Le Bilingue
November 2019 Hunter and the Hunted: Making Our Way in Today’s World Photo essay: India’s Tigers in Extinction, p. 12
US 2020 Elections: What now?, p. 6
History’s cruel past: remembering tragedies, p.10
Ecole Jeannine Manuel Paris student Journalism
photo by Siddarta L.
letter from the editor
Dear Readers,
As we near the end of this trimester, Le Bilingue’s 2019/2020 team is proud to present to you their 2019 Back to School issue. As counterintuitive as that may sound, I believe it serves as a true testament to the difficulties of not only running, but also forming a team. Our team is not formed of professionals, but of students coming from many different backgrounds and many different grades. With such variety, the coming together of ideas, and the flourishing of those ideas into a tangible piece of work is no easy feat. The necessity for that type of collaboration, however, is exactly what we have tried to put forth in this issue. As you flip through the pages of the issue, you will find evidence of a world divided, a world in crisis; one that desperately needs ordinary, every-day people to step up and believe in the possibility for change. The cover of this issue features one of our very own reporters’ work of photography, that of an Indian tiger resting her head on a nearby tree. Although the image exudes peace and comfort, the reality of this species’ situation is of a shockingly different nature. In a way, I think we can all relate to that tiger, wandering around until she finds a place of calm to collect herself. It is becoming increasingly difficult for us to “disconnect” from the world and collect our own thoughts, to try and make sense of the experiences we are living at an incredibly rapid pace on a daily basis. In the midst of all this chaos, however, is a light in the dark. The fact that there are still people out there, whether it be politicians, wildlife reserve guards, or historians, someone is always fighting to make sure we look forward instead of backwards. Yes, we need to use our past mistakes as a learning curve, but it is too easy to fall into the hole of mourning what once was and forgetting what could be. As I prepare myself to enter the “real” world following my graduation this coming spring, I am all too aware of the challenges that our society faces and the responsibility each of us bears in ensuring it continues to live on and prosper. It has been my honour to work with both administration and students as Editor in Chief this past year in making Le Bilingue come to life, as a way to serve that very goal, but I know that it is time for change in this part of my life as well. I would like to thank you for your continued support of this publication, and encourage you to continue reading as a new generation of journalists take over as I hand of the torch to them. Sincerely, Chiara J. Editor in Chief
Table of Contents Hong Kong Hell .......................................................4-5 Where do we go from here? US Presidential elections 2020 .......................................................6-9 The Children Lost to the Abyss of History ...............................................10-11 Photo essay: Race for ...............................................................12-13 Survival CompĂŠtences: out to get us or out to help ...............................................................14-15 us? The iPad Revolution ...............................................16-17 Halloween: a century-old holiday .........................................................18-21
Hong Kon
by Charl
The Hong Kong protests, which started off as peaceful demonstrations against the government’s extradition bill, have now spiraled into six months of violent and even deadly protests that have sent the entire city into strikes, riots and frozen one of the most powerful financial sectors in the world. As of now, the protesters in Hong Kong cry out for liberty, democracy and freedom, crushed under the boot of an increasingly encroaching China. Amongst threats of military intervention from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), martial law and total economic collapse, it’s little wonder that
young people in HK see no In a modern Hong Kong, com crously overpriced housing ma inating China which seeks t democracy, a disparity of weal ination and students that can grew up in, these protests hav
Amidst the turmoil, Carrie L spurred on by China. For a little b political system and recent years
Abbreviated Timeline of event February Proposition to amend extradition bill, which would allow detainees in HK to be extradited to China
April Lam stokes the flames by introducing amendment allowing detainees to be put on trial in China Tens of thousands march on the LegCo (Hong Kong’s Legislative Council) in protest
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March Thousands take to the streets to protest the proposition
May HK government retracts certain parts of the bill
June More than half a million protest, Lam indefinitely delays the bill
July Protesters smash into LegCo and riot Lam declares the bill to be “dead” White shirts, a counterprotest movement (possibly funded by Beijing) violently assault media and MTR (Hong Kong’s mass transit railway) passengers
Protesters are fighting a foe too b na decides to bring in the PLA, the otherwise) that made Hong Kong a g Kong, the former British colony, wh a transparent market in Asia, free fro China, a West in the East, may not b was 50 years ago, which could put a fi totalitarianism and seal the fate of th press in China. We can only hope th brighter than expected, but it’s impo
ng Hell
les W.
future in their island home. mpletely dominated by a ludiarket, an invasive and domto extinguish all forms of lth which beggars the imagn’t recognize the place they ve been a long time coming.
