A History of Christmas in America

  From VOA Learning English, I'm Caty Weaver. Today, Steve Ember and Shirley Griffith present a special program on Christmas traditions in the United States during the first half of the 19th century. During this period, there was no set way of celebrating the day, which was not yet an official holiday. Communities around the country honored the day in different ways. Some observed Christmas as an important Christian religious day honoring the birth of Jesus. Others celebrated the day with parties, music, drinking and eating. And, some communities did not celebrate the day at all. But, it was during this period that Americans began to reinvent the holiday. They combined ancient Christmas traditions from different cultures with modern American influences. Here are Steve Ember and Shirley Griffith. In 1819, the popular American writer Washington Irving wrote a series of five essays published in a book called The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. The essays describe a wealthy British landowner who invites his farm workers into his home to celebrate Christmas. The landowner recreates a traditional Christmas as it would have been celebrated in the distant past. Irving praised this looking back to ancient traditions. He liked the idea of different levels of society coming together to enjoy a festive and peaceful holiday. Washington Irving seemed to express concern about the lack of such unifying Christmas traditions in modern America. Immigrants shape Christmas traditions Penne Restad wrote a book Christmas in America: A History. It shows how Americans began to slowly shape Christmas into a unifying national holiday during the first half of the 19th century. She describes how Christmas had different meanings for Americans who came from different cultural and religious backgrounds. Many immigrants brought Christmas traditions from their own countries. Religion played a big role in how an American might celebrate the holiday. Calvinist Christians banned the celebration of Christmas. But groups such as Episcopalians and Moravians honored the day with religious services and seasonal decorations. By mid-century, Christian groups began to ignore their religious differences over the meaning of Christmas and honored the day in special ways. Christmas became an important time for families to celebrate at home. More and more Christian Americans also began to follow the European traditions of Christmas trees and giving gifts. Christians believed that the tree represented Jesus and was also a sign of new beginnings. German immigrants brought their tradition of putting lights, sweets and toys on the branches of evergreen trees placed in their homes. This tradition of setting up a Christmas tree soon spread to many American homes. So did the practice of giving people presents. As these traditions increased in popularity, the modern trade and business linked to Christmas also grew. Christmas as a holiday As Christmas became more popular, some states declared the day a state holiday. Louisiana was the first state to make the move in 1837. By 1860, 14 other states had followed. It was not until 1870 that President Ulysses Grant made Christmas a federal holiday. Americans already knew old Christmas songs that came from England and other areas of Europe. But many new American Christmas songs started to become popular. For example, in eighteen forty-nine, a religious leader from Massachusetts wrote the words to It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.The song Jingle Bells appeared seven years later. And, a year later, a religious leader in Williamsport, Pennsylvania wrote the song We Three Kings of Orient Are. And of course, no discussion of Christmas would be complete without talking about of one of the holiday’s most famous representations, Santa Claus. This character is based on the story of Saint Nicholas, a Christian holy person believed to have lived in the third century. Saint Nicholas became known as a protector of children. Different cultures have given him different names. These include Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle and Father Christmas. But for most Americans his most popular name would become Santa Claus. In the 19th century, many Dutch immigrants living in the United States celebrated the feast of Saint Nicholas on December 6. Saint Nicholas was especially important to New Yorkers because of their history as a Dutch colony. In 1809, Washington Irving published his History of New York. It lists Saint Nicholas as the patron saint of New Yorkers. He describes the saint wearing a low hat, large pants, and smoking a pipe. Does this description sound familiar? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   society - n. people in general thought of as living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions, and values​ festive - adj. cheerful and exciting: suited to a celebration or holiday​ unifying - v.  to cause (people or things) to be joined or brought together​ decoration - n. something that is added to something else to make it more attractive​ practice - n. something that is done often or regularly​

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Top Science Stories from 2017

