Spain has captured the FIBA Basketball World Cup championship title in Beijing against one of the best teams in the world: Argentina. Surely the players of both teams exchanged more than words during the most disputed moments of the match.  Despite the distance and differences in both pronunciation and vocabulary between the Spanish of Spain and Spanish of Argentina, it is certain that they understood one another perfectly. But what are these differences?

The main difference between the two variants, and the one that most attracts attention to speakers on both sides is pronunciation. For example, while the Spaniards pronounce the sound /θ/ before –ce, -ci, -za, -zo, and –zu; Argentines use the Latin American common /s/ (although this is also used in the southern part of Spain, especially in the region of Andalusia and Murcia). Another very notable difference has to do with the tone and cadence in pronunciation: the Argentine usually has a slightly higher tone, which leads to fun (and frustrated) attempts by many Spaniards to imitate the Argentine accent.

Likewise, verbal conjugation and second-person pronouns differ between Spanish and Argentine: the "tú tienes" (you have) in Spanish becomes "vos tenés" in Argentina, and the Argentine "ustedes dicen" (you say) becomes "vosotros decís" when one moves to the old continent.

Where there may be some confusion, it is usually around those words which exist in one of the variants, but not in the other. For example, "remera" (T-shirt) in Argentine is "camiseta" in Spain. However, other words have managed to penetrate enough in the sister country, so that a Spaniard understand exactly what a “quilombo” (mess) or a “celular” (mobile phone) is in the same way that an Argentine understands what a “coche” (car) or a “ordenador” (computer) is.

However, despite the small differences between the two variants, the players of both basketball teams joined in celebration over a “birra” (beer), a word that is neither of Spanish nor Argentine origin, but Italian; nonetheless, both surely understood and happily participated.

Spanish is the second language with the highest number of speakers in the United States, after English. According to the 2017 census, 13.4% of the US population over 5 years of age speaks Spanish in their homes (41 million people), and there are more than 8 million Spanish students in the US classrooms.

Spanish is a particularly interesting case in the history of the US, as for a long time it was the most widely used language in vast areas of the country - from New Mexico to California.

Unlike other languages that were also spoken in the US, such as Italian or German, Spanish has fundamentally influenced life in North American communities. It was popular among the working class of the south and southwest, due to the gradual immigration from the former colonies of the Spanish empire. In Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California the presence of Spanish has shaped the social and cultural life of the country.

Despite the fact that Hispanic populations in Latin America have their own pre-Columbian languages, Spanish is the vehicular language among the entire Hispanic world, which is mainly reflected in the growth of this language in the US. However, the different communities of Spanish speakers, whether Cuban, Mexican or Colombian, contribute with their own linguistic, phonetic and lexical variety.

Thanksgiving Harvest

Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada, but also in Brazil, on some Caribbean islands and in many American communities around the world. It started as an opportunity to share and give thanks for the abundant harvest of the previous year.

The celebration of a ceremony to commemorate the collection of the harvest became very popular in the U.S. and today is a world-famous occasion. These types of ceremonies are not exclusive to America but also throughout the world:

The Labor Thanksgiving Day (in Japanese, Kinrō Kansha no Hi) is a Japanese national holiday. It is celebrated in November and has its origin in the ancestral harvest ceremony of the native religion of Japan: Shintoism. The Niinamesai is the most important rite of Shintoism, which is carried out to offer the first harvested fruits of the year in gratitude to the deities for their blessing.

Thai Pongal (in Tamil, தைப்பொங்கல்) or simply Pongal, is a harvest festival held in the state of Tamil Nadu, in India and in Sri Lanka. The Thai Pongal, is celebrated on the date of the winter solstice. Traditionally the Pongal is dedicated to the Sun God Surya. It coincides with the Makara Sankranthi festival that is celebrated throughout India for the winter harvest.

El día de lo muertos

Throughout history, the transformation of life into death has caused concern and anxiety, but at the same time it has been object of adoration and cult. Humans have developed feelings about death that have manifested in different rituals and festivities either to idolize it or to repudiate it. Before the discovery of America by Europeans, many people with their own concept of life and death existed in what is now Mexico, and one of those festivities has evolved into what is now called “El Día de los Muertos”.

The cult of death is practiced in Mexico since long ago, even before the arrival of Columbus.  In the old Aztec calendar, divided in 18 months, there were at least 6 days dedicated to the dead.

For the old Americans, death was not presented in a dichotomy of good/evil then paradise/hell, typical of the Christian church. On the other hand, they had the belief that the fate of the soul was determined by the type of death the person had, and not by their behavior in life.

The festivity that nowadays is known as the Día de los muertos, comes from an old Aztec commemoration of the ninth month of the year. According to the legend, the festivity was led by the Goddess Mictecacíhuatl, “la Dama de la Muerte” (Lady of Death). One of the practices conducted by these old pre-Hispanic people was to keep the skulls of the dead as trophies and show them during the rituals as a symbol of death.

This September, a new international competition was launched on the European football scene: The UEFA Nations Cup. The championship was created with the aim of determining which team is the best among the 55 European football federations participating.

Former UEFA president, Michel Platini had the opinion that friendly international matches alone were not enough for the public, so he designed a new calendar for national football teams: the former uneven friendly matches are now substituted by top-world clashes between classic giants. Thus, in the first round we will see matches like Germany vs France or England vs Spain which sure will arise the expectation of the masses.

International events like this one help us to appreciate the cultural and linguistic diversity of the old continent. With a population of more than 700 million people divided in more than 50 countries, Europe concentrates around 200 languages, written most of them in three alphabets: Latin, Cyrillic, and Greek. According to their origin, European languages can also be categorized as Germanic (German, English, Dutch, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian), Romance (French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian and others), Slavic (like Russian, Czech, Croatian or Polish), Uralic (Finnish and Estonian mainly), or Turkic (Turkish).

Such variety of languages is regulated by the European Union, recognizing up to 24 languages as official, while at the same time funding plans to promote language learning and linguistic heterogeneity across Europe.

As a fun fact, English is the most understood language by European people, although German remains as the most widely spread mother tongue, with 95 million native speakers.

On September 7th, Brazil celebrates its National Holiday, in commemoration of its independence from the Kingdom of Portugal in 1822. With a population of more than 200 million people, Brazil is by far the largest and most populated country of Latin America, and also one of the most ethnically diversified regions in the world.

Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, and practically the only language used by media and administration. However, throughout the country the people speak more than 200 different languages of which around 180 are indigenous, mainly in the northern regions of the country, being some of the most spoken Ticuna, Kaingang and Kaiwá Guarani.

Since Brazil is surrounded by Spanish speaking countries, a new variety of Portuguese has emerged in the areas close to the border. Colloquially known as Portuñol, some people speak this dialect, which is a mixture of Portuguese and Spanish,  which they find useful in communicating between one another.

During the late 19th Century, Brazil underwent an economic expansion, and started to receive a considerable number of immigrants, particularly from Italy, Portugal and Spain to work on the harvest of the large coffee plantations emerging in São Paulo, its most populated city.

In recent years some Brazilian states and municipalities have adopted co-official languages, for reasons of immigration or indigenous presence and cultural heritage. For example the state of Espírito Santo has recognized East Pomeranian (German dialect from the region of Pomerania, in what is now Poland) and German as co-official languages along with Portuguese. The municipality of Tacuru, a 9,000 people location next to Paraguay, has also adopted Guarani as co-official language.

 "I Love You" in 100 different languages.  

1.     Afrikaans - Ek het jou lief

2.     Albanian - Te dua

3.     Arabic - Ana behibek أحبك

4.     Armenian - Yes kez sirumem Ես քեզ սիրում եմ

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree
Thy leaves are so unchanging

Not only green when summer's here
But also winters cold and dear

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree
Much pleasure do you bring me!

According to legend, late one evening Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, was walking home through the woods and noticed the beautiful stars shining through the trees. To share the beauty with his wife, he cut down a fir tree and took it home, where he placed small lighted candles on the branches, and pronounced that it would be a symbol of the beautiful Christmas sky. 

Not only does October 1st mark the beginning of the Q4 fiscal calendar for many businesses worldwide, but it is also
the month of many important holidays around the world.  While, it may not be considered the Holiday Season (that’s usually reserved for December), there are many public holidays and religious occasions around the world that people observe. Mixed with national and independence days, there are also multiple days or weeks of observations that are public, national, regional, and/or simply traditional that are commemorated in October.

Look at the first week of October alone…

With September comes Autumn. For centuries, the Fall Equinox has been celebrated throughout time across various cultures. In the northern hemisphere, the change of season brings the harvest, with origins depicted in Ancient Greek mythology with Persephone’s return to the Underworld.

