Tag Archives: Religous

Leaning Tower of Pisa

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Leaning Tower of Pisa

Don’t knock it over!

  • The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a tilted, free-standing bell tower that is part of Pisa’s cathedral.
  • The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located in the city of Pisa, Italy and is famous for its tilt to one side.
  • During the construction process in 1178, the Leaning Tower of Pisa began to tilt since the ground was too soft on one side to support the weight of the building
  • The Leaning Tower of Pisa’s height is 55.9 – 56.7 meters (183.3 – 186 inches) and has a total of 296 steps to reach the  top.
  • Before restoration in the late 1900s, the Leaning Tower of Pisa had a tilt of 5.5°, and after the restorations the tilt was reduced to 3.99°.

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Leaning Tower of Pisa
Image courtesy of Matt Banks/ Free Digital Photos
  •  The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built from 1173 – 1372 in three stages, although work stopped for more than 100 years during that time.
  • Since the Italian government was afraid of the Leaning Tower of Pisa collapsing, similar to another tower incident in 1989, they removed earth from underneath the tower, which helped to stabilise the tilting.
  • The Leaning Tower of Pisa has seven bells installed in the tower.
  • Since monitoring began in 1911, it was discovered that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was moving at 1.2 mm (o.o5 inches) per year.
  • No one actually knows who the true identy of the architect is, that designed the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Bibliography:
Harris, W n.d, Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa ever fall?, How Stuff Works,   <http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/will-leaning-tower-of-pisa-fall.htm>

New Year’s Day

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New Year’s Day

Welcome to 2013 and have a refreshing, new year!

  • New Year’s Day is the first day of the first month, of every year.
  • New Year’s Day is officially celebrated on the first of January in most places around the world, due to it being the first day of the year on the widely used Gregorian calendar.
  • New Year’s Day is celebrated by having parades, going to sport matches, having parties and viewing fireworks.
  • New Year’s Day celebrations were widely celebrated in Rome on the first of January, earlier than 46 BC, which they had dedicated to the Roman god Janus, for the start of a new year.
  • It is said that in 1362, Ukraine, Lithuania and Belarus, started celebrating New Year’s Day as the first of January, although the Gregorian calendar was not created until 1582.

New YEars Day, Party, Wine, Champene,, Yellow Glen Jewel,confetti, Ten Random Facts

  • Thailand, in 1941, was the most recent country to officially celebrate New Year’s Day as the first of January.
  • One of the pacific islands of Kiribati, which is uninhabited, is the first to welcome New Year’s Day every year.
  • One unusual  New Year’s Day celebration is performed throughout Canada – a polar bear plunge.  People swim or plunge themselves in icy cold water, usually to raise money for special causes.
  • Babies born on New Year’s Day (first of January) are often called New Year babies.
  • It wasn’t until 1752 that England, Wales and parts of the United States adopted the first of January as the beginning of their new year. Prior to this, March 25 marked the beginning of a new year.
Bibliography:
New Year’s Day 30 December 2012, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year’s_Day>

Boxing Day

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Boxing Day

The second day of Christmas…

  • Traditionally, Boxing Day is the first day following Christmas, the 26th December.
  • Boxing Day is a public holiday in many countries.
  • The term ‘boxing’ in the word Boxing Day has no particular history but there are many theories.
  • Boxing Day was originally the day when servants and tradesman were given gifts from their masters or employees, also called the Christmas Box.
  • On Boxing Day, South Africa and Australia usually start a separate test cricket match.
Boxing Day, Test Cricket, Australia, Melbourne, Television, Panasonic, NBN 9:::, Herath, Sangakkara, Ten Random Facts
Test Cricket on Boxing Day
  • On Boxing Day there are normally big shop sales, most notably in Britain, Canada New Zealand, and Australia.
  • Stampedes, injuries and sometimes deaths have occurred during Boxing Day sales.
  • Many other sports matches start on Boxing Day, including a famous yacht race, football (soccer in Australia), and ice hockey tournaments.
  • Although fox hunting is banned in the UK, it remains to be a popular sport on boxing day.
  • Boxing Day is celebrated in many of the Commonwealth countries, as well as some not part of the Commonwealth.
Bibliography:
Boxing Day 25 December 2012, Wikipedia,
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day>

