Sinterklaas is a traditional holiday figure in the Netherlands and Belgium. Sinterklaas' birthday is celebrated on the 6th of December and on that day he comes from Spain in a steamboat to give presents to all the children that have been good that year. In order to know who gets a present and who doesn't, Sinterklaas keeps a list of all the names in his big book.
Sinterklaas has a long white beard, wears a red bishop's dress and red mitre (bishop's hat), and holds a long gold coloured staff with a fancy curled top. He rides a white horse called Slechtweervandaag (bad-weather-today in Dutch) and has helpers called Zwarte Pieten (Black Petes).
Traditionally, in the weeks between his arrival and the 5th of December, before going to bed, children put their shoes next to the chimney of the coal fired stove or fireplace, with a carrot or some hay in it "for Sinterklaas's horse", sing a Sinterklaas song, and will find some candy or a small present in their shoes the next day, supposedly thrown down the chimney by a Zwarte Piet or Sinterklaas himself.
There are many Sinterklaas songs. Do you want to listen to a song in Peter's language? Watch the video!
Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes Night (also known as Bonfire Night) is an annual celebration on the evening of the 5th of November. It celebrates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot of the 5th of November1605.
The Gunpowder Plot was an attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London. Guy Fawkes was one of the men who tried to do this, but he was caught when trying to light the explosives underneath the Houses of Parliament. He was sentenced to death.
The days before the 5th of November, children make Guy Fawkes puppets and dolls. They take the dolls around the street and ask people for money. With that money they can build a bonfire or buy fireworks. The fireworks are fired on the night of the 5th of November. The puppets or dolls are burned in the bonfires.
People traditionally sing a rhyme on Guy Fawkes Night. It goes like this: Remember, remember the Fifth of November, The Gunpowder Treason and Plot, I can think of no reason Why the Gunpowder Treason Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent To blow up the King and Parli'ment. Three-score barrels of powder below To prove old England's overthrow; By God's providence he was catch'd With a dark lantern and burning match. Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring. Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King
Watch out for words that look the same in Spanish but don't mean the same: intent does not mean intento!
The past simple of to catch is caught not catch'd.
Have you seen the movie V for Vendetta (V de Vendetta)? It uses the story about Guy Fawkes in its plot.
Exercise!
Can you tell me where Guy Fawkes was born?
Look it up on the internet!
Who is Peter?
What is his name? Peter Koeck How old is he? He is 23 years old. When is his birthday? His birthday is 21st June. Where does he live? He lives in Jaén. Where is he from? He is from Belgium. Where did he live in Belgium? He lived in Antwerp.
Does he have a brother or a sister? Yes, he does. He has one sister. What is her name? Her name is Vicky. How old is she? She is 21 years old. Does she study or does she work? She studies. What does she study? She studies Orthopedagogy.
What are his parents' names? Their names are Henri and Patricia. How old are they? His father is 54 years old. His mother is 45 years old. What do they do? Henri is a lorry driver. Patricia is a cleaning lady. Do they have pets? Yes, they do. They have two chihuahuas called Seppe and Balou.
What are Peter's hobbies? Peter's hobbies are reading, watching films and dancing. What is his favourite film? His favourite film is The Lord of the Rings.
A Halloween Story
The SCARIEST WITCH...
by Joy
":It's Halloween in town", hollered the scariest witch with a worrying frown. "He..he..he..I need to hitch my fastest, fanciest and meanest flying broom to scare the people's wits".
The town folks know they can rely on me to fly fast and low, but..... "how do I avoid the many apple trees", she cried out loud.
Last Halloween, I crashed, tore my costume and my fastest broom got smashed.
"THINK, THINK, THINK"...she muttered to herself while putting her crookiest nose on her face in green schmink.
When the scariest witch was ready to scare the town people's wits, she jumped on her broom and circled three times to scare the man in the moon. Then off she flew as fast as she could while Mr. Wind blew and blew.
The scariest witch on her broom thought she had made a good escape, but when Mr. Wind blew his strongest blow the scariest witch and her fastest, fanciest and meanest broom flew straight into a big ditch.
Town children passing by in fancy and scaring costumes shone their Jack O' lanterns to see the scariest witch lying in the ditch. They offered her a Halloween treat but a witch cannot eat anything sweet.
So off the children went with their sacks full of treats telling everyone about the Halloween fate of the scariest witch and her fastest, fanciest and meanest broom Mr. Wind blew into the town's biggest ditch.
