SAINT GEORGE, THE TRADITION BECOMES POPULAR

Today, The Fosters and The Grandma have continued celebrating Saint George, and preparing their A2 Cambridge Exam working some aspects like reading, writing and listening.

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Saint George (AD 275–281 to 23 April 303), according to legend, was a Roman soldier of Greek origin and officer in the Guard of Roman emperor Diocletian, who was ordered his death for failing to recant his Christian faith. As a Christian martyr, he later became one of the most venerated saints in Christianity and in particular the Crusades.

In hagiography, as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and one of the most prominent military saints, he is immortalised in the myth of Saint George and the Dragon. His memorial, Saint George's Day, is traditionally celebrated on April 23.

 

Numerous countries, cities, professions and organisations claim Saint George as their patron: England, Catalonia, Georgia, Malta, Armenia, Belgium, Egypt, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Montenegro, Palestine, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Aragon, Castile and Leon, Syria and the United States.

George's parents were Christians of Greek background, his father Gerontius was a Roman army official from Cappadocia, and his mother Polychronia was a Christian and a Greek native from Lydda in the Roman province of Syria Palaestina. Accounts differ regarding whether George was born in Cappadocia or Syria Palaestina, but agree that he was raised at least partly in Lydda.

 

More information: Independent

Some evidence links the legend back to very old Egyptian and Phoenician sources in a late antique statue of Horus fighting a dragon. This ties the legendary George, though not necessarily the historical George, to various ancient sources using mythological and linguistic arguments. In Egyptian mythology, the god Setekh murdered his brother Osiris. Horus, the son of Osiris, avenged his father's death by killing Setekh. This iconography of the horseman with spear overcoming evil was widespread throughout the Christian period.

As a highly celebrated saint in both the Western and Eastern Christian churches, Saint George is connected with a large number of patronages throughout the world, and his iconography can be found on the flags and coats of arms of a number of cities and countries.

Traces of the cult of St George predate the Norman Conquest, in 9th-century liturgy used at Durham Cathedral, in a 10th-century Anglo-Saxon martyrology, and in dedications to Saint George at Fordington, Dorset, at Thetford, Southwark and Doncaster. He received further impetus when the Crusaders returned from the Holy Land in the 12th century.

 

More information: Parliament UK

At the Battle of Antioch in 1098, St George, St Demetrius and St Maurice were said to have been seen riding alongside the crusaders, and depictions of this event can be seen in a number of churches. King Edward III (reigned 1327–77) was known for promoting the codes of knighthood and in 1348 founded the Order of the Garter. 

During his reign, George came to be recognised as the patron saint of the English monarchy; before this, Saint Edmund had been considered the patron saint of England, although his veneration had waned since the time of the Norman conquest, and his cult was partly eclipsed by that of Edward the Confessor. Edward dedicated the chapel at Windsor Castle to the soldier saint who represented the knightly values of chivalry which he so much admired, and the Garter ceremony takes place there every year.

In the 16th century, Edmund Spenser included St. George, Redcross Knight, as a central figure in his epic poem The Faerie Queene. William Shakespeare firmly placed St George within the national conscience in his play Henry V, in which the English troops are rallied with the cry God for Harry, England and St George, and in Richard III, and King Lear.

 

More information: Coptic Cairo

A late 17th-century ballad also claims St. George as an English patron. The ballad compares other mythic and historical heroes with the merit of St. George and concludes that all are less important than St. George.

Above the Palace of Westminster, there are six shields above each of the four clock faces of Big Ben, twenty-four in total, all depicting the arms of St George, representing the Flag of England, London as the capital city of England, and St. George as the patron saint of England. This symbolism is also repeated in the central lobby of the Houses of Parliament, in an enormous mosaic created by Sir Edward John Poynter in 1869, depicting St George and the Dragon with these arms, entitled St George for England.

Saint George, Sant Jordi in Catalan, is the patron saint of Catalonia. His cross appears in many buildings and local flags, including the one of the Catalan capital, Barcelona. The Catalan tradition usually locates the events of his legend in the town of Montblanc, near Tarragona.

By the 15th century Catalan men used to celebrate Saint George's Day by giving roses to women. Nowadays Saint George is not a public holiday anymore but is a very popular celebration. Women receive roses and books and, since the 20th century, men receive books and roses and the celebration is also used to celebrate Catalan national identity, culture and literature and romantic love. 

One of the highest civil distinction awarded in Catalonia is the Saint George's Cross (Creu de Sant Jordi).

