|
Читайте также: |
БЕЛОРУССКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ
ФАКУЛЬТЕТ МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫХ ОТНОШЕНИЙ
Кафедра английского языка гуманитарных специальностей
British studies
IN TWO PARTS
PART 2
CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS
AND HOLIDAYS
Страноведение
Великобритании
Пособие для студентов I курса
гуманитарных специальностей
факультета международных отношений
В двух частях
Часть 2
ОБЫЧАИ, ТРАДИЦИИ
И ПРАЗДНИКИ
МИНСК
УДК 811.111(075.8)
ББК 81.2Англ-923
C83
Авторы-составители:
Е. В. Жук, С. А. Зудова, А. И. Симончик
Рекомендовано Ученым советом
факультета международных отношений
27 сентября 2007 г., протокол № 1
Рецензент
доктор филологических наук, профессор
кафедры лексикологии английского языка МГЛУ
А. П. Клименко
| C83 | Страноведение Великобритании = British Studies: пособие для студентов I курса гуманит. спец. фак. международных отношений. В 2 ч. Ч. 2: Customs, Traditions and Holidays / авт.-сост.: Е. В. Жук, С. А. Зудова, А. И. Симончик. – Минск: БГУ, 2008. – 80 с. |
Пособие предназначено для аудиторной и самостоятельной работы студентов I курса факультета международных отношений и других гуманитарных специальностей.
УДК 811.111(075.8)
ББК 81.2Англ-923
© БГУ, 2008
ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ
Данное пособие по курсу “Страноведение Великобритании” предназначено для студентов первого курса факультета международных отношений.
Пособие состоит из 4 идентичных по структуре частей. Первая глава знакомит студентов с основными государственными символами, такими как флаг, герб и гимн; национальными символами, а именно святыми заступниками, национальными флагами и эмблемами каждой страны в составе Соединённого Королевства; а также с рядом символов и явлений, которые по определению британцев являются типично “британскими”. Последующие три главы посвящены праздникам и традициям. Вторая глава рассматривает официальные праздники, установленные законом, а третья и четвёртая главы рассказывают о различных праздниках, фестивалях, и торжествах, а также об обычаях и поверьях связанных с ними.
Каждая часть содержит текст, словарь, лексические упражнения и задания, способствующие лучшему пониманию и усвоению текстового материала и формированию запаса лексических единиц по данной теме, а также комплекс условно-речевых и речевых упражнений для развития умений разного вида чтения, подготовленной и неподготовленной монологической речи. В пособии также предлагается ряд заданий, способствующих собственной интерпретации прочитанного и дополнительный фоновый материал. Основная цель пособия – развитие культурной компетенции, знакомство с реалиями, отражающими особенности британской культуры, а также развитие умений самостоятельной работы студентов над текстом посредством выполнения системы упражнений.
Chapter I
NATIONAL SYMBOLS
The most important British symbols are the national flag, the national anthem and the royal coat of arms.
The UK flag is called the Union Flag. It is sometimes wrongly referred to as the Union Jack, although this name is correct when the flag is flown on a jackstaff at sea. The flag is actually three flags in one. It is made up from the crosses of three patron saints of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Welsh dragon does not appear on the flag because when the first Union Flag was created in 1606, Wales was already united with England. It was conquered by England in the 13th century and in 1536, under Henry VIII, the Act of Union joined England and Wales officially. Therefore Wales is represented by the English flag instead of the Welsh dragon.
The nationalanthem is “God Save the Queen”. It originated in a patriotic song first performed in 1745. It became known as the national anthem from the beginning of the 19th century. On official occasions, only the first verse is usually sung.
God save our gracious Queen!
Long live our noble Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen!
The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom is the official coat of arms of the British monarch. Variants of the Royal Arms are used by other members of the Royal Family and by the British Government in connection with the administration and government of the country. In Scotland, the Queen has a separate version of the Royal Arms, giving the Scottish elements pride of place.
The main element of the officialcoat of armsis the shield which is divided into four quarters. The first and fourth quarters represent England and depict three gold lions passant on a red field; the second quarter stands for Scotland and shows a red lion rampant on a gold field; the third quarter symbolises Ireland and depicts the gold harp of Ireland on a blue field. On the left, the shield is supported by the English Lion. On the right it is held by the Unicorn of Scotland. The unicorn is chained because in mediaeval times a free unicorn was considered a very dangerous beast.
The coat features both the motto of British monarchs “Dieu et mon droit” (French for “God and my right”) and the motto of the Order of the Garter “Honi soit qui mal y pense” (French for “Evil to him who evil thinks”) on a representation of the Garter behind the shield.
The words “Dieu et mon droit” were the military password chosen by King Richard I before the battle of Gisors in 1198, meaning that he was no vassal of France, but owed his royalty to God alone. The French were defeated in battle, but the password was not adopted as the royal motto of England until the time of Henry VI (1422–1466) and has since been retained by his successors. The motto appears below the shield of the Royal Coat of Arms.
The motto of the Order of the Garter “Honi soit qui mal y pense” may well have been directed at critics of the King’s claims to the French throne; however, according to a tradition first recorded by Tudor chroniclers, the motto originated at a feast celebrating the capture of Calais in 1347. The King’s mistress, the Countess of Salisbury, was mocked by courtiers for losing her garter during a dance, but Edward at once stepped forward and tied the blue ribbon around his own knee, uttering the motto as a rebuke and declaring that the Garter would soon be held in the highest esteem. The Order of the Garter, an ancient order of knighthood of which the Queen is Sovereign, was founded by Edward III in 1348 during the Hundred Years War with France.
Each country in the UK has its own patron saint, flag, national day and floral emblem.
