Islam

Islam is a religion that was founded by Muhammad in 622 AD, Saudi Arabia. It has 1.3 billion followers worldwide. The people are called Muslims. People that follow this religion believe in only one god, Allah. The purpose of life is for humans to submit Islam to the will of God to gain paradise after death. Muslims believe their afterlife consists of Paradise or Hell. Some practices in the Islamic religion are: Five Pillars, attending Mosque services on Fridays, Ablutions before prayer, no alcohol or pork, and holidays related to the pilgrimage and fast of Ramadan. The Five Pillars are: Faith, Prayer, Alms, Pilgrimage, and Fasting. This religion has two Holy books the Qur’an (scripture) and the Hadith (tradition).

Faith- Botswana

1.       The people stay up all night on Christmas.

2.       They have Basic and Secondary Education

3.       During Christmas the churches are decorated elaborately.

Gunnar- Zambia

1.       Many churches show nativity scenes for several days before Christmas

2.       The three stages of education are primary, secondary, and tertiary.

3.        On Christmas day children are encouraged to bring presents to church for less fortunate children or children in the hospital.

Dale- Costa Rica

1.       Costa Rica has more teachers than police officers.

2.       They consider education pride.

3.       Costa Rica has a 93 percent literacy level.

Lindsey - Brazil

1.       The school system is divided into three levels: fundamental, intermediate, and higher education.

2.       To graduate you have to pass a test reviewing.

3.        Trees in Bosnia are decorated with toys, chocolate, lights, and colored balls and are traditionally topped with stars.

Mark- Norway

1.       Families make baskets of colored paper to hang on the Christmas tree.

2.       On Christmas afternoon children walk around asking for Sand Kager.

3.       A school day lasts from 7:00 A.M. to noon.

Nate- Turkey

1.       Christmas lasts 29 to 30 days.

2.       They fast from sunrise to sunset.

3.       They refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking.

Caleb- Zimbabwe

1.       People are very festive before Christmas.

2.       The Christmas party starts a month before Christmas.

3.        There are three levels of education.

Josh- England

1.       In England children start primary school at the age of five.

2.       In Brazil, like America, they create a nativity scene or a Presépio.

3.       Brazilians use flowers from their gardens to decorate during Christmas.

Courtney- Australia

1.       Australia shares the tradition of a Christmas tree with us.

2.       They have dance parties and get-togethers at the beaches.

3.       There are special television programs available on Christmas day.

Hannah- Philippines

1.       They have to be at the 60 percent mark to graduate.

2.       School runs from February to November.

3.       Private schools attend school from August through May.

Abby- Mexico

1.       Nativity scenes are popular.

2.       People do not go caroling or decorate their house.

3.       They set off fireworks on Christmas Eve.

Viola- Thailand

1.       The students in Thailand are required to wear uniforms.

2.       They eat lunch in their classroom.

3.       There is no snow on Christmas Day.

Sara- New Zealand

1.       According to statistics, New Zealand’s education is the 7^th best in the world.

2.       On Christmas day, the have barbeques for lunch.

3.       The school year lasts from February to December.

Menu

Course 1: Tender Pork soaked in Garum a spicy sauce

Course 2: Liver of force-fed geese with mustard seeds and green onions

Course 3: Goatfish soaked in Garum a spicy fish sauce

Course 4: Cold clams and oysters served on ice and a piece of lemon on the side

Course 5: Wheat cakes soaked in honey

Course 6: Vegetables cooked in salt and enjoyed with vinegar

Course 7: Stewed and salted snails cooked with garlic and parsley

Invitation

You’re Invited

Date: December 17, 2011

Place: My house

Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

It will be a seven course Roman dinner party. Hope to see you there!!!

Guest List:

Balbina Cline

Priscilla Clevenger

Servius Stuart

Publius Poling

Octavia Gregg

Urbana Donegia

Pamponia Suder

Agrippina Nuzum

Sparatacus Scott

Tullia Crowther

Education in Ireland

Ireland’s school system is similar to ours. Ireland has three levels of education they are primary, secondary, and higher (often known as "third-level") education. Irish students usually study six to eight subjects but English, Math, Irish Language, History, Physics, and Geography are required to graduate and for your final year in Ireland you must write a play, produce a magazine, or work for a charity. Irish students also participate in sports and some write the school newspaper after school just like the school systems in America do. However in America not all schools are required to wear uniforms but in Ireland the boy students must wear a uniform that has polo-shirts along with suit jackets and a tie. The girls also wear a school jacket and skirts that usually come to the knees however some schools in Ireland require the girls to wear floor length skirts. Another big difference between Ireland and America schools is lunch. They are both about forty five minutes long but in Ireland they serve healthy and junk food, America only serves healthy food. One thing that is the same is the length of the school days they are both about seven hours long but school in Ireland starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m. ours starts an hour earlier. The typical day for an Irish high school student starts at 8:30 a.m. that’s when the walk or ride the bus to school at 9:00 a.m. they head to your “seomra ranga,” your permanent classroom where you will have most of your lessons, for your first class of the day at 9:40 a.m. Your first class is over. Now you go to your second class then at 11:45 a.m. the students head to lunch. At 12:30 p.m. they head back to their classrooms to study something new then at 1:15 p.m. students play sports such as Gaelic football, Hurling (for boys), Camogie (for girls), Rugby, Football, and Rowing at 2:30 p.m. they go back to the classroom to study something else finally at 4:00 p.m. the day is over so they go to hang out with friends or do some homework. That’s the way Irish and American schools are the same and different.   

Christmas in Ireland

 

1.      Our "American" tradition of putting a holly wreath on the door for Christmas actually came from the Irish.

2.      Christmas in Ireland is the largest celebration on the calendar in Ireland and lasts from 24 December to 6 January, although many may view 8 December as being the start of the season; the schools are closed on that day, making it a traditional Christmas shopping time.

3.      Almost the entire workforce is finished by lunchtime on Christmas Eve, or often a few days beforehand. Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day are public holidays, and many people do not return to work until after New Year's Day.

4.      Santa Claus, often known in Ireland simply as Santy or Daidí na Nollag in Irish, brings presents to children in Ireland, which are opened on Christmas morning.

5.      It is traditional to leave a mince pie and a bottle or a glass of Guinness for Santa Claus along with a carrot for Rudolph on Christmas Eve.

Chocolate Trifle

Ingredients
Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Pudding Mix (the type you have to cook; try to find the bittersweet dark chocolate if you can)
1 cup flavored syrup (can be found in the coffee section of most supermarkets)

1 to 2 cans whipped cream
Slivered almonds and bittersweet chocolate swirls for garnish.

Method
Either bake or buy a two-layer chocolate cake. If you can get dark or bittersweet, all the better.
Break up the cake into bite size pieces and place one layer in the bottom of a glass trifle dish.
Make the pudding and chill until firm.
Spoon half the pudding onto the cake. Pour 1/2 cup of flavored syrup onto the pudding.
Squirt on whipped cream to cover and sprinkle with almonds and chocolate swirls. Repeat.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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