More information: The Culture Trip

 

  

A people without the knowledge of their past history, 

origin and culture is like a tree without roots. 

Marcus Garvey

APRIL 23-SAINT GEORGE, BOOKS & ROSES IN CATALONIA

Today is Saint George, the favourite Grandma's day. It is a beautiful festivity, especially if you live in Catalonia, because Catalan people pay homage to their patron (Sant Jordi) with books and roses. It is the greatest Catalan culture day.

 

The Fosters and The Grandma have celebrated this beautiful day, which is also a National Day in England, visiting Notting Hill.

Saint George's Day, also called the Feast of Saint George, is the feast day of Saint George as celebrated by various Christian Churches and by the several nations, old kingdoms, regions, states, countries and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint including Bulgaria, England, Georgia, Portugal, Cáceres, Alcoi, Aragon and Catalonia. The saint also has his state holiday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the difference that St. George is not the patron saint of the region, but with his populism and the day of local festivals and masses, in addition to being part of the history of the suburb of Rio by syncretism, made the saint the most venerated in the city.

Saint George's Day is normally celebrated on 23 April. However, Church of England rules denote that no saints' day should be celebrated between Palm Sunday and the Sunday after Easter Day, so if 23 April falls in that period the celebrations are transferred to after it. 23 April is the traditionally accepted date of the saint's death in the Diocletian Persecution of AD 303.

Saint George became the patron saint of the former Crown of Aragon, when King Pere I won the Battle of Alcoraz in 1096 commending his army and people to the auspices of the saint. He is also patron of several former territories under the Crown of Aragon, including Valencia, Catalonia, Sicily, Sardinia, and several regions of Italy.

In most cases, the reason for those cities' adoption of the Saint as their holy Patron and shared flag is linked to the Aragonese colonial influence and various battles that occurred throughout the Mediterranean during the Reconquista. The international expansion of the Reconquista that followed over the next two centuries across the Mediterranean also led to the adoption of the cross of Saint George as a coat of arms by Christian Crusaders.

More information: English Heritage

The Catalan version of the legend of Sant Jordi says that after a fierce battle between the knight and the dragon, the beast fell through the sharp iron and that from the drops of blood that reached the ground a rose was born that bloomed profusely every April. This is the explanation that the oral tradition gives to the custom of giving roses on St. George's Day, April 23.

Legends and imaginary stories aside, we know that the tradition of giving roses to lovers comes from afar. St. George's bond with the world of chivalry and courtly love may have been the germ of tradition. We also know that in the 15th century the so-called Fira dels Enamorats was held in Barcelona and that sellers of this flower settled around the Palau de la Generalitat. At the same time, it was customary to present with a rose the women who attended the Eucharist officiated in the chapel of St. George in the palace. And finally, there are those who say that the custom of giving roses has Roman roots, specifically the festivals in honour of the goddess Flora, which were later Christianized.

In the symbolic universe, the red rose, the colour of passion, is the flower of female love, while the carnation is reserved for male love. The decoration of the rose, for Sant Jordi, is also quite curious and mixes elements from different sources. On the one hand, female love represented by the rose of red, velvety and fragile petals, and sometimes accompanied by a spike representing fertility, gives rise to a very ancient interpretation of cereal seeds. But there are also those who make a more prosaic reading of it and relate it to the arrival of good weather. On the other hand, the flower of Sant Jordi is also usually decorated with elements that evoke Catalan culture, such as ties or ribbons with the flag, which recall the vindictive content of the day.

Today, florists, corners, avenues, streets and squares become points of sale and distribution of thousands and thousands of roses that are given to loved ones, as tradition dictates, but also to friends, girlfriends, parents, co-workers and clients. Because this flower has transcended the original meaning of love and has also become a gift of courtesy and friendship. As you can see, the rose has become the protagonist of the festival, to the point that domestic production does not cover the demand, so it is necessary to resort to imports from other parts of the world far away.

In the 15th century, a rose fair was held in Barcelona on the occasion of Sant Jordi. It was attended mainly by grooms, fiancés and young couples, and this suggests that the custom of giving a rose has its origins in this festival, which was held at the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya. It was proposed to turn this date into a precept festival for the first time in 1436, when the proposal was formulated in the Catalan Parliament. The proposal would take effect in 1456.

