The Anglophone World: More than Meets the Eye

Which country does each of these pictures represent? What do you know about them? It's time for you to know more about the Anglophone World, but let's do it while having fun. Are you ready? Click on the image and start discovering new cultures.

The English language is spoken in a vast number of territories, not only in the UK and the US. 

However, very little is normally taught about the other English speaking countries. Luckily you will be able to explore this fascinating blog which brings you closer to traditions, monuments and history from other parts of the English speaking world.

Of course, this is a resource from which you can benefit, but we are sure we can learn many things from you too. So feel free to comment on the posts, as well as to share any related material. 

Let's get it started!

British kings are now television stars

  Welcome to the United Kingdom friendly students! 

(says the monarch with the best hats)

British history has had  some of the most odd and unique Kings and Queens. It's not surprising coming from a country with weird plugs and cars that are driven on the left.

For centuries, British dinasties have been involved in bloody and brutal wars among the noble families competing for the throne. Does this plotline ring a bell? 

Indeed, HBO production Game of Thrones (which you may watch on your computers or Canal + and is already on its 6th season) is inspired in the Wars of the Roses. The Wars of the Roses occurred in the 14th century and it was a fight between the York and the Lancasters.

Wanna know more about the original story? Then click on the video and discover who was who in the real-life version of Game of Thrones. 

Another British royal family is still on vogue today is the Tudors. If you have paid attention to the previous video you would have notice that they came just after the Wars of The Roses. Henry VIII is the most peculiar and terrible British king up to day, having six wives and beheading two of them. In the following video Henry himself will tell you about his wives.

Jump into Ireland

Its green hills, impressive cliffs and beautiful coastlines are enough of a reason for any traveller to pack their bags immediately, but if you are still on the fence about travelling to Ireland, here is a way for you to move around and explore what its magical capital, Dublin, has to offer. Click on the images for a 3D tour in which you can explore some of its most famous landmarks

The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, also known as Christ Church Cathedral, was founded in 1030, which makes It the oldest Cathedral in Dublin. It is located in its medieval heart, next to Wood Quay, the riverside area of Dublin.



The Old Jameson Distillery was originally established in 1780, and destilled Jameson Irish whiskey until 1971. In 1997 it became a tourist attraction with guided tours, a bar, a restaurant, a gift shop and even tutored whiskey tastings. It receives between 300.000 and 350.000 visitors each year.

Some fun facts about Canada (you may not know...).

some Fun Facts About Canada (You May Not Know...).

SOME WELL -KNOWN FACTS: 

• Canada is the second-largest country in the world.
• Canada has a wide variety of physical features: rugged mountains, plains  and swamps.
• Because of its northerly location, Canada is dominated   by cold climates.
• Canada is rich in natural resources like fish, minerals, fertile soil, and forests.

But, there are some Fun Facts About Canada (You May Not Know YET...).Click on the link below

 1. What Does the Maple Leaf on the Canadian FLAG REPRESENT?

The maple leaf wasn't chosen at random. In fact, the adoption of the maple leaf as an important Canadian symbol dates  from 1700. Maple trees served as an important source of food to Canadian aboriginal people. And, after Canada was settled by Europeans, maple syrup production provided a convenient source of sugar.

CANADIAN GOLD: MAPLE SYRUP THEN AND NOW. Click on the link below to watch how Canadian syrup is made.

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2 . What became of the Inuit community?   

Canada’s history and culture reflect Native-Canadian and European settlement.

At the beginning of the 1600s, Europeans settled the region that would later become Canada. But, what became of the Inuit community?

By creating Nunavut (a vast territory of northern Canada that stretches across most of the Canadian Arctic in 1999), the Canadian government showed its willingness to develop the Inuit lifestyle along with the rest of Canada. This area is protected by a special set of laws and  it is self-governed.

3. WHAT IS THE ROCK STATUE Inuksuk?

Inuksuk meaning "in the image of man", are human-like figures of stone which were erected along the Canadian Shore by the Inuits. They are built into the shape of a person with their arms or legs out stretched.  The inukshuk has long been recognized as the “compass of the Arctic”  because  they served as markers to help guide Inuits across the treeless tundra of the Canadian Arctic.  

INUKSHUK MEANING - THE HISTORY OF INUKSHUKS - WHAT IS AN INUKSHUK?.Click on the link below to watch the story

4.what is the origin of the word Nunavut?:  

The word Nunavut means “our land” in Inuktitut. The Inuit language is called Inuktitut. It has only 15 consonants and 3 vowels.

5.  INUIT MYTHOLOGY  

Mythology is a repository of Inuit culture, passed down by from generation to generation to enrich and enlighten. The Legend of Lumiuk tells the story of an abused blind boy who finds refuge in the sea, where he recovers his sight and ends his abuse. 

                    THE LEGEND OF LIUMIUK Click on the link below to watch the story. 

                                                                             

Party in the USA!