Lam still hasn’t stepped down, background information on the in Hong Kong, the candidates
for leader (or Chief Executive, currently Carrie Lam) are chosen by the Chinese government and voted on, not by the people or representatives of the people, but by leaders in various fields such as agriculture, fishing, finance, banking, professors, icons and cultural leaders. Carrie Lam was not chosen by the people and is therefore not representative of their needs, but of Beijing’s. When she assumed office, Hong Kong was still reeling from the widespread 2014 umbrella movement protests which locked down Hong Kong, demanding more transparent elections and freedom of thought.
t surrounding the protests: September
August China pressures Cathay Pacific, an international airline that has heavy investments in the Chinese and Hong Kong markets, into denouncing employees that participated in protests
big to be beaten. In the end, if Chie liberties (which were financial and global city will be forever lost. Hong hich had built its reputation as being om the corruption and oppression of be the same beacon of freedom as it firm end to any Chinese resistance to he last bastion of free speech and free hat Hong Kong’s bleak future will be ossible to know for sure.
Protesters and riot police clash in airport Cathay Pacific CEO resigns, pressured by Chinese restrictions Joshua Wong and other protest leaders arrested under suspicious circumstances
Carrie Lam formally withdraws the bill Lam desperately tries to ease tensions Riots and teargas fired in MTR Lam is trapped by protesters in stadium during first “open address” to the people
October 70th anniversary of the foundation of communist China, massive protests, widespread chaos and protesters shot with live ammunition
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Where do We g
America’s Future in the Balance as
by Jus
As 2019 comes to an end, and we approach 2020, the world’s eyes turn towards the er. Presidential elections in the United States have always been a big event, especially in ample in 2008, Obama, the first African-American president was elected and later re-e lowed by Trump, a TV show host elected in 2016. Trump has surely not been the best immigration ban, started child-parent separation at the border with Mexico and last but ery year due to gun violence. So it seems that today, the US is extremely divided and weak
The US electoral system may seem complicated, more so than ocrats - who promote modern liberalism and are considered to are considered to be right-winged (for example Trump). Each s candidates then compete for the presidency : another state-wide
Currently, there are 19 candidates running for president in the Democratic party,
Currently, there are 19 candidates running for president in th president. With the current polls, we can see that in the Democr Sanders. For the Republican party, it is extremely probable that being the current president he has the most media-coverage and candidates miraculously takes the lead ), we will only be focusin three that can still go both ways.
the republican party only has 4
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Generally, in history and in 21st century. Political polariza heard through greater particip gauche’ and ‘extrême droite’ a for them, no matter the perso elections in the US are going t the Democratic party, the resu dates now, and how their view
go From Here?
s 2020 Presidential Elections Approach
stine D.
e most powerful country in the world: The United States and more specifically its new leadn recent years, where we have had many surprises (though some better than others). For exelected and as such, served 8 years at the head of his administration. However he was folpresident the US has ever had. Indeed, he tried to install a very prejudicial and xenophobic not least failed at enforcing gun control, even though in the US, about 40 000 people die evk. It is crucial that the US finds a president who will stabilize the country and help it find peace.
n in France, but it isn’t that hard to understand. In the US, there are two main parties: the Demo be left-winged ( for example Obama) - and the Republicans - who promote conservatism and side hosts ‘primary elections’, meaning that the candidate with the most votes wins. These two e election is held to determine which person, and in consequence, which party should take over.