More information: GenCat (Catalan Version)

Since the 15th century, in Catalonia, St. George's Day has been a special day, and it is customary for couples to give each other a red rose like blood and a book. The monarchs Pere the Catholic, Jaume I or Pere the Ceremonious contributed to the saint's popularity. Despite being traditional, the popularization of giving roses was actively restored in 1914, thanks to the impetus of the Commonwealth.

Sant Jordi has been declared a National Day of Catalonia by the Generalitat, but this day is not a work holiday: it is a work and school day for students. For Sant Jordi, official receptions are held at the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya and in the world of education, where Floral Games are held, it is a day of big celebration and participation in which the printed and recited word has all the prominence.

The town of Montblanc, according to the Catalan Customs of the folklorist Joan Amades, was the place in Catalonia where Saint George killed the dragon and saved the princess. That is why, since 1987, the people of Montblanc have been reviving the Medieval Week of the Legend of Sant Jordi. The high point of the celebration is the representation of the legend of the noble horseman, hero and saviour of princesses, in the scenes picked up by the popular tradition.

The day has a vindictive aspect of Catalan culture and many balconies are decorated with the flag of Catalonia. There are stops with political demands, to help humanitarian organizations, to raise funds for schools or just to get some extra money. The media broadcast live from the most emblematic points. But above all it is necessary to emphasize the festive atmosphere that generates the day. There are activities in libraries and concerts in the streets that add to the busy Catalan cultural agenda.

Books and roses are sold all over Catalonia, but it is on the Rambla de Barcelona where the event reaches its maximum expression. Storms are added to the usual stops on the Rambla. There are also readings of poems or excerpts from books and theatres and performance halls do special promotions.

More information: Casa Batlló

Cavaller, bon cavaller,
alerta al drac,
que s'amaga rere els núvols
ran d'aquest llac.

Knight, good knight,
dragon alert,
which hides behind the clouds
ran of this lake.

Gabriel Janer Manila

JOAN FOSTER EXPLAINS THE SAINT GEORGE'S LEGEND

Tomorrow is Saint George. The Fosters and The Grandma have been talking about this incredible figure, unknown and almost a legend. Joan Foster has explained the legend because he knows it very well.

More than a thousand years ago, there was a knight named George. Riding on a white horse and, wearing a breast date as bright as silver, he went over the lands in the country. His mission, as other knights who lived in that time, was taking justice and liberty to those who lacked them for one reason or another.

One day, George the knight arrived in a village where nobody could be seen in the street. He went to the blacksmith’s house as his horse needed a horseshoe, but like rest of the houses it was also closed.

After knocking on the door insistently, it was half opened and the blacksmith let him in quickly baring the door again.

-Milord, milord! Misfortune has befallen us. The upset blacksmith told him. 

-Explain everything to me, answered the knight, as he had never seen so much sadness and devastation anywhere else like that. 

-Milord, for some time there’s a heartless dragon who has been devastating the region. His breath of fire has burnt our crops and what’s more, he has been eating every animal he’s found in his way.

In time, the blacksmith went on explaining to George the knight, as there were so few animals left, the hungry dragon demanded to be offered a person every day to satisfy his greedy appetite.

Saint George

The king called a meeting, and very angrily all the people decided to face up to the dragon and they got ready to fight. They made big spears, palisades and a big moat in the hope of killing the dragon. When the dragon appeared, everybody fought against him in despair. But everything was useless and they were defeated.

The next day, in the presence of the dragon and with a threat of devastating everything if they did not give him what he asked for, they drew lots to see who would have to be handed over.

Fate willed that it was the princess Anabelda, the king’s daughter. The king and the queen were paralyzed as if a ray had passed through them, and both of them tried to trick the dragon saying that it had fallen to their lot. But the shrewd and wicked dragon was not tricked and, he took the princess Anabelda between his paws.

Knight George, after having listened to the terrible story told by the blacksmith, said: 

-I’ll have that dragon choke on his food!

 

And riding on his horse, he left as fast as he could to look for the captive princess. At nightfall the knight found the dragon’s cave and the princess, who was the most beautiful girl that he had ever seen. Suddenly the dragon appeared.

-How lucky I am today, I’ve got a double portion for dinner.

Saint George

He said laughing while he closed his eyes and smelt them with appetite. George took advantage of the occasion, and, as fast as a ray, he cut his head right off with his sword. The dragon’s blood soaked the earth and a rosebush with lovely red roses bloomed immediately. 

George released the princess and he gave her a flower so that she would calm down.

