A Guide to Halloween Customs in Germany

A Guide to Halloween Customs in Germany Halloween, as we celebrate it commonly today, is not originally German. Yet many Germans embrace it. Others, especially those of the older generation, believe that Halloween is just American hype. Though the commercialism of Halloween does indeed stem from North America, the tradition and celebration itself had its origins in Europe.   Halloween has gained much popularity over the past few decades. In fact, this celebration now brings in an astounding 200 million euros a year, according to the Stuttgarter Zeitung, and it is the third most commercialized tradition after Christmas and Easter. The evidence is all there. Walk in some of the larger German department stores and easily find Halloween themed decorations to match your gruesome tastes. Or go to a costumed Halloween party offered by many nightclubs. Have children? Then read through some popular German family magazine on how to throw a terrific, ghoulish party for your kids, complete with bat and ghost treats. Why Germans Celebrate Halloween So how did Germans get so excited about Halloween? Naturally, the influence of American commercialism and media is key. Furthermore, the presence of American soldiers in the post-war WWII era helped bring about a familiarity of this tradition. Also, because of the cancellation of Fasching in Germany during the Gulf War, the push for Halloween and its associated commercial potential was an attempt to make up for Fasching’s financial loss, according to Fachgruppe Karneval  im  Deutschen Verband der Spielwarenindustrie. How You Trick-or-Treat in Germany Trick-or-treating is the aspect of Halloween that is the least observed in Germany and Austria. Only in large,  metropolitan cities of Germany will you see groups of children actually go door-to-door. They say, either Sà ¼ÃƒÅ¸es oder Saures or Sà ¼ÃƒÅ¸es, sonst gibts Saure as they collect treats from their neighbors. This is partly because just eleven days later, children traditionally to go door-to-door on St. Martinstag with their lanterns. They sing a song and then they are rewarded with baked goods and sweets.   What Costumes Germans Wear on Halloween Halloween specialty stores are increasingly popular in Germany. One interesting difference between Germany and North America with regard to costumes  is that the Germans tend to indulge in more scary outfits than Americans do. Even kids. Perhaps this is due to the many other opportunities throughout the year that children and adults get to dress up for different celebrations, such as Fasching and St. Martinstag that is just around the corner. Other Spooky Traditions in Germany October is also the time for other spooky happenings in Germany.   Haunted Castle: One of the largest and most popular Halloween venues in Germany is the 1,000-year-old fortress ruins in Darmstadt. Since the 1970s, it has been known as Burg Frankenstein and is a popular destination for gore aficionados.  Pumpkin Festival: By mid-October, you’ll see some carved out pumpkins on people’s doorsteps in the streets of Germany and Austria, though not as much as in North America. But what you will see and hear about is the famous pumpkin festival in Retz, Austria, near Vienna. It’s an entire weekend of fun, family-friendly entertainment, complete with an elaborate Halloween parade that includes floats.Reformationstag: Germany and Austria have another tradition on Oct. 31 that is actually centuries-long: Reformationstag. This a special day for Protestants to commemorate Martin Luther’s launch of the Reformation when he nailed those ninety-five theses to the Catholic castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. In celebration of Reforma tionstag and so that its not completely overshadowed by Halloween, Luther-Bonbons (candies) were created.

