My Favourite Holidays

—What is your favourite holiday?

• My friends think me a little bit "strange" because my favourite holiday is Victory Day.

• Why is it your favourite holiday?

—You see, my great-grandfather and I were great friends. I can say that he brought me up. He was with me all day long. We did every thing together: went for a walk, prepared supper for my parents, went to bed at the same time in the same room and talked a lot before falling asleep. He was my best friend. He never deceived me. He taught me a lot and did it in a very clever way.

• Did he participate in the Great Patriotic War?

• During the war my great-grandfather was an officer of the Soviet Army. He fought many heroic battles and marched as far as Berlin.

• Did he go to Red Square on May 9?

• Yes, he did.

• Did he meet his co-troopers?

• Yes, he did. And one day he invited them to stay at our house.

• Were there many of them?

• No, only two.

• How did you like them at home?

• I was lucky surprised.

• Why?

• They appeared to be not gloomy old men with unpleasant manners but two good-natured gay fellows. I ought to learn to be as tidy, quiet as they were. They could cook everything out of nothing, they sang so nice, they knew a great deal of songs and so on and so on.

• Can you say this holiday is connected with pleasant people and good moods of them?

• Yes, I can.

• Did your great-grandfather help you to understand that this holiday is a holy day?

• Yes, he did.

Задание 5

Написать сочинение о своём любимом празднике.

Задание 6

Студент должен:

• Прочитать текст «Праздники в Британии» («Holidays in Britain») и выполнить упражнение по тексту.

Holidays in Britain

There are fewer public holidays in Britain than in any other country in Europe. Even New Year's Day wasn't a public holiday in England and Wales until quite recently. Most official holidays occur just before or just after a weekend. There are practically no extra local holidays in particular places.

The word holiday means holy day. But not all public holidays are connected with religious celebrations. The average employee gets four weeks' paid holiday a year. About 40% of the population do not go away for their holidays.

In the 18th century the British upper class started the fashion for seaside holidays. In the 20th century the working class got such an opportunity too. And soon it became popular to spend a week or two at the seaside resort towns. These towns have many hotels.

Food in British hotels and restaurants is reasonably cheap, but rooms are not. Few English people rent houses or flats for their holidays, but one of the traditional ways of spending a holiday is in a boarding house. These houses offer "bed and breakfast" or "full board" (that means that all meals are provided).

If the weather is fine people go to the beach, where children make sandcastles, eat ice-creams or go swimming. Quite a lot of people like just to relax and sunbathe.

In the evening and when it's raining, people go to discos, theatres, dance halls, which are usually situated on the pier.

In the 1950s and 1960s camping holidays were very popular. People stayed in chalets and had food and all kinds of entertainment in the holiday camps. Camping holidays are not so popular in England nowadays, but they are very popular in France.

Caravan holidays have become more popular nowadays. A caravan pulled by the family car can provide good opportunity for holiday. Many people like the friendly atmosphere in an organized caravan site.

Foreign tourism has become extremely popular these days. Millions of people spend their holidays away from home. Most foreign holidays are package holidays. You book transport and accomodation and pay for everything in advance (through a travel agent). Spain is a very popular package-holiday place today. Traditionally people start planning their summer holidays on Boxing Day.

Some holidays in Britain last only three or less days. For example, for Bank holiday weekend most people go to the most popular seaside resorts. Rich people go to their cottages in the countryside where they prefer to spend the weekend.

Exercises

I.Answer the questions.

1. How long is an annual holiday for the average employee in Britain?

2. What are people offered at boarding houses?

3. What's the difference between the camping holiday and a caravan holiday?

4. What does the word holiday mean?

5. What was a popular type of holiday in the 18th century?

6. How do people spend their Bank holiday weekend?

II.Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions.

1. a boarding house — 4. package holiday —

2. a caravan — 5. to book accommodation —

3. to book in advance —

III.Fill in the gaps.

1. New Year's Day wasn't a ... quite recently.

2. Not all public holidays are connected with ....

3. ... of the population do not go away for their holidays.