You’re so brave and generous having rescued me from that monster – said Anabelda, in love with that handsome knight.

When they returned all the people went out to welcome them cheering and hailing. The king and the queen could not believe that their beloved daughter was safe and sound. And as George the knight was now tired of adventures and, besides he was pleased with the princess’ company, they married and were happy forever.

Damunt el cel veig un drac
brodat de foc,
un drac que guarda una jove
en estrany lloc.

Above the sky I see a dragon
embroidery in fire
a dragon that keeps a young woman
in strange place.

Cançó del Cavaller Sant Jordi, Maria del Mar Bonet 

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM, THE GREAT HIDDEN LEADERSHIP

Today, The Grandma has been reading about a family's friend, Neville Longbottom, who is a great example of loyalty, friendship and leadership. Remember: the real leader is always in the shadow.

Professor Neville Longbottom is a British pure-blood wizard, the only child and son of Frank and Alice Longbottom.

Neville's parents were well-respected Aurors and members of the original Order of the Phoenix, until they were tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and three other Death Eaters with the Cruciatus Curse when he was about sixteen months old. They were placed in the Janus Thickey Ward at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, leaving Neville to be raised by his grandmother, Augusta Longbottom.

Neville began school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and was sorted into Gryffindor House, along with Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ronald Weasley. Throughout his school years, he was mostly a shy, clumsy, introverted boy who was constantly being told by his grandmother that he was not good enough or living up to his parents' accomplishments.

However, in his later years, he showed that he possessed great courage andperseverance: he became an important member of Dumbledore's Army, an organisation taught and led by Harry Potter with the goal of helping other students learn spells to attack and defend themselves.

Neville would later fight in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries (1996), the Battle of the Astronomy Tower (1997), and the Battle of Hogwarts (1998). During the Battle of Hogwarts, having refused Lord Voldemort's invitation to join the Death Eaters, he destroyed the seventh and final Horcrux when he beheaded the snake Nagini. He also co-led the D.A. during his final year in opposition to the Death Eater professors.

Neville Longbottom was born to Frank and Alice Longbottom, a pair of Aurors. Moments after his birth, Neville was able to adjust his blankets so that he was swaddled more snugly, but no one witnessed this unusually precocious display of underage magic. The midwife who attended the birth assumed that his father had tucked him in more tightly. Neville was born several hours before his classmate, Harry. 

As a pure-blood wizard, he was likely related to other wizarding families such as the Weasleys, Crouches, Potters, and the Blacks. Neville's parents were members of The Order of the Phoenix and in these roles, they defied Lord Voldemort at least three times.

Neville was one of two infants referred to in a prophecy made by Sybill Trelawney about the person with the power to defeat the Dark Lord. The other was Harry Potter, and it was Harry whom Lord Voldemort targeted making Harry his equal and leading to his first defeat.

Shortly after, a handful of Lord Voldemort's most loyal followers attacked The Longbottoms. Frank and Alice were tortured into insanity with the Cruciatus Curse by Death Eaters Bellatrix Lestrange, her husband Rodolphus Lestrange, her brother-in-law Rabastan Lestrange, and Barty Crouch Jr.

More information: Wizarding World I & II

The four Death Eaters were all sentenced to Azkaban for their crimes, while Frank and Alice were sent to St Mungo's Hospital, where they would live the rest of their lives, not being able to recognise their own son. Neville was subsequently raised by his paternal grandmother, Augusta Longbottom. At some point early in his life, he also witnessed the death of his grandfather.

Neville's grandmother was a stern and formidable woman who was concerned when her grandson did not exhibit early signs of magic.

Neville did, however, show faint signs of magic in him throughout his early years, something which his family persistently missed  -the first such sign took place moments after birth, when Neville managed to magically shift his blankets more snugly over himself, something which went unnoticed by midwife who attended his mother. She often chided Neville for not living up to his family's honour and was partly the reason for Neville's lack of self-confidence early in his school years.
 

His relatives feared that Neville might be a Squib, though this wasdisproved when his great-uncle Algie was holding him out of awindowby his feet when he was offered some lemon meringue and let go.

Neville bounced. Previous to this, there were various attempts to make him show signs of magic, including dropping him off Blackpool pier, where, according to Neville, he nearly drowned. Neville inherited his father's wand at the age of eleven when he started to attend Hogwarts. This wand was later broken during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.