Famous Spider-Man Movie Quotes

Famous Spider-Man Movie Quotes Caught in the sticky web of Spider-Man mania? Well, who isnt? Our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man spins his magic on the silver screen and he is going to make sure that all his fans remember him. This is a handpicked collection of some of the best Spider-Man  movie quotes. Spider-Man (2002) Spider-Man and Mary Jane Mary Jane: Who are you?Spider-Man: You know who I am.Mary Jane: I do?Spider-Man: Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.​ Peter ParkerNot everyone is meant to make a difference. But for me, the choice to lead an ordinary life is no longer an option. Peter Parker and Aunt MayPeter Parker: Can I do anything for you?Aunt May: You do too much†¦ college, a job, all this time with me... Youre not Superman, you know! Peter ParkerWho am I? You sure you want to know? The story of my life is not for the faint of heart. If somebody said it was a happy little tale... if somebody told you I was just your average ordinary guy, not a care in the world... somebody lied.​ Spider-Man and Mary JaneSpider-Man: You have a knack for getting in trouble.Mary Jane: You have a knack for saving my life. I think I have a superhero stalker.Spider-Man: I was in the neighborhood.​ Green Goblin​The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the waterspout. Down came the Goblin and took the spider out.​ Peter ParkerWhatever life holds in store for me, I will never forget these words: With great power comes great responsibility. This is my gift, my curse. Who am I? Im Spiderman.​ Green GoblinNo matter what you do for them, eventually, they will hate you.​ Green GoblinHeres the real truth. There are eight million people in this city. And those teeming masses exist for the sole purpose of lifting the few exceptional people onto their shoulders. You and me†¦ Were exceptional.​ Spider-Man(trying to shoot a web): Go web. Fly. Up, up, and away web! Shazam! Go! Go! Go web go! Tally ho! Peter ParkerSome spiders change colors to blend into their environment. Its a defense mechanism. Peter Parker and J. Jonah JamesonPeter Parker: Spider-Man wasnt trying to attack the city†¦ he was trying to save it. Thats slander.J. Jonah Jameson: It is not. I resent that. Slander is spoken. In print, its libel. Peter ParkerNo matter what I do, no matter how hard I try, the ones I love will always be the ones who pay†¦ Peter Parker and Aunt MayPeter Parker (about Uncle Ben): I cant help thinking about... the last thing I said to him. He tried to tell me something important, and I threw it in his face.Aunt May: You  loved him. And he loved you. He never doubted the man youd grow into; how you were meant for great things. You wont disappoint him. Green Goblin and Spider-ManGreen Goblin: Spider-Man. This is why only fools are heroes†¦ because you never know when some lunatic will come along with a sadistic choice. Let die the woman you love... or suffer the little children. Make your choice, Spider-Man, and see how a hero is rewarded.Spider-Man: Dont do it, Goblin.Green Goblin: We are who we choose to be... now choose! Spider-Man 2 May ParkerToo few characters out there, flying around like that, saving old girls like me. And Lord knows, kids like Henry need a hero. Courageous, self-sacrificing people. Setting examples for all of us. Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them, cheer them, scream their names. And years later, theyll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them how to hold on a second longer. I believe theres a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams†¦ Harry Osborn and Spider-ManHarry Osborn: Peter... you killed my father!Spider-Man: There are bigger things happening here than me and you. Dr. Davis and Spider-ManDr. Davis: You say you cant sleep. Heartbreak? Bad Dreams?Spider-Man: There is one dream where in my dream, Im Spider-Man. But Im losing my powers. Im climbing a wall but I keep falling.Dr. Davis: Oh. So youre Spider-Man...Spider-Man: (interrupts Dr. Davis) In my dream... Actually, its not even my dream, its a friend of mines dream.Dr. Davis: Oh. Somebody elses dream. What about this friend? Why