3.3. Holidays and Traditions of the English-Speaking Countries

Vocabulary

stay-at-home people – домосіди

to be proud of – гордитись

love of garden – любов до садівництва

to keep traditions – дотримуватись традицій

tea-drinker– шанувальник чаю

a festival – cвяткування, фестиваль

stockings– панчохи

to adore – обожнювати

coin – монета

turkey – індичка

pudding – пудинг

evergreen branch – вічнозелена гілка

to decorate – прикрашати

First Foot – перший гість в Новому році

luck – удача

coal – вугілля

Pancake Day– Масляниця

Lenten fast – Великий піст

race – перегони

to drop – кидати (додолу)

to throw – підкидати (догори)

ghost– привид

witch – відьма

demon – демон

Trick or treat! – Життя чи гаманець!

hollowed-out pumpkin – порожній гарбуз

Exercise 1. Translate the word combinations:

Прикрашати будинок, пекти індичку, побачити привид, подарувати монету на удачу, переодягтись в костюм відьми, дотримуватись традицій, знайти порожній гарбуз, бути домосідами, дотримуватись Великого посту, життя чи гаманець!

Exercise 2. Read and translate the text:

Holidays in English-speaking countries

There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries. They are: Christmas, Boxing Day, the New Year’s Day, Easter, Spring Bank holiday and Summer Bank holidays. Public holidays in Britain are called bank holidays, because the banks as well as most of the offices and shops are closed.

The most favourite holiday is Christmas. Every year the people of Norway present the city of London a big Christmas tree and it stands in the Trafalgar Square. Before Christmas, group of singers go from house to house and sing carols, traditional Christmas songs. Many churches hold the service on the Sunday before Christmas. The fun starts the night before, on the 12^th of December. Traditionally this is the day when people decorate their trees. Children hang stockings near their beds, hoping that Santa comes down the chimney during the night and fills them with toys and sweets. Christmas is a family holiday. All the families usually meet for the big Christmas dinner of turkey and Christmas pudding. And everyone gives and gets presents.

The 26^th of December, Boxing Day, is an extra holiday after Christmas. It’s the time to visit friends and relatives. This day postmen receive their presents in the boxes.

The New Year’s Day is less favourite in Britain than Christmas. But in Scotland the New Year’s Eve is the biggest festival of the year.

All people like to celebrate St Valentine’s Day. St Valentine is the saint of people in love. It is celebrated on the 14^th of February. People send Valentine cards and presents to their husbands, wives or boyfriends and girlfriends.

On the 31^st of October the British celebrate Halloween and you can expect to meet witches and ghosts that night.

Vocabulary

to hope – надіятись

to expect – очікувати

to send a card – надсилати відкритку

to dress up as a witch \ ghost – одягнутись в костюм відьми \ привида

Exercise 3. Tell when these holidays are celebrated in Great Britain:

e.g. In Great Britain Christmas is celebrated on the 25^th of December.

The New Year – ____________

Christmas – ____________

Halloween– __________

The Bank Day–__________

The Valentine’s Day–__________

The Boxing Day – ___________

Exercise 4. Discuss the following questions :

1. What British holidays do you know?

2. What British holidays do you like most of all?

3. How do the British celebrate the New Year?

4. When is Christmas, the New Year, the Valentine’s Day celebrated in Britain?

5. How do the British celebrate Christmas?

6. How do the British celebrate the Valentine’s Day?

7. Do you celebrate the Valentine’s Day? How? Do you like to give and get presents?

8. How do the British celebrate Halloween? Do you like this holiday?

9. What is the most popular holiday in Britain?

*Exercise 5. Do a quiz:

1) December the 26^th when children wake up and open their presents is called:

1. Boxing Day;

2. Presents’ Day;

3. The day of surprises.

2) How does Santa get into a house?

1. through the door;

2. through the chimney;

3. through the window.

3) What does Santa give to naughty children?

1. a stick;

2. a lump of coal;

3. nothing.

4) What do people usually eat for Christmas dinner?

1. fish and chips;

2. turkey and Christmas pudding;

3. Yorkshire pudding and roast beef.

5) What do children usually leave for Santa near the Christmas tree?

1. a “thank you” note;

2. a small present;

3. milk and cookies.

6) What do children hang on the fireplace?

1. angels;

2. Christmas balls;

3. stockings.

7) Where does Santa live?

1. in Lapland;

2. in Norway;

3. in the North Pole.

8) What are traditional colours of Christmas?

1. red and green;

2. gold and silver;

3. blue and white.

9) What do people have to do on New Year’s Eve when it is midnight?

1. drink champagne;

2. give hugs to friends;

3. kiss someone.

10) What plant lets you kiss the person if you stand with them under it?

1. cactus;

2. mistletoe;

3. violets.

11) What do people hang on their doors for Christmas?

1. a wreath;

2. holly;

3. bells.

12) How many reindeer does Santa have?

1. 4;

2. 9;

3. 6.

13) What is the name of the most famous reindeer?

1. Donner;

2. Comet;

3. Rudolf.

14) Who helps Santa to make toys in the workshop?

1. his wife;

2. elves;

3. dwarfs.

15) What does the name “Santa Claus” stand for?

1. Saint Nicolas;

2. it’s the Greek for “Father Christmas”;

3. in Latin it means “a good spirit”.

16) What do people usually write before New Year’s Eve?

1. a shopping list;

2. cards for friends and relatives;

3. New Year resolutions.

Exercise 6. Read and translate the text: