Carnaval, Carnival, is a movable holiday that is celebrated annually in Brazil forty days before Easter. This year it will take place between Saturday, February 14 and terça-feira gorda, Fat Tuesday, February 17. Carnaval is taken so seriously in Brazil … Continue reading
With great zest Russian people anticipate the beginning of a new year and mark the end of the previous one with incredibly festive and joyous celebrations throughout the whole country 31 декабря (December 31). Everyone exchanges подарки (gifts), yet … Continue reading
La Fête des Rois is a family tradition in France that falls on the first Sunday of the new year, around the Catholic holiday of Epiphany which falls on Jan. 6 this year. The tradition dates back to Roman times … Continue reading
azilians like to celebrate o Ano Novo, or Réveillon, New Year’s Eve outdoors. The end of year holidays come in the summer, right at the beginning of the academic summer vacation, creating the ideal period for people to travel to the beach … Continue reading
Wishing all of you a healthy and Happy New Year, in whatever language you are learning or want to learn! May 2015 be filled with many linguistic adventures and successes. Bonne année! ¡Feliz año nuevo! Frohes neues Jahr. Felice anno … Continue reading
Γιορτές και κάλαντα στην Ελλάδα! [ghio-r-TES ke CA-lan-da stin E-LA-dha] (Holidays and Carols in Greece) The Holiday Period in Greece consists of three major holidays that take place in the course of twelve days, starting on Christmas’s Eve – December, … Continue reading
Decorating a Christmas tree is a foreign tradition that was first introduced in Greece by the Bavarians back in 1833. The first Christmas tree was decorated in the Palace of Othonas, by the Bavarian prince who became the King of … Continue reading
Adopting the joyous american melody of ‘Jingle Bells’, comedian Francis Blanche composed French lyrics for what became a very popular Christmas song, ‘Vive le vent d’hiver’ (Long live the winter wind). Here is the chorus which everyone in France knows: … Continue reading
Christmas greets Brazilians four days after the first day of summer, so celebrations call for less eggnog and more cold beer. Living Language interviewed Dona Ana, a 45 year-old Brazilian math teacher from São Paulo and asked her to describe … Continue reading
Hanuka חנכה, also known as The Festival of Lights, begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev on the Hebrew Calendar which corresponds to December 16 this year, but other years it can occur in January (and sometimes … Continue reading
