Праздники Великобритании и США. Методические указания по развитию навыков устной речи и чтения

МИНИСТЕРСТВО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ РОСТОВСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ

Методические указания По развитию навыков устной речи и чтения для студентов 1 курса Отделения романо-германской филологии Факультета филологии и журналистики РГУ По теме: «Праздники Великобритании и США».

Ростов-на-Дону 2000

Печатается по решению кафедры романо-германской филологии Ростовского Государственного Университета Протокол № 10 от 12 июня 2000

Составитель: доц. Колесина К.Ю.

Ответственный редактор: ст. преп. Нехлюдова Л.А.

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Данные методические указания предназначены для студентов 1 курса отделения романо-германской филологии факультета филологии и журналистики РГУ и для самостоятельной работы студентов по теме «Праздники Великобритании и США». Основная цель указаний – развитие навыков устной монологической и диалогической речи и чтения в их взаимосвязи. Использованные материалы решают задачи как общеобразовательного, так и культурологического характера, способствуют развитию познавательных интересов учащихся. Методические указания состоят из двух разделов: «Праздники Великобритании» и «Праздники США». В каждый раздел входят ряд заданий коммуникативной направленности для работы в аудитории, творческие упражнения, задания на аудирование. Тексты в большинстве своем взяты с Web-сайта. Они носят как информативный, так и учебный характер. Разделы могут изучаться в любой последовательности.

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PART I We want to tell you about different holidays, celebrations and festivals in Great Britain and in the USA. We begin with British holidays. Some of them you know but some may be not…

CALENDAR OF FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS 1st JANUARY

New Year’s Day (Hogmanay)

25th

Burn’s Night

26th

Up-Helly-Aa

(last Tuesday in Jan.) FEBRUARY MARCH

14th

Saint Valentine’s Day

1st

Saint David’s Day

7th (Moveable Feast)

Shrove Tuesday – “Pancake Day”

APRIL

MAY JUNE

17th

Saint Patrick’s Day

1st

April Fool’s Day

2nd (4th Sunday in Lent)

Mothering Sunday

20th (Moveable Feast)

Maundy Thursday

21st (Moveable Feast)

Good Friday

21st

The Queen’s birthday

23rd (Moveable Feast)

Easter Sunday

23rd

Saint George’s Day

1st

May Day

(Moveable Feast)

Whitsuntide

10th

The Queen’s Official

(2nd Saturday in June)

birthday and Trooping the Colour

21st

Midsummer’s Day, 4

Summer Solstice JULY

15th

St. Swithun’s Day

AUGUST

12th

“The Glorious 12th”

28th

bank Holiday Monday

(Last Monday in Aug.) SEPTEMBER

Various

Harvest Festivals

OCTOBER

Variuos

Travelling Fairs

31st

Halloween

5th

Bonfire Night

11th

Remembrance Day

30th

St. Andrew’s Day

6th

Advent

24th

Christmas Eve

25th

Christmas Day

26th

Boxing Day

31st

New Year’s Eve

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

By now you may well have noticed that this calendar of traditional British holidays and celebrations is centred firmly around Christian holidays and traditions. Although it may not be "politically correct" to say so, this is still, nominally at least, a Christian country and the Church of England is still the Established Church, with the Queen as its head. Whilst they are now very much a multicultural society, and undoubtedly the richer for being so, their traditions and roots are still firmly fixed in their Christian heritage and for that reason they have stuck to TRADITIONAL British customs and holidays. 1. Read the text and answer the following: a) What is St. Patrick? b) When was he sold into slavery? 5

c) How long did he spend in captivity? d) What vision did he have? e) Why did he travel to Gaul? f) How was Ireland’s national symbol born? SAINT PATRICK’S DAY There is considerable variation in dates given by various sources, so I have used the most common ones; one source gives dates that would mean St. Patrick lived to be 106!! Saint Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland and also of Nigeria. He was born probably in Scotland (traditionally at Kilpatrick near Dumbarton) in 387 AD as Maewyn Succat and was of Romano-British origin, the son of a deacon and grandson of a priest (celibacy was not a requirement in those days) so he had a religious upbringing although, in later years, he admitted to paying little heed to religion at the time. When he was about sixteen years old he was captured by pirates and sold into slavery in then-pagan Ireland and spent six years in captivity, working as a shepherd for a Miliucc, a chieftain who was also a Druid priest. He learnt the Celtic language and customs, which was to prove very useful in later years. He had a vision, or a dream, in which an angel told him he must escape and return home, so he ran away and managed to persuade a ship sailing east to take him, and he eventually made his way home. He was unsettled, however, and decided that he must study and so travelled to Gaul, where he entered a monastery and was ordained a priest: it was then that he took the name Patricius. During that time he had many visions, always calling him to return to Ireland. His dream was finally realised when Pope Celestine I sent him to Ireland as a missionary, and in the summer of 430 AD Patrick and his companions landed on the Irish shore. They met with some opposition from the Druids, but they continued to preach around the country and many miracles were attributed to Patrick. On Easter Sunday, March 26th 433, Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the con6

cept of the Holy Trinity - three leaves, yet still one leaf - and Ireland's national symbol was born. Patrick and his companions travelled around Ireland, preaching and converting as they went. It did not always go according to plan - St. Patrick himself recorded in his Confessio that they were seized as captives twelve times, and on one occasion sentenced to death - but each time they were released and went on their way. He died on March 17th 464 at age of 77 - a remarkable age for those times – and was buried just outside Saul, where the cathedral of Down now stands. TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS Legend has it that Saint Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland and they all went into the sea and drowned. The snake was a revered pagan symbol, and perhaps this is a metaphor for the fact that he drove paganism out of Ireland. Whatever the truth of the matter, there are to this day no venemous snakes in Ireland. The wearing of the Green : green is the colour associated with St. Patrick; leprechauns wear green....shamrocks are green..... IRELAND is green, on account of all that rain..... Leprechauns are Irish fairies. They look like small, old men (about 2 feet tall), often dressed like a shoemaker,with a cocked hat and a leather apron. According to legend, leprechauns are unpleasant little characters, aloof and unfriendly, who live alone and pass the time making shoes. They also possess a hidden pot of gold, and treasure hunters can often track down a leprechaun by the sound of his shoemaker's hammer. If caught, he can be forced (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal the whereabouts of his treasure, but the captor must keep their eyes on him every second. If the captor's eyes leave the leprechaun (and he often tricks them into looking away), he vanishes and all hopes of finding the treasure are lost forever. Banshees are female spirits who prophesy a death : if you hear the wailing of the Banshee (they are never seen) beware - they could well be looking for YOU!

