Vocabulary

to celebrate – праздновать a sacrifice – жертвоприношение two-faced – двуликий a deity – божество to commemorate – отмечать, служить напоминанием to precede – предшествовать legal – узаконенный, официально признанный to be associated with – ассоциироваться с to occur – происходить inclusive– включительно the Holy Ghost – Святой Дух to declare – объявлять a firework – фейерверк a holly – остролист to blossom – цвести Lent –Великий пост to observe – отмечать, праздновать armed forces – вооруженные силы Thanksgiving – День благодарения

Epiphany – Крещение a manifestation – Богоявление Shrove Tuesday –последний день масленицы Ash Wednesday – день покаяния Palm Sunday – Вербное воскресенье Good Friday – Страстная пятница a martyr – мученик, мученица Easter Sunday – первый день Пасхи the Resurrection of Jesus – Воскресение Иисуса из мертвых Memorial Day – День памяти погибших в войнах Independence Day – День Независимости Hallowe'en– канун Дня всех святых Election Day – День выборов Сarnival– масленица a bonfire – костер the Celts – кельты by miracle – чудом a patron saint – святой покровитель

Task 1. Read the text and define which holidays are religious and which are federal

New Year's Day

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.

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

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

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

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