does he climb these walls? What does he think of himself?Spider-Man: Thats the problem, he doesnt know what to think.Dr. Davis: Kind of makes you mad not to know who you are? Your soul disappears, nothing is bad as uncertainty. Listen, maybe youre not supposed to be Spider-Man climbing those walls? Thats why you keep falling. Youll always have a choice, Peter.Spider-Man: (whispers) I have a choice. Mary Jane and Spider-ManMary Jane: Peter. I cant survive without you.Peter Parker: You shouldnt be here.Mary Jane: I know you think we cant be together, but cant you respect me enough to let me make my own decision? I know therell be risks but I want to face them with you. Its wrong that we should be only half alive... half of ourselves. I love you. So here I am†¦ standing in your doorway. I have always been standing in your doorway. Isnt it about time somebody saved your life?Mary Jane: Well, say something†¦Peter Parker: Thank you, Mary Jane. Mary Jane and Spider-ManMary Jane: Peter Im getting married.Spider-Man: Ive always imagined you getting you married on a hilltop.Mary Jane: Whos the groom?Spider-Man: You havent decided yet. Spider-ManYou dont understand! Im not an empty seat anymore. Im different! Kid and Spider-ManKid: (after two kids see Peter use his ‘spider’ reflexes) Howd you do that?Spider-Man: Uh... Work out... Plenty of rest... You know, eat your green vegetables...Kid: Thats what my mom is always saying, I just actually never believed her. Receptionist and Spider-ManSpider-Man: Pizza time!Receptionist: (looks at the clock on the wall) Youre late. Im not paying for those. Doc Ock and Spider-ManDoc Ock: (grabs Spider-Man in the bank)  Youre getting on my nerves.Spider-Man: I have a knack for that.Doc Ock: Not anymore. Mary Jane and Spider-ManMary Jane: (on the giant spider web) I think I always knew all this time who you really were.Peter Parker: Then you know why we cant be together. Spider-Man will always have enemies. I cant let you take that risk. I will always be Spider-Man. You and I can never be... J. Jonah Jameson to Spider-ManJ. Jonah Jameson: Parker! Youre fired!Receptionist: The planetarium.(Jonah stops Peter)J. Jonah Jameson: Wait! Youre unfired! Come here. Dr. Otto OctaviusThe power of the sun, in the palm of my hand! Dr. Otto OctaviusLadies and gentlemen, fasten your seat belts. J. Jonah Jameson to Mrs. JamesonJ. Jonah Jameson: (John Jameson has just been left at the altar by Mary Jane) Call Debra.Mrs. Jameson: The caterer?J. Jonah Jameson: Tell her not to open the caviar. Dr. Otto OctaviusBefore we start†¦ did anyone lose a bunch of twenties rolled up in a rubber band? Because we found the rubber band. J. Jonah Jameson to Garbage ManJ. Jonah Jameson: (Spider Mans costume is found) Ill give you 50 bucks for it.Garbage Man: Fifty? I can get much more on eBay.J. Jonah Jameson: Fine, (talking to the receptionist), give this man $100 and a bar of soap. Dr. Otto OctaviusLove should never be a secret. If you keep something as complicated as love stored up inside, it could make you sick. Doc OckYouve stuck your webs into my business for the last time! Dr. Otto OctaviusI will not die a monster. Peter ParkerShe looks at me every day. Mary Jane. Oh boy! If she only knew how I felt about her. Peter ParkerBut she can never know. I made a choice once to live a life of responsibility. A life she can never be a part of. Who am I? Im Spider-Man, given a job to do. And Im Peter Parker, and I too have a job. Mr. DitkovichIf promises were crackers, my daughter would be fat. Dr. Otto Octavius to Peter ParkerDr. Otto Octavius: If you want to get a woman to fall in love with you, feed her poetry.Peter Parker: Poetry?Dr. Otto Octavius: Never fails. Peter Parker(speaks to MJ through a dead phone line) I wanna tell you the truth... here it is: Im Spider-Man. Weird, huh? Now you know why I cant be with you. If my enemies found out about you... if you got hurt, I could never forgive myself. I wish I could tell you how I feel about you... Peter Parker(trying to motivate himself) Strong focus on what I want. Jonah Jameson to Peter ParkerGet your pretty little portfolio off my desk before I go into a diabetic coma!

