Happy Halloween

I hope everyone has a great, coustume-filled, pumpkin-carving halloween. Here is a bit of halloween history:
Did you know that Halloween is one of the oldest holidays? It has gone through many changes, but it was originally a Celtic festival called Samhain, marking the end of harvesting and the begining of a new year. The druids believed that ghosts and spirits roamed the earth at this time, and they lit bonfires as protection.

When Romans took over the Celtic lands, they adapted the day to honor their own deities. One of these, Pomona, was the goddess of fruit and trees and was represented by an apple. This may be why we bob for apples today at halloween partys!

Eventually, the Roman Catholic Chuch adapted the day as All Saints', or All Hallows', Day, to honor saints who did not have a specific feast day of their own. The name gradually changed to Halloween.

The tradition of trick-or-treating dates to All Souls' Days parades in England. Villagers gave poor people "soul cakes" in return for prayers for their dead relatives.

In 1920's America, childern began going trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods. By this time, halloween lost all its religious meaning and became a holiday where people could don costumes and become, for one night, something fantastical. It also became an inexpensive way for communities to celebrate together.

Other countries have their celebrations at this time, but with different meanings. In Mexico people celebrate El Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Thisis a time to honor and celebrate the dead. Families clean and decorate their relatives' graves, and on the night of November 1, everyone meets at the graveyard. Traditionally, this is the time that spirits are believed to return to the land of the living.

Happy Halloween

Guitar and Fingers

I have recently been taking guitar lessons by a indonesian lady who has lived in Denver before. It is actually quite easy. I am sure that you are saying to yourself ya sure 'cause she knows how to do it. I can not play like Taylor Swift or Nick Jonas, but I can play a bit of songs including: many from Taylor Swift, and some others. Currently the guitar teacher is in America so we do not have lessons which brings me to the finger part. I cant play guitar right now because I badly sprained my fingers. I was playing basketball with my class. Someone on the other team did a very hard pass in the air I tried to stop it with a jump but it just bent the index and middle finger back. After 2 days it still hurt and was throbbing so we decided to go to the docter. He said it was just sprained and to give it rest. He bandaged it up and said to stay of it for a week. Does this guy kow me? No sports for a week my teacher said for fitness we will do running games so I dont use my finger. Thats what I've been doing lately.

Athletics Day

We had been training for this day for at least a month now. The day finally came and we were lining up for our first run, long distance almost a mile. We had to pace ourselves so we could actually finish the race. Me and one of the ghanain kids ran next to each other the whole time. Then we both saw the finish line and we started sprinting for it. It was a challange for me because I havent run in so long and my legs felt like jello. I crossed the finish line and came in second place. Then we sat and cheered on the other children. After that it was of to the shot put. Oh, how I hate shot put the ball is to heavey and the technique is very difficult. Thankfully I got third place! After shot put it was time to go to long jump I like long jump but I'm not very good at it. We ran as fast as we could and threw ourselves through the air just to see where we would land. Again I came third place. Then it was time to go back to normal school activities. The next day we did our javalin throwing. Then it was off to do high jump but it started raining so we decided to do it the next day. The next day came along but we had to do sprints and hurdles first. Again we lined up cheered each other on and raced. Finally I raced and I won. Then I had to race against some other girls and again I got third. Then it was of to high jump but it started raining so we couldnt do high jump, tabloids, or games. So in the afternoon when it stopped raining we went out and did our high jump I came pretty far but agin I got third. That afternoon was the award ceremony. I was so excited but a bit nervous then the called my name and I came third out of my whole division! Now I have a bronze medel sitting in my room. Then on monday we did the relays and tabloids. It was so much fun even the moms participated! And that concludes our athletics!