Christmas in Great Britain

For most British families, this is the most important festival of the year. This is the day when many people are travelling home to be with their families on Christmas Day. If you try to catch a train on 24th December you may have difficulty in finding a seat. There are a lot of traditions connected with Christmas but the most important one is the giving of presents. Family members wrap up their gifts and leave them at the bottom of the Christmas tree to be "bound on Christmas morning. At some time on Christmas Day the family will sit down to a big turkey dinner followed by Christmas pudding. In the afternoon they may watch the Queen on the television as she delivers her traditional Christmas message to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. Then they enjoy a piece of Christmas cake or eat a hot mince pie. On the Sunday before Christmas many churches hold a service where special hymns are sung. Sometimes singers can be heard on the streets as they collect money for charity. Most families decorate their houses with brightly-coloured paper or holly, and they usually have a Christmas tree in the corner of the room, glittering with coloured lights and decoration. 26th December is also a public holiday, called Boxing Day. This is the time to visit friends and relatives or be a spectator at one of the many sporting events.

 

My Mother's Birthday

Last month my mother had her birthday. My father decided to throw a surprise party for her. Two weeks, before the event he booked a room in my mother's favourite cafe. And then my father began to invite our relatives and friends. Of course, that was a great secret. It was sometimes difficult to keep mother from suspecting anything. It was also difficult to make some people understand that it was to be a surprise. For example, the only time he could ring mother's parents was when she happened to be in the house. However, she didn't suspect anything and her parents didn't said a word about the invitation. Two weeks such secret planning was more than father could stand. He was glad when that day arrived but nervous in case something went wrong. He had told mother that they would just go shopping. She agreed as she didn't often make a big fuss of her birthday. My father had bought her a beautiful dress and she wore it when they went out. They wandered along the river and then around the shops. It was a lovely day and many people were out. Father was very nervous, because if mother guesses his surprise will be ruined.

Eventually it was time for my father to suggest having a meal at their favourite cafe. It would be his treat as a kind of birthday present. Mother readily agreed. Great was my mother's surprise when she saw her sister-in-law's car parked outside the cafe and greater when in the foyer she saw ray brother and me, though we had to be at the university. What acrowd of people she found inside ready to wish her a happy birthday. My mother was very happy!

My Birthday

Birthday is a very wonderful day. Everybody likes to celebrate it. It is a good opportunity to spend time with friends, parents, relatives. I  was born on the 10th of January. In the morning on my birthday my parents lay the presents near my bed. So the first thing I see when I open my eyes is my presents. My Mam and Daddy and my little brother come to my room to congratulate me and to sing "Happy Birthday". Usually we hold my birthday party in the evening. Once we went to a cafe to celebrate my birthday, but usually we celebrate it at home. We clean the house the day before birthday. In the morning of birthday party day my father goes shopping and buys everything we need. My mother bakes a cake or pie. By the evening food is cooked, the table is laid. We put on evening suits and dresses and wait for the guests. The flat looks nice and cosy. I am always very glad to meet my guests. I like to get flowers and presents. Mam gives me the telegram from my aunt. We have an abundant dinner on this day. Mam brings in the birthday cake. I blow the candles out. We dance and sing songs, play games and laugh, joke, tell funny stories. I think that my birthday is one of the best days in a year.