Thursday, March 31, 2011
I'm back in Action!
Hogmanay
Hogmanay is the Scottish name for the last day of the year, often associated with the celebration of the New Year that lasts until 2 January which is a public holiday.
According to the many existing theories, the word “Hogmanay” could refer to the name of the Scandinavian feast « Hoggo-nott », to the Flemish expression “hoog min dag” that means “great love day”, to the Anglo-Saxon Holy Month “Haleg monath” or to the Gaelic “oge maiden”, new morning, but the most likely source is the French language. “Homme est né” meaning “Man is born” was the last day of the year when presents called “hoguignetes” in Normandy were exchanged.
This tradition is believed to be a heritage from the Vikings who had a strong hold in Scotland: they paid much attention to the passing of shortest days and celebrated the winter solstice. Moreover, Christmas, being a Catholic feast, was banned for round 400 years in this strongly protestant part of the United Kingdom.
Cleaning the house on 31st December, welcoming friends and strangers, giving gifts to colleagues during the first working week are part of the numerous traditions of Hogmanay. The most widespread custom is called the “first-footing” and is supposed to ensure good luck. The first person to enter the house should be a tall dark man as opposed to blond people being after the Vikings’ arrival synonymous of trouble (this custom seems to be paradoxical vis-à-vis the origins of Hogmanay). They initially brought salt, black bun, coal, as well as shortbread and whisky which are the only two gifts left today. An old tradition that has recently been revived is the “saining” which consists, among other things, in sprinkling “magic water” in every room in order to purify the house.
Torch and bonfire ceremonies in Edinburgh and other Scottish cities are the continuation of the ancient custom at pagan parties hundreds with years ago. When midnight strikes, the tune of “Auld Lang Syne” (meaning "long long ago") rings out. This song is the combination of a poem by Robert Burns and the tune of a traditional folk song that calls for a dance.
In Edinburgh and other big cities, festivals take place in the streets during the night of 1 January. The official organiser of the Hogmanay-festival in the Scots capital is Pete Irvine. Praising and promoting the Scottish culture is one of the mottos of Hogmanay. Famous singers, poets and writers take part in festivities to share their Scottish heritage (Resolution Haiku’s, One Day Resolution Concert, etc.). A traditional event of the Hogmanay is the so-called One O’Clock Run, which gathers hundreds of runners willing to take part in a race of a bit more than 1.5 km. The Loony Dook is another after-midnight competition counting 1000 brave swimmers who dive into the River Forth after a short parade through the capital.Most of the events are financed by the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund to the extent of 190,000 £ (226 000 €). On the whole, 6 £ million (more than 7 € million) are granted to the 12 Edinburgh Festivals involving Scottish participants, which then have to share the sum between themselves. In 2009, the Hogmanay-festival yielded more than 29 € million to Scotland.
Even though the local traditions are limited to Scotland, the festivities in Edinburgh attract many tourists of all countries. Join them next year and let yourself be carried away by this cultural whirl!
Cécile Leclercq and Vinciane Pirard
Pantomime
A pantomime in Greek or Roman times was originally silent and performed in a form of mime. Nowadays, according to the OALD, a (British) pantomime, usually called panto, is a type of play with music, dance and jokes, that is based on a fairy tale and is usually performed at Christmas.
The origins of the British Pantomime date back to the Middle Ages. It is actually a blend of a 16th century Italian theatre tradition, Commedia dell’Arte and of the
Commedia dell’Arte was a form of popular theatre with music and dance as the central elements of the performance. Dancers and musicians were therefore present in the show, as well as acrobats and clowns. Each character wore a particular costume and a mask, which were representative of his personality and which emphasized his typical characteristics to make him bad or monstrous, or even to ridicule him. Servants, old men, soldiers and lovers are typical characters of Commedia dell’Arte and Punchinello, Harlequin and Scaramouch are the most famous ones. A distinguished Commedia dell’Arte performance is for example “Punch and Judy” (Pulcinello & Pulcinella), a puppet show, which is still very popular in
British Music Halls, which also influenced the panto, were originally tavern rooms, which provided entertainment in the form of music. Besides popular songs, British music hall performances included comedy, dances, or even magic acts, ventriloquists, juggling, mime artists, puppet acts, etc.