  The year 2017 was marked by some rare scientific events and discoveries. A rare eclipse covers the US Among the rare events of the year was a total solar eclipse visible across the United States on August 21. It had been 99 years since a similar eclipse took place in the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of people across the country took time to see the moon partly or completely hide the sun. Many went to places like Carbondale, Illinois, Madras, Oregon and Charleston, South Carolina to see the total eclipse. Cloudy weather spoiled the view in some places, but many others had clear skies. Many people saw it for themselves using special telescopes and eclipse sunglasses. Some even projected the image of the eclipse through a pinhole cut into a shoe box! The next total eclipse to cover so much of America will not happen again until 2045. Is warming climate making storms worse? Many scientists are concerned that rising world temperatures will cause more dangerous weather events. And the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva says 2017 could be among the three hottest years on record. Three powerful ocean storms that struck Caribbean islands and the southern United States in 2017 brought more attention to the issue. Hurricane Harvey caused incredible flooding to the Houston area in the state of Texas. And Hurricanes Irma and Maria left severe damage in Florida, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Climate experts say rising temperatures will make ocean storms—like hurricanes and typhoons—more intense and with higher wind speeds. Rising sea levels could also make ocean storms worse as waves from the sea force water further inland threatening highly populated coastal cities. In November, the research group Global Carbon Project released a report on climate change. It predicted that the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere would grow by two percent this year. The increase comes after two years without a rise in the heat-trapping gas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration studies climate around the world. It notes that 2016 was the warmest year since 1880 with temperatures .94 degrees Celsius above the average. Making waves through space and time Physicist Albert Einstein predicted that gravitational waves exist more than 100 years ago in his General Theory of Relativity. But scientists have struggled to show evidence of them since that time. Scientists were able to confirm the existence gravitational waves with a rare collision in space this year. The collision of two very dense neutron stars provided scientists with new evidence. Neutron stars are the small remains of massive stars that have exploded and lost their outer layers. They are also very massive for their small size. The collision was discovered on August 17 by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory, or LIGO, in the U.S. and Europe’s Virgo observatory. These observatories use laser beams to detect the presence of the gravitational waves. Scientists believe they have detected evidence of the waves before from black holes. But these remains from star explosions are so massive that even light cannot escape them. So astronomers cannot see them or show other evidence of their existence. What was different in this case was that the neutron stars produced lots of radiation that could be seen on Earth. Observatories around the world including NASA’s Fermi space telescope confirmed evidence of gamma rays from the collision. Gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation, a form of light, that scientist believe are released when super massive objects collide—like two neutron stars. The event made news for another reason. Scientific theories predict that the resulting explosion will create heavy elements like lead and gold, throwing them far out into space. The discovery could not have come at a better time. In October, Scientists Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish and Kip Thorne were told they had won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics. The men helped designed the laser equipment LIGO used to detect the neutron star collision. The Nobel committee said their discoveries “ensured that four decades of effort led to gravitational waves finally being observed.” Einstein himself, the committee noted, believed the waves could never be measured. A good reason to believe in UFOs And, fans of unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, might be glad to know that the United States Defense Department had a secret program to investigate the mysteries. From 2007 to 2012, the department spent $ 22 million investigating unexplained objects seen in the air, including some reported by military pilots. The program was started by former Nevada Senator Harry Reid and had support from lawmakers of both parties. However, defense officials say the Advanced Aviation Threat Identification program ended in 2012. Still, news reports question whether the search for answers about UFOs continues. A defense department spokesman noted, “The DoD takes seriously all threats and potential threats to our people, our assets, and our mission and takes action whenever credible information is developed.” Reid answered reporters on Twitter this way: "The truth is out there. Seriously." Those are just a few of the year’s stories. Stay with VOA Learning English to learn more about science and technology. I’m Mario Ritter.   Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English from earlier reports and other sources. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   eclipse –n. when one object in the sky covers another, such as the moon and the sun spoil –v. to have a bad effect on: to damage or ruin pinhole –n. a very small hole incredible –adj. some much that it is difficult to believe greenhouse gasses –n. gasses that trap the sun’s energy and that have been linked to global warming collision –n. when two things crash into one another light year –n. a measure of distance in space: the distance that light travels in one year, about 9.5 trillion kilometers laser –n. a device that produces a narrow and powerful beam of light that has many special uses in medicine, industry, etc.​ detect –v. to find, to discover something that was not known decade –n. a period of 10 years fan –n. a person who likes and admires someone (such as a famous person) or something (such as a sport or a sports team) in a very enthusiastic way glad –adj. feeling pleasure, joy, or delight​ credible –adj. something that is able to be believed We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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New Indian Retirement Community in California

