Transcript Document
September 2012 1. Land of traditions 2. Unusual customs calendar anniversaries 3. Interesting to know 4. Famous people The Diamond Jubilee took place in 2012, marking 60 years of The Queen’s reign. The Queen came to the throne on 6th February 1952 (her Coronation took place on 2nd June 1953). Buckingham Palace was responsible for coordinating the events of the Diamond Jubilee central weekend (2nd–5th June 2012), as well as for organizing The Queen’s programme in her Diamond Jubilee year. The Diamond Jubilee In June 2012, Britain celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee commemorating the 60th anniversary of her ascension to the throne. The celebrations, marked by public holidays to give Britons a four-day break, included a dramatic pageant of 1,000 vessels on the river Thames winding through London on June 3, an open-air concert outside Buckingham Palace on June 4 and a day of reverence and pageantry on June 5. The Queen attended a luncheon with Commonwealth leaders on June 6. The only departure from the tight choreography of the events was the hospitalization of Prince Philip, who was forced to miss events where he would normally have taken his usual deferential position at the queen’s side, or slightly behind her. The prince, who is also the Duke of Edinburgh, was taken to a hospital on June 4 after spending several hours the day before in the biting cold atop a royal barge during the Thames pageant. He was diagnosed with a bladder infection and was hospitalized while being treated with antibiotics. Thames Flotilla Highlight of Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Tens of thousands gathered in London to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee with an extravagant river pageant. 1st September 1951 Britain's first supermarket opens at Earl's Court in London. 1st September 1971 The penny and the thru penny piece coins cease to be legal tender as Britain continues the changeover to decimal coinage. 2 - 6th September 1666 The Great Fire of London raged for four days - destroying more than 13,000 houses and almost 100 churches including St Paul's Cathedral. A total of 6 people are killed. 2nd September 1752 Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar. 3rd September 1939 – 15th August 1945 The Second World War. Great Britain, France, New Zealand, and Australia declare war on Germany after Adolf Hitler, refuses to withdraw his troops from Poland. 6th September 1527 Magellan completed the first circumnavigation of the world. 6th September 1852 First free public lending library opened. 7th September 1533 Queen Elizabeth I was born. 9th September 1835 The 'sport' of bear baiting was banned by parliament. 9th September 1835 Local government constituted in the UK. 9th September 1950 Soap rationing ended in Britain - introduced in 1942. 9th September 1087 William the Conqueror died 18th September 1839 George Cadbury was born. 19th September 1960 First parking tickets issued in London. 22nd September 1955 ITV started. September 1735 Sir Robert Walpole becomes the first prime minister to move into 10 Downing Street in London which has since become the official home of the british prime minister. 23rd September 1940 George Cross instituted. 26th September 1955 Bird’s Eye fish fingers first went on sale. 26th September 1580 English seaman Francis Drake returns to Plymouth in the Golden Hind, becoming the first British navigator to sail the earth. 27th September 1825 The world's first public passenger rail service begins - between Stockton and Darlington in the north of England. 28th September St Wenceslas Day 28th September 1745 First singing of the National Anthem. 29th September Michaelmas Day. 29th September 1758 Nelson was born. 30th September 1928 Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming. Facts about September Gemstone: Sapphire Flower: Aster The name September comes from the old Roman word 'septem', which means seven, because in the Roman calendar it was the seventh month. The Anglo-Saxons called it Gerst monath (Barley month), because it was their time when they harvested barley to be made into their favourite drink - barley brew. They also called it Haefest monath, or Harvest month. The Romans believed that the month of September was looked after by the god, Vulcan. As the god of the fire and forge they therefore expected September to be associated with fires, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. September is the start of the school year. Students return to school after the six week summer holiday. Michaelmas Superstition. Folklore in England holds that the devil stamps on bramble bushes or as they say in some areas, spits on