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PUBLIC HOLIDAYS INTHE UNITED KINGDOM 151

Answer the questions:

1. Why are the main national holidays inthe UKcalled bank holidays? All

bank holidays are days o, aren’t they? What happens ifabank holiday

coincides with Saturday orSunday? Do we have the same tradition

inRussia? What are the main British bank holidays?

2. What bank holidays fall on the exact day ofthe year? What Russian

holidays are celebrated onthe xed calendar day? Are these days de-

clared aday o? How doBritish people mark their favourite holiday

Christmas Day? What food does their traditional Christmas dinner in-

clude?

3. Why isBoxing Day called so? When isit marked? What customs and

traditions doBritish and Russian people have incommon incelebrat-

ing the New Year’s Day? What British holidays are ofreligious origin?

Why are the dates ofGood Friday and Easter Monday not xed? What

events took place onGood Friday and Easter Sunday according tothe

Bible?

4. Why isthe British Queen’s birthday celebrated twice? How isthe

Queen’s Official Birthday marked inthe UK? When was the tradi-

tion started? What other festivities which are not bank holidays

are held inthe UK? Dowe celebrate Mother’s orFather’s Day inour

country?

Remember:

e following words denoting synonymous notions a festival, festivities (pl.) and aholiday slightly dier intheir meaning.

A festival isaday orperiod when there isapublic holiday, oen

tocelebrate areligious event, though the word can bealso

used indescribing any secular event:

152 HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVITIES

For example: Religious festivals are held throughout ayear.

It was decided bythe town council that afestival would beheld

tocelebrate the town’s four-hundredth birthday.

Festivities (the word isalways used inthe plural) are lively and

enjoyable celebration:

For example: Festivities include aparade, reworks, and anopen-

air concert.

e Chinese New Year festivities are held atthe end ofJanuary

orat the beginning ofFebruary for aperiod ofone month.

A holiday isaday ofcelebrating something special, onwhich you

donot have towork orgo toschool:

For example: Abank holiday isapublic holiday inthe UKwhen

banks, shop, and businesses are closed.

e 1

ofMay isaholiday inmany European countries.

FEDERAL HOLIDAYS INTHE USA

Every year ten federal holidays designated bythe United State Congress are celebrated in the USA. ere are no national holidays there because Congress possesses constitutional authority tocreate holidays only for federal institutions. USfederal holidays are oen referred toas public orlegal holidays due to their widely spread observance. ese are as follows:

1) New Year’s Day, 2) Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 3) George Wa shington’s Birthday, 4)Memorial Day, 5)Independence Day,

6)Labour Day, 7)Columbus Day, 8)Veterans Day, 9)anksgiving Day, 10)Christmas Day. Only ve ofthem (1, 3, 5, 8, 10) are celebrated onthe denite day, others have aoating date. Each state, however, can choose their own variation ofobserv-

FEDERAL HOLIDAYS INTHE USA 153

able holidays sosome holidays can beobserved inone state and not bemarked inothers.

A federal holiday isalways aday o inthe USA. When itfalls on a Saturday, it is usually observed on the preceding Friday. When itfalls onaSunday, itis transferred tothe following Monday. Banks, post oces, schools and major retail businesses are closed onthese days. e events are marked with festivities ranging from reworks, parades, and triumphal displays tomore casual family reunions and barbeques.

e most important date for all Americans is Independence Day which iscelebrated onthe 4

ofJuly. e holiday commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence onthat day in1776 when the continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves asanew nation, the United States ofAmerica, and were nolonger part of the British Empire. e historical document was draed byomas Jeerson, one ofthe future presidents ofthe USA. e rst president, George Washington, was elected some years later in1789.

is federal holiday is marked by festive displays. People across the USA enjoy this patriotic day and take great pride inthe history of their country. Decorations (streamers, balloons, garlands and clothing) are generally coloured red, white, and blue— the colours ofthe American ag. Parades are held inthe morning while reworks occur inthe evening when itgrows dark. e displays are generally accompanied bypatriotic songs such asthe national anthem ofthe USA “e Star-Spangled Banner”, “God Bless America”, and “is Land isYour Land”.

Another federal holiday inthe USA isGeorge Washington’s Birthday also known asPresidents’ Day. Itis held on the third Monday ofFebruary close tothe real Washington’s birthday onthe

ofFebruary. George Washington isoen seen byAmericans

154 HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVITIES

asthe father ofthe United States. However, the holiday honours all presidents ofthe USA.