  Young people come from around the world to work in Silicon Valley. Some, however, are struggling to find the best way to care for their aging parents. Increasingly, they are turning to “affinity” retirement communities.  These are communities where older people from countries like India and China can live near, but not with, their adult children. These types of communities are a change from traditional Asian customs where parents and children normally live together. Asha RaoRane moved from India to be closer to her three daughters who had immigrated to San Francisco. She said, “The children are so busy these days, they are all the time working, taking care of their kids, so we do not want to interfere in their lives.” Her daughters explored a traditional senior retirement community. But they had trouble finding one that their mother would fit into. Eventually, they found Priya Living, a retirement community for people with similar interests, such as yoga and meditation. Arun Paul is a real estate developer. He developed Priya Living as a place for his parents to live. His parents moved from Los Angeles four years ago and are still in a ground floor apartment. Paul said, “In living here in America, as the son of immigrants, I’ve realized that there’s very unique needs that immigrants have.” “The old system was based on a different time when women were in the house, really taking care, in many cultures, of their husband’s parents,” Paul said. “Obviously the role of women in society has changed globally.” ​ A conflict of new and old For Bhagyashree RaoRane and her mother Asha, finding Priya Living has been a dream come true. “We walked in and instantly it was like walking into an Indian community in India,” said RaoRane. “Even the building is painted the same color as so many of the buildings in India are painted.” Others are not so sure about this type of affinity communities. Nagendra Prasad, 62, and Manjula Neelakantaiah, 53, came from India to visit their daughter who works for Google. They have stayed at Priya for the two-month visit. “Really, in the beginning we were surprised,” Neelakantaiah said. “In India the younger people, they definitely take care of the aged people.” For Dr. Byravan Viswanathan and his wife Lakshmi, the community is not a perfect fit. They were born and raised in India but spent much of their adult lives in a small town in Pennsylvania. They made many American friends there, and they had adapted to a Western lifestyle. When they moved to Priya, they had to re-learn Indian ways of living again. They found that people were speaking languages that they had not used for many years. Their daughter is now looking to find a more American community for them. Welcoming everyone While the majority of Priya’s residents come from India, Paul said the community welcomes people of all backgrounds. There are a few non-Indians who call Priya home. Carlos McCann is an 89-year-old WW II veteran. He has lived in the community for almost 20 years, long before it was purchased and remodeled to become a majority-Indian community. “Everything has sort of come together at this location-  it’s like it’s the center of the world,” he said. I’m Phil Dierking. Deana Mitchell originally wrote this story for the VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Would you prefer for your older parents to live in a retirement community, or your home?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   adapt - v.  to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation​ affinity - n. a feeling of closeness and understanding that someone has for another person because of their similar qualities, ideas, or interests​ meditation - n.  the act or process of spending time in quiet thought : the act or process of meditating​ unique - adj. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else​ yoga - n. a system of exercises for mental and physical health​

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George W. Bush: Wartime President

  VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about George Walker Bush. He took office in 2001 as the 43rd president. He has a similar name to another president -- his father, George Herbert Walker Bush. To simplify things, Americans sometimes call the younger Bush “43,” or simply “W.” Here we will just call him Bush. Because Bush is a recent president, historians have not reached a broad agreement on his time as a leader. But he will surely be remembered for facing one of the biggest challenges to any president: the attacks against the U.S. on September 11, 2001. Early life George Bush was born in the northeast state of Connecticut. But his parents soon moved to the southwest state of Texas. George grew up there and considered Texas home. The Bush family had a long background in politics. Bush’s grandfather was a senator. His father held many public offices. In some ways, George was prepared for a career in politics, too. He went to the same private boarding school as his father. Then, like his father and grandfather, George went to Yale for college. He also worked on several political campaigns. But he said he did not consider pursuing politics. Instead, he earned a degree in business at Harvard and took a job in an oil company in Texas. In time, he founded his own oil business. And he married Laura Welch, who was a teacher and librarian in their hometown. They had twin daughters named Barbara and Jenna. In these years as a young adult, Bush began to make some changes. He began attending a Christian church regularly. He decided to stop drinking alcohol because it was creating problems in his personal life. And he turned his attention to politics. Bush lost the first election in which he competed, a race to become a member of Congress. So, for a while, he focused on business investments and helping his father’s political career. But in 1992, his father lost re-election to the presidency. And the younger Bush saw a chance to enter politics himself again. In 1994, Bush ran for governor of Texas. To many people’s surprise, he won.    Four years later, he was overwhelmingly re-elected. Many voters liked his image as, what he called, a “compassionate conservative.” In other words, he wanted to use traditional Republican ideas about government to help society. Following two successful terms as governor, Bush turned his attention to the presidency. In 2000, he competed against the vice president at the time, Al Gore. The winner was not announced until more than a month following the election – usually, the winner is announced within hours. Both sides disputed the process of counting votes in the state of Florida. Finally, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the process. The Court ordered state officials to stop re-counting votes. Bush’s lead stood.   Presidency Bush entered office expecting to bring many of the ideas he pursued in Texas to the entire nation. For example, as president he permitted religious groups to receive government funding, and set national standards for public schools. These moves were popular with many voters. But they also challenged some American traditions: the separation of church and state, and the ability of public schools to govern themselves. For many presidents, these policies might have created a legacy. But early in Bush’s term, he faced a crisis that defined much of his time in office. Hijackers linked to the al-Qaeda group seized four airplanes on September 11, 2001. They purposely crashed two planes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, eventually killing more than 2,700 people. Another plane was flown into the Pentagon, the country’s military headquarters outside of Washington, DC. About 200 people died there. The fourth plane was aimed at another important target. But passengers fought the hijackers. The plane lost control and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. All 44 people on board died there. President Bush was visiting an elementary school in Florida that morning. He learned about the attacks while he was reading with the children. ​At the end of the day, Bush spoke to the nation. He said the U.S. would answer both the terrorist groups and the countries that permitted terrorist groups to thrive. Over the next years, Bush took a number of actions to create a new national security strategy. They included creating a Department of Homeland Security, making changes to the country’s intelligence operations, and reforming the U.S. military. He also sent U.S. forces into Afghanistan to destroy terrorist networks there. Bush was especially targeting the person who had designed the September 11 terrorist attacks, Osama bin Laden.    The struggle in Afghanistan was successful at first, but continued throughout Bush’s time in office. And bin Laden was not captured while Bush was president. In 2003, Bush opened another front on what some called the “war on terror.” He and other government officials said the leader of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, was developing weapons that could kill many people. They said Hussein – and his connections to terrorist groups – threatened Americans and people in other countries. Hussein did not agree to leave Iraq. So U.S. and British forces launched bombs at targets in the country’s capital. Additional troops destroyed what was left of the targets. Hussein was quickly overthrown. But the weapons of mass destruction were not found. For the rest of Bush’s presidency, U.S. forces remained in Iraq. Bush promised that Americans would stabilize the country and help Iraqis create a democratic government. Legacy The presidency of George W. Bush is too recent to understand its impact. But there is some evidence of the public’s reaction at the time. Bush received some of the highest ratings of any president. In the weeks following the September 11 attacks, 90 percent approved of his leadership. He was re-elected in 2004. But his popularity steadily decreased . At the end of his second term, he had one of the lowest public approval ratings of any president: 33 percent. The U.S. economy had entered a recession. More Americans disagreed especially with his decision to invade Iraq. And some criticized his government for responding too slowly after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and the country’s Gulf Coast. Since Bush left the White House in 2009, his approval ratings have – like those of many presidents – risen again. He has mostly avoided public appearances. Instead, he has enjoyed playing sports, helping charities, and reading U.S. history. He also began a new hobby: painting. He has created portraits of dozens of veterans to honor their service in the military. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly. Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _________________________________________________________________ Listening Quiz See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   boarding school - n. a school where students can live during the school term​ twin - adj. used to describe two children who are born to the same mother at the same time  compassionate - adj. feeling or showing concern for someone who is sick, hurt or poor legacy - n. something that happened in the past or that comes from someone in the past​ thrive - v. to grow or develop successfully

