Common Easter Traditions

 

How many of these pictures can you identify? (See below for answers)

 

 

Here are some Easter Traditions you might come across:

Dying Easter eggs actually has roots in many cultures, including Jewish, Egyptian, Persian, and Greek cultures. For most cultures, eggs represent rebirth and the spring equinox. Eggs first became part of Easter in Medieval Europe. People were not allowed to eat eggs during Lent (the 40 days before Easter), so there were a lot of extra eggs. On Easter, people would eat these surplus eggs and also dye them to represent the blood of Christ.

The Cadbury Crème Egg is perhaps one of the most famous Easter candies. It has chocolate on the outside and a sugar crème (fondant) on the inside.

Jeweled or Fabergé eggs are very popular in Russia. Only 43 original Fabergé eggs exist today.

Easter Egg baskets originated from the custom of bringing baskets to church when Lent was over.  The baskets were full of food for Easter supper, which were blessed by the clergy. Now, we fill baskets with fake grass and candy.

The Easter Bunny: Comes from Eostra, the Germanic pagan goddess of spring and rebirth after winter. Now, Eostra is represented by a bunny. Many parents tell their children that they will receive a basket filled with chocolates, candy, and toys from the Easter bunny.

Hot Cross Buns originated long before Easter candy, and are usually eaten on Good Friday before Easter. The icing on top represents the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

The Easter Egg Hunt is a common American tradition that involves hiding eggs outside. Children run around and try to find as many eggs as they can. A popular trend is to fill plastic eggs with candy or coins.

Marshmallow Peeps, a chick-shaped marshmallow candy,  used to take 27 hours to create (in 1953). Thanks to technology, it now takes 6 minutes! Recently, Dunkin Donuts introduced a Peep donut!

 

LANGUAGE LUNCH SERIES: RELIABLE MEDIA SOURCES

People develop preferences for some “go-to” media sources over others, or just to look up a topic of interest and read stories with the most catching headlines.

However, when you want to make sure your sources are presenting accurate facts and necessary background information, where can you turn?

To make matters even more complicated, some sources might seem like news but are really parodies or biting social commentary.

Some people have even started doubting the relevance of all news sources! We need to feel like we can trust the sources to provide relevant and accurate information. So, which are considered the most reliable news sources?

Key Words to Know:

Bias or Slant

Yellow Journalism

Political Left

Political Right

Independent

Conservative

Liberal

Progressive

Alt-Right

Freedom Caucus

First Amendment

Skeptical

Parody

For Discussion: Have you ever read a news source that you found hard to believe or outlandish? What caused you to start doubting? How did you react to the information? Can you think of examples in which someone was clearly misinformed due to the information he or she received?

Here is a list of the most popular sources, priding themselves on their reliability:

Wall Street Journal

New York Times

BBC

NPR

The Economist

PBS

The Associated Press

And a few that are less-trustworthy:

The Onion

Sources with a known, pronounced or extreme political bent, like Breitbart

Activity: Choose a topic that is in the news today and do a Web search for news on that topic. Read 3-4 sources, using some from the list above, and some not listed. What similarities do you find? Any differences? What questions do you have after reading?

LANGUAGE LUNCH SERIES: EASTER AND SPRING HOLIDAYS

Happy Spring! With the weather slowly getting warmer, let’s take a break to discuss upcoming holidays.

For Discussion:

What spring holidays do you celebrate? How is the new season marked for you? What family and food traditions do you observe? What is your favorite memory about a spring holiday?

What do you know about how Easter is celebrated in the United States? What do you know about its history? What do you want to know more about? What other spring holidays celebrated in America have you heard of? What is your favorite spring holiday?

Language Lunch Series: Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month! March 8^th every year is International Women’s Day. The theme for 2017 is “Be Bold for Change.”

2017 Women’s March Logo

Test Your Knowledge! How many of these words do you know?

