ipolitics--2019-12-30--Irregular Traditions: The out-of-the box ways Canada’s MPs have celebrated Christmas

Elizabeth May, the Green Party's Parliamentary leader, pictured as a child on her family farm. The family's animals played a role in their annual outdoor Christmas pageant.  A turkey dinner, a glittering tree, carols and gifts exchanged amongst family and friends — these are among the more traditional ways to celebrate the Christmas season. But several of Canada’s MPs have bucked the ordinary during Christmases past and present, marking the hallowed holiday with more out-of-the-box events.  Some of the memories shared by federal leaders were idyllic, and none more so than Elizabeth May’s. The Green Party’s Parliamentary leader recalled childhood Christmases marked by full-fledged outdoor pageants — staged in her family’s barn. “I swear our sheep, ponies and one donkey took their roles seriously. Not one of them would wander out of position on those cold and snowy evenings,” May reminisced. And, so the story was told, the tradition extended beyond their family. Countless neighbourhood children would be corralled into the show, as well as May and her brother’s classmates. At some point, local musicians also volunteered a violin and an oboe.  “My mother was indomitable and the logistics of managing dozens of children, organizing the ‘cast’ and making sure costumes were in hand, did not phase her at all,” May wrote in a recent email to iPolitics, noting that her neighbours sent their sons over looking “more regal than the Magi” in a set of shepherd costumes. But the role of baby Jesus always went to one of May’s dolls, which would be selected and subsequently swaddled.  “The tradition ended the year that a bunch of little boys decided the best place for their hot chocolate and marshmallows was spilled various places inside the house,” May said. “Here endeth good will to (small) men.”  There was one particular Christmas that stood out to Nanaimo—Ladysmith’s Paul Manly, and it was a bleary-eyed day that took place right in Ottawa. Manly was 19 years old at the time, and living with members of his band. Two of his bandmates-turned-roommates were Jewish, and they marked Christmas Eve with what Manly described as an “annual all night jam session.” “Of course I took part,” Manly noted.  “I mean it’s not like I was going to get any sleep anyway!”  The next morning, he ventured out to his parents’ house to open gifts, having not slept a wink. “My parents noticed and teased me about it. It was definitely one of the most memorable ways I’ve spent Christmas Eve.”  Parenthood begot unique traditions for other MPs. Jenny Kwan, the NDP MP for Vancouver East, found herself cutting out giant feet from shimmery paper in preparation for Christmas Eve when her children were small. Back then, when they still basked in the glow of their faith in Santa Claus, Kwan would until her kids had safely retreated into their beds — then place the large footprints she’d prepared all around their house.  “The discovery of the giant footprints was a magical moment for the kids,” Kwan recalled recently. But the tradition didn’t budge as the kids got older, with the paper prints still coming out each year. “Even though the kids now know that Santa is really just me, I still place the giant footprints everywhere just for fun,” she said.  She, like several other MPs, noted that holiday meals were also a subject of their unique family traditions. The “Kwan Clan,” as she called them, always elected to serve Chinese fondue over more traditional options like turkey, ham or roast beef. Elsewhere in B.C., Fleetwood—Port Kells’ Ken Hardie offered up his family’s standard Boxing Day breakfast — turkey stew over hotcakes. “Sounds odd, but it’s really good!” the Liberal MP claimed.  Ottawa West—Nepean MP Anita Vandenbeld’s family always made Balkenbrij, she said — a Dutch tradition — from a recipe that had been passed down from her grandfather, and his ancestors before that. She remembers her father attaching a particular kind of meat grinder to their dining room table, and spreading newspapers around to catch any scraps that fell and weren’t snapped up by her childhood dog: a German Shepherd named Tippie.  Her father would grind pork hocks, a sort of pig knuckle, and liver together in a bowl. “We then boiled it with special spices, added flour and when it hardened, we would slice pieces every morning and fry it in butter and eat it for breakfast,” Vandenbeld told iPolitics. To this day, her parents make the dish every year at Christmastime.  And, if you look closely around the Hill, you might be able to see a few more hints about MPs’ offbeat Christmas traditions. Ever seen a curiously-shaped, red-painted wooden board game inside Nathaniel Erskine-Smith’s office? It’s a crokinole board — one his father-in-law, Terry, and one of his wife’s uncles made for his desk. The idea was to give him practice, in the lead up to the annual family crokinole tournament at Christmastime.  Erskine-Smith teams up each year with his brother-in-law, Jeremy. But they aren’t exactly on a winning streak.  “We usually lose to Amy’s uncles Brian and Rob,” he admitted.  * iPolitics reached out to each party with a seat in the House, to request stories from their MPs. The Conservative Party did not provide responses by deadline, and the Bloc Quebecois did not answer the request.


politicalite--2019-08-29--GREAT British traditions that are on the comeback

TO OUTSIDERS, the sorts of traditions that we embrace and enjoy in Britain may seem completely perplexing. Even the national game of cricket seems designed to befuddle and confuse the uninitiated with its strange rules, odd terminology and the ability to last for up to five days without either team winning or losing.  But these traditions have long been woven into the very fabric of British life and help to make this country the unique place that it is today.  However, just because something’s always been a tradition, there’s nothing to say that it will be one that will always stand the test of time. Changing lifestyles and circumstances can see some disappear altogether. So, it’s up to the determined Brits to keep many of our quintessential customs and traditions alive. There are plenty of examples of ones that have been on the brink of extinction before being revived and, in some cases, coming back even stronger than before. Here are just four examples of this very welcome phenomenon.  Imagine the scene. It’s a Spring Bank Holiday Monday in the glorious countryside of Gloucestershire. The sun is shining, the memories of winter are falling away. What could be a better way to mark the occasion than by chasing a whole Double Gloucester cheese down a hill so steep that it can reach 70 mph? Because that’s exactly what countless people do each year in the hope of being the first down the hill and winning the 9lb cheese for themselves.  The origins of the tradition are open to debate. Some say that it’s a way to maintain common grazing rights over the hill, others that it goes back to pagan times and is intended to bring on a fertile growing season in this very agricultural area.  The earliest records of the event go back as far as 1826 but the increasing number of injuries suffered by participants reached such a level that in 2009 it was cancelled on health and safety grounds. But so popular was the tradition that it was revived a year later, unmanaged and with all the human rollers taking part entirely at their own risk.  There once was a time when almost every town in the country had at least one bingo hall, and often many more than that. It was almost an institution that while the men headed for the pub, their womenfolk would go to the bingo with the prospect of a few drinks, a laugh with friends and, with luck, a cash prize too. Although the game had been invented in America in the 1930s and called Beano to begin with, by the 1950s it was firmly established in the UK.  Before long a whole culture had grown up around it with names for the numbers like the classic “all on its own, number 1!” and “clickety clicks, 66” with the flamboyant bingo caller acting as master of ceremonies. But then, people became more sophisticated, the age-old gender divide began to dissolve – and the bingo halls started to close down one by one.  But then along came online bingo to bring the game thrillingly back to life. With all the fun, excitement and sociability of the real thing, but available 24/7 and with some truly massive prizes, once again the nation’s in the grip of bingo fever.  Ah, tea. The great British cure for all ills, not to mention being the only social lubricant that’s needed for most situations. There are even countless popular songs featuring it as a subject so it’s fair to say it’s a national obsession. And the ultimate British ceremony to celebrate the refreshing drink must surely be Afternoon Tea.  In the past, while other nationalities were enjoying an afternoon siesta in the shade Britons all over the world were eagerly awaiting 4pm. That was when the afternoon was going to be neatly broken up by a meal to see them through from lunchtime till supper. But it wasn’t just about the tea. There would be cakes buns and biscuits too.  Unfortunately, times changed, and work got in the way. You just couldn’t spare the time to down tools for half an hour for a cuppa. It seemed like afternoon tea had gone forever.  Luckily, though, it’s been re-born as a luxury experience with plush hotels like The Ritz offering it to guests and visitors alike. There are even places like Yorkshire’s legendary Betty’s where you often have to queue for your cup of Earl Grey and cake-stand full of fancies. Afternoon Tea is definitively back on the menu.  The Spanish have flamenco, the Argentinians have the tango. Here in Britain we have . . . Morris Dancing. Visit almost any village pub on a summer’s afternoon and you have a very good chance of bumping into a troop of merry Morris men, and sometimes even Morris women. Don’t worry, you’ll hear them coming thanks to the bells on their ankles.  Morris Dancing is firmly entwined in the folklore of the UK and there are even refences to the activity as far back as the 13th century. There are countless different varieties of the style all across the UK although most dances have a common theme linked to hoping for a good growing season for farmers.  Over the centuries it has thrived as an activity but in 2009 the Morris Ring, a Southern-based umbrella group for the activity, made public its fears that young people were no longer joining groups.  Fortunately, it appears that their fears were unfounded, and the Morris dancing tradition continues to thrive.  So, there you have them, four examples of what makes Britain unique, and uniquely proud of its heritage. And, as we head forward to what looks like it may become a more inward-looking future, maybe we can expect to see even more of our traditions being revived – but only time will tell.


slate--2019-12-17--Dear Care and Feeding: My Family Insists on the Same, Tired Christmas Traditions. I’m Ready for Some

Dear Care and Feeding: My Family Insists on the Same, Tired Christmas Traditions. I’m Ready for Something New.

