WHAT DOES HALLOWEEN MEAN ?

Should Catholics Celebrate Halloween?

By Scott P. Richert, About.com Guide

Five of the Richert children celebrate Halloween 2007.

(Photo © Amy J. Richert)

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A Controversial Holiday:

Every year, a debate rages among Catholics and other Christians: Is Halloween a satanic holiday or merely a secular one? Should Catholic children dress up like ghosts and goblins? Is it good for children to be scared? Lost in the debate is the history of Halloween, which, far from being a pagan religious event, is actually a Christian celebration that's almost 1,300 years old.

The Christian Origins of Halloween:

"Halloween" is a name that means nothing by itself. It is a contraction of "All Hallows Eve," and it designates the vigil of All Hallows Day, more commonly known today as All Saints Day. ("Hallow," as a noun, is an old English word for saint. As a verb, it means to make something holy or to honor it as holy.) All Saints Day, November 1, is a Holy Day of Obligation, and both the feast and the vigil have been celebrated since the early eighth century, when they were instituted by Pope Gregory III in Rome. (A century later, they were extended to the Church at large by Pope Gregory IV.)

The Pagan Origins of Halloween:

Despite concerns among some Catholics and other Christians in recent years about the "pagan origins" of Halloween, there really are none. The first attempts to show some connection between the vigil of All Saints and the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain came over a thousand years after All Saints Day became a universal feast, and there's no evidence whatsoever that Gregory III or Gregory IV was even aware of Samhain.

In Celtic peasant culture, however, elements of the harvest festival survived, even among Christians, just as the Christmas tree owes its origins to pre-Christian Germanic traditions without being a pagan ritual.

Combining the Pagan and the Christian:

The Celtic elements included lighting bonfires, carving turnips (and, in America, pumpkins), and going from house to house, collecting treats, as carolers do at Christmas. But the "occult" aspects of Halloween—ghosts and demons—actually have their roots in Catholic belief. Christians believed that, at certain times of the year (Christmas is another), the veil separating earth from Purgatory, heaven, and even hell becomes more thin, and the souls in Purgatory (ghosts) and demons can be more readily seen. Thus the tradition of Halloween costumes owes as much, if not more, to Christian belief as to Celtic tradition.

The (First) Anti-Catholic Attack on Halloween:

The current attacks on Halloween aren't the first. In post-Reformation England, All Saints Day and its vigil were suppressed, and the Celtic peasant customs associated with Halloween were outlawed. Christmas and the traditions surrounding it were similarly attacked, and the Puritan Parliament banned Christmas outright in 1647. In America, Puritans outlawed the celebration of both Christmas and Halloween, which were revived largely by German Catholic (in the case of Christmas) and Irish Catholic (in the case of Halloween) immigrants in the 19th century.

The Commercialization of Halloween:

Continued opposition to Halloween was largely an expression of anti-Catholicism (as well as anti-Irish prejudice). But by the early 20th century, Halloween, like Christmas, was becoming highly commercialized. Pre-made costumes, decorations, and special candy all became widely available, and the Christian origins of the holiday were downplayed.

The rise of horror films, and especially the slasher films of the late 70's and 80's, contributed to Halloween's bad reputation, as did the claims of putative Satanists and Wiccans, who created a mythology in which Halloween had been their festival, co-opted later by Christians.

The (Second) Anti-Catholic Attack on Halloween:

A new backlash against Halloween by non-Catholic Christians began in the 1980's, in part because of claims that Halloween was the devil's night; in part because of urban legends about poisons and razor blades in Halloween candy; and in part because of an explicit opposition to Catholicism. Jack Chick, a rabidly anti-Catholic fundamentalist who distributes Bible tracts in the form of small comic books, helped lead the charge.

By the late 1990's, many Catholic parents, unaware of the anti-Catholic origins of the attack on Halloween, had begun to question Halloween as well, and alternative celebrations became popular.

Alternatives to Halloween Activities:

Ironically, one of the most popular Christian alternatives to celebrating Halloween is a secular "Harvest Festival," which has more in common with the Celtic Samhain than it does with the Catholic All Saints Day. There's nothing wrong with celebrating the harvest, but there's no need to strip such a celebration of connections with the Christian liturgical calendar.

Another popular Catholic alternative is an All Saints Party, usually held on Halloween and featuring costumes (of saints rather than ghouls) and candy. At best, though, this is an attempt to Christianize an already Christian holiday.