St. George is the patron saint of England. His emblem, a red cross on a white background, is the flag of England, and part of the British flag. St. George’s emblem was adopted by Richard the Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century. The king’s soldiers wore it on their tunics to avoid confusion in battle.
St. George was a brave Roman soldier who protested against the Romans’ torture of Christians and died for his beliefs. The popularity of St. George in England comes from the time of the early crusades when it is said that the Normans saw him in a vision and were victorious. One of the best-known stories about St. George is his fight with a dragon. But it is highly unlikely that he ever fought a dragon, and even more unlikely that he ever actually visited England. Despite this, St. George is known throughout the world as the dragon-killing patron saint of England.
St. George’s Day is observed on April 23 but for most people in England it is just another ordinary day. Only one in five people know that this day is a holiday.
The national flower of England is the rose. The flower has been adopted as England’s emblem since the time of the Wars of the Roses – civil wars (1455–1485) between the royal house of Lancaster (whose emblem was a red rose) and the royal house of York (whose emblem was a white rose).
On November 30, Scottish people observe St. Andrew’s Day. The Scottish flag is the cross of St. Andrew. It is said to be one of the oldest national flags of any country, dating back at least to the 12th century.
St. Andrew was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus and brother of St. Peter. He was a fisherman by trade. St. Andrew is believed to have died on a diagonal cross which the Romans sometimes used for executions and which, therefore, came to be called St. Andrew’s cross. The blue stands for the sky.
The national flower of Scotland is the thistle, a prickly-leaved purple flower which was first used in the 15th century as a symbol of defence.
St. David’s Day is celebrated in Wales on March 1 in honour of St. David, the patron saint of Wales. He was a Celtic monk, abbot and bishop, who lived in the 6th century. He spread the word of Christianity across Wales. The most famous story about St. David tells how he was preaching to a huge crowd and the ground is said to have risen up, so that he was standing on a hill and everyone had a better chance of hearing him.
The national flower of Wales is the daffodil, which is traditionally worn on St. David’s Day. The vegetable called leek is also considered to be a traditional emblem of Wales. There are many explanations of how the leek came to be adopted as the national emblem of Wales. One is that St. David advised the Welsh, on the eve of the battle with the Saxons, to wear leeks in their caps to distinguish friends from enemies. As Shakespeare records in “Henry V”, the Welsh archers wore leeks at the battle of Agincourt in 1415.
On St. David’s Day, some children in Wales dress in their national costume. The national flag of Wales, depicting a fiery red dragon against a green and white background, is also flown.
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Northern Ireland.His emblem, a red diagonal cross on a white background, is the flag of Ireland, and part of the British flag. St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland. Born in Britain, he was carried off by pirates and spent six years in slavery before escaping and training as a missionary. The most famous story about St. Patrick is him driving the snakes from Ireland. March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, is an official bank holiday in Northern Ireland.
The national flower of Northern Ireland is the shamrock, a three-leaved plant similar to clover. An Irish tale tells of how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.
There are certain symbols and icons which even the British themselves consider as “British”. This is just a selection of those things which spring to mind whenever one hears the word “British”.
Britannia is the personification of British nationalism. She is portrayed as a young woman in a neo-classical dress and helmet, seated by the sea. She is holding a trident in one hand and a shield, decorated with the Union Flag, in the other.
When the Romans conquered a new province just across the sea from Gaul, they called it Britannia, and the coins of the day featured the image of a woman in armour. This image was not used on coins again until the reign of King Charles II. At present Britannia can be seen on the 50p coin.
Britannia became a popular figure in 1707 when Scotland, Wales and England were finally united to form Great Britain. She was immortalised in 1740 when James Thompson wrote the words of “Rule Britannia ” and set it to music by Thomas Arne. It was performed on the London stage where it immediately caught the public imagination. The song is still sung every year on the last night of the “Proms” – the Promenade Concerts held in the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The Americans have Uncle Sam, the British have John Bull. He is a fictional character, used to personify the British nation, and is always depicted as an elderly gentleman, rather stout, wearing a full riding kit complete with breeches and boots, and a Union Jack waistcoat. He was created by John Arbuthnot (1667–1735) a Scottish author, scientist, and physician who wrote five satirical pamphlets in 1712 on the politics of the day, using John Bull as the typical Englishman. The character obviously struck a chord in the hearts of the British and has kept on ever since.
The British bobby is one of the most cherished icons, called after the founder of the modern police force, Sir Robert Peel. The local policeman may also be known as a “copper” from his habit of “copping” wrongdoers. British policemen are not usually armed and there is considerable public support for it remaining that way. The British have a natural dislike to the everyday use of guns, and still yearn for the days when the local bobby could dispense justice to misbehaving teenagers with a quick clout as soon as he caught them.
The guards at the Tower of London are called beefeaters. The name is thought to come from the French word buffetier. Buffetiers were guards in the palace of French kings. They protected the king’s food. Beefeaters were originally established in 1485 as King Henry VII’s bodyguards, immediately after his victory at Bosworth. They are best known for their scarlet and gold dress uniforms which date from 1552 and are worn on state occasions. The beefeaters used to guard the Tower and its prison. Today, they work mostly as guides for the many visitors to the Tower of London.
The bowler hat calls up an instant image of Britishness. The hat was called so partly because of its maker William Bowler but also because of its bowl-like shape. It is still possible to see bowler hats being worn on the streets of London today as they form part of the unofficial “uniform” of the city gentleman, always accessorised with a rolled black umbrella.
Cricket,not the commercialised, multicoloured specially-for-TV show, but the real game. At a local level, cricket has county teams, club, village and even school teams, and families play their own versions of the game on playing fields and beaches every summer. Cricket is a leisurely game. Test matches take up to five days, and three or two-day matches are usual at the higher levels of play. Even a village cricket match may take all day, and on a fine, sunny Sunday, village greens and cricket playing fields around the country will see families picnicking on the grass around the boundary while watching the match in play.