Columbus Day, one more federal holiday, ismarked onthe second Monday ofOctober. Ithonours the event when Christopher Columbus sailed toAmerica onthe 12

ofOctober 1492 and discovered anew continent, the New World. ough the fact that hewas the rst todiscover the land isdisputable, Americans celebrate the holiday enthusiastically.

anksgiving isalso considered one ofthe main federal holidays and afavourite one for Americans. Ithas aoating date for celebration and ismarked onthe fourth ursday ofNovember. Historically anksgiving celebration started when early settlers toMassachusetts (now the state ofthe same name) survived the harsh and severe winter in1621 with the help ofAmerican Indians (native Americans) who helped them learn how tocatch eel and grow corn, hence the name ofthe holiday. Nowadays, people generally reunite with their families during the holiday. On this day they sit down toatraditional turkey dinner and give thanks to God for the harvest. e day aer anksgiving is known asBlack Friday, during which the biggest sales ofthe year occur. Itis also the ocial start ofthe Christmas shopping season when Americans attack shops purchasing agreat number ofpresents with abig discount.

As the majority ofthe USpopulation isChristian, Christmas isthe biggest festival ofthe year which iscelebrated onthe 25

ofDecember. Long before itpeople buy anevergreen tree (it may be a r, a pine oran articial tree) and decorate itwith lights, garlands, balloons and tinsel. Children look forward tothe moment when Santa Claus appears and leaves gis for them under the Christmas tree.

Christmas Day isfollowed byone more festive event whose celebration isheld onthe 1

ofJanuary— New Year’s Day. Itis

FEDERAL HOLIDAYS INTHE USA 155

the time for people towelcome the coming ofthe New Year. For most Americans itis afamily holiday though some attend parties orgo toapub ordisco. But nomatter where the holiday isspent, the feeling isthe same— people cheerfully celebrate this joyful occasion.

e federal holiday known asVeterans Day ismarked every year onthe 11 for America inall wars. e 11

ofNovember. Ithonours the veterans who fought

ofNovember isan anniversary ofsigning the armistice which put anend to the World War Ihostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in1918. e event ismarked byparades and church services. To commemorate those who sacriced their life inthe war battles the American ag is hung at half mast. At11 a.m. a period of silence lasting two minutes isheld reminding everybody that at11o’clock ofthe eleventh day ofthe eleventh month 1918 anarmistice was signed.

Very close tothis event isMemorial Day, though the holidayhas deeper roots. Itis marked annually onthe last Monday ofMay. e holiday honours those who was killed during the American Civil War fought from 1861 to1865 and later those who died while serving inthe Armed Forces ofthe USA. Itmarks the unocial start ofthe summer vacation season, while Labour Day symbolises its end.

Labour Day iscelebrated onthe rst Monday ofSeptember and honours the American labour movement and the contribution that workers have made tothe economy, prosperity, and independence ofthe country. Itis aday ofrest for those who work hard.

ere isone specic federal holiday inthe USA — Martin Luther King Jr. Day. is isthe only holiday that marks the birthday ofan African American. Itis observed onthe third Monday ofJanuary every year, which isaround Martin Luther King’s birthday onthe 15

ofJanuary.

156 HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVITIES

In addition toten federal holidays designated bythe United States Congress, Americans mark some other events that are not coloured byany patriotic ornational idea. ese are Mother’s Day (on the second Sunday inMay), Father’s day (on the third Sun-

day inJune), Valentine’s Day (on the 14

(onthe 31

ofOctober), Easter and many others, each with their

ofFebruary), Halloween

own traditions ofcelebration.

Words and Expressions

authority [D:´FOrAti]— полномочие observance [Ab´zQ:vns]— соблюдение Memorial Day [mA´mD:riAl…]— День памяти anksgiving Day [´FBNks,gIvIN…]— День благодарения denite [´defAnAt]— определенный a oating date [´flAUtIN ,deIt]— нефиксированная дата observable [Ab´zQ:vAbl]— соблюдаемый preceding [prI´si:dIN]— предшествующий ranging from smth… to… [´reIndZIN…]— начиная отчего-л.

изаканчивая чем-л.

a family reunion [… ri:´ju:niAn]— семейная встреча adoption [A´dOpSn]— принятие to regard oneself as[rI´gC:d wEn´self Az]— считать себя кем-л. e British Empire [´brItIS ,empaIA]— Британская империя to bedraed [… drC:ftId]— быть разработанным to take pride insmth [… praId…]— гордиться чем-л.

FEDERAL HOLIDAYS INTHE USA 157

the national anthem [,nBSnAl ´BnFAm]— национальный гимн “e Star-Spangled Banner” [´stC:,spBNgld ,bBnA]— «Знамя,

усыпанное звездами»

to honour [´OnA]— чтить, почитать to sail tosmth. [seIl…]— подплывать кчему-л. settlers [´setlAz]— поселенцы to survive smth. [sQ:´vaIv]— пережить что-л. harsh and severe [´hC:S …sI´vIA]— суровый итяжелый to catch eel [´kBtS ,i:l]— ловить угря to grow corn [´grAU ,kD:n]— выращивать маис (кукурузу) to reunite [,ri:ju:´naIt]— собираться вместе harvest [´hC:vIst]— урожай to purchase [´pQ:tSAs]— покупать, приобретать Christian [´krIstSAn]— христиане evergreen [´evA,gri:n]— вечнозеленый a r [fQ:]— ель a pine [pain]— сосна to look forward to smth. […´f D:wAd…] — с нетерпением