he Democratic party whereas the Republican party only has 4 candidates, including the current ratic party, three candidates have clearly taken the lead: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie t Trump will come out victorious against William F. Weld, Mark Stanford and Joe Walsh, since d his voting base is extremely loyal. Because it is certain that Trump will win ( unless one of the ng on the three candidates at the head of the democratic elections as it is the fight between these
the world, the phenomenon of political polarization has grown more and more notorious in the ation is just a fancy word to say that the most ideologically oriented citizens make their voices pation in every stage of the political process. In France, for example, members of the ‘extrême are starting to reach very high percentages in polls because their voting-base continues to vote on representing the party. This isn’t the same for the ‘gauche’, the ‘droite’ or the ‘centre’. The 2020 to be extremely suspenseful as, seeing the polls, with political polarization and division among ults are completely and utterly unpredictable, for now. Let’s take a look at some of those candiws might separate on the broader “democratic” spectrum
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For Joe Biden, Barack Obama’s vice-president, this isn’t the first time running for president. In fact, it is hi 2008. He even said that this was certainly the last time he would ever lead a campaign. The 76-year-old senato of Trump’s attacks, prioritizes universal healthcare in his speeches. For him, healthcare is in fact a ‘personal’ m died in a car accident in 1972 and his son, Beau Biden, died in 2015 of brain cancer. Though he is not for Med by Bernie Sanders that gives free healthcare for everyone ) because he believes that the government can not expand coverage, and build up on the Affordable Care Act. Also known as Obamacare, this plan was installe system that offered the most coverage in the US, eve. Biden’s economic agenda is mainly focused on revitaliz it back power economically . Overall, Joe Biden isn’t defined by what he is but rather what he is not- revolutio Trump, it seems that Biden is the most capable of defeating the man who is making America fall again.
Presidential candidate Joe Biden (flickr.com)
Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (flickr.com)
Preside
Competing against Joe Biden in the Democratic elections is Bernie Sanders, the 82 year-old senator from N didate of the three favourites mentioned earlier. Sanders describes himself as a democratic socialist and focus equalities, openly insulting Wall Street, large corporations and billionaires. An important part of his voters are his ideas of universal healthcare and free studies. Sanders, on the contrary to Biden, hopes to reduce military sp when discussing foreign affairs. Socially he stands for immigration reform, abortion rights, LGBT rights and movement. Though Sanders’s ideas are much less moderate than those of traditional Democrats, maybe that i and maybe he is the person they need. Nevertheless, we have seen before that it isn’t because a country needs
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It may seem unfair to mention only these three Democratic candidates as they are already receiving enou problem is that because Biden, Sanders and Warren are such large figures and so is Trump, it is almost certa elections. There will be people who will vote for smaller candidates,and, in a way that is good, as perhaps t itself too much, it is possible that when the democratic candidate will face the republican candidate, the Rep ( which seems to be what will happen ), all Republicans will be voting for Trump. But perhaps the Democrat because she is too right and others simply might not vote because they think that Warren doesn’t represent t Because she was considered to be too right-wing by many democrats, a sign
is third, after running in 1998 and then or, who, a few weeks ago was the victim matter as his first wife and baby daughter dicare For All ( the medical plan offered t afford this expensive option, he would ed under Obama and was the healthcare zing the American middle class - giving onary or radical. However, when facing
ential candidate Elizabeth Warren (flickr.com)
New Jersey, and the most left-wing canses mostly on eliminating economic ine between 18 and 24, mainly attracted by spending and prioritize the environment d recognition of the Black Lives Matter is just what the United States and needs peace that they will vote for peace.
Finally, there is Elizabeth Warren, the law-professor, senator and advisor to the National Bankruptcy Review Commission. Elizabeth Warren seems to have taken the lead of these democratic elections just recently ( on October 25), surpassing Joe Biden. Warren, much more left-winged than Joe Biden, is considered to be the “ideological twin” of Bernie Sanders, with similar opinions on social matters. For example, Warren says that if elected, she will most likely follow the Medicare For All program, offered by Sanders. She also believes that public colleges should be free for every single citizen ( today, although community colleges are cheaper than private colleges, they do still cost money, meaning that some people just can’t afford to go). Finally, being one of the very few women running for president, Warren holds very pro-feminist speeches, allowing her to reach a larger voting-base. In fact, when having to choose between Warren and Sanders, people are left stumped as both seem to have the same beliefs. Nevertheless, people seem to prefer Warren as she is a woman and the United States has never had a female president. Just like with Bernie Sanders, there could be a danger with Warren winning as she is considered to be too much to the left by some and others believe her policies are unachievable : they would make subscriptions and taxes very expensive. Overall, Warren could definitely win these Democratic elections if she pushes the social side of her campaign slightly further, but when faced with Trump, her ideological positions and the division they create among democrats could be a big danger.