Care and Feeding is Slate’s parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group.  My childhood Christmases were a blast. We’d visit one set of grandparents on Christmas Eve, the other on Christmas Day. Each year it would be the same people; it was a warm and child-friendly tradition that we looked forward to all year long, even into our teens.  The problem is that, 40 years later, we’re still doing the same thing. And instead of evolving for the next generation of children, now it’s all for the adults. It’s turned into a late-running affair attended by distant great-aunts and random cousin boyfriends. It’s less about the magic of being together and more about who is controlling the holiday soundtrack, and who is unhappy with their present exchange. Everything that made it so enchanting as kids—the predictability, the intimacy, the kid focus—has eroded.  This makes Christmas a real chore for my family: We’re the only ones with kids, and our attendance is considered a highlight. I’ve tried talking to my parents and explaining that it’s time for us to create a new set of traditions (as their parents did for them) and that this can still involve our extended relatives. No dice. I’ve tried asking for changes that would make it easier for us to participate—different locations, starting earlier, limiting presents to kids. No interest. I don’t begrudge my relatives a chance to have an adult-oriented Christmas. But I have two kids, and the magical Christmas years are fleeting. I think my kids deserve their own set of holiday traditions. Am I a jerk for taking a day to do our own thing?  —Don’t Want to Be a Grinch  I know the holidays are supposed to be fun for all, but I share your sense that it’s really a time of year devoted to childhood. And as you say, childhood is fleeting.  I don’t think you’re a jerk; indeed, I think you’ve been quite accommodating by proposing ways to reimagine the celebrations. But it seems clear to me that your extended family wants to get together, eat and drink, and have a gift swap as always. For you, though, this tradition has ossified into obligation.  Between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I think you can find time to both forge new traditions and honor the old. Maybe tell your parents that this year you’ll have a really kid-friendly Christmas Eve and morning. You’ll bake, watch Home Alone, don ridiculous PJs, get up too early, rip open presents, laze around the house, or go to church, or whatever feels right for you. Then at some point in the late afternoon, you can put the kids into their party best and go see what the rest of your family is up to.  It’s possible your earlier attempts to do this were simply perceived as a bluff, so it’s worth your while to extend the invitation once more. Make it clear that you’d love everyone to join you at your place, but the focus will be on what the kids will most enjoy. You might feel guilty at missing out on the usual festivities, but you’re allowed to have this special commitment to your nuclear family.  When your kids are teens, maybe you can rejoin the adult celebrations, or maybe you’ll find a whole different way to celebrate the season. Enjoy!  Enjoy Slate’s Holiday Advice From the Experts series from our beloved advice columnists. Keep your sanity intact this holiday season with Jamilah Lemieux’s self-care tips. Nicole Cliffe presents classic gifts for children of all ages. Teacher Carrie Bauer recommends educational gifts your kids will actually enjoy.  During our last visit home, my sister-in-law was talking about guns within a circle of family. I was sitting next to her with my 18-month-old daughter. I was alarmed to hear my sister-in-law talk about how “cute” her pink handgun is and how it doesn’t have a safety. She asked my father-in-law if he wanted to see it and began to take her unsecured gun out of her bag to show it off. The bag had been casually hung on the back of her chair, at the perfect level for any kid to get to, and there were many children present.  I got up quickly and walked away, rather having a confrontation with my sister-in-law. I’m not happy with myself for not speaking up, but I also feel disappointed that no one else—her mother, father, mother-in-law, brother, and grown daughter were all present—told her she should not take her gun out, or that it shouldn’t be at a family gathering in the first place.  We’re going to see these relatives at Christmas. I want to ensure that guns are secured while we are there, and my husband agrees, but this is being put on me instead of my husband, though it is his older sister. Do I have the right to ask her, as I enter her house, whether the guns are secured while we are there? Should I glaze over the fact that I am angry about her having a gun at our last family function? I feel unsafe and have no idea how to navigate this.  I understand why you’re still upset about what happened. I’m upset just hearing about it. I hate guns, and I think there’s something deeply perverse about a grown woman brandishing a pink gun—because it’s cute—at a party. Your sister-in-law’s behavior sounds, frankly, deranged.  You are absolutely within your rights as a guest in what you know to be a gun-owning household to confirm, before visiting, that those guns are under lock and key. It might not feel comfortable, but you’re not out of line. And though this question might not go over well, but can you live with yourself if you don’t ask? You can keep it straightforward: “Carol, I know you’re a gun owner, and since the kids are going to be running around today I wanted to know: Is your gun on you? Is it stored away? Is it locked up?” A responsible gun owner should not take umbrage at this line of questioning.  It might not be possible to not discuss this past incident; it really depends on how your inquiry is received. I don’t know what you intend to do if your sister-in-law is offended that you’ve asked, or dismisses your concerns, or whips a cute pink pistol out of her bra and waves it over her head. I don’t know whether, given her previous too-lax gun handling, you’ll even be able to trust her if she says they’re all safely in her armory.  I’m disappointed that negotiating this is falling on you; this is your husband’s family, but also, you should be a united front on this. It’s too important. Either way, advocate for yourself/your family/common goddamn sense. If your sister-in-law doesn’t like this or can’t meet your very reasonable request to be a responsible gun owner for the length of one party, what will you do? I know what I would do: I’d leave. • If you missed Sunday’s Care and Feeding column, read it here. • Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group!  My wife is a wonderful stepmother to my three sons—14 year-old twins and a 10-year-old. We also have a 2-year-old son together. My ex-wife and I have shared custody of the big boys, so three or four days a week my wife is a primary caregiver. She is loving and patient and an excellent stepmother.  My wife is very close to her sisters, both of whom live nearby. One of them, Erin, has two boys, 14 and 11. My boys and Erin’s boys have spent a lot of time together over the years, and to my mind are basically cousins. Sometimes they get along, sometimes they don’t.  At a family function, one of my teenagers was bickering with Erin’s younger son. While they were all off playing together, my son told Erin’s son to “lose some weight.” He’s a husky kid, and both he and his mother are sensitive about it. He became extremely upset and spent the rest of the party pouting. My wife told me what happened, and I apologized to Erin and had my son apologize to her son. She told me it was fine, kids being kids. A few days later, she told my wife that my kids are no longer welcome in her house.  I was shocked and hurt and eventually angry. As my youngest son’s birthday party approaches, I told my wife I did not want Erin invited. I’m having a hard time welcoming her (not her kids) to our home when my kids aren’t welcome in her home. My wife is upset with her sister but wants to keep the peace. I don’t want to cause any problems between my wife and her sister, but I’m at a loss.  I think you’re allowed to be shocked and hurt by your sister-in-law’s behavior, but not angry. That’s not going to be very useful. Maybe think of it this way: As a gesture to your wife, an exemplary mother, step- or otherwise, can you go the extra mile to repair this rift before it turns to rot?  If you’re not close to Erin, maybe an email is in order; if you have a phone chat relationship, ring her up. “Erin: I’m so sorry to hear you feel my sons aren’t welcome in your home. I understand that Kevin hurt you and your son with his careless words. I hope you can acknowledge that they are just kids, and all kids sometimes say dumb and thoughtless things. He and I have talked it over, and I can’t promise he won’t do something dumb again because he is a kid, but I do believe he understands and regrets his words. It brings me such joy to see our boys all together; I think of them as cousins, and I value that so much. I hope that you will reconsider this, but if you can’t, I hope you will know that you and your sons are always welcome in our home.”  This would be a kind thing to do for your wife, and your sister-in-law, and all the kids, and it’s really very simple. Erin might still feel that your sons aren’t welcome in her house, and that’s her choice. But by making it clear that there are no hard feelings on your end (and that’s key! You have to say these words but also mean them!) she may come to see that perhaps she’s been too stern. Good luck.  My husband and I have an 8-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl. Our son is a loner, introverted, and a bit moody. He gets angry quickly, but gets over it quickly. My husband’s response to my son’s moodiness is to belittle him. This usually results in my son storming off, slamming a door, and muttering to himself. A few minutes to a half-hour later he will come back, calm, and everyone pretends nothing happened.  My husband is otherwise great with our son, and they have a good relationship most of the time. However, these interactions bother me. When I bring it up to my husband, he says I’m overreacting.  We have a long-standing deal not to disagree on parenting matters in front of the children but to bring it up later, so that we appear a united front. Sometimes this means one or the other of us has to talk the other into changing behavior or apologizing later, but it mostly works.  But I don’t know what to do—continue to play along? Try to stop him in the moment? If I go after my son when he storms out, does that suggest I don’t agree with my husband? There might be two issues here, and I need help with both, because I do worry a lot about his anger. He’s only 8, in third grade. He plays sports and doesn’t spend an unreasonable amount of time on screens (all of it is regulated and age-appropriate). But how do we diffuse it?  If your son tends toward introversion, or being a loner, that might just be who he is—whether at this point in his life or forever. You might worry about this predilection (you would no matter his traits; it’s a parent’s job to worry), but perhaps if you think of this as who he is rather than a problem to be solved, it will seem less of an issue.  Anger is a different matter. But it’s hard to weigh whether you’re describing an inappropriate level of anger—because if your husband’s response to the boy’s natural moodiness is to belittle him, isn’t your son right to be angry? You’re his mother, so if you truly believe he’s struggling with anger, as he well might be, what that needs is not provocation (especially from his parents!) but understanding.  Your pediatrician might be able to talk this out with you or refer you to a specialist suited to evaluate this. I’m not sure what a doctor or therapist will say about your son’s anger, which could be a symptom of so very many things, but I am sure what they’ll say to you about your husband’s response to it. Your husband’s teasing is neither productive nor helpful; indeed, I bet it’s making things worse. Even if it’s not this teasing that’s the root of your son’s anger, it’s still an inappropriate response.  You need to talk to him frankly, and not let him dismiss your concerns. Then together you can consult with your son’s doctor to determine what to do next. Good luck.  My 2-year-old son is very attached to me. I don’t see any problem with this, but some family members have encouraged me to help him foster more independence. I don’t think it’s all that weird that a 2-year-old wants his mama all the time. Is it?


sottnet--2019-12-16--Postmodern hell: Age-old Christmas traditions replaced by progressive agenda  -  as Santa gets a mak

Postmodern hell: Age-old Christmas traditions replaced by progressive agenda  -  as Santa gets a makeover!

Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas or Kris Kringle, dates back almost 2,000 years, but it seems that it's time for a rethink of everything in 2019 as a modern agenda takes a subversive twist on tradition.Santa's modern design was created in the late 1800's by American artist Thomas Nast, in a collection of sketches for Harper's magazine.The "Santa-free non-Christmas party" was supported by some but mostly mocked online., but for decades now various activists have tried to make Santa more relevant - or have recruited him (or her, or them) to push their agenda.The fight for female Santas is going strong. Although women used to play Father Christmas during the Second World War, feminist ideology and the man in red didn't have a loud clash until 1995. Donna Underwood was thrust into the spotlight when she was hired to portray Santa for a local mall in West Virginia. People complained, she was fired, sued, and lost.Disney wants in, too; its latest Christmas comedy film 'Noelle' (which didn't make it to cinemas but was shown on Disney+) has Anna Kendrick stepping into Santa's shoes. Review website Rotten Tomatoes states "The always-charming Anna Kendrick does her best, but Noelle's progressive take on a timeless tale is unfortunately subdued."In the fight for racial equality Santa was conscripted by the civil rights movement in 1960s America. The 1970s onwards saw only a few retailers daring to hire more ethnically diverse Santas (including Macy's flagship store in New York). Most caused mass outrage and hit the headlines for the wrong reason.Having a black Father Christmas is still a contentious subject. In 2016 the Mall of America made history by hiring its first-ever Black Santa. Larry Jefferson was hired to play to 'Santa Larry,' and said that he received praise from all ages regardless of their racial and ethnic background; "My lines are filled with kids and filled of diversity. Black kids, white kids, Asian kids, Hispanic kids, they all come to see Santa." The local newspaper reported otherwise... and had to turn off the comment section of its article due to so many negative and racist remarks.In another example, this year two London-based moms have been praised in the media for launching a line of black-empowerment-themed Christmas decorations - figures of a dark-skinned Santa and angels with afros included. They say their goal is to create a better representation for their children at a time that "should be all about family and bringing people together." With their new spin on decorations, they believe that in 2019 it's time to "reinvent the wheel."


thedailycaller--2019-07-05--4th of July Traditions Only Real Americans Know

As Americans celebrate the nation’s birthday with their friends and family over the long weekend, we took a look at the diverse ways the 4th of July is spent.  With 50 different states and a population of nearly 330 million people, 4th of July traditions vary greatly. (RELATED: Trump Decides On Fate Of Military Parade)  It’s not only small-town parades and backyard picnics – the traditions shared in the United States are as diverse as the country itself.  Take a look at the most unique 4th of July traditions that are shared around the nation.  And check out more of Caitlin McFall’s reports and the series, The Daily Caller Explains and Check Your Fact.  Fact Check: Are Muslims Allowed To Serve In Public Office?  Fact Check: Did Every Senate Democrat Who Voted Against The Born Alive Bill Receive Donations From Planned Parenthood?  Is Cannabis The Cash Crop Of The Future?  Fact Check: Ilhan Omar Says It’s A ‘Myth’ That Transgender Women Have A ‘Competitive Advantage’ In Powerlifting  Cutting Through The Politics That Have Swallowed The Climate Change Debate  The Reality Of Sex Trafficking At The US-Mexico Border


thedailyrecord--2019-12-29--The truth behind Scotland's Hogmanay traditions including first footing and ginger wine

Hogmanay has always been the big party in Scotland. From revellers counting down the clock in Edinburgh, to people roaming the streets with carry outs searching for a party, it’s a night that almost everyone celebrates.  Away from the parties, others spend the Bells at home, watching the BBC or STV celebrations with loved ones and this has always been a time to reminisce and remember friends and family who are no longer with us.  The Robert Burns song, which echoes around the world at New Year, perhaps best sums up this sentiment, bringing to mind the most cherished ‘auld acquaintance’ as the clock strikes midnight.  There are other traditions though, which have become part of Scots’ life.  In Glasgow , the National Trust for Scotland cares for and maintains Tenement House in the city's Garnethill area. It is a perfectly preserved property, which gives insight into life through the ages and every Christmas and New Year, tells the story of festive seasons past.  Visitor Services Supervisor, Ana Sanchez has worked for NTS for the past six years and called Tenement House her working ‘home’ for the past three.  As she explained, people the world come to Tenement House to hear the stories of a traditional Scottish Hogmanay. As the country which gave the world ‘Auld Lang Syne’ the country is seen as one of the originators of New Year celebrations as we know them today.  Here we look at some of our Scottish Hogmanay traditions – a few of which are sadly slipping into obscurity.  Possibly the best-known Hogmanay tradition and not only applies to the first person to cross the threshold after the bells, but to people paying a first visit to your house in January.  That first visitor would bring gifts and, hopefully, a bit of luck. In the past the first person to cross the threshold would bring three particular gifts: Salt - which was an expensive commodity, coal for the fire – to provide warmth and a sweet - with sherbet particularly popular.  They were also believed to bring good luck. Attractive males with dark hair were thought to be particularly lucky but if they were blonde it would mean that there were troubles in the year ahead. People also used to bring whisky for the first dram of the New Year, which was particularly welcomed.  Welcoming in the New Year  People used to open their front doors after the Bells and literally shout ‘welcome’, to welcome in the New Year. There was also a tradition of opening the front door and throwing out a piece of cake. This would represent a year without hunger, one where people would have plenty of food.  There was a real community feeling in the tenement flats. You knew your neighbours, people lived, died and were born in tenements and they always helped each other.  After the Bells people would go through their neighbours’ houses, wishing them a happy New Year – and there always seemed to be a party going on in one of them.  Sadly, a lot of this community feeling was lost when people relocated to the high-rise flats. They would say that they no longer knew their neighbours.  People used to make their own ‘ginger wine’, as it was known. They’d use lots of spices, like ginger and cinnamon and other ingredients like raisons and mix them with a spirit, usually brandy. It actually became very popular during the 19 th century when there was an outbreak of cholera.  Ginger had properties which helped the recovery. From this popularity it became a tradition, so much so that people also made a non-alcoholic version for the children. Eventually it was mass produced and Crabbies made a version, which you can still buy today.  The Burns song which became the soundtrack for New Year the world over actually has its roots in a traditional Scottish folk verse, which is believed to date back to medieval times.  The song symbolises endings and new beginnings and, sung on the stroke of midnight, would be used to bid farewell to the year past and evoke memories of friends and family who have passed away.


theindependent--2019-03-25--Royal baby 8 of the most unusual birth traditions from the Queen taking custody to the wool blanket

Royal baby: 8 of the most unusual birth traditions from the Queen taking custody to the wool blanket

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to announce the arrival of their royal baby any day now.  In October 2018, Kensington Palace announced Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were expecting their first child, due in spring 2019.  Following the birth of a child, common practice may dictate new parents to post the first picture of their child on social media or start perfecting the art of fitting a baby seat in the car.  But when it comes to the royal family, they have more unusual post-birth traditions.  From announcing the birth via an easel outside Buckingham Palace to royal babies wearing the same christening gown, here’s a list of the most bizarre royal birth traditions.  As per tradition, a royal child is delivered with the assistance of at least one royal doctor.  The current royal surgeon-gynaecologist is Alan Farthing, while the royals’ consultant obstetrician is Guy Thorpe-Beeston.  Both medical professionals helped deliver the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s three children, Prince Louis, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.  Sir Marcus Setchell, who was Queen Elizabeth II's surgeon-gynaecologist and who delivered Prince George, has since retired.  In his only interview about Prince George’s birth, Sir Marcus described the midwifery team as “perfectly wonderful”.  During an interview on Woman's Hour' BBC Radio 4, the gynaecologist added: "You just keep reminding yourself that although it's very important, for the couple and the about-to-be-born baby, it's just another healthy young couple giving birth to a hopefully very healthy baby.  "And I constantly reminded myself of that so that the pressures of the hundreds of media people outside the hospital didn't affect me, at least not more than minimally."  A law enacted more than three centuries ago means that the Queen has full legal custody of any child born into the royal family.  The law, called “The Grand Opinion for the Prerogative Concerning the Royal Family,” was introduced by King George I in 1717.  “George I did not get along with his son, the future George II,” explains royal expert Marlene Koenig previously to The Independent.  “I believe it came about when the Prince of Wales [George II] did not want to have the godparent for his son that his father wanted - so George I got Parliament to come up with something.”  An annual register published in 1772 states that the then King had the care of the royal children and grandchildren, and the presumptive heir to the crown.  However, while law dictates that the Queen legally has custody of her grandchildren, Koenig doesn’t think she would ever act upon the right.  “I would doubt that the Queen would interfere. [It’s] more of a formality,” she says.  “I think the Queen has let her children raise their kids.”  A royal birth is traditionally announced via a bulletin placed on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.  The framed typewritten bulletin, which is commonly brought out of the Privy Purse door after it is driven to the palace by car from the birth, is signed by the medical team which attends the royal birth.  It includes details as to the baby’s gender, time of birth, as well as a status confirming the health of the mother and child.  Following royal births at the Lindo Wing in recent decades, it has also become tradition for the new parents to present their child on the steps of the hospital ward’s entrance.  For their first appearance to the world, royal children are traditionally wrapped in a blanket made by Nottingham-based knitwear company G.H. Hurt & Sons.  Prince Charles was the first royal to be bundled in a blanket by the company following his birth back in 1948.  In 2013, Prince George was wrapped in one of the company’s ivory white merino wool shawl and Princess Charlotte was bundled in a scalloped edge wrap in 2015.  Prince Louis, meanwhile, was wrapped in the company’s ‘Nottingham Lace Knitted Baby Shawl’ following his birth.  Following an appearance outside the Lindo Wing, it has become common practice among the royal family not to release the child’s name for several days.  After Prince George and Princess Charlotte were born, the public waited two days before learning their respective names.  However, it was another three days before Prince Louis’ name was announced on 27 April to the world.  It is customary for the royals to pass down a christening robe for the newest member of the family to wear at their christening.  For George, Charlotte and Louis’ christenings, the trio each wore a replica of an original robe made in 1841 for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa.  The original gown was made from white silk with a handmade lace overlay and was worn by 62 royal babies over the course of its 163 years of royal service. It was hand-washed with spring water after each christening ceremony and stored in a dark room until its next use.  George VI and the Queen wore the white lace dress, as did Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry. The last royal to wear the original gown was Lady Louise Windsor, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex's daughter, in 2004.  Prince George became the fourth royal child to be christening in the gown, which was reportedly replicated with the help of the Queen’s personal wardrobe advisor, Angela Kelly, in 2011  Zara Tindall’s second daughter, Lena, was the most recent royal to wear the gown at her St Nicholas Church in Cherington, Gloucestershire earlier this month.  It is customary for a birth announcement to be followed by a royal gun salute.  Following Princess Charlotte’s birth, volleys were fired by soldiers in Hyde Park and the Tower of London to honour her arrival at 08:34 BST on 2 May.  At 14:00 BST, soldiers from The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery rode out in a procession from Wellington Barracks, near Buckingham Palace, to fire 41 shots.  The Honourable Artillery Company also fired a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.  The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's child will not receive a royal title upon birth, unless granted by the Queen.  "...the grandchildren of the sons of any such Sovereign in the direct male line (save only the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales) shall have and enjoy in all occasions the style and title enjoyed by the children of Dukes of these Our Realms.”  To put it simply, this means that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children, should they have any while the Queen is on the throne, will not be HRHs or princes or princesses, but will be known instead as Lord or Lady (forename) Mountbatten-Windsor.  However, the Queen could issue a new Letters Patent to change this, as she did for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s children.  In December 2012, the Queen issued a Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm declaring “all the children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales should have and enjoy the style, title and attribute of royal highness with the titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their Christian names or with such other titles of honour”.  This explains why Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis all have HRH titles.