Neville began attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While with his grandmother at platform 9¾, he lost his toad Trevor. Once on the train, he met Hermione Granger, who agreed to help him find his lost toad, and then Harry Potter and Ron Weasley when he entered their compartment tearfully looking for Trevor. After arriving at Hogsmeade Station, Neville managed to retrieve his toad from Rubeus Hagrid. 

Neville felt intimidated by Gryffindor's reputation for bravery. During the Sorting ceremony, he silently argued for a long time to be placed in Hufflepuff, but the Sorting Hat won in the end, and Sorted him into Gryffindor. 

Neville was so nervous that when the Sorting Hat shouted out his house, he ran across the Great Hall with the Hat still on his head; he had to return to the stool to hand the Hat to the next student. On the way to Gryffindor Tower after the Welcoming Feast, Neville had a bundle of walking sticks dropped on his head by Peeves the Poltergeist.

More information: Wizarding World I, II & III

During Christmas break, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny learned that Neville's parents were not dead, but patients in St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, having gone insane after being tortured by a group of Death Eaters at the end of the First Wizarding War. Harry was the only one who already knew this, having found out in the Pensieve, but he had told no one, keeping Neville's secret safe.

Before Neville left, his mother handed him an empty Droobles Blowing Gum wrapper; while his grandmother wanted him to throw it away, Neville instead pocketed it.

When it was learned that ten Death Eaters escaped from Azkaban, including three of the ones responsible for the torture of Neville's parents, Neville did not speak of it, but it wrought a strange and even slightly alarming change in him, according to Harry. He worked harder than anyone in D.A. meetings, and was the fastest to pick up new spells aside from Hermione.

Neville participated in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. Along with Luna Lovegood, he was the only member of Dumbledore's Army to reply to the summons via the coins. 

Neville stood guard outside the Room of Requirement with Ron and Ginny, waiting for Draco Malfoy, who evaded them by using Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder.

Neville suffered an injury that kept him in the hospital wing for some time, though he was able to attend the funeral of Albus Dumbledore shortly afterwards, where Luna helped him into his seat.

Lord Voldemort took over the Ministry of Magic. While Muggle-borns were rounded up and Harry, Ron, and Hermione went on the run to search for Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes, Neville returned to Hogwarts, and, along with Ginny and Luna, restarted Dumbledore's Army.

The D.A. opposed the new headmaster, Severus Snape, and the two new Death Eater professors, Alecto and Amycus Carrow, who taught anti-Muggle propaganda and the Dark Arts.

Neville got in trouble with the Carrows for refusing to practise the Cruciatus Curse on other students as a method of punishment, as well as for standing up against their bigotry and cruelty.

The revived D.A. helped protect fellow students from being bullied by the Death Eater teachers, and generally rebelled against authority, such as writing Dumbledore’s Army, still recruiting on the Hogwarts walls and freeing students from detention.

Neville, Luna and Ginny also attempted to steal Godric Gryffindor's sword from Snape's office, but were caught on the way out. In his own way to subvert the Carrows' manner of discipline, Snape only gave them a detention, sending them into the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid.

More information: Wizarding World I, II & III

Neville eventually decided to cease their open rebellion after Michael Corner was caught and brutally tortured for freeing a chained-up first year.

Neville was eventually left alone to lead the rebellion efforts, as Luna was dragged off the Hogwarts Express by Death Eaters around Christmas to coerce her father into ceasing his political dissidence in The Quibbler, and Ginny did not return to Hogwarts following the Easter holidays, as her family went into hiding following Harry, Ron, and Hermione's escape from Malfoy Manor. By this time, the Carrows were aware of Neville's role in the rebellion, and he suffered beatings and torture. The Ministry also targeted Neville's grandmother to try to intimidate him, but she evaded capture and went on the run.

Neville enthusiastically greeted Harry, Hermione, and Ron, and led them from the Hog's Head into the Room of Requirement. While in the tunnel he explained to the trio the nature of his injuries and the reign of the Carrows at Hogwarts. He also informed the trio that the D.A. had been reinstated and was currently resisting the new regime.

Believing that their return meant the overthrow of the Death Eater professors, Neville signalled the rest of the D.A. to return to Hogwarts. As students returned, along with The Order of the Phoenix, Lord Voldemort and his Death Eater army approached, laying siege to the school in the hopes of capturing Harry Potter.

During the first round of battle, Neville used various plants to attack Death Eaters, and helped transport the injured and dead when a temporary cease-fire was called. He briefly spoke to Harry, who told him that it was top priority to kill Lord Voldemort's snake and Horcrux, Nagini.