Tea is definitely Britain’s national drink. A good cuppa is not just a means of refreshment, it is also a social ritual and any hostess or host will put the kettle on immediately after greeting visitors. Tea in Britain is traditionally brewed in a china teapot, adding one spoonful of tea per person and one for the pot. Great importance is attached to the use of freshly boiled water, which is poured onto the leaves and then the tea is left to brew for a few minutes. Most people in Britain prefer a rich, strong cup of tea with milk, and sugar is sometimes added to taste.
A full English breakfast (usually abbreviated to simply “full English”) is an excellent way to start the day, if you have time to cook and time to sit down and eat it! A real full English consists of several courses and in country houses used to be set out as a hot buffet for guests to help themselves. Nowadays the only time most people eat a full English breakfast is on Sundays and on holiday when they can spend a more leisurely morning – such a meal needs time to “go down” and digest. Either kippers or porridge will start the meal with brown bread and butter; porridge (oatmeal) can be eaten with brown sugar and cream or milk. After this “starter” comes the main course: bacon, eggs, sausages, black pudding if you’re in the north, grilled or fried tomatoes, maybe kidneys and possibly a slice or two of fried bread. Finally, if you have any room left, toast and marmalade will finish off the meal, all washed down with copious quantities of tea.
English pubs appear in all sorts of places, but if they’re not in England – they’re not English pubs! There is an alarming trend towards “modernisation” and “theme pubs” but there is also a growing backlash against modern interior and loud music. You can find good pubs in both town and country, although city pubs have almost succumbed to the needs of younger clients. A good pub will have “atmosphere” – a cheerful and friendly landlord or landlady, helpful and chatty bar staff and “locals” willing to gossip with any visitor.
The bulldog symbolises the very essence of Britishness. He is solid, reliable, unshakeably loyal, very individual, very nice when you get to know him and kind of cute in his own funny little way!
The robin is everyone’s favourite bird: when a national newspaper conducted a poll to decide Britain’s national bird millions voted, and the robin won by a landslide. The robin is immediately recognisable – no other British bird has the same red breast, which is present in both sexes, and it is the one bird everyone can identify even if they can name no other bird! Robins are so familiar because they are so tame: this seems a characteristic of British robins, which elsewhere in their range are shy woodland birds. Here, they will approach people closely and will go so far as to perch on a gardener’s spade in order to be first to the worms being turned up. It’s as if they know that everyone loves them!
VOCABULARY FOCUS
anthem n – гимн
coat of arms n – герб, гербовый щит; arms n – (pl.) герб
jackstaff n – гюйс-шток (стойка, на которой поднимается военно-морской флаг)
cross n – крест
patron saint n – святой покровитель, заступник
pride of place – почётное место
shield n – щит
passant adj – (геральд.) идущий с поднятой правой передней лапой и смотрящий вправо (о животном)
rampant adj – (геральд.) стоящий на задних лапах (о животном)
harp n – арфа
unicorn n – (миф.) единорог
motto n – девиз
garter n – подвязка
rebuke n – укор, упрёк; rebuke v – упрекать, осуждать
to hold smb in esteem – уважать
torture n – пытка; torture v – пытать, мучить
crusade n – крестовый поход
disciple n – ученик, последователь; апостол
thistle n – (бот.) чертополох
preach v – проповедовать, читать проповедь
daffodil n – (бот.) желтый нарцисс
leek n – (бот.) лук-порей
missionary n – миссионер, проповедник
shamrock n – (бот.) трилистник
the Trinity n – (религ.) Троица, триединый Бог (в христианстве)
to spring to mind – приходить в голову (неожиданно)
trident n – трезубец
kit n – обмундирование, снаряжение, экипировка
breeches n – бриджи
to strike a chord – сыграть на каком-л. чувстве; вызвать отклик
bobby n – (разг.) полисмен
to cop a wrongdoer – поймать, застать преступника
yearn for v – жаждать, мечтать
to dispense justice to – вершить правосудие
clout n – сильный удар, затрещина
beefeater n – бифитер (солдат охраны лондонского Тауэра)
bowler n – котелок (мужская шляпа)
green n – лужайка, парк (для прогулок и игр)
cuppa n – (разг.) чашка чаю
buffet n – “шведский стол” (блюда сервируются для самообслуживания, без ограничения набора и количества)
kipper n – копченая селедка
oatmeal n – овсяная каша
copious adj – обильный; богатый, обширный
backlash against n – мощная обратная реакция группы людей на что-л. (обычно негативная)
succumb to v – поддаваться, уступать чему-л.
robin n – малиновка
to conduct a poll – проводить опрос
to win by a landslide – победить с большим отрывом
EXERCISES
Task I. Match the words to their definitions.
| 1. buffet 2. rampant 3. crusade 4. trident 5. clout 6. passant 7. kit 8. backlash 9. breeches 10. unicorn | a) an animal drawn in heraldry that is standing on its two back legs; b) short trousers that fasten just below the knees; c) a meal where people serve themselves food that is arranged on a table and then move away to eat; d) a strong but usually delayed reaction against recent events; e) a hard blow given with the hand; f) one of a series of wars fought in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries by Christian armies trying to take Palestine from the Muslims; g) a set of clothes and equipment that you use for a particular purpose or activity; h) a mythical animal resembling a small horse but with a long, straight horn growing out of its forehead. Often it was described as having the legs of a deer and the tail of a lion. i) a walking animal drawn in heraldry that is looking out at you full face; j) a weapon with three points that looks like a large fork. |
Task II. Fill in the blanks.
