Author: Xela

Celebrations around the world

• In France, May 1st is called “La Fête du Travail”. People give each other small white flowers called lily of the valley for good luck. It is also a big day for workers’ marches and demonstrations.
• In Germany, May 1st is known as “Tag der Arbeit”. It is a public holiday with many parades. In some towns, people also celebrate old “May Day” traditions, like dancing around a Maypole decorated with colourful ribbons.
• In Italy, concerts and events happen in big cities. One famous concert in Rome is watched by millions of people, both live and on TV.
• In Poland, May 1st is a national holiday. Many people enjoy a day off work and attend parades. It is also the start of a long weekend known as “Majówka,” when families travel, have barbecues, or go camping.
• In the United States, Labour Day is not in May! It is celebrated on the first Monday of September. May 1st is connected to workers’ rights history, but because of political reasons long ago, America chose a different day for Labour Day.

Fun facts and anecdotes

• In Oxford, England, people gather at sunrise on May 1st to hear a choir sing from the top of Magdalen College Tower. Some students even jump into the river from Magdalen Bridge – even though it’s freezing cold!
• In Finland, May 1st is called Vappu, and it’s a huge celebration! Students wear special white hats, enjoy picnics, and colourful balloons fill the streets.
• In Hawaii, May 1st is Lei Day. It’s a day to celebrate Hawaiian culture, and people give each other beautiful flower garlands called leis.
• In ancient times, May 1st was also a festival of summer called Beltane in Ireland. People lit big fires to protect their homes and animals.

Words Shakespeare gave us

Shakespeare was a master of language. If he couldn’t find the right word, he simply made one up! Here are just a few examples of words he invented:

• Lonely
• Hurry
• Gloomy
• Excitement
• Bedroom
• Laughable
• Addiction

These words are now part of everyday English. Isn’t that amazing?

How can you celebrate?

There are many fun ways to celebrate English Language Day:

• Read a short story or poem in English.
• Watch a movie or series in English (with subtitles, if needed).
• Learn and use five new English words in a conversation.
• Write a short story or a poem.
• Play a word game like Scrabble or Boggle.
• Try reading a few lines of Shakespeare!

Don’t worry if Shakespeare’s English seems difficult at first. Just try to enjoy the rhythm and beauty of the words.

What happens on Good Friday?

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday. It is a serious and quiet day for many Christians. It remembers the day Jesus died on the cross. Many churches have special services, and some people light candles or spend time in prayer.

Even though it is called “Good” Friday, the name can be confusing! Some people say it means “holy,” or that it became “good” because of what came next – Easter Sunday and the joy of new life.

What about Easter Monday?

Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday. In many countries, it is a public holiday, so schools and offices are closed. People relax, visit family or friends, and enjoy outdoor activities. In some places, there are fun events like egg-rolling races or community picnics.

Keep learning and growing!

Easter reminds us of new beginnings — and learning English can be one, too! Whether you’re reading stories, watching videos, or chatting online, every little bit helps. Keep practicing, try new words, and most of all, enjoy the journey. You’re doing great!

Happy Easter – and don’t forget to save some chocolate eggs!

How people celebrate Pancake Day today

Today, Pancake Day is mostly about fun and food! People make pancakes and eat them with different toppings. Some like sugar and lemon, while others enjoy chocolate, syrup, or fruit.

In some places, there are pancake races. In these races, people run while flipping pancakes in a frying pan! This tradition started in England. The most famous pancake race happens in a town called Olney. People wear aprons and run while tossing pancakes in the air. It is a funny and exciting event!

Schools, restaurants, and families all join in the fun. Some people even try to make the biggest pancake or flip a pancake the highest in the air. Have you ever flipped a pancake?

Easy pancake recipe

Do you want to make your own pancakes? Here is a simple and easy recipe!

Useful vocabulary

• Give up – To stop doing or using something.
• Rich – Containing a lot of fat, sugar, or heavy ingredients
• Sins – Bad actions or mistakes, especially in a religious way.
• Flip – To turn something over quickly.
• Apron – A piece of cloth worn over clothes to keep them clean when cooking.
• Toss – To throw something lightly into the air.
• Cup (US) – A measure of volume commonly used in cooking. Equal to 250ml
• Batter – A mixture of flour, milk, and eggs used to make pancakes or cakes.
• Savoury – Not sweet, often salty or spicy.
• Grab – To take something quickly with your hand.