theindependent--2019-03-27--Royal baby 8 of the most unusual traditions as Meghan Markle set to give birth

Royal baby: 8 of the most unusual traditions as Meghan Markle set to give birth


theindependent--2019-03-30--Royal baby 8 of the most unusual traditions as Meghan Markle set to give birth


theindependent--2019-03-31--Royal baby 8 of the most unusual traditions as Meghan Markle set to give birth


theindependent--2019-04-10--Royal baby 8 of the most unusual traditions as Meghan Markle set to give birth


theindependent--2019-04-16--Royal baby 8 of the most unusual traditions as Meghan Markle set to give birth

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced the arrival of their first child.  Born at their home in Windsor on 6 May and weighing in at 7lbs 3oz, the baby boy was announced via a statement on the Sussex Royal Instagram account.  Speaking to the press outside the stables, Prince Harry stated he is in awe of his wife Meghan Markle, saying that seeing her give birth was an "amazing experience."  In October 2018, Kensington Palace announced that Harry and Meghan were expecting their first child.  Following the birth of a child, common practice may dictate new parents to post the first picture of their child on social media or start perfecting the art of fitting a baby seat in the car.  But when it comes to the royal family, they have more unusual post-birth traditions.  From announcing the birth via an easel outside Buckingham Palace to royal babies wearing the same christening gown, here’s a list of the most bizarre royal birth traditions.  As per tradition, a royal child is delivered with the assistance of at least one royal doctor.  The current royal surgeon-gynaecologist is Alan Farthing, while the royals’ consultant obstetrician is Guy Thorpe-Beeston.  Both medical professionals helped deliver the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s three children, Prince Louis, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.  Sir Marcus Setchell, who was Queen Elizabeth II's surgeon-gynaecologist and who delivered Prince George, has since retired.  In his only interview about Prince George’s birth, Sir Marcus described the midwifery team as “perfectly wonderful”.  During an interview on Woman's Hour' BBC Radio 4, the gynaecologist added: "You just keep reminding yourself that although it's very important, for the couple and the about-to-be-born baby, it's just another healthy young couple giving birth to a hopefully very healthy baby.  "And I constantly reminded myself of that so that the pressures of the hundreds of media people outside the hospital didn't affect me, at least not more than minimally."  A law enacted more than three centuries ago means that the Queen has full legal custody of any child born into the royal family.  The law, called “The Grand Opinion for the Prerogative Concerning the Royal Family,” was introduced by King George I in 1717.  “George I did not get along with his son, the future George II,” explains royal expert Marlene Koenig previously to The Independent.  “I believe it came about when the Prince of Wales [George II] did not want to have the godparent for his son that his father wanted - so George I got Parliament to come up with something.”  An annual register published in 1772 states that the then King had the care of the royal children and grandchildren, and the presumptive heir to the crown.  However, while law dictates that the Queen legally has custody of her grandchildren, Koenig doesn’t think she would ever act upon the right.  “I would doubt that the Queen would interfere. [It’s] more of a formality,” she says.  “I think the Queen has let her children raise their kids.”  A royal birth is traditionally announced via a bulletin placed on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.  The framed typewritten bulletin, which is commonly brought out of the Privy Purse door after it is driven to the palace by car from the birth, is signed by the medical team which attends the royal birth.  It includes details as to the baby’s gender, time of birth, as well as a status confirming the health of the mother and child.  Following royal births at the Lindo Wing in recent decades, it has also become tradition for the new parents to present their child on the steps of the hospital ward’s entrance.  For their first appearance to the world, royal children are traditionally wrapped in a blanket made by Nottingham-based knitwear company G.H. Hurt & Sons.  Prince Charles was the first royal to be bundled in a blanket by the company following his birth back in 1948.  In 2013, Prince George was wrapped in one of the company’s ivory white merino wool shawl and Princess Charlotte was bundled in a scalloped edge wrap in 2015.  Prince Louis, meanwhile, was wrapped in the company’s ‘Nottingham Lace Knitted Baby Shawl’ following his birth.  Following an appearance outside the Lindo Wing, it has become common practice among the royal family not to release the child’s name for several days.  After Prince George and Princess Charlotte were born, the public waited two days before learning their respective names.  However, it was another three days before Prince Louis’ name was announced on 27 April to the world.  It is customary for the royals to pass down a christening robe for the newest member of the family to wear at their christening.  For George, Charlotte and Louis’ christenings, the trio each wore a replica of an original robe made in 1841 for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa.  The original gown was made from white silk with a handmade lace overlay and was worn by 62 royal babies over the course of its 163 years of royal service. It was hand-washed with spring water after each christening ceremony and stored in a dark room until its next use.  George VI and the Queen wore the white lace dress, as did Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry. The last royal to wear the original gown was Lady Louise Windsor, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex's daughter, in 2004.  Prince George became the fourth royal child to be christening in the gown, which was reportedly replicated with the help of the Queen’s personal wardrobe advisor, Angela Kelly, in 2011  Zara Tindall’s second daughter, Lena, was the most recent royal to wear the gown at her St Nicholas Church in Cherington, Gloucestershire earlier this month.  It is customary for a birth announcement to be followed by a royal gun salute.  Following Princess Charlotte’s birth, volleys were fired by soldiers in Hyde Park and the Tower of London to honour her arrival at 08:34 BST on 2 May.  At 14:00 BST, soldiers from The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery rode out in a procession from Wellington Barracks, near Buckingham Palace, to fire 41 shots.  The Honourable Artillery Company also fired a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.  The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's child will not receive a royal title upon birth, unless granted by the Queen.  "...the grandchildren of the sons of any such Sovereign in the direct male line (save only the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales) shall have and enjoy in all occasions the style and title enjoyed by the children of Dukes of these Our Realms.”  To put it simply, this means that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children, should they have any while the Queen is on the throne, will not be HRHs or princes or princesses, but will be known instead as Lord or Lady (forename) Mountbatten-Windsor.  However, the Queen could issue a new Letters Patent to change this, as she did for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s children.  In December 2012, the Queen issued a Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm declaring “all the children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales should have and enjoy the style, title and attribute of royal highness with the titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their Christian names or with such other titles of honour”.  This explains why Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis all have HRH titles.


theindependent--2019-04-19--The unexpected pagan Jewish and German origins of some Easter traditions

