For two hundred years, curry restaurants have existed in the UK and this week you can celebrate our 'national dish' by visiting one of the many restaurants participating in National Curry Week.

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When you visit one of these restaurants (a full list of them can be found on the National Curry Week website), part of your bill will be contributed to the Curry Tree charity which aims to help impoverished and starving people in the third world.

At a National Curry Week restaurant, as well as giving to charity and eating a delicious curry, you might also witness a world record being broken. The Great Poppadom Tower Challenge is readily taken up by curry lovers for National Curry Week and so far the record stands at 1.48m high! Think you can beat it? Another challenge which was regularly particpated in was Can You Handle The Heat? in which restaurants would produce incredibly hot curries using very strong chillies. This competition had to be cancelled since the extra hot chillies could be potentially dangerous! There is also the samosa speed challenge in which restaurants have to see how many samosas they can prepare within 10 minutes.

If you can't make it to a restaurant, you can still celebrate your love of curry at home by cooking up a delicious korma or madras, masala or biryani. Check out AOL recipes for some exciting ideas to try.

For some people, their love of curry causes them to wax lyrical - literally. You'll find these poems about curry posted on the National Curry Week website. And if you too are feeling prosaic, why not send in your own curry poem - or better yet, post it here!

Do you love curry? Got any amazing recipes to share? Leave a comment and help us celebrate curry week.

This year November 21 is World Hello Day and a chance for all to communicate peacefully with anyone and everyone. All it takes to participate in this annual event is a simple greeting to ten (or more) people. The idea is to demonstrate the importance of personal communication for preserving peace.

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2. Archbishop Desmond Tutu
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10. Hello in Dutch

Launched in 1973, World Hello Day came as a response to the conflict between Egypt and Israel and since then, has been observed by people in 180 countries. Brian and Michael McCormack work together to promote the event, which is an opportunity for people around the world to express their concern for world peace.

It is hoped that the actions of many will send a message to world leaders and encourage the use of communication rather than force to settle conflict. So far 31 Nobel Peace Prize winners have already recognised World Hello Day as a valuable instrument for preserving peace and the likes of Kofi Annan, Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama (not to mention our very own monarch, Queen Elizabeth II) are among the many to have written letters in support of the event.

And why stop at your native language. World Hello Day is a global event and as such, an 'hola', 'dobry den', or 'nei ho' will certainly not go amiss.

As Ronald Reagan wrote in his letter: "Peace begins in the human heart when selfishness and fear are replaced by charity and hope. In reaching out to others in friendship, you spread the spirit that is the foundation for peace within the home, the community, the nation and the world." Now that can surely only be a good thing.

Let us know what you think. Is World Hello Day a valuable instrument for expressing the need for peace throughout the world?

Summer is officially over folks, and the State Opening of Parliament marks the beginning of the 2009-10 session. This year the State Opening takes place on Wednesday 18 November and, as always, there will be much pomp and circumstance. The lavish ceremony will first see the cellars of the Palace of Westminster searched by the Yeomen of the Guard – a reminder of the possibility of a modern-day Gunpowder Plot. And the historical traditions are key to the entire ceremony.

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The Queen, having arrived by horse-drawn coach, enters through the Sovereign's Entrance. The Royal Standard replaces the Union Flag, all the while she is in attendance, and the Queen then takes on the Robes of State and the Imperial State Crown before proceeding to the House of Lords.

As the Lord Great Chamberlain raises his wand of office, Black Rod is escorted by the doorkeeper of the House of Lords and an inspector of police (ordering "Hats off, Strangers!" to all he passes) to the chamber of the Commons.

At this point, the doors are slammed in his face, symbolising the independence of the Commons. He then strikes the door three times with his staff (hence the name Black Rod) and is admitted. Black Rod bows to the speaker before commanding all to attend.

Members of the House of Commons walk in pairs towards the House of Lords, arriving at the Bar where they remain for the Queen's Speech from the Throne, which lists the main bills to be introduced during the session. The Commons then bow again and return to their Chamber, where the cabinet is sworn in and the Speaker of the House elected.

