Ireland Has a New Holiday

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 25 January 2024 > Celebrate

Ireland has a new bank holiday: St Brigid’s Day, the first to be in honour of  a woman. From 2023, it is marked on the first Monday in February. St Brigid is one of Ireland’s three patron saints, alongside St Colmcille and St Patrick. Like so many Irish celebrations, the Catholic saint’s day on 1 … Continue reading “Ireland Has a New Holiday”

Waitangi Day in New Zealand

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 24 January 2024 > Celebrate Shine Bright Collège Shine Bright Lycée

New Zealand is a unique country, so it’s not surprising that its national day is unique too! New Zealand’s nearest big neighbour, Australia, is more than 4000 kilometres away. Because it is so isolated, it has some unique plants and animals, like the kiwi, a bird that can’t fly. People from New Zealand are often … Continue reading “Waitangi Day in New Zealand”

Celebrate Black History Month in Rennes

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 24 January 2024 > Celebrate

In honour of Black History Month, the Institut Franco-Américain in Rennes has varied events about African-American culture and history. There is music, with a gospel and dance show, Shosholoza, an exhibition and concert on female jazz singers and a bilingual lecture about hip-hop. As well as a conversation with Brooklyn-based Dawnie Walton on her first … Continue reading “Celebrate Black History Month in Rennes”

Happy Hogmanay!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 29 December 2023 > Celebrate

Hogmanay is the name for New Year’s Eve in Scotland. It was traditionally a much bigger celebration than Christmas in Scotland, and is still a big event. It’s associated with many traditions, some which will seem familiar and some specific to Scotland. As with new year celebrations in many cultures, it’s considered bad luck to … Continue reading “Happy Hogmanay!”

Starting a Revolution with Tea in Boston

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 11 December 2023 > Celebrate Shine Bright Collège Shine Bright Lycée

The Boston Tea Party wasn’t a social event. It was an act of rebellion and it helped start the movement for the U.S.A. to become independent from Britain. In 1773, Boston was the capital of Massachusetts, one of 13 British colonies in the future United States. For several years, the British government, in financial trouble, … Continue reading “Starting a Revolution with Tea in Boston”

Benjamin Zephaniah Interview

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 08 December 2023 > Celebrate

After the sudden death of Benjamin Zephaniah, we decided to share the interview we had the great privilege of doing with one of Britain’s most popular poets in 2012. He had just been appointed Professor of Creative Writing at Brunel University. He shared some of his very eclectic thoughts with us. Do you think of … Continue reading “Benjamin Zephaniah Interview”

European Day of Languages 2023

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 21 September 2023 > Celebrate Shine Bright Collège

26 September is the day the EU celebrates all the many languages spoken in Europe and around the world. They have lots of resources for multilingual fun in schools. This language detective game requires no preparation. There are 40 short texts in 40 different languages each time you have to choose between six possible languages. … Continue reading “European Day of Languages 2023”