Vodafone and the Use of Internet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Vodafone and the Use of Internet - Essay Example As it operates in the telecommunication sector, it has optimal internet applications and those applications heighten its power, even while nullifying the threats. It uses internet not only for its operations but also as part of marketing tool, with its website being its main marketing tool. Vodafone UK’s Website is aptly designed providing detailed information about its products and services, but still more interactive can be incorporated. Its B2B model is working aptly benefiting both them and their partners. From ethical angle, Vodafone has included restrictions on adult content for children, so they do not become morally corrupt. Thus, Vodafone’s e-business initiatives through internet are working effectively, with need for only few optimization strategies. E-Business background Vodafone is the world’s largest firm in terms revenues earning more than 45 billion pounds and is the second-largest in terms of subscribers having close to 450 million subscribers as on December 2011. (Vitorovich 2012). In all those operations, internet technologies played and are playing optimal role in Vodafone. Vodafone’s major e-Business achievements include launching the first prepaid analogue package in the UK in 1996, acquiring the largest 3G license available in the UK by 2000 and launching their 3G service in 2004. (Further examples in Appendix A). In terms of services, Vodafone offers Mobile Broadband, Pay As You Go, etc. (Appendix B). As far as products are concerned, Vodafone do not build the phones paired with their service contracts, instead they collaborate with certain manufacturers to create Vodafone-branded phones. According to the Porter’s 5 Forces analysis (Complete analysis in Appendix C), the suppliers of Vodafone have less bargaining power due to the availability of similar handsets from many different manufacturers. On the other hand, the buyers have more bargaining power in relation to Vodafone because with strong alternati ves, they can switch to new networks without major financial burden. In addition, with internet offering the buyers the option to compare the various service providers or competitors and their services, buyers have sizable power. (Campbell 2007). There is a fairly low threat of new entrants thanks to the high costs and infrastructure including IT related ones required to compete with the big providers like Vodafone. (Thiele, Blakeway and Hosch 2010). There is a threat of substitutes in the form of mobile internet and the related services like Skype for phone calls, and other social networking options like Facebook, mails, etc., for other communications, but still there will be adequate space for Vodafone to operate. Vodafone faces high competitive rivalry from O2, 3, Orange, T Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Asda Mobile, etc. as they offer internet enabled services and products with good features and at competitive prices. E-Marketing analysis As part of e-marketing, Vodafone carry out optim al marketing strategies through various mediums particularly the internet. With internet as the ‘foundation’, Vodafone does e-marketing through its official websites, other Third Party websites in the form advertisements, press releases, etc., and also through social networking websites. Personalization: The Vodafone’s official website features all its products and services, as well as the benefits of using them, thereby providing the customers to personally choose what they