The story goes like this…

Persephone (Kore or Cora), the goddess daughter of Demeter (the goddess mother of harvests), was abducted to wed King Hades, the god of the Underworld.  After great struggle, the mother goddess finally secured her daughter’s return, but only for nine months of the year. Each Fall, Persephone was summoned back to the underworld with her King husband for three months.  During this period, Mother Demeter mourned her daughter’s departure and refused to nurture plants, hence allowing winter to prevail. Persephone was the goddess of vegetation, and the goddess Queen of the underworld. As the deity of the underworld, she received the souls of the dead into the earth, and acquired powers over the fertility of the soil. In the Spring, once reunited with her mother the Earth would flourish with vegetation, color and warmth…

Fun Facts about the Greek language:

• Greek has the longest documented history of any living Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records.
• Greek is a language distinguished by an extensive vocabulary. It is the language in which many of the original texts in science, astronomy, mathematics, logic, and Western philosophy are composed.
• Modern Greek is spoken by over 13 million people today in Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Albania and Turkey, and is one of the 24 official languages of the EU. 

Happy Autumn Equinox

Many of the details of the origins of flamenco are lost in Spanish history. The mysteries of the passionate, classical music and dance of Spain, also extend to the very word “flamenco”.

Flamenco is used to describe a way of life centered around this uniquely Spanish music. Andalucista politician, writer, historian and musicologist, Blas Infante, claimed in his book “Orígenes de lo flamenco y secreto del cante jondo”, that the word flamenco comes from Hispano-Arabic word “fellahmengu”, which would mean "expelled peasant” derived from a root meaning "to flee".   Infante links the term to the ethnic Andalucians of Muslim faith, the Moriscos, who would have mixed with the Gypsy newcomers in order to avoid religious persecution.   Still some scholars believe the word’s etymology include connections with Flanders, the place believed by some to be the place of origin of the Gypsies (as flamenco also means Flemish in Spanish).  In the 14th century, people started using the term to describe the Andalusian Gypsies (ie. gitanos or flamencos).

Flamenco music dates back to the Middle Ages, a time of turmoil on the Iberian peninsula. It was a period when, the Moors, the Gitanos and the Jews were all persecuted. The Moors and Jews were expelled by the Spanish Inquisition in 1492.   Many of the songs and melodies of flamenco reflect the desperation, struggle, hope, and pride of the people during this time of persecution. The crossroads between the Muslim and Christian realms were the scene of vibrant cultural exchange and artistic cross-pollination. Flamenco was born in a place where Arabs, Jews, Christians and gitanos mixed freely.

For a better understanding of flamenco, attention should be paid to the cultural and musical background of the Iberian Peninsula since the Ancient times.  Moorish influence in the peninsula goes back thousands of years, but it was the Islamic invasion in 711, that determined the musical influences from North Africa.  The Moors and Arabs brought their musical forms to the Peninsula. The Emirate, and later Caliphate of Córdoba became a center of influence in both the Muslim and Christian worlds and it attracted musicians from all Islamic countries.  The presence of the Moors was also critical in shaping the cultural diversity of Spain. The degree of Moorish influence on culture, customs and language varies enormously between the North and the South. While music in the North of the Peninsula has a clear Celtic influence which dates to pre-Roman times, southern music is certainly reminiscent of Eastern influences.   

Another important cultural influence present were the Jewish people.   Enjoying a relative religious and ethnic tolerance in comparison to Christian countries, they formed an important ethnic group, with their own traditions, rites, and music, and probably reinforced the middle-Eastern element in the culture and music forms in the Iberian Peninsula.   Certain flamenco palos like the Peteneras are attributed a direct Jewish origin.

1. Amigos, dinero, y tiempo para disfrutarlo 
In Spain, there is not a single night of the week when the streets are not bustling with people moving from bar to bar, restaurant to restaurant, enjoying life. Spaniards have an amazing ability to function on minimal sleep, hence allowing after work hours for friends and fun. Rather than coming home from a long day’s work to veg on the coach all night; it is not uncommon to see Spaniards living their lives outside – swimming, drinking, eating and generally enjoying their free time. Spaniards work to live, rather than live to work.

2. Enjoy a lengthy "Sobremesa" 
What happens in Spain when the meal is done? The bill won’t come and the staff won’t rush you out; instead Spaniards will settle in and enjoy their after-meal conversation. Breakfast, lunch, coffee, snack, tapas or dinner, Spaniards always take time to sit and enjoy the eating experience. This includes good food, good companions and good conversation. No rush and ample time to digest before getting back to the grindstone. Spaniards move at their own relaxed pace.

3. “Hola, buenas” 
No matter where you are, when Spaniards enter a room, they always offer a simple courteous acknowledgement aka greeting to everyone in the room.  It’s simple and polite, and doesn’t imply an offer of open conversation. Interestingly, others in the room always respond back with a reciprocating “Hola.” Go ahead and try it the next time you enter your doctor’s office waiting room, and see what happens.

4. Tapas 
Tapas are wonderful.  How else can you eat a variety of different foods in snack-like quantities, with friends and never feel like you’ve over indulged because you've shared! The art of eating involves savouring each unique flavor, and preparing your palette for the next experience. Tapas allow you to enjoy such variety at a Spanish pace.

5. Olive oil is liquid gold 
Olive oil is not only delicious, it’s also very nutritious. Olive oil is substituted for butter and most other types of oils in Spain. Spaniards even enjoy olive oil with breakfast, in cakes and cookies, etc.  Antioxidant-rich olive oil can help lower cholesterol. It is a main ingredient in cooking, but it is also commonly infused in soaps, lotions and cosmetics. Olive oil might also be a contributor to Spain’s successful universal healthcare system that covers all Spanish residents. Less cholesterol and heart-related medical needs are typically associated with a Mediterranean diet.

French is spoken officially in 33 countries. French is considered an international language also because it is one of the official working languages in many international organizations such as European Commission, International Olympic Committee, World Health Organization and the United Nations.

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isiZulu is the most common language spoken by around 12 million people in the region; it is the language of the region’s largest ethnic group, the Zulu people.

A tonal language, and one of the country's four Nguni languages, and is closely related to isiXhosa. It is probably the most widely understood African language spoken from the Cape to Zimbabwe.

According to the 2011 census, isiZulu is the mother tongue of about 23% of South Africa's population.  

In comparison, English is the mother tongue of less than 10% of the region's population.  English is a highly influential language in the region with about half of the country's people having a basic knowledge of English.  English is South Africa's primary language of government, business and commerce.  

English is spoken at home language by almost 5 million people. South African English is an established and unique dialect, with strong influences from the country's many African languages.

Apart from it being a presumably cold and icy island, close to Greenland in the Norwegian Sea, how hard is it to find a beach resort in Iceland serving Piña Coladas? 

If you go into a bar and ask politely “Má ég hafa Piña Colada vinsamlegast” – in Icelandic, a North Germanic language - the de facto official language, will you get one?  The vast majority of Icelandic speakers—about 320,000—live in Iceland. 97% of the population of Iceland considers Icelandic to be their mother tongue. 

But you could also try asking in Danish, Faroese, German, Norwegian or  Swedish.  Most Icelanders would understand you.  English and Danish are taught in school…but even with the ability to ask for a Piña Colada in all of these languages, you’d still be hard pressed to find one.

You may have better luck ordering one of these:

Brennivín.  One of the most famous Scandinavian drinks. It is a very strong alcohol, a type of Schnapps that is considered to be Iceland's signature liquor. It is made from fermented potatoes and is flavored with caraway seeds. Aka: "Black Death" Fun Trivia: The character Budd, in Kill Bill Vol. 2, drank Brennivín.

What are you doing for Father’s Day?

Right around the corner, you will find anxious men eagerly awaiting that special day when his offspring (and even his beloved mate) will shower him with kisses, hugs, lots of gratitude, maybe presents and the title of “King of the House”.  

Does he really deserve such attention? You bet he does!

Father’s Day! A celebration of the paternal bond between a man and his child.  In many countries around the world, it is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday in June, but in many countries it is tied to celebrations honoring the concept of Father – be it a parental figure, a spiritual guide or metaphorically as the founder of knowledge, institution or country.

In Spain, Portugal and Italy, father’s day is celebrated in honor of St. Joseph (March 19th) – the patron saint of father in the Roman Catholic tradition.  It is also common to honor the "spiritual father" and the parish priest on Father's Day.

Besides being a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe, bordering Norway and Finland…

1. The Kingdom of Sweden has a population of about 10 million people across Europe’s 3rd largest country by area, and operates under a constitutional monarchy (ceremonial) by His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, and a parliamentary democracy.

