The Chinese celebrate Yuan Tan (pronounced wahn tahn), or the New Year, during the first month of their 13- month lunar calendar.

It certainly did not denounce as sinful the movement to enserf a large section of the population, any more than it had challenged slavery in the ancient world; that was hardly surprising, since very often great monasteries like Cluny were in the forefront of imposing serfdom on their tenants.

'Well, well, well, who have we got here? 'A very fat Shrek suddenly loomed up on them. 'Your host at your service,' he said, with a little bow.

She taught him to do the twist, having learned it herself from an Alvin Ailey dancer at Jacob's Pillow.