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Everyday Grammar: How to Show You are Not Sure

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America's Presidents - George W. Bush

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VOA Learning English Presents 'A Visit From St. Nicholas'

Many people believe that a poem written in 1822 is now one of the best-loved poems in America about the Christmas holiday. We take a brief look at the history of this poem and listen as the staff of VOA Learning English recite the poem.

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The Art of Walking, The Joy of Garbage, Unusual College Classes

  How much can walking really teach you? Can you learn enough from walking to make an entire college class about it? Kenneth Keffer thinks you can, and he should know. Keffer has been teaching a class called the ‘Art of Walking’ at Centre College since 2002. Centre College is a private liberal arts college in Danville, Kentucky. In 2018, the school will offer the class for credit for about the thirteenth time. Liberal arts education has been an important tradition in American higher education for hundreds of years. It aims to provide students with a wider understanding of the world and help them understand how different fields are connected. In addition to a main subject of study, liberal arts programs require students to take other classes in related and, sometime unrelated, subjects. Centre College is not the only university in the United States that offers such unusual sounding classes. For example, George Washington University in Washington, DC offered a class called ‘Japanese Swordsmanship’ in 2014. In 2013, Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio offered a class called ‘How to Win a Beauty Pageant.’ And the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia has offered a class called ‘Wasting Time on the Internet.’ Yet Keffer says the unusual name of a class like his does not completely tell the full story of what goes on in the classroom. And the students take these kinds of classes because they want to know more. “Our students are … as goal-oriented and career-oriented as any other students,” he told VOA. “Yet they’re fascinated by it and want to take it. Now, why? Well I think that they know that there’s something deeply human about walking and about its skill, its art.” Keffer mainly teaches modern languages. But ‘the Art of Walking’ is really more of a philosophy class. There is a fair amount of walking involved: about 4 hours a day over several weeks. However, the students also read about intense philosophical theories from famous thinkers like Immanuel Kant and Martin Heidegger. Keffer sees the walking as a chance for students to discuss and examine their difficult reading topics in a nontraditional way. Also, he feels that teaching students to enjoy the simple act of walking is very important. This is especially true as more people are involved in jobs and lifestyles where they are sitting most of the day. For his efforts, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching named Keffer its Kentucky Professor of the Year in 2010. Critics argue against such course offerings Critics of the American higher education system make arguments against such classes being taught at the college level. Many list classes like Keffer’s as examples of why the American college experience can, in some ways, be a waste of time and money. They argue that colleges and universities should only teach things that relate directly to building a career. But Stephanie Hughes agrees with Keffer in that this type of thinking is why people need to look beyond just the name of a class. Hughes works in the environmental studies department at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California. She has taught a class called ‘Garbology,’ or ‘the Joy of Garbage’ there since 2010. The class is all about how human society deals with its solid waste. Hughes says this may seem like a subject that only relates to someone interested in working in environmental management. But she notes people in many different careers have to face environmental issues. “Every single person produces waste every day, and not just in their home but in the broader industrial community, agricultural community that they’re getting their products and services from,” she told VOA. “And I think it’s important if somebody’s … an economics major or a communications major … to consider this … and what it means for our society.” Hughes argues that students need to have some understanding of many different subjects. They will never know when their job depends on something they thought was unrelated, she says. Guanani Gomez-Van Cortright agrees with that reasoning. The 22 year-old from Minneapolis, Minnesota began studying biology at Reed College in Portland, Oregon in 2014. “I do have a lot of doubts about whether I’ll even … work in a lab,” she told VOA. “So … I’ve been thinking a lot about, ‘Well, how can I do other things in science, like … explaining or writing about science so that more people know what’s going on.’” Gomez-Van Cortright says Reed offers a study program that lets her take classes in many different subjects.  But most of all she enjoys an especially unusual Reed tradition called ‘Paideia.’ This is a special week before the beginning of the second half of every school year. During this week, professors, employees and both current and former students can teach short, non-credit classes on any subject they like. In 2018, Gomez-Van Cortright plans on teaching a Paideia class on the food that Puerto Ricans specially prepare for the Christmas holiday. She notes that a learning environment which exposes her to different people, ideas and ways of thinking is exactly what she needs. Will learning how to make a basket underwater, for example, help her decide on a career or find a job? Perhaps not, she admits. But outside of Reed, Gomez-Van Cortright is not sure where else she will have such rich experiences along the way. I’m Dorothy Gundy. And I’m Pete Musto.   Pete Musto reported this for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Do the colleges and universities in your country offer classes with unusual names? What purpose do you think some of the more unusual classes serve? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   credit – n. a unit that measures a student's progress towards earning a degree in a school or college oriented – adj. interested in a given thing or activity fascinated – v. to cause someone to be very interested in something or someone garbage – n. things that are no longer useful or wanted and that have been thrown out society – n. people in general thought of as living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions, and values major – n. a student who has a specified main subject of study doubt(s) – n. a feeling of being uncertain or unsure about something lab(oratory) – n. a room or building with special equipment for doing scientific experiments and tests expose(s) – v. to cause someone to experience something or to be influenced or affected by something basket – n. a container usually made by weaving together long thin pieces of material

