December 18th: Themes for celebration and contemplation
If you are looking for some themes and points of interest to add to your advent countdown, the Bulldogz Christmas spirit is in full flow and we can provide you with some of the fun, serious and little known points of celebration for each day on this magical countdown.
The Christmas Film World Cup now arrives at the business end with the first of the quarter final matches being fought out today with The Holiday taking on Home Alone. Voting underway here.
December 18
International Migrants Day
A UN observance announced on December 4th 2000. The UN provides a wealth of resources in regards to migration here
There are a huge range of teaching resources on this topic:
The University of North Carolina World View pages have a list of options for teaching.
ESL Holiday lessons.com have some English language-specific class resources here
Answer the telephone like Buddy the Elf Day
One of those curious American ideas that attempt to bring some light and laughter to life. This merely involves answering the phone saying "(Insert your name here) the Elf, what's your favourite colour?"
December 18th in History
Events
1892 – Premiere performance of The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Births
1707 – Charles Wesley, English missionary and composer (d. 1788)
1946 – Steven Spielberg, American director, producer, and screenwriter
1963 – Brad Pitt, American actor and producer
1980 – Christina Aguilera, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress
2001 – Billie Eilish, American singer
Deaths
2000 – Kirsty MacColl, British singer-songwriter (b. 1959)
2011 – Václav Havel, Czech poet, playwright, and politician, 1st President of the Czech Republic (b. 1936)
Christmas films
A fantasy horror comedy in which an unusual pet that a man has bought for his son spawns multiple evil Gremlins that escape and terrorise their town.
One of a slew of 1980s Christmas films that consistently perform well. The much loved Gremlins also features "Christmas! Baby Please Come Home" as the bold opening music.
First Seed in Group G : Twice quarter finalist and a semi final defeat to Die Hard in 2018
Christmas music
On the anniversary of Kirsty MacColl's tragic death, it is only fitting that today features "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues, featuring MacColl's fabulous vocals. Discover more about the two time CSWC winner and one time runner up and astonishingly popular seasonal offering and the controversy that surrounds it here.