Pomp and circumstance there may be, but the rituals and symbolism represents the unity of the government as well as the important separation of powers. Do you feel that the ceremony still has its place today or should the tradition be dispensed with to make more time for the government to get on with their work? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

November 11 is Armistice Day - a chance for all to remember those who have died for their country and honour the sacrifice they made for the nation. Remembrance Sunday, this year falling on November 8, will see ceremonies taking place throughout the UK as wreaths of poppies are laid at memorials in cities, towns and villages.

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10. War and remembrance

The Royal Family will, as always, attend the national ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London and the nation will honour the dead with two minutes' silence at 11am.

Marked by the firing of a gun on Horse Guards Parade at the beginning and end, the silence represents the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, when the guns of World War I trenches were finally silenced.

However, Remembrance Sunday is a chance to commemorate all those who fought not only during the First World War, but also World War II, the Gulf War and those engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Throughout the country, members of the local armed forces, youth organisations and military cadet forces will attend memorials, along with members of the public come to pay their respects.

Paper poppies will be sold by the Royal British Legion in the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day in order to raise money and support for the ex-servicemen, women and families affected by war.

And this year, when the Last Post is played and the veterans lay wreaths at the Cenotaph, will be particularly poignant.

Not only will we think of those who have lost their lives in Afghanistan and those who remain there fighting, but also because this year saw the death of the last remaining survivor of the World War I trenches, Harry Patch.

This Guy Fawkes', instead of forking out for fireworks from your local cornershop that will probably be more like damp squibs than fantastic explosions, what better way to celebrate the near destruction of parliament than by attending a public firework display? The displays will be beautifully coordinated, safe and relatively cheap. Read on for our list of some of the best around the UK this year.
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Crystal Palace Fireworks - Known by some as the home of firework displays, this London event has taken place for over 70 years. It will be on the 5th November from 7pm. There are 2 displays, one at 7 for the children, then the main display starts at 8pm. It's £5 for adults, £3 for kids and under-5s go free.

Fireworks Frenzy Santa Pod Raceway - An unbelievable extravaganza of monster trucks, stunt drivers, motorcycle shows, jet-powered trucks, funfair, family entertainments, fireworks, a bonfire and laser show! The Santa Pod Raceway in Wellingborough , Northants is the place to be this Guy Fawkes'. The event kicks off from 4pm and costs £15 in advance or £20 on the door for a car (max 5 people).

Drayton Manor's Diamond Jubille Fireworks Spectacular - an audio visual feast taking in the history and attraction of the park. With fan-shaped water fountains on the lake, smoke features, laser writers and search lights in the sky and spectacular fireworks launched from the rides. The display starts at 7pm and selected rides are open until 9pm. Tickets are £18 or £12 for seniors.

Sandown Illuminated Carnival & Fireworks - A great big carnival on the Isle of Wight including floats, judging of the best floats, live music, a parade, a fire show on the beach, samba music, a fire and pyrotechnics show and and a grand finale of fireworks off Sandown Pier. Events start from 5pm and entry is free.

Glasgow Green - This spectacular show taking place on the 5th is completely free and includes fireworks set to music, lasers, live bands and a funfair. It all takes place with the city's famous Winter Gardens as the backdrop.

Bristol Zoo's Bangless Bonfire Nights - 5th and 6th November from 5.30pm at Bristol Zoo you can enjoy the beauty of sparkling fireworks without any of the scary bang - good for kids and the animals. Adult tickets are £4.75 kids are £3.50. book in advance as there are limited tickets.

LEGO Indiana Jones Fireworks - Taking place on 24, 25, 30 & 31 October, 1 & 7 November, LEGOLAND Windsor will be open from 10:00 with the show starting at dusk. This is all included in the normal LEGOLAND ticket price, which is £33.30 for adults and £25.20 for kids.The rides will close one hour before the fireworks begin.

Plymouth - On the 5th November, Smeaton's Tower, The Citadel and the Hoe's formal gardens will be awash with colourful floodlights and red poppies will be projected on the Royal Naval War Memorial for Poppy Appeal. There will be entertainments, music, fairground rides and refreshments and at 7.30pm the bonfire will be lit followed by the firework display accompanied by music from the Citadel ramparts at 8pm.

