Dear students, The New Year has just begun. And again, our lives will be run and controlled by the festivals, celebrations and the shopping impulses which direct our intentions as a scheduled consumers´ calendar. That’s why, this month activities have to do with the biggest event after the Christmas season: BIG SHOPPING SALES. Here I suggest some questions to raise your awareness on the issue. Remember to submit the answers to the usual address: jjavieringles@yahoo.es before the end of January. I do really hope you have fun with it.

New Year´s Resolutions:

In order to have a 'clean slate' on which to start the New Year, people in times past have made certain that they had all their borrowings cleared. Those were the days before such complexities as credit buying. The New Year resolutions, which we are so fond of, represent other efforts to make the year brand new. In fact, we often say that in the New Year we are "turning over a new leaf."

 ACTIVITY 1: What are your New Year’s Resolutions?: 

 http://www.123newyear.com/resolutions.html

ACTIVITY 2: LANGUAGES

 Happy New year is a universal wish which is expressed in many languages. Can you fill in the table with some of them? 

 http://wilstar.com/holidays/

http://www.theholidayspot.com

ACTIVITY 3: SHOPPING IN ENGLAND. 

1. What percentage of the money spent in England goes for shopping?
2. What is the main shopping street in many towns called, where you should head for if you want to go shopping.?
3. What are the shopping times?
4. What´s a bank holiday?
5. Find the names of five of the most famous and well-known department stores in England.
6. Give the names of three of the most popular London Markets.
7. London has over 40,000 shops and 26 major street markets to choose from. Complete the following information

8. The cost of living varies from one part of the UK to another. Generally it is more expensive to live in London and the south-east of England, and cheaper up north Britain's currency is based on the pound sterling (£) which is divided into one hundred pence (100p). Could you find the price of these products in England (approximately):

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/shops.htm

ACTIVITY 4: What are the most typical and frequently bought products in January sales?

http://www.thefrugalshopper.com/articles/seasonal.shtml

ACTIVITY 5: Chinese New Year (From www.onestopenglish.com)

Based on a lunar calendar as opposed to the western Gregorian calendar, Chinese New Year can occur on any date between late January and early February. Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the lunar month and continues for 15 days, culminating on the 15th day with a lantern festival. Each year is symbolised by a different animal - 2005 is the year of the Rooster (otherwise known as the Green Chicken).

Legend dictates that before leaving earth, Buddha requested a meeting with all the animals. Only 12 animals came to meet him. Buddha named a year after each animal who came.

Traditional preparations for Chinese New Year begin well in advance and include cleaning houses and buying new clothes. Red clothes are worn and children are given "lucky" money in red envelopes. According to the Chinese, red symbolises fire and is believed to drive away bad luck.

Each activity listed below covers a different aspect of the Chinese New Year: the Chinese calendar, celebrations, traditional food, and decorations. Either individually or in groups of between two and four visit the websites and find the answers to the questions.

 

The Chinese calendar

1.- Is the Chinese calendar solar or lunar? How many months are in the Chinese calendar?

2.- Why is each year in the Chinese calendar named after an animal?

3.- Find out two personality characteristics for each Chinese sign (e.g. horse: intelligent, friendly).

4.- Find the sign to match your year of birth. Does your personality match the description of your Chinese sign?

http://webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-chinese.html
Calendars through the ages

http://www.new-year.co.uk/chinese/calendar.htm
Chinese New Year calendar

http://www.romanization.com/chinesenewyear 
Chinese New Year dates

http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/zodiac/zodiac.html#Sign%20Background 
Chinese zodiac page

1. There are 15 days of celebration. How is each day celebrated?
2. There are various taboos and superstitions about Chinese New Year. Describe two of them.
3. What is the history of the celebration? How did the different customs begin?
4. Name two countries other than China which also celebrate Chinese New Year.

15 day celebration of Chinese New Year

General information on Chinese New Year

Taboos and superstitions of Chinese New Year