Safety Concerns and the Fear Factor:

Parents are in the best position to decide whether their children can participate safely in Halloween activities, and, in today's world, it's understandable that many choose to err on the side of caution. One concern that's often overblown, however, is the effect that fright might have on children. Some children, of course, are very sensitive, but most love scaring others and being scared themselves (within limits, of course). Any parent knows that the "Boo!" is usually followed by laughter, not only from the child doing the scaring, but from the one being scared. Halloween provides a structured environment for fear.

Making Your Decision:

In the end, the choice is yours to make as a parent. If you choose, as my wife and I do, to let your children participate in Halloween, simply stress the need for physical safety (including checking over their candy when they return home), and explain the Christian origins of Halloween to your children. Before you send them off trick-or-treating, recite together thePrayer to Saint Michael the Archangel, and explain that, as Catholics, we believe in the reality of evil. Tie the vigil explicitly to the Feast of All Saints, and explain to your children why we celebrate that feast, so that they won't view All Saints Day as "the boring day when we have to go to church before we can eat some more candy."

Let's reclaim Halloween for Christians, by returning to its roots in the Catholic Church!

ARE WE REALLY DIETING ??

Diet Sodas: Changing Your Brain And Your Waistline

Diet sodas may not be helping you lose weight—in fact, these and other artificially sweetened foods may sabotage your diet by confusing and rewiring your brain’s reward centers. This study from the journal Physiology & Behavior is yet another example of how lifestyle choices can alter your brain—negatively or positively.

Scanning diet soda drinkers' brains

The University of San Diego study followed 24 young adults: half the group drank at least one serving of diet soda every day, while the other half avoided the artificially sweetened drinks. These adults were then hooked up to brain scanning equipment while scientists fed them water alternately flavored by natural and artificial sweeteners—then the researchers sat back and watched what unfolded in the brain.
The results, according to University of California San Diego researchers Green and Murphy, were pronounced: “[Diet soda drinkers] who consumed a greater number of diet sodas had reduced caudate head activation. These findings may provide some insight into the link between diet soda consumption and obesity.”

Artificial sweeteners confuse reward

A little bit of background: the caudate head is a part of the brain involved in signaling reward and controlling food intake—and its decreased activity in the brains of diet soda drinkers has substantial implications.
Researchers posit that consumption of diet soda had confused the reward loops normally processed by the caudate head: because sweetness was no longer a reliable indicator of incoming calories, the brain had trained itself to respond less in the face of sweet flavors. Unreliable sweet tastes threw off normal predictions about calories and energy in the changed brains of diet soda drinkers—making it more likely that these people would consume additional calories later in the day.

Small choices can affect your brain

This newest study is pretty preliminary; it’s difficult to say how drastically diet sodas can affect bigger questions of lifestyle and health based on such short-term brain activation patterns. Still, this recent investigation provides an interesting reflection on how choices and actions made in everyday life can powerfully influence the way your brain is wired—in other words, the concept of neuroplasticity.
We can’t always foresee the unintended negative responses our brain makes—who would have thought diet coke might do quite the opposite of what its name suggests?—but there are positive ways to harness your brain’s ability to change. Just a little Lumosity training every day, for example, can change your brain for the better: instead of confused reward signals, you could experience faster processing speed, quicker flexibility, and improved problem solving. Unlock full access today and harness that power to change!

MARINA SULUAGA  C.A.E COURSE  

History of English - 15' medium speed of Reading & Listening

Hi classmates! I recommend you the reading and listening of the History of English languages, just by clicking the link below:

http://www.manythings.org/listen/history/

I wish you enjoy it! :)

Marcelo Leporace, FCE Student

DOWNSHIFT TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE- DANIELA HERRERO

Downshift To Simplify Your Life

Have you ever wanted to stroll while the other rats in the race pass you by? We live in a world consumed with consumption, but many people are learning that pleasure through shopping is a losing proposition and that there is more to life than the latest gadget or the largest SUV. These people have decided to simplify, or "downshift", their lives - choosing to work less and live more.