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(But of course we would then have an excuse for a good old, Irish-style wake a wonderful send off and celebration of the life of the dear departed!) The Blarney Stone is a stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle tower in the Irish village of Blarney. Kissing the stone is supposed to bring the kisser the gift of "the Blarney" - the ability to talk persuasively and eloquently.Blarney castle was built in 1446 by Cormac Laidhiv McCarthy (Lord of Muskerry) and its walls are 18 feet thick (necessary to thwart attacks by Cromwellians and William III's troops). Thousands of ourists a year still visit the castle. The origins of the Blarney Stone's magical properties aren't clear, but one legend says that an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who had saved her from drowning. Kissing the stone while under the spell gave the king the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly. The Blarney Stone is very difficult to reach: it lies between the main castle wall and the parapet. If you want to kiss the Blarney Stone - and thousands of tourists do - you have to lie on your back and bend backwards (and downwards), holding onto iron bars for support. Whether all the germs have anything to do with it is not known, but it's said of anyone who can "talk the hind leg off a donkey" that they must have kissed the Blarney Stone! Notes: Nigeria

[nai’Ʒi ri ]

Нигерия

Deacon

[‘di:k n]

дьякон

To ordain

[ :’dein]

посвящать в духовный сан

To preach

[pri:t∫]

проповедовать

Shamrock

[∫æmr k]

трилистник

Captive

[‘kæptiv]

пленник, заключенный

Whereabouts

[‘w r ‘bauts]

местонахождение

To prophesy

[‘pr fisai]

пророчить, предсказывать

To wail

[weil]

вопить причитать

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To thwart

[θw :t]

препятствовать, расстраивать

Hind leg

задняя нога

1.1 Look through the text again to find the answers for the following: - What can you say about the legend connected with St. Patrick? - What do you know about leprechauns? - What do Banshees prophesy? - What are the magical properties of the Blarney Stone? - Is it easy to reach the Blarney Stone? Why? 1.2 Tell your groupmates about Saint Patrick’s Day. Use the phrases: We’ve read the text under the title “…” It is devoted to… It should be pointed out that… In conclusion the text reads that… I think it’s a good / interesting tradition. 2. Read the text and say how you celebrate this day: We have All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day – so why not All Fools’ Day? A day to remember those afflicted in the mind? In reality April Fools' Day is a purely secular holiday celebrated on April 1st and is a grand occasion for all practical

jokers!

THE

ORIGINS

OF

THE

FESTIVAL

The origins of April Fools' Day go back to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, when the New Year was moved (again) and fixed as January 1st. The "old New Year" had been on March 25th and was celebrated with a week of partying, ending on April 1st. Many people did not come round to the new dates for some time and these people, whether they forgot or simply refused to come round to the "new-fangled" ideas, were ridiculed by being sent silly gifts and invitations

to

nonexistent

parties

and

called

"April

Fools."

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TRADITIONS

AND

CUSTOMS

April Fools' Day is the delight of small boys (and small girls) throughout the British Isles. It is an excuse to play practical jokes with impunity, the best ones being the old ones, as they say. The standard "Sir, your shoelace is undone" MUST be responded to by looking, even though you KNOW what is going to come next : "April Fool!!" and the joker runs away satisfied. Schoolteachers who submit to this year in, year out, have been known to get their own back : I well remember one boy being sent to "ask Mr. Pagett if you can have a long stand." Mr. Pagett was only too willing to oblige. (Other favourites are lefthanded screwdrivers or skyhooks.) In some parts of the country the jokes are only allowed until 12 noon; after that, the joker is the "April Fool." The afternoon becomes "Leggin' - down - day" and the horseplay gets a little rougher, the object being to trip up any unsuspecting victim who gets too close. Even the more sober institutions of the British Establishment are not immune from April Foolery. The eminently sensible BBC once broadcast a wonderful documentary on the cultivation and harvesting of spaghetti, with the result that there

are

now

people

who

think

that

spaghetti

grows

on

trees!

Similarly - and a lot more recently, and also on April 1st - our local newspaper published an excellent article on the development of local river craft and described a small vessel, not unlike a coracle with radiating ribs, which had been discovered not far from the (genuine) Viking ship at North Ferriby. It went on in great detail about these boats, or "Ellas" - all the more plausible because there are local placenames such as Kirkella, West Ella, East Ella and even an Ella Street. It was not until they continued their descriptions of these "Humber Ellas" that the penny finally dropped........ Notes: With impunity [impjuniti] безнаказанно Immune from [i’mju:n] невосприимчмвый к 10

2.1 Answer the following questions: a) What is the origin of April Fool’s Day? b) Do you make any tricks or hoax your friends on April Fool’s Day? c) Do you like to make tricks on people on the 1st of April? 2.2 Think over some practical jokes for the coming April Fool’s Day. Discuss them with your friend. 2.3 Translate the following into English: 1)Традиция этого праздника пришла из средних веков, когда на один день слуги становились господами. 2)Теперь первое апреля – это день, когда можно подшутить над своими друзьями или родителями. 3)Наиболее частая шутка – это приколотая на спины записка со словами «Я – Глупец». 3. Read the text and tell your friends about Easter traditions and customs. EASTER Prior to 325 AD, churches in different regions celebrated Easter on different dates, not always on Sundays. The Council of Nicea in AD 325 made the celebration more uniform by declaring that Easter would be celebrated on Sundays.The Gregorian Calendar was introduced in 1582 and with it the system of deciding the date of Easter, and the same system has been used continuously since 1583. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring equinox - the Paschal Full Moon. This may occur any time from March 21 to April 18, inclusive. So, the date of Easter is anywhere from March 22 to April 25, again inclusive. The dates of all the feasts associated with Easter are also moveable: Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of Lent, is 46 days 11

before . Easter and Ascension day is 40 days after Good Friday with Pentecost (Whit Sunday) ten days after that (that is, seven weeks after Easter Sunday). EASTER TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS Easter Eggs From the earliest times the egg has been a symbol of rebirth. Decorated eggs were exchanged long before Easter became a Christian festival, as a symbol of fertility. Christians adopted this tradition and the Easter egg became a religious symbol, representing the tomb from which Jesus broke forth and the new life within. In medieval times eggs were traditionally given at Easter to all servants and to the children (eggs were one of the foods forbidden during Lent.) Nowadays, Easter eggs come in two forms: "real" eggs and chocolate eggs. Real eggs are boiled and decorated in a variety of ways (most schools hold decorated-egg competitions and the imagination of their creators is amazing!) The traditional way is to colour the water the egg is boiled in using vegetable dyes: beetroot makes a good crimson, red cabbage will turn the eggs blue (honestly!) and onion skins produce a particularly pleasing yellow - if the egg is roughly wrappped in the outer skin of an onion and the skin tied on with string, and the egg is then boiled, when the string and onion skin are removed the egg should be beautifully marbled in shades of yellow and orange (of course, you need to use a whiteshelled egg for these to work really well, and most British eggs are brown!) If the eggs are to be rolled - and egg-rolling festivities take place just about anywhere with a convenient grassy slope - the eggs need to be VERY hard-boiled. Chocolate Easter eggs come into the shops shortly after Christmas, much to the annoyance of many shoppers, but are now also a traditional part of the British Easter.

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The Easter Bunny The Easter Bunny is not a modern invention - the symbol originated with the pagan festival of Eostre. The goddess Eostre was worshipped by the AngloSaxons through her earthly symbol, the hare (rabbits are not indigenous to the British Isles and were not introduced into Britain until the Normans brought them over from Europe to be farmed as a source of meat during the winter months.) It is still traditonal to wear new clothes at Easter, and this custom goes back to the very earliest days of the church. Converts who were baptized at the Easter Vigil (between Good friday and Easter Sunday) were dressed in a white robe. They would wear that robe throughout the whole of Easter week as a symbol of their new life. Those who had already been baptized did not wear white robes, but would wear new clothes to indicate their share in the new life of Christ. During the Middle Ages, people in their new Easter clothes would take a long walk after attending church on Easter Sunday, and this tradition gradually evolved into Easter Parades and the wearing of "Easter Bonnets." Easter, like Christmas, is associated with particular food : on Good Friday - the last day of Lent - it is usual to eat fish instead of meat, the Easter Sunday roast is traditionally lamb, and special cakes are made for Easter - Hot-Cross-Buns and Simnel Cake . Notes: Equinox [ ‘i:kwin ks] равноденствие Fertility [ f :’tiliti] плодородие Dye [dai] краситель, краска, цвет Crimson [‘krimzn] темно-красный цвет To baptize [bæp’taiz] крестить