ugh media-coverage in the world, and not to mention the other, smaller candidates from both parties. The ain that they will win and nearly impossible that any other candidate will, at least not as close to the primary this candidate will come out of these elections stronger. But in another way, if the democratic party divides publicans will win as their voting-base is much more loyal. For example, if Warren wins and so does Trump ts who wanted Biden won’t vote for Warren making because she is too left-wing, others may vote against her them. This situation has happened repeatedly in US elections, such as in 2016, between Clinton and Trump. nificant amount of people simply didn’t vote, which lead to Trump’s election.
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The Children Lost To
by Roxan
History is marked by tragedies we must not allow ourselves to forget, in order to prevent future suffering wanting to own what the other has. One of the most extreme forms of greed takes shape in genocide, where group being murder. Due to the dehumanization of ‘the other’, what differentiates the group being eliminate prominent traits. In the prevention of the reappearance of these ‘traits’ in future generations, managing child part of the society that has deceived them. These children will inevitably have a legacy of pain, although man about them today to make sure they are not forgotten. One of the most well-known examples of these children is that of the Stolen Generations of Australia, where aboriginal (native) children were taken from their families throughout the first three quarters of the 20th century and placed in what essentially were conversion centers to western culture, with some being eventually adopted by white families. Although these children continued to be forcibly removed until the 1970s, the Australian government only issued a formal apology in 2008. There was also the case of the Lebensborn in Germany under Nazi rule, where women considered of the Aryan race but were not loyal to or respected by the Nazi Party, were made to have children with Nazi soldiers to produce children for other Nazi families. Children considered of Aryan race that were of non-Nazi parents were also taken from their families and placed in those loyal to the Party, to prevent opposition in future generations. A considerably less known event, and worryingly, a more recent one as well, from the mid-60s to the early 80s, children of poor families in the Reunion Island known as “les Enfants de la Creuse” were taken by French government officials either by force or by making illiterate parents sign contracts they thought promised their children a better education in metropolitan areas. Although it is true that most of these children might not have gone to school had they not gone to France, the despicable nature of these contracts lies in the fact that the parents could not understand the implication that they would never see their children again, as they were legally giving them up. Furthermore, what was actually happening to their children was that they were being sent to a deeply depopulated region of France known as “la Creuse” due to rural exodus, and being given to rural families to ensure that the region would be inhabited by future generations to work the land. With more than 2000 children being taken, they would oftentimes be taken advantage of, and were very likely to be used as free labor by the families that adopted them rather than being treated as new members of the family. France has still not issued an apology to the children, most of whom are now in their 60s, who have been suing the government for reparations, understandably so.
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If this is a topic that interests you, we recommend Nancy Huston’s novel “Fault lines” as it explores the
Additionally, if you would like to share a country’s story about stolen children that we did not mention, wh
The Abyss Of History
nne A.
g. Innumerable lives have been lost needlessly to the cruelty of human nature that so often originates greed, on e complete dehumanization of ‘the other’, the social group being eradicated, occurs to justify taking from the ed from the rest is used to make it seem like a pest that does not belong; ethnicity and religion being the most dren are key. There are children that have been lost to the abyss of history as they have been forced to become a ny fail to notice the damage society has caused which lasts throughout generations of families. We are writing
Stolen Generation children in Australia, 1921 (wikipedia.org)
Kidnapping of Polish children by Nazi-Germans in 1942 (wikipedia.org)
This unresolved case is a reminder that we must not be naïve enough to believe that recounting events of the past is enough to ensure that today’s nations have learnt from the mistakes of the past and can be trusted to do the right thing. To mention just two current events, in the United States and China, we find disquieting situations that are worryingly similar to the past manipulations of children. In the United States, children of immigrants held at the borders waiting for their case to be heard, are separated from their parents, and even more horrifyingly some have been adopted by US citizens whilst their actual parents are being deported or held in immigration centers. In China, some argue that a genocide of Uyghur Muslims has been occurring, persecuted for their practice of the Islamic state, as the atheist government would find that it uproots their power. Apparently with torture techniques being used to force conversion, children being adopted by Chinese couples loyal to the government party, and Muslim women being forced to marry non-Muslim Chinese men. We can only imagine that the children from these forced marriages will be closely watched by the husbands to ensure that the mother is not passing down her faith – culturally erasing Uyghurs from China.
