miércoles, 24 de febrero de 2010

ST. PATRICK'S DAY

St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was born in the fourth century and is famous for bringing Christianity into Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day is a very well known Irish national holiday, which is celebrated not only in Ireland but all around the world. It falls on the 17th of March.

WHAT DO PEOPLE DO ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated world-wide with people dancing and singing in Irish pubs, watching the St. Patrick’s Day parade, drinking ‘green’ beer, wearing green clothes and just generally having a good time. Children in Ireland have a tradition of pinching their friends who don’t wear green on this day!

TRADITIONAL FOOD AND DRINK ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY
Bacon and cabbage is what most people have on this day. Another popular dish is Irish soda bread and potato pancakes. Irish pub owners go crazy on this day, putting green food colouring into their beers and traditional Irish Guinness Stout is a sell out in all Irish pubs! People also drink lots of Irish coffee, which is made with warm whiskey, sugar, coffee and topped off with cream. Sounds delicious? It is!

ACTIVITY
Write if each of the following 8 questions is True are False.
1. Before the Fourth Century the people of Ireland knew a lot about Christianity.
2. St. Patrick is famous for introducing Christianity to Ireland.
3. St. Patrick was a slave all his life.
4. Four-leaved clovers are very easy to find.
5. The Irish believe that leprechauns like to catch humans and steal their money.
6. People kiss the Blarney stone because they think it helps them become beautiful speakers.
7. Irish coffee is made with alcohol.
8. On St. Patrick’s Day people usually dress in green.

MORE ACTIVITITIES
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-themes-ireland.htm
• Word game: Ireland. Do this jigsaw puzzle and find out about different things.
• Poem: An Irish Airman Foresees His Death.
• Trivia: Everything you (n)ever wanted to know about Ireland.
• There is also an Ireland-related cartoon,and a poll.