Слайд 1Calendar of British and American Holidays
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New Year is not so popular as Christmas but though
many people celebrate it.
On this day, families and friends meet
for a meal. People usually make promises for the New Year, they say, “I will work harder” or “I won’t tell lies this year”, but they forget their promises very quickly.
In London people often go to Trafalgar Square where at midnight when the chimes of Big Ben strike, they join their hands and sing “Auld Lang Syne”. There is a funny tradition when somebody falls into the fountain.
In the USA there are big football games and parades on New Year’s Day.
Слайд 4January, the 3rd Monday Martin Luther King's Day
Martin Luther
King was an important black leader who fought for equal
rights for black people in the USA and in the whole world. His work was very significant.
He was killed in 1968 and since then his birthday has become a public holiday.
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Robert Burns’ birthday is a national holiday in Scotland which
is celebrated by reciting the great poet’s poems, listening to
pipe-bags music, eating traditional Scottish Haggis. The poet’s admirers mark this day all over the world.
Слайд 8February 2 Groundhog Day
It is believed that
on this day you people watch the groundhog crawl out
of his hole. His behavior can show the approach of spring. According to legend, if the day is overcast, groundhog does not see his shadow and quietly leaves the hole, it means that winter will soon end and spring will come early. If the day is sunny, the groundhog sees his shadow and hides back into the hole, it means there will be six more weeks of winter. In several cities and towns in the United States merry festivals are held on this day.
Слайд 11 Nobody knows much about St. Valentine.
People call him the saint of love. On this day
people write their names on cards with hearts on them and give them to their boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands and wives. Some people don’t put their names at the end of the cards because they want their names to be a secret.
Слайд 12February, the 3rd Monday President's Day
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On this day pupils and students read about George Washington,
Abraham Lincoln and other American presidents. George Washington was the
first President of the USA. He was also a good soldier and a very honest man.
Слайд 14March 17 St.Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick was
an Irish saint, and St. Patrick’s day is very popular
in cities where there are many people from Ireland. The Irish always celebrate this day no matter where they live.
Green is the Irish colour and people often wear green on this day. If you don’t wear green someone may pinch you.
Слайд 17People make jokes on this day and have a lot
of fun. People celebrate it in America in the same
way they celebrate it in the UK. When you have made a joke on your friend you usually say “April fool”.
Nobody is sure when or why the tradition began. Some people believe it began in France in the 16th century. In 1564, the king of France decided to change the first day of the new year from April 1st to January 1st. some people didn’t like it and celebrated the New Year on the 1st of April. They were “April Fools”, and other people made fun of them and played tricks on them.
Слайд 18April 21 The Queen's (real) birthday
Слайд 21The Queen usually spends her actual birthday privately, but the
occasion is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London
at midday: a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21 gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London.
Слайд 23St. George was the patron saint of England. He is
honored for the fact that he killed a dragon that
was terrorizing a few English villages. On this day they raise the flag of England, known as the "Cross of St. George". The British carry red roses, the emblem of England; they cook traditional English dishes such as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, sausage in the dough etc. In addition, on this day they sing English folk songs.
Слайд 25In May in England May Day is celebrated be organizing
the elite rock and folk festivals. Musicians, jugglers, stilt walkers,
minstrels create here the atmosphere of medieval carnival.
Слайд 26May, the 2nd Sunday Mother’s Day
Слайд 28Children usually spend the day with their parents. They give
them cards, flowers and presents.
Слайд 29May, the last Monday Memorial Day
Слайд 31This is a special day for people to remember those
who died in wars. Many people remember their dead relatives
and friends on this day too. Many people pay special visits to graves of their relatives and friends and leave flowers there.
Слайд 32June 14 Flag Day
The American flag is often
called “Stars and Stripes”. It has 13 stripes (one for
each colony) and 50 stars (one for each state).
In 1777 the “Stars and Stripes” became the official flag of the USA.
When it was the flag’s hundredth birthday Americans first celebrated Flag Day in 1877. The American flag is seen in many places on this day.
Слайд 33June, the 3rd Sunday Father's Day
Слайд 34Children usually spend the day with their parents. They give
them cards, flowers and presents.
Слайд 35July 4 Independence Day
On July 4th 1776 the
United States became independent from England. It was the beginning
of a new life. Families and friends celebrate this day. Every town and every city has parades, games and sports with prizes. There are often picnics.
Слайд 37September, the 1st Monday Labor Day
Слайд 38This is a day of rest for the workers. There
are also parades on this day. This day is the
end of the summer and the beginning of the school year.
Слайд 39October, the 2nd Monday Columbus Day
You
can see the American flag everywhere on Columbus Day to
honour the man who was the discoverer of their country.
Слайд 41October 31 Halloween
This is one of
the most favourite holidays. Children dress up, shout “Trick or
treat”, get sweets, fruit, cakes and people have pumpkins with candles in their windows.
Слайд 42 November 5 Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes Day
In 1605, thirteen young
men planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Among
them was Guy Fawkes, Britain's most notorious traitor.
After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, English Catholics who had been persecuted under her rule had hoped that her successor, James I, would be more tolerant of their religion. James I had, after all, a Catholic mother. Unfortunately, James did not turn out to be more tolerant than Elizabeth and a number of young men decided that violent action was the answer.
The thing to do was to blow up the Houses of Parliament. In doing so, they would kill the King, maybe even the Prince of Wales, and the Members of Parliament who were making life difficult for the Catholics.
Слайд 45November, the 4th Thursday Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving is a
special day for families to get together and give thanks
for different things. They usually do it in this way: “I give thanks for being here with my family and for being well”, or “I give thanks for a healthy year, a good job and for meeting my new friends”.
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St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. St. Andrew
was one of the Twelve Apostles and brother of Simon
Peter (Saint Peter). He was a fisherman by trade, who lived in Galilee. Saint Andrew is also the patron saint of Romania and Russia.
The Scottish flag is the cross of St. Andrew. The blue stands for the sky.
St. Andrew 's Day marks the opening of Christmas Markets. Many Midwinter customs and folk superstitions are also connected with St. Andrew 's day. Around midnight on Nov 29th, the day before St Andrew's Day, it was traditional for girls to pray to St. Andrew for a husband. They would make a wish and look for a sign that they had been heard.
Слайд 50December 25 Christmas Day
Christmas
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This is the biggest holiday of the year and many
people enjoy it most of all. People send cards and
decorate their houses. Almost every home has a Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve many people go to churches and sing Christmas carols. The heads of the states give their speeches on TV.
On Christmas Day people prepare a traditional l dinner of turkey with vegetables, salads, cookies, nuts, sweets and fruit. Santa Clause puts his presents for children into stockings.
Слайд 52December 26 Boxing Day
According to the traditions
of Christmas, in the night from 24 to 25 December,
Santa Claus puts gifts under the Christmas tree. In the morning, when everyone wakes up, they begin to open the boxes in which there are holiday gifts. If the family is large and there are many children, the house are filled with empty boxes that children are not always in a hurry to take away, because their attention is focused on the content .That is why this day became known as "the day of boxes".