e repercussions of one child being lost to the abyss of history throughout four generations its families. hether it is a part of history or a contemporary threat, feel free to DM us on our Instagram page: @lebilingue
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race for Photos by Siddartha L.
The Indian Tigers
by Siddar
The Royal Bengal tiger ( Panth national animal since 1973. Tiger of the eight subspecies are extinc tection plan, Project Tiger, in 197 cording to India’s latest tiger stat the National Tiger Conservation of India and the World Wildlife Bengal tigers in India, which may tiger pop
Tourists in jeeps flock around a tigress in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
Tigress on the hunt in Ranthambore National Park
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Project Tiger has created reserv tection. The outer part of the res usually accompanied by a guide industry for wildlife experiences ple, the number of social media p is enormous. Because of the larg the fact that drivers and guides ca selves, it is rare to spot a tiger wit ing
Limited space has led officials i National Park to believe that the death of tigers in said parks. Com gers to venture further out of res attacked and seriously injured o case, hunting down and killing the Calvin Klein Obsession colo Independent puts it: “They [tiger sniffs, they luxuriate in the sme traps are sprayed with the perfum teams to get there and tranquilis much appreciate civetone, which cologne i
r survival
s’ Struggle for Space
rta L.
hera tigris tigris ) has been India’s rs are an endangered species: two ct. As such, India created a pro73, which has run since then. Actus report, carried out in 2018 by n Authority, the Wildlife Institute e Fund, there are currently 2,967 y be as high as 80% of the world’s pulation.
ves all around India for tiger proserve is open to tourists, who are and a driver. This has created an s, which are popular. For examposts related to wildlife sightings ge number of tourists, as well as an communicate between themthout a group of Jeeps surroundg it.
in reserves such as Ranthambore eir will be competition leading to mpetition for food has also led tiserves to hunt. In turn, they have or killed civilians. In the second is authorised. Interesting tidbit: ogne is used as tiger bait. As the rs] roll around it, they take huge ell for several minutes.”. Camera me, which gives time for hunting se the tiger. Tigers seem to very h is the molecule that gives this its smell.
Tigress drags spotted deer after the kill.
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“Compétences”: out to ge by Alice
“Compétences” is a grading system that replaces numeral grades by colors. This was
grading, as it has only been in place for 2 full school years. It is a system appreciated However, they also include n
Pros Reduces social inequalities: The decline of social disparity due to “compétences” usually applies more to public schools than private ones like EJM, however it is still an important advantage. In an experiment conducted by Pascal Huguet, two groups of 3ème students coming from diffrent socio-economic backgrounds, were tested with “compétences” in maths, french, and history-geography. At the end of the year, their brevet results were much higher than expected, and the disparity between students impaired by their backgrounds lessened.
Clearer areas of improvement: By using this grading system, the student knows what specific skills they are good at, and vice-versa. In theory. However, after a year of “compétences”, I found that this was actually quite efficient, even though I was quite skeptical at first. It is, in fact, easier to understand where to improve, and to solely focus on that.
Less competition: This is a central, if not the most important, benefit of “compétences”. The Education Nationale, as well as our own school’s administration, particularly stressed this particular advantage whilst introducing us to “compétences”. Transforming grades out of twenty to colors would avoid, or at least, tone down, competition between students, which can prove to be very harmful. Even if students compare colors, the lack of understanding of what the colors actually represent leads to a reduction of stress related to competition. Which leads us to the negative aspects of this grading system.
