dollop

A shapeless mass or blob of something.

CONTENTS

ARTICLES

A sneak peek at ... axolotls!

Musical Notes

New Year Traditions

STORIES

The Adventures of Juniper Silverheel - Part 5

Poems

Photos

Brain Teasers

Facts

A sneak peek at ... axolotls!

Eva Marlie

Welcome back to the "Animal Corner". As Tara is on holiday to visit her relatives in Sri Lanka, I had to write this animal article. I decided I was going to write about the axolotl! Hope you enjoy reading about this very strange creature :)

Eva M

Axolotls are very weird beings. They can come in some different colours, but black is the most common in the wild. They have a fish-looking appearance, even though they are in fact part of the amphibian family.

Axolotls are actually young larvae which, as they grow up, turn into a certain kind of salamander, but some axolotls never turn into salamanders, and stay in their larvae stage for the whole of their life!

www.santagatando.wordpress.com  

www.wikipedia.com 

Axolotls can breed while they are still in their young form, which is rather strange, if you think about it. This is called neotony. They can also grow back lost body parts, like starfish can. Even if a part of the brain or heart is eaten by a predator, they would be able to grow it back, and live.

They eat small prey, such as worms, small fish, and insects in the wild, by sucking them into their mouths.

These strange creatures have 6 gills on the back of their head, which can be used to filter the oxygen from the water that passes through them. Even though they have this ability, they sometimes come to the water’s surface to take a large gulp of the air above. Full grown male axolotls, aged around 18-24 months old, are 15-45 centimetres long, about 23 cm being the average.

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Musical Notes

Eva Marlie

I started learning piano when I was 6. I'm still participating in the same lessons, and loving it more than ever. To just pick up any random piece of music and play it is really extraordinary. And to make those pieces of music yourself is even more so. Here's a composition of mine, Strange Encounter.

Strange Encounter

© 2009

New Year Traditions Around the World

Eva Marlie

Thanks to www.fathertimes.net 

Arabic: Kul 'aam u antum salimoun

Brazilian: Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo (Good Parties and Happy New Year)

Chinese: Chu Shen Tan

Czechoslovakia : Scastny Novy Rok

Dutch: Gullukkig Niuw Jaar

Finnish: Onnellista Uutta Vuotta

French: Bonne Annee

German: Prosit Neujahr

Greek: Eftecheezmaenos o Kaenooryos hronos

Hebrew: L'Shannah Tovah Tikatevu

Hindi: Niya Saa Moobaarak

Irish (Gaelic): Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit

Italian: Buon Capodanno

Khmer: Sua Sdei tfnam tmei

Laotian: Sabai dee pee mai

Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku

Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo

Russian: S Novim Godom

Serbo-Croatian: Scecna nova godina

Spanish: Feliz Ano Neuvo/ Prospero Ano Nuevo

Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun

Vietnamese: Cung-Chuc Tan-Xuan

Here are a few different traditions from around the world I thought looked quite interesting. Enjoy reading how these people spend their New Year.

Brazil

The Brazilians celebrate the New Year by serving lentil soup or lentils and rice, as in Brazil the lentil is believed to signify wealth. On New Year’s Eve priestesses of the local “macumba voodoo” cult dress in blue and white for a ceremony dedicated to their goddess of water, Yemanja. Flowers, candles, and jewellery is put on a sacrificial boat and is pushed out to sea from Brazil ’s famous Ipenama beach in Rio de Janeiro .

Bulgaria

All the young girls in Bulgaria would drop their rings, oats, and barley (as they represent fertility) into a cauldron of spring water. The rings would be tied together with a red thread to a bunch of perennial plants, such as ivy, crane’s bill, or basil. The cauldron would be left overnight under the stars. Then on New Year’s Eve the girl’s fortunes would be told, after a ritual dance around the cauldron. It is a New Year tradition that lots of Bulgarians eat “banica”, flaky cheese pie.

Cambodia

Cambodians celebrate their New Year for three days. The festival starts on either the 12^th, 13^th, or the 14^th of April, according to the Gregorian calendar. Their New Year’s Eve is called “Chaul Chnam Thmey” which means “entering the New Year”.