According to a November 2004 poll conducted U.S. News & World Report, within the past five years, 48% of Americans downshifted their lives in one of the following ways: cut back their hours at work, declined a promotion of failed to seek one, lowered expectations for what they needed out of life, reduced their work commitments or moved to a community with a less hectic way of life. If voluntary simplicity sounds good to you, do it! Just don't do it today. Before making such a major lifestyle change, you will need to carefully consider your source of income and your expenses. Read on as we show you how.

What Does It Mean to Simplify?

This concept is often traced back to author and philosopher Henry David Thoreau and his retreat to Walden Pond. The writer lived on the shores of Walden Pond for two years in the mid-1800s, isolating himself from the bustle of society in order to gain greater perspective on life. His exile gave Thoreau insight into the value of nature, solitude and contemplation and allowed him to distance himself from the consumerism and materialism that had already begun to dominate American life.

In modern life, the move to simplicity is often fueled by a general lack of fulfillment with the daily grind. Working to pay bills simply isn't much fun. Spending all of your time either trying to earn money or worrying about money is both physically and emotionally draining. By downshifting, you spend less time working and more time enjoying your life. It's the ultimate work-life balance decision.

Only the most self-centered among us would rank owning a luxury car ahead of spending time with our children, yet many people unconsciously make that choice, working long hours to pay for their cars and spending little time with their families. The same goes for fancy clothes and expensive homes. Trading the trappings of wealth for less stress, more rose-smelling time and the opportunity to live more and work less is the whole point of simplifying. It's the things that money can't buy, such as less stress and time with friends and family, that motivate these downshifters to give up conspicuous consumption.

First, Get Your House In Order

If you don't already have a good grip on your finances, you'll want to put some serious effort into figuring out where your money goes. Once you realize where your expenses lie, your goal will be to minimize them. The whole point of living simply is that the need to earn less money enables you to spend less time at work.

Let's look at some of the easiest places to make cuts:

◦Housing Costs - One of the most obvious ways to save a significant amount of money is to literally get your house in order. Living in a less expensive place is an easy way to simplify your life and save money. You'll save money on utilities and heating, and less space means less junk is needed to fill the space.

 ◦Transportation Costs - Transportation is another big expense category. Car payments, car insurance, gasoline, repairs and maintenance all cost money. To minimize transportation expenses, downshifters don't drive fancy cars. If they own a car at all, it's a solid, reliable, affordable model.

◦Luxury Items - While houses and cars are notable big expenses, the smaller costs of everyday living are important too. Downshifters don't spend money frivolously. Clothing and furniture should be chosen for comfort and durability, not style. Impulse buys are to be avoided. Money is spent carefully, as many downshifters are seeking a less materialistic lifestyle. Health and peace of mind take precedence over the things money can buy. Exotic vacations twice a year are traded in exchange for additional free time all year long.

◦Interest Payments - Credit cards should usually be tucked in a drawer and purchases made with cash. Money spent on credit card interest is money wasted, so purchases should only made when they can be paid for on the spot. If you are responsible enough to always pay the balance on time, then a credit card may still be an option - after all the card company is essentially giving you an interest-free loan - but if you feel temptation may force you to spend more than you can afford to pay off all at once, then it is wise to forgo credit cards all together.

Mini-Retirement

Financially speaking, downshifting is similar to retirement. Downshifters and retirees both work with a smaller, relatively fixed income. Therefore, the preparation for both is similar.

Downshifting doesn't mean that you don't need to save for the future. Part of the planning process prior to downshifting should include determining how much money you will need to save in order to meet your retirement goals. The amount that you need to save each month during your working years should be factored into your calculations when determining how much money you need to earn when downshifting. If you can meet your goals with part-time work or a less stressful, less time-consuming job, you have accomplished your mission. Any cutbacks in spending should come from the other categories in your pre-downshifting budget.

The Downside To Downshifting

Preparing to downshift is similar to preparing for retirement, just on a smaller scale. This means that many of the psychological hurdles that come with retirement are also present when you downshift. These include:

◦Loss of Prestige - Think carefully about the decision and make sure you are mentally prepared to go from well-respected senior manager with a big staff and a corner office to part-time worker or individual contributor with no staff. Many people have their identities tied to what they do for a living, and the transition to a less prestigious job can therefore be extremely stressful.

◦Loss of Friends - While you may be willing to live with less, not everybody else will follow your example. If you make the move, you are never going to keep up with the Joneses. Friends and family may not understand the choices you will make. You need to be comfortable with the overall scenario before you choose to live with less.

