QUEEN VICTORIA

Queen Victoria was born on 24 May 1819. She inherited the throne at the age of 18, after her father's three elder brothers had all died leaving no surviving legitimate children.
Victoria married her first cousin,Prince Albert, in 1840 and their nine children married into royal and noble families across the continent, earning her the sobriquet "the grandmother of Europe". 
Queen Victoria was also highly devoted to her husband in fact when he died at the age of 41 in 1861, she went into deep mourning and struggled to overcome this loss. She became reclusive and was reluctant to appear in public.
Although her popularity ebbed and flowed during her reign, towards the end of her crown, she had become a symbol of British imperialism and pride.
Her reign, known as the Victorian Era, of 63 years and seven months was longer than that of any of her predecessors. It was a period of industrial, cultural, political, scientific and military change in the United Kingdom also marked by a great expansion of the British Empire. She was the last British monarch of the House of Hanover.

TREE SHAPING

Tree shaping is an unusual hobby practised for hundred years.
It uses trees or other woody plants to create structures and living art. As we are experiencing global warming, this would be an interesting and an helpful hobby to make the world greener!

BAYEUX TAPESTRY

Bayeux Tapestry is a medieval embroidery depicting more than 70 scenes of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
The tapestry is a band of linen 70 metres long and 49.5 cm wide, now light brown with age.
The story begins with a prelude to Harold's visit to Bosham on his way to Normandy and ends with the flight of Harold’s English forces from Hastings in October 1066.
Along the top and the bottom run decorative borders with figures of animals, scenes from the fables of Aesop and Phaedrus, scenes from husbandry and the chase.It has been restored more than once, and in some details the restorations are of doubtful authority.
The tapestry was used once a year to decorate the nave of the catedral in Bayeux, France.
Montfaucon found at Bayeux a tradition, possibly not more than a century old, that assigned the tapestry to Matilda, wife of William I the Conqueror, but there is nothing else to connect the work with her. It may have been commissioned by William’s half brother Odo,bishop of Bayeux. This work of art  evidences the history of the Norman Conquest, especially for Harold’s relation to William before 1066.

HALLOWEEN: THE CABBAGE NIGHT

This came from a Scottish fortune-telling game, where girls used cabbage stumps to predict information about their future husbands. Today in some American states teens skipped the fortune-telling and simply went around throwing cabbage at their neighbors’ houses. This was no isolated tradition: In late 19th century in America, country boys reportedly rejoiced in throwing cabbage, corn and assorted rotten vegetables.

SUTTON HOO

In 1939 archaeologist discovered an amazing Anglo-Saxon ship burial in Woodbridge, Suffolk.
They were astonished for the state of preservation and the rich quality of the objects and artifacts within the tomb. In fact, the burial contain gold weapons and armour, inlaid ornaments, silver and tableware. They also found a purse containing 37 gold Merovingian coins dating from the 620's AD.
Maybe in this tomb, 90 feet in length surrounded, was buried Raedwald, a Saxon "bretwalda", or king, of East Anglia. Raedwald ruled East Anglia in 616 and was the first king of this territory to pay heed to Christianity.
The ship burial catch the attention of tourists especially for the elaborate helmet of king Raedwald.

GIRAFFE HERO: DORA ANDRADE

Dora Andrade teaches poor kids to dance with their bodies, their minds and their hearts in Fortaleza, Brazil.
These barrio-kids were mocked because of their ballets that in the Brazilian society are for the middle class and wealthy.
But now, Andrade's dancer are so renowned they play to sold-out audience and are favorites of the nation's press.
The purpose of this school is to bring national attention to the plight of the poor. Andrade, in fact, brings the kids not only dance training but also meals, medical exams, dental care, vaccinations, computer training, etiquette lessons, confidence in their own abilities and hope for bettering their lives.
When Andrade opened her school she realized that the children were unhealty so they needed care before dance training.
Today Andrade teach and encourage more than 350 students each year.
Andreda's school has grown so popular that some rich families have tried to fake poverty in order to get their children enrolled.

GELERT

Many years ago, in a castle in Cornwall lived a brave and respected prince called Llewelyn. This prince loved to hunt and his favorite hunting dog was a faithful an fearless hound called Gelert.
This prince had a beloved son, a swaddling babe whose mother had died in childbirth. On her death-bed, Llewelyn had promised his wife that he would cherish the boy and this he did.
One day, Llewelyn and his men were preparing to go out hunting. The baby was sleeping in his cradle with the nurse near him.
Neverthless, the prince decided to leave his loyal hound Gelert to protect the homestead.
It was late when Llewelyn returned home, tired but victorious, he just wanted to see his son and relax in front of the great fire. But as he entered the room he beheld a terrible sight: furniture lay upturned and the baby's cradle lay empty on the floor. Everything was covered by blood. As the prince stood rooted the spot, he felt a soft, warm, velvety nose nuzzle the palm of his hand. He looked down to see Gelert's trusting eyes gazing up at him. The dog looked exhausted but wagged his tail weakly. His head and his paws were stained with blood.
The prince thought that the hound had killed his son so he drew his dagger and plunged it deep into Gelert's side. As the dog slumped to the ground, the prince heard a soft whimpering from behind the upturned cradle. As the dog lay dying, Llewelyn picked up his son and he saw a  covered body of a wolf lying dead on the floor. Thanks to Gelert, the baby remained unharmed.
Filled with remorse, Llewelyn gently stroked his friend for the last time. Gelert's body was buried outside the castle walls, close the river. The huge stone slab, inscribed with Gelert's name, still marks the grave and the village nearby still carries the name "Beddgelert" - Gelert's grave.