The unexpected pagan, Jewish and German origins of some Easter traditions

There’s a lot of confusion about Easter – not least because this most important of all Christian festivals moves around so much from year to year, decided by a complex set of calculations based on the vernal equinox and the phase of the moon. Easter symbols – eggs, bunnies, lambs and the rest – give the festivities an air of pre-Christian paganism.  So where do the origins of Easter and the rituals observed by so many – whether Christian or not – really lie?  The first mention of Eostre is in the eighth century, in The Venerable Bede’s frustratingly cryptic account of the native Anglo-Saxon calendar in De Temporum Ratione (On the Reckoning of Time). The Anglo-Saxon equivalent of April called Eostremonath is named for the goddess Eostre – but we only know about Eostre via Bede’s writings and the only thing he tells us about her is that “feasts were celebrated” in her honour. So, if modern Easter is frequently a festival of overeating, this has tradition on its side.  But Eostre was evidently significant enough for the Anglo-Saxons to later transfer her name to the Christian festival of the resurrection rather than adopting the Latin name “Pascha”.  Similarly, Easter is “Ostern” in German – which implies she must have been known outside England. Confusingly, the great 19th-century folklorist and philologist, Jacob Grimm, invented a German goddess called Ostara – “the divinity of the radiant dawn, upspringing light, a spectacle that brings joy and blessing” – on purely etymological grounds: the name is derived from a proto-Indo-European root meaning “to shine”. But Grimm didn’t present a shred of supporting evidence that such a deity had ever been worshipped in Germany, leaving us with just Bede to go on.  Easter roughly coincides with the spring equinox – so there is a good deal of lore attached to the season that is not actually Christian. Easter is preceded by Lent – a period of fasting in memory of Christ’s 40 days in the wilderness. But it is also a season when, in pre-modern Europe, food would have been running low. Winter supplies would have been coming to an end and there was not enough sun and spring growth yet for hens to start laying and cows to give milk. In a sense, therefore, Easter is a natural feast – to celebrate passing out of that hardship.  The association of lamb with Easter is something we have borrowed from Jewish tradition and Passover – which was also the festival that Jesus and his disciples celebrated with their Last Supper.  At least as far back as the 15th century, Easter was also marked in England by eating “tansies” – a kind of custardy pudding made with the bitter (and poisonous) herb tansy and sometimes with other bitter greens such as nettles. The 17th-century antiquarian John Aubrey adds a further detail: “Eggs are an ancient and natural symbol of returning life in many parts of Europe, but the Easter egg may also derive from Passover – which includes, among various symbolic foods, a roasted egg: the beitzah. Until at least the mid-20th century, more people marked Easter with decorated, hard-boiled hen’s eggs than chocolate ones.  The earliest documented mention in England of decorated eggs comes in 1290, from the household accounts of King Edward I for 1290, which records the purchase and decoration of 450 eggs, some gilded, some dyed. These eggs were presented to the royal household at Easter and cost 18 pence.  In many parts of Britain, the custom was for people, children especially, to play with their “pace-eggs” by rolling them down a chosen slope before eating them. In Iona and Peter Opie’s 1959 study The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren, a child reports that: “In Cumberland, we take more notice of the pace eggs than chocolate eggs.” Easter eggs as also rolled on the lawn of the US White House, a custom going back to 1878.  The association of hares with Easter also considerably predates foil-wrapped chocolate bunnies. As early as 1682, Georg Franck von Franckenau’s essay De ovis paschalibus (About Easter eggs) speaks of a German tradition of an Easter hare bringing coloured Easter eggs for the children.  In southern Germany, children used to be told that a hare laid the pace-eggs and they would make a nest for the creature to lay them in. The Easter hare was also known in parts of the British Isles and was particularly associated with having to hunt out eggs hidden in the garden, where the hare was supposed to have put them.  A curious entry in the Calendar of State Papers for 2 April 1620, suggests that hares were also often eaten at Easter.  Hares were also ritually hunted at Easter in England – there is a note in the Chamberlains’ Accounts for the year 1574 that twelvepence was “given to the hare-finders at Whetston Court”.  An Easter hare hunt survived as part of Leicester’s ritual year as late as the 18th century, though by then a dead cat was substituted for an actual hare. Jacob Grimm, looking at this evidence for an association of ritual activity involving hares with the Easter season, conjectured that the hare was sacred to the goddess Ostara, piling one conjecture on top of another.  So the truth is that Easter rituals as we know them today represent an untidy collection of customs connected with celebrating spring growth and the end of austerity – a time for new clothes and rich food. Any connection with pre-Christian paganism is entirely coincidental.  Jane Stevenson is a senior research fellow at Campion Hall, University of Oxford


thesun--2019-01-26--What is the history behind Australia Day did Captain Cook discover Australia and what traditions su

What is the history behind Australia Day, did Captain Cook discover Australia and what traditions surround the date?

IF you have any friends from Down Under, you may have heard them chatting about Australia Day.  But what's the history behind the Aussie celebration? Here's the lowdown.  This year, Australia Day is being celebrated on Friday January 26.  It is a public holiday, and is about national pride and achievements.  Australia Day is the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships, sent from Britain.  On this day, in 1788, commander Captain Arthur Phillip famously raised the Union Jack in Sydney Cove - to signal their arrival.  The celebration has evolved and today people tend to celebrate the diverse society of Australia, its national history and community parties.  Those who celebrate the day tend to enjoy barbecues and drink beers as they party - and some say that having cricket on n the background is "mandatory".  Some also enjoy watching Aussie films, painting their face in Australian colours, watching fireworks, holding street parties or eating Aussie food.  But, the day isn't all beer and BBQs - for many it's a painful reminder of death, disease and an almost eradicated culture.    In 1770, it is claimed that Captain James Cook "discovered" the south east coast of Australia, when he landed in Botany Bay.  On 22 August 1770, he claimed the whole of the east coast of Australia at Possession Island and named eastern Australia New South Wales.  Britain decided to use the land as a prison colony - and used it as a place to send its convicts.  Arthur Phillip led the British First Fleet of 11 ships, carrying approximately 1,500 people to Botany Bay and about 160,000 convicts were brought to the country between 1788 and 1868.  Free immigrants began to arrive in the 1790s.  Meanwhile, Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon is also said to have landed on Aussie shores in 1606.  29 other Dutch navigators also allegedly explored the western and southern coasts in the 17th century - dubbing the continent New Holland.  However, Aboriginal peoples had been living for more than 60,000 years on the continent before Cook "discovered" it.  The Aboriginal people came by boat from the islands of Indonesia and lived in all parts of Australia.  At least 1,600 generations of Aboriginals have lived and died there and those descended from the country's indigenous population mourn on January 26, rather than celebrate - because tens of thousands of people were killed during the colonisation of Australia - due to disease, starvation and massacres.  Warren Mundine, chairman of the Australian Prime Minister's Indigenous Advisory Council, told CNN: "We see it as Invasion Day."


thesun--2019-02-05--What are Chinese New Year traditions and customs and what is Tomb-Sweeping Day

What are Chinese New Year traditions and customs and what is Tomb-Sweeping Day?

CHINESE New Year is TODAY and it's a period of feasting, colourful decorations and numerous traditions.  But what activities take place and what is Tomb-Sweeping Day all about?  Chinese New Year is on February 5, 2019 - TODAY- with celebrations lasting for two weeks.  Many of the decorations – which typically include lanterns and paintings - feature the colour red as it is a symbol of good luck in Chinese culture.  Revellers wear traditional Chinese clothing such as colourful silks to represent joy and good fortune.  Many people visit Chinese temples to pray for good luck and burn incense sticks, before heading off to enjoy lavish firework shows that are thought to scare off bad spirits.  Parades are popular, with families flocking to watch costumed dancers dressed as dragons and lions.  People often give red envelopes of money to friends and family during the period, and some like to offer food and drink to their ancestors.  Feasting plays a central part of the festivities and many people will eat traditional food and make dumplings to enjoy.  On the final day of Chinese New Year, large decorative lanterns are used to celebrate the Lantern Festival.  Tomb-Sweeping Day, also known as the Qingming Festival, is a day to celebrate life and honour the dead.  It is held early April each year and this year falls on Thursday, April 5.  On the day, people will go and visit their ancestors’ graves and offer food and burn incense to commemorate them.  You may even see people burning paper money as an offering to the dead so the deceased can buy what they wish in the afterlife.  One of the most popular activities is to fly a kite with lanterns attached to the end.


thesun--2019-04-01--Meghan Markles unsual birthing traditions revealed in ITVs Secrets of the Royal Babies and how H

Meghan Markle’s unsual birthing traditions revealed in ITV’s Secrets of the Royal Babies – and how Harry will have to ring the Queen first

PRINCE Harry will have a very important first duty after the royal baby's birth - calling the Queen to let her know whether it is a boy or a girl.  Harry, 34, will be expected to abide by royal tradition and tell the Monarch the sex of the baby using an ENCRYPTED phone before he tells anyone else, say royal observers.  Royal historian Kate Williams said it is the prince's duty - one which dates back generations - to tell Her Majesty the exciting news as soon as possible.  In the ITV documentary 'Secrets of the Royal Babies: Harry and Meghan' she said: “What normally happens is that there is an encrypted phone that cannot be tapped and he will tell her a girl or boy.”  The royal author added Harry will be probably play it cool during Meghan’s labour, joking to the cameras: “He'll be there doing yoga moves with Meghan.”  The Queen has to be told the news before any other royal  - including Prince Charles - as her Majesty is the “head of the family".  However, one ancient tradition that will not be adhered to is the archaic routine of having government "observers" at the birth.  The ITV programme told how the tradition which dates back to 1688 was still in practice - to some degree - when the Queen was born.  Meanwhile it's been revealed Meghan and Prince Harry have decided not to have their baby at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.  Instead, the couple have opted for a maternity unit closer to their Windsor home.  Kate and Prince William posed on the steps outside the Lindo following the births of their three children.  Last year the Duchess of Cambridge looked immaculate as she emerged just hours after Prince Louis’ birth.  A source said: “This child will not be born at the Lindo.  “The talk of all the senior clinicians there is that Meghan doesn’t want to copy what Kate did.  “Harry and Meghan realise there is intense public interest but this baby is not a direct heir to the throne and they want the birth to be as private as possible.  “Meghan is nervous about complications such as an emergency Caesarean and doesn’t want the pressure of having to look immaculate on the hospital steps just hours later.  “Like any anxious first-time mum, she’s worried about the birth itself.  “As she is over 35, she is considered a slightly older mum — which sometimes can lead to some complications.  “Meghan also has the added stress of the world’s attention on her — everyone wants to catch the first glimpse of the new royal addition.  “She and Harry have decided that rather than go somewhere as public as the Lindo they will allow Meghan to recover somewhere more private.  “She just wants a normal, natural birth and to bond with her baby, without being primped and blow-dried to within an inch of her life just for the pictures.”  The link between the Lindo Wing and the Royal Family dates back to 1977. The Princess Royal had her first child Peter Phillips there, followed by daughter Zara in 1981.  Diana chose it for the births of William in 1982 and Harry in 1984.  Kate followed in 2013, 2015 and 2018 with George, Charlotte and Louis.  She said the fact that Kate “was out of hospital seven hours later with her face made up and high heels on” felt unrealistic and not achievable for a lot of women.  Los Angeles-born Meghan, 37, is focusing on her love of modern wellness remedies to help with her anxieties including pre-natal massages.  She is said to be worried about her age as a first-time mum. Anyone over 35 is medically classed as geriatric.  Meghan — who follows a vegan diet during the week and swears by drinking green juice — is using meditation to help ease her nervousness.  The Sun on Sunday can also reveal that her mum Doria, 62, has been taking pregnancy massage lessons in LA. She has been learning about pressure points for pain relief and breathing techniques so she can assist Meghan when she goes into labour.  Doria is expected to fly to the UK in the coming days.  Meghan is dedicated to following New Age birthing techniques, including chanting and breathing routines using natural smells and sound therapy, it is claimed.  She has been taking her mum’s advice on the use of essential oils that help balance the female hormone system.  Other spiritual and wellness areas that interest the Duchess include the use of aromatherapy and healing using crystals.  Meghan is now also enjoying a range of caffeine-free specialised herbal teas.  A source said: “She has always been very spiritual and has a great love for yoga, good food and mediation.  “Now she is taking it all to another level to make sure she is in the best place physically and mentally for the birth of their baby.  “She’s been trying spiritual techniques aimed at pregnant women and Harry has been supporting her. He has come round to her way of thinking after seeing the huge benefits of inner wellness.”