Roundhay Park - Leeds' biggest bonfire and fireworks event takes place on the 5th November. The fire will be lit at 7.30 pm and the display begins at 8pm. Admission is free.

Hartlepool Fireworks & Music Spectacular - On Saturday the 7th November, the most popular firework display in the area takes place. There will be children's funfair rides and stalls from 4pm, entertainment from 5pm and the display kicks off at 6.30pm. It's free to get in.

Do you know any spectacular firework displays? Tell us where they are by leaving a comment so we can enjoy them too.

If you're already panicking about the latest hi-tech toy for your child's Christmas stocking, then worry no more. This year, with the credit crunch hitting seasonal sales, it is the traditional big-name brands that are reaping the rewards as parents return to the simpler and less expensive children's toys.

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9. Calico Critters
10. Buy My Little Pony

According to the Toy Retailers' Association, Lego, Monopoly, Sylvianian Families and the obligatory talking, moving fluffy animals are expected to be Christmas hits... and most cost £40 or less.

Every year the biggest retailers choose 72 popular products which are then whittled down to the 12 "Dream Toys" that are expected to be under every tree. And this year the average price of those 72 has fallen from £40.63 to £22.89. Many retailers are already cutting prices. Asda is selling more than 100 toys at half price, while Sainsbury's has knocked 50 per cent off their toy range – that amounts to a reduction of £12 million.

Marco Ilincic, head of Lego UK, told the Telegraph: "The majority of toys that have been chosen this year don't involve technology. They are simpler, more traditional toys and that has brought down the price."

And with parents searching for the trusted brands, many have updated some of their old classics. Lego has created a game that allows children to build their own 3D boards and characters, for a board game they'll never get bored of, while family favourite Monopoly have incorporated sky scrapers, property auctions and planning permission into their new 'City' version of the game.

Nick Austin, president of the Toy and Hobby Association which represents manufacturers, said: "Consumers will continue to spend money on toys this Christmas, but they want value. There are still elaborate, hi-tech toys for those that can afford them, but the public has gone back to tried and tested brands that they know kids will like and won't abandon by the end of Boxing Day."

Are you down with the kids? If you have some great ideas for reasonably priced toys for Christmas, share them here by leaving a comment and help make other parents' lives, if not quieter, as least a little easier this year.

Us Brits aren't all that fond of trick-or-treating and there are many safer and far more fun ways to celebrate Halloween, such as throwing a big, scary party because everyone can enjoy a party whether they like Halloween or not.

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Here are some top Halloween party tips. Firstly, ensure that all your guests dress up. Halloween is just about the only time of year when you can really go crazy with your fancy dress and anyone who doesn't try is a bit of a party pooper. You could have a best costume competition as an incentive to get creative. Check out our gallery of top searched Halloween costumes for some inspiration.

Next set the mood for your party. This can be easy and cheap to achieve if you use some spooky lighting - candles, especially inside a carved out pumpkin, create the right atmosphere. You can use chalk on black sugar paper to draw tombstones, or you could draw a body outline on the floor for a murder scene effect. Toilet paper is great for creating a mummified look.

Need some inspiration for a brilliant and cheap Halloween costume? Well look no further. Check out our gallery of the top 10 searched Halloween costumes.

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10. Make Halloween costumes

After all the excitement of Halloween comes the more sombre occasion of All Saints' Day. Also known as All Hallows' Day or Hallowmas, this traditionally Catholic festival is an opportunity for Christians around the world to remember the saints and martyrs, both known and unknown, of times past.

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A specific day has been dedicated to the remembrance of saints and martyrs since the 4th century AD but it was not until 837AD that Pope Gregory IV changed the festival to its current date of November 1st.

While all followers are required to attend church on All Saints' Day, traditions vary around the world.

In Spain, Portugal, Italy and France, church-goers will take flowers to the graves of their deceased relatives, while in Eastern Europe, Austria and Germany, candles are lit and placed on the graves of their loved ones.

