Religion: Taoism

     Taoism originated in China in 550 B.C. Today it has approximately twenty million followers, most of them being from Chinese descent. It is based on the teachings of Tao Te Ching. Taoists follow the views of Pantheism, saying that nature is identical to god. They also believe in yin-yang, meaning that opposites depend on each other in the natural world, and how they set each other in balance. They try to establish harmony with the Tao which is the mechanism of everything that exists. Their purpose in life is to achieve inner harmony, peace, and longevity. They achieve this living according to the Tao. Taoists are generally happy, peaceful people. After they die they believe they go into a state of non-being. Their general attitude is detached. They aim to not stress. They tend to "go with the flow" of the Tao. Tai-chi, acupuncture, and alchemy is practiced to help longevity. They have two texts they use: the Tao Te Ching and the Chuang-Tzu. 

The Chinese character for Tao

WAC: Claudius

     I was considered the least likely to ever be a great ruler. They all described me as awkward, clumsy, even disfigured, but that didn't stop me, Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus, from becoming a great Roman Emperor. I started my reign in 41 A.D. and ended it in 54 A.D., but I'll save that for later. I had a hard life growing up. However, my time as emperor proved quite successful to say so myself. My end was just as eventful, before that dreaded Nero betrayed me.
      I was the black sheep in my family. Born in 10 B.C. I was left disfigured by a serious illness. Being the clutz I was didn't help either. My own uncle Tiberius was ashamed and never thought I could be ruler, for my speech impediment and limp were pretty bad. I was made fun of all the time. I even got thrown food at me during dinner. The absolute worse was when I'd stretch and rub my eyes only to find slippers on my hands, burning my eyes.
     Everything changed when my uncle's successor Caligula was assasinated. I was terrified of being thought of as emperor.  I decided to hide, for that's what I have done my entire life. The palace soldiers did indeed find me, however, and placed me as ruler. Reluctant, I accepted the position. But hey, I had good reason: like my predecessors, I could be killed anytime. Supported mainly by soldiers and courtiers, I had a rocky relationship with the Senate. Many senators supported many of the plots against my life.
     I had many highlights during my reign. For example, conquering Britain was a great achievements of mine. Not even Caesar could accomplish that! I also captured Mauretania, Thrace, and Lycia, expanded the Empire a little more. I worked hard to improve the judicial system in Rome and improved slave and women's rights and privileges. It all paid off, for I was well respected and quite popular.
      Now that I think about it, my downfall was my, well, nicely put, simply awful taste in women. I absolutely adored my first wife, Messalina. She was unfaithful though, but I tried to ignore her affairs with servants. It became too much in 48 A.D. when she was tied to Gaius Silius. That was the last straw. Silius was killed, but all I could do when I heard of my wife's "sudden" death was to sip more wine. A year later I made the grave mistake of marrying my niece Agrippina. She was a sly, evil women who used me to make her son Nero emperor. I was even convinced by her to disown my own son Britannicus.With Nero as the next heir it was only time until she attacked me.
    Her first attempt to my demise was poisoned mushrooms delivered by an unfaithful servant of mine in 54 A.D. But Ha! I slowly recovered from the attempted murder. Only then did my doctor come in to help me vomit up the rest of the mushrooms. I allowed him to use a feather down my throat, unaware of its poison tip. I was dead. Nero became emperor. Doesn't seem very fair, does it?

Christmas Blog Facts Notes

Equador (Eric)-
1.) Always put two large dolls under their Christmas trees.
2.) Tours of their houses are given during the holidays, usually nine days before Christmas.
3.) Children place their gift lists into an old shoe and wait for Papa Noel to visit.

Egypt (Tyler)-
1.) Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January.
2.) All churches and Christmas homes are decorated by having lights, trees, and small mangers around.
3.) To celebrate, they all go out for Christmas to parks, cinemas, and theaters.

Russia (Dylan)-
1.) It is an offical holiday in Russia thanks to the Russian Orthodox Church.
2.) Christmas is typically celebrated on January 7th.
3.) Previously it was celebrated on December 25th.

China (Kristen)-
1.) They call Santa Claus Dun Che Lao Ren
2.) Only 1% of China's population is Christian, so it is hardly celebrated.
3.)  Christmas is not a major holiday in China.

El Salvador (Taylor)-
1.) Houses, hotels, streets, and restuarants are lit up in various colors for Christmas.
2.) After the Christmas dinner and the relatives are about to leave it is tradition to place a baby Jesus figure under the Christmas tree.
3.) The rich donate a lot of money during the holiday season.

India (Haley)-
1.) They use mangos and bananas for decorations.
2.) They sacrifice a goat to represent freedom and holiness.
3.) Two hour ceremonies are held at the churches.

Russia (Amber)-
1.) Christmas is called the Festival of Winter.
2.) Fasting occurs up to 39 days, usually until Jnauary 6th on Christmas Eve.
3.) Hyms and carols are sung.

Japan (Madori)-
1.) They make a traditional Japanese Christmas cake.
2.) They have smaller Christmas trees.
3.) They go out and buy their gifts, so no presents are under the tree.

France (Shania)-
1.) French children put their shoes in front of fireplaces so they will be filled with gifts.
2.) They have a culinary celebration called le Reveillon.
3.) After Christmas a yule log made of Cherry wood is burned all night.

Madagascar (Samantha)-
1.) Common decorations include holly, robins, and snow, even though none of these exist in Madagascar,
2.) Most people go to church on Christmas Eve.
3.) Families like to eat dinner and dress up in their best clothes.
Italy (Keeley)-
1.) Christmas in Italy is celebrated from December 24th to January 6th.
2.) Traditionally a meatless dinner is eaten on Christmas Eve with your family.
3.) In Italy, presents are brought by La Befana who arrives in the night to fill children's stockings.

Peru (Katara)-
1.) Christmas is celbrated as Nocha Buena on December 24th.
2.) Parties are thrown by the adults after midnight until 6:00 A.M.
3.) They celebrate with religious symbols such as the Retablos or nativity scenes.

Canada (Paige)-
1.) Songs and carols brought from Brtitain two centuries ago are sung each Christmas morning.
2.) Like Americans, Canadians also celebrate with cards, carols, trees, lights, and more.
3.) They display nativity scenes in their homes.

Germany (Raychel)-
1.) Santa Clause doesn't arrive at Christmas.
2.) The German Christmas starts the first day of Advent.
3.) The children hang a show in the fireplace: if children are good the shoes are filled with candies, if they were bad the boots are filled with twigs.