HAPPY CHILDREN'S DAY!

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

What is a Boy?

Between the innocence of babyhood and the dignity of manhood, we find a

delightful creature called a boy. Boys come in assorted sizes, weights and

colors, but all boys have the same creed: to enjoy every second of every

minute of every hour of every day and to protest with noise (their only

weapon) when their last minute is finished and the adult males pack them off

to bed at night.

Boys are found everywhere---on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on,

swinging from, running around or jumping to. Mothers love them, little girls

ignore them, older sisters and brothers tolerate them, adults ignore them, and

Heaven protects them.

A boy is Truth with dirt on his face. Beauty with a cut on its finger,

Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and Hope of the future with a frog in its

pocket.

When you are busy a boy is an inconsiderate, bothersome, intruding jangle of

noise. When you want him to make an impression, his brain turns to jelly or

else he becomes a savage, sadistic, jungle creature bent on destroying the

world and himself with it.

A boy is a composite---he has the appetite of a horse, the digestion of a

sword swallower, the energy of a pocket-size atomic bomb, the curiosity of a

cat, the lungs of a dictator, the imagination of a Paul Bunyan, the shyness

of a violet, the audacity of a steel trap, the enthusiasm of a fire cracker,

and when he makes something he has five thumbs on each hand.

He likes ice cream, knives, saws, Christmas, comic books, the boy across the

street, woods, water (in its natural habitat), large animals, Dads, trains,

Saturday mornings and fire engines.

He is not much for Sunday school, company, school, books without pictures,

music lessons, neckties, barbers, girls, overcoats, adults, or bedtime.

None else is so early to rise or so late to supper. Nobody else gets so much

fun out of trees, dogs and breezes. Nobody else can cram in one pocket-a

rusty knife, a half eaten apple, three feet of string, an empty Bull Durham

sack, two gum drops, six cents, a sling shot, a chunk of unknown substance and

a genuine supersonic ring with a secret compartment.

A boy is a magical creature---you can lock him out of your kitchen, but you

can't lock him out of your heart. You can get him out of your study, but not

out of your mind.

Might as well give up---he is your captor, your jailer, your boss and your

master. A freckled-faced, pint-sized, cat-chasing bundle of noise.

When you come home at night with only the shattered pieces of your hopes and

dreams---he can mend them all like new with the two magic words----Hi MOM / HI DAD

Volkswagen captured the essence of a little boy being a little boy. Enjoy it!


What is a girl?

Little girls are the nicest things that happen to people. They are born with

a little bit of angel shine about them and though it wears thin sometimes,

there is always enough left to lasso your heart---even when they are sitting

in the mud, or crying temperamental tears, or parading up the street in

mother's best clothes.

A little girl can be sweeter (and badder) oftener than anyone else in the

world. She can jitter around and stomp, and make funny noises that frazzle

your nerves, yet just when you open your mouth, she stands there demure with

that special look in her eyes. A girl is innocence playing in the mud, Beauty

standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot.

Girls are available in five colors---black, white, red, yellow, or brown, yet

Mother Nature always manages to select your favorite color when you place your

order. They disprove the law of supply and demand--there are millions of

little girls, but each is as precious as rubies.

God borrows from many creatures to make a little girl. He uses the song of a

bird, the squeal of a pig, the stubbornness of a mule, the antics of a monkey,

the spryness of a grasshopper, the curiosity of a cat, the speed of a gazelle,

the slyness of a fox, the softness of a kitten, and to top it all off, He adds

the mysterious mind of a woman.

A little girl likes new shoes, party dresses, small animals, first grade,

noise makers, the girl nest door, dolls, make-believe, dancing lessons, ice

cream, kitchens, coloring books, make-up, cans of water, going visiting, tea

parties and one boy. Se doesn't care much for visitors, boys in general,

large dogs, hand-me-downs, straight chairs, vegetables, snow suits, or staying

in the front yard. She is loudest when you are thinking, the prettiest when

she has provoked you, the busiest at bed time, the quietest when you want to

show her off and the most flirtatious when she absolutely must not get the

best of you again.

Who else can cause you more grief, joy, irritation, satisfaction,

embarrassment, and genuine delight that this combination of Eve, Salome, and

Florence Nightengale? She can muss up your home, your hair, and your

dignity---spend your money, your time, and your temper---then just when your

patience is ready to crack, her sunshine peeks through and you've lost again.

Yes, she is a nerve-wracking nuisance, just a noisy bundle of mischief…but

just when your patience is ready to crack, her sunshine peeks through and

you've lost again.

