Have you ever blown out the candles on a birthday cake and made a wish? Or thrown rice over the bride and groom at a wedding? Rob and Sam talk about food superstitions and teach you vocabulary along the way.
This week's question:
The tradition of carving pumpkins, or Jack o’ Lanterns as they’re called in the United States, started out as a Celtic festival in Ireland - but it was the Americans who started using pumpkins. So what vegetable did the Irish originally use to scare away ghosts?
a) turnips
b) potatoes
c) squash
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
Vocabulary
superstitions
old, unscientific beliefs which are connected with magic rather than human reason
ward off
prevent someone or something from harming you; repel
evil eye
bad luck or magical spells which have the power to cause bad things to happen
blanket term
idiomatic phrase used to describe many examples of related things
chutney
foodstuff mixing fruit, spices, sugar and vinegar
teach (you) a lesson
show you what you should or should not do in the future, as a result of experience
[Cover: Getty Images]
To download the audio and a transcript, go to:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-210610
More 6 Minute English episodes:
The men taking their wife's name after marriage
https://youtu.be/0emVXTaESvs
Would you pay more for 'ethical' coffee?
https://youtu.be/AfNSMykrG1I
High heels: fashion or oppression?
https://youtu.be/xZxmMQCZsu4
Is gaming a sport?
https://youtu.be/gfnyMyCZjqA
Is punctuality important?
https://youtu.be/cSlPuxN_yws
Learn to talk about broken hearts in 6 minutes!
https://youtu.be/WBLuy_YU-Zw
#bbclearningenglish #learnenglish #food #superstition #halloween #beliefs
This week's question:
The tradition of carving pumpkins, or Jack o’ Lanterns as they’re called in the United States, started out as a Celtic festival in Ireland - but it was the Americans who started using pumpkins. So what vegetable did the Irish originally use to scare away ghosts?
a) turnips
b) potatoes
c) squash
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
Vocabulary
superstitions
old, unscientific beliefs which are connected with magic rather than human reason
ward off
prevent someone or something from harming you; repel
evil eye
bad luck or magical spells which have the power to cause bad things to happen
blanket term
idiomatic phrase used to describe many examples of related things
chutney
foodstuff mixing fruit, spices, sugar and vinegar
teach (you) a lesson
show you what you should or should not do in the future, as a result of experience
[Cover: Getty Images]
To download the audio and a transcript, go to:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-210610
More 6 Minute English episodes:
The men taking their wife's name after marriage
https://youtu.be/0emVXTaESvs
Would you pay more for 'ethical' coffee?
https://youtu.be/AfNSMykrG1I
High heels: fashion or oppression?
https://youtu.be/xZxmMQCZsu4
Is gaming a sport?
https://youtu.be/gfnyMyCZjqA
Is punctuality important?
https://youtu.be/cSlPuxN_yws
Learn to talk about broken hearts in 6 minutes!
https://youtu.be/WBLuy_YU-Zw
#bbclearningenglish #learnenglish #food #superstition #halloween #beliefs
- Category
- English Languages
- Tags
- learn English, English vocabulary, speak English
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