Topic Topical Vocabulary

1.Remember the following words and word combinations:

to look forward to з нетерпінням чекати

to have nothing to do не мати нічого спільного

to be of great importance мати велике значення

sovereing суверенний

to commemorate вшановувати, святкувати

to observe дотримуватися

2.Read and translate paying attention to the active words and word combinations.

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.

The 24-th of August 1991 Ukraine became a sovereign state. That is why Ukrainian people celebrate this day as the greatest national holiday. This holiday commemorates the freedom of the Ukrainian people.

The New Year Holiday is widely observed in Ukraine too. The most common type of celebration is the New Year party.This holiday is the holiday of expectations. People 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. Most people go to church and have a tasty dinner.

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.

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 death. It is a time of giving or receiving presents which traditionally take the form of an Easter egg.

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 the Day of Victory over fascist invaders in 1941-1945. People lay flowers to the war memorials, to the tombs of the people who died in the war. There is a salute and fireworks in the evening.

The 28^th of June is the Constitution Day of Ukraine. On this day the Ukrainian Constitution was adopted.

3.Answer the questions.

1.Why do we like holidays?

2.What holiday do the Ukrainian people celebrate on January, 1?

3.The New Year is one of the most lovely holidays for us, isn’t it?

4.Are Christmas and Easter celebrated in Ukraine? In what way?

5.What is the 9^th of May devoted to?

4.Match the words in A with the equivalents from B.

A. B.

1)custom a)get

2)celebrate b)capture

3)receive c)tradition

4)great d)commemorate

5)church e)big

6)memorial f)lover

7)invade g)delicious

8)sweetheart h)cathedral

9)tasty i)monument

5.Fill in the appropriate word.

Everybody … … … holidays because it’s the time to enjoy ourselves. Many historical … are of great importance for all peoples and countries. As we live in Ukraine we have our own ... . One of the most important dates in our country is the 24-th of August when Ukraine was … a sovereign state.The dear holiday is also the New Year. A lot of people … the New Year tree. Christmas Day and Easter are … … the birthday of Christ and his Reserrection. On this day people go to the … . The 9^th of May is Victory Day, the holiday of victory over fascist … . But except serious religious holidays the Ukrainian people have such days as a day of jokes and tricks - the 1^st of April. People … joking and laughing on this day.

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devoted to; proclaimed; looks forward to; decorate; enjoy; events; invaders; customs; churches

6.Speak how you celebrate your lovely holiday.