When the Death Eaters approached with a dead Harry, Neville stood up in defiance of Lord Voldemort. He was subsequently forced to wear the Sorting Hat as it burned because he refused to join Lord Voldemort. Fortunately, due to Harry's sacrifice, Neville was able to shrug off the Full Body-Bind Curse with relative ease.

Because of his tremendous bravery shown on the battlefield, Neville was able to pull Godric Gryffindor's sword from the burning hat, in the process proving himself a true Gryffindor, something that was doubted constantly throughout due to his apparently weak-willed, shy, and bumbling nature. In a single stroke, he carried out Harry's final order, slaying Nagini, destroying Lord Voldemort's last remaining Horcrux.

Neville subsequently teamed up with Ron Weasley as the defenders of Hogwarts and Death Eaters were forced into the Great Hall and defeated Fenrir Greyback. Also during the Battle Neville duelled Scabior on the Covered Bridge. Scabior fell to his death when the bridge fell down.

Neville witnessed Harry Potter's final defeat of Lord Voldemort and survived the Second Wizarding War.

Neville is an English name originally derived from Norman French for new town. It was the surname of a noble and a powerful warrior lineage family prominent in England in the medieval period, as well as the given name of a Prime Minister of Britain, Neville Chamberlain, whose role in history is controversial.

Neville Chamberlain is infamous for his policy of appeasing dictator Adolf Hitler just prior to World War II, which is ironic, considering that Neville Longbottom never faltered in his defiance of Lord Voldemort.

Longbottom is the name of one of the Hobbits' villages at the Shire, known for its best pipe-weed.

Longbottom is a family name around Bristol, where J.K. Rowling spent part of her childhood.

More information: Screen Rant

Trevor is Neville Longbottom's pet toad, whom he frequently lost during his first year at Hogwarts.

Trevor was a gift from Neville's Great Uncle Algie in recognition of the first time Neville showed magical ability and thus gaining admission to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Eventually, Trevor wandered off and joined the other amphibians in and around the Black Lake.

Neville's great uncle Algie used to own Trevor until he gave him to Neville as a gift from him for receiving permission to go to Hogwarts.

Neville lost Trevor many times. For example, the first time he came to Hogwarts on the Hogwarts Express, Neville lost Trevor but was soon helped by Hermione Granger who met Harry Potter and Ron Weasley during her search.

Neville eventually found Trevor once reaching Hogwarts in one of the boats after Rubeus Hagrid asked Neville about Trevor.

Professor Filius Flitwick once made Trevor fly around his Charms classroom to skilfully demonstrate the Levitation Charm.

During the night Harry, Ron and Hermione went to penetrate the Underground Chambers, the trio left the common room but was confronted by Neville and a croaking Trevor until Hermione froze Neville using the Full Body-Bind Curse.

In Neville's third year, Trevor was part of the Frog Choir when they performed Double Trouble.

Later on the school year, Professor Severus Snape made Neville test his Shrinking Solution on the toad with the warning that if made incorrectly, it would likely be poisonous. After Trevor drank the potion, he successfully transformed into a tadpole, much to Neville's delight. However, Professor Snape was displeased and spitefully deducted five points from Gryffindor because Hermione had helped Neville create the potion.

Harry used Trevor to practise the Summoning Charm in his and Neville's fourth year.

When Harry encountered Neville in the last carriage of the Hogwarts Express in their fifth year, Neville had a one-handed grip on a struggling Trevor. Later, Neville dumped the toad into Harry's lap so that he could demonstrate the defensive mechanism of his Mimbulus Mimbletonia. This was to Harry's regret when Cho Chang then visited the compartment, as he would not have chosen to be sitting with Neville and Luna Lovegood, clutching a toad and dripping in Stinksap.

Trevor made a bid for freedom on the Hogwarts Express, but Neville caught him again.

At some point, Trevor escaped into the Lake. Both the pet and the owner felt a sense of relief.

More information: Screen Rant

 

 The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...

Born to those who have thrice defied him,

born as the seventh month dies...

and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal,

but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...

and either must die at the hand of the other

for neither can live while the other survives...

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord

will be born as the seventh month dies.

Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy

THE REAL LEADERSHIP, EVERY TIME R2-D2 SAVES THE DAY

Today, The Grandma has been reading about R2D2, another a great example of loyalty, friendship and leadership. Remember again: the real leader is always in the shadow.

