Understanding American Halloween Vocabulary

 
Let's be honest...Halloween is a weird American holiday!  The rest of the world celebrates something somewhat similar called Carnival.   Costumes are adorned and parties are plentiful.  So what makes Halloween different than Carnival? Well, for starters, we add the creepy, spooky element to the festivities.  Carnival usually occurs in the spring, while here in America, we often need coats or umbrellas to protect our costumes in the crisp fall when we celebrate.

Anciently, the Celts celebrated their new year during this time, marking the end of the warmer weather harvest and the beginning of the cold, approaching winter months.  They believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and dead was blurred.  They also believed that as they surrounded a big bonfire, dressed in costumes, that they could predict the future, as well as protect themselves in the upcoming year against bad fortune.

In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as "All Saints Day", a day to honor all saints and martyrs, possibly as an attempt to veer Christians away from the Celtic pagan traditions.  The night before the holiday, October 31st, was known as "All Hallows' Eve" which eventually became more secular, including parades and sweet treats for the children.

Today, Halloween festivities involve community events, trick or treating, and an attempt to focus on the fun party atmosphere, rather than on the religious tones, although death and superstition are definitely still part of the mix.

Here are some Halloween words for our dear ESL students who are trying to make sense of it all:

* apparition - an unusual or unexpected sight, a ghost

* macabre - grim, horrific, repulsive

* cackle - to laugh, especially in a harsh or sharp

manner

* Jack-o'-lantern - a lantern made of the rind of a

pumpkin in which holes are cut to represent eyes,

nose, and mouth

* poltergeist - a noisy, mischievous ghost

* bloodcurdling - arousing fright or horror

* ghastly - terrifyingly horrible to the senses

Be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter, where you can learn more interesting fun facts, brush up on your own English skills, and find out about our latest steals and deals when you sign up for classes.

Have fun out there this year!  Wear a costume, share treats, create your own fun traditions, and be safe!   Workplace ESL Solutions teaches language skills, but we also teach international students what it is to be an American.  In fact, we offer Citizenship classes!  To find out more, check out all of our services at www.WorkplaceESL.com 

Happy Halloween!

Happy Columbus Day from WESL!

                  Happy Columbus Day from Workplace ESL Solutions!  

                                        

We know, it's not the biggest holiday in the United States, lacking such things as beloved Columbus Day carols, festive decorations and traditional meals to commemorate the day, but it is definitely worth celebrating.  The story of Christopher Columbus is inspiring, as that great man's historic voyage teaches us to explore, search, and dream big.

We often discover new horizons while aiming for something completely different.  Christopher Columbus never did accomplish his original goal - to find a western ocean route to Asia.  Instead, he achieved something even greater - he ushered in a new era in world history by opening up the Americas to exploration. 

Traveling around the world and going on vacation isn't as expensive as you might think.  Here at Workplace ESL Solutions, we love our international students and we love to travel to their countries.    Here are a few more ways to see the world for less:

To vacation within driving distance, check out the "One Tank Wonders" at www.tripadvisor.com/tankofgas To find the lowest price of gas in your area, go to www.gasbuddy.com

The Internet has enabled us to become our own travel agents, often offering better deals than if we called the hotel or rental car company directly.  Some of my favorite web sites to find travel steals and deals are:  www.farecast.com  , www.yapta.com  ,  www.travelocity.com , www.orbitz.com  , www.breezenet.com , and  www.hotwire.com 

It’s easy to be influenced by a glossy brochure or fancy web site that claims a certain hotel is the absolute best, but if you want to hear what “real” people have to say about specific travel destinations, check out their opinions posted at www.tripadvisor.com  

Before purchasing, compare prices and do a "Google" search for "discount code" with the name of the hotel chain, car company, airline, or tourist attraction you specifically want.  Joining the "frequent flyer" clubs or hotel member clubs will often get you better rates, and those points you rack up with each stay will get you free vacations in the future!  Your credit card might get you even more points, so find out which travel services they partner with.  AAA membership pays for itself once you see all of the discounts you can get on hotels, cars, restaurants and even theme parks.

A flexible traveler can really score big.  For example, airlines routinely over-book their seats, knowing that a certain percentage of travelers will simply not show up for the flight.  If everyone does show up then there will be more passengers than seats so the airline will then ask for volunteers who are willing to be bumped.  By doing so they may offer you travel vouchers for future flights, meals, and even a paid hotel room if there isn’t another flight until the next day.  It’s a little bit of a hassle, but if the airline is desperate they’ll keep sweetening the deal until someone says yes!

Skip the tourist traps and save money by adding some volunteer work at your destination! The following organizations offer meaningful service opportunities and lower your destination costs during a “Volunteer Vacation”: 

www.americanhiking.org

www.greenpeople.org

www.charityguide.org

www.hospitalityclub.org

Swap a pricey hotel stay for a visit in someone else’s home with a “Home Exchange” vacation:

www.homeexchange.com

www.homeaway.com

www.vacationhomerentals.com

www.vacationhomes.com

You can stay in a very inexpensive hostel and meet some fascinating people: www.hostelworld.com

When you volunteer to drive one of those big RV’s one way it helps the company return their vehicles and you save tons of moola:  www.cruiseamerica.com

Traveling around the world might also inspire you to learn a new language.  That's where WE come in!  We can help you learn Spanish or English and get you "travel ready" to communicate with the world!

So, in honor of Columbus Day, dream big.  Think big.  Imagine the impossible.  See the world. And enjoy the journey!