SONGS

Australia Day - 26 January

Australia Day is celebrated on the 26th January each year.
 It is the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander Captain Arthur Phillip, in 1788.
 On Australia Day, over half of the nation’s population of 21 million attend either an organised community event, or get together with family and friends with the intention of celebrating our national day. Many more spend the public holiday relaxing with family and friends.
Yet Australia Day is much more than barbeques and fireworks. It is more than another public holiday. It is more than the pride and excitement of new citizens who call themselves Australian for the first time on 26 January after being conferred citizenship.

 

 Info :  /http://www.australiaday.vic.gov.au/ 

Games & Activities:  http://www.wartgames.com/themes/australia.html

Burns' Night in United Kingdom -25 January

O my Luve's like a red, red rose,               

That's newly sprung in June:
O my Luve's like the melodie,
That's sweetly play'd in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.
 And fare-thee-weel, my only Luve!
And fare-thee-weel, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile!
​Robert Burns

Burns Night is annually celebrated in Scotland on or around January 25. It commemorates the life of the bard (poet) Robert Burns, who was born on January 25, 1759. The day also celebrates Burns' contribution to Scottish culture. Burns' best known work is 'Auld Lang Syne'.
This song is perhaps the most famous of Burns’ repertoire and has become one of the main songs associated with Scotland. Also sung at Hogmanay, revellers join hands in a circle to sing in unison. At the line ‘And here’s a hand…’, members of the circle traditionally cross their arms and rejoin holding hands.
AULD   LANG SYNE  song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4pN0zn16jk
 Ye Banks and Braes -vid to Robert Burns poem sung by Kathleen Procter-Moore, featuring photos of Scotland and images of Robert Burns:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0heT0O7zQ0

 Many people and organizations hold a Burns' supper on or around Burns' Night. These may be informal or formal, only for men, only for women, or for both genders. Formal events include toasts and readings of pieces written by Robert Burns. Ceremonies during a Burns' Night supper vary according to the group organizing the event and the location. The evening centers on the entrance of the haggis (a type of sausage prepared in a sheep's stomach) on a large platter to the sound of a piper playing bagpipes. When the haggis is on the table, the host reads the 'Address to a Haggis'. This is an ode that Robert Burns wrote to the Scottish dish. At the end of the reading, the haggis is ceremonially sliced into two pieces and the meal begins.

 Robert Burns - Address to a Haggis - Definitive Version :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJSjAGVV6Zg#t=24 

The Scottish flag is often displayed at Burns' Night celebrations. It is known as the Saltire and consists of a rectangular blue background with thick white bars on the diagonals. The diagonals form a cross that represents Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland.

At Burns' Night events, many men wear kilts and women may wear shawls, skirts or dresses made from their family tartan. A tartan was originally a woolen cloth with a distinctive pattern made by using colors of weft and warp when weaving. Particular patterns and combinations of colors were associated with different areas, clans and families. Tartan patterns are now printed on various materials.

Many types of food are associated with Burns' Night. These include: cock-a-leekie soup (chicken and leek soup); haggis; neeps (mashed turnips or swedes) and tatties (mashed potatoes); cranachan (whipped cream mixed with raspberries and served with sweet oat wafers); and bannocks (a kind of bread cooked on a griddle). Whisky is the traditional drink.

  

10 Fun Facts About Robert Burns : http://www.scotsusa.com/scotland/fun-facts-robert-burns/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/robertburns/burns_night_running_order.shtml 

The X Factor Australia 2015 - Father Rob Galea ;)

The Epiphany - The Three Wise Men

At the time when Jesus was born, during the reign of King Herod, in a faraway land to the east, Magi (wise men) noticed a bright new star shining in the sky.
They believed the star was a sign that a new king had been born, and set out on a long journey to find this king.
After the Magi had travelled a great distance, the star led them to the city of Bethlehem, and to the house where Joseph, Mary, and young Jesus lived. The Magi rejoiced to find the young child that was to be the King of kings, and they offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
You can read the full story in Matthew chapter 2, verses 1 to 11
More info:
http://www.whychristmas.com/story/wisemen.shtml
http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/epiphany.shtml
http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/star-of-bethlehem.shtml

Christmas Fun for everyone! ;) You can't miss it! ;)

http://www.whychristmas.com/

And for those, who like singing - Christmas karaoke ! ;)

http://tistheseasonto.be/

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

It's time to start learning carols! ;) 1. Deck the Halls( class 1A) : 2. We wish you a Merry Christmas( class 1B): 3.Mary's Boy Child( class 2A) 4. God rest You Merry Gentelmen( class 2B ) 5.Feliz Navidad( 1A, 2A) : 6. Silent Night( all):

Our God is an Awesome God

Who remembers this song? ;)    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP9BjKnDaFk

WYD HYMN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pkco_g2R1A   'Blessed are the merciful'- let's sing together the  2016 WYD  hymn ;)