R2-D2 or Artoo-Detoo is a fictional robot character in the Star Wars franchise created by George Lucas.

He has appeared in ten of the eleven theatrical Star Wars films to date. At various points throughout the course of the films, R2, an astromech droid, is a friend to C-3PO, Padmé Amidala, Anakin Skywalker, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. 

R2-D2 and his companion C-3PO are the only characters to appear in every theatrical Star Wars film, with the exception of Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018).

English actor Kenny Baker played R2-D2 in all three original Star Wars films and received billing credit for the character in the prequel trilogy, where Baker's role was reduced as R2-D2 was portrayed mainly by radio controlled props and CGI models. In the sequel trilogy, Baker was credited as consultant for The Force Awakens; however, Jimmy Vee also co-performed the character in some scenes. Vee later took over the role beginning in The Last Jedi.

In The Rise of Skywalker, puppeteers Hassan Taj and Lee Towersey perform the role of R2-D2, replacing Jimmy Vee, who had played the role in the previous two films. His sounds and vocal effects were created by sound designer Ben Burtt.

R2-D2 was designed in artwork by Ralph McQuarrie, co-developed by John Stears and built by Peteric Engineering. The revised Empire Strikes Back droids had fibreglass shells built by Tony Dyson and his White Horse Toy Company.

George Lucas's creation of R2-D2 was influenced by the peasant Matashichi from Akira Kurosawa's 1958 feature film The Hidden Fortress (released in the United States in 1962), although his personality is completely the opposite. Lucas and artist Ralph McQuarrie also drew inspiration from the robots Huey, Dewey, and Louie from Douglas Trumbull's 1972 film Silent Running.

Around the same time that A New Hope was being shot, Ray Harryhausen had already created Bubo for the 1981 film Clash of the Titans. In the film, Bubo is a mechanical metal owl that flies heavily and communicates through whistles and tweets. Harryhausen denied a relation.

The name derives from when Lucas was making one of his earlier films, American Graffiti. Sound editor Walter Murch states that he is responsible for the utterance which sparked the name for the droid. Murch asked for Reel 2, Dialog Track 2, in the abbreviated form R-2-D-2. Lucas, who was in the room and had dozed off while working on the script for Star Wars, momentarily woke when he heard the request and, after asking for clarification, stated that it was a great name before going back to writing his script.

R2-D2 stands for Second Generation Robotic Droid Series-2, according to a Star Wars encyclopedia published after the release of the film Star Wars. Tony Dyson, owner of the special effects studio The White Horse Toy Company, was commissioned by special effects supervisor Brian Johnson to fabricate the revised mechanical design for The Empire Strikes Back, making several units operated by remote control. A number were used by Baker, and two were stunt double models made for the scene where the droid was shot from the swamp onto the shore on Dagobah.

More information: Screen Rant

Beep Beep Be Deep Boop!

R2D2

THE FOSTERS, TALKING ABOUT LABOUR INSERTION (II)

Today, The Fosters and The Grandma have talked about how to create a modern CV using Canva, one of the most popular software to create and design all kind of brochures, CV and other. They have also talked about the importance of communication skills in an interview.

Canva is a graphic design platform that allows users to create social media graphics, presentations, posters and other visual content.

More information: Canva

More information: How to Use Canva

On average, recruiters spend just 8.8 seconds reading your CV. This means you have less than a sixth of a minute to sell yourself and your strengths to the reader. This is easier said than done: three quarters of CVs are rejected due to bad grammar, spelling and poor visual layout.

More information: The Balance (I)

So what makes a successful job application? We asked career experts for their tips. Here is a step-by-step Guardian Jobs guide on how to create the perfect CV.

It's vital your CV is as tailored and concise as possible. One of the simplest mistakes job hunters make is not matching their experience to the new job role. It's essential to look down the list of requirements and show against each points how you can do each one, says Jon Gregory, a job search, application and interview coach.

It's also important to drop the clichés. Words like passionate and phrases like 'I'm excellent at' are overused, says Gregory. Show your passion rather than say it. Don't use subjective statements like 'I can hit the ground running' instead use objective proof that you have demonstrated those skills – such as a list of numbers and achievements.

Lis McGuire, founder of Giraffe CVS, agrees you should avoid clichés: The most important thing to leave off a CV is white noise – essentially anything that isn't directly relevant to the job role you're applying. For non-relevant work simply give the bare bones and instead focus on explaining relevant experience that will win you the role.