• Feminism
• Femininity
• Gender Equality/ Gender Parity
• Women’s Liberation
• Suffrage
• Womanism
• Mystique
• Double Standard
• Activism
• 19th Amendment
• Equal Rights Amendment
• Patriarchy
• Muckraker
• Emblematic
• Woman’s Work
• Civil Disobedience
• Glass Ceiling
• Progressives
• Gender Roles

Who’s Who? Here are some major historical figures in the women’s rights movement.

Here are three major figures from the women’s rights movement. What do you think their short quotes mean? Is it still relevant today?

• Simone de Beauvoir: “Man is defined as a human being and a woman as a female – whenever she behaves as a human being she is said to imitate the male.”
• Betty Friedan: “When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of femininity she finally began to enjoy being a woman.”
• Mary Wollstonecraft: “Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience.”
• Mary McLeod Bethune: “If we accept and acquiesce in the face of discrimination, we accept the responsibility ourselves. We should, therefore, protest openly everything . . . that smacks of discrimination or slander.”

Explore! Who else do you associate with the Women’s Rights Movement? Here are some prominent American figures: Jane Addams, Susan B. Anthony Alice Stone Blackwell, Antoinette Brown Blackwell, William Lloyd Garrison, Ruth Bader Ginsburg,  Lucretia Mott, Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Gloria Steinem, Lucy Stone, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells.

       For Discussion: How many of these women do you know? Who do you think is the                  most prominent female figure from your home country?

Women in the Arts: Here is an excerpt from a poem celebrating women by Maya Angelou entitled “Phenomenal Woman.”

 Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

…

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need for my care.

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Further Discussion:

Do you know any songs, artwork, or literature that connects to this theme?

Women’s Rights affect Job Opportunities. What are some traditionally male or female occupations? What has changed? Find out more about your own major or one that you are interested in and try to get a sense of gender distribution. Alternatively, provide a personal example of someone you know who has entered a profession that has experienced a major shift related to gender

Women’s Rights affect Language Use, making us more aware of long held biases in the language. How does gender function in the English language today?

What professions or job titles still carry associations with a particular gender? Here are a few to get you started:  firefighter vs. fireman, mankind vs. humanity, he vs. people in proverbs. What have you been taught? What have you noticed in speaking?

Ladies and Gentlemen: Ways to Avoid being gender specific in addressing a mixed group: guys, folks, gang. When to use lady, girl, woman, man, gentleman, boy.

For more information about gender-neutral language in English, check out this post!

Language Lunch Series: The Oscars: “And the Award Goes to…”

In today’s busy word, watching films is a good way to relax and become surrounded in another world created by artists. Each year, we recognize the best films.

Keywords:

• Genre: the type of film, book, or music
  • Examples of genre:
    • Live-action: real people
    • Cartoon: drawings/animation/claymation (using clay figures)
    • Documentary: provides a factual record or report on a subject
• Red Carpet/Haute Couture/Glitz/Glamour: very fashionable or stylish; usually also very expensive!
• Cinematography: the art of making movies
• Nostalgia and Escapism: wishing or longing for the past; escaping into another world through a book, movie, music, etc.
• Buzz: popularity; gossip
• Contenders: candidates or nominees
• Movie Trailer: the preview of the movie–this is usually about 30 seconds to two minutes long and gives a brief overview of what the movie is about
• Iconic: widely recognized or symbolic
• White-washing: the act of using white actors to portray non-white characters.
  • Examples of white-washing:
    • Johnny Depp portraying a Native American in The Lone Ranger
    • Scarlett Johansson in the Japanese live-action of Ghost in the Shell

Sunday, February 26, 2017 marks the 89th annual Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars. It will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California. Each year, there is much anticipation leading up to the glitz and glamour of the red-carpet tradition. This awards ceremony is the oldest American entertainment awards show, recognized by most as the pinnacle of success in cinematography.

Secrecy and Intrigue surrounding The Nomination Process:

With around 6,000 voting members in the Academy, hundreds of films and artists each year as possible candidates, and strict guidelines for eligibility, part of the allure of these awards is the complicated process that results in nominations for these awards.

Major Categories and 2017 Contenders:

For Discussion: How many of these films have you seen? What is your favorite film genre? Do you know any of these actors and actresses from other films?