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Hot-Cross-Buns горячая крестовая булочка (сдобная, с корицей, на верхней корке крест из теста или сахарной глазури) Good Friday великая пятница Lent великий пост Simnel Cake симнел (маленький кекс с изюмом и цукатами; покрыт миндальной пастой) 3.1 Prepare a series of questions to check your fellow-students’ understanding of the text. 3.2 find an additional information about the origins of the festival. Tell your groupmates about it. 4. Read the text and tell your friends about: a) Whit Walks; b) A Whitsun Ale. WHITSUNTIDE Whit weekend is usually the first holiday weekend of the year with any hope of decent weather, and a fine Whit Monday (now renamed the Late Spring Bank Holiday) will see families flocking to the coast or countryside. THE ORIGINS OF THE FESTIVAL Pentecost or Whitsun is observed on the seventh Sunday after Easter. The word Pentecost has its roots in the Greek "pentekoste" meaning the fiftieth day after Easter. Whit Sunday commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit in the form of flames to the Apostles, as recorded in the New Testament. The recent adoption of a Late Spring Bank Holiday on the last Monday in May is an attempt to deal with the fact that Whitsuntide is a moveable feast dependent on the date of Easter. Although it is no longer necessarily at the church's Whitsuntide, the general public still refers to this holiday as "Whit Monday."

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CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS Two main traditions persist, particularly in the North of England - Whit Walks and Whitsun Ales. Whit weekend, being a three-day break, is, like May Day, an important date on the Morris-Dancing calendar, and it also marks the start of the Well Dressing season.Whit Walks are now confined almost exclusively to the industrial towns of northern England although they were once much more widespread.The whole community assembles at a central point - usually a school or church - and parades around the town or village. The parades will be led by a brass band with the clergy and local dignitaries, followed by the uniformed organisations - Scouts and Guides, Boy's Brigade etc., and finally local families all in their best new clothes with the girls dressed in white, Whitsun being a corruption of White Sunday. The Whit Walkers will very likely make their way to the local green or playing field and there the "Whitsun Ale" will begin.A Whitsun Ale is, despite its name, not a type of beer! Whitsun Ales are country fairs, with sports and competitions, Morris dancing displays, music and of course socialising, eating and drinking, in fact a major event on the social calendar. After the Civil War (English, not American) the Puritan government banned all types of merrymaking but after the Restoration of Charles II, Whitsun Ales became a major event - helped no doubt by the fact that Charles was born on a Whit Monday and so encouraged the celebration. The Ales are often sponsored by a pub or brewery, giving rise to the misconception that the event is named for the beer! Notes: Whitsuntide [‘witsntaid] неделя между воскресеньем Святого Духа (Whit Sunday) и Троициным днем (Trinity Sunday) Pentecost [‘pentik st] Пятидесятница (то же, что Whit Sunday) Morris dance

моррис (народный театрализованный танец; исполняется во

время майских празднеств – May Games) 15

Brewery [‘bru ri] пивоваренный завод 4.1 Sum up the information you read. Use the phrases: The text we’ve read is entitled “…” It deals with… Summing up it should be pointed out … I think that this text is… 5. Read the text and answer the following: a) When does Trooping the Colour take place? b) What can you say about the origins of the festival? c) What is the role of the Queen in the ceremony? d) Does the Queen take the salute personally? e) What are other ceremonies in which the Queen takes part? TROOPING THE PARADE The ceremonial Trooping the Colour is one of the most colourful and spectacular ceremonial occasions to be seen in London. It takes place on the sovereign's "Official Birthday" early in June each year and is a very popular tourist attraction, open to the public at no cost. THE ORIGINS OF THE FESTIVAL Although the Queen was born on 21 April, it has been the custom to celebrate the Sovereign's birthday publicly on a day in the summer for many years. The ceremony of trooping the Colour dates back to the beginning of the 18th century or even earlier, when the colours (flags) of the battalion were carried (or 'trooped') down the ranks so that they could be seen by the soldiers and recog16

nised in future. Since 1748, this parade has also marked the Sovereign's official birthday and, since Edward VII's reign, the Sovereign has taken the salute in person at Trooping the Colour. Traditionally the sovereign has taken the salute mounted (in the Queen's case, riding side-saddle) and wearing the uniform of the Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment whose colour is being "trooped", but in recent years the Queen has bowed to advice and public opinion and now takes the salute from an open horse-drawn carriage. CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS Trooping the Colour is carried out by troops from the Household Division (both Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry) on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, London, watched by members of the Royal family, invited guests and members of the public. During the ceremony, the Queen is greeted by a royal salute and carries out an inspection of the troops. After the massed bands have performed a musical 'troop', the regimental colour is escorted down the ranks; the Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry then march past the Queen, and the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, parade past. The Queen rides back to Buckingham Palace at the head of her Guards before taking the salute at Buckingham Palace. The troops then return to barracks.The event is accompanied by great pageantry and is a very colourful occasion; the streets all along the parade route are lined with crowds, most waving flags, and to get into a good position to see the parade you have to arrive early!The Queen has taken the salute personally in every year of her reign, except in 1955 when a national rail strike cancelled the event. The Queen takes part in many other ceremonies, customs and traditions which go back for centuries, including the State Opening of Parliament and the annual distribution of the Royal Maundy. Notes:

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Trooping the colour [,tru:piŋ ‘k l ] вынос знамени (проводится ежегодно в Лондоне на плац-параде конной гвардии в официальный день рождения монарха (Official Birthday) Household Cavalry

королевская конная гвардия

Regimental [,redƷiment] полковой Pageantry [‘pædƷ ntri] блеск, шик 5.1 Sum up the text. Use the phrases: I’m going to tell you about… It should be pointed out that… Further the text reads … In conclusion it should be said that… I found the text… 6. Read the text and tell your groupmates about this day. POPPY DAY Poppy Day - Remembrance Day - is the day when the dead of two World Wars and other armed conflicts are remembered in the UK. The Armistice at the end of the First World War of 1914 - 1918 was signed on November 11th at precisely 11 am - the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For this reason, Remembrance Day is on the 11th of November each year although church services and many parades are held on the Sunday nearest that date - in 2000 this will be on 12th November. The Poppy was adopted as the symbol of remembrance because it was so widespread on the sites of the battlefields of Europe after the First World War : 18

the seeds of the common Field Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) germinate best in newlycultivated soil, which is why it was such a common weed of cornfields until the widespread use of selective weedkillers relegated it to a wayside flower. The soil disturbances caused by trench-digging and shellfire produced ideal conditions for poppies to grow, and they appeared in vast numbers bringing a delicate beauty to areas which had seen such terrible scenes only a short while before. Field Marshal Earl Haig (1861 -1928), commander of the allied forces on the Western Front, founded the Haig Fund to assist ex-servicemen disabled during WWI. This fund is now administered by the Royal British Legion and supports ex-servicemen and their dependents, and the Poppy Appeal continues to raise funds for this cause by selling small paper or fabric poppies, which are worn in November by the vast majority of the British public to signify their support and as a memorial to the victims of all wars. Recent years have seen the reintroduction of the two minutes' silence on November 11th. Whilst the majority of public parades and Remembrance services are held on the Sunday nearest the 11th, in order to allow the maximum number of people to attend, the actual anniversary of the end of WWI is on the 11th of November and at precisely eleven o'clock most schools, factories, shops, offices, public buildings etc. come to a standstill as the two minutes silence is observed. Although this is purely voluntary and a matter for the individual's conscience, there has been widespread public support. Notes: Poppy Day - «День маков» (перед поминальным воскресеньем Remembrance Sunday) To germinate [‘dƷ :mineit] прорастать, давать почки To relegate [‘religeit] высылать, изгонять Weed – сорняк Shellfire [‘∫el ,fai ] артиллерийский огонь, обстрел 19

