Some Underworld things

We are in a month of changing seasons, from summer to Autumn, when the frontier betweeen life and death is so weak, when the ones who died are closer to us, when Persephone returns to her husband Hades to the underworld, leaving her poor mother Demeter devastated. That's Halloween or Día de los Santos o los Muertos.

That's why I have decided that it could be interesting to see some videos about the underworld, witches etc to clarify some aspects of it. 

I hope you enjoy them and find inspiration for these days.

A Tour of the Ancient Greek Underworld by TED-Ed

The Sybil of Cumas guides Aquilles, recently dead in Troy, all along the Underworld

The myth of Hades and Persephone

Who are the God and Godess of the Underworld?, Why does plants and flowers die in Autumn and Winter ?

 

Witches have always been relevant characters all along this season, nowadays girls dress as witches just for fun in Halloween or fancy dress parties, but  we must remember that this wasn't that way in ancient times, women who were just healers or nurses were prosecuted, accused and killed for that reason. 

Here you can see one of the most famous or better said "infamous" witch trials in history  

Witches Trials in Salem ( Massachussets, USA) 

 

But it didn't only happened in USA, but all around Europe, even in Spain we have the famous Brujas de Zugarramurdi (Navarra) where they held a similar trial for suspected women. 

Witches and Covens from Zugarramurdi (Navarra, Spain)

I wish it gives us some foood for thought as it was only women the ones who mostly were suspected. women were thought to be impure and could be friends with the devil, they were "inferior" or "mentally weak". Those who  were more independent or showed more knowledge were suspected even till recent times.

WITCHY AND GHOSTLY IDIOMS

In this strange and uncertain year we are living we haven't been able to celebrate Halloween properly, so thinking about possible ways to learn something related to it, I guessed we could do some ghostly and witchy idioms. So if you are ready, off we go......

TO GHOST SOMEONE: to ignore someone's messages or calls trying to avoid that person

The action is called "ghostling"       

ex: He has been ghosted by his girlfriend, he never answers her calls  

TO HAVE THE GHOST OF A CHANCE: to have the slightest possibility of something.

ex: he didn't have the ghost of a chance to win the race, he had got injured 

TO GIVE UP THE GHOST "Tirar la toalla" : when you stop trying because you know it is useless and you won't succeed.

ex: After several attempts for a vaccine, he gave up the ghost.  

GHOST WRITER " un negro": a writer who does the work but                                                     doesn't get the credit.     

                                         ex: she got lots of money for the book she                                                                                         published, but her ghost writer was discovered

 

TO WORK THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT " hacer turno de noche" : to work from 12:00 till 8:00 at night

            ex: She was waiting for her husband to return from working his graveyard shift.

  

DIGGING YOUR OWN GRAVE: When someone does something even when they know it will cause them problems. 

 

ex: when she rejected the job she knew she was digging her own grave. 

 

 AS COLD AS A WITCH'S CARESS: "tan frío como un muerto" something which is very cold, chilling

                 Ex: Her feet were as cold as a witch's caress

 

A WITCH'S BREW or BROTH: " mezcla explosiva" a fearsome mixture

        Ex: drugs and alcohol are witches' brew  

 TO GO ON A WITCH HUNT: to blame or pursue somebody for their ideas or actions

        Ex: There was a witch hunt for comunists in USA

 

TO PUT A SPELL ON SOMEONE: "estar hechizado"  when you are fascinated, or influenced by someone.

            ex: Ariadna Grande has put a spell on you 

 

TO SPILL YOUR GUTS " desahogarse, soltarlo todo, escupirlo todo"  when you are holding a secret and people want you to tell it. 

ex: Her mum wanted to know everything, so she spilt her guts and told her 

TO PLAY THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE. " hacer de abogado del diablo" someone who will argue against an idea or suggestion only to get it validated by them. 

 

Ex: she played the devil's advocate when she discussed women's rights 

TO BE DEAD ON YOUR FEET. "no poder sostenerse de cansancio" you are so tired that you can even stand up

I hope you like it and learn them. so go ahead and use these spooky idioms. 

So creepy......

Are you ready for Halloween?
Get, Set, Go!

"Vincent"

 

 Director: Tim Burton

1982

A tribute to Vincent Price and Edgar Allan Poe 

Ottawa International Animation Festival, Audience Award (1984) 

WORKSHEET

"Lights Out!" 

 Director : Swedish  David F. Sandberg

Winner for best short at Bilbao Fantasy Film Festival 2014 

"Tuck me in"

 Director: Spanish Ignacio F. Rodó
 Winner for micro short Filminute 2014

Now you have the inspiration for our Short Story Contest. Enjoy!

To know more about a classical topic at Halloween : ZOMBIES

 

Halloween is here again

HALLOWEEN IS HERE AGAIN

Are you tired of trick or treating? Can't you find an ideal costume for your Halloween party? 
Have you had so much candy? 
We have explained much information about it, we've sung "This is Halloween" lots of times, done lots of crosswords in our classes. 
So, If you want to see different things click on the following: 

Halloween Trivia
Halloween trivia 2
Idioms with a Halloween theme
Spooky Quotes from Literature
Spooky webquest

And finally, if you feel like becoming a witch or wizard and use a magic cauldron and a magic spell, here it is.

“Bubble, blubber, squirm and gloop,
Boiling broth of bat’s tail soup.
Wobble, slobber, liquid goo,
Add the sole of one old shoe.
Spooky shadows dance around,
Of frogs and rats and snarling hounds.
Steam swirls rising to the roof,
Add one small ear and one old tooth.
Gnarly, scratchy, tickle and itch,
Stir round and round to make it rich.
Mushy, sticky, sizzle and stew,
They’re making mischief just for you”

By Gareth Lancaster