Best Picture: since 1928. This Year’s Nominees: “La La Land, Moonlight,” “Lion,” “Hidden Figures,” “Manchester by the Sea,” “Arrival,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” “Hell or High Water,” “Fences”

Best Director: since 1928. This Year’s Nominees: Damien Chazelle (“La La Land“), Barry Jenkins  (“Moonlight“), Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival“), Kenneth Lonergan ( “Manchester by the Sea“), Mel Gibson (“Hacksaw Ridge“)

Best Actor in a Leading Role: since 1928. This Year’s Nominees: Denzel Washington (“Fences”), Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”), Ryan Gosling (“La La Land”), Viggo Mortensen (“Captain Fantastic”), Andrew Garfiled (“Hacksaw Ridge”)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: since 1936. This Year’s Nominees: Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight”), Michael Shannon (“Nocturnal Animals”), Dev Patel (“Lion“), Jeff Bridges, (“Hell or High Water“) Lucas Hedges (“Manchester by the Sea“)

Best Actress in a Leading Role: since 1928. This Year’s Nominees: Emma Stone (“La La Land“), Natalie Portman (“Jackie“), Meryl Streep (“Florence Foster Jenkins“), Isabelle Huppert ( “Elle“), Ruth Negga  (“Loving“)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: since 1936. This Year’s Nominees: Viola Davis (“Fences“), Michelle Williams (“Manchester by the Sea”), Naomie Harris (“Moonlight”) Nicole Kidman (“Lion”) Octavia Spencer (“Hidden Figures)

Best Animated Feature: since 2001. This Year’s Nominees: “Zootopia,”“Kubo and the Two Strings,” “Moana,” “The Red Turtle,” “My Life as a Zucchini”

Best Cinematography: since 1928. This Year’s Nominees: “La La Land” (Linus Sandgren), “Lion” (Greig Fraser), “Arrival” (Bradford Young), “Moonlight” (James Laxton), “Silence” (Rodrigo Prieto)

But That’s Not All! Other Categories Include: Best Costume Design, Best Documentary Feature, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Sound Mixing

Best Picture Discussion Activity: For more information and for clips of trailers: http://oscar.go.com/nominees

A trailer is a short clip that is meant to get people interested in the movie. Watch the trailers of three “buzz-worthy” films: “La La Land,” “Lion,” and “Hidden Figures.”

What did you learn about the film from the trailer? Can you summarize the story in your own words? What do you want to know more about after watching?

• For “La La Land”: This film is expected to be one of the top winners across many categories this year. Why do you think that it is so popular? What type of world does it depict (show us)? Is this a film you would like to see?
• For “Lion”: How did the filmmakers decide to represent the different cultures represented in the film? What do you think the relationship between these cultures might be based on this clip? Here is a quote from the author who wrote the book on which the film is based: “At the end of the day, getting to the Oscars wasn’t for us. We wrote this book to help other people in a similar situation.” What is your reaction to this quote? Is this a film you would like to see?
• For “Hidden Figures”: How does this film deal with racial tensions and gender roles of this time period? Why is it important to tell this story? Does it have any particular significance right now?

Impress your Friends with Some Oscar Trivia:

• Shirley Temple was the youngest person ever to receive the Oscar Award, in 1934, at the ripe-old age of 5.
• Margaret Herrick, the Academy librarian, nicknamed the award statues after her uncle, Oscar, in 1931.
• Walt Disney was awarded with a total of 26 Academy Awards.
• Greer Garson gave the longest speech, when she accepted the ‘Best Actress Award’, somewhere between 5.5 and 7 minutes.
• The three movies have won 11 Oscars in a single ceremony: “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King” (2003), “Titanic” (1997) and “Ben-Hur” (1959).
• Meryl Streep holds the record for the most number of Oscar nominations, with 13 nominations.

(Adapted from: http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/oscar-trivia-45.html)

From the Red Carpet: Oscar Fashion-Who will be the “best dressed”?