2. Swedish (svenska) is a North Germanic language, spoken predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands.  Swedish is a descendant of Old Norse, the common language of the Germanic people living in Scandinavia during the Viking Era. 

3. Sweden is the birthplace of one of the most successful pop music groups – ABBA - topping the charts worldwide from 1972 to 1982. ABBA won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, giving Sweden its first victory in the history of the contest.

4. With the world invasion of IKEA, everyone has heard of the world famous Swedish meatballs.  Swedish meatballs are traditionally served with gravy, boiled potatoes, and lingonberry jam. Swedish meatballs are delicious and easy to make, and can be found during shopping trips to IKEA!

Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, the Vatican City, Malta and Eritrea. There are also large populations of Italian speakers in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Canada, the USA and the UK.

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This Monday, Americans will proudly hang their Star Spangled Banner, participate in re-enactments of the U.S. Civil War, watch highly decorated veterans, service men and service women parade across town, visit memorials of loved ones, and fire-up their BBQ. Memorial Day is a day of honor and remembrance for many Americans, as it was originally conceived to honor soldiers who had fallen during the Civil War.  Activities such as the placing small American flags on the graves of more than a quarter of a million gravestones in Arlington National Cemetery show the nations’ solemn and deep appreciation for those who fought for the country. American Memorial Day is just one of many Remembrance days across the world.

Volkstrauertag

The original German memorial day was meant to remember those who died in WWI, but it wasn’t largely celebrated until 1934, when the Nazis changed the meaning and declared it an official holiday called it Heldengedenktag, the Day of Commemoration of Heroes.  

By 1948, the country brought back the holiday with its original intent, and broadened its scope to include those who died due to the violence of an oppressive government, in addition to those who died in war. The occasion is commemorated two Sundays before Advent (the Sunday nearest 16 November).

Volkstrauertag, the national day of mourning, has also become a day of warning to remind us of the need for reconciliation, understanding and peace.  Today, on behalf of the federal government, the German War Graves Commission (The Volksbund) looks after the graves of about two million deceased in over 832 cemeteries in 45 countries. It is supported by over one million members and supporters and the federal government. Their motto: Reconciliation over the graves - Working for peace.

Israel is home to people with roots from over 120 countries. It is common to hear multiple languages in addition to the two official languages – Hebrew and Arabic – in the streets.

Officially known as the State of Israel, the republic is situated in the Middle East along the Mediterranean Sea bordering Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the West Bank, Egypt, the Gaza Strip and the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea. 

While all Israeli children are formally taught Modern Hebrew, Arabic and English, a large population of Israelis also speak Russian, French, Spanish, Yiddish or Amharic (the official language spoken in Ethiopia).   Classical Hebrew can also be heard, and is used for prayer and study in Jewish communities around the world.  Israel was established as a homeland for the Jewish people, and people with Jewish lineage from all over the world have the right to Israeli citizenship.  

Israel is an international country with a rich mix of culture, language, art and talent.  It is easy to see why people from all over visit and settle in such a multilingual and multicultural place.  

To all those with the good fortune to visit Israel: “Mazel tov” or "מזל טוב"

May 9th is Europe Day. A declaration was delivered by Robert Scheman on this day in 1950, 5 years after the end of WWII, remarking on the peace and unity of all Europeans.   This day fosters the understanding and importance of a unified and peaceful Europe. The European Union was set up with the objective of eliminating the frequent wars between nations within Europe. The six founding countries are Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In 1957, the Treaty of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC), or ‘Common Market’.

The Euro. In 1999, the Euro (€) was introduced as the single currency within the EU, and officially adopted by 12 member states by 2002.  Today, 19 of the 28 member states have adopted the Euro: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.

The EU motto: "United in diversity"

Schengen border-free area established in 1995, named after the “Schengen Agreement”, is a 26 nation member zone where borders between member countries are open to free movement, allowing over 400 million nationals of the member countries the freedom of traveling border-control free within and across the area’s member states. This border-free movement, allows residents and citizens passport-free travel throughout. Interestingly, 3 of the member countries of the Schengen Agreement are not part of the European Union: Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

Would Winston Churchill be proud today?

World Book Day - El Dia del Libro

Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died on this day in 1616. 

Miguel de Cervantes’ influence on the Spanish language has been so great that the language is often regarded as “la lengua de Cervantes”.  Don Quixote, a classic Spanish literature, is considered to be the first modern European novel and is regarded amongst the best works of fiction ever written.  To celebrate this day, Don Quixote is read during a two-day "read-a-thon" and the King of Spain presents the Miguel de Cervantes Prize  [a prestigious award honoring the lifetime achievement of an outstanding writer of the Spanish language, nominated by Association of Spanish Language Academies].

This day is also known as the Day of the Rose in Catalonia, and involves the exchange of gifts, roses or books in memory of Cervantes.

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"…

Over one billion people around the world celebrate Earth Day. This day is the day to not only look at our beautiful world with appreciation, but to also do something good for the environment.

The first Earth Day was celebrated across two thousand colleges and universities, and hundreds of communities across the United States back in the early 1970’s.  Over 20 million Americans came out to peacefully demonstrate for environmental reform.  It now is observed in over 192 countries across the globe, and coordinated by the nonprofit Earth Day Network, chaired by the first Earth Day 1970 organizer Denis Hayes.  

Here is an account of some activities around the world in appreciation of Earth Day, noted by Earthday.org:

• In Copenhagen, Denmark, people participate in the annual CO 2 Green Drive Project in honor of Earth Day. Runners, walkers, bikers, and skaters use their cities as canvasses to spell “CO 2“ with GPS devices.
• In Argentina, volunteers from the Surfrider Foundation clean-up the local beaches and plant evergreens and shrubs to help prevent wind and water erosion.
• In Jalandhar, India, free saplings are often given to students, and various talks are held about the effects of climate change.
• In Milan, Italy, thousands of people gather for the Earth Day Italia Festival to learn about environmental issues and local green initiatives.
• In Seoul, South Korea, Ecomom Korea organized an “Eco-style” Earth Day Flash Mob, a variation of the popular song “Gangnam Style”. An Earth Day Walkathon and an Earth Day exhibition showcase Earth/climate awareness themes.
• In Santa Barbara, California, thousands of people attend the local Earth Day Festival, which includes live music, speakers, a Green Car Show, etc.
• In Veracruz, Mexico, Tortugas Fundacion Yepez and volunteers help to protect the habitat of sea turtles by cleaning up the local beaches and organizing a reforestation campaign.

On this day, we must all remember that we are citizens of the world. As a famous Vulcan once said “Live long and prosper”; that is our duty as Earth citizens. No matter which part of the world we may hang our hats at night, we all look up at the same sky, and lay down to rest under the same stars.

Happy Earth Day! Be Green.  Imagine what it would be like if it were more than a day, but a way of life everyday for everyone.

If you find yourself in Thailand in early to mid April, make sure to wear clothes that are comfortable when wet! Every year, Thai people ring in their lunar New Year with the Songkran Festival. Street parties, family reunions and friendly water fights are all combined, making Songkran the most colorful and refreshing event.

This may normally sound disconcerting, to walk around the streets full of young people ready to throw a bucket of water or spritz you with a water gun, however in the scorching heat of Thailand summer (where the day’s temperature is normally around 36° C with over 50% humidity), this is actually quite welcomed!

Like many other cultures, Thailand is rich in many beliefs and symbols. The water symbolizes “cleansing” or “rejuvenating.” Natives throw water on each other to wash away the misfortunes and struggles of the previous year, as well as to refresh for the new year.  

Deriving from the Sanskrit language, the word Songkran means to pass or to move into or literally "astrological passage." Derived from the ancient Hindu festival of Sankranti, the Grand Songkran Festival is considered to be the most appropriate time for the Thai New Year, due to the onset of the best season (spring) which comes right after the cold season. 

As part of the event, families come together to offer prayers and food to the monks, visit Buddhist monasteries and clean their homes, making it inviting for good luck to enter.  Younger people pour water with exotic perfume and flowers into the palms of elders, and on the Buddha images to ask for blessing.

The Qingming Festival has arrived! This period, also known as the Pure Brightness or Tomb Sweeping Day
Festival in China is celebrated in early April each year by Chinese families.  While the Qingming Festival has a close relationship with agriculture, it is not only a seasonal symbol; it is also a day of paying respect to the dead, a spring outing, and other activities such as flying kites and sky lanterns.

According to folklore, it is said that the Qingming Festival was originally held to commemorate a loyal man named Jie Zitui. Jie cut his own leg in order to save his hungry lord who was forced to go into exile. The lord came back to his royal position nineteen years later, and felt ashamed and decided to reward Jie. However, Jie had blocked himself up in a mountain with his mother. In order to find Jie, the lord ordered that the mountain be set on fire, which resulted in the death of Jie and his mother. In order to commemorate Jie, the lord ordered that the day Jie died was Hanshi (Cold Food) Festival - the day that only cold food could be eaten.