them. Therefore one must not pick blackberries after Michaelmas. The reason for this belief has ancient origins. It was said that the devil was kicked out of heaven on St Michael's Feast Day, but as he fell from the skies, he landed in a bramble bush! He cursed the fruit of that prickly plant, scorching them with his fiery breath, stamping on them, spitting on them and generally making them unsuitable for human consumption. Legend suggests he renews his curse annually on Michaelmas Day and therefore it is very unlucky to gather blackberries after this date. If the breast bones of the goose are brown after roasting the following winter should be mild, but if the bones are white or have a slight blue hue then the winter will be severe. The Victorians believed that trees planted on this day would grow especially well. In Ireland and northern England, it was thought that if you ate goose at Michaelmas you would have good luck for the rest of the year. In Ireland, finding a ring hidden in a Michaelmas pie meant that one would soon be married. Every year the British have a Harvest Festival in their schools and churches. Do you know why? This is the time of year when all the crops have been harvested. What is a Harvest Festival? Harvest Festival is a celebration of the food grown on the land. Thanksgiving ceremonies and celebrations for a successful harvest are both worldwide and very ancient. In Britain, people have given thanks for successful harvests since pagan times. They celebrate this day by singing, praying and decorating their churches with baskets of fruit and food in a festival known as 'Harvest Festival', usually during the month of September. Harvest Festival reminds Christians of all the good things God gives them. This makes them want to share with others who are not so fortunate. In schools and in Churches, people bring food from home to a Harvest Festival Service. After the service, the food that has been put on display is usually made into parcels and given to people in need. When is Harvest Festival? Harvest festivals are traditionally held on or near the Sunday of the Harvest Moon. This is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox (about Sept. 23). In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon comes in September, but in some years it occurs in October. 7 September 1533 - 24 March 1603 Elizabeth I","Elizabeth of England",and "Elizabeth Tudor" - The Father of Queen Elizabeth I was the notorious King Henry VIII - The Mother of Queen Elizabeth I was Anne Boleyn - Queen Elizabeth I Died on 24 March 1603 (of blood poisoning) - she was nearly70 years of age - Queen Elizabeth I Reigned for 45 years from 1558 - 1603 - Her mother, Anne Boleyn, was accused of adultery and incest ( with her brother George Boleyn) and was beheaded at the Tower of London - Princess Elizabeth lived with her stepmother Katharine Parr and her husband Thomas Seymour - she was sent away in disgrace amid rumors that she was having an affair with Seymour! - Scandal followed Queen Elizabeth I when Amy Robsart, the wife of her favorite courtier Robert Dudley (some say lover) was found dead at the foot of her stairs - Dudley was suspected or arranging her murder so that he would be free to marry Queen Elizabeth - Queen Elizabeth I was born 7 September 1533 at Greenwich Palace - Queen Elizabeth almost died of Smallpox in 1562 and was left with scars on her face - these were covered with the heavy white make-up which was fashionable at the time - She never met her cousin and rival, Mary Queen of Scots, although she was imprisoned in England for many years (September 19, 1839 – October 24, 1922) George Cadbury, the son of John Cadbury, a tea and coffee dealer, was born in Edgbaston, Birmingham in 1839. The Cadbury family were members of the Society of Friends and sent George to the local Quaker school. George's mother, Candia Cadbury, who was an active supporter of the Temperance Society died in 1855. John Cadbury's health was also poor so George's education came to an end and he joined family business. At the age of twenty-two, George and his elder brother, Richard, assumed control of the company. Five years later Cadburys became the first company in Britain to sell cocoa. The cocoa beans were roasted, winnowed, ground and then mixed with sugar to make chocolate powder. Customers added hot water or milk to the powder to make a popular drink. Cadbury Brothers made their first milk chocolate in 1897. At first it was similar to the chocolate being imported from Switzerland but later the company started using fresh full cream milk to make a lighter coloured chocolate. Called Cadbury's Dairy Milk, it soon became Britain's best selling chocolate bar.