Copious, rampant, “copping” wrongdoers, crosses, the Trinity, unicorn, passant, shield, kit, kippers, motto, daffodil, rebuke, breeches, shamrock, trident, leek, patron saints.
1. The national flag of the UK is made up from the … of three … of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 2. The first and fourth quarters of the shield represent England and contain three gold lions … on a red field; the second quarter represents Scotland and contains a red lion … on a gold field. 3. The … is chained because in mediaeval times it was considered a very dangerous beast. 4. Edward III uttered the … “Evil to him who evil thinks” to … his courtiers for mocking at his mistress. 5. The national flower of Wales is the … but the vegetable called …is also considered to be a traditional emblem of Wales. 6. There is a tale about St. Patrick who used the three-leafed … to explain …. 7. Britannia is holding a … in one hand and a …, decorated with the Union flag, in the other. 8. John Bull is an elderly gentleman, wearing a full riding … complete with …, boots and a Union Jack waistcoat. 9. The local policemen are known as “coppers” from their habit of …. 10. Either … or porridge will start the meal and … quantities of tea will finish it.
Task III. Fill in the prepositions where necessary.
1. The name Union Jack is correct when the flag is flown … a jackstaff … sea. 2. In Scotland, the Queen has a separate version of the Royal Arms, giving the Scottish elements pride … place. 3. The Order of the Garter was held … the highest esteem. 4. St. David spread the word of Christianity across Wales by preaching … huge crowds of people. 5. Here is just a selection of those things which spring … mind whenever one hears the word “British”. 6. The character of John Bull struck … a chord … the hearts of the British and has kept on ever since. 7. The British still yearn … the days when the local bobby could dispense justice … misbehaving teenagers … a quick clout as soon as he caught them. 8. Nowadays there is a growing backlash … modern interior and loud music in English pubs. 9. City pubs have almost succumbed … the needs of younger clients. 10. When a national newspaper conducted … a poll to decide Britain’s national bird, the robin won … a landslide.
Task IV. Are the statements true or false? Correct the false ones.
1. The UK flag is called the Union Jack.
2. The Welsh dragon does not appear on the flag because at the time England and Wales were enemies.
3. “God Save the Queen” was written as the national anthem.
4. On the right, the shield is supported by the English Unicorn. On the left, it is supported by the Lion of Scotland.
5. The coat of arms features two mottos of British monarchs.
6. Each country in the UK has its own patron saint, flag and anthem.
7. St. George is known throughout the world as the dragon-killing patron saint of England.
8. All people in England observe St. George’s Day with copious festivities.
9. St. Andrew was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
10. Wales has two national flowers.
11. The most famous story about St. Patrick is him spending six years in slavery.
12. Britannia has always been featured on coins since ancient times.
13. John Bull was a gentleman who lived in the 18th century.
14. Local bobbies used to dispense justice to misbehaving teenagers with a swift clout as soon as they caught them.
15. Today, beefeaters work as tourist guides.
16. It is impossible to see people wearing bowlers on the streets of London.
17. Most people in Britain prefer green tea with lemon.
18. A real full English consists of bacon, eggs, toast and marmalade.
19. Modern interior and loud music have always been characteristic of English pubs.
20. You can find good pubs in both town and country.
Task V. Choose the right variant.
1. The UK flag consists of a) 2, b) 3, c) 4 flags.
2. “God Save the Queen” has been the British national anthem since a) 1745, b) the beginning of the 19th century, c) the end of the 19th century.
3. The main element of the official coat of arms is a) the shield, b) the English Lion, c) the Unicorn of Scotland.
4. St. George was a) a preacher, b) a soldier, c) a fisherman.
5. The blue on St. Andrew’s cross stands for the a) sky, b) water, c) purity.
6. The Welsh wore a) daffodils, b) shamrocks, c) leeks in their caps in battle with the Saxons.
7. Britannia is the personification of British a) imperialism, b) nationalism, c) cultural heritage.
8. John Bull was created by a) a journalist, b) a politician, c) a scientist.
9. Beefeaters are the guards at a) Buckingham Palace, b) the Tower of London, c) the Houses of Parliament.
10. A full English starts with a) kippers, b) sausages, c) eggs.
| England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | |
| Representation on the coat of arms | ||||
| Flag | ||||
| Patron saint | ||||
| Patron saint’s day | ||||
| Flower |
Task VI. Fill in the table.
Task VII. What are these words associated with?
A trident, a scarlet and gold dress uniform, breeches, the Trinity, a black umbrella, a riding kit, a fiery dragon, a kipper, a quick clout, “locals”, a picnicking family, a cuppa, a red breast, a hot buffet, a gold harp.
Task VIII. What / Who is it?
The Union Flag, “Rule Britannia”, John Bull, “God Save the Queen”, a bobby, a buffetier, the Countess of Salisbury, the “Proms”, William Bowler, a patron saint, James Thompson, the Trinity, “God and my right”.
Task IX. Answer the questions.
1. What are the most important British symbols? 2. Is the Royal Coat of Arms used only by the British monarch? 3. How did the words “God and my right” become the motto of British monarchs? 4. What is the origin of the motto of the Order of the Garter? 5. What made St. George popular in England? 6. Why was the rose adopted as England’s emblem? 7. What is the most famous story about St. David? 8. Why did the Welsh wear leeks in the caps? 9. How did St. Patrick use the shamrock in his sermons? 10. How is Britannia portrayed? 11. When was Britannia immortalised? How? 12. What is the connection between Uncle Sam and John Bull? 13. What is the word “bobby” derived from? 14. Why was the bowler hat called like that? 15. Where can people play cricket? 16. Is drinking tea a social ritual in Britain? Why? 17. When do people eat a full English breakfast? Why? 18. What creates the so-called “atmosphere” in a pub? 19. What British features does the bulldog have? 20. How did the robin become the British national bird?