6. Trips to the Moon and Mars

Astronauts might visit the Moon again, and maybe they’ll start packing for a trip to Mars. Let’s hope they don’t forget their snacks!

7. New World Leaders

Some countries like China and India will have more power in the world. Leaders might spend more time talking and finding solutions rather than arguing.

8. Safer Factories

Big companies will find smarter ways to make things faster and safer. Maybe one day, robots will do all the boring jobs, and we can just relax with a cup of tea.

9. Cool Virtual Reality

VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) will grow. Imagine studying history by walking around ancient Rome with glasses on—or playing hide-and-seek with dinosaurs!

10. Digital Money Rules

More people will use online money like Bitcoin. Maybe one day, you’ll say, “I just bought pizza with digital coins!” No need to carry heavy wallets anymore!

Final Thoughts 

How Will You Improve Your English in 2025?

Make 2025 your special year. Set small goals for your English. Practise every day. Your Perfectly Spoken teachers are here to help you.
Also, use music, movies, and games to make learning fun. Remember, every little step is important.

So, what are your dreams for 2025? Write them down in English. Let’s make 2025 the best year ever!
Happy New Year and happy learning! 😊

The origins

Some people believe it started in Philadelphia, a city in the United States, during the 1960s. During that time, large crowds of people would come into the city for shopping and to watch a big football game. The streets were crowded, the stores were packed, and traffic was very busy. The police started calling the day “Black Friday” because of the chaos and busy traffic they had to manage.

Another theory suggests that Black Friday became popular in the 1980s when stores realized it was a time they could make a lot of money. During most of the year, stores sometimes lost money, meaning they were “in the red” (a financial term meaning they lost money). But on Black Friday, stores made huge profits, going “into the black” (meaning they made money). This is why people say Black Friday is a great time for bargains (a good price) and savings.

Black Friday around the world

Black Friday isn’t only celebrated in the United States anymore. Over time, this shopping tradition has become popular in many other countries:

• Canada: Canadians used to go to the U.S. to shop on Black Friday, but now Canada has its own Black Friday sales.
• United Kingdom: Many stores in the UK have huge sales on Black Friday, both online and in-store.
• Brazil: People in Brazil enjoy discounts on Black Friday, especially for electronics and clothes.
• Germany and France: These countries have joined in the fun, with big Black Friday sales and discounts at major stores.
• China and Japan: Black Friday is growing in these countries too, although they already have other big shopping days, like Singles’ Day in China.

As Black Friday continues to grow in popularity around the world, it’s an exciting opportunity to find amazing deals, learn about different traditions, and kick off the holiday season with some great bargains.

Whether you’re shopping in-store, online, or just curious about the history of this special day, Black Friday has something for everyone.

If you’re on the hunt for a fantastic Black Friday deal, we’ve got one for you, too!

Be sure to check it out before it expires on December 3, 2024—don’t miss out!

What does o’clock mean?

The word “o’clock” comes from the old phrase “of the clock.” Hundreds of years ago, people would say “It is three of the clock” to mean that the time is 3:00. Over time, this phrase got shortened to “three o’clock,” which we still use today.

It’s a nice example of how the English language has changed over time, and now most people don’t think about the original meaning of the phrase. But the next time you hear “o’clock,” you can remember that it’s a little piece of history!

Time related expressions

Here are a few useful expressions in English related to time:

1. “What time is it?” – A simple question you can ask when you want to know the current time.
2. “It’s half past…” – Use this to describe a time that is 30 minutes after the hour, like “half past two” for 2:30.
3. “It’s quarter to…” – This means 15 minutes before the next hour. For example, “quarter to six” means 5:45.
4. “On the dot” – If something happens exactly at a specific time, you can say it happens “on the dot.” For example, “The meeting starts at 9:00 on the dot.”
5. “Better late than never” – This phrase means it’s better to arrive late than not to arrive at all.