thesun--2019-04-20--St Georges Day traditions from morris dancing and Punch and Judy shows to flying the St Georges

St George’s Day traditions – from morris dancing and Punch and Judy shows to flying the St George’s Cross flag

ST George's Day 2019 is almost here - meaning it's time to dust off the flag and celebrate the patron saint of England.  The heroic soldier slayed a dragon and now we celebrate each year with quintessentially English traditions. Here's what you can do on April 23 to get involved....  Although Saint George is England’s patron saint, George would likely have been a soldier somewhere in the eastern Roman Empire, probably in what is now Turkey - if he ever existed.  He is also the patron saint of Ethiopia, Georgia and Portugal, and cities such as Freiburg, Moscow and Beirut.  The well-known story of the dragon mainly comes down to the Golden Legend - a popular collection of saints’ lives written in the 13th century.  According to one version, a town in Libya had a small lake inhabited by a dragon infected with the plague.  Many of the townsfolk were being killed by the dragon so they started feeding it two sheep a day to appease it.  When the town ran out of sheep, legend has it that the king devised a lottery system to feed the hungry dragon local children instead.  But, one day his own daughter was chosen and as she was being led down to the lake Saint George happened to ride past.  The story says that George offered to slay the dragon but only if the people converted to Christianity.  They did, and the king later built a church where the dragon was slain.  The feast day of Saint George is celebrated by various Christian Churches and several countries and cities where Saint George is the patron saint – including England.  The day is remembered on April 23 each year – this is the date traditionally accepted of his death in AD 303.  While St Patrick's Day and St Andrew's Day are bank holidays in Ireland and Scotland respectively, St George's Day is sadly NOT a bank holiday in England.  In the past, a traditional custom on Saint George's Day was to wear a red rose in your lapel – but not many people practise this anymore.  More popular customs include flying the Saint George's Cross flag, with English pubs often festooned with them  In cathedrals, churches and chapels on Saint George’s Day it is common for the hymn Jerusalem to be sung.  We celebrate the day with anything involving English traditions - including morris dancing and fetes.  The odd Punch & Judy show can also be seen and there are also town crier contests.  Many places across England also host a feast with traditional fare and some areas hold theatre events, jousting and re-enactments.


thesun--2019-04-21--St Georges Day traditions from morris dancing and Punch and Judy shows to flying the St Georges


thesun--2019-04-30--Happy May Day 2019 How is 1st May celebrated in the UK and what traditions and quotes are there

Happy May Day 2019! How is 1st May celebrated in the UK and what traditions and quotes are there?

EVERYONE looks forward to the influx of bank holidays that arrive around Easter and May each year and 2019 is no different.  But what exactly is May Day and when is our early May long weekend this year?  May Day is a holiday usually celebrated on May 1 and is a day that stems from ancient celebrations of spring.  However, in England, May 1 is not a public holiday unless it falls on a Monday.  Instead, since 1978 the Spring bank holiday has always fallen on the first Monday of the month.  This year, as May Day falls on a Wednesday, the bank holiday is moved to the following Monday, which is May 6.  Unlike the other bank holidays, the first Monday in May is taken off from schools by itself, and not as part of an end of term or half term holiday.  The reason for this is because the day has no Christian significance - so doesn’t fit into the usual school holiday pattern.  In the UK, May 1 is also International Workers’ Day – or Labour Day.  In England, traditional May Day celebrations include crowning a May Queen and dancing around a maypole.  It has been a day of festivities throughout history and is most associated with towns and villages celebrating springtime and the fertility of the land and livestock.  May 1 is also a national holiday in Russia and Asian countries such as China, Thailand, and Vietnam.  For many around the world, May Day is also associated with springtime and new beginnings.  That being the case, many of the quotes about May Day refer to spring.  Here are some of our favourites:  However, May Day also symbolises labour movements around the world.  Here are some quotes that represent those May Day vibes.


thesun--2019-11-06--Candid snaps show the real lives of Travellers from their ancient traditions to what family life loo

Candid snaps show the real lives of Travellers from their ancient traditions to what family life looks like

RAW pictures provide an insight into the fiercely private lives of Irish travellers in the UK.  From bathing horses in rivers to unusual tattoos, we explore the their nomadic lifestyle that dates back centuries.  In a collection of shots by photographer Marco Sconocchia, who spent time with the traveller community, documents their lives.  These youngsters take their horse for a ride on the field. Although their origin is not straight forward, it's thought that they are not related with Roman Gypsies  Home is where the heart is  They are lovers of the outdoors, their children growing up climbing trees and being at one with nature. Whilst some travellers get a bad reputation for settling on council or owned land, most obey the rules and live peacefully  Travellers lifestyles reflect those of their ancestors, whereas most children will be curled up in front of televisions or computer games - this girl is pictured just watching the world go by  One of the problems with travelling by horse is how to get a large group of people on the move - these kids seem to have it sorted  We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.


thesun--2019-12-24--The amazing stories behind Xmas traditions from Coke giving Santa his red suit to Druids fighting ev

The amazing stories behind Xmas traditions from Coke giving Santa his red suit to Druids fighting evil with mistletoe

IT'S the time to deck the halls with boughs of holly - but have you ever wondered why we do the things we do at Christmas?  From singing carols to decorating the Christmas tree, all of our festive conventions have an interesting story behind them.  Here are some of the most intriguing stories behind our Christmas traditions.    The idea of Christmas stockings came from the story of a poor widower in the fourth century who had three daughters and was worried his lack of a dowry would prevent them getting married.  As he refused all direct charity, Saint Nicholas, a very kind and charitable bishop who lived in Myra, Turkey, is said to have dropped gold coins down the chimney, which were caught in the stockings the girls had drying by the fire.  And voila – a Christmas tradition of leaving stockings out for Santa was born.    The Christmas evergreen fir tree was introduced by an English monk called St Boniface in the eighth century who did missionary work in Germany.  He came across a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree as a false idol and in anger he cut down the oak tree and a young fir tree sprung up from the roots.  Saint Boniface told the pagans this was the Tree of Life and the triangular shape represented the trinity and the life of Christ, and therefore Christianity.  Robin's are associated with Christmas because festive post men in red coats were nicknamed robins when delivering Christmas cards at the beginning of the 20th century.  There is also a fable about a fire in baby Jesus’s manger getting out of hand - and a brown robin placing himself between the flames and the face of baby Jesus, fluffing out its feathers protectively and getting his breast scorched red as a result.  This redness was then passed onto future generations of robins.    It was Coca-Cola’s adverts in 1935 that created the image of the jolly, round, white-haired man we all associate with Santa today, wearing red robes with a white trim – the soft drink’s colours.  But the red and white colours come way before that and were actually the colours of Saint Nicholas himself, who – unlike today’s jolly-looking Santa - was often depicted as thin and bookish-looking.    Sometimes known as “figgy pudding”, our Xmas pud originates from the 14th century and was a porridge of beef, mutton, raisins, currants, prunes, wine and mixed spices, typically eaten as a fasting meal in preparation for the Christmas celebrations.  Eggs, breadcrumbs, dried fruit, beers and spirits were later added to the dish to make it a tastier, more festive plum pudding and King George I introduced it as part of the Christmas meal in 1714.    The prickly holly leaves represent the crown of thorns Jesus wore when he was crucified and the red berries the drops of blood shed by Jesus because of the thorns.  Ivy is a plant that clings onto something to support itself as it grows and it was meant to remind us how we need to cling to God for support in our lives.  In pagan times, Holly was thought to be a male plant and Ivy a female plant.  An old tradition from the Midlands of England said that whichever plant was brought into the house first over winter, would tell you whether the man or woman of the house would rule that year.    Crackers originate from a sweet maker called Tom Smith, who, in 1847, created French bonbons – a sugared almond wrapped in paper with a twist at both ends - but they didn’t sell.  One night he sat in front of a roaring fire and the crackle gave him the idea of including a 'bang' with the cracker.  He replaced the bonbon with a gift, enlarged the packaging and his son, Walter, later included the now-obligatory paper hat.    The rich fruit cake often associated with Christmas were originally Twelfth Cakes, which were eaten at the parties on Twelfth Night which ended the 12 days of Christmas on 5th January.  It then became fashionable to have large iced decorations on and over the cake (using 'Royal Icing' which sets very hard), to show you were rich enough to be able to afford lots of sugar to make the icing.  So the cake had to become more rich, solid and full of fruit to support the icing.  During the industrial revolution, the big celebrations were then moved to Christmas rather than Twelfth Night because more people had to start working again straight after Boxing Day and so the cakes became Christmas Cakes.    Mince Pies were originally filled with meat, such as lamb, rather than the dried fruits and spices mix they contain today.  They were also made in an oval shape to represent the manger that Jesus slept in as a baby, with the top representing his swaddling clothes.  Sometimes they even had a pastry baby Jesus on the top!  During the Stuart and Georgian times, mince pies became a status symbol and the rich would show off by having pies made by their expensive, pastry cooks in different shapes like stars, crescents, hearts, tears, and flowers.  Mistletoe is a plant that grows on a range of trees including willow, apple and oak trees.  The tradition of hanging it in the house goes back to the times of the ancient Druids as it was supposed to possess mystical powers which bring good luck to the household and ward off evil spirits.  It was also used as a sign of love and friendship in Norse mythology - hence the custom of kissing under the mistletoe.


thetelegraph--2019-03-01--St Davids Day 2019 Welsh traditions medieval miracles and how leeks became iconic symbols

St David's Day 2019: Welsh traditions, medieval miracles and how leeks became iconic symbols

St David's Day is here, with daffodils beginning to bloom and celebrations in honour of the Welsh figure set to take place.  Recognised annually since the 12th century, the Welsh occasion is the first day of the year we Britons celebrate one of our patron saints and marks the date of St David's supposed death in 589 AD.  But why are leeks, doves and daffodils tied to the event and how is the day celebrated by the Welsh nation? Here is everything you need to know about St David's Day.  St David's Day, the patron saint day of Wales, falls each year on March 1, with a range of celebratory events taking place and the country's national flag flying more than usual. Want to say...


thetelegraph--2019-10-31--Epiphany 2020: When is the Twelfth Night and what are the traditions behind it?