The second year, when the lord went to the mountain to remember Jie, he found willow trees revived, so he gave instructions that the day after Hanshi Festival was to be Qingming Festival. The two festivals have now been combined into one.  Qingming Festival is a time of many different activities and represents a combination of sadness and happiness.

Tomb sweeping is regarded as the most important ritual in the Qingming Festival. 

• Cleaning the tomb and paying respect to the dead with offerings are the two important parts of remembering the past relatives. 
• Weeds around the tomb are cleared away and fresh soil is added to show care of the dead. 
• The dead person's favorite food and wine, along with paper money are given as a sacrifice. These are burned with the hope that the deceased are not lacking food and money. 

Not only is it a day for commemorating the dead, is it also a time for people to enjoy themselves outdoors due to the arrival of Spring. Spring outings not only add joy to life but also promote a healthy body and mind.

One would think that being the first official language of the Republic of Ireland, and having an official language status in the EU, the Gaelic language, also known as Irish, would be more widespread, understood and accepted throughout Ireland. However, only a quarter of the population claims to actually speak Irish.  Filmmaker and native Irish speaker Manchán Magan made a documentary No Béarla (No English) in which he travelled through Ireland only speaking Irish. He found some surprising reactions to his No English tour.  Many people in Ireland have been speaking English for so many generations, that it is hard to actually hear complete conversations in the nations’ first official language.

That said, some knowledge of the Irish language is still important if you do decide to go on a tour of the countryside:

First of all, one should know that the sentence structure is: VERB SUBJECT OBJECT

Sentences have Verb Subject Object order. So "I ate some bread" would be "Ate I some bread." "I always wash my hands" would be "Wash I my hands always." This word order is relatively rare—less than 10 percent of the world's languages use it. In fact, this has even spilled over in the usage of English phrases in Ireland:

"I'm after eating my breakfast” (I just ate my breakfast), "I gave out about the terrible service" (I complained about the terrible service), and in some places, "He does be working every day."

Every year, thousands of Hindus participate in the festival of Holi. The festival celebrates the beginning of the new season: Spring. Originally, it was a festival that commemorated good harvests and the fertile land. Hindus believe it is a time of enjoying spring's abundant colors and saying farewell to winter.  It is probably one of the most exhilarating festivals in India. During the festivities, there are bonfires and loads of people throwing colored powder or paint at one another. The modern day celebration is awesome.

The Legend: Holi is derived from Holika, and is considered a festival of victory of good over evil.

• There was once a demon king called Hiranyakashyap; he was so egoistic that he commanded everybody in his kingdom to worship only him. But to his great disappointment, his own son, Prahlad became a devotee of Lord Naarayana and refused to worship his father.
• Hiranyakashyap tried several ways to kill his son, but Lord Vishnu saved him each time. Finally, he asked his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap.  Hiranyakashyap knew that Holika had a blessing; whereby, she could enter the fire unscathed. 
• Treacherously, Holika coaxed young Prahlad to sit in her lap and she herself took her seat in a blazing fire. The legend has it that Holika had to pay the price of her sinister desire by her life. Holika was not aware that the blessing worked only when she entered the fire alone. 
• Prahlad, who kept chanting the Lord Naarayana all this while, came out unharmed, as the lord blessed him for his extreme devotion. 
• Holi is also celebrated as the triumph of a devotee. As the legend depicts that anybody, howsoever strong, cannot harm a true devotee. Furthermore, those who dare torture a true devotee of god shall be reduced to ashes.

Celebration: 

Even today, people enact the scene of 'Holika's burning to ashes' every year to mark the victory of good over evil. 

• In several states of India, effigies of Holika are burnt in the huge bonfires that are lit. There is even a practice of hurling cow dungs into the fire and shouting obscenities at it as if at Holika. Then everywhere one hears shouts of 'Holi-hai! Holi-hai!'.
• On the last day of Holi, people take a little fire from the bonfire to their homes. It is believed that by following this custom their homes will be rendered pure and their bodies will be free from disease.
• There is also a tradition of cleaning homes (ie. Spring Cleaning), removing all dirty articles from around the house and burning them. 
• View an exquisite display of the festivities with this colorful video: Happy Holi 

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Carnival is Here!  Carnival is the most famous holiday in Brazil and has become an event of huge extravaganza. Celebrated around the world in many Roman Catholic regions, Carnival is an annual festival held between the Friday afternoon (51 days before Easter) and Ash Wednesday at noon.

The festival marks the 40 days before Easter, when devout Roman Catholics abstain from pleasures, including the consumption of meat. This is intended to remember the fasting of Jesus, who spent 40 days in the desert before beginning his ministry.  In fact, some suggest that the word carnival is derived from the Latin 'Carne Vale' which means a farewell to meat signifying the coming period without meat.

Despite its original religious beginnings, Carnival displays humanity’s festive nature where the festivals offer an opportunity for final indulgence before the lent period. Mardi Gras, which is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, displays the final expression of feast and celebration, and has become a tradition in New Orleans, as well.

While Brazil is home to perhaps the greatest carnival on Earth, many other regions also enjoy the tradition annually.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - An estimated two million people turn out on Rio’s streets every day of carnival to watch performances from around 200 samba schools and 300 neighborhood street bands. It is a four day celebration, from Friday through Tuesday (Mardi Gras) featuring amazing entertainment, parades, and colors.

The third Monday of February is a Federal Holiday in the U.S., as such many banks are closed as well as many government offices. This day is officially acknowledged by Washington D.C. as Washington’s Birthday. Even the date of George Washington’s actual birthday depends on which calendar is used (Feb. 11, 1731, according to the Julian calendar, or Feb. 22, 1732 according to Gregorian calendar adopted by Britain and her colonies).

George Washington was the first president of the United States, and is a very important founding father; additionally, many people also recognize Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, as a very critical leader in our nation's history. Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is on February 12, and is celebrated as an official holiday apart from the third Monday in February in some states.

A number of the states that celebrate Washington's Birthday also recognize Lincoln's Birthday as a separate legal holiday. Furthermore, some states choose to celebrate the third Monday in February as Presidents’ Day to commemorate both presidents together.

On this 3rd Monday in February, some celebrate Washington’s Birthday, some celebrate both Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays separately, while the majority simply celebrate Presidents’ Day (though even the placement of the possessive apostrophe varies).

Moreover, some states don’t even choose this month to commemorate the Presidents.

Far away in a magical town in the Arctic Circle exists the magical Santa Claus Village in Lapland, Finland. At
the beginning of the last century, Santa Claus announced to the world that Rovaniemi is his official hometown. Rovaniemi is the capital and commercial center of Finland's northernmost province of Lapland. The Arctic Circle is a line visible on the map, north of which the sun can be seen above the horizon even at midnight during the summertime.  According to the locals, during midwinter, light is provided by the moon and stars in addition to the magical Northern Lights and clean, bright cover of glistening snow. It is said that the Arctic Circle is also known as the border where “regular time” changes into the “magic time” of elves and reindeer.

Finland is the northernmost country in the world after Iceland and the fifth largest country in Europe in terms of area.  Finland has Sweden to the west, the tip of Norway in the north, a long border with Russia to the east, and Estonia to the south, across the Gulf of Finland.  Its official languages are Finnish and Swedish. Finnish is spoken by most of the population, while Swedish is spoken as a first language by some 5 % of the Finns. In Lapland, the Sami language is spoken by some 1800 indigenous Sami people (including Santa’s elves).  The Finnish language belongs to Fenno-Ugrian languages and is related to Estonian and Hungarian. 

According to the locals, over a hundred years ago, some folks found out that Santa Clause lived somewhere in Korvatunturi  (meaning Ear Mountain in Finnish). This special place is about 485 meters high and called “Ear Mountain” because of the three large ears positioned on the summit.  It is said that these “ears” function like satellites triangulating and hearing all the dreams and wishes of adults and children across the world. This is the place where the wishes are received and sent on to Santa Claus and his workshop (managed by elves). 

As more people began hearing about this place, people began exploring the region in hopes of meeting Santa.  While Santa was happy to greet visitors who may have stumbled upon his private residence and workshop, he also wanted to safeguard his secret magical place.  So his elves created his “official” home in the Arctic Circle near Rovaniemi, called the Santa Claus Village. This village serves has Santa’s place to meet, greet and enjoy Christmas with visitors around the world.  