Last Year’s Best-Dressed

Sometimes being fashion-forward (adventurous with your fashion) pays off, and sometimes it invites criticism. The red carpet puts people in the spotlight, and some like to use the red carpet to show off in haute-couture.

Even some “fails” can become iconic.

Examples of Oscar’s Speeches: Following the announcement of the award, recipients have the opportunity to speak. So what makes for a good acceptance speech? Well, brevity is one element we can probably agree on-the ceremony can only last so long, after all. Speakers are limited to around 45 seconds to one minute before they “cue the music” to cut them off. Also, recipients are expected to control their emotion, for the most part, and stay humble while recognizing their accomplishment.

Here is a link to some of the best Oscar Speeches: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/02/21/five-best-oscar-speeches-all-time-tom-hanks-halle-berry-sally-field/98066440/

And one of the worst: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_8nAvU0T5Y (begin 2:25)

White-washing in Hollywood: An Ongoing Controversy

Hattie McDaniel was the first African American actor who won an Academy Award for her supporting performance in “Gone with the Wind” in 1939. Since then, here is a list of the 32 African American Oscar-winners in Academy Award history.

• For more on film and race: http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2016/01/film-and-race
• A Fascinating History of Whitewashing in Images: http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/04/25-minority-characters-that-hollywood-whitewashed/

Language Lunch Series: African American History Month

February Marks African American History Month!

Here is some important vocabulary words you should know. How many can you identify?

Transatlantic Slave Trade
14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution
Abolition
The Civil Rights movement ad Desegregation
“Separate but Equal” and Plessy vs. Ferguson, Brown vs. Board of Education
Black is Beautiful/Black Power Movements
Black Lives Matter

Artwork of Romare Bearden: Jazz Art

Now that you have a broad overview of some points in history, test your knowledge! Can you match the quote with the historical figure? (Scroll to the end for answers.)

Key Figures: Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr. Rosa Parks

1. “All I was doing was trying to get home from work.”
2. “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
3. “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
4. “I have decided to stick to love…Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

Noting the accomplishments of African Americans to American culture, and to the world, is a good first step in acknowledging the influence that African Americans have had over the past 400 years. Because of it, there has been more awareness of these key contributions in the past four decades.
At the same time, many people feel that students only learn about a few key figures that become mythologized in history, but this approach is limited in scope. Students going through the American school system often remember historical figures such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, and George Washington Carver, for example.

In the spirit of exploring beyond these few key figures, here is the list of 100 Greatest African Americans according to Temple’s own Molefi Asante.
Research some of these names with a partner or in a group and share your findings!

Hank Aaron
Ira Aldridge
Muhammad Ali
Richard Allen
Marian Anderson
Maya Angelou
Arthur Ashe
Crispus Attucks
James Baldwin
Benjamin Banneker
Amiri Baraka
Romare Bearden
Mary McLeod Bethune
Guion Bluford
Arna Bontemps
Edward W. Brooke
Gwendolyn Brooks
Blanche K. Bruce
Ralph Bunche
George Washington Carver
Shirley Chisholm
Kenneth B. Clark
John Henrik Clarke
John Coltrane
Bill Cosby
Alexander Crummell
Countee Cullen
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.
Martin R. Delany
Frederick Douglass
Charles Drew
W. E. B. Du Bois
Paul Laurence Dunbar
Katherine Dunham
Duke Ellington
James Forten
John Hope Franklin
Henry Highland Garnet
Marcus Garvey
Prince Hall
Fannie Lou Hamer
Lorraine Hansberry
Dorothy Height
Matthew Henson
Charles Hamilton Houston
Langston Hughes
Zora Neale Hurston
Jesse Jackson
Mae Jemison
Jack Johnson
James Weldon Johnson
John H. Johnson
Percy Julian
Ernest Just
Maulana Karenga
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Edmonia Lewis
Alain Locke
Joe Louis
Thurgood Marshall
Benjamin E. Mays
Elijah McCoy
Claude McKay
Oscar Micheaux
Dorie Miller
Garrett Morgan
Toni Morrison
Elijah Muhammad
Barack Obama
Jesse Owens
Rosa Parks
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
Colin Powell
A. Philip Randolph
Hiram Revels
Paul Robeson
Jackie Robinson
John Russwurm
Arturo Schomburg
Benjamin “Pop” Singleton
Mary Church Terrell
William Monroe Trotter
Sojourner Truth
Harriet Tubman
Kwame Ture
Henry McNeal Turner
Nat Turner
David Walker
Madame C. J. Walker
Booker T. Washington
Ida B. Wells-Barnett
Phillis Wheatley
Walter F. White
Roy Wilkins
Daniel Hale Williams
August Wilson
Oprah Winfrey
Tiger Woods
Carter G. Woodson
Richard Wright
Malcolm X
Michael Jackson