In summary, your writing style should be professional, concise and specific to the job you're applying to. Make it as easy as possible for them to scan your CV and tick boxes, advice the experts.

More information: The Balance (II)

The personal profile is often tricky. How can you strike the perfect professional yet enthusiastic voice? Without a profile your CV is just a list without context, points out McGuire. Use it to show the reader who you are and the value you can bring.

But how exactly can this be done? Your CV profile should strive to provide abalanced complement of skills, achievements, and softer attributes that will engage the reader, advises Debra Wheatman, founder and owner of Careers Done Write. I generally recommend that the summary comprises 4-5 lines with a relevant example to quickly engage the reader.

Your profile should sum up exactly who you are and whether you're a good fit for the role, says Gregory. Likewise, Sarah Archer, career coach and co-founder of CareerTree, says: Make it specific, interesting and relevant to the job. Highlight the key skills and experiences you have and the kinds of environments you have worked in.

Finally, the family has assisted to the Labour Conference Talk English organized by the International Labour Organization.

They are worried about the real situation of working after the global economic crisis which has affected lives of millions of people severely. 

They have taken information to help other people to find a work. This is the reason because of they have to find the best, and not the best thing, about all of them.

 

More information: CVMRK

 

Job-interviewing is just a skill. 

Like any skill, 

some people have more of a predisposition 

for it than others.

Dale Dauten

LEADERSHIP, COMMITMENT & COOPERATIVE WORKING

Today, The Fosters & The Grandma have been reading about leadership, commitment and cooperative working.

Leadership encompasses the ability of an individual, group or organization to lead, influence or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. The word leadership often gets viewed as a contested term. Specialist literature debates various viewpoints on the concept, sometimes contrasting Eastern and Western approaches to leadership, and also (within the West) North American versus European approaches.

U.S. academic environments define leadership as a process of social influence in which a person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common and ethical task.

Basically, leadership can be defined as an influential power-relationship in which the power of one party (the leader) promotes movement/change in others (the followers).

Some have challenged the more traditional managerial views of leadership, which portray leadership as something possessed or owned by one individual due to their role or authority, and instead advocate the complex nature of leadership which is found at all levels of institutions, both within formal and informal roles.

Studies of leadership have produced theories involving traits, situational interaction, function, behavior, power, vision and values, charisma, and intelligence, among others.

 More information: Mind Tools

The search for the characteristics or traits of leaders has continued for centuries. 

Philosophical writings from Plato's Republic[ to Plutarch's Lives have explored the question What qualities distinguish an individual as a leader? Underlying this search was the early recognition of the importance of leadership and the assumption that leadership is rooted in the characteristics that certain individuals possess. This idea that leadership is based on individual attributes is known as the trait theory of leadership.

Many personality characteristics were found to be reliably associated with leadership emergence. The list includes assertiveness, authenticity, Big Five personality factors, birth order, character strengths, dominance, emotional intelligence, gender identity, intelligence, narcissism, self-efficacy for leadership, self-monitoring and social motivation.

Other areas of study in relation to how and why leaders emerge include narcissistic traits, absentee leaders, and participation. While there are many personality traits that be considered in determining why a leader emerges it is important to not look at these in isolation. Today's sophisticated research methods look at personality characteristics in combination to determine patterns of leadership emergence.

More information: The Balance Money

These Group Leaderships or Leadership Teams have specific characteristics:

-There must be an awareness of unity on the part of all its members.

-There must be interpersonal relationship. Members must have a chance to contribute, and learn from and work with others.

-The members must have the ability to act together toward a common goal.

Ten characteristics of well-functioning teams:

-Purpose. Members proudly share a sense of why the team exists and are invested in accomplishing its mission and goals.

-Priorities. Members know what needs to be done next, by whom, and by when to achieve team goals.

-Roles. Members know their roles in getting tasks done and when to allow a more skillful member to do a certain task.

-Decisions. Authority and decision-making lines are clearly understood.

-Conflict. Conflict is dealt with openly and is considered important to decision-making and personal growth.

-Personal traits. Members feel their unique personalities are appreciated and well utilized.

-Norms. Group norms for working together are set and seen as standards for every one in the groups.

-Effectiveness. Members find team meetings efficient and productive and look forward to this time together.

-Success. Members know clearly when the team has met with success and share in this equally and proudly.

-Training. Opportunities for feedback and updating skills are provided and taken advantage of by team members.

More information: Emeritus

I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep;
I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.

Alexander the Great