See for yourself - the live-cam of Santa's Village 

Niinamesai（新嘗祭) Japanese Thanksgiving

The New Autumn Harvest Celebration or Niinamesai, which literally means “the festival of new crops” is considered to be Japanese Thanksgiving. Niinamesai is one of the most important rituals of the country; the Emperor makes the season’s first offering to the gods giving thanks for the fruitful harvest on behalf of the Japanese people.

Niinamesai is a Shinto ritual to offer newly cropped rice to the deities, and to express deep gratitude. The Emperor conducts Niinameai  in solitude, as the Shinto Priest, and gives thanks to Amaterasu-ōmikami (天照大神　the Sun Goddess, Ruler of Heaven, and Ancestor of Emperor) who provided the abundant harvest.

The Japanese acknowledge spiritual beings (Kami 神) in all of nature, such as the mountains and rivers. In Japanese mythology, the principle deity is Amaterasu-ōmikami.  The story goes like this: 

In order to sustain life to the people of Japan, Amaterasu-ōmikami bestowed rice to her grandson Ninigi-no-mikoto（ニニギノ尊). Rice is not just a staple food for the people; each grain of rice contains part of the life of Amaterasu-ōmikami. Rice represents the spiritual bond connecting people and Heaven. The essence of the Japanese Niinamesai  ceremony is the custom of having meals. By way of the rituals and eating food, the Japanese experience communion with deities, expressing gratitude. 

Every year on the last Thursday of November, turkeys in the United States run for cover, as
Americans across the world celebrate one of their most beloved family holidays. Thanksgiving has a rich history dating back to the time when the English pilgrims reached America, and were warmly greeted by the Native Americans.  The story of Thanksgiving recounts the story of the Pilgrims and their community feast of the autumn harvest at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621. Harvest fest celebrations are not honored solely by Americans, but also throughout the world, in many cases referred to by the local name and generally celebrated during the harvest period.

Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October. Instead of eating turkey,  their feast includes ham or lamb, and traditionally some have La Tourtiere, a pastry pie filled with potatoes, rabbit and partridge or pheasant.  The holiday is celebrated as a gesture of thanks for a bountiful harvest.

In Barbados, the traditional harvest festival is called Crop Over. It has origins dating back to the colonial period, where singing, dancing and festival carts were decorated with flowers signifying prosperity for the plantation owners. In return, the plantation owners would provide a feast for the plantation workers, honoring their loyalty and dedication to the crop.

In China, the August Moon Festival or the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most celebrated Chinese harvest festivals.  The festival is held in September or early October, close to the autumnal equinox. This festival ends with a big feast among family and loved ones. Friends and relatives send Moon cakes to one other as a way of showing gratitude. The Autumn Moon festival has much in common with the American and Canadian Thanksgiving Festival.

India has several different harvest festival celebrations, and they are typically celebrated in the Spring. In the Northern Indian Harvest festivals, during late February or early March, people harvest wheat. This is also the time for Holi, which is a Hindu Harvest festival.  In Eastern India, the primary crop harvested is rice. Springtime is the season of love, and the love story of Krishna and Radha.  In Southern India, Onam is one of the most popular harvest festivals of Kerala. It is a time for everyone to reap the benefits of a good harvest after a year of hard work and labor, and a time for communal thanksgiving. 

On the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, when the tide in the rivers is highest and the moon at its
brightest, people across Thailand flock to the rivers and canals with their Krathong floats to celebrate the Loy Krathong Festival, or the 'festival of light.'  The Krathong is a small floating raft made from the leaves and wood of a banana tree, decorated with flowers, a candle and an incense stick, along with coins and locks of hair.  The ritual entails lighting the candles and incense, making a wish and launching the Krathong floats into the rivers or sea.  The hope is that one’s Krathong will drifts silently downstream with a forever burning candle.  The flame signifies longevity, fulfillment of wishes and release from sins. Some believe that this is the time to symbolically ‘float away’ all the anger and grudges that one has been holding onto, and the inclusion of a lock of one’s hair is seen as a way of letting go of the darkness inside, to begin living free of negativity.  If the candle stays alight until your Krathong disappears out of sight, it means a year of good luck is ahead.

In Chiang Mai the celebration features beautifully lighted lanterns displayed in houses and temples, and launched into the night sky. It is believed that Loy Krathong is originally an ancient festival from India; it was a ceremony where people paid their respects to three different gods known as Phra I-Suan (Shiva), Phra Narai (Vishnu) and Phra Phrom (Brahma).  People made lanterns using candles and paper to be displayed in the homes of royalty, the wealthy and/or high-ranking officials. By launching one of these lanterns, one can send bad luck and negativity away into the air, especially if the lantern disappears into the night before the fire goes out.   It was King Mongkut (Rama IV) of Thailand who adopted the celebration to honor the Buddha.

Like many regional traditions, the true origins are often derived from different ancient legends of the people. 

• Loy Kratong is an expression of gratitude to the goddess of water 'Phra Mae Kongka', a thanksgiving to her for providing water for the livelihood of the people. 
• Others believe the festival originates from Buddhism and that by offering flowers, candles and incense sticks, a tribute of respect is being made to the footprint of the Lord Buddha on the sandy beach of the Narmaha River in India.  This is reminiscent of a Hindu festival that pays tribute to the god Vishnu, who meditates at the center of the ocean. 
• The floral krathong symbolizes an offering to the pagoda temple containing the Buddha's topknot, which was cut off at his self-ordination and is now in heaven. 

One popular story about the first Loy Krathong describes the devotion and loyalty of a Queen to her god, King and people.  There once was a beautiful fair Lanna girl, whose father was a Brahmin priest, whose beauty and charm were so radiant that she was the subject of many local songs and stories.  The King immediately found her, and she became his new bride.  On the evening of the Thai Kathin water ceremony in Chiang Mai, where the people anxiously awaited their king, Queen Noppamas prepared a secret floral vessel of banana leaves and candles to launch into the Ping River.  Although the Lanna lady was married to a Buddhist King, she maintained her Brahmin beliefs and prepared the Krathong as an offering to the water gods and spirits.  Upon seeing this beautiful vessel adorned with lights and flowers, the people and King were mesmerized.  The Queen immediately offered the beautiful Krathong to the King, who couldn’t hide his admiration for such beauty.  However, after examining the vessel, he understood that this Krathong, was not simply a craft of beauty for his eyes, but a religious offering to the spirits of the waters honored by Brahmin beliefs.  This provided for a very difficult situation for the Buddhist King, who loved his Queen, but could not betray his people nor his own beliefs.  So, he took the Krathong, lite the candle and incense, proclaimed to all who could hear him on the bank of the river that the beautiful Krathong would serve as an offering to honor the Buddha and also the spirits of the river that his Queen intended to honor.

ขอให้สนุกวันลอยกระทง kŏr hâi sà-nùk wan loy grà-tong – Have fun on Loy Krathong Day! The Loy Krathong song: 

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta…the international radio-telephony spelling alphabet, otherwise commonly referred to as the "military alphabets" is used by military and police personnel around the world. Code words are assigned English words in alphabetical order to help ensure that important transmissions between personnel are understood and clear, despite regional accents or radio interference. This ensures that some words that share phonetic similarities are expressed clearly, and not misunderstood, especially during a crucial military or police operation.

NATO Phonetic Alphabet

Although it is largely and easily understandable by native English speakers, the modern military alphabet is used in the United States and NATO countries, and has also gained popularity worldwide, especially in international interactions. The alphabet is normally used on request when two parties are involved in communication. For instance, an aircraft pilot may need to engage a marine operator in a radio conversation across a border. This crucial communication may be heard using the NATO military alphabet.

Official NATO Military Alphabet (Source: http://www.militaryalphabet.org)

Thanksgiving is a time to honor friends, family and neighbors, and to give thanks to all the goodness that life has endowed upon us.  The story of the first American Thanksgiving often reminds people of when the Pilgrims first landed on Plymouth Rock, and embraced a new land, life and experiences.  American history classes explain the event as a monumental period when the settlers arrive to a new land to begin their new life free from the tyranny of the Old Country. The new settlers did encounter a new life in the new world, where they lived and interacted with the indigenous people of America – the Native Americans.

The English colonists encountered new tools, practices and clothing from their interaction with the locals.  There are many plants and animals indigenous to North America that are not found in Europe, thus leading to the adoption of many of the local terms from the Native American languages. 

Some words derived or borrowed from Native American languages include:

• Animal names - moose, skunk, chipmunk, raccoon, opossum, and terrapin 
• Housing - wigwam, tepee, hogan, wikiup, kiva. 
• Wampum - a type of beads used as currency
• Powwow  - generally used to describe Native American social gatherings
• Moccasins - soft leather shoes, ie. the proverb "Don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins."
• Tomahawk - A small hand-axe used as a weapon
• Succotash - A stew of corn, fish, and beans, or a simple combination of corn and lima beans.

