Holidays (the USA, Great Britain)

It would be quite obvious to say that there are some things which reflect the history and represent the culture and the national identity of some country. To the number of such things belong all the customs, traditions and holidays of a country. A holiday is a day set apart for religious observance or for the commemoration of some event or a prominent person, or for some public occasion. They are divided into the national or bank holidays, when all public institutions and places of business are closed. National holidays are set aside by official government proclamation to celebrate different occasions. Besides, there’re other holidays.

Now I’m on the point of telling you about the holidays and the celebration traditions of them in the USA and Great Britain. There are some nation-wide holidays, and holidays celebrated in each part of the country separately. First of all let’s name the common holidays for the USA and Great Britain. They are Christmas, New Year, St. Valentine’s Day, Halloween.

Let’s stop on some of the US holidays. In the USA Constitution there is no provision for national holidays. Each state has the right to decide which holiday to celebrate. Many states have own holidays. There are a lot of holidays in the USA. Many of them are associated with the history of the nation. The main holidays are Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Easter, and Memorial Day.

Christmas is the most important national religious holiday for Christians. Gift-giving is very common at Christmas. American children look forward to Christmas morning, when they find gifts brought by Santa Claus. Christmas is held on December, 25, to celebrate the birth of Christ. It’s perhaps the most popular holiday in the western countries. The Christmas tree, an evergreen trimmed with lights and other decorations, is derived from the so-called paradise tree, symbolizing Eden.

New Year’s Day is the first day of the year, January, 1 in the Gregorian calendar. In the Middle Ages most European countries used the Julian calendar and observed New Year’s Day on March 25, called Annunciation Day and celebrated as the birth of the Son of God. With the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, Roman Catholic countries began to celebrate New Year’s Day on January, 1. The New Year’s Eve is a time for merriment. Most Americans spend this night with friends, at home or in restaurants. The custom of visiting friends, relatives and neighbours on New Year’s Day is one of the Old World traditions. A favourite place to see the old year out is New York City’s Time Square.

Saint Valentine’s Day, a holiday honouring lovers, and normal working day, is celebrated on February, 14. There is a custom of sending greeting cards or gifts to express affection. The cards, known as valentines, are often designed with hearts to symbolize love. The holiday probably derives from the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalis (February 15). The festival gradually became associated with the feast day (February 14) of two Roman martyrs, both named St. Valentine, who lived in the 3rd century. St. Valentine has traditionally been regarded as the patron saint of lovers.

At Easter there is a tradition for people to buy new clothes. After church services many people take walks along the streets of their towns, wearing their new Easter hats and suits. This is usually called the «Easter Parade».

Memorial Day comes on May, 30. It is a legal national holiday, observed annually on the last Monday in May in most of the United States. It is dedicated to the memory of those who died for America in different wars. The national flags are put on the graves of soldiers on this day. This holiday, originally called Decoration Day, is traditionally marked by parades, memorial speeches and ceremonies, and the decoration of graves with flowers and flags. Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868, on the order of General John Alexander Logan for the purpose of decorating the graves of the American Civil War dead.

Independence Day is an annual national holiday commemorating the formal adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. Although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the Fourth of July holiday has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence and is celebrated in all states and territories of the U.S. It is the biggest national holiday which is traditionally celebrated with parades and patriotic speeches, and organized firing of guns and cannons and displays of fireworks. Family picnics and outings are typical too.

Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday in the U.S., was first celebrated in early colonial times in New England. It comes on the fourth Thursday of November. When the first settlers landed in America, their first year was very hard and 50 of 100 people died. But the Indians taught people how to plant corn and wild vegetables and in autumn they got a large harvest. Thanksgiving Day was their holiday, the day of giving thanks to God. After the first harvest was completed by the Plymouth colonists in 1621, Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a day of thanksgiving, and since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, designating the fourth Thursday of November as a holiday. It is a family holiday and Americans try to gather all family at home on this day.

Other important holiday is Labour Day which is observed on the 1st Monday of September to honour the working people.

Every nation and country has its own customs and traditions. If you want to know more about the history of life of different countries you must study their traditions. In Britain traditions play a more important part in the life of the people than in other countries. Englishmen are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them.

Let’s touch upon some of British traditions. Holidays are especially rich in old traditions and are different in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England.

