Online Advent Calendar

The Woodlands Junior very popular Online Advent Calendar will start on 1 st December.
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/calendar/

Behind each window will be interesting facts on how Christmas is celebrated in 25 different countries around the world. We, of course, have not included England, as we already have a whole host of pages describing Christmas and the origins of Christmas in England on our website.

The origins of Christmas

Facts, folklore and sayings about December

Christmas Memories and traditional things to do at Christmas

We would be very grateful if you could spare a moment to share with our students your memories of Christmas.

“Shopping in England on cold wet December evenings with the wonderful windows of the stores lit up and inviting you to come in. The butcher shops with their turkeys hanging up and the lovely green grocers with their fresh herbs and mistletoe.”
Eileen M

Why do Peter and Zara Phillips have no title?

Princess Anne, their mother, wanted to shield her children from the publicity that titles such as Prince and Princess might bring. They are the first grandchildren of a sovereign to carry no title.
However, they are not the first children of a princess to carry no title. The children of Princess Alexandra, the Queen’s cousin, who were born in the 1960s, are also untitled.

On another note:

Even though they do not have titles they are still in line of succession to the throne. However, as Peter Phillips, the Queen’s eldest grandson, is engaged to a Roman Catholic, he may have to give up his place in the line of succession to the throne.

The 1701 Act of Settlement bars monarchs and their heirs from becoming or marrying Catholics. Under the Act, Peter will be required to renounce his right to the throne – he is 10th in line at present – or Miss Kelly will have to formally give up her membership of the Church.

The Queen’s Diamond Wedding Anniversary

On November 20, 2007, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh will mark 60 years of marriage – their diamond-wedding anniversary. The Queen will be the first British monarch to have celebrated a Diamond Wedding Anniversary.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh are third cousins, sharing Queen Victoria as a great-great-grandmother.

Their wedding on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey, became an inter-national celebration and the largest gathering of the world’s leaders in London.

The teenage Princess Elizabeth met and fell in love with the young Prince Philip when he was attending the Royal Navy College at Dartmouth. Elizabeth’s parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, encouraged their daughter not to rush into any serious relationship. She obeyed her parents for the next eight years until their engagement, announced in July 1947.

The death of Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, in February 1952 occurred on a Royal Tour when Elizabeth and the Duke were at dinner at the famous Treetops Hotel in Kenya. Elizabeth, at the tender age of 25, had ascended to the throne and become Queen Elizabeth II. The coronation followed in 1953, after which the Royal Family took up residence in Buckingham Palace.

The couple’s first son and heir, Prince Charles was born six days before their first wedding anniversary on November 14, 1948. Their second child, Princess Anne, was born on August 15, 1950 followed by two more children; Prince Andrew almost a decade later on February 19, 1960, and Prince Edward on March 10, 1964. From their four children they have seven grandchildren.

Popular questions asked about the Royal family

The Queen
Where does the Queen live?
Why does the Queen have two birthdays? Birthdays
Who are the members of the Royal Family? Members
Where can I find information about the guards outside Buckingham Palace?
What are the roles and duties of the Queen and members of the Royal Family? Roles and Duties
Who will be the next King or Queen?
Where can I find interesting facts about the Queen? Facts
What famous Kings and Queen have ruled Britain? Timeline
Which Kings and Queens of England have reigned the longest?
What are the palaces and homes of the Royal family? Palaces and Castles
What is the Royal motto of the UK and England?
What does the British Royal Coat of Arms look like?
Where can I find out about Royal Ceremonies in London?

A Politically Correct Christmas

I was bemused to read today that some of Australia’s Santa’s have been given the politically correct treatment. No longer are Sidney’s Father Christmas’ allowed to say Ho Ho Ho, the political correct brigade are saying that it could scare children and be derogatory to women.

They have deemed Ha Ha Ha as a better way to encourage children!

Every year there seems to be an increase in the number of authorities trying to downgrade Christmas and take away the true meaning and values of Christmas. Even the UK governemnt is playing its part.

“Christmas should be downgraded in favour of festivals from other religions to improve race relations,” says an explosive report backed by the government

Memories of Christmas as a child are very special. Let us not destroy the magic of Christmas for future generations.