Yes, she is a nerve-racking nuisance, just a noisy bundle of mischief. But

when your dreams tumble down and the whole world is a mess----when it seems

you are pretty much of a fool after all---she can make you a king when she

climbs on your knee and whispers.

"I love you best of all!"

http://www.inspiringthots.net/recommend/s_children-learn.htm
Instituto de inglés “América” April 30th, 2011.

International Women's Day 2011, 100 Years!

Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.


Organisations, governments and women's groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.

Some years have seen global IWD themes honoured around the world, while in other years groups have preferred to 'localise' their own themes to make them more specific and relevant.

THEME: So while many people may think there is one global theme each year, this is not always correct. It is completely up to each country and group as to what appropriate theme they select.

Below are some of the global United Nation themes used for International Women's Day to date:

- 2011: Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women

- 2010: Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all
- 2009: Women and men united to end violence against women and girls
- 2008: Investing in Women and Girls
- 2007: Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls
- 2006: Women in decision-making
- 2005: Gender Equality Beyond 2005: Building a More Secure Future
- 2004: Women and HIV/AIDS
- 2003: Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals
- 2002: Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities
- 2001: Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts
- 2000: Women Uniting for Peace
- 1999: World Free of Violence against Women
- 1998: Women and Human Rights
- 1997: Women at the Peace Table
- 1996: Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future

Whats your International Women's Day 2009 Theme?
Please let us know your 2009 themes to add below, by clicking here.

Various 2009 themes around the world
- Global, United Nations: Women and men united to end violence against women and girls
- Canada, Status of Women (Federal Gov): Strong Leadership. Strong Women. Strong World: Equality
- Australia, UNIFEM: Unite to End Violence Against Women
- Australia, Queensland Government Office for Women: Our Women, Our State
- Australia, WA Department for Communities: Sharing the Caring for the Future
- UK, Doncaster Council: Women's Voices and Influence
- UK, Welsh Assembly Government: Bridging the Generational Gap
- UK, Accenture: Stretch Yourself: Achieving 50:50 in the boardroom by 2020

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

1908 Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

1909 In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.

1910 At a Socialist International meeting in Copenhagen, an International Women's Day of no fixed date was proposed to honour the women's rights movement and to assist in achieving universal suffrage for women. Over 100 women from 17 countries unanimously agreed the proposal. 3 of these women were later elected the first women to the Finnish parliament.

1911 Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign.

1913-1914 On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1914 further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity.

1917 On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in war. Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was 8 March.

1918 - 1999 Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women's rights and participation in social, political and economic processes. 1975 was designated as 'International Women’s Year' by the United Nations. Women's organisations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.

2000 - 2007 IWD is now an official holiday in Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. While there are many large-scale initiatives, a rich and diverse fabric of local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.

Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google even changes its logo on its global search pages. Corporations like HSBC host the UK's largest and longest running IWD event delivered by women's company Aurora. Last year Nortel sponsored IWD activities in over 20 countries and thousands of women participated. Nortel continues to connect its global workforce though a coordinated program of high-level IWD activity, as does Accenture both virtually and offline. Accenture supports more than 2,000 of its employees to participate in its International Women's Day activities that include leadership development sessions, career workshops and corporate citizenship events held across six continents - in eight cities in the United States and in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, South Africa and the UK. Accenture also coordinated am IWD webcast featuring stories about Accenture women worldwide that ran uninterrupted for 30 hours across 11 time zones via Accenture's intranet. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'.

So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

Taken from: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

Flag Day in Mexico

February 24 is established as the Flag Day. In this day special TV and radio programs are broadcasted, in order to diffuse the the history and meaning of the Flag."

Since February 24th, 1937, there are public festivities on the Flag day in front of the monument to the General don Vicente Guerrero, the first Mexican military that swore to the flag in the famous hug of Acatempan on March 12, 1821.

The Mexico Flag and its emblem have an old and very interesting story about what it depicts.

While the Flag of the Estados Unidos de Mexico ( that’s right; United States of Mexico) wasn’t established

officially in its form until 1821, it depicts a story of Mexico culture from the ancient peoples known as the

Aztecs.

Supposedly in 1325 long before most of North America was “discovered” the Aztecs were populating the area

known as Mexico today with a relatively great civilization.

The story goes that the Aztecs received a vision or a sign from “Huitzilopochtli” through one of their many

“gods” that told them they would know where to build their central city or “zocólalo”, the empire of

“Tenochtitlan” ("Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus") when they saw what is today depicted on the Mexican Flag..

They were told that when they saw a [Mexican] Eagle perched on a Nopal cactus with a serpent (rattle snake)

in its talon, located on an island, this is where they should begin to build their permanent city. They supposedly

did encounter this on an island in the middle of a lake (Lake Anáhuac) now known today as México City. See

Mexico map.