The processions of families and sight of the candle lit graves make for a moving sight and the festival gives those who have lost a loved one a chance to pay vigil.

In many countries November 1 is a far greater celebration than that of Halloween and is followed by All Souls Day on November 2, which remembers those souls who remain in Purgatory.

But far from a sense of sadness, All Saints aims to celebrate the lives of the deceased and offer prayers for their happiness in heaven.

So once the trick-or-treating is done and the Halloween costume put away, November 1 offers time to reflect and remember.

If your favourite thing about October is the extra hour of sleep you'll get when the clocks go back, then think again.

In Brighton, that extra hour means only one thing... more time for fun. And the city's annual White Night festival will see thousands taking to the streets for events ranging from the beautiful to the bizarre.

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The concept of White Night began in Paris in 2002 and is taken from the French nuit blanche, meaning "up all night". Beginning at nightfall and continuing right through until dawn, visitors to Brighton will begin to see the city in a whole new light.

And this year the brave will be favoured as the chosen theme is fortune, in all its guises.

Astrologers will be telling fortunes, experimental art will fill the Warhol-inspired Fortune Factory, and if it's 15 minutes of fame you're after, the 30 Seconds of Fortune project will show 30 second films created by the public.

As part of this year's festival, the organisers have teamed up with adult learning providers and, for those of you looking to expand your horizons, there'll be life drawing (of Burlesque dancers should you need a little more persuasion!) and a French-speaking restaurant for budding linguists.

And the best thing about White Night is that many of the events are free.

So from theatrical tours of the city, through the multimedia installations and quirky performance art, to a specially commissioned Dawn Chorus by Juliet Russell, make the most of that extra hour... Brighton most certainly will.

Brighton's White Night Festival falls on Saturday 24 October. For more information and a programme of events and venues, visit www.whitenightnuitblanche.com

There's a chill in the air, the leaves are falling and the nights are beginning to draw in. As we rush headlong towards winter, the annual clock change brings with it dark evenings and, for some, the onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder. The clocks officially move back by one hour at 1am on Sunday 25 October and that's an extra hour for well, whatever takes your fancy really.

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3. British summer time
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10. Winter months

If you're a party animal then there's no need to hold back this Saturday night. With the extra hour, you'll have plenty of time to nurse your hangover after a full evening of fun, provided of course that you haven't used the extra hour to carry on indulging.

Alternatively Saturday is a good night to throw a party. When the neighbours start complaining at one o'clock in the morning, you can reliably inform them that it is, in fact, only midnight.

If you're more of an outdoorsy type, you may want to leave your extra hour entitlement until the morning, where the early daylight means your lucky pooch might just get a few more miles out of you before the Sunday roast.

And if you're stuck at home, make the most of the extra time and get an early night... after all, there's more to the bedroom than just sleeping.

For most of us though, the change will go unnoticed as we peacefully slumber... but then an extra hour of sleep is bound to be a popular choice.

This week is possibly my favourite week of the whole year: Chocolate Week. The best chocolatiers and chocolate shops around the UK are holding events to celebrate a week's worth of pure indulgence. Check out our top chocolate searches to get you in the mood.

Top chocolate searches:

1. Godiva chocolate
2. Pure dark chocolate
3. Organic milk chocolate
4. Chocolate bars
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10. Handmade chocolate truffles

If you take a look at the Chocolate Week website you'll be able to find events that are on near you. There are plenty of delicious tasting sessions to attend, product launches (with more tasting), you can try the services of a personal chocolate shopper, enter chocolate competitions, learn how to make truffles (and keep any you make), meet chocolate makers, drink chocolate cocktails and even try chocolate beer and chocolate pizza.

In case you weren't sure, although a chocolate pizza may resemble the tomato and cheese variety, it's only ingredient is chocolate, and perhaps a few marshmallows. However, the chocolate beer is just that, and sounds pretty revolting!

Are you a chocoholic? Have you attended any of the Chocolate Week events? Leave a comment and tell us all about your chocolate love.

