Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.
Celebration of Halloween was extremely limited in colonial New England because of the rigid Protestant belief systems there. Halloween was much more common in Maryland and the southern colonies. As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups as well as the American Indians meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included "play parties," public events held to celebrate the harvest, where neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other's fortunes, dance and sing. Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds. By the middle of the nineteenth century, annual autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country.In the second half of the nineteenth century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing Ireland's potato famine of 1846, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally. Taking from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today's "trick-or-treat" tradition. Young women believed that on Halloween they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirrors.In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts, pranks and witchcraft. At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season and festive costumes. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything "frightening" or "grotesque" out of Halloween celebrations. Because of these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.
St. George Auto Sales, Started in Inland Empire in 1997. Our Business name is named after St. George, Which is a Saint in the Romanian army. St George is a family owned & Operated business. we do Auto sales, Auto Finance, Auto Insurance and Auto Service. We carry a very wide selection, Starting from Very economic cars up to very Luxurious cars. www.stgautogroup.com
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
Consumer Reports: Lexus is most reliable car brand!!!
Lexus, Toyota and Acura top Consumer Reports' annual reliability survey, but a brand from General Motors and two from Europe have cut into the top 10.
Source: USA Today |
Overall, Japanese brands took seven of the top 10 spots. All Lexus and Acura models earned an above average reliability score. All Infiniti, Mazda, and Toyota models were average or better.
The consumer magazine, whose annual ranking based on surveys of its readers are closely watched, says Audi has quietly been climbing through the reliability ranks. This year, it is fourth, up from eighth last year. The A6 sedan, Q7 SUV and Allroad wagon, all have "much better than average" reliability.
And under the heading of much improved, Volvo, the Swedish maker now controlled by a Chinese company, rose 13 places to finish seventh. GM made its mark with its GMC truck brand, which came in ninth. That was up from 12th last year. GMC wasn't the only GM stand-out, however. Buick climbed nine slots to 12th place, with Buicks except the V-6 powered LaCrosse, which is no longer in the lineup, rated average or better.
To check some of the Lexus we carry in our inventory check our website: www.stgautogroup.com
Friday, October 25, 2013
MAZDA RACKS UP 10 MILLION U.S. SALES
Mazda North American Operations recently sold its 10-millionth vehicle in the United States, since starting U.S. sales operations in 1970. The 10-millionth vehicle, a 2013 Mazda3, was sold from Continental Mazda of Naperville, Ill., to Lauren Carter of Glen Ellyn, Ill. To celebrate this significant milestone, Mazda has replaced Carter's recently purchased 2013 Mazda3 with an all-new 2014 Mazda3, and the 10-millionth vehicle will become a permanent part of the Mazda heritage collection.
In 1978, Mazda introduced the rotary-powered RX-7, which went on to become one of the most recognizable sports cars of its day. In 1989, the company introduced the MX-5 Miata, which became the best-selling two-seat roadster in the world with more than 900,000 sold. In 2004, Mazda launched the Mazda3, an all-new sedan and 5-door vehicle that would bring segment-firsts like four-wheel disc brakes, xenon headlights, and leather seating.
In 1978, Mazda introduced the rotary-powered RX-7, which went on to become one of the most recognizable sports cars of its day. In 1989, the company introduced the MX-5 Miata, which became the best-selling two-seat roadster in the world with more than 900,000 sold. In 2004, Mazda launched the Mazda3, an all-new sedan and 5-door vehicle that would bring segment-firsts like four-wheel disc brakes, xenon headlights, and leather seating.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
NASCAR... The Story Behind it!
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sir, in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of Bill France, Sr.
NASCAR Cars!!!! |
NASCAR sanctions over 1500 races at over 100 tracks in 39 US states and Canada. NASCAR has presented exhibition races at the Suzuka and Motegicircuits in Japan, Mexico, and Calder Park Raceway in Australia.
NASCAR's headquarters are located in Daytona Beach Florida, although it also maintains offices in four North Carolina cities; Regional offices are also located in New York City, Los Angeles, Bentoville, Arkansas, and international offices in Mexico City and Toronto. Additionally, owing to its Southern roots, all but a handful of NASCAR teams are still based in North Carolina, especially near Charlotte.
NASCAR has 75 million fans who purchase over $3 billion annually in licensed products.
The largest NASCAR tracks can accommodate upwards of 190,000 people in the stands and infield, far larger than any non-Motorsport venue in North America.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Movie cars, aren't they the best!!
I love it when i go to a movie, and i hear everyone saying, did you see that car?? Cars are huge in the movie business, through out history we have witnessed a lot of successful movie stars who drove great cars!
007 for example, How many great cars has 007 driven?! Did you know that Daniel Craig has been granted lifetime privileges to swing by the Aston Martin factory any time he likes and take the car of his choice out for a spin! What about the launch of the Mini Cooper? How much you just love the Italian Job Movie! Cars Cartoons movie, Taxi Driver by Robert Di Nero, Back to the Future!! All these great movies and Stars drove at least one of the car of your dreams!
Classic, New, Fast, Old, Small, Big, High or Low.. Cars will always have that big effect in the Movie industry, and so our lives....
Ready to get the car of your dreams yet??
007 for example, How many great cars has 007 driven?! Did you know that Daniel Craig has been granted lifetime privileges to swing by the Aston Martin factory any time he likes and take the car of his choice out for a spin! What about the launch of the Mini Cooper? How much you just love the Italian Job Movie! Cars Cartoons movie, Taxi Driver by Robert Di Nero, Back to the Future!! All these great movies and Stars drove at least one of the car of your dreams!
Classic, New, Fast, Old, Small, Big, High or Low.. Cars will always have that big effect in the Movie industry, and so our lives....
Ready to get the car of your dreams yet??
check our inventory on www.stgautogroup.com |
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Mercedes aims for 30,000 CLA sales
Source http://www.autonews.com |
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Extended Warranties, When & Why?!
While they may go under different names, such as extended services contracts, these warranties can cover the costs associated with car repairs and some regular maintenance for a stated period of time or miles.
Extended warranties aren't part of a warranty you may automatically receive when you buy the car; you purchase them on your own.
Coverage vary widely according to the provider, So if your manufacturer’s warranty runs out, it is usually better to buy the extended warranty, and get the peace of mind you deserve when buying a Pre_owned car
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Mercedes E250 rated at 28/45 mpg
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E250 Bluetec has received an estimated EPA rating of 28 mpg city/45 highway.
The rating, announced today by Mercedes, covers the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E250 Bluetec sedan with an automatic transmission, 2.1-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that generates 195 hp and 369 lbs.-ft. of torque. Adding all-wheel-drive lowers the vehicles city rating by 1 mpg and its highway rating by 3 mpg, the automaker said.
Mercedes's announcement comes a few months after BMW made headlines with its 45 mpg highway rating for the 2014 BMW 328d.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E250 Bluetec |
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