Quote Answer Key:

1. Rosa Parks, who was memorialized in the National Statuary Hall of the United States Capitol, with a statue of her, seated.

2. Malcolm X, who learned to write as an adult while in prison by working through every volume of the dictionary, and writing it out. For the story in his own words, see here: http://ptfaculty.gordonstate.edu/jmallory/index_files/page0096.htm

3. Frederick Douglass, the only 19th c. figure on this list, was a prominent abolitionist voice. His eloquence was an argument against slavery at a time when people were debating African Americans’ full-fledged humanity (shown in their capacity to reason and to read and write).

4. Martin Luther King, Jr., wo won the Nobel Peace Prize at 35 and lived until 39. He was arrested 30 times for his non-violent resistance as a leading civil rights figure.

Pretty, Cute, Sexy, Beautiful: How to Compliment Others in English

In English, there are many ways you can compliment someone’s appearance. Here are seven words that are commonly used to compliment others:

• Pretty
• Beautiful
• Handsome
• Cute
• Sexy
• Hot
• Gorgeous

Pretty

• Those flowers are so colorful and pretty.
• I think you’d look really pretty in that pink dress.
• If you put some flowers in a vase on the table, I think it’d make the room look much prettier.

“Pretty” is used to describe things that are nice to look at in a delicate or attractive way. People use “pretty” to describe a girl’s face or clothing. The word has an association with traditionally feminine objects and images such as flowers and lace.  It’s also used more generally to describe objects and scenery that are pleasing to the eye.

For example, if a girl has a “pretty face”, it means that her face is delicate and cute. If flowers are “pretty,” it means that they’re nice-looking and attractive.

While you can use the word “pretty” to describe boys as well, it’s not done very often and may sound a little strange out of context. If you call a boy “pretty”, it means that he is beautiful and attractive—but in a feminine way! You may hear the phrase “pretty boy” used to describe a very attractive man with a feminine or androgynous face.

Beautiful

• No matter how old she gets, Angelina Jolie is still so beautiful.
• That’s a beautiful wedding dress, but it looks so expensive!
• When I visited Yellowstone National Park, I saw an absolutely beautiful double rainbow.

The word “beautiful” is very similar to “pretty”—it’s usually used to describe people, objects, and things that are physically attractive. However, “beautiful” is a much powerful, serious, and mature word.

For example, if you use the word “pretty” to describe a photograph, you send the message that you like it and find it attractive. If you use the word “beautiful” to describe the same photograph, you send the message that it was so attractive it affected you in a deeper and more serious way. When complimenting others, “beautiful” is a much stronger word to use than “pretty.” Some people may become embarrassed if others call them beautiful when they’re not expecting it.

If you’re having trouble understanding the difference between pretty and beautiful, take a look at the google image search for “pretty room” versus “beautiful room”!

We’d be much more likely to describe the Grand Canyon as “beautiful” instead of “pretty”.

Handsome

• It’s a shame that you only wear sweatshirts nowadays—you look so handsome in that suit!
• My grandfather was extremely handsome when he was younger.

The word “handsome” is often said to be the equivalent of “beautiful” for men. If a man is handsome, it means that he’s physically attractive. However, “handsome” also carries the connotation that someone is well-dressed and manly. This word was used a little more frequently in the past than it is today.

Cute

The word “cute” has a couple of different meanings.

