all the people who died in the two World Wars and other conflicts.

At this time of year artificial poppies are sold to mark Remembrance Day and people wear them on their jackets and coats. Everyone wears them even on the television.

lapel-poppyClick here to see why people wear a poppy.