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'Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth'

  Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. On this show, we explore the origins and usage of common expressions in American English. Sometimes we tie the show to an event or special time of the year. This show could be tied to any time of the year that features a holiday. Holidays are a wonderful time of the year! They are a time when people slow down and take a break from their daily lives. While holidays are celebrated in different ways, many have something in common -- gift-giving! And who doesn't like to get a present. Covered in pretty paper, maybe tied with a bow or ribbon, a wrapped gift is a surprise. It could be anything! "Oh, you really shouldn't have!" is a common response when someone hands you a gift. We say this even when we are thinking to ourselves, “Yay! I got a present!” Sometimes the gift is perfect. "It's just what I have always wanted!" you might say. Sometimes it's not. We have all been there. You happily tear open a gift, wondering what is inside. But then you see it and you are ... disappointed. But you must not show it. And you absolutely must not criticize the gift and make comments about why you don't like it. In other words, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. This idiom is really old. Way back in 1546, a man named John Heywood supposedly used this phrase in some Middle English text. ("No man ought to looke a geuen hors in the mouth.”) However, some word experts say the idiom is much older than that. However old it is, people must have used it when gifting a horse was a common thing. To understand this idiom, we must understand a bit about horse's teeth. They grow over time. So, checking the length of the teeth is a way of knowing the horse's age. Although I have never given or received a horse, I'm guessing a young horse makes a better gift than an old one. However, checking the horse's mouth would be a sign of mistrust towards the gift giver. This would be bad manners. And it might make the giver feel embarrassed or even angry! The polite thing to do is simply to say "thank you" and accept the gift horse graciously. These days, horses are not common gifts. But we commonly use this idiom. Today "don’t (or never) look a gift horse in the mouth" means don't find fault with something that has been received as a gift or favor. Don’t be ungrateful when you receive a present, even if it’s not exactly what you wanted. If you complain about a gift someone has given you or a favor someone has done for you, you could be accused of looking a gift horse in the mouth. Besides gifts, you can use this idiom for other things, such as a favor. Let's say you ask a friend to help cook a dish for a party you are throwing for a group of senior citizens in your neighborhood. She comes to the dinner, smiling from ear to ear, and hands you the dish she has cooked. It is very burnt and it smells ... odd. But you don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth. You thank her for her dish and the time she took to make it. Then you put it on the table ... in the back ... where people hopefully won’t see it. So, next time you get a gift that is less than perfect, remember that it is not nice to look a gift horse in the mouth. After all, it’s the thought that counts. This means that it's the thought of gift-giving and not the gift itself that is important. And don’t worry. If you get something as a gift that you really don't like, you can always pass it along to someone else who may actually like it. In other words, you can always re-gift it! And that's the end of this Word and Their Stories! I'm Anna Matteo.   Peace on Earth, goodwill to men is the greatest gift of all. Peace on Earth, goodwill to men is the greatest gift of all.   Have you ever received a gift that you didn’t like? Use the expressions you heard here to tell us about it in the Comments Section! Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. The song at the end is Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton singing "The Greatest Gift of All." _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   bow – n. a knot made with one or more loops ("Tie the ribbon in a bow.") ribbon – n. a flat or tubular narrow closely woven fabric (as of silk or rayon) used for trimmings or knitting : a narrow fabric used for tying packages disappointed – v. feeling sad, unhappy, or displeased because something was not as good as expected or because something you hoped for or expected did not happen idiom – n. an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own supposedly – adv. claimed to be true or real manners – n. behavior while with other people embarrassed – v. to make (a person, group, government, etc.) look foolish in public gracious – adj. marked by kindness and courtesy : graciously – adv.  ungrateful – adj. not feeling or showing thanks for favors, gifts, etc. favor – n. a kind or helpful act that you do for someone

