In Christian tradition the Magi (pronounced /ˈmeɪdʒaɪ/; from the Greek: μάγοι, magoi, usually translated as "wise men", although it probably meant "astronomer" or "astrologer"... that is why they were following a star), also referred to as the (Three) Wise Men, (Three) Kings, or Kings from the East, are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts.Traditions identify a variety of different names for the Magi. In the Western Christian church they have been commonly known since the 8th century as Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. In the Gospel of Matthew, the only one to describe the visit of the Magi, it states that they came "from the east" to worship the Christ, "born King of the Jews". Although Matthew does not mention their number, because three gifts are recorded as having been given to the Christ Child, traditionally there are thought to have been three Magi. The Magi, as the "Three Kings" or "Three Wise Men" are regular figures in traditional accounts of the nativity and in celebrations of Christmas.
He used to style himself as ‘the man from Madrid’, but with his hymn for Celta de Vigo, the bestselling star is also winning new fans in Galicia.
When Celta de Vigo start the new season this summer in La Liga, Spain’s top football tier, their fans will have a new club anthem to shake the foundations of their Balaídos stadium: Oliveira Dos Cen Anos by C Tangana, a rapper and singer whose El Madrileño was the bestselling album of 2021 in his native Spain.
From You’ll Never Walk Alone to Seven Nation Army, the crossover between football and popular music is well established. But the new Celta anthem is far from the Three Lions template of big choruses and simple singalongs. The song is the result of intense research and modern pop nous, fusing tradition and modernity to create what might be the most artistically ambitious football anthem ever.
Tangana, real name Antón Álvarez Alfaro, doesn’t actually sing on it, ceding the spotlight to Vigo’s Coral Casablanca choir, tambourine-wielding female vocal group Lagharteiras and Celta supporters’ club Tropas de Breogán. What’s more, the song leans heavily on the folklore of Galicia, the north-western region of Spain where Vigo is located. The song is in Galician – its title loosely translates as “100-year-old olive tree” – and uses the traditional rhythms and lyrics of Galician folk music. The song’s video, meanwhile, highlights the landscape of the Vigo estuary, including the island of San Simón and the Rande Bridge.
Tangana says he saw the song as an opportunity to create something that could transcend popular culture. “What cultural objects can you create that will change – or endure in – our culture?” he asks. “Although this is something local, around a city, that feeling of belonging to the club and the institution it represents, makes it a really strong opportunity for you to influence a lot of people.”
The origins of Celta’s new anthem – a himno in Spanish – were simple. In 2021 Celta used Twitter to ask supporters if anyone would like to compose a new anthem to celebrate the team’s 2023 centennial. Tangana, born in Madrid to a Celta-supporting Galician father and Andalusian mother, replied and the wheels were put in motion.
Composing the new anthem, however, was far from straightforward. Before putting pen to paper, Tangana carried out research with important figures in Galician culture, including writer Pedro Feijoo and folk musicians Rodrigo Romaní and Alfredo Dourado. Tangana says that the opportunity to immerse himself in Galician folklore “was like a gift to myself as an artist”.
“It is an anthem for a centennial,” he says. “Each element has to have the same weight: a centennial weight.”
From the various traditional ideas incorporated into the song, Tangana highlights the importance of the pandeireteiras and cantareiras (both groups of female singers, with the former, such as Lagharteiras, using tambourines). “This combination of female voices, always in a choir, almost never as soloists, playing percussion, all together, for me is the most moving thing there is musically in the whole world,” he says.
He himself is not fluent in Galician and writing a song in the language was a challenge. But he says it was important to stretch himself. “In the globalised world in which we live, with this obsession that everyone has to be the same, express ourselves in the same ways, make the same gestures […] cultural expressions that are very local for me have great value,” he says.
Tangana’s decision to write an anthem for RC Celta de Vigo initially caused confusion in Spain, with the artist closely linked to Madrid – El Madrileño translates as “the man from Madrid” – but the club’s fans were won round after the rapper explained his links to the club. What’s more, Tangana says he sees writing Oliveira Dos Cen Anos as part of the same process of fusing folk culture with modern production that he explored on El Madrileño, where flamenco music met Latin folk, rock, hip-hop and R&B, and on his hugely successful 2021 Tiny Desk performance for National Public Radio in the US, where he was joined by family members and musical collaborators for a performance that buzzed with the raw energy of a flamenco show.