Royal British Legion [,r i l’briti∫,li:dƷ n] Королевский Британский легион. 6.1 Comprehensive questions: a) What kind of day is Poppy Day? b) When do the English celebrate Remembrance Day? Why? c) What is the symbol of remembrance? d) Who founded the Haig Fund? Why? e) How do they remember the dead of two world wars? 6.2 Formulate the idea of the text in 3-4 sentences. 6.3 Compare Remembrance Day to Veterans’ Day celebrated in the USA. Do they have much in common? Discuss it with your groupmate. 7. Read the text and say whether you have such a holiday in your country or not? BOXING DAY Boxing Day - December 26th - is a tradition from WAY back, when many working people were "in service" or apprenticed or otherwise worked away from home and had very little time off. If they were household servants, they certainly couldn't have Christmas day off as they were needed to look after the family and guests. Boxing Day was the day they DID always have off and were allowed to go home to visit their families, taking with them "Christmas Boxes" of gifts. Nowadays Boxing Day is usually the day when families travel to meet together if they spent Christmas Day at their own home - my brother and his wife always come over and we - that is, my extended family and my mother - join them for a meal. It is also customary for householders to give small gifts or monetary tips to regular visiting tradespeople (the milkman, dustman, coalman, paper boy etc.) 20

and for employers to give a Christmas bonus to employees, and these gifts are still called "Christmas Boxes." 7.1 Comprehension questions: a) When is it celebrated? b) What kind of holiday was it before? c) How do people celebrate Boxing Day now? d) What is customary for householders and emploers now? 7.2 Express the essence of the’s holiday in 2 –3 sentences.

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PART II

HOLIDAYS IN THE USA

National Celebrations: New Year's Day (January 1) Martin Luther King Day (Third Monday in January) Abraham Lincoln's Birthday (February 12) Presidents' Day (Third Monday in February) George Washington's Birthday (February 22) Arbor Day (In April or close to April 22 or on that day) Mother's Day (Second Sunday in May) Memorial Day(Last Monday in May) Flag Day (June 14) Father's Day (Third Sunday in June) Independence Day (July 4) Labor Day (First Monday in September) Columbus Day (Second Monday in October) Veterans' Day (November 11) Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November) Christmas Day (December 25) Religious Celebrations: Easter (A Sunday between March 22 and April 25) Fun Days: 22

St. Valentine's Day (February 14) April Fool's Day (April 1) Halloween (October 31) Ethnic and Regional Celebrations: Chinese New Year (Sometime between January 21 - February 19) Mardi Gras (February/March) St. Patrick's Day (March 17) Cinco De Mayo(May 5) Native American Pow-Wows (March - August)

1. Read the text about New Year’s Celebrations in the USA:

New Year's Day (January 1)

The beginning of the new year has been welcomed on different dates throughout history. Great Britain and its colonies in America adopted the Gregorian calender in 1752, in which January 1st was restored as New Year's Day. Ways of celebrating differ as well, according to customs and religions of the world. People in Moslem societies, for example, celebrate the new year by wearing new clothes. Southeast Asians release birds and turtles to assure themselves good luck in the twelve months ahead. Jewish people consider the day holy, and hold a religious ceremony at a meal with special foods. Hindus of India leave shrines next to their beds, so they can see beautiful objects at the start of the new year. Japanese prepare rice cakes at a social event the week before the new year.

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Whatever the custom, most of people feel the same sentiment. With a new year, we can expect a new life. We wish each other good luck and promise ourselves to do better in the following year. New Year's Eve (December 31) In the United States, the federal holiday is January first, but Americans begin celebrating on December 31. Sometimes people have masquerade balls, where guests dress up in costumes and cover their faces with masks. According to an old tradition, guests unmask at midnight. At New Year's Eve parties across the United States on December 31, many guests watch television as part of the festivities. Most of the television channels show Times Square in the heart of New York City. At one minute before midnight, a lighted ball drops slowly from the top to the bottom of a pole on one of the buildings. People count down at the same time as the ball drops. When it reaches the bottom, the new year sign is lighted. People hug and kiss, and wish each other "Happy New Year!" New Year's Day On January first, Americans visit friends, relatives and neighbors. There is plenty to eat and drink when you just drop in to wish your loved ones and friends the best for the year ahead. Many families and friends watch television together enjoying the Tournament of Roses parade preceding the Rose Bowl football game in Pasadena California. The parade was started in 1887, when a zoologist who had seen one in France suggested to the Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena, California that they sponsor "an artistic celebration of the ripening of the oranges" at the beginning of the year. At first the parade was a line of decorated horse-drawn private carriages. Athletic events were held in the afternoon, and in the evening, a ball where winners of the events of the day and the most beautiful float were announced. In later years colleges began to com24

pete in football games on New Year's Day, and these gradually replaced other athletic competitions. The parade of floats grew longer from year to year, and flower decorations grew more elaborate. The theme of the Tournament of Roses varies from year to year. Today the parade is usually more than five miles long with thousands of participants in the marching bands and on the floats. City officials ride in the cars pulling the floats. A celebrity is chosen to be the grand marshal, or official master of ceremonies. The queen of the tournament rides on a special float which is always the most elaborate one of the parade, being made from more than 250,000 flowers. Spectators and participants alike enjoy the pageantry associated with the occasion. Preparation for next year's Tournament of Roses begins on January 2. In the warmer regions all around the country there are other games whose names are characteristic of the state. People watch the Orange Bowl game in Florida, the Cotton Bowl in Texas, and the Sugar Bowl in Louisiana. In most cultures, people promise to better themselves in the following year. Americans have inherited the tradition and even write down their New Year's resolutions. Whatever the resolution, most of them are broken or forgotten by February!

Note: a float – низкая платформа на колесах, используемая в процессиях для красочных выставок. 1.1 Ask questions on the text. Concentrate on the following: 1) time, place and conditions of the New Year’s festivities; 2) the events which have become a tradition in America; 25

3) the way Americans celebrate these holidays; 4) the states where the traditional events take place; 5) plans, hopes and resolutions of Americans in the coming year. 1.2 Sum up the text. Use these useful phrases: The text deals with… It should be said that… I think that… 1.3 Compare ways of celebrating New Year in Russia and in the USA. Speak about it. 1.4 Compose a dialogue of your own, using one of the suggested situations: A. Your American friend invites you to come to him to celebrate New Year. Discuss the plan of the party with him. B. Try to convince your friend that the best place to celebrate New Year’s Eve is Times Square. But your friend is against this idea because she doesn’t like crowded celebrations. C. Two famous New Year’s Day festivals are usually televised for national viewing: the Tournament of Roses and the Mummer’s Parade. You can’t make a choice what TV program to watch. Discuss it with the members of your family. Give arguments “for” and “against”. 2. Read the text and answer the following: 1) Who was J. Sterling Morton? 2) What did he propose at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture in January 1872?