Forget Brexit, the one thing guaranteed to elicit the strongest opinions during the first week of January is the debate over which day to take down your Christmas tree and decorations. Is it Sunday 5 January, or Monday 6 January? And what happens if you leave them up for longer? Are you really struck down with bad luck for the rest of the year as the superstition goes?  One thing's for sure - everyone does it differently, and everyone has their own ideas.  In Britain, tradition has it that Christmas decorations stay up until Twelfth Night.  And this is where the confusion lies. Twelfth Night is a festival in some branches of Christianity which marks the beginning of Epiphany. A count of exactly 12 days from 25 December arrives at 5 January. According to the Church of England, this day is Twelfth Night. The day of Epiphany – when the three wise men came – is the day after, on 6 January.  Not everyone agrees however. Many other Christian groups count the 12 days of Christmas as starting the day after Christmas Day – making 6 January the Twelfth Night. Countries which also follow the January 6 tradition include Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.  So which date is correct?  Both. Although in the UK, Sunday 5th January 2020 is the date most people will stick to.


thetelegraph--2019-11-01--Epiphany 2020: When is the Twelfth Night and what are the traditions behind it?


thetelegraph--2019-11-21--Epiphany 2020: When is the Twelfth Night and what are the traditions behind it?


thetelegraph--2019-12-05--Christmas traditions: Advent calendars, mince pies and the story of Santa Claus

From decorating Christmas trees and hanging up stockings to pulling crackers and eating mince pies, us Britons celebrate the festive season with a range of rituals and traditions, yet we seldom stop to ask why.  Discussion of the origins of such holiday customs tend to stall with: “Wasn’t it all invented by the Victorians? Or the Germans? Or was it Coca-Cola?”  In fact, many date back to ancient times and have been influenced along the way by religion, pop culture and the commercialisation of Christmas.  Here is everything you need to know about Christmas traditions, including the history behind the festive practices and the story of the beloved Santa Claus.  Why do we have Christmas trees?  Romans used fir trees to decorate their temples during Saturnalia, a feast in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture, and the predecessor to Christmas.  In northern Europe, people planted cherry or hawthorn plants, or created pyramids of fruit or candles. Evergreen trees were thought to keep away evil spirits and illness, and were put up during the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, to remind them that the spring would return.  Another predecessor was the Paradise tree, a fir decorated with apples to represent the Garden of Eden on Adam and Eve’s day, which fell on December 24.


thetelegraph--2019-12-05--Epiphany 2020: When is the Twelfth Night and what are the traditions behind it?


thetelegraph--2019-12-06--Christmas traditions: Advent calendars, mince pies and the story of Santa Claus


thetelegraph--2019-12-19--Epiphany 2020: When is the Twelfth Night and what are the traditions behind it?


usnews--2019-11-18--Old Traditions Persevere as New Davis Cup Begins in Madrid

Old traditions were preserved when the revamped Davis Cup began a new era on Monday in Madrid.  As the 18-team Davis Cup Finals got underway in its new weeklong World Cup-style format at the “Magic Box” tennis complex, fans were encouraged to provide atmosphere, and delivered.  Umpires were made to work hard at all the courts by constantly asking for the fans to stay quiet before points.  On court, two-time champion Russia, Belgium, and Canada took an early lead in round-robin play. Russia was ahead of defending champion Croatia after Andrey Rublev defeated Borna Gojo 6-3, 6-3. Belgium led Colombia thanks to Steve Darcis’ 6-3, 6-3 win over Santiago Giraldo, while Canada was beating Italy after Vasek Pospisil’s 7-6 (5), 7-5 victory over Fabio Fognini.  The teams are playing only two singles and a doubles in each tie, with the group winners advancing to the knockout stage later in the week.  The crowds were decent in numbers during the first matches, but the center court was mostly empty for the opening ceremony that featured an audiovisual show and performances by artists Alan Walker and Farruko. Colombian singer Shakira will perform in the closing ceremony on Sunday, all part of the modernization being promoted by the new organizers.  The new Davis Cup is the result of a 25-year partnership between the International Tennis Federation and Kosmos, a group co-founded by Barcelona soccer player Gerard Piqué, Shakira’s husband.  The goal is to make the traditional team competition more attractive — and lucrative — by having all nations play at the same time and in a single venue. The change helped attract new sponsors and made it easier for top players to include the Davis Cup in their busy schedules. Prize money of nearly $20 million in total, rivalling those awarded in Grand Slams, also helped to attract players.  Critics, including some players, complained the new format would take away from the great partisan atmospheres seen in the head-to-head confrontations that were played out over four weekends through the year, for 119 years.  But it was a good start for the new finals, and the crowd atmosphere should ramp up on Tuesday when host Spain debuts with the top-ranked Rafael Nadal.  Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


aljazeera--2019-12-27--Africa makes a scene: Best contemporary art fairs of 2020

African art has been having a very long moment. Over the past 10 years, contemporary artists from the continent - from the Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui to Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu to South African photographer Zanele Muholi - have continued to build their names on the international stage.  African artists have been presenting in major museums and galleries across Europe and the United States, while increasing numbers of African countries have shown at the prestigious Venice Biennale, including Ghana's critically-acclaimed debut this year. • South African art museum attracts tourists from around the world • How art can be a force for development in Africa  Both Sotheby's and Bonhams auction houses meanwhile have set up their own African contemporary and modern art departments, signalling that the market is paying attention, too.  "Going into the new decade, I feel we are starting from a stronger foothold," said Marwan Zakhem, the founder of Gallery 1957, in Ghana's capital, Accra. "The international art scene has woken up to the wealth of creativity offered across Africa and the diaspora," Zakhem told Al Jazeera.  "A lot of groundwork has been made in terms of affirming African art as a key component of the ever-flourishing arts scene, so it's an exciting time to be a part of it".  What is most notable, however, is the growth seen within the continent. Addressing a crippling lack of infrastructure that has previously forced talent to look elsewhere for opportunity and support, major cities are bolstering their local scenes while establishing themselves as international art destinations.  Art fairs have popped up to seduce collectors, new residences have given creatives spaces to develop their craft and museums such as Cape Town's Zeitz MOCAA and the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL) in Marrakech have opened to showcase the best on offer.  "There's still more to be done though," Zakhem said. "I hope the decade ahead sees more continent-wide investment in the visual arts - more museums, more projects, more educational support - and more events bringing international visitors here."  As the year - and the decade - draws to a close, here are four African art events to watch out for in 2020 and beyond.  Marrakech enters new decade as first African Capital of Culture  Thanks to the opening of MACAAL, 2018's inaugural Moroccan edition of the 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair and the commercial success of artists such as Hassan Hajjaj - the subject of a recent retrospective at Paris's Maison Europeenne de la Photographie - Marrakech has become a major draw for critics and collectors.  As 2020's African Capital of Culture - the first city to hold the designation - it will no doubt be increasing its efforts to engage art lovers and buyers alike.  "Over the last five years, Marrakech has struck an excellent balance in preserving and building on its rich cultural histories, while establishing itself as a space for artistic experimentation. Alongside this, there is a growing number of commercial spaces and both independent and government funding, giving artists more opportunities to support their practices in the long term," said 1:54 founder Touria El Glaoui.  "I grew up in Morocco and my father [Hassan El Glaoui] was a painter who always encouraged us to engage with art histories, so seeing the scene grow and blossom has been amazing to witness."  In February, 1:54 will return to the city's luxurious La Mamounia hotel for the third year, hosting some 20 European and African galleries. At the same time, MACAAL, the Muse Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech and other local spaces will be staging their own exhibitions, creating an unofficial art week of sorts.  How the rest of the year shapes up will surely set the template for how future cities make use of the Capital of Culture designation.  The birthplace of art stars including Ben Enwonwu - whose Tutu, dubbed the African Mona Lisa, sold for a record $1.6m in 2018 - Victor Ehikhamenor and Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Nigeria is an obvious choise to be the home of West Africa's first international art fair: Art X Lagos.  Launched in 2016 by entrepreneur Tokini Peterside, Art X Lagos serves as an exhibition space, marketplace and classroom for those looking to immerse themselves in the world of contemporary African art.  It is also notable for prioritising younger artists over established pioneers through both its exhibitions and the Access Bank ART X Prize, which awards one emerging artist with funding, mentoring and an international residency.  "I see how wonderful and massive [Art X Lagos] is becoming and I think it's placing Lagos as a real arts hub, which I really love, and a serious one," said Adora Mba, the founder of the Afropolitan Collector, an art advisory platform.  "I'm really looking forward to seeing how big it can go."  Of all Africa's major art events, few rouse as much enthusiasm and respect as Senegal's Dakar Biennale, commonly known as Dak'Art.  "It always brings together the best of the African art community to show brilliant work, engage in important dialogues and, of course, celebrate," said Gallery 1957's Zakhem.  "It always outdoes itself," agreed Mba, for whom Dak'Art is the ultimate place to discover new talent and up-and-comers. "I don't even know how they keep producing such amazing art and artists and bringing people in."  Supported by the country's Ministry of Culture and Communication, the 14th edition will centre on the theme of I'Ndaffa/Forger/Out of Fire - a trilingual take on the word "forge" in Serer, French and English.  "This general theme refers to the founding act of African creation, which nourishes the diversity of contemporary African creativity, while projecting new ways of telling and understanding Africa," Artistic Director El Hadji Malick Ndiaye, a curator at Dakar's Theodore Monod Museum of African Art, said in a statement.  "It represents the dynamics and action of creating, recreating and kneading. It thus refers to the forge that transforms, the deposit from which the raw material comes, and to the fire that creates."  This year's event will be held from May 28 to June 28.  Africa may not lead the world in terms of the number of major art events held annually, but there is no shortage of arts professionals looking to add to the tally.  To that end, the Stellenbosch Triennale, conceived by the Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust, will make its debut in South Africa in February.  Breaking with convention, the event is more about engaging the community than appealing to art world insiders.  On their website, organisers say they plan to turn the city into a "curated public laboratory for creative expressions and engagements" where all are invited to interrogate our relationship with nature, the limits of technology and the definition of citizenship.  Works will be displayed at sites across the historic city, and there will also be opportunities to continue the conversation in workshops and online.