Ready To Slow Down?

Downshifting is all around us. From new mothers deciding against returning to full-time work, mid-level mangers stepping back to individual contributor roles and senior executives stepping off of the rat race treadmill, people from all walks of life and income brackets are willing to trade bigger paychecks for lower levels of stress.

So take a look at your lifestyle, reevaluate your spending and step off the treadmill. Get out of the rat race, and stop spending majority of your life at work. The rest of you life is still ahead of you. Enjoy it!

IS CONSUMERISM KILLING OUR CREATIVITY? DANIELA HERRERO

Is Consumerism Killing Our Creativity?

Have you ever fallen into a black hole of comparison shopping? You’re looking for a new digital camera, for instance. You head over to Cnet.com and read some reviews of various cameras, watch the video demos, identify the model you want. Then perhaps you employ Google’s shopping search to price out the options and find the best deal. All of the sudden, it’s four hours later. You’ve found the perfect camera, but your purchasing triumph is tainted by a creeping feeling of, well, disgust. Couldn’t that time have been used better?I was thinking recently about what my biggest distractions were – the things keeping me from pushing my creative projects forward. As I scanned through my daily activities, I found that the most insidious distraction was, in fact, things. More specifically, the wanting, hunting, and getting of things –  whether they be tangible (a new computer) or intangible (information).

As Annie Leonard says in The Story of Stuff, “Our primary identity has become that of being consumers – not mothers, teachers, or farmers, but of consumers. We shop and shop and shop.” We love our stuff. Yet more than the stuff itself, we love the act of finding it – the search, the anticipation.

But why is consumerism – and particularly, an online hunt for the ideal purchase – so addictive?

It turns out that our consumerist impulse stimulates the same part of the brain that fires when we’re on the trail of a great idea. As we go through the trial and error of executing an idea – What if I tried this? Ah! Now what about this? – we’re using those same wanting, hunting, getting instincts but in a nobler pursuit.

Neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp calls this highly addictive emotional state “seeking.” In a Slate article on seeking, writer Emily Yoffe sums up his research

For humans, this desire to search is not just about fulfilling our physical needs. Panksepp says that humans can get just as excited about abstract rewards as tangible ones. He says that when we get thrilled about the world of ideas, about making intellectual connections, about divining meaning, it is the seeking circuits that are firing.

The juice that fuels the seeking system is the neurotransmitter dopamine. The dopamine circuits ‘promote states of eagerness and directed purpose,’ Panksepp writes. It's a state humans love to be in. So good does it feel that we seek out activities, or substances, that keep this system aroused.

The consumerist search capitalizes on the same “seeking” part of the brain that fuels the creative rush. Of course, while consumerism can serve as an addictive substitute for the stimulation of creative activity, it offers nowhere near the same reward in the long term.

As creatives, we can often rationalize spending time on shopping by telling ourselves that we’re investing our time, energy, and money in a new tool – an item that’s going to catapult our creativity to the next level. Maybe it’s a new computer, maybe it’s a musical instrument, maybe it’s a studio of one’s own. Once you get that new thing, you think, you’ll have a superior means to complete your work.

It’s a false promise, of course. A means of procrastination baked into our consumerist culture. No external thing can prompt creativity, and there’s no substitute for just getting down to doing the work. In fact, it’s been proven that hardship – being deprived of things – stimulates creativity more than being well-off. A recent Newsweek article on America's declining creativity reported:

Highly creative adults frequently grew up with hardship. Hardship by itself doesn’t lead to creativity, but it does force kids to become more flexible—and flexibility helps with creativity.

When we have less to work with, we have to be more creative. Think about that the next time the consumerist impulse is threatening to encroach on your creativity.

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Consumerism vs. Creativity - Your Thoughts?

Do you feel like our consumerist culture suppresses creativity? Have you battled against the consumerist instinct?

USEFUL GLOSSARIES FOR INTERPRETERS

Dear Interpreters   to be    Alfred and I expect this glossary by FANNY MAE will be really useful .
We will work on and explain these terms in   class

 https://www.efanniemae.com/sf/refmaterials/glossary/pdf/etosglossary.pdf

LINK TO LC. FOR C.A.E

If you want to practise Listeing Comprehension at C.A.E. level, you can click at : ihttp://www.examenglish.com/CAE/listening.php

Enjoy yourselves