Break

Todays topic is the special holy month for Muslims called Ramadan. Muslims all over the world fast for 30 days.

So what is fasting?

When a person fasts in Ramadan they don’t eat any food or drink (including water) from sunrise to sunset. Muslims fast for a number of reasons and some of these include: to become closer to God, reflect on their actions and to remember less fortunate people who don’t have food/water. Ramadan is a month of self improvement and discipline. Fasting also has a number of health benefits as it detoxes the body from harmful toxins. It gives your digestive system a break from eating too much food. Only people who are physically fit and capable are allowed to fast. For example children, people that need medicine daily and pregnant women do not have to fast. If a person is sick they do not have to fast.

A picture of Central Mosque in Glasgow. The biggest mosque.

Charity and helping others is a big part of Ramadan. Muslims are encouraged to donate money to people who are less fortunate and do not have enough food and water. Muslims are also encouraged to help people around them such as their family, friends, neighbours and people in the community.

What is Eid?

Eid is the celebration after the 30 days of fasting. There is an Eid prayer in the morning at the mosque and a special breakfast is eaten. On Eid people dress up in new clothes and we also celebrate by eating good food and enjoying food after fasting for 30 days. Presents and money are given to children and adults. It is a fun and exciting day spent with family and friends. In Glasgow we usually have some Eid events during the week such as markets, games and outdoor activities for families.

A different Ramadan

This year Ramadan has been very different for me and many people worldwide because of the Coronavirus. There are many things Muslims have not been able to do such as going to the mosque for Taraweeh (night prayers), having Iftar parties (Iftar is when we open the fast to eat!) and spending Ramadan with family and friends. As a result we will not be able to spend Eid together which is sad but for the best as staying home and being safe is very important during this time. I think I will be having a virtual Eid party with all of my family on Zoom! Eid 2020 will be on Saturday 23rd or Sunday 24th May this year.

Eid Mubarak/Happy Eid to you all when it comes!

Questions

1. Have you ever tried fasting? Do you think it would be difficult to fast?
2. What other religious holidays or practices can you think of from Christianity, Islam, Judaism or any other religion?
3. Write down the meanings of the words in bold.
4. Summarize some of the main points of fasting.

Umber has cooked delicious tasty cookies and she is going to show us how to make them. If you have problems understanding the video, click on the file below to read the transcript. Bon profit!

baking cookies

I worked in two schools in Almería for five months and I noticed some differences between the school systems in Spain and Scotland.

The first very noticeable difference is that pupils in Scotland are obliged to wear school uniform every day whereas Spanish students are allowed to wear whatever they want. High school children/teenagers will typically wear a white shirt, a tie, trousers or a skirt, a blazer and black shoes. We even had a uniform for PE (Physical Education). I liked wearing a uniform in school because it meant I didn’t have to decide what to wear to school everyday. However some students would prefer to wear whatever they wanted and we would sometimes have debates about this in English class.

Another difference I have noticed is the timetable. In Almería classes would begin at 8:15am and finish at 2:45pm but in Scotland high school begins at 8:45am and finishes at 3:35pm. I found it strange that there was no lunch break in between classes in Almería. In Scotland we have 2 classes then a break for 15 minutes. Then another 2 classes followed by the lunch break which lasted 45 minutes and then another 3 classes. However in my old high school we would finish at 2:45pm on Wednesday and Friday. On Monday,Tuesday and Thursday we would finish at 3:35pm.

In Almería students would stay in the same class for a lot of their classes. Teachers would go to their next class depending on what lesson they were teaching next. However in Scotland it is the students that have to walk to their different classes and the teacher stays in the same classroom.

Questions

1. Do you think Spanish school students should wear a uniform? If yes/no, why?
2. Which school timetable(Scottish or Spanish) do you prefer and why?
3. Would you like to experience school in a different country? If you could choose a country to go to school in for a month, which country would you choose?