Why do we do this, and where did it start? Well, there surprisingly isn’t a concrete conclusion by historians. We’ll explore the possibilities below, but nevertheless, every spring we all put on our pranking caps to plan out the most devious and diabolical, yet safe and playful pranks we can think of, making this 24 hours possibly the most fun, exciting, and anxiety-filled day of the year!
WHEN IS APRIL FOOLS’ DAY 2023?
April Fools’ Day is celebrated every year on April 1. The day is all about being neutral and serious about everything, and… HA! APRIL FOOLS!
HISTORY OF APRIL FOOLS’ DAY
Today, pranking on April Fools’ Day has transcended the confinements of the first day of April to become a year-round internet phenomenon. Thousands of videos on the most popular internet sites emerge every day, pushing the pranking limit to sometimes dangerous territories. We do NOT condone this and below we’ll illustrate how to allow this holiday to remain true to what it was meant to be – safe, and well, hilarious!
There’s no consensus on how it all began, but a popular theory is that while nowadays, January 1 is when we start the new year, this wasn’t the case before 1592. We used a calendar called the Julian calendar – created by Julius Caesar in 45 BC – which saw every new year begin on April 1! Crazy, we know.
Pope Gregory the 8th created a new method for keeping track of days, which was the start of the calendar we all know and love – the Gregorian calendar. When he moved the date of New Year’s Eve it obviously took some time for everyone to catch on to it. Those who were a bit behind the times still celebrated on April 1 and were considered fools for doing so.
One lesser-known, often argued explanation for our beloved prank day is buried in a 1392 book called “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer. One line in this publication simply references “March 32”, and the debate to its meaning was born. Without many contexts and being dated so far back, the interpretation remains a mystery. Some believe it to be a joke, dawning this annual tradition, while some say it’s none other than a misprint.
Whether we have Gregory the 8th or Geoffrey Chaucer to thank for April Fools’ Day, it has existed for centuries and will continue to cause a flurry of creativity and excitement in the first few weeks of spring.
APRIL FOOLS’ DAY AROUND THE WORLD
| Country | Holiday | Occasion | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Poisson d’Avril | The same as April Fools’ Day, but is known as ‘April Fish’ due to the popular prank of sticking a paper fish onto someone’s back. | April 1 |
| Scotland | Huntigowk Day | In Scotland, to ‘hunt the gowk’ is to find a gullible person or a ‘cuckoo’, and prank them! | April 1 |
| Scotland | Taily Day | In some parts of Scotland, the pranking lasts two days, with day two pranks being focused on the posterior. | April 2 |
| Denmark | Maj-kat | An identical holiday to April Fools’ Day is celebrated a month later, with more practical jokes and gags. | May 1 |
| Spain | Childermas | Although the holiday has grim origins, the holiday is now much celebrated like April Fools’ Day. | December 28 |
TRADITIONS OF THE DAY
April Fools’ Day traditions are all about practical jokes, playing pranks, and having fun. It can be minor like a verbal joke, or something that you have been plotting for the past few months. Either way, usually the gag ends with the yelling of “April Fools’!” to signify the end of the prank.
In modern times, prank videos have become a category of their own on video hosting platforms. So, naturally, April Fools’ Day pranks have become quite elaborate in recent years. Small businesses, large corporations, and TV networks have also started to participate in this annual tradition, advertising and promoting fictitious claims to fool their audiences. The mild-mannered trickster always has the classic switching-of-sugar-with-salt gag up their sleeve.
Source: nationaltoday
The post April Fools’ Day – April 1, 2023 first appeared on Helena Daily English.]]>Hi everyone,
If you’re learning English abroad in an English speaking country over the Christmas period, you might find yourself off for a few days.
As this is a festive period, there will always be lots of fun activities to take part in. But this can also be an expensive and exhausting time, so watching a Christmassy movie is a great way to take a break from the spending and the festivities.
Beside, one of the best ways to learn about Christmas is to watch one of the many popular Christmas Movies, which will show you what the holiday is like and the sorts of values that it represents for Americans.
In addition, watching English movies is a great way to practice your English! Below are a few of my favourite movies to watch:
1. Home Alone: Home Alone is a 1990 American comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. It’s part of our Movie House Christmas Season.
Plot summary: Home Alone is the highly successful and beloved family comedy about a young boy named Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) who is accidentally left behind when his family takes off for a vacation in France over the holiday season.
2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a 1989 American Christmas comedy film directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik.
Plot summary: The Griswold family plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.
3. A Christmas Story: A Christmas Story is a 1983 American Christmas comedy film directed by Bob Clark.
Plot summary: In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie attempts to convince his parents, his teacher and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.
4. Elf: Elf is a 2003 American Christmas comedy film directed by Jon Favreau and written by David Berenbaum.
Plot summary: After discovering he is a human, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole decides to travel to New York City to locate his real father. with Buddy interferes with his job, he is forced tovaluate his priorities.
5. Love Actually: Love Actually is a 2003 British Christmas-themed romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis.
