Презентация, доклад по английскому языку по теме British Holidays

Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England.

Task1: Read the text below, convey its gist in the form of a thesis and find out the difference between the British, Scottish and American holidays.

festival of the year; it combines the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ with the traditional festivities of winter.

There are a lot of traditions connected with Christmas but perhaps the most important one is the giving of presents.

the end of their bed on Christmas Eve, 24th December, hoping that Father Christmas will

come down the chimney during the night and bring them small presents, fruit and nuts.

to a big turkey dinner followed by Christmas pudding.

26th December is also a public holiday, Boxing Day, and this is the time to visit friends and relatives or be a spectator at one of the many sporting events.

send a card to the one they love or someone whom they have fallen in love with.

The cards, or “valentines”, are usually decorated with hearts to symbolize love.
People usually do not sign these cards and a lot of time is spent trying to guess who has sent them!

remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.
Mark Twain

April the first is known throughout English speaking country as All Fools’ Day. By tradition it is the day on which jokes are played. Those who fall into the trap are then greeted with jeering laughter and shouts of “April Fool”!

the Christmas period of Lent begins. This refers to the time when Christ went into desert and fasted for forty days.

Although not many people actually give up eating during this period, on Pancake Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, they eat lots of pancakes.

day. People run through the streets holding a frying pan and throwing the pancake in the air. Of course if they drop the pancake they lose the race!

goddess of the dawn whose spring festival was celebrated in April. Many countries took their names for Easter from the Jewish festival of Passover.

At Easter time the British celebrate the idea of new birth by giving each other chocolate Easter eggs which are opened and eaten on Easter Sunday.

as the Lamb of God. Lamb is now a traditional Easter meal and cookies and cakes are often made in the shape of a lamb for Easter.

The Cross
Christ was crucified on a cross, so the cross has come to have a special meaning to Christians. It represents Christ’s victory over death.

and exchanging eggs has been carried on in many parts of the world today.

Easter Rabbits
In America many children believe that the Easter bunny brings Easter eggs and hide them for finding on Easter morning.

Sunday or Mother’s Day. For 3 centuries this day has been a day of small family gatherings when absent sons and daughters return to their homes. Gifts are made to mothers by children of all ages. Flowers and cakes are still traditional gifts.

the winter. In England on 1st May, people may be seen in country areas celebrating traditional dances, waving their white handkerchiefs to drive away the evil spirits and welcome in the new ones.

Dancing around
the maypole

dress up in strange costumes and pretend they are witches.

Hallowe'en means 'holy evening', and takes place on 31st October. Although it is a much more important festival in the United States than Britain, it is celebrated by many people in the UK.

a candle inside, which shines through the eyes.

Children knock on doors at Halloween and ask if you would like a 'trick' or 'treat'. If you give them something nice, a 'treat', they go away. However, if you don't they play a ‘trick’ on you, such as making a lot of noise or spilling flour on your front doorstep!

world to welcome the New Year.

On the evening of December 31st, people gather in one another's homes, in clubs, in pubs, in restaurants, and hotels, in dance halls and institutes, to "see the New Year in".

very well kept up. The ceremonies are similar, but they have the so-called "first foot". This means opening your door to anyone who knocks it after midnight, and who will then enter the house, carrying a piece of coal or wood, or bread. The visitor is treated with cakes and ale.

Firewalk, Hogmanay