ENGLAND - FAMOUS PLACES

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace has been the official résidance of British sovereigns since 1837. Located in London near St. James Park, built for the Duke of Normandy in 1703, the palace was bought by George III in 1761. The royal family, however, remained in St. James Palace.

The palace was the place of events such as the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837. She became the first monarch who lived in Buckingham Palace with her beloved Prince Albert of Saxony.

The first house was that of a Sir William Blake in 1624 and the next owner was Lord Goring that enlarged the home of Blake in 1633. Lord Goring expanded much of the garden today known as the large Goring garden.

As Spender Goring did not pay his rent, Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington, received and occupied the mansion, known as Goring House, until it burned down in 1674. Arlington House was built the next year, the land was sold in 1704.

After his marriage in 1840 with Queen Victoria, Prince Albert took care of the reorganization of the service staff.. In 1841 the royal couple felt the mansion as too small for court life and their growing family, which is why the new wing was built by Edward Blore, closing the central court. This large wing is today the most famous public image of Buckingham with the famous balcony in the center, from where the royal family wave to the crowd during celebrations and each year during the military parade which takes place in June.

Court Ceremony Today

The ceremony has undergone a radical change in the reign of Elizabeth II, and the entrance to the palace is no longer a privilege reserved for famous names. There has been a gradual loosening in the dress code governing the uniform code of the court. Most men invited to Buckingham during the day choose to wear their service uniform or a jaquette. In the evening they wear a formal tuxedo or evening dress for women. Women wear a tiara if they possess one.

Security
Everyday there is the procession of the changing of guards

It is a military ceremony in which a contingent of guards replaces another .It often follows a very strict choregraphy.

Paule

ENGLAND - HISTORICAL HEROES

ROBIN HOOD

ROBIN HOOD is a hero from the English Middle Ages. According to the legend, Robin Hood was a thief with a big heart who lived hidden in Sherwood Forest and Barsdale. He was a clever poacher, but he also lived with many fellows, defending the poor and the oppressed ones, he robbed the rich people or tax collectors to give money to the poor.

The English pseudonym Robin Hood literally means "Robin who is wearing a hood" and not "Robin Wood", as we misinterpreted it in French, just because he used to live in the Sherwood forest. It should be noted that hood can also mean "ugly" in English. Robin Hood is an older character of Britain. The first mention of Robehod or Hobehod dates back to 1228 in a court document: a scroll lists a Robin Hood jailed for non payment of a debt or a fine. Most references date from the late thirteenth century: between 1261 and 1300 in England with no less than eight references to a Rabuhod.

Robin Hood is a native of the United Kingdom, his best friend is Friar Tuck but he also has as “Merry Companions” Little John and Will Scarlet. He is in love with Maid Marion and he fights against the evil Prince John and the Nottingham Sherif.

Yanis & Foued

ENGLAND - CINEMA

THE SAGA OF HARRY POTTER

The films are from the book series of the same name created by JK Rowling, published for the first time in 1997. Following the literary success, Warner Bros bought the rights and decided to make films about the little wizzard.

Originally, JK Rowling was a single mother who was struggling to make ends meet. She was an English teacher in Portugal and began to write her novels before returning to Scotland where she fell in depression after a breakup. Nevertheless, she continued to write in pubs and then published her famous novel after having troubles finding a publisher. The success was immediate! And the films that followed made millions.

Many famous British actors were part of the cast of the saga: Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall), Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort) and launched the career of younger actors such as the main trio: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) and Rupert Grint (Ronald Wesley)

In the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry recounts the beginnings of the world of magics. It is directed by Chris Columbus! It was followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry had to fight a Basilisk, a giant serpent sent by his nemesis Voldemort! Then Harry met his godfather Sirius Black in The Prisoner of Azkaban! The saga started to get darker from the fourth film, The Goblet of Fire in which the young wizard saw the Dark Lord back

In the movie Harry and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry had to cope with the tragic loss of his godfather, and then, unfortunately, the loss of the headmaster of Hogwarts, the school for wizards, who also died in The Half-Blood Prince! The final book, The Deathly Hallows, has been split into two parts so as not to rush the final scene and not to cut the scenes from the book!

There are a lot of special effects in those films for the world of magic really looks real!

Movies and derivatives brought back millions of dollars! We can buy wands, cloaks and other items from the movies! They were such a success that other derivatives of the saga movies will be produced: Fantastic Beasts, from a book of the Hogwarts library! Harry Potter fans are very numerous and constantly demand news, which is why the film has been edited many times in DVD, Blu-ray, and superb collector boxes! The Harry Potter Studio Tour was even created in London and you can admire the scenery and costumes for movies in the studios where they were shot

Loup Morgan et Hue Grégoire

ENGLAND - SPORT

Wayne Rooney
Rooney is 28 years old.

This is an English player. He plays in the Manchester United team. His height is 1.76 meter tall.

He spent his childhood with his brothers. Crotetch is a suburban district (away from downtown) from Liverpool.

He was at a local Catholic school.
Wayne Rooney grew up supporting the English club Everton, his idol was Duncan Ferguson.

Duncan Ferguson is a football player. He won all his championships. He is the third leading scorers in the history of Manchester United. Duncan Ferguson was a striker for Scotland between 1990 and 2006, he was really hard for Wayne Rooney to compare himself to someone he was admiring so much!

Privacy

On June 12, 2008, he married Coleen McLoughlin in Santa Margherita Ligure, in northwestern Italy. On November 2, his wife gave birth to their first child called Anthony Klay.