Today, we bring you a piece of American culture with information about two of their best known holidays: Halloween and Thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving is celebrated the fourth Thursday in November, when Americans join their families for a day of football and feasting. Nevertheless, these celebrations are very different from the original 17th century meal that gave origin to this holiday. Here is some more information about it:

Nowadays, sometimes things can get a little out of hand in thanksgiving, especially with the feasting. Watch this epic battle between Joey, from Friends, and a Thanksgiving turkey: 

Halloween, celebrated the 31st of October, has a much more complex origin. Here are ten things you (probably) did not know about the all hallows eve: 

In Friends, things also got a little bit out of control. This time it was Rachel who messed up when some kids were trick-or-treating: 

The founding fathers of Australia: the convicts

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ : WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT AUSTRALIA? 

AUSTRALIAN EARLY COLONIAL HISTORY:

• Convicts arrived in Australia in 1788 on the first fleet
• Many convicts were sentenced to deportation for minor crimes as life became very tough in Great Britain
• Convicts formed a large percentage of the Australian population for the first few decades of settlement.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BUSHRANGERS:

 A "Bushranger" was initially  defined as an "escaped convict"  who took refuge in the Australian bush ".However, many others were driven to a life of crime by poverty. 

Click on the link below to learn more.

                                                   

Learn and play! Click on the image below to learn more about convicts.

AUSTRALIAN LITERATURE THE HEROIC OUTLAW

In True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey, the legendary bushranger Ned Kelly speaks for himself:

“I lost my own father at 12 yr. of age and know what it is to be raised on lies and silences my dear daughter you are presently too young to understand a word I write but this history is for you and will contain no single lie may I burn in Hell if I speak false.”

Since his death at the hands of the hangman in Melbourne in 1880, the legend of Ned Kelly has risen sharply in popularity. Ned Kelly is Australia’s own Robin Hood. He stole from the wealthy bankers, took care of his poor relatives, and confused the police. 

Myths from Aotearoa

Firstly, what is Aotearoa? This is the land of the Maori, that is, New Zealand. The Maori are indigenous Polynesian people who have their own language, a rich mythology and a prominent warrior culture. The haka, which has become famous due to the All Blacks performances, is one of the traditions that show the Maori fighting spirit. It was originally performed by warriors before a battle so as to intimidate the adversary, would you be scared?

The rituals, beliefs, and the world view of Maori society were ultimately based on an elaborate mythology that had been inherited from a Polynesian homeland and adapted in Aotearoa. The origin of the Gods and the first human beings is explained in their legends, as in many other cultures. Natural phenomena also play an important role in these stories.

Here you can read one of the Maori myths:
"Te Orokotīmatanga o te Ao", which means The Beginning of the Universe. 

Doesn't it sound appealing to you? Then scroll down and you'll be surprised by the format of this story.

Introduction

Io, the acme, lived in universal space. The universe was in darkness. Day was not, nor moon, nor light. Darkness alone was. All was water. This was Wainuiatea-The Great Expanse of Ocean. All things passed through this embryonic form from the realm of the Infinite Void, to the Void where nothing is attained, then to the Void where nothing is possessed. All things passed through Aeons of Darkness, via the Great Nights at first, then via the Long Nights. Everything began with the Nothingness which lead to The Profound Darkness then to the Search. That lead to the Pursuit, to the Discovery, to the Conception, to the Maturation. There was the time of the Rudimentary Energy. That was before arriving at The Subconscious, to the Intelligence, then the time of The Yearning, of the Knowledge. There was the age of the Form, the Readiness, the Acquisition, the Contentment. There was Life. Then at long last, the era of Space came. From that space, earth and sky were formed, Earth Mother (Papatuanuku) and Sky Father (Ranging). This is the male/female line of ancestry as descended from the Star. It was during a long period of light, that the characteristics of fury, anger and aggravation were imbued into the male form. It was during a long period of darkness, that the characteristics of love, tears and peace were imbued into the female form.

 

Do you want to know more? Click on the last image of the story for more Maori myths and legends!

India: colour up your life!

If you want to get in the mood for this post from the beggining, click play on this amazing Indian song, entitled Chunari Chunari, part of the soundtrack of the award-winning film Monsoon Wedding, and begin your journey.

India is an exotic and extremely diverse country. 22 languages are listed as 'official' in the Constitution and almost 150 language are spoken by a sizeable population.

However, what India is most famous for in popular culture is the local female costume or 'sari', their jewelery and most importantly their film industry: Bollywood. 

Bollywood's musicals are characteristic for their dances and long songs with hardly any dialogue. Have you ever watched one or seen any reference to them in any western film or series?

This image shows the main dancing steps to be a true Bollywood dancer. Click on it to see a really funny example of The Simpsons dancing o it.

The colourful atmosphere present in India with their clothes and food full of spices increases on Holi, the Hindi spring celebration, also known as "the festival of colours" or "the festival of sharing love". Participants play, chase and colour each other with dry powder and coloured water arount open streets, parks, temples and buildings. Holi seems a great festival for everyone who is Hindi to enjoy together? Would you like to participate if you were to go to India?

A peculiar and interesting tradition of Holi is to colour elephants up with flowery shapes. Don't they look cute and happy?

Share your comments on this lively post below! :)