4. Food in hotels and restaurants is ... .

5. Few people ... flats or houses for their holidays.

6. A caravan is ... by the family car.

7. Many people like ... in a caravan site.

8. If the weather is fine people go to the ....

9. In a camp people stay in ... .

10. ... tourism has become very popular.

11. You book ... and ... in advance.

12. People start planning their holidays on ... Day.

Задание 7

Студент должен:

• Прочитать тексты о праздниках в Америке и составить диалог.

American Holidays, Religious and Nonreligious Holidays

New Year’s Day

Words to know

to celebrate — праздновать two-faced — двуликий

a sacrifice — жертвоприношение a deity — божество

Janus — Янус

This holiday is celebrated in all the states on January, 1. New Year's Day has been celebrated since Roman Times, when sacrifices were given to Janus, the two-faced Roman deity who looked back on the past and forward to the future.

Epiphany

Words to know

Epiphany — Крещение God — Всевышний

to commemorate — отмечать

the carnival season — Масленица Jesus — Иисус

to preceed — предшествовать

a manifestation — Богоявление Lent — Великий пост

This religious holiday is celebrated twelve days after Christmas and commemorates the manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God. Epiphany is the beginning of the carnival season proceeding Lent, and the evening (sometimes the eve) is known as Twelfth Night.

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday

Words to know

legal — узаконенный, официально признанный

the civil rights leader — лидер движения в защиту гражданских прав

public — национальный, общепризнанный

equal rights — равные права

achievement — достижение

It became a legal public holiday in 1986. It's celebrated in January. It's a time to celebrate the life and achievements of the civil rights leader who struggled for equal rights for black Americans.

Lincoln's Birthday

Abraham Lincoln brought the country through the Civil War. It's a legal holiday in many states. This day was first celebrated in Washing­ton, D. C, in February, 1866.

St Valentine's Day

Words to know

a martyr — мученик, мученица

to be associated with... — ассоциироваться с...

It's celebrated on February, 14. This day is the festival of two third-century martyrs, both named St Valentine. Nobody knows why this day is associated with lovers.

Washington's Birthday

George Washington was the country's first president. His birthday is celebrated as a legal holiday in every state of the Union, the District of Columbia and all territories.

Shrove Tuesday

Falls the day before Ash Wednesday and marks the end of the car­nival season.

Ash Wednesday

It's the first day of the Lenten season, which lasts 40 days.

St Patrick's Day

Words to know

Shrove Tuesday — Вторник на масленой неделе (последний день Масленицы)

a patron saint — святой покровитель

parade — парад

Ash Wednesday — день покаяния

St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, has been honored in America since the first days of the nation. There are many dinners and meetings and the parade is held on Fifth Avenue in New York every year on St Patrick's Day.

Palm Sunday

Words to know

Palm Sunday — Вербное воскресенье

It's observed the Sunday before Easter to commemorate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Good Friday

This day commemorates the Crucifixion (распятие Христа).

Easter Sunday

Words to know

Good Friday — Страстная пятница Easter Sunday — первый день Пасхи the Resurrection of Jesus — Воскресение Иисуса из мертвых

This holiday is observed in all Christian churches. Easter commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon which occurs on the next day after March 21 and is celebrated between March 22 and April 25 inclusive.

Mother's Day

This holiday is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, as it was proposed by Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia in 1907.

Ascension Day

It took place in the presence of His apostles 40 days after the Resurrection of Jesus.

Memorial Day

Words to know

to propose — предлагать

Memorial Day — День памяти noгибших в войнах

Ascension Day — праздник Вознесения

unofficial — неофициальный

This day honors American soldiers killed in wars. There are many parades on Memorial Day. Memorial Day, which comes on the last Monday in May is also the unofficial beginning of the summer vacation season. On Memorial Day, many people go to the beach.

Pentecost

Words to know

Pentecost — Троицын день

a descent — Пришествие

the Holy Ghost — Святой Дух

This day commemorates the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles 50 days after the Resurrection.

Flag Day

This day commemorates the flag of the United States of America and is celebrated on June 4.

Father's Day

It is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. It was first observed on June 19, 1910.