Lesson 19 holidays in ukraine

Very often we look forward to holidays to enjoy ourselves. As you know, the word "holidays" comes from the words "holy day". The point is that all the holidays were first religious festivals, but nowadays many of them have nothing to do with religion. Each country has holidays honouring important events in its history. Many historical events are of great importance for all peoples and countries throughout the world.

As we live in Ukraine, we have our own customs and traditions, holidays and festivals. The long-term dream of the Ukrainian people came true on December, 1, 1991. More than 90% of the Ukrainian people voted for the independence of their country, Ukraine. It was proclaimed on the 24-th of August, 1991 and Ukraine became a sovereign state. That is why the Ukrainian people celebrate this day as the greatest national holiday. There are a lot of concerts and dances in the streets of Kyiv. This holiday commemo­rates the freedom of Ukrainian people.

The New Year Holiday is widely observed in Ukraine. The most common type of celebration is the New Year party, either a family party or one arranged by a group of young people. This usually begins at 9 o'clock and goes on till the early hours of the morning. There is a lot of drinking and eating on the festive table; but the main thing is that the New Year is the holiday of expectations. The children decorate the New Year tree with toys and coloured lights. When the clock strikes 12, everybody drinks champagne and says to each other, "Happy New Year"

Christmas Day is observed on the 7-th of January. You know, this holiday is of religious origin. Most people observe the tradition of going to church and having a tasty dinner. But in Ukraine people do not exchange presents on this holiday as it is in the case of Great Britain and many other countries.

On the 8-th of March we celebrate the Women's Day. It is a nice spring holiday when men give presents and flowers to their wives, sweethearts, girl-friends, sisters and daughters. Children congratulate their mothers on this holiday, or send them holiday cards with the best wishes.

The Shevchenko Days are also very popular in Ukraine. They are celebrated in March every year.

Another great national holiday is Easter, the holiday of celebrating Christ's rising from the dead. It is a time of giving or receiving presents which traditionally took the form of an Easter egg. The Easter egg is the most popular emblem of the religious holiday, but spring-time flowers are also used to signify Nature reawakening.

April Fool's day named from the custom of playing practical jokes or sending on fool's errands is on April the 1-st. People enjoy joking and laughing on this holiday.

The 9-th of May is a Victory Day, the holiday of victory over fascist invaders. People lay flowers to the war memorials, to the tombs of the people who died in the war. There are commemorative meetings all over the country. War veterans are greeted and there is a salute and fireworks in the evening.

Word List:

to look forward to something - предвкушать что-либо, с нетерпением ожидать что-либо

holy day - святой день

the point is that - дело в том, что

religions - религиозный

nowadays - в наше время, в наши дни

to have nothing to do with something - не иметь ничего общего

to be of great importance - быть очень важным

custom - обычай

long-term dream - долгожданная мечта

to come true - сбываться

to vote - голосовать

to proclaim - провозглашать, объявлять

sovereign state - суверенное государство

to commemorate - праздновать, отмечать событие,

служить напоминанием

to arrange - устраивать, условливаться, договариваться о

expectation - ожидание, надежда, предвкушение

to observe - соблюдать

sweetheart - возлюбленный, возлюбленная, дорогой, дорогая

to congratulate on - поздравлять с

Christ rising from the dead - воскрешение Христоса

Easter - пасха (праздник), пасхальный

to signify - значить, означать, иметь значение

nature reawakening - пробуждение природы

to play a joke - пошутить

errand - поручение

to send somebody on fool's errand - посылать кого-то с невьшолнимым

поручением

fascist invaders - фашистские захватчики

the tombs of the unknown soldiers - могилы неизвестных солдат

fireworks – фейерверк