When talking about objects or animals, “cute” means sweet, lovely, or adorable. It’s common to hear people describe babies, puppies, and miniature objects as “cute.” For example, this puppy is really cute!

However, “cute” can mean something different when used to describe an adult. Take a look at these two sentences:

• Did you see any cute boys at the party?
• She’s really cute! I’d definitely go out with her.

In these examples, “cute” doesn’t mean adorable or nice. When a girl says that a boy her age is cute, it usually means she finds him physically attractive and may be interested in a romantic relationship with him. If a boy says a girl is cute, it usually means the same thing. College-age people use “cute” in this way very often to describe people they’re interested in dating.

Sexy

• Do you think this miniskirt is too sexy to wear to work?
• She thought her husband looked sexy whenever he wore a tie.

“Sexy” is used to describe a person who is sexually attractive. It’s often used to describe clothing that shows off people’s bodies, like short skirts and swimsuits. For example, it is usually inappropriate to wear sexy clothing to work or class.

Hot

• Beyonce looks really hot when she dances.
• I think men with wide shoulders and muscles are hot.

Like all of these words, “hot” describes physical attractiveness. However, you’d use “hot” to describe someone who has a really great body and a lot of sex appeal. It’s similar to “sexy.” Women will use it to describe men, and men will use it to describe women. Like “sexy’, “hot” is a word that can objectify others, so be careful how you use it!

Gorgeous

• She’s as gorgeous as a model!
• That’s a gorgeous dress.

“Gorgeous” is like a mixture of “beautiful” and “hot.” If someone is gorgeous, it means that they have a beautiful body and are physically attractive to the extreme. It’s a stronger word than beautiful or pretty, and is usually only used when something or someone is truly breathtaking.  Just like “beautiful” and “pretty,” “gorgeous” is usually used to describe women.

Note: Compliments Between Women

Men will not typically use these words to complement other men. However, women may use them frequently to compliment other women. For example, here is a common exchange between two women in their teens/twenties:

Alice: I was thinking of wearing this dress today—does it look okay?

Eve: Yes, absolutely! That dress is so cute! You look gorgeous!

Alice: Thanks!

In this example, Eve is telling Alice that she thinks the dress Alice is wearing suits her very well and makes her look physically attractive.

Women may sometimes use the words“hot” and “sexy” to compliment each other as well. If a young woman is getting ready to go to a party where she hopes to attract someone of the opposite sex, her friends may tell her that she looks “hot” to boost her confidence!

A Short History of Halloween in America

While Halloween has become a commercial phenomenon spreading around the world, there is no celebration quite like Halloween in the United States. The holiday wasn’t always about accumulating as much candy as is physically possible to carry! Halloween actually has a long, colorful history in the Americas.

The tradition of “Trick-Or-Treat” finds its origins in All Souls’ Day in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called “soul cakes” in return for their promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives. The ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain also featured bonfires and rituals involving the dead. People would dress up and wear masks to ward away unwanted spirits.

Halloween in the Americas

Halloween traditions in colonial America were a result of a mixture of pagan traditions both from native peoples, European settlers, and African slaves. In colonial times, people believed that on Halloween, ghosts and spirits would return to the earth for an evening. People would dress up to avoid being recognized by past relatives and dead acquaintances. In order to keep ghosts away from their houses, colonists would bowls of food outside of their doors. In the colonial South, Native American traditions combined with those of settlers in “play parties” that included ghost stories, fortune telling, dancing and singing.

The influx of Irish immigrants in the mid 19th century brought many Celtic Halloween traditions to the Americas. This included bringing the tradition of going door to door asking for money or food. Women also used the heighten spiritual environment to perform divinations and find out the identity of their future husbands.

The 1900’s in America saw the decline of superstition and a new version of the holiday more focused on its commercial potential. Traditions became far more family and community oriented with the advent of the modern suburban nuclear family and the boom in population after WWII. While sweets on one’s doorstep had previously been used to deter unwanted ghost guests, parents now gave candy to trick or treaters to prevent pranks from neighborhood youngsters.