The names of many places, lakes and rivers throughout North America are derived from the languages of the people who knew those places first:

• Massachusetts, Kansas Dakota and Omaha are derived from the names of Native American groups
• Oklahoma means "red people" in Choctaw
• Minnesota means "sky-blue waters" in Dakota 
• The Mississippi River's name means "great river" in Ojibwa
• Ontario comes from the Huron word for “beautiful lake”
• Ottawa comes from the Algonquin word for “to buy”
• Penticton comes from the Okanagan word for “place to stay forever”
• Quebec comes from the Algonquin word describing “narrow passage or strait”
• Saskatchewan comes from the Cree word meaning “swift flowing river”
• Saskatoon comes from the Cree meaning “berry fruit”
• Toronto comes from the Huron word meaning “place of meeting”
• Winnipeg comes from the Cree word meaning “dirty or murky water”
• Canada comes from the Wendat Huron word meaning “village” or “settlement”
• Coquitlam comes from the Salish word describing “small red salmon” or “place of stinking fish”
• Iqaluit comes from the Inuktituk word meaning “fish”
• Kelowna comes from the Okanagan word meaning “grizzly bear”
• Klondike River comes from the Han word describing “hammer used to fix fishing nets”
• Manitoulin Island comes from the Ojibwe word meaning “spirit island”

There are approximately 300 known indigenous languages North America. Sadly, many are either extinct or becoming extinct in today’s society.

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations." - U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, Armistice Day for November 11, 1919.

11th November is a very special day, revered and celebrated in many countries in memory of World War I coming to an end. In countries such as France, New Zealand and Serbia, the event is known as Armistice Day. The UK, Canada and Australia celebrate it as Remembrance Day. After all, it was the sacrifice of the brave soldiers engaged in the conflict which brought an end to the horrors of the Great War.

What exactly does Armistice mean? 

Armistice - Comes from Latin armistitium—from arma, "arms," and -stitium, "stoppage"—and means a temporary cessation from fighting or the use of arms, or a truce.

The entire World thought that World War I was the "War to end all wars." However, after World War II broke out in Europe, the name was changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day or Remembrance Day in several countries.

The President of the United States of America is elected every four years by a democratic process defined in the American constitution.  Americans learn about the civic process in high school Civics classes, and many often take for granted that the process is well understood.  How does one actually become the president of the United States?

The election process begins with primary elections, caucuses, and nominating conventions for over a year and a half prior to the actual Election Day – the first Tuesday of the first Monday in November. 

This diagram published and available by Kids.gov on the USA government web page depicts the path to presidency. View a larger version of the infographic. 

Step 1: Primaries and Caucuses - Candidates from each political party campaign throughout the country to win the party nomination.

Step 2: National Conventions – While there are several political parties (i.e. Liberal, Green, Independent) represented in the U.S., the country primarily puts forth a Democrat candidate and a Republican candidate. The National Convention is the official forum where the parties nominate their president and vice president candidates.

The annual Trick-or-Treating in spooky costumes, begging for candy, watching scary films and visiting graveyards, Halloween, is perhaps one of the best nights of the year for children in the U.S.  Is it really an American thing? What are the origins? Who celebrates it and who opposes it?  The answer is not as clear cut … according to Wikipedia, Halloween originates from western European harvest festivals, festivals of the dead, pagan celebrations - the Celtic Samhain, and/or has Christian roots.  

Celtic Samhain - Historians suggests that Halloween originates from the Celtic festival of Samhain, meaning "summer's end" in Old Irish. Samhain was the first of the four days in the medieval Gaelic (Irish, Scottish and Manx) calendar. Festivals were held during this period each year throughout Celtic lands. It marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.  Throughout the Gaelic world, bonfires were lit and some claim that rituals involved human sacrifice. Samhain was considered a period when the 'door' to the Otherworld opened enough for the souls of the dead, and other supernatural beings to come into our world. The souls of the dead were said to revisit their homes on this night.

Wearing costumes may have originated as a means of disguising from these harmful spirits. In Ireland, people went out at dusk collecting for Samhain feasts while wearing costumes. It is said that in the 19th century on Ireland's southern coast, a man dressed in white would lead children door-to-door collecting food, and by giving them food, the household could expect good fortune. Trick-or-treating may have come from this. 

All Hallows' Eve - Halloween may also have come about by the Christian holy days of All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows) on November 1 and All Souls' Day on November 2. This is a time for honoring the saints and praying for the recently departed. By the end of the 12th century these holy days across Europe involved traditions like ringing bells for the souls. "Souling", the custom of baking and sharing soul cakes for "all christened souls", is considered the origin of trick-or-treating for many.  Groups of children would go door-to-door on All Saints/All Souls collecting soul cakes. The custom of wearing costumes has been linked the belief that the souls of the dead wandered the earth until All Saints' Day.  All Hallows' Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving to the next world. So, in order to avoid being recognized by any soul that might be seeking vengeance, people would wear costumes to disguise themselves. 

In Scotland and Ireland, traditional Halloween customs include children in costume going "guising", holding parties, lighting bonfires, and having fireworks. In the U.S. and Canada, Halloween involves “trick-or-treating”, costume parties, candy gorging and pumpkin carving.  

The Kingdom of Spain located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, France, Andorra and Portugal, proudly states in its constitution that all Spaniards and the people of Spain have a right to exercise their human rights, cultures, traditions and languages. The constitution also establishes that all languages of Spain will also be official in their respective communities.

Castilian Spanish (Español) is recognized as the official language across Spain, and it is the right and duty of every Spaniard to know the language.

The other official languages of Spain in addition to Spanish are:

• Basque in the Basque Country and Navarre (spoken by 2% of the Spanish population)
• Catalan in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, Valencian in the Valencian Community (Catalan & Valencian considered to be the same language, are spoken by 17% of the Spanish population)
• Aranese spoken in Val d'Aran
• Galician in Galicia (spoken by 7% of the Spanish population)

Other non-official minority languages include: 

• Asturian in Asturias
• Leonese in Castile and León
• Aragonese in Aragon
• Spanish Sign Language
• Catalan Sign Language
• Valencian Sign Language

However, just because one can speak Spanish, still doesn’t mean that they will master the various local dialects of Castilian. For example, the Andalusian or Canarian dialects, each of these with their own distinct ways of pronouncing words and local expressions have been said to resemble the Spanish of Latin America.  Additionally, in the north, Eonavian is a local dialect between Asturian and Galician.  To the western areas, bordering Portugal, one may also hear the Galician-Portuguese based dialect known as Fala. 

¡Grito de Dolores! – Mexican Independence Day

On the morning of September 16th, over 200 years ago church bells were rung throughout the small town of Dolores Hidalgo in Mexico, when Miguel Hidalgo summoned his congregation to rise up and revolt for freedom from colonial Spain. Hidalgo's "cry of independence" has become emblematic of Mexican independence, and marks the inception of the Mexican War of Independence.

Today, the Mexican president rings the bells of the National Palace and re-enacts the “Grito de Dolores,” and shouts ¡Viva México! three times. The festivities are marked with military parades, patriotic programs, and marching bands. In honor of the day, Mexico City streets are decorated with flags, flowers and lights. No fiesta is complete without food and drink, and Mexican Independence Day doesn’t disappoint.  

The entire country enjoys the festivities starting the evening before and though the day after.  El Grito is also celebrated in the Texas, as Texas was still part of Mexico. Both Houston and Austin host festivities celebrating the event.  ¡Viva México!  Happy Independence Day.

¡Mexicanos!
¡Vivan los héroes que nos dieron patria!

¡Viva Hidalgo!
¡Viva Morelos!
¡Viva Josefa Ortíz de Dominguez!
¡Viva Allende!
¡Vivan Aldama y Matamoros!

¡Viva la Independencia Nacional!
¡Viva México! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México!

The Mid-Autumn Festival (traditional Chinese: 中秋節; simplified Chinese: 中秋节) is an important harvest festival celebrated by China and many neighbouring countries.  The festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar (September or early October), during the full moon close to the autumn equinox. The festival as an "intangible cultural heritage" and the festival is celebrated among family and friends throughout China.

Chinese people believe that a full moon is a symbol of peace, prosperity and family. On Mid-Autumn Festival night the moon is said to be the brightest and fullest, which is why the festival is also known as the "Moon Festival". The origin of the celebration dates back to moon worship in the ancient Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC).

As with many ancient traditions, many legends have been passed down through the generations to explain the importance and origins.