This I Believe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

This I Believe - Essay Example In the rush, my father happened to put a small dent in another car. Because of our pressing need, we sped off as fast as we could. When we arrived at the company, my father was told that the general manager was not there yet and we would have to wait. This was a relief because we were involved in a small accident to try and get here on time and now we actually had more time than we needed. I asked my father about the small incident on the road but he said that there was nothing that we could do about it and it was an accident anyway. Finally, the general manager turned up and my father went in to see him. Me and my mother waited outside for about 30 minutes until my father came out. I could tell from the look on his face that something was wrong. I asked him whether he had received the job or not and he replied positively. Then I said to him why he looked so sad if he had been hired. My father responded that the manager had told him that someone had crashed into the back of him on hi s way to the building and then sped off without stopping. My father said he felt a sense of guilt. I told him that he should tell his new manager about the incident and the fact that he was the other driver. My father replied that he would probably lose his new job, but there is no way that he could hide this fact from his new boss. So he went and told his new manager. Surprisingly, the manager said that it was okay and he appreciated my father’s honesty and responsibility. Even more shocking was the fact that my father still had a job. His boss told him that he needed employees who he could trust, and that my father was one of

Life in a Childs Eye :: Literature Movies Teenagers Adolescence Essays

Life in a Child's Eye In the movie, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Callie Khouri directs something of a powerful story between a mother and her daughter. The movie Life as a House (Wrinkler, 2002) tells something of the same; of a father and the fight for the love of his son. The two movies both portray the fight between parents and their children. The commonality between father and son and mother and daughter is portrayed through the troublesome children and the problems that they face together. The â€Å"abuse â€Å" that these children have received has formed them into the people they are today. What these characters had become is something that they do not want to be. As we age, we begin to discover the importance of family as depicted through Life as a House and The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. In southern Louisiana, Sidda is a tempestuous play writer who has blamed her mother, Vivi, for the faults within herself that she has come to know. As a young child Vivi did not have the best of mother. Her father had spoiled her with many gifts and parties. Vivi made a few friends throughout her childhood. Through all of the adventures the four of them had gone through, they had made a club for the four of them. This club was called the Ya-Ya sisterhood. Through this they would tell all their secrets to each other and stay behind one another as they grew to adults. As older women, they had kept their promise to each other and are still called the Ya-Ya’s. Throughout the movie, Sidda takes glimpses back to her past and remember incidences and happy occurrences that had developed between her mother and her. The story develops; Vivi and the Ya-Ya’s take glimpse of their own lives together and individually. One of the things that the Ya-Ya’s would do socially was drink alcohol. Some people can take it and some can become very addicted to this sensitizing depressant. Vivi was one of those who would fall into the addiction. She would drink to kill the pain of a lost loved one. She then started to become into drugs; drugs that became very addicting and fed into her behavior in a negative way. As a child, Sidda bore the brunt of the pain that her mother had inflicted upon her and her siblings.

Describe an event, achievement, or experience of which you are particularly proud but will not show up on a resume Essay

Hardship. We all go through it at least once in our lives. It visits us all from time to time and in many different ways. It can come disguised as a marriage trouble, an illness, a financial calamity, or even as a long-distance relationship. Hardship is never a pleasure for us but whether we like it or not, we all must face it. So the question now is: how well we respond to it. Among the many hardships that I have faced in my life, the hardest one was not the irritating illness called the â€Å"singer’s nodules† which I had since I was nine and still suffer from, nor the separations within my family. The hardest one was the language barrier I had to cope with in America. Since my family moved to America from Korea in 2005, my responsibility in the family has become increasingly determined because no one in my family spoke English. I was not fluent in English but I knew I had to master it so that I could help my family. But for the meantime, from sending a bill to renting an apartment room, everything was my job because I was the only one who could speak some English. However, the true yearning to learning English was derived when I was denied of need: a friend. It seemed to me then that there was no way to make a friend in America without knowing English. It seemed that the most important thing here is to be in the popular group. Being in a non-popular one meant rejection. So just imagine the isolation I endured due to the language barrier. It was such a cruel punishment just for being unable to communicate. If I had one wish that could be granted during those days, it would have been to be completely fluent in English so that I could be in the popular group. I studied hard to learn the English language but I still could not understand the nuances nor the inside jokes among popular kids in school. I studied harder and harder to fulfill my dream of being in the popular crowd but the language barrier always hindered me. And that barrier never seems to break. It was only about a year later when I realized that my motivation to learning English was wrong and immature. I participated with one of my â€Å"non popular† friends in many community services in the local area and I realized that a student like me, one who does not speak English well, can help make a more positive environment. I used to think that I am useless because I do not speak the language well. But now I see that I am wrong. Upon that realization, which also became a motivation, I started to study English in order to help other people who are struggling and no longer to be in the popular crowd. I started to stay up all night to study English. I started to refuse to answer any question that my family asked in Korean. I forced them to speak English at home. I covered the walls with English words I did not know. I wrote English phrases on the bathroom tiles and on the shower curtain so that I could study while taking a shower. I put my English notes inside a zip-lock for waterproofing so that I could study in the bathtub. I literally watched the movie â€Å"You’ve Got Mail† more than a hundred times. And I even memorized funny stories and wrote letters in English to communicate with the people in the nursing home and the pregnancy care clinic. My new attitude towards learning the language not only gave me many true friends who actually care about me but it also drastically improved my English oral communication skill so much so that people now say that I do not have the language barrier anymore. The thing I take most pride in, but will not show up in my resume, is having overcome the language barrier and having overcome it by helping others. Being a non-English speaker in America never means that one has to be useless and aloof. With hardwork, with the right attitude, and with a right heart, one can overcome anything.

