The Tradition of Epiphany in France
Epiphany, or the 12th day of Christmas, falls on January 6 and marks the official end to the festive season for many Christians.
The ancient Christian feast day is significant as a celebration of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, as well as a more general celebration of his birth.
The six Sundays which follow Epiphany are known as the time of manifestation.
In France it is tradition to bake La Galette des Rois (The cake of the kings) for Epiphany on 6 January, these cakes or pastries are eaten all month long and beyond.
In most of France, the galette des rois is traditionally a large, circular affair made of puff pastry with a crisp, golden top and a soft frangipane centre or sometimes filled with apple or other fruit, hiding the fève (a small porcelain figure).
In the south, the gateau (rather than galette) des rois is a ring shaped brioche draped here and there with slices of candied fruits to represent jeweld.
Served with cider, sparkling white wine, champagne – people often invite friends and neighbours to come and eat La Galette
The person who finds the fève in their slice of galette is crowned king or queen for the day, and gets the figurine as a keepsake.
Spain and Portugal have similar traditions for Epiphany, while in Italy carnival cakes bring communities together in a similar way.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjO6zX1zJQs[/embedyt]
3 Christmas Traditions Explained
3 Christmas Traditions Explained – why do we put up Christmas trees and lights and where did the tradition come from?
Where did the idea of giving presents and gifts at Christmas come from?
Why do we use mistletoe in our decorations at Christmas?
Do you know what people do, traditionally, under the mistletoe?
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXaLfDuuPBw[/embedyt]
Buster The Boxer Christmas Ad
Buster the Boxer Christmas Ad is the story of a little girl called Bridget who loves to bounce.
When her mum and dad buy her a trampoline for Christmas, they soon discover that she isn’t the only one with a passion for jumping
Love them or hate tham, adverts are a part of our lives and the consumer culture.
Every year in The UK, this particular store always produces something that is quite amusing – we are not advertising the store, nor are we in any ay linked to them, but we thought this may be nice to share with you at this time of year.
Well, if you don’t like the store, at least you can agree that the animals are cute …
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr6lr_VRsEo[/embedyt]
There is also a parody of this advert, which we can show you, if you are interested, although you may have already seen it.
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Experience the 360º world of Buster’s friends from thetrampoline on your smartphone, tablet or desktop
July 1 The Battle of the Somme
The Battle of the Somme (French: Bataille de la Somme, German: Schlacht an der Somme), also known as the Somme Offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British and French empires against the German Empire.
It took place between 1 July and 18 November 1916 on both sides of upper reaches of the River Somme in France and was the largest battle of the First World War on the Western Front; more than one million men were wounded or killed, making it one of the bloodiest battles in human history.
The French and British had committed themselves to an offensive on the Somme during Allied discussions at Chantilly, Oise, in December 1915.
The Allies agreed upon a strategy of combined offensives against the Central Powers in 1916, by the French, Russian, British and Italian armies, with the Somme offensive as the Franco-British contribution.
Initial plans called for the French army to undertake the main part of the Somme offensive, supported on the northern flank by the Fourth Army of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF).
When the Imperial German Army began the Battle of Verdun on the Meuse on 21 February 1916, French commanders diverted many of the divisions intended for the Somme and the “supporting” attack by the British became the principal effort.
The first day on the Somme (1 July) saw a serious defeat for the German Second Army, which was forced out of its first position by the French Sixth Army, from Foucaucourt-en-Santerre south of the Somme to Maricourt on the north bank and by the Fourth Army from Maricourt to the vicinity of the Albert–Bapaume road.
The first day on the Somme was also the worst day in the history of the British army, which had c. 57,470 casualties, mainly on the front between the Albert–Bapaume road and Gommecourt, where the attack was defeated and few British troops reached the German front line.
The British troops on the Somme comprised a mixture of the remains of the pre-war regular army, the Territorial Force and the Kitchener Army, which was composed of Pals battalions, recruited from the same places and occupations.
The battle is notable for the importance of air power and the first use of the tank.
At the end of the battle, British and French forces had penetrated 6 miles (9.7 km) into German-occupied territory, taking more ground than in any of their offensives since the Battle of the Marne in 1914.
The Anglo-French armies failed to capture Péronne and halted 3 miles (4.8 km) from Bapaume, where the German armies maintained their positions over the winter.
British attacks in the Ancre valley resumed in January 1917 and forced the Germans into local withdrawals to reserve lines in February, before the scheduled retirement to the Siegfriedstellung (Hindenburg Line) began in March.
Debate continues over the necessity, significance and effect of the battle.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqvALkpsfRo[/embedyt]
Battle of The Somme Centenary Remembrance
An Economist’s Guide to the Brexit Debate
There’s a lot of rhetoric surrounding Britain’s EU membership referendum with each side trying to prove their point. Bloomberg Intelligence Economist Dan Hanson has been breaking down some of the most contentious issues.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACGD30AS1V8[/embedyt]
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