Lesson 13 Great Britain. Customs. Traditions
Read the words and word-combinations with their translation.
to throw away—викидати
fire-place— камін
awfully – жахливо
robber — грабіжник, розбійник-
medieval - середньовічний
strange - дивний
regiment—полк
sword— меч, шабля,
strip – смужка
Lord Chancellor – голова Палати Лордів
Yeoman-Warder-- гвардієць
Read the Text.
Some english traditions
If you arrive in Great Britain, you'll hear the word "tradition" everywhere. Englishmen have sentimental love for things and traditions because they are old. They never throw away1 old things.
For example, in many houses of Great Britain they have fire-places2 and though their bedrooms are awfully3 cold the English people don't want to have central heating because they don't want to have changes. Therefore the Yeomen-Warders4 are dressed in traditional medieval5 clothes and the traditional dress of the Horse Guards regiment6 has existed since the twelfth century. This dress costs a lot of money and seems very funny nowadays, but Englishmen stand for it because it's their traditional dress.
If you enter the Houses of Parliament, you'll see the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
In the House of Lords there are two rows of benches for lords and a sack of wool for the Lord Chancellor7 to sit on it. This is so because in the old times wool made England rich and powerful.
In the House of Commons which is not big and quite simple, you'll see two rows of benches for the two parties: the government on one side and the opposition — on the other. In front of the benches there is the strip8 of a carpet and when a member speaking in the House puts his foot beyond that strip, there is a shout "Order!". This dates from the time when the members had swords9 on them and during the discussion might want to start fighting. The word "order" reminded them that no fighting was allowed in the House.
Another old custom remains from the time when there was
a lot of robbers10 in London. In those days the shouting "Who goes home?" was often heard in the Houses of Parliament and the members went in groups along the dark narrow streets of the old city. In modern London with its well-lit streets the shouting "Who goes home?" sounds very strange11, but it is still heard.
These are some of the traditions of which Great Britain has so many.
Are you good at translating the following words, word combinations and expressions into English?
старі речі, добре освітлені вулиці, наприклад, у ті дні,
уздовж темних вузьких вулиць, два ряди лавок, досить простий, мішок
вовни, здається дуже смішним, центральне опалення, розпочинати бійку
Answer the Questions.
Do Englishmen throw out old things?
What does the English Parliament consist of?
What is there in front of the benches in the House of Commons?
What shouting was often heard in the Houses of Parliament?
Lesson 14
Great
Britain. National Holidays
Read the words and word-combinations with their translation.
Santa Claus –Санта Клаус
Bank holiday –вихідний
To wait – чекати
Wealth – багатство
To symbolize – символізувати
New Year’s Eve – переддень Нового Року
Pearl - перлина
Read the Text
• UK Holidays
There are many holidays in Great Britain.The main holidays are Christmas and
Bank holidays. Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December and symbolizes
the birthday of Jesus Christ. This day is marked by setting the fir-tree and decorating
it with different toys and candles. Children wait for Santa Claus who comes to
every house and brings presents. Going to bed children leave their stockings and
shoes to receive presents the next morning.There are a lot of parties organized
by people to celebrate this wonderful holiday. Young people like to spend it together
in good companies.There is a lot of fun and jokes on that day.
Meeting the New Year's Eve is held in the family circle in England. Some people in
Scotland go outside and meet New Year in squares singing songs or dancing.
The first man coming to you after the New Year Eve may bring you luck, especially
if he comes with a piece of bread and coal. Bread symbolizes wealth and coal warmth.
Children like this holiday very much. They go from house to house, sing songs
and congratulate people. People treat them to candies or give them little money.
Bank holidays are celebrated four times a year. This day is a day-off for everybody
because all banks and all offices are closed. Englishmen spend this holiday in
the country. There are also great fairs with a lot of goods for sale, with fun, jokes
and choosing the Pearl Queen and King. The Pearl Queen and King are people at
the fair who have the most unusual costume with a lot of pearl buttons on it. There
are many other holidays in Great Britain.
Answer the Questions:
What public holidays are there in Great Britain?
What kind of celebration the New Year holiday is observed in Great Britain?
When do English people celebrate Easter?
When do English people celebrate Bank Holidays?
How do English people celebrate Christmas Day?