One of the most peculiar features of life in England is the preserving of archaic traditions. When one sees the warders at the Tower of London with their funny flat hats, their trousers bound at the knee, and the royal monogram on their breast, one feels carried back to the age of Queen Elisabeth I. And you should chance to see the Lord Mayor of London riding through the streets with his black robe and gold chain, his medieval carriage, you have a picture of living history. The ceremony of the Changing of the Guard before the Buckingham Palaceis of great interest. The Guardsmen in their red coats and bearskin caps march behind the Drum Major and the Band. A number of other ceremonies also take place, such as the Kings or Queen’s receptions and the State Opening of Parliament. Many traditions are connected with London. Every night the traditional ceremony of the keys takes place at the famous London Tower. At 9.53 p.m. the Chief Warder, carrying the Bloody Tower, where the present guard is waiting for them «Halt! Who goes there?» — the guards ask. Keys, marches from one Tower to another, locking the gates. The escort follows him. Then they march to the Chief Warder answers: «Queen Elisabeth`s keys». «Advance, Queen Elisabeth`s keys. All`s well.» — they are answered. At 10 sharp the Chief Warder proceeds to the Queen`s house to return the keys from the Tower.

There is another custom, connected with the Guy Fawkes’ Day, namely with the 5-th of November. «Remember, remember the 5th of November» are the words of an old English song. Because in 1605, a man called Guy Fawkes had planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament and to kill king James 1st on that day (the king was to open Parliament). But Guy Fawkes was caught and hanged. And still the British remember Guy Fawkes` Night or Bonfire Night. From early October you can see children with figures (called `guys`) made of sacks and straw and dressed in old clothes. The children say: «Penny for the Guy»- and with the money they collect in this way they buy fireworks. On November 5th the children put their `Guy` on the bonfire, born it, and light their fireworks.

Halloween is celebrated for hundreds of years. The day was originally called All Halloween`s Eve, because it fell on October 31, the eve of all Saint`s Day. The name was later shortened to Halloween. On this day children dress in funny ghostly costumes and knock at the neighbor`s doors. After shouting «Trick or treat» they get gifts of candy or money. But more than 2000 years ago it wasn`t a merry holiday. It was the time when the Lord of Dead gathered the souls of dead and presented them to Druid Heaven on October 31. So people thought that all the evil forces appeared in the darkness on that day. To frighten them people made fires. Englishmen take turnips, potatoes, pumpkins, cut holes in them and place candles inside.

Christmas Day, December, 25, is the most popular family holiday. Traditionally all relatives and friends give each other presents. So, before Christmas all the shops are crowded, everybody is choosing a present. People decorate their houses in the traditional way. Christmas trees are set up in houses, in the streets and churches. They are always decorated with fairy lights, angels and small toys. In addition, little packets with nuts, candies and special biscuits are hung on the tree. Presents are put around the tree and artificial «frost» is scattered over the branches. Besides the Christmas tree, holly and mistletoe are used to decorate the house. On the eve of Christmas children hang their stockings, so that Santa Claus could put presents into them: oranges, sweets, nuts and if the child didn’t behave properly Santa Claus can put there a piece of coal as punishment. Santa Claus got his name from a man known as St. Nicolas, who lived in the fourth century. He gave his wealth to the poor and often to children. Carol singing is an essential part of Christmas. Usually children come around in the evening to the front doors and start singing carols and people who live in these houses give children candies, nuts, pies and so on, to thank them for carol singing. A typical Christmas lunch includes turkey with cranberry sauce and pudding. Every young woman in each household helps to stir the Christmas pudding, if she wishes to be married that year. Usually a coin or two are hidden inside the pudding and part of the fun is to see who finds it.

Christmas is in Scotland is not kept at all, except by clerks in banks; all the shops, factories are working. But six days later, on New Year ’s Eve they are closed. People invite their friends to their houses and «sit the Old Year out and the New Year in». When the clock begins to strike twelve, the head of the family goes to the entrance door, opens it wide and holds it until the last stroke. Then he shuts the door. He has let the Old Year out and the New Year in. At the end of the year there are the famous New Year celebrations. In London many people go to Trafalgar Square on New Year`s Eve. There is singing and dancing and at 12 o`clock. People sing the famous song «Auld Lang Syne».