As the Cambodian people believe the New Year Spirit, Tevada Chnam Thmey, comes down to earth during this time they clean and decorate their houses and make an altar to welcome the spirit. A Buddha statue, as well as flowers, candles, incense, a bowl of scented water, food and drink, and banana leaves shaped into figures are left on the altar. The people wear brand new clothing and children give money to their older relatives as a sign of respect, and may even give food or fruit as well.

Games such as Tug of War, Angkunh, and Boh Choong are played every day of the festival at the monasteries.

During the three days of the festival the people of Cambodia offer food to the monks at the monastery, exchange gifts with their families and wish each other a Happy New Year, and the children wash the feet of their parents as it is considered respectful.

Denmark

In Denmark if you have a pile of broken dishes on your front doorstep it means you have lots of friends, as all the Danish people save up their old dishes during the year, and chuck them at their friends’ doors at New Year.

Greece

In Greece the 1^st of January is not only called New Year’s Day, but is also called Saint Basil’s Day. The most important dish that is prepared by the Greek people at New Year is called “Vassilopitta” or “Saint Basil’s Cake” and has a coin inside. There is a strict order that the cake must be given. The first piece goes to St Basil, the second is for the house, the third for the eldest member of the household, down to the youngest (also including absent members). Some Greeks give a piece to the cattle and a large piece for the poor. The people believe that the person who gets the coin will be lucky for a year. In Kos people male first-of-the-year wreaths. They are usually made out of pomegranates, grapes, quinces, garlic bulbs, and plane-tree leaves. On September the 1^st, the Greek New Year, the children carry their household’s wreaths down to the shore (the old year’s wreaths and the new ones) and they throw them out to sea, then collect seawater and pebbles to keep at home as protective devices to serve with the wreaths. The tradition of collecting these two things in Greece is exactly 40 pebbles, and water from the top of exactly 40 waves.

Poland

New Year’s Eve is also known as Saint Sylvester’s Eve in Poland, as there are legends that talk of Pope Sylvester the 1^st who supposedly imprisoned “Leviathan”, a dragon who was supposed to be able to escape on the first day of the year 1000, devour the land and the people, and was supposed to have set fire to the heavens. When the world did not come to an end on New Year’s Day there was great rejoicing and that’s why in Poland this time is named after Saint Sylvester, the man who trapped the deathly dragon.

Switzerland

In Switzerland it is believed that letting a drop of cream land on the floor on New Year’s Day means good luck!

Wales

At about 3 or 4am on New Year’s morning the boys of the village would go from house to house sprinkling an evergreen twig over the people who lived there and then they’d sprinkle each room of their house. It is believed to bring good luck.

Lots of children rise early in the morning to go to each house in their neighbourhood and sing songs for the residents. They are given money, mince pies, apples, and other sweets to show their singing is appreciated. But all the singers must finish singing by noon or they will be thought fools.

For info on New Year in different countries go to: www.fathertimes.net/traditions.htm. They have lots more there.

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The Adventures of Juniper Silverheel

Part 5

Star (12) & Nova (11)

I frowned. “Why would they want to see us?” I asked. “Wanting to see Loom is understandable. But why me and my wife?”

Kanoko shrugged. “I don't know. But you better leave soon; next full moon at the latest.”

“But that's when my wife arrives. She won't get any rest!”

“It's unwise to get there late. They said it was important.” 

“I wonder what it is”, said Loom.

I jumped, and exclaimed:

“Can everyone stop sneaking up on me?!”

“Sorry”, said Loom smiling. “I thought forest fairies where wise.”

I frowned.

“Anyway”, she said. “That’s not what I spoke up for. Maybe to save bit of your wife’s energy we could fly to meet her and then fly to the Imperial court.”

“How do you know where she is?”

“She's on my map.”

“You mean she needs help?!” I said. “Why are we sitting here then? Let’s go!”

***

Both my wings and eyes were sore but I kept on flying ahead of the other two. Peering through the gloom for her I slowed down briefly, realising that if I didn't want my eyes to hurt more I should let the other two's light help me see further. Kanoko flew to my side sweating.

“Slow down, will you?!”“ he exclaimed.