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Environmental Group Says Japan Helping Ivory Trade

  An environmental group has criticized Japan's controls over its ivory supply. A report released with the support of the World Wildlife Fund this month said ivory exports are hurting efforts to end trafficking in elephant tusks. The report's researchers found that antique dealers are buying a large number of elephant tusks in Japan. These tusks, however, are not legally registered. The report said that sellers advertised whole tusks without proof of where they came from. It said internet sites sell hundreds of ivory objects each year. Often the sales are to visitors from other Asian countries such as China. The report used information from TRAFFIC, a network that studies the wildlife trade. TRAFFIC found that sellers used a major website to sell about 2,447 ivory items in a four-week period from May to June of 2017. The ivory items were valued at more than $400,000. The report's authors urged that the government should bring attention to rules for ivory dealings. They also urged the government to tighten controls at customs to keep people from taking items such as ivory seals and figurines out of the country. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, bans international trade in ivory. The ban is meant to protect endangered African elephants. CITES also has called for closing ivory markets in all member states. Many countries have agreed to close their ivory markets.   China announced last year that it would shut down its ivory trade by the end of 2017. Hong Kong, the world's largest retail ivory market, plans to end local trading by 2021. But Japan has resisted closing its markets. It argues that ivory products traded inside the country are not received through illegal hunting or trading. Instead, the government approved a proposal to tighten registration requirements for more than 8,000 ivory sellers and manufacturers. Critics say the registration system amounts to a form of ivory laundering. Laundering refers to the act of making money or goods legal after they have been acquired illegally. The large internet company Rakuten said it would ban sales of ivory objects in its online marketplace. It also banned sales of products using parts of sea turtles. I'm John Russell.   Elaine Kurtenbach reported on this story for the associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   trafficking – n. the act or business of illegally buying something and selling it especially in another country tusk – n. a very long, large tooth that sticks out of the mouth of an animal (such as an elephant, walrus, or boar) antique –adj. describing furniture, jewelry or some other object made during an earlier time and that is thought to be valuable e-commerce – n. activities that relate to the buying and selling of goods and services over the Internet seal – n. a device with a raised design that can be pressed into something (such as paper or wax) to make a seal figurine – n. a small figure or model of a person made of wood, plastic, etc. retail – adj. relating to the business of selling things directly to customers for their own use laundering – n.  to put (money that you got by doing something illegal) into a business or bank account in order to hide where it really came from    

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English in a Minute: By the Skin of My Teeth

Teeth don't have skin, right?

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