Plot summary: Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.
Let us know which movie do you like the most?
The Christmas words that you will see in 5 Christmas movie above
- Jolly: Happy, joyful (used a lot at Christmas or to describe Santa)
- Sleigh: the carriage that Santa drives with Reindeer
- Deck the halls: to decorate the house for Christmas
- Stocking: a big sock that is hung at Christmas, which Santa fills with presents
- Merry: Happy (also common at Christmastime)
- Gather: to get together
- Kegger: a party with large barrel(s) of beer
- Attic: the top part of the house between the top floor and the roof, often used for storage or as an extra bedroom
- Supervision: watch over someone to make sure they behave correctly or are safe
- Twist: an unexpected change in a movie/series
- To burgle: to rob (usually a house)
- White picket fence: a barrier of wooden posts painted white (common of American homes)
- Hick: a person who lives in the country, as opposed to the city
- Orphanage: a place for children without parents
- Elves: a small, magical creature that looks like a human, but with pointed ears. They are believed to help Santa make presents
- Carol: a Christmas song
- Stumble upon: to find something by chance
- Buddy: friend
Watch more:
The post Top 5 Christmas Movies That English Learners should watch first appeared on Helena Daily English.]]>Each year Christmas is celebrated throughout the world with great religiosity and festivity, however, the pattern of celebration varies according to cultures
| BRITAIN | RUSSIA |
| In Britain, family members take turns in stirring the pudding mix clockwise while making a wish. Some even put coins, rings or thimbles for good luck. | In Russia Christmas is celebrated on January 7th instead of December 25th. This is because the Orthodox Church, where most Russians pay worship, still uses the old Julian calendar for religious festivity. |
| U.S.A | CANADA |
| Just like the Comi-con, U.S.A celebrates a unique Santa-con festival. New York gather dressed as Santa dressed up as Christmas characters. You will see a lot of Santas, elves, snowmen and snow women. | In the northern region of the country, people participate in a Taffy Pull-in honor of Saint Catharine-patron saint of single women. For single women out there, this is the ideal chance to meet the man of your dreams. |
Watch more:
Read more: Top Christmas foods: 10 British Foods in Christmas event
The post Discovering Christmas ❁ Christmas Around the World: Britain, Russia, USA, Canada, Sweden, China, Japan, first appeared on Helena Daily English.]]>Hi everyone
Christmas is coming…
That why today, it’s not an English lesson, it’s about Christmas food.
What do Brits eat during Christmas dinner? People around the UK look forward to Christmas for many reasons, but one of the things I get very excited about is the thought of all the delicious food I can eat. So, today I would like to bring to you the top 10 British Christmas Foods that you should know.
Let’s take a look at these dishes
Read more: Christmas Around the World: Britain, Russia, USA, Canada, Sweden, China, Japan
The post Top Christmas foods: 10 British Foods in Christmas event first appeared on Helena Daily English.]]>The FIFA World Cup is an international association football competition established in 1930. It is contested by the men’s national teams of the members of International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), the sport’s global governing body.
Read more:
- International Women’s Day, 8 March in the USA
- Valentine’s Day 2019 | Best Sweet Love Messages for your Lover
- Halloween 2018 – American Holiday
The tournament has taken place every four years, except in 1942 and 1946, when the competition was canceled due to World War II. The most recent World Cup, hosted by Brazil in 2014, was won by Germany, who beat Argentina 1–0 after extra time.
The World Cup final match is the last of the competition, and the result determines which country is declared world champions. If after 90 minutes of regular play the score is a draw, an additional 30-minute period of play, called extra time, is added.
If such a game is still tied after extra time it is decided by kicks from the penalty shoot-out. The team winning the penalty shoot-out are then declared champions. The tournament has been decided by a one-off match on every occasion except 1950 when the tournament winner was decided by a final round-robin group contested by four teams (Uruguay, Brazil, Sweden, and Spain).
Uruguay’s 2–1 victory over Brazil was the decisive match (and one of the last two matches of the tournament) which put them ahead on points and ensured that they finished top of the group as world champions. Therefore, this match is regarded by FIFA as the de facto final of the 1950 World Cup.
In the 20 tournaments held, 77 nations have appeared at least once. Of these, 12 have made it to the final match and might have won. With five titles, Brazil is the most successful World Cup team and also the only nation to have participated in every World Cup finals tournament. Italy and Germany have four titles. The other former champions are Uruguay and Argentina with two titles each, and England, France, and Spain with one each.
The current champions, Germany, took their fourth title in 2014, and it is the first title for the reunified German team. The 2014 German team also became the first European team to win in South America. The team that wins the finals receive the FIFA World Cup Trophy, and their name is engraved in the bottom side of the trophy.
The post The History of FIFA World Cup first appeared on Helena Daily English.]]>Happy Women’s Day to all the incredible women! Shine on… Not just today but every day!
It’s Women’s day! Feel special and unique on the top of the world!
Women are always a source of inspiration for the family and society. Happy Women’s Day to you!
