FEBRUARY2012

Pages1. Land of traditions2. Unusual customs calendar anniversaries3. Interesting to know4. Famous people5. From our school

life

LAND OF TRADITIONS

 

Queen Elizabeth II(Elizabeth Alexandra Mary)

Queen since 6 February 1952HM Queen's Diamond Jubilee 2012

Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 upon the death of her father, King George VI. Her Coronation, at Westminster Abbey, followed on June 2, 1953. (A new king or Queen begins to rule as soon as their succession to the throne has been announced. But the coronation - when the crown is placed on the monarch's head - may not happen until months later.) The queen celebrated her Golden jubilee (50 years since her accession) in 2002.

Interesting Facts about the QueenThe Queen is the fifth longest serving British monarch. Only

four other kings and queens in British history have reigned for 54 years or more. These are: Queen Victoria 1837-1901 (63 years) King George III 1760-1820 (59 years) James VI of Scotland, 1567-1625, James I of England 1603- 25 (58 years) King Henry III 1216-1272 (56 years)

 

Head of State Queen Elizabeth II is the United Kingdom's Head of State. She is queen of 16 former

British colonies, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand; and head of the Commonwealth, a multinational body created after the dissolution of the British

empire.

Unusual customs calendar anniversaries in February

2nd - February is Candlemas Day.5th - Birth date of Robert Peel in 1788. Formed first police force in London, hence nickname 'Bobbies'.6th - Queen Elizabeth ll came to the throne on this day in 1952.7th - Charles Dickens was born in 18128th - A minor earthquake shook Britain in 1750.8th - A strange thing occurred in Devon.11th - Sir Francis Drake became the first known Englishman to sail the pacific in 157811th - Thomas Edison born in 1847. The phonograph and the motion-picture projector were only a few of Thomas Edison's more than 1,000 inventions. 12th - Birth of Charles Darwin in 180914th – St. Valentine’s Day 15th- In 1971 Britain went decimal. All the banks were shut on the 11th and 12th to prepare for the change over. Three million ponds was spent converting the country’s phone boxes to take the new two pence pieces. Every cash register in the country had to be changed.20th - On this day in 1896 the cinema came to Britain when a programme of films was shown for the first time to a paying audience.21st -Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)22nd - Ash Wednesday.23rd - Birth of George Frederick Handel in 168523rd - Birth of Samuel Pepys in 163224th - Kissing Friday (the Friday after Ash Wednesday)29th - Leap Year Day

The Romans and the Celts regarded February as the start of spring.When did February first appear on a calendar?February, along with January, was introduced onto the Roman calendar by

Numa Pompilous when the calendar was extended from ten to twelve. The word February comes from the word 'februa' - which means cleansing or purification, and reflects the rituals undertaken before Spring.

Other names for February: The Anglo Saxons called February 'Sol-monath' (cake-month), because cakes

were offered to the gods during that month. February was also known to the Saxons a'sprout-kale' from the sprouting of cabbage or kale.

Having only 28 days in non-leap years, February was known in Welsh as 'y mis bach' - the little month.

In Shakespeare's time about 400 years ago, the second month of the year was called 'Feverell'. In Isaac Newton's time one hundred years later it had become 'Februeer'. The modern name, February, is only about a hundred years old.

Facts about FebruaryGemstone: Amethyst Flower: Primrose

14 St Valentines DayValentine's Day (Saint Valentine's Day) is an occasion celebrated on February 14.

It is the traditional day on which people express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery.

There were any Christians names Valentine. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, at least three Saint Valentines are mentioned who are associated with 14 February. One is described as a priest at Rome, another as a Bishop of Interamna (now Terni in Italy) and the other lived and died in Africa.

The Valentine that most experts believe is the actual one remembered on St. Valentine's Day was a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity.

Each year in Britain, it is spent around £503m on cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts for Valentine's Day. Traditionally these were sent anonymously, but nowadays we often make it clear who is sending each 'Valentine'.Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)

21 February 2012In the UK, Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day (or Pancake Tuesday to

some people) because it is the one day of the year when almost everyone eats a pancake.Pancake Day ( also known as Shrove Tuesday) is the last day before the period

which Christians call Lent. It is traditional on this day to eat pancakes. Lent is a time of abstinence, of giving things up. So Shrove Tuesday is the last

chance to indulge yourself, and to use up the foods that aren't allowed in Lent. Pancakes are eaten on this day because they contain fat, butter and eggs which were forbidden during Lent.

Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year and falls between 3 February and 9 March. In 2012 Pancake Day will be on 21 February.

The name Shrove comes from the old word "shrive" which means to confess. On Shrove Tuesday, in the Middle Ages, people used to confess their sins so that they were forgiven before the season of Lent began.

Charles John Huffam Dickens

(7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic novels and characters.

Many of his writings were originally published serially, in monthly installments, a format of publication which Dickens himself helped popularize. Unlike other authors who completed novels before serialization, Dickens often created the episodes as they were being serialized. The practice lent his stories a particular rhythm, punctuated by cliffhangers to keep the public looking forward to the next installment. The continuing popularity of his novels and short stories is such that they have never gone out of print.

Dickens's work has been highly praised for its realism, comedy, mastery of prose, unique personalities and concern for social reform, by writers such as Leo Tolstoy, George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton; though others, such as Henry James and Virginia Woolf, have criticized it for melodrama , sentimentality and implausibility.

We celebrated St. Valentine’s Day at our School

rare lucky-boy

funny contests

St. Valentine’s Day greetings

We had a party which

was held in

English.