“My wife is in trouble!” I said angrily, still flying. “We have to help her!”
“Stop panicking”, said Loom, flying to my other side. “If we keep up this pace we'll be too exhausted to help her by the time we get there.”

I nodded gloomily and slowed down. I saw her logic. 
“Honestly”, said Kanoko. “I thought forest fairies were supposed to be wise.”

I frowned. Why we're so many fairies making that joke recently? I didn't feel less wise. It's just worrying about my wife which is stopping me using my head I told myself. We flew in silence for a while as the sun rose. Neither Loom nor Kanoko brought up the subject of resting. Loom, who had been looking at her map, said: “That's strange.”
“What?” I said, panicked.
“There are two fairies in trouble here, both with the surname Silverheel. In fact one of them hasn't got a first name at all!”

Kanoko scratched his head. “The only fairies I've heard of not having first names are newborns, and fairies whose parents died before having a chance to name them.”
“Oh”, I said. “She did say something about a surprise for me when she got to our new home ...”

Loom nodded. “That would explain it.”

“When do you expect we would reach them?” I asked.

“About midday, keeping up this pace, and including the rate at which they're moving away from us”, she said.
“Away from us?” I said.

“Mm hh”, was Loom’s only response.

“But she's supposed to be coming towards us!” I said, speeding up slightly.

“Maybe they're being chased”, suggested Kanoko.

“Not at that slow pace”, said Loom. “More likely they've been captured by...”
“By?” I asked.

She smiled at me. “No use worrying”, she said. “Anyway, we should conserve our energy.”

I frowned at her, but didn't raise the subject again.
Suddenly I saw a speck ahead.

“There!” I exclaimed. “Is that them?” Kanoko and Loom, who had been looking at the map, looked up. Loom took out her spy glass. “Oh no!”

“What?!”
She gulped. It was obvious she was scared. It took a lot to make Loom scared. She had been through the great wars, and fought humans without being scared. Or so the gossip said. Just seeing the calm, unflustered Loom made me scared. I didn't even have to see what it was she was scared of to be scared. I didn't even have to think to know who she meant.
She looked at me and said:

“It's Them.”

Loom being scared could only mean one thing, and one thing only. This thing, what ever it was, was unimaginably powerful. I had heard of them only once before, but even the bravest of fairies would obey their every command. It must be Them to make Loom so scared. But how? I mouthed the words the instant I had finished the clues ... The Pravus Elders. It couldn't be! But it had to be. That was the only possible idea that came to me! Yet if it wasn't them, who would it be? Oh, Ralia, I was arguing with myself now. I glanced at Loom, whom had seemed completely calm just a second ago, now had deep-looking worry lines across her brow. I just had to ask. But how to put it? … I swallowed.

“Loom?” I asked.

“Mm?”

Her voice didn't match her expression, it was sweet and alive.  That gave me a little courage. I cleared my throat, then spoke.

“Who, exactly?”

She looked at me and slowed. We had been travelling at a steady pace.

“Who do you think?”

To be continued …

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Poems

Water
Roania Pulchera (9)

Water of the river
Water of the sea
Water of land around
Water of the bounds
Water in a puddle
Water in a muddle
Water of the sands of time
Water of the gift

www.nsf.gov 

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Photos

Compiled by Eva Marlie

www.animaltalk.us 

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Brain Teasers

Compiled by Eva Marlie

Here are a few really interesting brain teasers, though they are really hard!

I didn't really expect many to get them, so I put the answers right next to them :)

1.     STANDS
          0_23456789

2.     M&AR

3.     eeeeeeeeeeeec

4.     ch poorri

5.     knee
          light light

ANSWERS

1. No one understands

2. Mandarin Orange

3. Tennessee

4. Take from the rich, give to the poor

5. Neon lights

Thanks to www.billsgames.com 

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5 Facts 4 Fun

Compiled by Eva Marlie

1.  It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

2. Marilyn Monroe had six toes on one foot.

3. The average chocolate bar has 8 insects' legs in it.

4. The longest one-syllable word in the English language is "screeched".

5. "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".

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Thanks for reading our eMag. Hope you enjoyed it and are looking forward to the next issue!

And remember, keep your nose open and sniffing for more juicy news!