bbc--2019-02-04--Copenhagen light festival brightens dark nights

To light up the long winter dark nights, Copenhagen has launched a "Light Festival" for a month throughout the city.  The festival features works from a range of Danish and international artists installed on buildings, bridges and squares.


bbcuk--2019-01-30--Middle Ages Merlin manuscript found in Bristol University library

Fragments of a manuscript from the Middle Ages which tell the story of Merlin the magician from Arthurian legend have been found in a library.  Seven hand-written fragments were discovered in the University of Bristol's special collections library.  Specialists analysing the pieces said they contained "subtle but significant" differences from the traditional story.  "We are all very excited to discover more," said Dr Leah Tether, of the International Arthurian Society.  The pieces of parchment were discovered by librarian Michael Richardson, who recognised a number of Arthurian names and contacted Dr Tether.  The newly-discovered text has longer, more detailed descriptions of various characters particularly during battles.  "These fragments of the story of Merlin are a wonderfully exciting find, which may have implications for the study not just of this text but also of other related and later texts that have shaped our modern understanding of the Arthurian legend," said Dr Tether.  The books in which the fragments were found were all printed in Strasbourg between 1494 and 1502.  A team of experts will try to find out how and when the books came to England in order to be able to trace the origin of the parchments.  Dr Tether said: "Time and research will reveal what further secrets about the legends of Arthur, Merlin and the Holy Grail these fragments might hold."  She added it was "all the more special" to find the fragments in the South West because of its locations made famous by the Arthurian legend.


birminghammail--2019-03-13--Stunning Bournville Arts and Crafts house restored - and this is whats like inside

Stunning Bournville Arts and Crafts house restored - and this is what's like inside

The interior of a historic Quaker house near Bournville has been fully restored - five years after a blue plaque was erected outside in honour of its first resident.  The work has been a labour of love with the finest Arts and Crafts traditions in mind.  But now we can reveal the first photographs of how 1020 Bristol Road looks today.  The five-bedroom family home called Sunnybrae was built at the turn of the 20th century by George Cadbury from a design by William Harvey - architect of the Bournville Village Trust Estate.  Its first resident was John Henry Barlow (1855-24) whose life was honoured in 2014 by The Birmingham Civic Society.  The citation on its blue plaque reads: 'John Henry Barlow - Quaker statesman, peace ambassador and first Secretary of the Bournville Village Trust from 1900-1923.  'In 1914, he helped set up the Friends' Ambulance Unit. Lived here 1900-24'.  Inspired by the blue plaque, the restoration work has been masterminded by the home's current owner, Gareth Fatchett, who moved in three years ago.  Taking its name from the 1887 Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, the movement began in Britain around 1880, spread across American and Europe and later became the Mingei (Folk Crafts) movement in Japan.  An idealist reaction to post 1840s industrialisation and a perceived fall in standards, its emphasis on the need for traditional skills turned homes into works of art and established strong new principles for living and working reflected in materials and design principles today.  A unified approach among architects, painters, sculptors and designers led to the Arts and Crafts ideals reaching a wider public.  One of the key members of the Birmingham set was Edward Burne-Jones, whose Morris & Co windows at Birmingham Cathedral are world renowned.  While most of the Birmingham set had studied at King Edward’s School, they were joined by William Morris (1834-96) who had been born in Walthamstow.  He met Burne-Jones at Oxford and by the 1880s Morris was an internationally renowned and commercially successful designer and manufacturer.  Birmingham was a significant centre for the international Arts and Crafts movement tor two or three decades either side of 1900.  The focus of this period was the now Grade I listed Birmingham School of Art, the first Municipal School of Art.  It was completed in1885 after the death of the city’s greatest architect John Henry Chamberlain who had designed it in Ruskinian Venetian Gothic style.  Its features still include original stained glass windows, mosaic floors and hand-carved bannisters.  One of the school's students was William Harvey, the future Bournville Village Trust Estate architect.  His grounding in the Arts and Crafts movement, combined with the ethos of the Cadbury family, is just one reason why the restoration of 1020 Bristol Road is important.  + In 2015, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery held a four-month exhibition called Love Is Enough, in which Turner Prize winning artist Jeremy Deller compared and contrasted his two greatest influences - William Morris and Andy Warhol.  According to John Henry Barlow's grandson, Antony Barlow, the home is 'one of the best examples of the Arts & Craft movement'.  It is also the place where John's son - Antony's own father Ralph - was born in 1910.  John and later Ralph helped to lead the Bournville Village Trust, founded in 1900 to herald its transformation from building estate to complete village community where all house plans had to be approved by the principal architect, Alexander Harvey.  Bournville Village Council was established in 1903 and the estate today now comprises 1,000 acres of land with some 8,000 homes.  The Barlow's Quaker family history dates back to the 1660s.  The family's association with the Cadburys began when Antony's grandfather married Mabel Cash, of the Coventry nametape weaving family, who was a first cousin to Dame Elizabeth Cadbury.  John and Mabel were invited to Birmingham to run the Bournville Village Trust in 1900, living first at the then Cadbury home, Woodbrooke - now the Quaker Study Centre.  The plaque's reference to Barlow's work as a peace ambassador reflects the role he played in helping to secure the so-called 'conscience clause' in the 1916 Military Service Act which enabled those of conscience to abstain from military service.  He also helped to found the Friends Ambulance Unit which was active in both World Wars.  Antony Barlow studied English and Drama at Manchester University, later becoming artistic director of the Richmond Theatre and then founding his own press and marketing consultancy for the arts, Tony Barlow Associates.  A self-penned book called 'He is our cousin, Cousin: A Quaker Family's History from 1660 to the Present Day' ws published in paperback in 2015 and is available from the Quaker Bookshop here  The Religious Society of Friends was founded in northern England in the middle of the 17th century by George Fox (1624 -1691).  The name ‘Quaker’, originally a term of ridicule, derived from a statement of Fox’s, when he told his followers 'to tremble at the Word of the Lord'.  Fox believed that everyone could have a direct relationship with God without involving a priest or minister.  Quakers have played a significant role in such movements as the abolition of slavery, promoting education and equal rights for women.  They have also campaigned on behalf of gay rights and for the humane treatment of prisoners, famously through the work of the 19th century philanthropist Elizabeth Fry.  In 1947, the Quaker movement worldwide was awarded the Nobel Peace prize on account of the relief work they did in both World Wars particularly through the work of The Friends Ambulance Unit.  Although 1020 Bristol Road is not being opened up to the public, there are several places where you can learn more about Arts and Crafts in situ. They include:


birminghammail--2019-11-22--Take a look around this beautiful Liverpool place to study

Up to date facilities are crucial in enabling students to thrive as they make the most of their university experience and prepare for future career success.  At Liverpool Hope University more than £40m has been invested in its Hope Park campus alone over the past six years, enhancing the site as a place to study and socialise.  What makes the university special though, is how these modern features and new buildings sit alongside striking traditional architecture and outdoor spaces to create a relaxing environment.  Travelling to Liverpool Hope University couldn't be easier, as direct trains take less than two hours from Birmingham New Street station to Liverpool Lime Street.  As Liverpool Hope University’s main teaching campus, Hope Park’s grand buildings and glorious grounds are in keeping with the site’s leafy Childwall surroundings.  Once inside the campus, students will find Hope Park is home to the university’s health and sports science facilities - including a gym with membership available for all students - as well as the learning resource filled Sheppard Worlock Library and an abundance of places to eat and drink.  Brimming with character though, the campus’ exterior is sure to wow students from the moment they arrive.  Over in central Liverpool, the university’s Creative Campus on Shaw Street houses state-of-the-art technology and performance spaces within Grade II-listed buildings which are certainly easy on the eye.  Providing a place for the university’s School of Creative and Performing Arts subjects, this newly expanded site also mixes old and new as it’s where students will find the purpose-built Arts Centre along with the international arts focused Capstone Theatre and the Cornerstone Gallery exhibition space.  Once inside the Hope Park campus you’re never far from a room with a view, as the buildings look out onto a wealth of beautiful green space.  Landscaped gardens are lined with flowers, shrubs and fabulous fountains, creating the perfect environment for students to forget about the stress of university life and relax and socialise outdoors.  Ornate sculptures are also scattered around the site, reflecting the university’s Liverpool location as a hub of art and culture and adding to the range of unique features which make its grounds so picturesque.  Hope University’s stunning settings are not exclusive to Liverpool.  The university also boasts a quaint campus surrounded by secluded woodlands within North Wales’ renowned beauty spot - the Snowdonia National Park.  Plas Caerdeon Outdoor Education Centre is set in 18 acres of private land overlooking the idyllic views of Mawddach Estuary.  For information about studying at Liverpool Hope University, and the facilities at its campuses, click here .