Task X. Prove that …
1. Each country in Britain is represented on the Union Flag and the official coat of arms. 2. Each country in Britain has its own patron saint. 3. There is a selection of things which spring to mind whenever one hears the word “British”. 4. Britannia is the personification of British nationalism. 5. John Bull struck a chord in the hearts of the British. 6. Cricket is a leisurely game. 7. A real pub can be found only in England.
Task XI. Work in pairs. Discuss with your partner and give examples of the connections between the national symbols and…
1) the history of Great Britain; 2) British monarchs; 3) the British character.
Task XII. Work in groups. Find out from your partners…
1) which symbols appeal to them most and why; 2) what other British symbols they know.
Task XIII. Project work.
Draw a table like the following:
| ABC letters | Symbols | Pictures | Description |
Make a list of British symbols. Arrange them in alphabetical order. For the list to contain all the ABC letters, find out additional information about British symbols. Try to find pictures of items chosen by you or draw them. Discuss the layout of your booklet. Finally, produce your A to Z.
Chapter II
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Britain has relatively few public holidays compared with other European countries. Generally, public holidays include bank holidays (holidays proclaimed by a king or queen) and common law holidays (they are not specified by law as bank holidays but have become customary holidays because all people observe them).
British bank holidays have been recognized since 1871. The name “bank holiday” comes from the time when banks were shut and so no trading could take place. Even though banks are still closed on these days many shops remain open. Because of this, anyone who works on bank holidays usually gets paid extra.
In England and Wales there are six bank holidays: New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday and Boxing Day. There are also two common law holidays on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
In Scotland there are nine public holidays: New Year’s Day, January 2, Good Friday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, St. Andrew’s Day (November 30), Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
In Northern Ireland there are seven bank holidays: New Year’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday and Boxing Day. There are also two common law holidays on Good Friday and Christmas Day and a public holiday on the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne or Orangemen’s Day (July 12).
When public holidays in the Christmas and New Year period fall on Saturdays and Sundays, alternative week days are declared public holidays.
New Year’s Day
People welcome in the New Year on the night before. This is called New Year’s Eve. In Scotland people celebrate it with a lively festival called Hogmanay. A number of Scottish New Year’s traditions are very old, but the custom of singing “Auld Lang Syne” at midnight is a relatively new one. It has been practiced for only about 175 years. When the clock strikes twelve everybody stands in a circle, crosses their arms and links them with those who are on either side and merrily sings the rousing tune of Burns’ poem. “For auld lang syne” means “in memory of past times”.
In Wales the back door is opened to release the Old Year at the first stroke of midnight. It is then locked up to “keep the luck in” and at the last stroke the New Year is let in at the front door.
First-footing is another custom that is very popular in Scotland and northern England. The first young man to enter a house is known as the first-foot. He is believed to bring the New Year’s Luck. He should have dark hair, eyes or complexion. A female first-foot is regarded with fear as women are considered to bring bad luck. The first-foot has a right to kiss the girl who answers the door. It is considered the height of merriment to have a crone come to the door instead of the expected bonnie lass.
The first-foot is required to carry four articles: a piece of coal to wish warmth, a piece of bread to wish food, a coin to wish wealth and some greenery to wish a long life. The visitor takes a pan of dust or ashes out of the house with him, thus signifying the departure of the old year.
The symbol of the incoming year is the New Year babe. Children born on New Year’s Day have been regarded as harbingers of years of good fortune for the whole household.
Parties on New Year’s Eve are usually for friends. Most people see in the New Year with a group of other people. In London, many go to the traditional celebration in Trafalgar Square where there is an enormous Christmas tree which is an annual gift from the people of Norway.
St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide by Irish people and increasingly by non-Irish people usually in Australia and North America. Celebrations are generally themed around all things Irish and the colour green. Both Christians and non-Christians celebrate the secular version of the holiday by wearing green or orange, eating Irish food and/or green foods, taking in Irish drink such as Guinness or Baileys Irish Cream and attending parades.
As well as being a celebration of Irish culture, St. Patrick’s Day is a Christian festival celebrated in the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, and some other denominations. The day almost always falls in the season of Lent. Some bishops will grant an indult, or release, from the Friday no-meat observance when St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday. When March 17 falls on a Sunday, church calendars move St. Patrick’s Day to the following Monday and when the day falls during Holy Week (very rarely), the observance will be moved to the next available date or, exceptionally, before holy week.
Blue, not green, was the colour long-associated with St. Patrick. Green may have gained its prominence through the phrase “the wearing of the green” meaning to wear a shamrock on one’s clothing. At many times in Irish history, to do so was seen as a sign of Irish nationalism or loyalty to the Roman Catholic faith. St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish. The wearing and display of shamrocks and shamrock-inspired designs have become a general feature of the holiday.
Easter
Easter is the oldest and the most important Christian festival, the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter, commemorating events in the last days of Christ’s life. The first day of Holy Week is Palm Sunday. It marks the end of Lent and celebrates Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem. Holy Week also includes Maundy Thursday (the Last supper), Good Friday (the day on which Jesus was crucified), Holy Saturday (the Sabbath on which Jesus rested in the grave) and Easter Sunday (the day on which Jesus resurrected).
Easter usually comes in the month of April. It is what is called a “movable feast” because the date of it is fixed according to the moon. Easter is the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox (March 21). If the full moon falls on a Sunday then Easter is the next Sunday. This means that Easter can fall as early as March 22 or as late as April 25.
Like most Christian festivals, Easter has its origins in pre-Christian times. Our ancestors believed that the sun died in winter and was born anew in spring. Different Gods were thanked for bringing the Earth back to life. The word Easter is thought to have derived from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre.