The influence of Commedia dell’Arte coming from
All pantomimes follow a number of conventions and have a number of recurrent characters. The performances bring together wordplays, music and songs, dances, jokes, insinuations, comic effects and involve many special theatrical effects, like slapstick which finds its origins in Commedia dell’Arte. Another characteristic of the British pantomime tradition is the audience participation. Spectators are indeed actively encouraged to boo the villain or to warn the hero of a danger, to children’s greatest delight.
Pantomimes are mainly aimed at children (but adults like pantomime all the same) and are therefore based on traditional children’s stories, like Disney stories (Cinderella, Snow White or Sleeping Beauty) for the most part but also other legends or fairy tales inspired by Charles Perrault, H.C. Andersen and the Grimm brothers. A Christmas’ Carol by Charles Dickens or Peter Pan by J.M. Barries are also very popular. It is the familiarity of the audience with the original story that allows the actors to adapt the plot lines for comic or satirical effect.
Concerning the characters, it always follows the same outline: on one side, there are the Good ones and on the other side, the Bad ones, who are doing everything they can to make life impossible for the good characters. The role of the Principal Boy or Girl is usually played by a girl. The Principal Boy’s lover is also played by the prettiest woman of the cast. The Principal Boy and the Principal Girl end up together and live happily ever after, while the villains, played by men or women, are defeated. Other recurrent characters are the Panto Dame, who is normally the hero’s mother and who is played by a man, and the Good Fairy, who tries to help the Principal Boy or Girl to defeat the villains. The Good Fairy can be played by a woman but also by a man in drag.
Finally, the comic lead plays an important role: it is the man who addresses the audience, especially the children, and encourages them to participate.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Doc Martens
The brand was named after Klaus Märtens, who was a doctor during the war. He broke his ankle when he was skiing in the Bavarian Alps. While recovering, he came up with the idea of a new kind of shoe. He actually gave army boots a new twist by adding soft leather and air-padded soles to them, which made them more comfortable. The boots did not have much success until he met up with an old friend. Doctor Herbert Fünck helped him to give a boost to his business and in 1947, Doc Märtens boots had already become a must have. At the beginning, 80% of their production was sold to German housewives over the age of forty, who were looking for something comfortable and sturdy. The growing success of the boots encouraged the two friends to extend their brand internationally. In 1960, British shoe manufacturer R. Griggs Groups Ltd. took great interest in the brand and decided to buy the patent rights and to give it an English name as well as a slightly new shape. That is how the Doc Martens shoes as we know them today were born and ended up being a British icon. The British sitcom ‘The Young Ones’ even dedicated a song to them.
Back in the 1960’s, the market target was quite broad since the product attracted different kinds of people, from postmen to police agents, in short, people for whom wearing comfortable shoes was a priority. Associations with different groups contributed to lower the brand’s popularity, as in the 1970’s with the skinheads or to give it a trendy image, when it became Punks’ favorite accessory.
Nowadays, the brand provides a wide range of different models, while remaining faithful to Doc Martens’ original bestseller. Men, women, children… there is something in it for everyone!
As far as the price is concerned, a basic model costs about one hundred euro. However, any innovation causes the price to increase drastically.
If you want to learn more about those fancy shoes, here is a youtube link to their story.
To conclude, Doc Martens boots have gone through a lot of changes to become one of the world’s most famous pair of shoes and are still pretty much fashionable. Jessica Alba, for example, has already been spotted wearing the famous shoes.