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To sum everything up, I would say that “competences” would be a close to pe between middle and high school. Personally, I disliked “compétences”, and a many actually find this system beneficial, as the
et us, or out to help us ? B.
first applied in EJM’s middle school in 2017, making it a relatively new way of d by some, and hated by others. Indeed, “compétences” have many advantages. numerous drawbacks.
cons Lack of understanding A considerable quantity of students do not fully understand what “compétences” are. I personally always found this system very confusing. If a P+ is supposed to represent a surpassing of expectations, then why is it a grade ?
Time This method takes teachers much more time to grade, especially with Pronote. Each color has to be individually selected, and evaluations can sometimes include around ten different skills. Multiply that by twenty-five or so students, and it represents a substantial amount of time for the grader. In other words, students get their grades later, which most do not like, as it leaves them less time to correct their faults.
High school The French lycées does not use “compétences”. Once you graduate from 3ème, it is time to go back to grades out of twenty. The transition is quite tough. Whilst an “emerging”, or a “yellow” might not seem that bad, out of twenty it is equal to a grade between five and ten. Not great by most standards. This means that students, believing they were strong in a particular subject, are in fact at a level that is mediocre, once translated into grades out of twenty. As a result, the first few weeks of seconde are made even harder.
erfect system, if Pronote could be made more efficient, and if a transition were to be made am much happier with, in my opinion, more substantial grades out of twenty. However, e topic continues to be a debate in classrooms and hallways.
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The Ipad Re
Benefits and downsides to the g
by Cha
First introduced in 2016, Ipads are now a staple in almost every grade, from 6
But do they represent a positive change in learning in the scho
The school administration appears to be mostly in favor of the project, stating that they “allow for studen ley, head director of 2nd INT). They also promote group work, with tools like google drive permitting the cess to the greatest library of resources ever devised, the Internet. Even though the list of available website the teachers, it still provides most websites that are needed and is undeniably useful in this regard.
On the other hand, many teachers dislike the Ipads and don’t allow students to use them in class, effective Ipads can also be distractions and often pull students away from their work and the classroom, they have could need them.
Another argument in favour of the Ipads, and one of the main reasons why the program was started, is that often overburdened backpacks by compressing textbooks down into a portable, light and digital form. But as classes such as math often still require or are better served by paper textbooks. This is once again comp ly every teacher, books and textbooks are mandatory, with the Ipads being seldom used, and only in very p big responsibility, and though most students have proven their ability to use them responsibly, if they are and are still fairly fragile devices that require attention and care. Not to mention the obvious point that the be expensive, for many totaling nearly 300 euros per year over several years. This does add up to a price w Ipads that are relinquished to our control at the end of the period mandated in the contract (usually 3 yea Finally, though it has been hotly debated, certain studies indicate a correlation between handwriting and possibly put the notion that Ipads help us learn in jeopardy.
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In the end, these devices are the way of the future, and are very useful and provide access to amazing ressour They’re lighter, more efficient and should always have their place in the classroom. But until we actually sta of making exceptions, completely integrate them and start making full use of their incredible powers, they pensive, useless paperweights.
evolution
growing role of tech in education
arles W.
6e to 2nd. And with no plan to stop the Ipads, it seems that they are here to stay. ool, or are they in fact debilitating and holding students back?
nts to be more autonomous” and that they “provide access to fantastic resources” (Mrs. Hure easy transfer of information and projects. In a similar vein, the Ipads also give students aces is carefully tailored, being restricted in broad terms to Wikipedia and those authorized by
ely rendering the devices into a useless toy. Though this is understandable, as been given for us to use, and restricting this is putting into question why we
t they remove weight from student’s unfortunately, this is often negated pounded by the fact that for virtualparticular cases. Ipads are equally a not charged they become pointless e Ipads have always, and always will which is higher than the value of the ars). better memorization, which could
rces, technology and opportunities. art using them everywhere, instead y will remain in many instances ex-
)
l e x e (P
m o s.c
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Halloween: A Cent
by Ales
Halloween, celebrated yearly on October 31st, is one of the largest commercial holidays in the US, enjoy or-treating, but its beginnings trace back to ancient festivals and holidays, the first of which began over Church before making its way to America via i
A BRIEF HISTORY
The origins of Halloween as we know it today likely trace back over 2 millennia to the Celts and their Ne ning, the line between the worlds of the living and the dead blurred, allowing the ghosts of the deceased to r to predictions from the druids. They also dressed up in animal skins and heads, as they believed this preven continued to be celebrated until it was merged under Roman rule with two Roman festivals, that of Feralia, Centuries later, with the heavy influence of Christianity, pagan holidays were gradually replaced with si century AD as a substitute for Samhain. It was celebrated on November 2nd and remained very similar to devils and angels. Parades were also organized during which the poor would go from house to house, begg into trick-or-treating.