Questions about Christmas

Visit the Woodlands Junior Christmas pages to help you answer the following questions:

1. On what day do the main Christmas celebrations take place in England?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/xmas/

2. What is the start of the Christmas season called?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/adventcalendars.html

3. What takes place in most primary schools in England at Christmas time?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/nativity.html

4. What is a traditional British Christmas play called?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/pantomines.html

5. Which two colours are the traditional colours of Christmas?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/decorations.html

6. When did Christmas Trees first become popular in England?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/trees.html

7. What did people used to decorate their trees with during the Victorian times?www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/trees.html

8. When was the first Christmas card sent and who printed it?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/cards.html

9. What are the songs sung at Christmas time called?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/carols.html

10. Why is Christmas Eve an exciting time for children in England?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/eve.html

11. How did children used to send their letters to Father Christmas?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/santa.html

12. What traditionally happens at three o’clock on Christmas Day?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/day.html

13. What is the traditional bird eaten on Christmas Day?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/dinner.html

14. Who was the first person to eat turkey on Christmas Day?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/dinner.html

15. Who invented Christmas Crackers?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/crackers.html

16. What is another name for Boxing Day?
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/boxingday.html

Christmas Traditions

Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas? Certainly shops in England don’t think so. They have been filling their shelves for several months now with christmas decorations, advent calendars, christmas crackers and loads of other christmas goodies.

Christmas Traditions in England
We have written many pages about Christmas in England and have included many photogrpahs of a typical English Christmas. Most of the celebrations are the same for the whole of the UK.

Topics include:
Father Christmas (our version of Santa)
Christmas day
Christmas dinner
Boxing Day
Advent Calendars
Christmas decorations
Christmas crackers (including the paper crowns)
Christmas jokes
Christmas facts

Christmas Traditions around the World
Advent calendars have long helped build excitement and anticipation on the countdown to Christmas, typically revealing a pretty picture or piece of chocolate behind the cardboard door for each December day along the way. The Woodlands Junior Advent Calendar 2007, on the other hand, is an online interactive advent calendar with fascinating facts on how Christmas is celebrated in different countries around the world.
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/calendar/

Our students would love to know how you celebrate Christmas. Do you celebrate Christmas in the same way as we do?

When is Primrose Day in England?

Question sent via email:

What do you know about Primrose Day? April 19th.
Ive always been told it was a special day. But why?
Thanking you for your time.
Audrey

In the late 19 century, 19 April was celebrated as Primrose Day in memory of British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield), who died on this day in 1881. People were encouraged to pay tribute to the statesman by wearing primroses as they were supposedly his favourite flower. However, it seems there was a misunderstanding and that the flower was not his favourite after all. Queen Victoria sent a wreath of primroses to Disraeli’s funeral with a note stating that they wer “his favourite flowers”; people assumed that the ‘his’ referred to Disraeli, but in fact it referred to Victoria’s late husband, Prince Albert.

Why do the British drink to much?

It is very unfortunate that the British have been labelled as a nation with a drink problem, but I can understand why. In recent years there has been a large increase in the number of young people and women who drink alcohol and binge drinking seems to be on the increase too.

“the amount of alcohol consumed by girls aged between 11-13 has increased by 82.6% between 2000-2006, while for boys the number has gone up by 43.4% during the same period.”
Age Concern
 
“Official figures show that 7,579 under-18s were admitted to hospital suffering from the effects of alcohol in the 12 months from April 2004.
That is 21 a day and is almost double the previous year’s figure.”
Daily Mail November 2007

So why do we drink too much?

The culture of drinking in the UK is markedly different from other European nations. In mainland Europe, alcohol tends to be consumed more slowly over the course of an evening, often accompanied by a restaurant meal. In the UK, by contrast, alcohol is generally consumed rapidly, leading much more readily to drunkenness.

Several recent newspapers reports put the blame on cheap alcohol and stress.

“Supermarkets are selling beer at a cheaper price than water, fuelling concern over their role in Britain’s binge-drinking crisis. Despite repeated public health warnings, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda now offer lager at just 22p a can – less per litre than their ownbrand-mineral water and cola, and cheap enough to allow someone to get drunk for just £1. “
The Mail on Sunday November 2007

The response to this is that a coalition of 24 charities, medical bodies and patients’ groups now want the Government to increase the tax on alcohol, saying that a rise of 10 per cent would cut alcohol-related deaths by up to 30 per cent.

