HAPPY VICTORIA DAY

Victoria Day

Victoria Day is celebrated in Canada on the Monday prior to May 25th each year.It will be celebrated on Monday, May 23, 2005More information at theseThe Sovereign's birthday has been celebrated in Canada since the reign of Queen Victoria(1837-1901). May 24, Queen Victoria's birthday, was declared a holiday by the Legislature of the Province of Canada in 1845.After Confederation, the Queen's birthday was celebrated every year on May 24 unless that date was a Sunday, in which case a proclamation was issued providing for the celebration on May 25.� After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, an Act was passed by the Parliament of Canada establishing a legal holiday on May 24 in each year (or May 25 if May 24 fell on a Sunday) under the name Victoria Day.The birthday of King Edward VII, who was born on November 9, was by yearly proclamation during his reign (1901-1910) celebrated on Victoria Day. It was not an innovation to celebrate the birthday of the reigning sovereign on the anniversary of the birth of a predecessor.In Great Britain, the birthdays of George IV (1820-1830) and William IV(1830-1837) were celebrated on June 4, birthday of George III (1760-1820). The birthday of King George V, who reigned from 1910 to 1935, was celebrated on the actual date, June 3 or, when that was a Sunday, by proclamation on June 4. The one birthday of King Edward VIII, who reigned in 1936, was also celebrated on the actual date, June 23. King George VI's birthday, which fell on December 14, was officially celebrated in the United Kingdom on a Thursday early in June.Up to 1947 Canada proclaimed the same day but in 1948 and further years settled on the Monday of the week in which the United Kingdom celebration took place. George VI reigned from 1936 to1952. The first birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, in 1952, was also celebrated in June. Meanwhile, Canada continued to observe Victoria Day.An amendment to the Statutes of Canada in 1952 established the celebration of Victoria Day on the Monday preceding May 25. From 1953 to 1956, the Queen's birthday was celebrated in Canada on Victoria Day, by proclamation of the Governor General, with Her Majesty's approval. In 1957, Victoria Day was permanently appointed as the Queen's birthday in Canada.In the United Kingdom, the Queen's birthday is celebrated in June.The following is a list giving the dates of the observance in Canada of the Sovereign's birthday since Queen Victoria.
Mahmoud