Good Friday
On this day, Christians remember the day when Jesus was crucified on a cross. The name may be derived from “God’s Friday” in the same way that good-bye is derived from “God be with ye”. Many churches hold a special service, especially around 3 o’clock as that is about the time when Jesus died. Churches are not decorated. In most of them, pictures and statues are covered over. Good Friday is seen as a time of mourning.
Hot cross buns with their combination of spicy, sweet and fruity flavours have long been an Easter tradition. The pastry cross on top of the buns symbolises and reminds Christians of the cross that Jesus was killed on. The buns were traditionally eaten at breakfast time, hot from the oven. Many Christians fast on this day.
At the London pub “The Widow’s Son”, a Hot Cross Bun Ceremony takes place each Good Friday. In the early 19th century, a widow who lived on the site was expecting her sailor son back home for Easter, and placed a hot cross bun ready for him on Good Friday. The son never returned, but the widow left the bun waiting for him and added a new bun each year. Successive landlords have kept the tradition going after the pub was opened.
From the reign of Edward III to that of Mary Tudor, monarchs used to bless a plateful of gold and silver rings every Good Friday at the Chapel Royal by rubbing the rings between their fingers. The royal touch was believed to cure epilepsy. The custom was abolished during the reign of Elizabeth I.
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is not a public holiday. However, Christians all over the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On Easter Sunday they gather together for a sunrise service. Some Christians take part in an Easter vigil.
The traditional Easter gift is an egg. For Christians, Easter eggs symbolise new life. They believe that, through his resurrection, Jesus defeated death and sin and offers people the promise of eternal life if they follow his teachings. Eggs have been a symbol of continuing life and resurrection since pre-Christian spring celebrations.
The first eggs given at Easter were bird’s eggs. They were brightly coloured to imitate the new, fresh colours of spring. The practice of decorating eggs was made even more famous by King Edward I of England who ordered 450 eggs to be gold-leafed and coloured for Easter gifts in 1290. As chocolate was becoming more wide spread in the 20th century, a chocolate version of the traditional egg was developed. The size of the chocolate egg has grown over the years and is now more likely to be the size of an ostrich egg rather than a small bird’s egg. The eggs are either hollow or have a filling, and are usually covered with brightly coloured silver paper. Around 80 million chocolate eggs are eaten each year in Britain. Small chocolate eggs are hidden for the children to find on the traditional Easter Egg Hunt.
One of the most popular Easter Day activities is jarping. Players tap their opponents’ eggs until one breaks. The victor goes through to the next round and it’s a process of exclusion until there’s only one good egg, the winner’s, left.
After the lean months of winter and the fast weeks of Lent, food at Easter is a special treat. Boiled eggs are traditionally served at breakfast and then Easter cards and gifts may be exchanged. Roast lamb is the traditional meat for the main meal on Easter Day. It is served with mint sauce and vegetables. Simnel cake is baked for tea. Eleven balls of marzipan are placed around the top layer to represent the eleven true disciples (excluding Judas).
Easter Monday
Easter Monday has little religious significance but is the occasion for numerous secular customs. Egg rolling is a very popular Easter Monday sport. Hard-boiled eggs are rolled down a hill. Customs differ from place to place. The winner’s egg may be the one that rolls the farthest, survives the most rolls, or is rolled between two pegs.
At Biddenden in Kent, the Biddenden Dole in the form of bread, cheese, tea (formerly beer) and cake is distributed. The cake bears an image of two women said to be the founders of this charity, a pair of Siamese twins who were born in 1100 and died within a few hours of each other at the age of 34.
May Day
The first day of the month of May is known as May Day. It is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is said to be a time of love and romance.
May Day celebrations have their origins in the Roman festival of Flora, goddess of fruit and flowers. The festival marked the beginning of summer. People would go out before sunrise in order to gather flowers and greenery to decorate their houses and villages with, in the belief that the vegetation spirits would bring good fortune.
Young women would rise early to cleanse their faces in May morning dew and blankets would be soaked in the same, in the belief that sick children would be cured once wrapped in them.
In some parts of Britain, May Day is called Garland Day. Two garlands are prepared by the village children. One is made of garden flowers and the other of wild flowers. Sometimes they put a doll inside to represent the goddess of spring. The garlands are carried round the houses, where they are shown and money is given to the children. This is the remnant of what was once a much more elaborate May Day custom involving garlanding the local fishing boats.
May Day is given over to various festivities. There is dancing in the street, archery contest and exhibitions of strength. The highlight of the day is the crowning of the May Queen. By tradition she takes no part in the games or dancing, but sits like a queen in a flower-decked chair and watches her “subjects”.
A traditional May Day dance is known as maypole dancing. People used to cut down young trees and stick them in the ground in the village. They danced around the maypoles in celebration of the end of winter and the start of the fine weather that would allow planting to begin. Many English villages still have a maypole and people dance around it on May Day. The tallest maypole is said to have been erected in London on the Strand in 1661; it stood over 143 feet high. It was felled in 1717, when it was used by Isaac Newton to support Huygen’s new reflecting telescope.
Another traditional dance you will often see on May Day is morris dancing. The dancing is very lively and often accompanied by an accordion player. Morris dancers are usually men and wear different clothes depending on the part of the country in which they dance. They are often dressed in white with coloured belts across their chests. The dancers may carry white handkerchiefs that they shake, or short sticks that they bang against each other as they dance. There are also single dancers who wear special costumes.
The Battle of the Boyne - Orangemen’s Day
Orangemen’s Day is celebrated on July 12. It commemorates the 1690 Protestant victory over Roman Catholic forces in the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland. King William III of Orange, the Protestant King of England, defeated former King James II, a Catholic.