St. Valentine`s Day is celebrated on the 14-th of February. Valentine`s Day is sweethearts ` day when people in love express their affections for each other. The message is — «Will you be my Valentine?» Valentines used to be for young lovers, but nowadays grandparents, cousins and friends of any age express their affection through a small gift or a card. In the 7-th century it got the name St. Valentine`s Day. St. Valentine`s had had a long and romantic history. The Romans carried it to England as a pagan festival, combined with the Christian religion, it formed a good tradition.

May, 1st isn`t a public holiday in Britain, but the 1st Monday after it is. There are many May Day Celebrations, especially in the country. People erect a maypole then, a tall pole with ribbons hanging from the top. Young children dance round it, holding the ribbons. Teenage girls sometimes enter for the May Queen competition.

So, these are the most exiting holidays in England and in the USA, I think. As we can see they make the life of people richer and happier, make them feel proud of their country, its history and culture.

Vocabulary

It would be quite obvious to say that… - Будет очевидным сказать, что…/ Очевидно, что…

to reflect - отражать

to represent - представлять

national identity – национальное самосознание

To the number of such things belong(s)… - К числу таких принадлежит …

custom/tradition/holiday – обычай/традиция/праздник

commemoration – празднование годовщины

a prominent person – выдающийся человек

a public occasion – общественное событие

the national/bank holidays – национальные праздники

to celebrate - праздновать

Besides, … - Кроме того, …

Now I’m on the point of telling you about… - Теперь я собираюсь рассказать о…

Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day – День Независимости/Благодарения/Рождество/Новый год

gift-giving – дарить подарки

to look forward to smth – с нетерпением ждать чего-л.

trimmed - украшенный

Annunciation Day - Благовещение

Time Square – Таймс Сквер

Saint Valentine’s Day – День Св. Валентина

affection – любовь, привязанность

although - хотя

speech - речь

gun - ружье

cannon - пушка

outing – вылазка на природу

settler - поселенец

to plant corn and wild vegetables – выращивать кукурузу и дикие овощи

a large harvest – хороший урожай

to proclaim - заявлять

to appoint - назначать

Labour Day – День Труда

to play a more important part – играть более важную роль

to keep smth carefully – заботиться о чем-л./бережно относится к чему-л.

Let’s touch upon some of British traditions. – Поговорим о/остановимся на британских традициях.

the most peculiar features – самые особенные черты

the warders at the Tower of London – (устар.) стражник лондонского Тауэра

to carry back to the age of Queen Elisabeth I – датироваться эпохой королевы Елизаветы первой

the Lord Mayor of London – лорд-мэр

a medieval carriage – средневековая повозка

the ceremony of the Changing of the Guard – церемония смены караула

… the Buckingham Palace is of great interest… – …Букингемский дворец представляется интересным…

the Drum Major and the Band – начальник военного оркестра и оркестр

the Kings or Queen’s receptions and the State Opening of Parliament – королеские приемы и гос.церемония открытия парламента

the traditional ceremony of the keys – традиционная церемония передачи ключей

the Chief Warder – глава стражи

the Bloody Tower – Кровавая башня

«Halt! Who goes there?» - Стой! Кто идет?

locking the gates – закрывать ворота

«Queen Elisabeth`s keys» - Ключи королевы Елизаветы.

«Advance, Queen Elisabeth`s keys. All`s well.» - Проходите, ключи королевы Елизаветы. Все в порядке.

to blow up - взорвать

Bonfire Night – ночь фейерверков

a turnip, potato, pumpkin – турнепс, картофель, тыква

a candle - свеча

a Christmas tree - елка

a church - церковь

fairy lights – елочная гирлянда

nuts, candies and special biscuits – орехи, конфеты и специальное печенье

stockings - чулки

punishment - наказание

Carol singing – Рождественские гимны

a turkey with cranberry sauce and pudding – индейка с клюквенным соусом и пудинг

to strike – бить, ударять (о часах)

Trafalgar Square – Трафальгарская площадь

«Auld Lang Syne» - «Доброе старое время» (песня, которой по традиции заканчивается встреча друзей, собрание, и т.п.)

a sweetheart – возлюбленный(ая)

to express - выражать

through - посредством

a ribbon- ленточка

exiting – восхитительный/изумительный