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3) When is Earth Day celebrated? 4) What do the people do on Earth Day? 5) Is Earth Day celebrated in Russia? 6) Would you like to take part in the event like this? Arbor Day (Held for one day every April as close to April 22nd or on that day) In the 1840s, the midwestern state of Nebraska was a territory within a wide prairie. When pioneers moved out to settle there, they found few trees to build houses or to burn for fuel. There was no shade from the sun or wind, and crops did not grow well in the dry earth. J. Sterling Morton was one of those pioneers who moved to the treeless Nebraska territory. He and his wife planted trees immediately after moving from their home town of Detroit, Michigan. Morton was a journalist, and later the editor, for Nebraska's first newspaper. In his writings he advocated planting trees to help life on this vast barren plain. He became the secretary of the Nebraska Territory. At a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture in January 1872, Morton proposed that citizens of the new state of Nebraska set aside April 10 as a day to plant trees. He suggested offering prizes as incentives for communities and organisation that planted the most trees properly. Everyone welcomed the idea enthusiastically. Nebraskans planted about one million trees on that first Arbor Day. Today a visitor to Nebraska would never guess that it was once a dusty prairie. In 1882, Nebraska declared its own Arbor Day as a legal holiday and the date was changed to Morton's birthday, April 22. Today almost every state celebrates an Arbor day but because the best tree-planting season changes from 27

region to region, some states observe the day on different dates. Hawaiians, for example, plant Arbor Day trees on the first Friday in November! "Arbor Day which has already transplanted itself to every state in the American Union and has even been adopted in foreign lands... is not like other holidays. Each of those reposes on the past, while Arbor Day proposes for the future." -J. Sterling Morton Earth Day On April 22, 1970, Arbor Day activities were modified to emphasize the critical importance of the environment and to make the American public aware of the destruction of the earth's natural preserves. This day, Earth Day, was observed by twenty million Americans, most of them students. The sponsors of Earth Day hoped to start an environmental movement that would alter industrial practices and human consumption. Twenty years later in 1990, Earth Day was observed once again. On the Mall, in the center of Washington, D.C., people gathered for Earthfest. At this second observance of Earth Day, participants and planners were not only college students but ordinary Americans of all ages and from all walks of life. Musicians performed songs about nature. Celebrities spoke about what Americans can do to recycle. Federal agencies offered expositions showing their efforts in stopping wasteful practices polluting the environment. Conservation groups taught the crowds about rain forests, and how their destruction could mean the destruction of large parts of the world. Although Earth Day is not a yearly federal holiday it has helped Americans realize that they can and should do something to protect the environment.

2.1 Tell your groupmates about Earth Day. Use the phrases: We’ve read the text under the title “…” 28

It is devoted to… It should be pointed out that… I think it’s a good / interesting / kind / useful tradition. 2.2 Say what you are supposed to do to keep our environment clean. Use the following: To use devices to reduce smoke, dust or harmful gases To use special kinds of gasoline for cars Not to put wastes, poisonous materials into the rivers To take resolute measures 3. Read the text and translate it in writing. Mother's Day (Second Sunday in May) On the second Sunday in May, American children of all ages treat their mothers to something special. It is the one day out of the year when children, young and old, try to show in a tangible way how much they appreciate their mothers. England was one of the first countries to set aside a day to recognize mothers. In the eighteenth century when many people worked as household servants for the rich, "Mothering Sunday" was reserved for them to return home to be with their mothers. Though this custom stopped when the Industrial Revolution altered the working and living patterns of the people, one Sunday for Mothers was established as a holiday in the twentieth century. In the United States, Mother's Day did not become an official holiday until 1915. Its establishment was due largely to the perseverance and love of one 29

daughter, Anna Jarvis. Anna's mother had provided strength and support as the family made their home in West Virginia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where her father served as a minister. As a girl, Anna had helped her mother take care of her garden, mostly filled with white carnations, her mother's favorite flower. When Mrs. Jarvis died on May 5, 1905, Anna was determined to honor her. She asked the minister at her church in West Virginia to give a sermon in her mother's memory. On the same Sunday in Philadelphia, their minister honored Mrs. Jarvis and all mothers with a special Mother's Day service. Anna Jarvis began writing to congressmen, asking them to set aside a day to honor mothers. In 1910, the governor of West Virginia proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day and a year later every state celebrated it. On Mother's Day morning some American children follow the tradition of serving their mothers breakfast in bed. Other children will give their mothers gifts which they have made themselves or bought in stores. Adults give their mothers red carnations, the official Mother's Day flower. If their mothers are deceased they may bring white carnations to their grave sites. This is the busiest day of the year for American restaurants. On her special day, family members do not want Mom to cook dinner! 3.1 Comprehension questions: 1) When is Mother’s Day celebrated in the USA? 2) Is it an official holiday in the USA? 3) Who was the first to proclaim the second Sunday in May as Mother’s day? 4) What kind of holiday is it? 5) Why is the second Sunday in May the busiest day of the year for American restaurants? 30

3.2 Sum up the information you read. 4 Read the text and answer the following: 1) When is Father’s Day celebrated? Why? 2) What is the origin of Father’s Day? 3) Who was thew strongest promoter of the holiday? Why? 4) What do the children usually do on this day? 5) Why do fathers prefer greeting cards?

Father's Day (Third Sunday in June) The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has an official day on which fathers are honored by their children. On the third Sunday in June, fathers all across the United States are given presents, treated to dinner or otherwise made to feel special. . The origin of Father's Day is not clear. Some say that it began with a church service in West Virginia in 1908. Others say the first Father's Day ceremony was held in Vancouver, Washington. The president of the Chicago branch of the Lions' Club, Harry Meek, is said to have celebrated the first Father's Day with his organization in 1915; and the day that they chose was the third Sunday in June, the closest date to Meek's own birthday! Regardless of when the first true Father's Day occurred, the strongest promoter of the holiday was Mrs. Bruce John Dodd of Spokane, Washington. Mrs. Dodd felt that she had an outstanding father. He was a veteran of the Civil War. His wife had

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died young, and he had raised six children without their mother. In 1909, Mrs. Dodd approached her own minister and others in Spokane about having a church service dedicated to fathers on June 5, her father's birthday. That date was too soon for her minister to prepare the service, so he spoke a few weeks later on June 19th. From then on, the state of Washington celebrated the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Children made special desserts, or visited their fathers if they lived apart. States and organizations began lobbying Congress to declare an annual Father's Day. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson approved of this idea, but it was not until 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge made it a national event to "establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations." Since then, fathers had been honored and recognized by their families throughout the country on the third Sunday in June. When children can't visit their fathers or take them out to dinner, they send a greeting card. Traditionally, fathers prefer greeting cards that are not too sentimental. Most greeting cards are whimsical so fathers laugh when they open them. Some give heartfelt thanks for being there whenever the child needed Dad. 4.1 Complete these sentences: a) The President of the Chicago branch of the Lions’ club is… b) The closest date to Meek’s own birthday is… c) The children usually… d) Most greeting cards are whimsical so… 4.2 Give the summary of the text. Use the phrases: The text under the title “…” is devoted to… 32

It should be said that… Further it is said that… I found the text… 4.3 Speak about some other country in the world that has also an official day on which fathers are honored by their children . 5.Look through the text and try to get the main facts. Take down some notes so that you can answer the comprehensive questions given below: 1) When is Independence Day celebrated and why on this particular day? 2) Who drew up a list of grievances against the crown? When did it happen? 3) Who was the first to sign a second draft of the list of grievances? 4) When was Independence Day made an official holiday? 5) Where was the Declaration of Independence first read? 6) How do Americans celebrate their “Fourth of July”? Independence Day (July 4) "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof. " -words written on the Liberty Bell By the middle of the 1700s, the 13 colonies that made up part of England's empire in the New World were finding it difficult to be ruled by a king 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. They were tired of the taxes imposed upon them. But independence was a gradual and painful process. The colonists could not forget that they were British citizens and that they owed allegiance to King George III.