I treasure you close to my heart. Here are my best wishes to you on International Women’s Day 2019!
To the woman of my dream: you fill my days with happiness and my world with love!
You’re my source,
You’re my power.
You’re my love,
You’re my flower.
You always take care,
I hear your heart sing.
So be happy, my dear,
As the day is long!
Congratulations, lovely woman. Today you deserve our most beautiful flowers and poetry!
Best wishes for your special day! Live, Laugh and Love!
Your smile makes the heart sing. Thank you for being so wonderful!
Happy women’s day to you
You are special and know that it’s true!
Happy Women’s Day, to someone who is much more wonderful than they think, with all my love.
Some women are lost in the fire. But you are built from it! Best wishes on Women’s Day.
You just smile and the world changes. Let the harmony and colors of spring shine in your life!
Source: Internet
The post Happy Women’s Day 2019 Wishes first appeared on Helena Daily English.]]>1. Introduction
International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.
International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labor movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.
Since those early years, International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.
How to Speak English Fluently like American Speakers in 1 Month – Part 3
2. Celebrating Women’s Day in the USA
Over the last many years Women’s day has been celebrated around the world with utmost fervor and zest although in many parts of the USA it is yet to find significance. It is observed as a holiday though to give a boost to the fight for atrocities against women and to spread among masses awareness for eradicating the gender gap.
Today in most parts of the world including the United States, women’s Day is celebrated by performing several activities by school children and companies, by giving tribute to women with flowers.
Beata Pozniac, who has founded women’s day the USA, has been working in the political domain from last few years to teach the significance of this day to the people of the country.
The month of March is affirmed as a Women’s History Month in the United States. Besides that, there are many events organized all across the country during the women’s day celebration.
From last few years, the Secretary of state and the first lady are holding official events on this day, honoring many women who have shown courage in various fields. Also, many informal and formal events take place to show its significance.
3. Some Ways in Which Women’s Day is Celebrated in the USA
- People buy a bunch of some favorite flowers of the lady in their life and offer one flower to each of the ladies they come in contact with on 8th March.
- They give the women in their life attractive cards telling them their inner feelings and respect for whatever they have done in their life.
Women’s Day is a day when people around the world come together to commemorate the struggles of women and their achievements.
Women’s Day is a day when people around the world come together to commemorate the struggles of women and their achievements. It’s a highly debated topic in various communities, including colleges, where students get a task to write an essay on International Women’s Day. A lot of them seek help with writing essays from professional writers because they want an important topic of women’s rights and gender equality to be presented in the most concise manner.
Read more:
The post International Women’s Day, 8 March in the USA first appeared on Helena Daily English.]]>watch more:
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Valentine’s Day 2019 | Best Sweet Love Messages for your Lover
The post Valentine’s Day 2019 | Marriage: Should People Get Married Earlier? first appeared on Helena Daily English.]]>Best Sweet Love Messages for your Lover Love Quotes and Sayings for Valentine’s Day
1. Love never gives up
2. There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.
3. Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own.
4. I am happiest when I’m right next to you.
5. Your flaws are perfect for the heart that’s meant to love you.
6. My night has become a sunny dawn because of you
….
Source: Internet
The post Valentine’s Day 2019 | Best Sweet Love Messages for your Lover first appeared on Helena Daily English.]]>Today I’d like to talk about how to be a successful student. First, you should discover who you are and what you want to be. We all have our own personalities, qualities, characters, and relationships. All those things together make us who we are. It’s time to ask yourself: what kind of person do you want to be?
Shakespeare said the world is a stage and we all play different roles. Well, what roles do you play? A student or a teacher? A musician or a doctor? Write your roles down. For each role, what are your responsibilities?
Then ask yourself what would you want to do? And what would your future look like? How do people get what they want? How can you make your dreams come true? One thing to do is to set a goal and make a plan to achieve your goals.
. We know that good thing don’t happen overnight, but you have to be prepared: you might just have to work hard to make it happen. Remember…,’
You need to make a plan for your goals. Write down your short-term goals and break them into weekly goals so you know exactly what you need to do each week. You will be surprised by how helpful this can be. Some projects are small and can be completed in a day. But then, there are big projects like essays, reports, personal goals,… difficult things that require planning, time, and effort. So you can plan personal and academic goals on the monthly and weekly planning pages of your list. Make it easy on yourself. Break down your projects or goals into small, easier steps and work towards them one step at a time. _.
When you finish your plan you should start to do it. Once you get going, it’s much easier to continue. You can reward yourself with a treat, for example, some healthy snack or game, for making progress on a project. You can work with a friend and encourage each other. You can design your own study schedule and stick to it; But, be in control. Don’t interrupt your study time for phone calls or TV shows. , •
When you finish studying, you should review and check all completed tasks, mark unfinished tasks with a future date and get ready to do it the next day.
Now, let’s just refresh our memories. First, to discover who you are and what” you want to be. Then, plan to achieve your goals. And last is to do it because you can.
The post How to be a successful Student first appeared on Helena Daily English.]]>