Private School Uniforms and Dress Codes

When thinking about a dress code or a uniform, most people will call to mind the stereotypical images we see in media: pressed and proper uniforms at military academies, the navy blazers or sports coats with ties and slacks at boys schools, and the plaid skirts and white shirts with knee socks and dress shoes at girls schools. But is this attire actually the norm at private schools? Many private schools attribute most of their uniform traditions and dress codes back to their British public school roots. The formal starched collars and tails worn by Eton College boys are world-famous, but they are hardly typical of a normal school uniform these days. Much more common is a looser dress code consisting of the blazer, white shirt, school tie, slacks, socks, and black shoes for boys; and the option of wearing dresses, or a blazer and blouse with slacks or skirts, standard for girls. What Is the Difference Between a Uniform and a Dress Code? The very word uniform suggests the raison detre, or the reason behind, unis as some of the private school crowd calls them. It is one specific and standard style of dress that every student wears, so that everyone looks, well, uniform. Some school uniforms allow for optional additions, such as sweaters or vests to wear over the uniforms. While the rules at every school will differ, and some will also allow students to add their own personal flair, dressing up their standard attire with scarves and other accessories, there are typically limitations to how much can be added to the uniform. Compared to a uniform, a dress code is an outline of acceptable attire that isnt limited to one or two options. It serves as more of a guideline rather than a rigid rule, and provides more flexibility for students. Many view dress code as an attempt to create conformity as opposed to uniformity. Dress codes can vary by school and range from more formal dress codes requiring specific colors and limited choices of attire to more flexible options that may simply prohibit certain forms of attire.   Why Do Schools Have Uniforms and Dress Codes? Many schools have implemented uniforms and dress codes for both practical and social reasons. Practically speaking, a standardized uniform allows a child to get by with a minimum amount of clothing. You have your everyday wear and then a Sunday best outfit for more formal occasions. A uniform also often serves as a marvelous equalizer of social status. It matters not whether you are the Earl of Snowdon or the son of the local greengrocer  when you put on that uniform. Everybody looks the same. Uniformity rules. Sometimes, however, students have been known to overcome this equalizing aspect by various enhancements, such as accessories and jewelry, that they would add to their uniforms. Do Uniforms Improve Test Scores and Enhance Discipline? Back in the 90s, Long Beach Unified School District instituted a dress code policy for its students. Proponents of the policy claimed that the dress code created a climate for education which led to improved test scores and better discipline. Research varies on this, and students, parents, and teachers often disagree as to what is best. Parents and students often point out the uniforms restriction of personal styles and expression. On the other hand, teachers are often largely supportive of uniforms and dress codes because of the perceived improvements in both student performance and behavior. The generally accepted opinion is that uniforms alone do not improve test scores. What they affect is the schools overall discipline and attendance, which in turn, along with many other aspects, lead to an improvement in students academics. That said, private schools generally create a climate for learning more consistently than public schools do, to begin with. Uniforms and dress codes are just one part of the formula for success. The real secret to success is consistently enforcing rules and regulations. Hold students accountable and you will see results. What About Teachers Dress Codes? Most private schools also have dress codes for teachers. While the guidelines for adults may not mirror that of students, they are often similar, engaging faculty members in modeling good behavior and best dressing practices.   What Happens When You Disregard the Uniform or Dress Code? Now, we all know that students of any age have their ways of getting around dress code requirements. The slacks have a way of becoming a bit baggier than the school regulations intended. The shirts tend to hang out below the oversize jacket. Skirts seem to shrink overnight. This can be difficult for schools to enforce, and infractions can result in varying responses, ranging from verbal reminders to detention and even formal disciplinary action for repeated offenders.