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A "tea party" and a Massacre" were two events that hurried destiny. Along with general unrest these events united the colonists. In 1767 a tea company in India, owned by England, was losing money. To save the company, England levied a tax on tea sold in the colonies in 1773. Partly as a joke, Samuel Adams and other Bostonians dressed up as Indians and dumped a cargo of the India Company Tea into the Massachusetts Bay. King George III did not think it was funny, nor did he lift the tax on tea. In the Boston harbor, British soldiers were jeered and stoned by colonists who thought the soldiers had been sent to watch them. The soldiers fired into the crowd and killed a few citizens. The colonists exaggerated the number killed and called it a massacre. Virginia took the first step toward independence by voting to set up a committee to represent the colonies. This First Continental Congress met in September of 1774. They drew up a list of grievances against the crown which became the first draft of a document that would formally separate the colonies from England. George Washington took command of the Continental Army and began fighting the British in Massachusetts. For the next eight years, colonists fought fervently in the Revolutionary War. In the meantime, a war of words was being waged in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress presented & debated a second draft of the list of grievances, and John Hancock, the president of the Second Continental Congress, was the first to sign. The document, called the Declaration of Independence, was treasonous against the crown and the fiftysix men who signed it were in danger of being executed. Independence Day is celebrated on July 4 because that is the day when the Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence*. From July 8, 1776, until the next month, the document was read publicly and people celebrated whenever they heard it. The next year, in Philadelphia, bells rang and ships fired guns, candles and firecrackers were lighted. But the 34

War of Independence dragged on until 1783, and in that year, Independence Day was made an official holiday. 1941 Congress declared 4th of July a federal holiday. *Except for the U.S. Virgin Islands where celebrations are held a week prior to the

climax

on

4th

of

July.

John Adams, a lawyer, the first Vice President and the Second President of the United States, was one of the members of the Second Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence. He wrote to his wife, "I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival... it ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other..." John Adams may have predicted the later Independence Day celebrations or perhaps he started traditions with his words. Every July fourth, Americans have a holiday from work. Communities have day-long picnics with favorite foods like hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans and all the fixings. The afternoon activities would not be complete without lively music, a friendly baseball game, three-legged races and a pie-eating or watermelon-eating contests. Some cities have parades with people dressed as the original founding fathers who march in parades to the music of high school bands. At dusk, people in towns and cities gather to watch the fireworks display. Wherever Americans are around the globe, they will get together for a traditional 4th of July celebration! The Declaration of Independence was first read in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today, at the Freedom Festival at Independence Hall, costumed Americans reenact historical scenes and read the Declaration of Independence for the crowd.

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In Flagstaff, Arizona, American Indians hold a three-day pow-wow around the Fourth of July, with a rodeo and dancing. In Lititz, Pennsylvania, hundreds of candles that were made during the year are lighted in the park at night and floated in the water while a "Queen of Candles" is chosen. The ship U.S.S. John F. Kennedy comes in full sail to Boston Harbor in Massachusetts on the Fourth of July, and the Boston Pops Orchestra plays a musical concert of patriotic songs as more than 150,000 people watch fireworks burst over the water. The Fireworks Family New Castle, Pennsylvania, is home to the Vitale Fireworks Display Company, responsible for more than one thousand fireworks shows every year. In 1922 Constantino Vitale brought his expertise at making fireworks from Italy to the United States. He passed his secrets on to his four sons, and since then the company has been making Americans exclaim "ooohhh" and "aaahhhh" at the lighted colors in the sky on July 4 and other occasions. "It's like putting on a ballet show except that the dancers were above, painting the sky," says Vitale's granddaughter. "Seeing that spectacular display in the sky made me really love the country." The sight and sound of a ringing bell represents freedom to most Americans because of the Liberty Bell that rang in Philadelphia when the new country was born. In 1752 the new bell arrived safely from England, but at the first blow from a hammer to test it, it cracked. Not wanting to delay by returning the bell to England, the officials ordered bell founders in Philadelphia to remedy the fault. Two times it was recast before it was finally ready.

5.1 Agree with the statements or correct them if they are wrong. 36

Use: That’s right

That’s wrong

I absolutely agree

I’m not sure, in fact

Oh, exactly

I’m not at all convinced

1) The Fourth of July is the biggest national holiday of the USA. 2) The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, a document which declared the colonies free and independent states. 3) The Declaration of Independence did not have any decisive influence on the development of the American Revolution. 4) The Congress held its meetings in Philadelphia. 5) The Congress decided not to send the Declaration of Independenceto the king. 5.2 Give the summary of the text. 5.3 Tell your groupmates about the National Independence Day Parade. Use the information below: About the Parade The parade takes place late morning on July 4th, right on Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Street before a street audience of over 400,000 spectators. The National Independence Day Parade consists of invited bands, military and specialty units, floats, and VIP's and is a patriotic, flag waving, red white and blue celebration of America's birthday.

Bands are invited based on recommendations from each State Governor's of-

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fice. These recommendations sometimes come from the State Music Educators office or state tourism board at the governor's request. Representation from all parts of the United States is the goal of the band National Selection Committee. Bands must submit a video tape, photos, and biographical information detailing experience, honors, past adjudication results, festival ratings etc. The deadline for band applications is December 1st of each preceding year. Bands are notified of their acceptance no later than January 31st of the same year. Marching bands are selected on the basis of overall quality and geographical, ethnic and stylistic diversity. The parade is a substantial part of, but by no means the only, excitement of being in the nation's capital on July 4th. A National Folklife Festival on the Mall features different cultures in the Americas and a variety of ethnic groups. That evening, parade participants are all part of the audience of the PBS Concert at the Capitol Building featuring the National Symphony and one of the country's largest fireworks displays.

Evening crowds easily number in excess of 700,000. There is no greater location displaying greater excitement on America's birthday than Washington, D.C. Units in the parade consist of 18-20 marching bands (including fife and drum corps), 15 floats, 20 specialty units (military, giant balloons, equestrian, municipal entries, drill teams), 15 celebrity participants (movie/television and recording artists and local and national dignitaries and officials). 6. Read the text and find the answers to the following: 1) Why is the holiday called Halloween? 2) When is it celebrated? 3) What do the children and some grown-ups do on this day? 38

Halloween. Few holidays tell us as much of the past as Halloween. Its origins take back hundreds of years to the druid festival of Samhain, Lord of the Dead and Prince of Darkness. The Druid New Year began on November 1, marking the beginning of winter and the reign of the Lord of Death. The Christianity replaced the pagan religions, the church set aside November 1st to honor all saints (all-hallows) and called it All Hallows’ Day. The evening before, October 31st, became All Hallows’ Eve – later shortened to Halloween. The inclusion of witches, goblins and fairies into the rituals arose from the pagan belief that on All Hallows’ Eve there was a thronging of spirits of the dead. Halloween customs today, although gay and frolicsome rather than sombre, follow many of these ancient practices. When children and even some of the grown-ups wear ghost costumes, false faces, or witches’s hats, bob for apples, eat corn candy, or carry jack-o-lanterns they are carrying on an accumulation of ancient traditions whose significance has long since disappeared. Halloween has been widely celebrated in America since a large Irish immigration in 1840s. While some youngsters are out playing pranks, others are gathered for a party where they are enjoying a taffy pulling contest, bobbing for apples, popping corn, toasting marshmallows, telling ghost stories or playing games which feature spooks and “haunts”. Words and notes to the text: Halloween

[‘hælo(u)i:n]

druid

[‘dru:id]

One of an order of priests or ministers of religion among the ancient Celts 39

of Gaul, Britain, and Ireland; друид, жрец pagan

[‘peign]

языческий

witch

[wit∫]

ведьма

goblin

[‘g blin]

домовой, гоблин

fairy

[‘fε ri]