“When I started to do international tours, spending a lot of time in the US and Latin America, I started to realise that I was missing something,” he says. “That made me turn towards the culture of Spain, towards cultural elements that had shaped my childhood and adolescence, and that I had given up on because I was looking at a screen or listening to music that came from other places.”
Galician vocal group Lagharteiras, who feature on Oliveira Dos Cen Anos. Photograph: Rocío Aguirre
In this, Tangana’s music is part of a wider trend in Spanish culture, where musicians are combining elements of musical folklore – from Rosalía’s use of the flamenco palmas to Maria Arnal i Marcel Bagés’ take on Catalan folk – with 21st-century production. “The music I listened to as a child, the records that my parents liked and my family listened to, who was singing at a fiesta, what you eat in a normal day in Spain, where you hang out, the way you interact with alcohol, parties, family, all that helped to shape El Madrileño,” Tangana says. “Finally I feel like I have an artistic identity that is related to me.”
Oliveira Dos Cen Anos is also firmly in the Spanish football tradition, whereby clubs commission local musicians to create bespoke anthems – such as FC Barcelona’s Cant del Barça – which are then taken up by fans.
Tangana says it is for RC Celta supporters to decide whether they want to sing Oliveira Dos Cen Anos on the terraces but the response so far has been very warm. And if they do sing his song when the first game of the new season kicks off in August? “I am a bit nervous,” Tangana says with a smile. “But to hear it in the stadium, in front of so many people, will be incredibly powerful.”
No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non-commercial purposes only.
Star Wars Day is an informal commemorative day observed annually on May 4 to celebrate George Lucas' Star Wars media franchise. Observance of the day spread quickly through media since the franchise began in 1977.
The date originated from the pun "May the Fourth be with you", a variant of the popular Star Wars catchphrase "May the Force be with you". Even though the holiday was not created or declared by Lucasfilm, many Star Wars fans across the world have chosen to celebrate the holiday. It has since been embraced by Lucasfilm and parent company Disney as an annual celebration of Star Wars.
No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non-commercial purposes only.
April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day is a day celebrated in many countries on April 1st. The day is named for the custom of playing practical jokes and hoaxes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbours, or sending them on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. Traditionally, in some countries, such as the UK, Australia and South Africa the jokes only last until noon, and someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool". Elsewhere, such as in Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Russia, The Netherlands, and the U.S., the jokes last all day.
St. Patrick's Day is a global celebration of Irish culture on or around 17th March. It particularly remembers St Patrick, one of Ireland's patron saints, who ministered Christianity in Ireland during the fifth century.
St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in many parts of the world, especially by Irish communities and organizations. Many people wear an item of green clothing on the day. Parties featuring Irish food and drinks that are dyed in green food colour are part of this celebration.
It is a time when children can indulge in sweets and adults can enjoy a "pint" of beer at a local pub. Many restaurants and pubs offer Irish food or drink.
No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non-commercial purposes only.
Iago Aspas has single-handedly carried Celta on his back for too long. The striker and the club have found a young successor
In the land of Iago Aspas, maybe one day Gabri Veiga will write his own story. Still only 20 and a journalism student, it started with him kicking a pumpkin around his uncle’s place in the Galician countryside. Where it goes, who knows yet, but it’s going to be somewhere good: named the best player in La Liga for February, a likely call-up for Spain this Friday, and scorer of eight (mostly absurd) goals this season.
The one against Betis was ridiculous and some even have dared claim the Celta Vigo midfielder will end up like Aspas, his captain. Only, Veiga insists, there’s no one like him – and he knows, he’s seen it.
Born in O Porriño, Pontevedra province, Veiga was six on the day Aspas made his debut for Celta, the team they both supported a generation apart. He watched him rescue them from sliding into the third tier. Aspas left the same year Veiga arrived, aged 11, and saw the forward come back again, just happy to be home. Veiga saw him score more La Liga goals than any other Spaniard, in four seasons. Now he’s seeing it from up close.
Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, masque and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life.
Decimal Day (15th February 1971) was the day the United Kingdom and Ireland decimalised their currencies.
The old system
Under the old currency of pounds, shillings and pence, the pound was made up of 240 pence (denoted by the letter d for Latin denarius and now referred to as "old pence"), with 12 pence in a shilling and 20 shillings (denoted by s for Latin solidus) in a pound. Especially in an era before widespread computer use, monetary calculation, such as adding up sums of money, was more complicated than with a decimal currency. Tourists were also confused by coins such as the 'half-crown' (worth two shillings and sixpence, or one eighth of a pound). The loss of value of the currency meant that the penny, with the same diameter as the U.S. half dollar, was of relatively slight value (the farthing, worth one-quarter of an old penny, had been demonetised in 1960).