Audeline Boucart and Marie Defraigne
Monday, March 28, 2011
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II Movie Poster
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II Movie Poster
Release: July 15, 2011
Director: David Yates
Writer: Steve Kloves
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Nighy, John Hurt, Rhys Ifans, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Imelda Staunton, Jason Isaacs, Miranda Richardson, Warwick Davis, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Brendan Gleeson, Ciaran Hinds, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis, Julie Walters, Tom Felton, Bonnie Wright, Jamie Campbell Bower, Richard Griffiths, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Fiona Shaw, Helen McCrory, David O'Hara, Natalia Tena
Malcom X
Malcolm X, whose real name was Malcolm Little, was born on 19 May
From then on, Malcolm became addicted to cocaine and committed small crimes, which lead him to prison. There he came into contact with religion and converted to the Black Muslim faith. When he was released out of prison, Malcolm became a member of the Nation of Islam (NOI), an African-American religious movement and seeking to improve the conditions of Black people of
In 1964 he left the movement because he disagreed with the NOI leader’s outrageous behaviour. Shortly after Malcolm founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity. At that point he encouraged world brotherhood rather than separatism and blamed racism after having met white supporters of the black cause. In 1965 Malcolm was shot dead by three members of NOI. Thousands of people gathered at his funeral and television channels broadcast the ceremony live.
Malcolm X has become an icon of American culture for several reasons. First of all, he is remembered to have contributed to the recognition of the black people and culture in the
Malcolm X was also a very controversial person. When he was still a member of the Nation of Islam, his message was not representative of all African-Americans as he was delivering a radical extremist message. Throughout his life, Malcolm X went from a radical racism to a mild reconsideration of his black nationalism. Therefore, his iconicity is more easily accepted since everyone could make of Malcolm one’s personal hero and take from his speeches the part that fits with one’s ideology.
The legacy of Malcolm X is very important as well. On the one hand, The Time named his autobiography “one of the ten most influential nonfiction books of the 20th century”. On the other hand, Spike Lee produced and directed the movie “Malcolm X” (1992), which made Malcolm popular in the nineties and provoked a new wave of interest in him.
The Emu
The emu is without a doubt one of the most famous and beloved animals in Australia. Let us take the example of Odo, an emu who lives in an Australian family.
Odo is now an adult emu. It is quite a strange bird: it is the second tallest bird on earth (after the ostrich). It is roughly 190cm tall, it weighs about 50kg and can run up to 50km/h. Its feathers are brown on the body and grey on the neck. When it was still a baby emu, Odo was only 12cm tall and weighed 5kg. In six month’s time it has reached its adult size and can now make big leaps: one meter when walking and up to almost three meters when running. Odo cannot fly but it uses its wings while running: they help to keep its balance. It can also swim if needed.
Wild emus are found in forests and savannah woodland; it is less common to find them in populated and arid areas. They also have a seasonal pattern, spending the summer in the north of Australia and the winter in the south. They eat insects and crops that are available as well as stones to assist their digestion (in captivity they also eat shards of glass, marbles, car keys, jewellery, etc.). They do not drink on a daily basis, but when they do drink, it is a lot. Their feet have three toes with claws as sharp as knives, which is useful to kick dingoes (one of their predators). However, when emus are attacked by eagles or hawks, the only way to save their life is to run and swerve or to hide. In the wild, emus live between 10 and 20 years but in captivity they usually live longer.
Let us now look at the economic value of the emus. Already hundreds of years ago, Aborigines and early European settlers saw in them a source of profit. They killed these big birds to eat their meat and used the rest of the carcasses for other purposes. The fat was turned into oil to polish the Aborigines’ weapons and the bones were used to make knives. Nowadays, a commercial industry has developed round the bird and does not limit itself to Australia. Indeed, industrial emu farming also takes place in North America, Peru and China, to name but the most productive countries. Emus are not only farmed and killed for their meat: other parts of their body are also in demand. Their eggs are mainly used in cooking, loved for their size (corresponding to ten chicken eggs) and mild taste. Each emu can yield up to six litres of oil, which is then used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Finally, their leather is appreciated and is used to make accessories such as boots and handbags.