The only problem with building there was there was not much dry land so the

Aztecs created balsas or basically rafts made of reeds and soil where they would

live and grow their foods. Eventually through the many years they used and

diverted the water making more and more “land” to live on.

This is where Mexico City currently stands today. This is also why through the

many years that as the Aztecs and eventually the Spaniards and now Mexicans

developed Mexico City, it is sinking into the earth.

It is said that under Mexico City today are many levels of civilizations. For

example many of the Catholic cathedrals created by the Spaniards are actually

on top of invisible pyramids that were built by the Aztec people.

The green-white-red tricolor was first seen in 1821 and was know as the “Sierra”. The name was given to it by

the Indians of the sierra of Veracruz and Puebla.

It was not officially adopted by Mexico until April 14th, 1823. As for the colors there seems to be some

disaccord. As you can see by the following examples.

Once source claims:

Green is for hope and victory.

White is for the purity of our ideals.

Red is for the blood our national heroes shed.

Another source says:

Green is for Independence

White for Roman Catholicism

Red for Union

There have been several revisions to the flag with the last being in 1995 with the passing of the modifications of

the Flag law.

The decree issued on May 9, 1995 modifies the articles 2, 18, and 55 ... of the last Flag Law issued in DOF on

February 9, 1991, states how the Coat of arms should be reproduced on the reverse side: From article 2 of the

mentioned decree:

The National Coat of Arms is featured by a Mexican eagle exposing its left profile, the upper part of the wings in

a level higher than plume and slightly displayed in a battle attitude; with the sustentation plumage dow

nwards

touching to the tail whose feathers are arranged in natural fan. It puts its left grasp on a bloomed that is born in

a rock that emerges from a lake. It is grasping with the right grasp and the beak, in attitude of eats, a curved

serpent, so that it harmonizes with the whole. Several "pencas" of the grow to the sides. Two branches, one of

“Encino” to the front of the eagle and another one of laurel opposed, form a lower semicircle and they are

united by a ribbon divided in three strips that, when the National Coat of Arms is represented in natural colors,

correspond to those of the National flag.

When the National Shield reproduces in the reverse side of the National Flag, the Mexican Eagle will appear

standing in its right grasp, holding with the left one and the beak the curved serpent.

Another important feature of this decree is the addition of the article 54-Bis talks about the destruction of a flag:

>From article 54-Bis of the mentioned decree:

When it is required to destroy some copy of the National flag, it will be done by means of the incineration, in

respectful and solemn act, in accordance with the specifications that the corresponding regulation d

etermines.

Source:

Decree of reform for the articles 2o, 18 & 55, and in addition article 54 Bis…of the law of the shield, the Mexico

Flag and Mexican National Hymns.

Issued in DOF on May 9, 1995.

The Mexico Flag is most prominently flown on “Día de Bandera” which is the Flag Day of Mexico, February

24th and also on México’s Independence Day, the 16th of September, known as El Grito or the shout for

independence.

Idiomas para salir de la crisis laboral, el inglés, el idioma más valorado en las entrevistas

Idiomas para salir de la crisis laboral

 (Fuente: Diario El Economista)

La demanda de formación siempre aumenta en tiempos de crisis ante la dificultad para acceder a un empleo. Los idiomas no son una excepción. Este año, las aulas se han llenado de jóvenes y adultos que buscan en la lengua extranjera una oportunidad para acceder, mantener o reincorporarse a un empleo. Pero no todos los idiomas presentan las mismas oportunidades. Todo depende de los objetivos profesionales que se tengan. Lo único claro es que sin inglés es imposible. La lengua anglosajona es la que manda en el mercado de trabajo.

Prácticamente, en la mayoría de las ofertas de empleo se requiere el conocimiento de algún idioma extranjero.

Incentivo ante la crisis económica

Un factor por el que muchas personas deciden aprender alguna lengua diferente a la materna, tendencia que se acentúa en tiempos de crisis económica porque es más difícil poder encontrar un empleo o mantenerlo.

Esta situación ha originado que no sólo los adolescentes y jóvenes llenen las aulas de los centros de formación, bien sean públicos o privados, para estudiar y mejorar su currículum, sino que los adultos y jóvenes que ya dejaron la universidad hace unos años hayan tenido que volver a asistir a clase.

A falta de las cifras oficiales definitivas, los centros tanto públicos como privados, han experimentado este año un aumento de la demanda de idiomas , aunque este incremento se debe también a otros factores como el hecho de que los estudiantes de masters y grados tengan que certificar su conocimiento de idiomas , la entrada del Plan Bolonia que facilita la realización de estudios en centros universitarios extranjeros y la nueva selectividad, que incluye una prueba oral de idioma extranjero.