Black History Month takes place in the UK in October and has been celebrated here for over 30 years now. It originally began in the States in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, an historian who wanted to celebrate the history and acheivements of black people. Since moving to the UK its popularity has increased with more and more events being held every year. One of the biggest of these is the free London event, the Black History Festival, which takes place from 9th to 11th October.

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10. Malcolm X quotes

At the event there will be all kinds of entertainments including a drum workshop, circus performers, a hoola hoop competition, New Orleans jazz, a 50's jive workshop, comedy, contemporary dance and lots more. As well as the entertainments there will be workshops in the various marquees where you can learn about black history and sample different foods and drinks.

The festival takes place in Potter Field Park, which is near Tower Bridge and will be a fantastic combination of cuture, art, history, music and also some 'top secret' surprise appearances. Will you be visiting any Black History Month events? Do you know of any good ones that shouldn't be missed? Tell us about them by leaving a comment.

Ahoy maties! Today is International Talk Like A Pirate Day so pull on yer eyepatch, grab yer cutlass and bottle o' rum and start talkin' like a pirate. Arrr! If you want to celebrate Talk Like A Pirate Day, all you have to do is talk like a pirate. For ideas on how to make your day even more piratey, check out our top searches below.

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10. Pirate flags

So what's this day all about? Talk Like A Pirate Day was invented by two friends, John Baur and Mark Summers (also known as Ol' Chumbucket and Cap'n Slappy). It started as a private joke but gradually gained media coverage and before long the day became recognised all over the world.

If you're not sure how to talk like a pirate, you can get an idea of the lingo from Facebook which introduced a Pirate language option for the site. So instead of having your Facebook presented to you in English, French or German, you can have it in Pirate. This option was created to celebrate Talk Like A Pirate Day in 2008.

But here's a few of the basics. 'Ahoy' means hello, and a pleasant way to address friends could be 'matey' or 'me hearty'. So now you have a simple greeting, 'Ahoy, me hearties!' If you encounter a foe or someone you wish to insult, you can call them a 'landlubber' or worse, a 'bilge rat'. 'Aye' is a word of agreement and 'Arrr!' is a useful word that can mean just about anything depending on the context.

Will you be celebrating International Talk Like A Pirate Day? Leave your best pirate comments here. Arrr!

It won't be long now before the leaves on the trees all turn brown, the days get shorter and the weather becomes decidedly cooler. Summer seems to be getting shorter and shorter and although it's probably not physically possible to extend the summer, there are some things you can do to ward off the autumn blues. For some ideas, check out what other people have been searching for.
Top autumn searches:

1. Vitamin D supplements
2. Autumn breaks
3. SAD treatments
4. Fake tan lotion
5. Winter holidays in the sun
6. Seasonal depression
7. Airbrush fake tan
8. Autumn clothing
9. Seasonal Affective Disorder light therapy
10. SAD light boxes

Firstly, as autumn draws in, despite the vivid splashes of colour on the trees around us, we tend to wear more dark coloured clothes as though we were attending summer's wake. Now this is a sure-fire way to depress yourself! If everyone looks like they're at a funeral, you're bound to feel down. Take a leaf out of the trees' book (sorry about the pun) and wear some bright colours - don't you feel more summery wearing bright colours in the summer? Surely it's the same in the autumn. Also, if you're a fan of a golden glow, you could get a fake tan and kid yourself you got it sunbathing in your garden!

Of course, better than a fake tan is a real one acquired on a real holiday in the sun. If possible, try to book your holidays for the autumn and winter months and head to a nice sunny country. That way, theoretically, you'll have sun all year round. Anywhere in the southern hemisphere would be a good choice as it's spring and summer over there. In fact, it's important for humans to be exposed to regular doses of sunlight in order to produce vitamin D, which helps fight depression. If you can't afford a holiday, maybe buy a light box specially designed for those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or eat plenty of fish. Another naturally occuring chemical within humans that is linked with depression is serotonin. To maintain high levels of serotonin, you can't do better than exercise! And since the trees look so beautiful in the autumn, going for a long walk in the woods is a great way to lift your spirits.

Do you enjoy autumn or does the thought of it depress you? Do you have any tips for warding off the blues? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.