The Orange Order was established a century after the Battle of the Boyne and steadily grew in the 19th century as a patriotic bulwark against what many Protestants saw as treacherous Catholicism.
Orange walks are a series of parades held annually by members of the Orange Order during the summer in Northern Ireland, to a lesser extent in Scotland, and occasionally in England, the Republic of Ireland, and throughout the Commonwealth. All Orange walks include at least one lodge, with officers. The lodge will almost always be accompanied by a marching band. Elderly lodge members often travel the parade route in a vehicle such as a black taxi. It has become much more common in recent decades for members of Ladies’ lodges to walk, although women are still massively outnumbered by men in most parades. Walks may be headed by a figure on a white horse dressed as Boyne victor William of Orange. A few parades also include others in historical fancy dress.
St. Andrew’s Day
St. Andrew’s Day is mainly celebrated north of the Borders and by Scots living outside of Scotland. The Saint’s Day is usually a celebration of general Scottishness with traditional food, music and dancing. Special St. Andrew’s Day events and activities are held across Scotland including art shows, Scottish country dancing, ceilidhs, dance festivals, storytelling, reciting and writing poems, writing tall tales, cooking traditional Scottish meals, and even bagpipe playing.
Around midnight on November 29, 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. A girl wishing to marry could throw a shoe at a door. If the toe of the shoe pointed in the direction of the exit, then she would marry and leave her parents’ house within a year.
St. Andrew is also expected to look after singers, unmarried women, old maids, women who wish to become mothers, fish dealers, fishmongers and fishermen.
St. Andrew’s Day is an official flag day in Scotland. The Scottish Government’s flag-flying regulations state that the Flag of Scotland, the Saltire, (a white diagonal cross on the blue background) shall fly on all its buildings with a flagpole.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day is the most popular of bank holidays. It is celebrated on December 25. This day is a traditional family reunion day and a special day for children.
In November in Oxford Street, one of the main shopping streets in the centre of London, a famous personality ceremoniously switches on the Christmas lights (decorations) thus “officially” marking the start of the period of frantic Christmas shopping. And it certainly is frantic. Between that time and the middle of January, most shops do nearly half of their total business for the year, most have “sales” in early January when prices are reduced. People buy presents for the members of their household, relatives, especially children and close friends. To a wider circle of friends and relatives, and sometimes also to working associates and neighbours, they send Christmas cards.
In December, as Christmas gets closer, carols (usually, but not always, with a religious theme) are sung in churches and schools, often at special concerts, and also, though less often than in the past, by groups of people who go from house to house collecting money for charitable causes.
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is traditional in England for primary schools to put on a Nativity play.
The custom of hanging stockings comes from England. Father Christmas once dropped some gold coins while coming down the chimney. The coins would have been lost if they hadn’t landed in a stocking that had been hung out to dry. Since that time children have continued to hang out stockings in hopes of finding them filled with gifts.
Children write letters to Father Christmas listing their requests, but instead of dropping them in the mailbox, the letters are thrown into the hearth. The draught carries the letters up the chimney and Father Christmas reads the smoke.
The hanging of greenery around the house, such as holly and ivy, is a winter tradition with origins well before the Christian era. Greenery was brought into the house to lift winter spirits and remind people that spring was not far away. The needlelike points of holly leaves are thought by some to resemble the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified. The red berries may symbolize the drops of blood he shed. Mistletoe is found on willow and apple trees and the practice of hanging it in the house goes back to the times of the ancient Druids. It is supposed to possess mystical powers, which bring good luck to the household and ward off evil spirits.
The fir tree has a long association with Christianity. It began in Germany almost a thousand years ago when St. Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, was said to have come across a group of pagans about to sacrifice a young boy while worshipping an oak tree. In anger, St. Boniface is said to have cut down the oak tree and to his amazement a young fir tree sprung up from the roots of the oak tree. St. Boniface took this as a sign of the Christian faith.
It was not until the 16th century that fir trees were brought indoors at Christmas time. The decorating of Christmas trees, though primarily a German custom, has been widely popular in England since 1841 when Prince Albert had a Christmas tree set up in for his wife Queen Victoria and their children. At that time the tree would have been decorated with candles to represent stars.
A Nordic tradition of burning the Yule log goes back to medieval times. The Yule log was originally an entire tree, carefully chosen, and brought into the house with great ceremony. The large end would be placed into the hearth while the rest of the tree stuck out into the room. The log would be lit from the remnants of the previous year’s log, which had been carefully stored away and slowly fed into the fire through the twelve days of festivities. Having the remains of the Yule log in the house throughout the year was thought to give protection against fire. It was considered important that the re-lighting process be carried out by someone with clean hands.
Gifts are opened on Christmas morning. The younger children will awake very early in the morning to find a stocking at the end of their bed and some presents on the floor. Later, the family will gather together to open all the presents that have been left under the Christmas tree.
The traditional Christmas dinner consists of stuffed roast turkey with roast potatoes and some other vegetables often Brussel sprouts. Other foods associated with Christmas are Сhristmas pudding, an extremely heavy sweet dish made of dried fruits (it is traditional to pour brandy over it and then set it alight) and Christmas cake, an equally heavy fruit cake, with hard white icing on top.
Christmas crackers are a party favourite in England. Traditionally there will be one cracker next to each plate on the Christmas dinner table. When the crackers are pulled, out falls a colourful party hat, a toy or gift and a festive joke.
Some children in the UK make Christingles in their classrooms and gather together to light them in a church service that raises money for the Church of England Children’s Society. The Christingle consists of an orange representing the world; with a red ribbon around it representing the blood of Jesus; fruits and sweets are put on four cocktail sticks which are pushed into the orange representing the fruits of the earth and the four seasons; and a lighted candle is pushed into the centre of the orange representing Christ, the light of the world.