Apart from playing an important role in the economy, the emu is also an integral part of the Australian culture. According to a creation myth of the Aboriginals, the sun is in fact an emu’s egg thrown into the sky. The bird’s presence on coins, stamps and the Coat of Arms ̶ next to the red kangaroo ̶ further testifies to its importance as national symbol. The name alone (‘emu’) is wide-spread in Australia, being the name of a beer, a scientific journal and up to six hundred places (mountains, lakes, towns, etc.) across the country.
Elizabeth Taylor - Cleopatra Movie Poster
Cleopatra: Cleopatra chronicles the struggles of Cleopatra, the young Queen of Egypt, to resist the imperialist ambitions of Rome.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The Plimsolls
The plimsolls are a type of sport shoes designed by the Rubber Company in the 1830s in Liverpool. The shoes are made of rubber soles and canvas upper. In the earlier years the shoes had a sole of leather, jute or rope. But they were not solid enough and the Rubber Company decided to use rubber to link the sole to the canvas with a rubber band. The sole and the cloth are united by a process of vulcanization. The Plimsoll shoe was named after ‘the Plimsoll line’ (or ‘water line’) because the horizontal band linking the upper and the sole looks like the water line and also because if water gets above the sole, the foot gets wet as the passengers of a boat who stand below the Plimsoll line. At first it was used as the typical gym shoe. They were used for this purpose in the physical education lessons or by the army during their training. But their popularity as sport shoes has decreased with the apparition of trainers which are far more comfortable, especially for intense sport activity. Even though they have some serious rivals, the Plimsolls are nowadays fashionable in everyday life (among other things because of the use of colours). Think of well-know brands such as Converse, Keds, Vans, etc. that adapted the Plimsoll model. You can also find Lacoste or Burberry Plimsolls that are customized versions of the original one. Their use is also associated by the school children with the object of corporal punishment.
The Plimsolls have been extremely popular all around the world and especially in the English-speaking communities. For instance in the UK they are known as “Plimsolls” but in the US they are called “sneakers” or “tennis shoes” or “Plimmies”. In Australia, they are named “sand shoes” (also in the UK!) because they were originally designed to protect the feet from sand and they were also practical to walk on the beach. In India they are known as “Keds” (name taken from the brand).
The brand wants to satisfy as many people as they can. Therefore they developed a “Period Plimsoll”. During the menstrual cycle a woman’s foot takes different shapes. A research team has studied what effect the oestrogen had on the tissues to create a comfortable shoe.
The Plimsolls shoes are well established in the Anglophone and universal culture. Almost everyone has once worn Plimsolls. They are so popular that they have even been the source of inspiration for a song.
The first Plimsoll shoes were made of white canvas that could be painted with chalks and allowed people to design their own shoes. Nowadays, we can use markers to customize them to draw whatever they want on the plimsoll or we can even customize your own shoes online. As they are not very expensive, they can be put in the washing machine, allowing people to create new designs endlessly!
Valentine Etienne and Mélinda Mottint
Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson, to give “Brucie” his full name, was born in Edmonton, North London, on the 22nd February 1928. He is a British actor, entertainer and presenter, who started his television career when he was still a child. Forsyth also strived for a song and dance career. Friday, March 25, 2011
Burns supper
The Burns Supper is a real institution in Scottish culture: it commemorates the life and the poetry of the national poet Robert Burns, the emanent figure of Scotland. The celebration of the national bard is held on the poet's birthday 25 januari. The first recorded supper took place in July 1801 by close friends of Burns as a tribute to his memory. The ritual is linked to the Scottish heritage but also occurs throughout the world as in Northern Ireland, Canada and New-Zealand.
Robert Burns is a Scottish poet born into a family of farmers. As a child he received a poor education but soon enough he came to be regarded as a truly gifted poet. He wrote many songs and poems in the Scottish dialect of English; he also collected and reworked existing Scottish songs. He is not only regarded as the national poet of Scotland but also as a pioneer of the Romantic movement.
In fact Burns Supper consists of the recitation of his poetry. It is very formal and has a specific running order :
Piping in the guests
A big-time Burns Night calls for a piper to welcome guests. The audience stands and claps in time to the music while the guests enter the room in single file and take their seats.
Chairman’s welcome
The chairman says a few welcoming words, introduces the assembled guests and the evening’s entertainment.
The Selkirk Grace
The meal commences with the Selkirk Grace. A short but important prayer read in the Scottish dialect of English to usher in the meal, introducing the traditional Scottish dish : the Haggis.
The meal
The typical Bill o’ Fare menu includes:
Cock-a-leekie Soup
*
Haggis warm reeking, rich wi’ Champit Tatties
Bashed Neeps
*
Tyspy Laird (sherry trifle)
*
A Tassie o’ Coffee
The drink
It’s ofen customary to douse the haggis with a splash of whisky sauce.
The immortal memory
The chairman introduces the keynote speaker who delivers his speech on the life of Robert Burns: his literary genius, his politics, his highs and lows and most importantly his nationalism. The speaker concludes with a heart-felt toast : To the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns.
Toast to the Lassies
The object of this toast is to speak about the importance of women in our lives, refering to Burns, the women in his life, his attitudes and his views on women.
Reply to the Toast to the Lassies
It is the revenge for the women present as they get their chance to reply.
Most importantly the most important element of any Burns Supper must surely be fun. Now you have all the key elements to organise a Burns Supper !
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan is a famous British-Irish radio and TV personality. He was born in 
Leaving his banking career behind, he started a radio career as a newsreader and announcer at the national Irish broadcaster RTE (Raidió Telefis Éireann). He then moved to the BBC, where he spent most of his career. He really acquired popularity around 1972 when he hosted a humorous breakfast show on BBC Radio 2. From then on, Wogan became the centre of jokes, but he also demonstrated his talent for self-parody, as in The Floral Dance. In 1984, he interrupted his radio career to host TV programmes, but in 1993, he came back to BBC Radio 2 with a new breakfast show: Wake Up To 
Wogan (a.k.a. WUTW), which became very popular, reaching an 8,000,000-large audience. Beside the news bulletins, the programme mainly consisted of music and humorous interventions. Wogan also read the so-called "John and Janet" stories, i.e. pastiche of children’s learn-to-read stories that were made funny by introducing subtle sexual puns and double-entendres. The show being perceived to attract old listeners, Terry Wogan developed a specific lexicon about it. He called his audience the TOGs, i.e. Terry’s Old Geezers or Gals, as opposed to the TYGs, i.e. the young innocent victims that were forced to listen to the show with their parents, on the radio or via the “togcast” (i.e the podcast), and he called himself the togmaster. In 2009, Terry stopped hosting his breakfast programme and one year later, he started a Sunday show on Radio 2 called Weekend Wogan.
Terry Wogan is also a famous TV personality. He started his career on the screen around 1980. From then on, he has been presenting an annual telethon for the big charity appeal of Children in Need , in aid of British charities concerned with children. He is also well-known for having provided the BBC with commentary for the Eurovision Song Contest from 1973 to 2008. His sarcastic and cynical comments, even though appreciated by the British audience, have sometimes caused some contention. Wogan also presented a dozen times the UK Previews for this contest. The presenting of a few chat shows and of his own show called Wogan, thrice a week for 7 years can be added to the list of his television achievements.
Wogan's presence
His talent has also been acknowledged more officially, for example by a lifetime achievement award at the British Comedy Awards in 2009. He was also bestowed knighthood by the Queen, a title which allows him to be called “Sir” Terry Wogan.
Florence Vandevondele & Hélène Verhaeghe
Us, recently
