Holidays and public days in the usa

The population of the USA is made up of people of different nationalities. Centuries ago they brought with them their native celebrations. Some holidays which are marked in the United States originated in America. The number of holidays is different in different states – from 8 in the District of Columbia to 20 in Oklahoma. But the most important holidays are celebrated throughout the USA. They are: New Year’s Day (January 1), Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12), Washington’s Birthday (February 22), Memorial Day (last Monday in May, Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day ( the first Monday in May), Veteran’s Day (November 11), Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November), Christmas (December 25). Here are a few words about some of them.

One of the greatest holidays is Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed. It proclaimed independence of the thirteen British colonies from Great Britain. July 4 has become the greatest holiday since. In the past this day was marked with big parades and fireworks, but now it is celebrated more quietly. Cities and towns are decorated with flags on that day, there are parades in some places, but most people just go on picnics to the countryside.

Thanksgiving Day is marked on the fourth Thursday of November. On this day the Americans honour the memory of the first settlers. It also marks the end of the harvest season. It is a long-standing tradition to make a festive meal with a fried turkey on this day.

Christmas is a religious holiday which symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ. By this day people decorate fir trees with toys and candies. Children wait for Santa Claus who comes to every house and brings them presents. Before going to bed, children leave their shoes to find in them what they want most of all the next morning. Some people, especially young people, like to celebrate it in restaurants and cafes and pubs, but most people prefer to stay at home with their family on this holiday.

Mukhtar Auezov

Mukhtar Auezov (1897-1961) a distinguished Kazakh writer, playwright and statesman was born in Semey region of Kazakhstan. His grandfather was a friend of the outstanding Kazakh poet and educator Abai Kunanbaev. He taught the future writer read from Abai’s manuscript verses. Mukhtar Auezov graduated from Semipalatinsk Teacher’s Seminary and in1926, from Leningrad University. His writing career began with the play “Enlik-Kebek”, based on the folk legend of tragic love. In the course of his life he wrote over 20 plays and many short stories and novels. His best work rightly considered being the epic novel ''Abai'', which gives a mastery panorama of Kazakh life in the second half of the 19-th century. The novel has had an enormous influence on Kazakh literature and has been translated into many languages. A famous story “Kokserek” was published in 1929. It reminds the readers of Jack London’s story “The Call of the Wild” and “White Fang”. In his story he portrays a wolf as the wild beast which although raised between remains true to his own nature and opposed to the world of humans.

The name of Mukhtar Auesov is the brightest among the most remarkable names of his contemporaries. He is a prominent translator. His translations of Tolstoi, Checkov, Shakespeare, London, are masterpieces that greatly enriched Kazakh literature. Mukhtar Auezov will always be associated with Kazakh literature.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in Stratford -upon -Avon in the family of rich citizen whose business was making and selling leather gloves. While still a teenager of nineteen, William married Anne Hathaway, a farmer’s daughter some years older than himself, and they had three daughters. In 1587 Shakespeare went to work in London, leaving Ann and the children at home .He soon began to act and to write plays.

By1603, Shakespeare wrote at least thirty-seven plays, although few published in his lifetime. Among them there were comedies, tragedies, chronicles. Among Shakespeare’s most famous works are "Hamlet, "King Lear", "Richard 3’’ and many others which are staged in all major theatres throughout the world. The first collection was published in 1623, seven years after his death. Besides plays, Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets, which are real masterpieces of poetry. There are many expressions in modem English which have come from Shakespeare` s plays, some of them have been changed a little. Here is some example. “All`s well that ends well,” “Brevity is the sole of wit,” “the entire world’s a stage,” “Love’s blind” etc.