фея

Gay and frolicsome

[‘fr liks m]

Более веселый и игри-

rather then sombre

[‘s mb ]

To bob for apples

вый, чем мрачный и хмурый Подпрыгивать,

стара-

ясь

подве-

схватить

шенное яблоко зубами Фонарь из тыквы с

Jack-o-lantern

прорезанными

отвер-

стиями в виде глаз, носа и рта pranks

Проделки

To play pranks

Откалывать

номера,

шутки Конфета из сахара и

taffy

масла marshmallows Spooks [u:]

and

[‘ma:∫’mælouz]

Зефир

haunts [ ]

Духи и привидения

6.1 Read the dialogue inserting – what, what a or how instead of blanks: 40

A - … gay holiday Halloween is today! B – Oh, yes. And … brightly they follow the ancient practices! A – Right you are. …interesting customs one can see during the holiday! B – Oh, look at that boy, … huge jack-o-lantern he is carrying! A – Fantastic! And … funny are those children bobbing the apples! B – And look at that ghost. … ugly false face he is wearing! A – Well, how did you find that ghost story? … splendidly the plot was developing! B – (Oh, it was simply wonderful!) Oh, it was terrific! I enjoyed it immensely but … horrible the end is! 6.2 Summarize the main idea of the text using the words given above. 6.3 Translate the following into English: 1) Раньше в этот день люди не выходили из дома, потому что боялись встретиться с привидением или ведьмой. 2) Сейчас в этот день устраиваются веселые вечеринки. 3) Одни надевают маски, другие наряжаются ведьмами. 4) Радуются и дети и взрослые. Они хорошо проводят время, играя в различные игры. 7. Read and tell your friend about the American Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November) Almost every culture in the world has held celebrations of thanks for a

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plentiful harvest. The American Thanksgiving holiday began as a feast of thanksgiving in the early days of the American colonies almost four hundred years ago. In 1620, a boat filled with more than one hundred people sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to settle in the New World. This religious group had begun to question the beliefs of the Church of England and they wanted to separate from it. The Pilgrims settled in what is now the state of Massachusetts. Their first winter in the New World was difficult. They had arrived too late to grow many crops, and without fresh food, half the colony died from disease. The following spring the Iroquois Indians taught them how to grow corn (maize), a new food for the colonists. They showed them other crops to grow in the unfamiliar soil and how to hunt and fish. In the autumn of 1621, bountiful crops of corn, barley, beans and pumpkins were harvested. The colonists had much to be thankful for, so a feast was planned. They invited the local Indian chief and 90 Indians. The Indians brought deer to roast with the turkeys and other wild game offered by the colonists. The colonists had learned how to cook cranberries and different kinds of corn and squash dishes from the Indians. To this first Thanksgiving, the Indians had even brought popcorn. In following years, many of the original colonists celebrated the autumn harvest with a feast of thanks. After the United States became an independent country, Congress recommended one yearly day of thanksgiving for the whole nation to celebrate. George Washington suggested the date November 26 as Thanksgiving Day. Then in 1863, at the end of a long and bloody civil war, Abraham Lincoln asked all Americans to set aside the last Thursday in November as a day of thanksgiving*.

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Thanksgiving is a time for tradition and sharing. Even if they live far away, family members gather for a reunion at the house of an older relative. All give thanks together for the good things that they have. In this spirit of sharing, civic groups and charitable organizations offer a traditional meal to those in need, particularly the homeless. On most tables throughout the United States, foods eaten at the first thanksgiving have become traditional. *1939 President Franklin D. Roosevelt set it one week earlier. He wanted to help business by lengthening the shopping period before christmas. Congress ruled that after 1941 the 4th Thursday in November would be a federal holiday proclaimed

by

the

President

each

year.

Symbols of Thanksgiving Turkey, corn (or maize), pumpkins and cranberry sauce are symbols which represent the first Thanksgiving. Now all of these symbols are drawn on holiday decorations and greeting cards. The use of corn meant the survival of the colonies. "Indian corn" as a table or door decoration represents the harvest and the fall season. Sweet-sour cranberry sauce, or cranberry jelly, was on the first Thanksgiving table and is still served today. The cranberry is a small, sour berry. It grows in bogs, or muddy areas, in Massachusetts and other New England states. The Indians used the fruit to treat infections. They used the juice to dye their rugs and blankets. They taught the colonists how to cook the berries with sweetener and water to make a sauce. The Indians called it "ibimi" which means "bitter berry." When the colonists saw it, they named it "crane-berry" because the flowers of the berry bent the stalk over, and it resembled the long-necked bird called a crane. The berries are still grown in New England. Very few people know, however, that before the berries are put in bags to be sent to the rest of

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the country, each individual berry must bounce at least four inches high to make sure they are not too ripe!

In 1988, a Thanksgiving ceremony of a different kind took place at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. More than four thousand people gathered on Thanksgiving night. Among them were Native Americans representing tribes from all over the country and descendants of people whose ancestors had migrated to the New World. The ceremony was a public acknowledgment of the Indians' role in the first Thanksgiving 350 years ago. Until recently most schoolchildren believed that the Pilgrims cooked the entire Thanksgiving feast, and offered it to the Indians. In fact, the feast was planned to thank the Indians for teaching them how to cook those foods. Without the Indians, the first settlers would not have survived.

"We celebrate Thanksgiving along with the rest of America, maybe in different ways and for different reasons. Despite everything that's happened to us since we fed the Pilgrims, we still have our language, our culture, our distinct social system. Even in a nuclear age, we still have a tribal people." -Wilma Mankiller, prinicipal chief of the Cherokee nation

Notes: Thanksgiving – День Благодарения Bountiful crops – обильные урожаи Game – дичь Pumpkin – тыква 44

Cranberry sauce – клюквенный соус Ancestors – предки 7.1 Comprehension questions: 1) When is Thanksgiving Day celebrated in the USA? 2) Why is it called so? 3) What was on the first Thanksgiving table? 4) When was the first celebration of the day held in the USA? 5) Is the date of the first feast known? 6) When did Abraham Lincoln proclaim a national holiday? 7) What are the symbols of Thanksgiving? 8) What was the feast planned for? 7.2 Sum up the text. Use the phrases: the text under the title “…:” is devoted to it can be divided into … logical parts the first part deals with… the second part touches upon… the third part informs the reader about it should be said that I found the text useful / important / interesting… 7.3 Find some additional information about a “First Thanksgiving” Dinner for today and tell it. 45

8. Read the text and find the information on: a) the Christmas story; b) the origin of Santa Claus; c0 the way of giving gifts. Christmas Day (December 25)