La demanda para aprender idiomas se ha percibido, sobre todo, en relación al inglés. "Hemos notado un aumento de entre el 10 y el 15 por ciento", según explica Carmelo López, director del Centro de Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Zaragoza, quien señala que "con la crisis teníamos previsto este incremento porque la gente aprovecha para formarse".

La demanda de idiomas también se ha notado en los centros privados. En este caso, según datos de Aseproce, se ha registrado un aumento del 10 por ciento. El incremento no afecta por igual a todas las lenguas y "el inglés es la estrella.

El inglés, el idioma más valorado en las entrevistas

Y es que no hay duda de que el inglés es la lengua más importante y la que se ha convertido en el idioma internacional por excelencia, además de ser la más valorada en los procesos de selección. De hecho, según la Guía de las Empresas que ofrecen empleo, elaborada por la Cámara de Madrid y la Fundación Universidad Empresa, el aspecto más valorado por las compañías a la hora de elegir al mejor candidato es el conocimiento de inglés.

La demanda de empleados que sepan inglés hace que la lengua anglosajona sea la prioridad para cualquier estudiante y trabajador, con independencia de su actividad profesional, y que se convierta en imprescindible en determinadas profesiones relacionadas con áreas como la ingeniería, la economía, la ciencia y tecnología.


A partir de ahí, hay que decantarse por estudiar más idiomas, porque "en el Consejo de Europa se está hablando de crear ciudadanos plurilingües que conozcan, además de la lengua materna, otra lengua con un buen nivel y que tengan conocimientos bastante buenos de otro idioma más". Eso sí, no hay que olvidarse bajo ningún concepto del inglés porque para encontrar trabajo es el más importante y sin conocimientos de este idioma es prácticamente imposible acceder a un empleo. Luego, es cuestión de elegir y de ser conscientes que los idiomas abren más puertas profesionales que otras materias y asignaturas, porque con el conocimiento de lenguas extranjeras se encuentra más fácilmente un trabajo, aunque sea temporal y en lugares como la costa.


Extracto del artículo 'Idiomas para salir de la crisis laboral' - 7 de abril de 2010 por Eva Sereno en Ecoaula


Fuente: Diario "El Economista"

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS, WHAT ABOUT YOURS?

Funny New Year Quotes

Laugh Your Way Into the New Year With These Funny New Year Quotes

By Simran Khurana, About.com

The New Year may be a significant event for many people. But the absurdities of the celebration cannot escape a skeptic's mind. Here are some funny New Year quotes. What better way to start a New Year than with a hearty laugh? You can share your joy by greeting everybody with these funny New Year quotes.

Mark Twain

New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions.



Brooks Atkinson

Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.



Bill Vaughan

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to.



P. J. O'Rourke

The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk. This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to.



Jay Leno

Now there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average… which means, you have met your New Year's resolution.



James Agate

New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.



Eric Zorn

Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle.



Bill Vaughan

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.



Charles Lamb

New Year's Day is every man's birthday.



Oprah Winfrey

Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right.



Mark TwainNew Year's Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.



Judith Crist

Happiness is too many things these days for anyone to wish it on anyone lightly. So let's just wish each other a bile-less New Year and leave it at that.



Anonymous

Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits.



Joey Adams

May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions!



Anais NinI made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me.



Oscar Wilde

Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.



Robert Paul

I'm a little bit older, a little bit wiser, a little bit rounder, but still none the wiser.



AnonymousA New Year's resolution is something that goes in one Year and out the other.



Leonard Bernstein

From New Year's on the outlook brightens; good humor lost in a mood of failure returns. I resolve to stop complaining.



G. K. Chesterton

The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective. Unless a man starts on the strange assumption that he has never existed before, it is quite certain that he will never exist afterwards. Unless a man be born again, he shall by no means enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

What's yours?

HAPPY XMAS...

We will host our "Posada Party" on Tuesday December 21st. after 4pm. Come to enjoy with us! There will be music, food and special prizes. Students, guests, and community members are welcome! Though some traditional holiday food will be provided, guests are encouraged to either bring a food/drink contribution or a $25 donation for this special event!