Halloween Today

While the Halloween we celebrate today still carries aspects of its ancient roots, the holiday has accumulated a host of new traditions.

Communities across America now organize trick-or-treat on Halloween night for young children to go door to door in costumes asking for candy. Some communities even organize parades, costume parties, and ghost tours. During the Halloween season, it is also customary to visit a pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin to carve into a jack-o-lantern to put on your doorstep. Many pumpkin patches also feature corn mazes or other haunted attractions for fall visitors. Many Americans may also find watching Halloween movies together to be an important part of their Halloween celebration. Movies like Disney’s Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, or Casper the Friendly Ghost have become classics and have shaped the way the Millennial generation has grown up with the tradition of Halloween.

Discussion Questions

• Has Halloween come to your country? If so, what kind of traditions or celebrations are popular?
• Are there any spiritual festivals in the history of your country where people thought that ghosts came down to earth?
• What is your favorite aspect of Halloween? Favorite tradition?
• What kinds of superstitions and ghost stories exist in your culture?

If you would like to learn more about the history of Halloween, go to the following links:

http://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween

http://www.deliriumsrealm.com/history-halloween-america/

Commonly Confused Prefixes

Most of us are familiar with negative prefixes. For example, unhappy is the opposite of happy and unhealthy is the opposite of healthy. But not all prefixes change a word to the opposite meaning.

Negative prefixes can be quite confusing, especially when the prefix changes the meaning in an unpredictable way.

Here are some examples!

Discontent

• Discontent:  unhappy
• “Uncontent” is not a word, but many Americans use this word in conversation.

Disqualify and unqualified

• Disqualify: to prohibit or exclude; to bar or ban
• Unqualified: without qualifications; untrained or unskilled

Nondiscriminatory and indiscriminate

• Nondiscriminatory: equal; unbiased; fair
• Indiscriminate: random in selection;  uncritical or unselective

Nonspecific and unspecific

• Nonspecific: general; generic
• Unspecific: undefined; unclear

These two words can be used almost interchangeably.

Valuable and Invaluable

These two words are often confused.  “Invaluable” is not a negative term, but actually means that something is so valuable that it doesn’t have a price.

• Valuable: treasured; prized; respected
• Invaluable: priceless

Try a few of the exercises below to practice!

1. The player was ___ from the game after jumping out of bounds.
2. The company believes in ___ hiring practices to create an inclusive environment.
3. Your friendship has been ___ to me.
4. The jewels are ___.
5. The candidate was ___ for the job due to his lack of retail experience.
6. They are very ___ in their selection of participants.
7. The clothing line is ___ to gender.
8. He was very ___ about how he wanted us to remodel the new home.

Scary Stories–write your own!

Scary Story Writing Exercises:

Try completing these famous starters to scary stories!

1. It was a dark and stormy night when…
2. The mad scientist was in his laboratory trying to create a new monster called…
3. Something in the closet was making a strange noise. When I opened the closet door, I saw…
4. As I entered the haunted house, the door slammed shut behind me and…
5. The phone started to ring. When I picked up the phone, a strange voice said “Look outside your window.” I saw…

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Suggested Vocabulary:

Blood-curdling scream                                              creak (creaking door, window, etc.)

Spooky                                                                        whispers

Haunted                                                                      shadows

Abandoned                                                                 dripping blood

Scratching                                                                   cackling (evil laughter)

Howling                                                                      creepy (very scary or unsettling)

Here are some examples of scary stories that we’ve found. Some of these stories end with a cliffhanger (you don’t know what happens). Most of these are creepy–you’ve been warned!

The Man in the Backseat

Example:
As told by Emily Dunbar:

One night a woman went out for drinks with her girlfriends. She left the bar fairly late at night, got in her car and onto the deserted highway. After a few minutes she noticed a lone pair of headlights in her rear-view mirror, approaching at a pace just slightly quicker than hers. As the car pulled up behind her she glanced and saw the turn signal on — the car was going to pass — when suddenly it swerved back behind her, pulled up dangerously close to her tailgate and the brights flashed.