Christmas is a joyful religious holiday when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The Christmas story comes from the Bible. An angel appeared to shepherds and told them that a Savior had been born to Mary and Joseph in a stable in Bethlehem. Three Wise Men from the East (the Magi) followed a wondrous star which led them to the baby Jesus to whom they paid homage and presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. To people all over the world, Christmas is a season of giving and receiving presents. In some European countries, Father Christmas, or Saint Nicholas, comes into houses in the night and leaves gifts for the children. Saint Nicholas is represented as a kindly man with a red cloak and long white beard. Another character, the Norse God Odin, rode on a magical flying horse across the sky in the winter to reward people with gifts. These different legends passed across the ages to make the presentday Santa Claus. Immigrant settlers brought Father Christmas to the United States. Father Christmas' name was gradually changed to Santa Claus, from the Dutch name for Father Christmas, which is Sinter Claas. Although he has origins in Norse and pre-Christian mythology, Santa Claus took shape in the United States. Americans gave Santa Claus a white beard, dressed him in a red suit and made him a cheery old gentleman with red cheeks and a twinkle in his eye. Most children believe that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole. All year he lists the names of children, both those who have been good and those who have been bad. He decides what presents to give to the good children. He oversees 46

the manufacturing and wrapping of the presents by his helpers. Santa Claus supposedly gets his list of toys from the millions of children who write to him at the North Pole. Children also find Santa Claus at shopping malls across the country. They sit on his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. Of course, their parents are probably nearby listening in as well. On December 24, Christmas Eve, Santa hitches his eight reindeer to a sleigh and loads it with presents. The reindeer pull him and his sleigh through the sky to deliver presents to children all around the world, that is, if they had been good all year. Several American towns maintain the spirit of Santa Claus. The New England state of Connecticut has a Christmas village where "Santa" and his elves give out gifts. In New York, a small town called the North Pole was designed for Santa Claus. There is a post office, a church and a blacksmith shop, to repair the shoes of the reindeer. Santa Claus exists only in our imaginations. But he, Saint Nicholas, and Father Christmas are spirits of giving. Christmas has been associated with gift giving since the Wise Men brought gifts to welcome the newborn Jesus Christ. In anticipation of Santa's visit, American children listen to their parents read "The Night Before Christmas" before they go to bed on Christmas Eve. Clement Moore wrote the poem in 1823.

Notes: Bethlehem [‘beθli m]

г. Вифлеем 47

оказывать внимание

to pay homage [‘h midƷ]

ладан

frankincense [‘frænkin,sens]

мирра (благовоние)

myrrh [m :]

привязывать

to hitch

северный олень

reindeer [;reindi ]

сани

sleigh [slei]

эльфы

elves [elvz]

8.1 Prepare a series of questions to check your fellow-students understanding of the text. 8.2 Read an additional information about other important customs of Christmas and tell your friends about them. Christmas Cards Another important custom of Christmas is to send and receive Christmas cards, which are meant to help express the sentiment of the season. Some are religious in nature; others are more secular. Americans begin sending Christmas cards early in December to friends, acquaintances, and co-workers. The post office advises customers to mail early in the season and avoid the Christmas rush. Some people heed the advice; others wait until the last minute and then are upset when their loved ones have not received the greeting card or the present which they sent. It seems that nearly every family has its own unique Christmas observances. Many people are especially proud of Christmas traditions brought to the United States from their countries of origin. The wonderful diversity of foods, music

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and songs, prayers and stories all make Christmas the holiday of holidays in the United States. One custom in Texas and other parts of the American Southwest warmly welcomes Christmas visitors. People cut designs out of the sides of paper bags. Then they put enough sand in the bottom of the bag to hold a candle. They line their walkways with the bags, and light the candles after dark. Guests can easily find their friend's walkway and follow the candles up to the door. In San Antonio, these "luminaries" are placed all along the River Walk, a paved walkway alongside the San Antonio River, and an old custom called "Las Posadas" is acted out. "Las Posadas" represents the journey that Mary and Joseph took from Nazareth to Jerusalem on a winter night 2000 years ago. Mary was about to give birth to Jesus on their way to be counted in the census. The inns were full and the only place they could find to rest was a barn. Jesus was born there and was placed in a manger, or wooden bin for feeding animals. Two young people are chosen to play the roles of Mary and Joseph. They follow the luminaries up to a house and knock on the door. Joseph asks the owner if they can stay there for the night. The owner refuses to let them in, because the house is full. They knock at several more houses until finally someone lets them come in to stay the night. The house where the couple is invited was chosen before the celebration, and has a doll in a manger, representing Jesus. When the couple arrives at the house, they and the people who have followed sing Christmas carols and eat the food provided by the "innkeeper." Notes: Secular [‘skjul ]

Светский, мирской

To heed the advice

Прислушаться к совету 49

San Antonio [sæn n’t uni u]

Сан-Антонио (штат Техас,США)

Luminary [‘lu:min ri]

Светило

Nazareth [‘næz r θ]

г. Назарет

Jerusalem [dƷ ‘ru:s l m]

г. Иерусалим Перепись

Census [‘sens s]

Ясли

Manger [‘meindƷ ]

Веселая песня, особенно рождестCarol [‘kær l]

венский гимн

8.3 Sum up the text. 8.4 Translate the text (in writing). Use the dictionary. Home for the Holidays Going home for Christmas is a most cherished tradition of the holiday season. No matter where you may be the rest of the year, being at "home" with your family and friends for Christmas is "a must." The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are the busiest times of the year at airports, train stations and bus depots. It seems that all America is on the move and Americans are on their way to spend the holidays with their loved ones. This means that the house will be full of cousins, aunts and uncles that might not see each other during the year. Everyone joins in to help in the preparation of the festivities. Some family members go to choose a Christmas tree to buy and bring home. Others decorate the house or wrap presents. And of course, each household needs to make lots of food! On Christmas Eve, there are evening church services. Attention is focused on the nativity scene, while all join in singing carols. On Christmas Day, there are 50

other religious ceremonies at churches which families attend before they make their rounds to visit friends and relatives. The Christmas table looks much like a Thanksgiving feast of turkey or ham, potatoes and pie. No Christmas is complete without lots of desserts, and nothing symbolizes Christmas more than baked breads and cookies hot from the oven. Many American traditional desserts, like other Christmas customs, were started long ago in other parts of the world. Guests bring English fruit cake or plum pudding as presents to their hosts. "Crostoli," a fried bread spiced with orange peel, is made in Italian-American communities. As an ending for the Christmas banquet, Americans of German background eat "Pfeffernuesse," a bread full of sweet spices. Doughnuts are a holiday offering in many Ukrainian-American homes. Norwegian "Berlinerkranser" is a wreath-shaped cookie, dozens are made, but few are left by Christmas morning! Candy doesn't remain for long, either, during the holiday weeks. Hard candies such as peppermint candy canes and curly green and red ribbon candy are traditional gifts and goodies. At Christmas Eve gatherings adults drink eggnog, a drink made of cream, milk, sugar, beaten eggs and brandy or rum. Plenty of eggnog or hot cocoa is on hand in colder climates for carolers, or people who go from house to house to sing Christmas carols to their neighbors. Long ago, each child hung a stocking, or sock, over the fireplace. Santa entered down the chimney and left candy and presents inside the socks for the children. Today the tradition is carried on, but the socks are now large red sockshaped fabric bags still called stockings. Each child can't wait to open his or her eyes to see what Santa has left in the stocking. Giving gifts is a Christmas tradition. However, in recent years, more and more people have complained that Christmas is too commercialized especially in large cities. Store owners begin advertising and decorating very early in hopes of selling more goods. Children demand more and more from Santa Claus 51

because manufacturers and retailers saturate television with advertising. Some people believe that the origin of Christmas has been lost. Commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ is the very reason for Christmas and should be central to the celebration. Every year human interest newspaper articles remind readers of the origin of Christmas. Shelters for the homeless and hungry appeal through the newspaper to send money or gifts to those who are less fortunate. Members of organization such as the Salvation Army dress up as Santa Claus and stand on the sidewalks outside stores to collect money for their own soup kitchens. City police forces supervise a "Toys for Tots" donation, in which people contribute new or used toys for children in hospitals and orphanages. Employees give a small part of their paychecks as a donation to a favorite charity. Such groups and organizations try to emphasize the true message of Christmas— to share what you have with others. 8.5 Speak about the preparation of the festivities in your family. 8.6 Compare the way of celebrating Christmas Day in the USA and in Russia. Discuss it in pairs. 8.7 Imagine that you are a store owner. Advertise your goods. Try to convince the customers that the best choice of gifts is in your shop.

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