Birth of Jesus Christ

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Birth of Jesus Christ

 Matthew 1:18a NIV
‘This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about:’

    • Jesus was born in a stable, in Bethlehem, town of David.
    • Jesus’ parents were Mary (a virgin) and Joseph, and Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
    • Jesus’ parents were living in Nazareth at the time, but had to travel to Bethlehem for the census that was being taken.
    • Mary wrapped Jesus in cloth and placed him in a manger since there was no more space in the inn.
    • A heavenly host of angels appeared to shepherds and told them the good news of the birth, so they rushed off to find Jesus in the manger.
Baby Jesus Christ, doll, Boy, Wicker, Small, Basket , Manger, Clothe, Cute, Straw Shred, Ten Random Facts
  • On the 8th day, the boy was named Jesus, as foretold.
  • A king named King Herod tried to kill baby Jesus, since Jesus was considered as a ‘king’ and therefore a threat, so Jesus’ family fled to Egypt.
  • Some magi, or wise men, followed a bright star to the birth place of Jesus.
  • The magi gave Jesus three presents of frankincense, gold and myrrh.
  • Jesus was referred to as ‘King’, ‘Messiah’, ‘LORD’, ‘Saviour’ and ‘Christ’ on the occasion of his birth.
Bibliography:
Holy Bible, New International Version, Luke 2 1973, NIV edn, Biblica Inc, <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2&version=NIV>

Holy Bible, New International Version, Matthew 1 1973, NIV edn, Biblica Inc, <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&version=NIV>

Tinsel

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Tinsel

Pretty! Sparkly!

    • Tinsel is a long, sparkly string that is traditionally used to decorate a Christmas tree.
    • Tinsel comes from the French word ‘estincele, meaning sparkle.
    • Tinsel was first invented in the 1610s, in Germany.
    • Tinsel was originally used to decorate sculptures and statues.
    • Tinsel was first made from shredded silver, but it lost its sparkle quickly.
Blue, Orange, Yellow, Green, Tinsel, Stars, Thin, Fat, Colourful, Ten Random Facts.

 

  • Modern tinsel is made from metallic coated glossy plastic (PVC).
  • Before the use of PVC, aluminium and other shiny metals were used to make tinsel.
  • After the use of silver, lead foil was a popular material used in tinsel but was banned due to the risk of lead posioning.
  • Tinsel is typically used at Christmas time but some celebrations in India require tinsel as well.
  • Tinsel was first designed to bring out the shine of Christmas candles.
Bibliography:
Tinsel 22 December 2012, Wikipedia,
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinsel>

Christmas Carol

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Christmas Carol

So, so many carols… Jingle Bells, Silent Night, Noel…

  • Christmas carols are also known as a noël.
  • Christmas carols have themes to do with Christmas or winter and are traditionally sung in the Christmas month of December.
  • The first Christmas carols were Christian hymns, originating from 4th century Rome.
  • Christmas carol singing in church on Christmas Eve was established in 1880 at the Truro Cathedral in Cornwall.
  • 500 Christmas carols have been discovered from the period of 1350 – 1550 AD.

Carols, Deck the Halls, Silent Night, Music Sheets, Candles, Book, A Golden Book, Ten Random Facts

  • In Australia and New Zealand, concerts, called Carols by Candlelight, are held by community groups that invite people to come and have fun, have time together and listen to and sing carols.
  • One of the oldest known Christmas carols from the middle ages still sung today is “Good King Wenceslas”.
  • Christmas carolling is the tradition of going door to door singing Christmas carols and bringing good cheer to the neighbourhood during the Christmas season.
  • Carolling was not originally associated with Christmas, nor going door to door, and Christmas carolling as we know it today is a relatively recent tradition starting in the 1800s.
  • Before public Christmas carolling was popular, people called ‘Waits’ would take money off people and carol on the streets.
Bibliography: Christmas Carol 22 December 2012, Wikipedia, <;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_carol>;
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