Why don't you visit Peter's wiki?
Click on the flag and you'll see...Sinterklaas
Sinterklaas is a traditional holiday figure in the Netherlands and Belgium. Sinterklaas' birthday is celebrated on the 6th of December and on that day he comes from Spain in a steamboat to give presents to all the children that have been good that year. In order to know who gets a present and who doesn't, Sinterklaas keeps a list of all the names in his big book.
Sinterklaas has a long white beard, wears a red bishop's dress and red mitre (bishop's hat), and holds a long gold coloured staff with a fancy curled top. He rides a white horse called Slechtweervandaag (bad-weather-today in Dutch) and has helpers called Zwarte Pieten (Black Petes).
Traditionally, in the weeks between his arrival and the 5th of December, before going to bed, children put their shoes next to the chimney of the coal fired stove or fireplace, with a carrot or some hay in it "for Sinterklaas's horse", sing a Sinterklaas song, and will find some candy or a small present in their shoes the next day, supposedly thrown down the chimney by a Zwarte Piet or Sinterklaas himself.
There are many Sinterklaas songs. Do you want to listen to a song in Peter's language? Watch the video!
Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night (also known as Bonfire Night) is an annual celebration on the evening of the 5th of November. It celebrates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot of the 5th of November 1605.
The Gunpowder Plot was an attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London. Guy Fawkes was one of the men who tried to do this, but he was caught when trying to light the explosives underneath the Houses of Parliament. He was sentenced to death.
The days before the 5th of November, children make Guy Fawkes puppets and dolls. They take the dolls around the street and ask people for money. With that money they can build a bonfire or buy fireworks. The fireworks are fired on the night of the 5th of November. The puppets or dolls are burned in the bonfires.
People traditionally sing a rhyme on Guy Fawkes Night. It goes like this:
Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I can think of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King
Source: Wikipedia
Vocabulary:
In the text:
Bonfire: (n) hoguera
To foil: (v) frustrar
Gunpowder: (n) pólvora
Attempt: (n) intento
To sentence: (v) sentenciar
Fireworks: (n) fuegos artificiales
In the rhyme:
Intent: (n) propósito
Score: (adj) veintena
Barrel: (n) barril
Overthrow: (n) derrocar
Providence: (n) providencia
!! Attention!!
Watch out for words that look the same in Spanish but don't mean the same: intent does not mean intento!
The past simple of to catch is caught not catch'd.
Have you seen the movie V for Vendetta (V de Vendetta)? It uses the story about Guy Fawkes in its plot.
Exercise!
Can you tell me where Guy Fawkes was born?
Look it up on the internet!
Who is Peter?
What is his name? Peter Koeck
How old is he? He is 23 years old.
When is his birthday? His birthday is 21st June.
Where does he live? He lives in Jaén.
Where is he from? He is from Belgium.
Where did he live in Belgium? He lived in Antwerp.
Does he have a brother or a sister? Yes, he does. He has one sister.
What is her name? Her name is Vicky.
How old is she? She is 21 years old.
Does she study or does she work? She studies.
What does she study? She studies Orthopedagogy.
What are his parents' names? Their names are Henri and Patricia.
How old are they? His father is 54 years old. His mother is 45 years old.
What do they do? Henri is a lorry driver. Patricia is a cleaning lady.
Do they have pets? Yes, they do. They have two chihuahuas called Seppe and Balou.
What are Peter's hobbies? Peter's hobbies are reading, watching films and dancing.
What is his favourite film? His favourite film is The Lord of the Rings.
A Halloween Story
The SCARIEST WITCH...
by Joy
":It's Halloween in town", hollered the scariest witch with a worrying frown. "He..he..he..I need to hitch my fastest, fanciest and meanest flying broom to scare the people's wits".
The town folks know they can rely on me to fly fast and low, but..... "how do I avoid the many apple trees", she cried out loud.
Last Halloween, I crashed, tore my costume and my fastest broom got smashed.
"THINK, THINK, THINK"...she muttered to herself while putting her crookiest nose on her face in green schmink.
The scariest witch on her broom thought she had made a good escape, but when Mr. Wind blew his strongest blow the scariest witch and her fastest, fanciest and meanest broom flew straight into a big ditch.
So off the children went with their sacks full of treats telling everyone about the Halloween fate of the scariest witch and her fastest, fanciest and meanest broom Mr. Wind blew into the town's biggest ditch.