Changeover
Under the new system, the pound was retained but was now divided into 100 "new pence", denoted by the symbol p. New, different coinage was issued alongside the old coins. The 5p and 10p coins were first introduced in April 1968 and were the same size, composition and value as the shillings and florins circulating alongside them. In October 1969 the 50p coin was introduced and the old ten-shilling note was eventually withdrawn, in November 1970. This reduced the number of new coins that had to be introduced on the day and meant that the public was already familiar with three of the six new coins. Small book were made available containing some or all of the new denominations.
Decimal Day itself went smoothly and did not even form the lead story the following day in most national newspapers. Criticisms included the small size of the new halfpenny coin and the fact that some traders had taken advantage of the transition to raise prices. Some used new pennies as sixpences in vending machines.
Now let's hope some day in the near future traffic signs and capacity measurements (for example in petrol stations) in the UK, Ireland and other English-speaking countries will also be decimalised. Shall our eyes see that change? At LEZ we are afraid we won't...
No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non-commercial purposes only.
Saint
Valentine's Day is observed on 14th February each year. It is celebrated in many
countries around the world, although it remains a working day in most of them.
Next 16th will be Monday, not just any Monday, but... Blue Monday!
Blue Monday is a name given to the third Monday in January, thought to be the most depressing day of the year as part of a 2005 publicity campaign by Sky Travel.
The concept is considered pseudoscience with its formula derided by scientists as nonsensical.
In Christian tradition the Magi (pronounced /ˈmeɪdʒaɪ/; from the Greek: μάγοι, magoi, usually translated as "wise men", although it probably meant "astronomer" or "astrologer"... that is why they were following a star), also referred to as the (Three) Wise Men, (Three) Kings, or Kings from the East, are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts.Traditions identify a variety of different names for the Magi. In the Western Christian church they have been commonly known since the 8th century as Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. In the Gospel of Matthew, the only one to describe the visit of the Magi, it states that they came "from the east" to worship the Christ, "born King of the Jews". Although Matthew does not mention their number, because three gifts are recorded as having been given to the Christ Child, traditionally there are thought to have been three Magi. The Magi, as the "Three Kings" or "Three Wise Men" are regular figures in traditional accounts of the nativity and in celebrations of Christmas.
Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Traditionally, it has been a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. While it may have been religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday. It is sometimes casually referred to as Turkey Day.
In Canada, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October, which is Columbus Day in the United States. In the United States, it falls on the fourth Thursday of November. Since being fixed at the fourth Thursday in November by law in 1941, the holiday in the United States can occur on any date from November 22 to November 28. When it falls on November 22 or 23, it is not the last Thursday, but the penultimate Thursday in November. As it is a Federal holiday, all United States government offices are closed and employees are paid for that day. It is also a holiday for the New York Stock Exchange and most other financial markets and financial services companies.
The long-reigning monarch, 96, died Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, with her eldest child, Charles, now ascending the throne. In honor of the UK’s new royal ruler, the national anthem has been tweaked from “God Save the Queen” to “God Save the King.” The content of the song will remain the same, with the word “queen” simply being swapped out for “king,” and the she/her pronouns changed to he/him.
The national anthem was written in 1745 and was originally titled “God Save the King” in honor of then-ruler King George III. The song did not become the country’s anthem until the early 1800s. Since then, the anthem has switched back and forth between “God Save the King” and “God Save the Queen,” depending on the sex of the monarch.
On Thursday, many Britons took to Twitter to say it would be “weird” to hear the changed national anthem after 70 years of “God Save the Queen.”
“I suppose Britain’s national anthem switches back to God Save the King — that’s gonna be weird for a while,” one stated.
Meanwhile, another chimed in saying the country would subsequently alter in a myriad of other small ways, too.
“I cannot emphasize enough how much Britain will change in the coming year,” they wrote. “New monarch. New money. New national anthem. New stamps. It will change in a thousand seemingly minor, but major ways.”
The death of the queen came Thursday evening British time, just hours after Buckingham Palace said that her doctors had been “concerned for Her Majesty’s health.” Charles released a statement after the death was announced, mourning his late mother:
“The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty, the queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” the 73-year-old said.
“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
Charles’ coronation is not expected to take place for months, as the country enters a prolonged period of mourning.