Ever since the 8th century AD, the day before All Souls’ D European countries (Toussaint in France for example). Be night before, October 31st, which coincided with the origi While Halloween was largely forbidden in colonial Amer memorated the dead and told ghost stories. Halloween itsel the potato famine, brought the tradition with them and po asking for food or money. By the turn of the century, Halloween was widely celebr iday, mostly celebrated with neighborhood parades and pa holiday became increasingly aimed at the young due to the which had been nonexistent for several decades due to fea Halloween has only continued to grow since and is now passed by Christmas, and a quarter of all candy sold is bou
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tury Old Holiday
ssia V.
yed by children and adults alike. It may now be evocative of jack-o-lanterns, spooky costumes and trickr 2000 years ago. Throughout the ages, it has been influenced by the Celts, the Romans and the Catholic immigrants and evolving into its current form.
OF HALLOWEEN
ew Year’s Eve, which took place on October 31st. They believed that on that evereturn to earth. To celebrate this, they lit bonfires, sacrificed animals and listened nted the roaming ghosts from recognizing them. This holiday, known as Samhain, , a commemoration of the dead, and of Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees. imilar, religious ones. In this case, the Church created All Souls’ Day in the 11th o the original Celtic festival: big bonfires were lit and people dressed up as saints, ging for food, and were given “soul cakes”, a tradition that centuries later evolved
Day has been a religious holiday : All Saints’ Day, which is still celebrated nowadays on November 1st in many ecause it was holy, or hallowed, it was also referred to as All-Hallows, giving the name All-Hallows Eve to the inal date of the Celtic festival of Samhain. rica by their rigid Protestantism, fall festivities to celebrate the harvest were widespread, where they also comlf began to be celebrated in the mid-nineteenth century, when waves of immigrants, especially the Irish fleeing opularized the holiday nationwide. Americans then began to wear costumes while going from house to house
rated but had lost its religious, ghostly and frightening aspects to become a secular, community-centered holarties where people wore costumes, played games and shared seasonal foods. After the fifties baby boom, the e large number of children, and started to be celebrated in schools and homes. The trick-or-treating tradition, ars of violence, was revived. one of the main commercial holidays in the US. Americans spend $6 billion yearly on it, an amount only surught for Halloween.
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Halloween in Fr Photos by Alessia V.
Halloween remains a largely American holiday despit mid-October, many stores in France and many other have storefront decorations for the occasion. While ho be that unusual to the French, if someone were to go t both amused and intrigued looks, but also find it to be expecting
At the Theatre campus, Halloween is mainly celebra the Toussaint break, the main staircase of the elemen tions ranging from spiders and their webs wrapped ar terns pasted on the walls. The younger students also d some of them impressively elaborate. The 6eme studen by partaking in a cookie decorati
DO you have any great halloween photos? Send them i to be featured! 20
rance and at Ejm
te it becoming increasingly international. Beginning in European countries offer Halloween-themed items or osting or going to a Halloween costume party would not trick-or-treating, they would not only be the subject of e a fairly fruitless venture as most people would not be g their visit.
ated by the primary students. For several weeks before ntary school building displays a host of spooky decoraround the handrails to flying bats and cute jack-o-landress up in costumes on the Friday before the holidays, nts also had the opportunity to enjoy the Halloween fun ing workshop, the first of its kind.
in to our instagram account @lebilingue for a chance 21
Our Team Chiara J. Valentine S. Charles W. Elina B. Siddarta L. Alessia V. Alice B. Justine D.
Editor in Chief Editor Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter
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