Merry Christmas around the world

Afrikaner (Afrikaans) ~ "Een Plesierige Kerfees"

Argentine ~ "Felices Pascuas"

Bohemian ~ "Vesele Vanoce"Brazilian ~ "Boas Festas"

Chinese (Cantonese) ~ "Saint Dan Fai Lok"

Danish ~ "Glædelig Jul"

Dutch ~ "Vrolijk Kerstfeest" - Gezellige kerst

English ~ "Merry Christmas"

Filipino ~ "Maligayang Pasko"

Finnish ~ "Hyvaa Joulua"

French ~ "Joyeux Noël"

German ~ "Froehliche Weihnachten"

Greek ~ "Kala Christouyenna"


Hawaiian ~ "Mele Kalikimaka"

Hebrew ~ "Mo'adim Lesimkha"

Icelandic ~ "Gledileg Jol"

Indonesian ~ "Selamat Hari Natal"

Irish ~ "Nollaig Shona Dhuit"

Italian ~ "Buone Feste Natalizie" - Natale italiano

Japanese ~ "Kurisumasu Omedeto"

Korean ~ "Sung Tan Chuk Ha"

Lithuanian ~ "Linksmu Kaledu"

Malay ~ "Selamat Hari Natal"

Maori ~ "Meri Kirihimete"

Norwegian ~ "God Jul" - Norsk Jul

Romanian ~ "Craciun Fericit"

Peruvian ~ "Felices Fiestas"

Portugese ~ "Boas Festas"

Slovakian ~ "Vesele Vianoce"

Spanish ~ "Feliz Navidad"

Swedish ~ "God Jul" - Jul i Sverige

Welsh ~ "Nadolig Llawen"



























Christmas Facts
Every year more than 400 million people celebrate Xmas around the world -- that makes Xmas one of the world’s biggest religious and commercial festivities. In approximately year 300 A.D., the birthday of Jesus was determined to be on December 25, the day that has been celebrated from then till this very day. The celebration on the 25th of December starts with Christmas Eve, the evening of December 24.

The religious festival is originally a blend of pagan customs. The Romans held a festival on December 25 called Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, i.e. "the birthday of the unconquered sun.". Pagan Scandinavia celebrated a winter festival called Yule, held in late December to early January. However, it is uncertain exactly why December 25 became associated with the birth of Jesus since the Old Testament doesn’t mention a specific date of the event.

Christmas around the world:







In Italy, children receive gifts from the good witch La Befana, old, bent and dressed in black. La Befana was a widowed, childless woman when the Three Kings passed on their way to see the Christ child. When they asked her the way to Bethlehem she was busy cleaning and sent them away. Realizing her mistake, she left to search for the Baby Jesus. To this day she is still searching going from house to house on Epiphany, January 6, leaving a gift for good children.

Russian children await gifts from Babouska, a farmer's wife who offered food and shelter to the Three Wise men on their journey to Bethlehem, Baboushka declined their offer of travelling with them to visit the Christ child. Realizing her error on the eve of Epiphany, she tried unsuccessfully to find them, but handed the presents she had intended for the infant Jesus to children she passed along the way.



In Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico and South America, the Three Kings or Wise Men bring Christmas gifts to children, while in France children eagerly await the coming of Father Christmas or Pere Noel who brings their gifts.



In some cultures, Saint Nicholas travels with an assistant. The old bishop Sinterklass arrives in Holland on December 6 in his red bishop's costume astride a white horse. In many port towns, he is said to have sailed in on a ship from Spain. Beside him walks Black Peter with a black sack and a book recording each Dutch child's behavior through the year. Good children receive a gift from the bishop while bad children may be carried away in Black Peter's sack.

In Germany Saint Nicholas also travels with a helper, known as Knecht Ruprecht, Krampus, or Pelzebock, and comes with a sack on his back and a rod or switches in his hand. Saint Nicholas gives gifts to good children, while those who have been bad are punished by the assistant with a few hits of a switch.

Swedish children wait for the gnome Jultomten, also called Julemanden or Julenisse, who dresses in red and carries a sack of gifts on his back. He flies in his sleigh pulled by the Julbocker, the goats of Thor, the god of thunder. Elves, called the Juul Nisse, hide in the attics of families throughout the year, eagerly waiting to help him. Children leave bowls of milk or rice pudding in the attic for the elves, hoping they will be empty in the morning.

In Austria and Switzerland it is Christkindl or the Christ Child who arrives bearing gifts. In some towns children await the Holy Child and in others Christkindl is a beautiful girl-angel who comes down from heaven bearing gifts.

And in England a thinner version of Santa Claus known as Father Christmas, wearing long red robes with sprigs of holly in his hair, delivers gifts to children.

Actividades Celebración del 30 Aniversario de Instituto de Inglés América

Thanks to all our friends, collaborators, and contributors who made possible to perform the different activities we did to Celebrate the 30th. Anniversary of Instituto de Inglés América, once again, Thanks you who makes it possible, so we can continue Empowering Our People!!!