Star Wars Day is an informal commemorative day observed annually on May 4 to celebrate George Lucas' Star Wars media franchise. Observance of the day spread quickly through media and grassroots celebrations since the franchise began in 1977.
The date originated from the pun "May the Fourth be with you", a variant of the popular Star Wars catchphrase "May the Force be with you". Even though the holiday was not created or declared by Lucasfilm, many Star Wars fans across the world have chosen to celebrate the holiday. It has since been embraced by Lucasfilm and parent company Disney as an annual celebration of Star Wars.
No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non-commercial purposes only.
April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day is a day celebrated in many countries on April 1st. The day is named for the custom of playing practical jokes and hoaxes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbours, or sending them on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. Traditionally, in some countries, such as the UK, Australia and South Africa the jokes only last until noon, and someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool". Elsewhere, such as in Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Russia, The Netherlands, and the U.S., the jokes last all day.
St. Patrick's Day is a global celebration of Irish culture on or around 17th March. It particularly remembers St Patrick, one of Ireland's patron saints, who ministered Christianity in Ireland during the fifth century.
St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in many parts of the world, especially by Irish communities and organizations. Many people wear an item of green clothing on the day. Parties featuring Irish food and drinks that are dyed in green food colour are part of this celebration.
It is a time when children can indulge in sweets and adults can enjoy a "pint" of beer at a local pub. Many restaurants and pubs offer Irish food or drink.
No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non-commercial purposes only.
Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, masque and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life.
Decimal Day (15th February 1971) was the day the United Kingdom and Ireland decimalised their currencies.
The old system
Under the old currency of pounds, shillings and pence, the pound was made up of 240 pence (denoted by the letter d for Latin denarius and now referred to as "old pence"), with 12 pence in a shilling and 20 shillings (denoted by s for Latin solidus) in a pound. Especially in an era before widespread computer use, monetary calculation, such as adding up sums of money, was more complicated than with a decimal currency. Tourists were also confused by coins such as the 'half-crown' (worth two shillings and sixpence, or one eighth of a pound). The loss of value of the currency meant that the penny, with the same diameter as the U.S. half dollar, was of relatively slight value (the farthing, worth one-quarter of an old penny, had been demonetised in 1960).
Changeover
Under the new system, the pound was retained but was now divided into 100 "new pence", denoted by the symbol p. New, different coinage was issued alongside the old coins. The 5p and 10p coins were first introduced in April 1968 and were the same size, composition and value as the shillings and florins circulating alongside them. In October 1969 the 50p coin was introduced and the old ten-shilling note was eventually withdrawn, in November 1970. This reduced the number of new coins that had to be introduced on the day and meant that the public was already familiar with three of the six new coins. Small book were made available containing some or all of the new denominations.
Decimal Day itself went smoothly and did not even form the lead story the following day in most national newspapers. Criticisms included the small size of the new halfpenny coin and the fact that some traders had taken advantage of the transition to raise prices. Some used new pennies as sixpences in vending machines.
Now let's hope some day in the near future traffic signs and capacity measurements (for example in petrol stations) in the UK, Ireland and other English-speaking countries will also be decimalised. Shall our eyes see that change? At LEZ we are afraid we won't...
No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non-commercial purposes only.
Saint
Valentine's Day is observed on 14th February each year. It is celebrated in many
countries around the world, although it remains a working day in most of them.
Text by Simon Cambers. Reblogged from The Guardian.
Rafael Nadal’s body may be creaking but his desire remains undimmed
The 35-year-old was at his best to win his 21st grand slam title and there may be more despite his history of injuries
One of the most remarkable traits of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer throughout their incredible careers has been the way they have maintained their hunger for titles and sheer enthusiasm for the sport. No matter the obstacles in their path or the advancing of time, winning seems to bring them just as much joy as it did when they first tasted victory at the highest level.
The sheer elation on Nadal’s face on Sunday as he completed an incredible comeback to beat Daniil Medvedev in the final of the Australian Open told its own story. A month and a half after the recovery from foot surgery left him wondering if he would even make it to Melbourne, and a month after he had Covid, which also interrupted his preparations, Nadal is back as champion and for now, the most successful of the lot.
Winning his first grand slam at 19, as Nadal did at the French Open in 2005, was a “super-special moment” but when you’re 35 and up until six weeks ago, you did not even know whether you would be able to play in the tournament, let alone win it, the feeling is something else altogether.