ждать чего-л.

joyful [´dZDIfl]— радостный to sign an armistice [,saIn An ´C:mIstIs] — подписывать акт

оперемирии

hostilities [hO´stIlAtiz]— военные действия Allied Nations [´BlaId ´neISnz]— союзники war battles [´wD: ,bBtlz]— военные действия

158 HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVITIES

to behung athalf mast […´ hEN At ´hC:f ,mC:st]— быть приспу-

щенным (о флаге) silence lasting two minutes [´saIlAns ´lC:stIN ´tu: ,mInIts]— две

минуты молчания to serve inthe Armed Forces [´sQ:v…´C:md ,fD:sIz]— служить

вВооруженных силах

Answer the questions:

1. What federal holidays are celebrated annually in the USA? Which

of them are Americans especially proud of? Why doyou think they

consider Independent Day their national holiday? What main fes-

tivities are held onthis day? Why doyou think the American national

anthem iscalled “The Star-Spangled Banner”? Doyou remember the

words ofthe Russian national anthem?

2. What American federal holidays are marked at a xed date?What

isspecic about the holiday “George Washington’s Birthday”? Iscele-

bration ofColumbus Day historically justied? Why isone ofthe fede-

ral holidays called Thanksgiving Day? Who isthankful towhom and for

what onthis day?

3. What federal holiday’s custom supposes afamily reunion? Which

ofthe Russian national holidays are connected with the tradition

offamily gatherings? What dothe two holidays have incommon:

Memorial Day and Veterans Day? What isthe difference between

them? Why isVeterans Day held on the 11

isparticular about celeb rating Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Who was

Martin Luther King?

4. What unocial holidays are widely marked inthe USA? Do we have

the same ones inour country? Which ofthem doyou mark and why?

of November? What

FEDERAL HOLIDAYS INTHE USA 159

What isthe holiday Valentine’s Day devoted to? Have you ever cele-

brated it? What present doyou usually choose tocongratulate some-

body onValentine’s Day?

Here are some quotations about American holidays:

e United States isthe only country with aknown birthday, all the rest began, they know not when, and grew into power, they know not how… ere isno “Republican”, no“Democrat”, onthe Fourth ofJuly,— all are Americans. (James Gillespie Blaine)—

Соединенные Штаты — единственная страна, которая знает дату своего рождения. Все остальные неимеют понятия, когда они образовались, атакже как превратились вмогущественное государство… Четвертого июля, вДень независимости, унас нет ниреспубликанцев, нидемократов— все мы— американцы. (Джеймс Гиллеспи Блейн)

July isan intensely warm month inthe States, and bysome weather freak, the fourth, of all days, is the ercest. (Henry

Howard Paul)—

Июль невероятно теплый месяц в Штатах, а из-за погодных причуд четвертый день извсех чисел самый жаркий.

(Генри Xовард Пол)

Labour Day isseen asaday ofrest for many hardworking Americans. (James P. Hoa)—

День труда считается днем отдыха для многих трудолюбивых американцев. (Джеймс Ф. Хоффа)

How important isfor usto recognise and celebrate our heroes and sheroes. (Maya Angelou)—

Как важно для нас признавать ипрославлять наших героев игероинь. (Майя Энджелоу)

160 HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVITIES

As weexpress our gratitude, wemust never forget that the highest appreciation isnot toutter words, but tolive bythem. (John Fitzgerald Kennedy)—

Когда мывыражаем благодарность людям, мыдолжны помнить, что самая высокая оценка заключается невсловах, ав том, что стоит за этими словами. (Джон Фитцджеральд

Кеннеди)

Santa Claus has the right idea: visits people once a year. (Victor Borge)—

Санта Клаус поступает правильно: наносит визит раз вгоду. (Виктор Борге)

What Idon’t like about oce Christmas parties islooking for ajob the next day. (Phyllis Diller)—

Что меня неустраивает в корпоративных рождественских вечеринках, так это то, что наследующий день приходится искать новую работу. (Филлис Диллер)

True patriotism hates injustice inits own land more than anywhere else. (Clarence Darrow)—

Истинный патриотизм — это умение быть нетерпимым кнесправедливости прежде всего усебя дома. (Клэ-

ренс Дэрроу)

Valentine’s Day itself, like most holidays in the modern era, has been heavily inuenced bycommercialism that focuses onthe appeal ofromantic fantasies. (Aberjhani)—

День Святого Валентина, как имногие другие праздники всовременном мире, сильно испытывает насебе влияние коммерции, которая прикрывается игрой наромантических чувствах. (Аберджани)

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