The Zhuang people share romantic story about the sun and moon, in which they are a couple and the stars are their children, and when the moon is “pregnant”, it becomes round, and then becomes crescent after giving birth to a “child”.  On this evening, it is popular to give offerings to the moon and the lunar deity - Chang’e the Moon Goddess of Immortality. 

According to Chinese mythology:

With nearly a billion speakers worldwide, the Chinese languages – Mandarin and Cantonese – together can be found across the globe from China to London to New York to San Francisco to Vancouver to Hong Kong and Singapore, and many stops in between.  The written language uses Chinese characters which represent the oldest writing system in the world. There are two different kinds of written Chinese: traditional and simplified. 

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With 329 million native speakers worldwide, Spanish has surpassed the English language as the second most widely spoken language.  Spanish is spoken in Spain, the US, Mexico, Cuba, Latin America (except Brazil, where Portuguese is the main language), Equatorial Guinea (in Africa), Andorra, and the Philippines.  Spanish is also found in many islands and pockets of the world where influences of the once great Spanish colonization efforts can be felt.

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178,000,000 people. The Portuguese were amongst the first Europeans to set out for the rest of the world. This opened the roads of colonization of new lands and the Portuguese language became a widely spoken language in the world until the expansion of English. Currently, Brazil and Portugal are two primary Portuguese-speaking nations, however, the language is unofficially spoken in many other African countries.

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1. There are a “gazillion” different dialects of English throughout the world!  No wonder an American might find it difficult to understand a Scotsman; or how about a Welsh tourist travelling to Mississippi USA trying to get directions?

Consider the possibilities: African English, American English, Australian English, Canadian English, Irish English, Jamaican English, Indian English, New Zealand English, Scottish English, Welsh English, and all the various dialects of British English spoken within England.

Canada is the world’s second largest country (based on surface area) and sits above the United States on the North American continent. To really understand this county, one should take a look at its history, during the late 15th century, both French and British folks explored and settled in Canada bringing their rich culture, customs and languages. Eventually, the French ceded to the British and Canada became part of the British Empire.  However the influences of the two cultures remain intact today, as the country is officially a bilingual nation. 

The two official languages are Canadian English and Canadian French.  

"A wise man can acquaint himself with them before the morning is over;   a stupid man can learn them in the space of ten days." 

Annually celebrated by Koreans on October 9th, Hangul (Hanguel) is regarded as one of the most
systematic alphabets in the world; this beautiful native Korean alphabet was invented by King Sejong (r. 1418-1450).   The hangul alphabet is the culmination of a methodical and logical process; it is not only easy to learn and convenient to use, but also rather scientific.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

To honour Mahatma Gandhi, the "Father of the Nation", Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated across India on October 2, also known as the International Day of Non-Violence. Mahatma Gandhi is a symbol of peace and truth. 

A pioneer of truth and non-violence, Gandhi played an extremely significant role in achieving independence for India, spearheading the 'Satyagraha' (non-violence) movement for the Indian freedom struggle. He proved to the world that freedom can be achieved through the path of total non-violence. 

Albert Einstein’s sentiments in a letter…

Chuseok (추석) is one of the biggest and most important holidays in Korea. Like the western version of Thanksgiving, Chuseok is a time of family and friends gathering to share, eat and spend quality time together giving thanks to loved ones – both current and past – for an abundant harvest.  The holiday, also referred to as Hangawi (한가위), is observed for three days when the full harvest moon appears (around the Autumn Equinox).

On the morning of Chuseok Day, food is prepared with the year’s fresh harvest and offered as a token of thanks to ancestors for the “ancestor memorial service”, known as Charye.  The major representative foods are freshly harvested rice, alcohol and songpyeon (Korean rice cakes).  

On July 4th in 1776, the Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked with red, white and blue flags, fireworks, parades and backyard barbecues across the country.

Let's talk about the early colonial days…

The early colonists came from many different countries, and the American revolutionaries of English descent wanted to secure the support of the German and French settlers who also found homes in the New Country, and also from Germany and France. German and French forces were instrumental in the fight for American independence.  

There was the philosophical belief among most of the Founding Fathers that, in a democracy, the government should not be telling people what they should or shouldn't say, or in what language they should say it.

And though English was certainly the language of a majority in the young nation, many other languages were spoken and encouraged, coast to coast.

Fun Facts:

Impress your fellow football/soccer fans during the big match! Now you can cheer on your favorite national soccer or football team, calling them by their famous nicknames, and actually know the meaning and background of the names.

1. Algeria, "Les Fennecs" - the national team is called "Les Fennecs," a small, nocturnal fox native to North Africa, and the national mascot of Algeria.
2. Argentina, "La Albiceleste" - means "The White and Sky Blue," referring to Argentina's famous striped uniforms.
3. Australia, "The Socceroos" – True to its roots, Australia's national team combines "soccer" and "kangaroos."
4. Belgium, "The Red Devils" - known affectionately in all three of the country's spoken languages -- Dutch, French and German -- as "The Red Devils." The name was coined after three "devilish" wins in 1906, just two years after forming.
5. Bosnia and Herzegovina, "Zmajevi" - its nickname was coined by a commentator who called the players "zmajevi" or "dragons" in 2010.
6. Brazil, "Seleção" - "The Selection" is what Brazilians call every soccer team: a "seleção. But only the national team is "The Seleção." Brazil is also known as "Canarihno" ("Little Canary") a reference to the team's bright yellow uniforms.

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day! Cinco de Mayo officially commemorates the anniversary of an early victory by Mexican forces over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. This single military battle signified defeat of a European colonial power, and a victory for the Mexican people. It is a festival of Mexican pride and heritage in the United States.

Many people think it is Mexico's Independence Day, however Mexico’s independence from Spain is celebrated on September 16th. The Battle of Puebla was not even a turning point in the Mexican and French conflict, as the French invasion succeeded the following year. However, Mexico was the underdog in the Battle of Puebla against Napoleon’s forces, and resisted the attack (at least for a few days).

For the most part, the holiday of Cinco de Mayo is more of a regional holiday in Mexico, celebrated most vigorously in the state of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo has become increasingly popular along the U.S.-Mexico border and in parts of the U.S. that have a high population of people with a Mexican heritage.  The holiday is a celebration of Mexican culture, food, music, beverage and customs.

The country is said to have the largest Spanish-speaking population in the world with almost a third of all Spanish native speakers. Mexico also hosts a large number of indigenous languages, spoken by some 5.4% of the population. The National Institute of Indigenous Languages recognizes 68 linguistic groups and over 364 different specific varieties of indigenous languages.

May 1st is a national holiday in more than 80 countries and celebrated unofficially in many other countries. May 1st is the day that represents International Workers' Day, a celebration of labour and the working classes, also known as Labour Day across the world. Many people associate this day with the labour rights and socialist movement across the world; however, the origins of this International Day is actually an American story.

The Harry Potter novels by J. K. Rowling have become one of the most widely read children’s literature pieces throughout the world, with nearly 450 million copies sold.  The novels have been translated and published into around 70 distinct languages, as well as distinct adaptations for American English, Valencian and Serbian Cyrillic.

In some countries (ie. Spain and India), the novels have been published into several local languages; and the books have been adapted into variations of the same language (i.e. Portuguese for Brazil and for Portugal, Traditional and Simplified Chinese).

Translations, better yet,  localization into local markets for these novels were somewhat complex due to many challenges, such as rhymes, acronyms, dialects, culture, riddles, jokes, invented words, and plot points that revolve around specific British icons or meanings.

J.K. Rowling invented many words and phrases such as spells, incantations, magical words and place names.  Many of such involve wordplay and historical references very specific to the UK.  In many cases of translations, new words and phrases where invented by the linguists in a manner known as “transliteration”.

One interesting area of challenge relates to the differences between the British and American editions of the books, notably the difference in the titles of the first book: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the UK, versus Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US.

Did you see that gesture?  Communication comes in more forms than just verbal.  Understanding the message often includes what is NOT said, just as much as what IS said.  When people speak, much can be derived from the words chosen, the tone of voice used and the word stressed.  

When someone asks “What’s the matter with you?” in a soft calming voice, you can bet that person is trying to show concern and maybe even empathy.  Whereas, when someone asks “What’s the matter with you ?” in a stern voice with emphasis on the you, you can bet that person is not exactly pleased with you.  

But what if someone asks “What’s the matter with you?” while gently rubbing your shoulders and looking deeply into your eyes?  Or what if someone shouts “What’s the matter with you ?” sticks their chest out and waves their hands abruptly in the air as if shooing away imaginary insects in the air?  It becomes pretty clear within certain circles what the person is really saying.

Body language and non-verbal gestures can be very important in conveying messages; however like different foreign languages, the gesture may not always translate the same across borders.  Cultural differences once again are at play; the wrong gesture can inadvertently lead to confusion or offence:

• The thumbs-up sign is like the middle finger in Greece and Sardinia. 
• Fingers under the left or right side of your face, under the jaw bone, flicking out like you are trying to remove a speck of dirt from your face is worse than the middle finger, in Arabic cultures.
• An American tapping a finger to his/her temple is a gesture indicating that someone should think or remember something, but suggests craziness to a Russian. 
• Nodding or shaking one’s head might even be misunderstood abroad. The yes-no gestures are reversed in Bulgaria and Albania.
• In parts of East Asia, gesturing is considered crude, and would be rude in a professional setting.
• Silence can be very meaningful in different cultural situations. In Western cultures, like the US and the UK, silence might seem uncomfortable, and be perceived as a sign of inattentiveness or disinterest.
• In China, silence can be used to show agreement and receptiveness. 
• In Japan, silence from women can be considered an expression of femininity.
• Eye contact in most western countries is a sign of confidence and attentiveness. 
• In many Middle Eastern countries, same-gender eye contact tends to be more intense than the western standard.
• In many Asian, African, and Latin American countries, direct and continuous eye contact would be considered aggressive and confrontational. 
• Cultures that tend to be conscious of hierarchy or class, might feel that avoiding eye contact is a sign of respect for bosses or elders.  For example, in Thailand, children won’t look at an adult who is speaking to them, nor will employees to their bosses.

Communication is not easy; mind your words and mind your body language, especially when communicating across cultures.  As a visitor to a foreign land, it is best to at least learn a few basics, just as you would learn to say “Hello” or “Thank you”; it couldn't hurt to also learn a few non-verbal points of communications.

In honor of mothers around the world, we took a look at the different ways to say “Mama”.  

According to Russian linguist Roman Jakobson, the easiest vocalizations for a human to make are open-mouth vowel sounds. Babies can make vowel sounds with the very first breathe they take on day one. They begin experimenting with other noises, and test some of the easier consonant sounds. Usually they start with the sounds made with closed lips, such as /m/ /p/ /b/. Babies summon their energy to push out that new consonant sound "MMMM" and then relax into an open mouth vowel, usually "ah" — which is the easiest. Combine that with a baby's natural repetition in speech, you get " ma-ma", "ba-ba"  or "pa-pa".

So why do babies seem to prefer the "m" sound instead of "p" or "b"?  The "m" sound is the easiest for a baby mouth to make when nursing. As we develop into adults, we maintain that association of  "mmm" with something delicious and tasty. So does baby.

Jakcobson's work suggests that baby has no idea that Mama is the mother. Mama doesn't mean "I love you, sweet sleepless woman who does everything for me..." It means "food, yummers, yummies..."

Here is a list of some terms across the world to describe that beloved lady that we all first come to know, even before we were born (if you can try to say it like a baby would, you will quickly see the “mama” commonality:

Are you ready? Ah, Spring! This season brings increasing daylight, warming temperatures, and the rebirth of beautiful blooms.  The word equinox is derived from the Latin words meaning “equal night.” Days and nights are approximately equal everywhere and the Sun rises and sets due east and west. Here are some nice expressions relating to Spring:

•  One swallow does not make a spring.
• Bluebirds are a sign of spring; warm weather and gentle south breezes they bring.
• In spring, no one thinks of the snow that fell last year.
• Don’t say that spring has come until you can put your foot on nine daisies.
• Spring-time sweet!
• The whole Earth smiles, thy coming to greet.

 Want some pasta Primavera? 

Do you know how to say Spring in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or Romanian? Primavera. "Prima" is from a Latin root meaning "first", and "vera" is also from a Latin root meaning "truth".  Hence together, we get "first truth", what a nice connotation to have represent this beautiful new season.

Here is Spring in some other languages:

• French: Printemps
• German: Frühling
• Japanese: Haru 春
• Russian: Becha
• Danish: Foraret
• Dutch: Lente
• Norwegian: Varen
• Turkish: Bahar
• Swedish: Varen

So get outside and tell the Sun gods that Spring is officially here, and you want some Primavera!  We’re ready!

According to CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic, Barack Obama, the 44th and recently re-elected President of the US, claims to not speak any foreign language.  Others have claimed that the President can actually communicate in Spanish, Indonesian and Sign Language. 

Either, the President is a modest person, who can actually speak more languages than English, or his presence is so clear and powerful that people just seem to understand his message regardless of the actual linguistics of his delivery.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii to a mother from Kansas and father from Kenya, and having lived for some childhood years in Indonesia, President Obama is considered to be an international American leader.

In a 2006 interview from The Oprah Winfrey Show, Obama discussed his family’s international and cultural diversity, “Michelle will tell you that when we get together for Christmas or Thanksgiving, it's like a little mini-United Nations," he says. Obama’s half-sister, who is Indonesian American, is married to a Chinese-Canadian-American. "I've got relatives who look like Bernie Mac, and I've got relatives who look like Margaret Thatcher," Obama said.  

President Obama also has seven half-siblings from his Kenyan father's family, some Irish cousins, and his mother’s family roots have been traced back to the Native Americans. 

The gorgeous Victoria's Secret model, Gisele Bundchen, who married NFL Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady is a sixth-generation German Brazilian. Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, considered by experts and fans as one of the greatest football [soccer] players of all time was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking nation in the Americas, making the language an important part of Brazilian national identity distinct from those of its Spanish-speaking neighbors.  Brazil has a rich culture with a mixed background of heritages. By just examining the history, one can clearly see why Brazil is unique.

Before the first Portuguese arrived in 1500, the region was inhabited by Amerindians, Tapuia tribes and other indigenous people speaking over 1,000 different languages.  In the first two centuries of colonization, a language based on local dialects was widely spoken by the Amerindians, the Portuguese settlers, Africans and descendants. The Portuguese spoken in Brazil absorbed many influences early on from this mix of languages, which led to a notable differentiation from the Portuguese spoken in Portugal. 

Additionally, Brazil has had substantial immigration of non-Portuguese-speaking people from Europe and Asia. Some 300,000 Germans and 1.5 million Italians immigrated to Brazil. Others included Spaniards, Poles, Ukrainians, Japanese and Middle-Easterners.  While Brazil was enjoying a rich influx of cultures mixed with indigenous influences, the country was developing oceans apart from Portugal back in Europe.  At the same time, Portugal continued to experience influences from its French neighbors adopting changes in its own language, lexicon and pronunciation.  

As in any colonial relationship, the loyalties of the people are shared between local indigenous and colonial influences. Traditions and norms are mixed, some are maintained, others fade away and new ones are created. Language is a big part of that.  The differences of Brazilian Portuguese and Portuguese spoken in Portugal are often compared to that of US English and British English.

Wild jungles, beautiful wildlife, exotic tribes, plethora of untouched savannahs, are all images conjured up when one is dreaming about a safari cross-continental adventure.  But which languages are critical to communicate?

If you can speak the language of one of the former colonial nations – English (130 million African speakers), French (115 million African speakers), Portuguese (20 million African speakers) and Spanish (10 million African speakers) – then you can at least get by in some parts of the continent. 

Of the Africans (1,000 million in 2009), about 17 percent speak an Arabic dialect. Around 10 percent speak Swahili in East Africa; about 5 percent speak a Berber dialect; and about 5 percent speak Hausa in West Africa. Other important West African languages are Yoruba, Igbo and Fula. And some important South African languages are Zulu and Afrikaans. [Source: Wikipedia]

The following languages are official at the national level in Africa:

• Arabic in Algeria, Comoros, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, and Tunisia
• Berber in Morocco and Algeria
• Swahili in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda
• Amharic in Ethiopia
• Somali in Somalia and Djibouti
• Hausa in Nigeria and Niger
• Chichewa in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique
• Kinyarwanda in Rwanda and the closely related Kirundi in Burundi
• Sango in the CAR
• Swazi in Swaziland and South Africa
• Malagasy in Madagascar
• Seychellois Creole in the Seychelles
• Shona & Ndebele in Zimbabwe
• Afrikaans, Ndebele, Xhosa, Zulu, Pedi, Sotho, Tswana, Swazi, Venda, and Tsonga in South Africa

So in order to get by on a Safari on the African continent, one should speak English, French, Arabic and Swahili (since some if the most beautiful sights can be found in Kenya and Tanzania), and maybe animal languages (ie. lions, tigers - oh my!)

There are Spanish speakers with Mexican heritage along the southern U.S. border, Cuban heritage in Florida, and Puerto Rican heritage in New York City. Miami has the largest number of Spanish speakers in the western hemisphere outside Latin America.

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"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart."

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6 official languages used by the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian & Spanish.

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