Now she was getting nervous. The lights dimmed for a moment and then the brights came back on and the car behind her surged forward. The frightened woman struggled to keep her eyes on the road and fought the urge to look at the car behind her. Finally, her exit approached but the car continued to follow, flashing the brights periodically.

Through every stoplight and turn, it followed her until she pulled into her driveway. She figured her only hope was to make a mad dash into the house and call the police. As she flew from the car, so did the driver of the car behind her — and he screamed, “Lock the door and call the police! Call 911!”

When the police arrived the horrible truth was finally revealed to the woman. The man in the car had been trying to save her. As he pulled up behind her and his headlights illuminated her car, he saw the silhouette of a man with a butcher knife rising up from the back seat to stab her, so he flashed his brights and the figure crouched back down.

The moral of the story: Always check the back seat!

Vocabulary:

Deserted:  abandoned; not crowded; empty

Swerve: to turn suddenly or sharply

Surge: to move forward in a quick movement; to flow or rush

Mad dash: to run wildly; to “make a run for it” (run as fast as you can)

Silhouette: a shadow

Brights: high beam lights on a car

Humans Can Lick Too!

Also known as The Licked Hand, The Dog’s Lick, People Can Lick, Too, Not Only Dogs Can Lick, etc.
Example #1
As told by Liz Langridge (Australia):

A young girl named Lisa was often left alone at home because her parents worked late, so they bought her a dog to protect her and keep her company. One night Lisa was awakened by a constant dripping sound. She got up and went to the kitchen to turn off the tap properly. As she was getting back into the bed she stuck her hand under the bed and the dog licked it reassuringly.

The dripping sound continued, so she went to the bathroom and turned off the tap properly in there, too. She went back to her bedroom and again stuck her hand under the bed, and again the dog licked it. But the dripping continued, so she went outside and turned off the taps out there. She came back to bed, stuck her hand under it, and the dog licked it again.

Still the dripping continued, drip, drip, drip. This time she listened and located the source of the dripping — it was coming from her cupboard. She opened the cupboard door, and there was her dog hanging upside down with its neck cut, and written on the window on the inside of the cupboard door was, “HUMANS CAN LICK TOO!!!”

Vocabulary:

Reassuringly: with comfort, encouragement, or calm

The Dead Boyfriend

A woman and her boyfriend were on their way home from somewhere (not important) one night, and suddenly his car ran out of gas. It was about one in the morning and they were completely alone in the middle of the nowhere.

The guy stepped out of the car, saying comfortingly to his girlfriend, “Don’t worry, I’ll be right back. I’m just going to go out for some help. Lock the doors, though.”

She locked the doors and sat restlessly, waiting for her boyfriend to come back. Suddenly, she saw a shadow fall across her lap. She looked up to see… not her boyfriend, but a strange, crazed looking man. He was swinging something in his right hand.

He stuck his face close to the window and slowly pulled up his right hand. In it was her boyfriend’s decapitated head, twisted horribly in pain and shock. She shut her eyes in horror and tried to make the image go away. When she opened her eyes, the man was still there, grinning psychotically. He slowly lifted his left hand, and he was holding her boyfriend’s keys… to the car.

Vocabulary:

Restlessly: with anxiety, nervousness,  or fidgeting

Decapitated: head cut off (beheaded)

Psychotic(ally): crazy; insane

Aren’t you glad you didn’t turn on the light?

Example
As told by Jon Little:

I heard about a girl who went back to her dorm room late one night to get her books before heading to her boyfriend’s room for the night. She entered but did not turn on the light, knowing that her roommate was sleeping. She stumbled around the room in the dark for several minutes, gathering books, clothes, toothbrush, etc. before finally leaving.

The next day, she came back to her room to find it surrounded by police. They asked if she lived there and she said yes. They took her into her room, and there, written in blood on the wall, were the words, “Aren’t you glad you didn’t turn on the light?” Her roommate was being murdered while she was getting her things.

Vocabulary:

Stumble: to trip; to walk in a clumsy way