HAPPY IRANIAN NEW YEAR

No-Rooz, in word, means "New Day". It is the new day that starts the year, traditionally the exact astronomical beginning of the Spring. Iranians take that as the beginning of the year. This exact second is called "Saal Tahvil". No-Rooz with its' uniquely Iranian characteristics has been celebrated for at least 3,000 years and is deeply rooted in the rituals and traditions of the Zoroastrian (This was the religion of ancient Persia before the advent of Islam in 7th century A.D.). Iranians consider No-Rooz as their biggest celebration of the year, before the new year, they start cleaning their houses (Khaane Tekaani), and they buy new clothes. But a major part of New Year rituals is setting the "Haft Seen" with seven specific items. In ancient times each of the items corresponded to one of the seven creations and the seven holy immortals protecting them. Today they are changed and modified but some have kept their symbolism. All the seven items start with the letter "S"; this was not the order in ancient times. These seven things usually are: Seeb (apple), Sabze (green grass), Serke (vinager), Samanoo (a meal made out of wheat), Senjed (a special kind of berry), Sekke (coin), and Seer (garlic). Sometimes instead of Serke they put Somagh (sumak, an Iranian spice). Zoroastrians today do not have the seven "S"s but they have the ritual of growing seven seeds as a reminder that this is the seventh feast of creation, while their sprouting into new growth symbolized resurrection and eternal life to come.Wheat or lentil representing new growth is grown in a flat dish a few days before the New Year and is called Sabzeh (green shoots). Decorated with colorful ribbons, it is kept until Sizdah beh dar, the 13th day of the New Year, and then disposed outdoors. A few live gold fish (the most easily obtainable animal) are placed in a fish bowl. In the old days they would be returned to the riverbanks, but today most people will keep them. Mirrors are placed on the spread with lit candles as a symbol of fire. Most of the people used to place Qoran on their Sofreh (spread) in order to bless the New Year. But some people found another alternative to Qoran and replaced it by the Divan-e Hafez (poetry book of Hefez), and during "Saal Tahvil" reading some verses from it was popular. Nowadays, a great number of Iranians are placing Shahnameh (the Epic of Kings) of Ferdowsi on their spread as an Iranian national book. They believe that Shahnameh has more Iranian identity values and spirits, and is much suitable for this ancient celebration.After the Saal Tahvil, people hug and kiss each other and wish each other a happy new year. Then they give presents to each other (traditionally cash, coins or gold coins), usually older ones to the younger ones. The first few days are spent visiting older members of the family, relatives and friends. Children receive presents and sweets, special meals and "Aajil" (a combination of different nuts with raisins and other sweet stuff) or fruits are consumed. Traditionally on the night before the New Year, most Iranians will have Sabzi Polo Mahi, a special dish of rice cooked with fresh herbs and served with smoked and freshly fried fish. Koukou Sabzi, a mixture of fresh herbs with eggs fried or baked, is also served. The next day rice and noodles (Reshteh Polo) is served. Regional variations exist and very colorful feasts are prepared.The 13th day of the new year is called "Sizdah Bedar" and spent mostly outdoors. People will leave their homes to go to the parks or local plains for a festive picnic. It is a must to spend Sizdah Bedar in nature. This is called Sizdah Bedar and is the most popular day of the holidays among children because they get to play a lot! Also in this day, people throw the Sabze away, they believe Sabze should not stay in the house after "Sizdah Bedar". Iranians regard 13th day as a bad omen and believe that by going into the fields and parks they avoid misfortunes. It is also believed that unwed girls can wish for a husband by going into the fields and tying a knot between green shoots, symbolizing a marital bond.Another tradition of the new year celebrations is "Chahar-Shanbeh Soori". It takes place before Saal Tahvil, at the last Wednesday of the old year, well actually Tuesday night! People set up bon fire, young and old leap over the fires with songs and gestures of merriment like:

English Phrasal Verbs

Act on - To take action because of something like information received
Act out - Perform something with actions and gestures.- Express an emotion in your behaviour
Act up - Behave badly or strangely
Add on - Include in a calculation
Add up - To make a mathematical total- Be a satisfactory explanantion for something
Add up to - Have a certain result
Aim at - To target
Allow for - Include something in a plan or calculation
Angle for - Try to get something indirectly, by hinting or suggesting
Answer back - To reply rudely to someone in authority
Answer for - Be held responsible for a problem- Speak on behalf of someone or from knowing them
Argue out - Argue about a problem to find a solution
Ask after - Enquire about someone's health, how life is going
Ask around - Ask a number of people for information of help- Invite someone
Ask for - To provoke a negative reaction
Ask in - To invite somebody into your house
Ask out - To invite someone for a date
Ask over - Invite
Ask round - Invite someone
Auction off - Sell something in an auction
Be after - Try to find or get
Be along - Arrive
Be away- Be elsewhere; on holiday, etc.
Be cut out for - Be suitable, have the necessary qualities
Be cut up - Be upset
Be down - Be depressed- Be reduced or less
Be down with - Be ill
Be fed up - Be bored, upset or sick of something
Be in - Be at home or at work- Be submitted, arrive
Be in on - Be involved in
Be not on - Be unacceptable
Be off - Be bad (of food)- Depart, leave
Be on - Be functioning (of machines)- Take place- Take medication or drugs, especially when they affect the person badly
Be on about - Mean, try to say
Be onto - Pursue, be aware of someone's true nature
Be out - Be absent from a place
Be out of - Have no more left
Be out to - Attempt
Be snowed under - Have too much work
Be taken aback - Be shocked or surprised
Be taken with - Like something
Be up - Be out of bed- Have increased or risen- When the time for something finishes or expires
Be up to - Be good enough- Doing something naughty or wrong