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Ying Wa Explorers Series: Exploring the Legend of the Christmas Spider!

12/19/2017

115 Comments

 
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Presented by Mrs Abanty Paul

Foreword:
 
Exploring can be of different kinds and nature. For me, it is all about exploring the world of stories, legends and folktales that have been inspiring, motivating and intriguing us for years. With Christmas just round the corner, I started exploring the net for various Christmas stories and traditions associated with the celebration of one of the most popular and joyous festivals of the world.

And, needless to say, I came across quite a few interesting tales and stories-some facts, some myths and fictions associated with Christmas. Each one of them was unique in its own nature.

Amongst these, I was attracted to some strange customs and traditions followed by certain countries and the stories/tales related to them.
​
Today, I’m going to share one such story with you and the tradition that came into being from it. This is the “Legend of the Christmas Spider”. Of course, there are a couple of variations to this popular Eastern European folktale and today I’m going to tell you the folktale that comes from Germany. I hope you like it.

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Legend of the Christmas Spider

A long time ago in Germany, a mother was cleaning for Christmas. Spiders fled up to the attic to escape the broom. On quiet Christmas Eve, the spiders slowly came down for a peek. “Oh, what a beautiful tree!”

In excitement, they scurried up and out along each branch. They were filled with happiness as they climbed amongst the glittering beauty. But alas! By the time they were done, the tree was shrouded in their dusty grey web.

When Santa came with gifts for the children and saw the tree covered with spider webs, he smiled because he saw how happy the spiders were, but knew how heartbroken the mother would be if she saw it covered in dusty webs. So he turned the webs to strands of silver and the tree was even more beautiful than before.

​That’s the story of tinsel on trees and why every tree should have a Christmas Spider in it’s branches.

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Afterword:
 
Many of us often decorate Christmas trees with tinsels without knowing where, when and why this particular tradition originated. Well, it seems that this legend is also behind the use of tinsels to decorate our Christmas trees, although not everyone puts a spider as a Christmas decoration on their trees.
​
To conclude, I can say that if there is hope and faith in your heart, miracles often happen. This is exactly what this beautiful story is all about.
115 Comments

Quadruple Winner: Thematic Group Speaking Team Comes First Again!

12/12/2017

10 Comments

 
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Our Thematic Group Speaking Team with Adjudicator
Another HUGE congratulations to our Thematic Group Speaking Team, this year coached by Mr Richard. They earned their fourth WINNER in as many years in this difficult category at the Speech Festival, scoring 87.

Our team coach designed the witty theme of "First Place for Second Place", incorporating different texts (including Bible text, Shakespeare, song lyrics, legal text, expository article and his own dramatic writing), to convey the meaning, through a 13-min act, that sometimes being second is better than being first! The originality of this theme was well recognized by the adjudicator, who was also impressed by our team's vocal and acting qualities, as well as the overall arrangements.

Again, very proud of our boys' and teachers' effort to bring our school honours and recognition. Being second isn't always bad but surely, this afternoon, getting the trophy was their best reward!

Dr H C Lee
​

10 Comments

Senior Choral Speaking Team Snatches GOLD!

12/5/2017

21 Comments

 
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Big jubilation after victory - the team with adjudicator, underpants all over!
A HUGE Congratulations to our Senior Choral Speaking Team and their coach Mr Richard for their great effort and marvelous performance this morning at the 69th Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival Contest. This is our third time getting the First Place in this category since our school's restart.

The team dramatized Moses's poem "Alien Stole My Underpants" and received fantastic comments from the adjudicator, who praised very highly of the group's voice quality, arrangements, story-telling power and the use of props! She gave us an almost impossible score of 93 (Honours), two points ahead of the Second.

The team already wowed the audience greatly last week at the PTA's Annual General Meeting, but we never expected to have a big honour like this. This result means a lot to us.

The English teaching team thanks the parents for their tremendous support, allowing their children to learn from choral speaking, and thanks our talented boys who managed to come for practice despite their heavy schedules for many other activities! 

Reaching half-time of the Speech Festival, hopefully more celebrations are to come!

Dr H C Lee
21 Comments

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