Italy

Saint George: The Greek patron saint of England (who came from Turkey)

As everyone in England knows, April 23rd is St George’s Day, when we celebrate the cross-wearing dragon-slayer’s bravery and Christian values. What could be more English that Saint George, the patron saint of England? Quite a lot, as it turns out.

7 Christmas traditions: Pantomimes

Wednesday, 19 December 2012 Cultures and traditions By Lizzie Brooks

Christmas is a time of tradition and ritual, such as singing “We wish you a merry Christmas” to the Christmas pudding as it emerges, alight, into the dining room… (OK, so that’s a personal tradition, but I have only just found this out. I thought everyone did this up until last year!)

Every day until Christmas Day, we will explain where and why a Christmas tradition came about. Today, pantomimes!

Unusual voting systems from around the world

Tuesday, 6 November 2012 Cultures and traditions By Dom Stapleton

Just in case you didn’t already know (I mean, it’s not as if anyone’s mentioned it at all…), millions of Americans will today be voting for the guy they want to be their president for the next four years – the guy who’s already been doing it for the last four years, or the guy who hasn’t. So, not being immune to all this election fever, we decided to investigate unusual voting systems from around the world.

Where cork comes from

Monday, 30 July 2012 Science and nature By Lizzie Brooks

Have you ever really considered where your noticeboard or wine-stopper came from? Well, it comes from holiday. To be more precise: Portugal, France, Spain and Italy, amongst other warm and dry places. If you’ve ever been to one of these places, you’re bound to have seen a cork oak tree, aka the Quercus suber.

5 lovely castles from around the world

Thursday, 26 April 2012 Sights and smells By Lizzie Brooks

Castles have always had a certain magical quality about them. They inspire feelings of romance, chivalry and heroism that you just don’t really see around these days. So we’ve found five of the most interesting and beautiful castles from around the world to enable you to rekindle a little of that medieval magic.

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Saint George: The Greek patron saint of England (who came from Turkey)

7 Christmas traditions: Pantomimes

Unusual voting systems from around the world

Where cork comes from

5 lovely castles from around the world

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