Britain is in the top ten of countries that drink the most alcohol

The Economist released a study on which countries drink the most. Britain comes tenth in the list with an average of just under 12 litres of alcohol drunk by each person in a year. In America, where stricter minumum-age requirements apply, the average person drinks 8.6 litres a year.

What is the largest castle in England?

Windsor Castle is the largest castle in England, the largest castle in Europe and the largest occupied castle in the world. Dating from the Norman Conquest, Windsor castle has been Royal home and fortress for over 900 years. It is a favourite residence of the current royal family.

Windsor Castle stands high above the River Thames at Windsor, occupying 13 acres (5 hectares) of ground above the north bank. William the Conqueror chose the site. He wanted a stronghold from which to guard the western approach to London—a day’s march away.

Further information
 
History of Castles in Britain

Information on royal palaces and castles in Britain

A virtual tour of the River Thames from source to sea

Visit projectbritain.com for more about British life and culture.

Where is Poppy Man?

Poppy Man, the star of The Royal British Legion’s 2007 Poppy Appeal poster campaign, is ‘painting the town red’ in order to raise awareness in the run up to Remembrance Sunday.

Follow his adventures as he travels around London by visiting his blog site – Where is Poppy Man?

www.britishlegion.org.uk/

Remembrance Poppies

Question sent via email:

Can you please tell me why Scottish Remembrance Poppies have no green leaf and English Poppies do?

Kathleen McDonald


poppyscotland.org.uk answer:
“Unlike the English poppy, the Scottish poppy has four petals and no leaf. Apart from being botanically incorrect, to put a leaf on each of our poppies would cost £15,000 each year, money we feel is better spent on supporting veterans and their dependants in Scotland.”


Money raised from the selling of poppies in Scotland goes to the Earl Haig Fund, where as the money raised in the rest of the UK go to the Royal British Legion. Could this also be the reason why the poppies are different, so people know where the money will go?

Visit projectbritain.com for more about British life and culture.

What is the National Minimum wage in the UK?

The National Minimum Wage has increased again from October 2007

The minimum wage is a legal right which covers almost all workers above compulsory school leaving age. There are different minimum wage rates for different groups of workers as follows:

• The main rate for workers aged 22 and over increased on 1 October 2007 to £5.52 an hour from £5.35 an hour
• The rate for 18-21 year olds increased to £4.60 an hour from £4.45 an hour
• The rate for 16-17 year old increased to £3.40 an hour from £3.30 an hour

Click here to find out more about working in Britain

Visit projectbritain.com for more about British life and culture.

What is Bonfire Night in England?

November 5th is a very special day in England. Many children and their families look forward to this day, but do you know what they are celebrating?

Visit out Bonfire Night pages to find out the answer to this and the following questions:

1. What is November 5th called in Britain?
2. What do people do on this day?
3. Why do we ‘celebrate bonfire night in England? (What is the historical reason?)
4. What foods are eaten on this day?
5. What is an effigy?
6. Can you compleate the rhyme: Remember, remember … ?
7. Who was the British monarch during the Gunpowder Plot?

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Guy.html

Visit projectbritain.com for more about British life and culture.

What holidays do you celebrate in London, England?

Britian is a multicultural country and London prides itself in being a multicultural city. London celebrates many cultural festivals such as Divali, Chinese New Year and the NottingHill Carnival.

Click here to find out when and about events in London

Click here for festivals and celibration in London and the rest of the UK

Click here for our UK calendar of events in 2008

Visit projectbritain.com for more about British life and culture.

What is the National Speed Limit for driving in the Uk?

Message sent via email

Dear Sir/Madam

I have read your website regarding the driving in UK.

Can I ask :

a) What does National Speed Apply mean?
b) What is the driving speed when I see this signpost ?

Thanks for your advice.
Regards
Grace

The National speed limits for the UK are:

• Motorways and dual carriage ways: 112kph / 70mph
• Unrestricted single carriageway roads: 96kph / 60mph
• In built up areas e.g. towns and villages: 48kph / 30mph
• In some residential areas: 35kph / 20mph

Find out more on our Driving in the UK page

Visit projectbritain.com for more about British life and culture.