His brother John, five years his junior, is also a footballer and plays as a midfielder for FC Chester.

Wayne Rooney is one of only 25 players to have played 400 games for Manchester United. He also became the fourth Red Devil, the youngest to pass the bar in April 2013.
He made his first appearance on the pitch at Old Trafford in September 2004, scoring a memorable hat-trick for his big debut against Fenerbache, a Turkish club. His performance was not a real surprise.

He also played in a commercial for Nike.

Mathieu Morgan Samuel

ENGLAND - Music

Elton John

Elton John's real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight. He was born on March 25, 1947 in Pinner, Middlesex, England.
Elton John has declared that he was bisexual in 1976 in an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine. He had a rather bold move : it was very rare at that time. He first had a love affair with David Furnish. They have adopted two children : Elijah Daniel, Joseph Furnish-John.
He also created a foundation to fight AIDS and fight against discrimination. In forty years he has sold over 300 million albums and 400 million records.
In 1998 he is represented as the biggest seller of all time and on October 8, 2011, he crossed the 3000 mark for public concerts around the world.
In the 70s Elton John admitted he was homosexual and often disguised himself.
The 80s remain the less fabulous decade in Elton John's career. Then, he fell into alcohol and drug problems,
He also composed a song for a famous Disney movie called "The Lion King".
On July 15, 2014, he announced on stage in Carcassonne the end of his career but his press secretary said it was a joke.

Loick & Guillaume

ENGLAND - Animals

Welsh Corgi Cardigan

In 1934, the English Kennel Club recognized the Cardigan Welsh Corgis and Pembroke as two distinct races. Old, although of different origins and races, Corgis were traditionally used to drive and herd cows, ponies and geese, but also participated in the Welsh rural life of farmers : they kept farms or helped farmers hunt. Corgis were commonly called "heelers", because of the way they lead cattle: by pinching the knees. Some also maintained that natural atavism. It is believed that the origins of Welsh Corgis Cardigans date back to more than 3000 years ago in Wales. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi descends from the family of dachshunds. It was brought there by the Celtic tribes who migrated to Wales from Central Europe. This primitive dog would be a transitional form between the families of bassets and spitz. 

 

Anna and Chloé

ENGLAND - FOOD

English Cooking

Yorkshire pudding is a dish originally from northern England Yorkshire. Perhaps its popularity has crossed the borders.

The Yorkshire pudding is not a dessert but it can be served with jam or with ice balls.
It is prepared from dough containing milk, egg, flour and salt.
The Yorkshire pudding is traditionally accompanied with a roast beef
or chicken usually with every dish with sauce.
The gravy is considered by the English as the perfect accompaniment.
When it is eaten as a starter, it is served with onion juice.

Preparation

The paste is poured over the baking plate often oiled,in the form of a small disk
size, then it is baked in the oven. The cooking is completed when the dough rises. Traditionally, the Yorkshire pudding is put to cook with a piece of meat to get its fat. It freezes well.

Christmas pudding is a typical English dessert

Ingredients (serves 6):

- 2 tablespoons of milk
- 225 g of brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of ginger
- 1/2 a nutmeg
- 20 tablespoons of brandy.
- 3 eggs
- 175g of black currants
- 175 g of Smyrna grape
- 125 g of Malaga grape
- 125 g of candied fruit
- 175 g of beef tallow (can be found in England in the form of granules Atora Shredded suet)
- 125 g of bread
- 125 g of flour
- 25g of ground almonds

Preparation

Peel and cut mixed fruit into small pieces. Prepare a large bowl in which is introduced in order and mixing: milk, eggs, alcohol, sugar, flour, fat, almond powder, nutmeg, the grapes, and bark fruit mix. Prepare a bowl by greasing it with vegetable oil. Pour the mixture into the bowl. Put the bowl with a raised top plate in a pan filled with water for a “bain marie”. Bring water to a boil then reduce to a simmer 6 hours taking care to complete the water as hovel evaporation. After cooking, let cool, then wrap the pudding with a clean cloth. To make it better, the pudding should be prepared at least 3 months before consumption. It can also be stored for many months and refined like a good wine or cheese for 18 months).

Mohamed and Jimmy

ENGLAND - STREET ART

Bansky

He was born in 1974 in the UK, he makes street art and graffitis.
In 2009 a gallery was dedicated to him at Bristol Museum with more than 100 works. In 12 weeks he had over 300,000 visitors.
He sends messages in his paintings by mixing it with humor.
He often puts people of justice (such as police and soldiers) or animals (such as rats and monkeys) or civilians (children, elderly and famous) into provocative attitudes. he is against the soldiers because he prefers peace.

Banksy made a drawing which shows two policemen kissing

It means that homosexuals can live together.

In August 2005, Banksy painted nine images with a child digging in a wall on which is placed a ladder to reach the other side of the separation barrier in Israel

He placed an actual size doll at Disneyland that wore the uniform of a prison camp to represent Guantanamo prisoners who are being tortured and no longer have rights, and to denounce the abuses they suffer .

In 2014 he painted on a wall in Clacton, a work depicting pigeons addressing a swallow with placards on which it was written: "The migrants are not welcome, go back to Africa”. People thought it was racist but it pointed out that people really were the racist ones. It was in fact an anti-racist message but people misunderstood it.

Some of his works were auctioned like "keep it spotless", sold 1.23 million euro in 2008 and the Rude Lord sold 463,000 euro in 2007.

Dany and Arthur