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is the following day after Christmas Day. Explanations for the origin of this name vary. Historians say the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but took the following day off. As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with Christmas boxes. Today many people still give small gifts or monetary tips to regular visiting trade people (the milkman, dustman, coalman, paperboy etc.) and, in some work places employees get a Christmas bonus. It has also become traditional for working people to open their tip boxes on this day.
Another explanation goes back to medieval times when alms boxes were placed at the back of every church to collect money for the poor. On Boxing Day the boxes were opened and the contents distributed to the poor.
Traditionally Boxing Day is a day for fox hunting. Horse riders dressed in red and white with a pack of hounds chase foxes through the country side. Before a Boxing Day hunt, the huntsmen and huntswomen drink hot wine. But the tradition of the December 26th hunt is changing. The “sport” is slowly dying out due to the growing support for the fox.
Boxing Day is usually the day when families travel to meet together if they spent Christmas Day at their own home. It is a day of watching sports and playing board games.
VOCABULARY FOCUS
public holiday – официальный выходной день
bank holiday – официальный выходной день, установленный законом; неприсутственный день для английских банков
common law holiday – официальный выходной день, установленный общим правом
to observe holidays – праздновать, отмечать праздники
New Year’s Eve / Hogmanay n – канун Нового года
rousing adj – воодушевляющий, восторженный
first-foot n – первый гость в новом году
crone n – старуха
a bonnie lass – красивая девушка
harbinger n – предвестник, предшественник
secular adj – светский, нецерковный
denomination n – вероисповедание, конфессия
Lent n – Великий пост
indult n – индульгенция; особое разрешение
Holy Week – Страстная неделя
resurrect v – воскресать; resurrection n – воскресение, возрождение
Palm Sunday – Вербное воскресенье
Maundy Thursday – Страстной четверг, Чистый четверг
Good Friday – Страстная пятница
crucify v – распинать, мучить; crucifixion n – распятие на кресте
Holy Saturday – Страстная суббота
the Sabbath – день отдохновения
a mov(e)able feast – праздник, который проводится в определенный день недели и не имеет определенной календарной даты
vernal (spring) equinox – весеннее равноденствие; autumnal equinox – осеннее равноденствие
to mourn smb’s death – скорбеть, оплакивать чью-либо смерть
fast v – поститься, воздерживаться от скоромной пищи
sunrise service – заутреня
vigil n – всенощная; ночное бдение
Simnel cake n – пасхальный кулич; кекс с изюмом и цукатами
marzipan n – марципан (смесь измельченного в муку миндаля и сахарного сиропа или сахарной пудры)
dole n – небольшая помощь, раздача в благотворительных целях; пособие по безработице
cleanse v – чистить, очищать от грязи; морально очищать(ся) от грехов, вины
morning dew – утренняя роса
garland n – гирлянда, венок
remnant n – пережиток, след; (pl.) остатки, малая часть
festivity n – веселье, праздник; (pl.) празднества, торжества
maypole n – майское дерево (украшенный цветами столб, вокруг которого танцуют)
morris dance − народный театрализованный танец (мужчины в средневековых костюмах с колокольчиками, трещотками изображают легендарных героев)
bulwark n – бастион; оплот, защита
lodge n – ложа (отделение организации)
marching band – марширующий духовой оркестр
fancy dress – маскарадный костюм
the Borders – приграничные районы между Англией и Шотландией
ceilidh n – (шотл.) вечеринка с музыкой и танцами
bagpipe n – волынка (музыкальный инструмент)
the Saltire n – (геральд.) Андреевский крест
frantic adj – безумный, неистовый, яростный; спешный
carol n – веселая песня; гимн (обыкн. рождественский)
Nativity play – пьеса о рождении Христа
hearth n – камин; домашний очаг
holly n – (бот.) остролист, падуб
ivy n – (бот.) плющ
mistletoe n – (бот.) омела
ward off v – отражать, отвращать (удар, опасность); держать кого-л. на расстоянии
the Yule log – рождественское полено, сжигаемое в сочельник
cracker n – хлопушка, петарда
Christingle n - "кристингл" (религиозный символ в форме апельсина, в который вставлена свеча)
alms n – (pl.) милостыня, подаяние
EXERCISES
Task I. Match the words to their definitions.
| 1. ivy 2. indult 3. Lent 4. Sabbath 5. holly 6. equinox 7. ceilidh 8. mistletoe 9. bagpipe 10. vigil | a) the 40 days before Easter when some Christians eat less food or stop doing something that they enjoy; b) a period of time, especially during the night, when you stay awake in order to pray or remain with someone who is ill; c) a climbing plant with dark green shiny leaves; d) an allowance granted often temporarily by the pope, permitting a deviation from church law; e) a plant with small white berries, which grows over other trees; f) a musical instrument played especially in Scotland in which air blown into a bag is forced out through pipes to produce the sound; g) the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as the day of rest and religious observance among Jews and some Christians; h) a small tree with dark green sharp leaves and red berries; i) an Irish or Scottish social gathering with traditional music, dancing, and storytelling; j) one of the two times in a year when night and day are of equal length. |
Task II. Fill in the blanks.
Resurrection, marching band, hearth, first-foot, mistletoe, public, remnants, common law, disciples, Simnel cake, bonnie lass, Yule log, harbinger, mourn, ward off, cleanse, bank, morning dew, lodge.
1. … holidays include … holidays and … holidays. 2. Every … who knocks at the door expects a … to open it. 3. The New Year babe is a … of years of good fortune for the whole family. 4. On Easter Sunday Christians celebrate the … of Jesus Christ. 5. Churches are not decorated on Good Friday because people … Christ’s death. 6. Eleven balls of marzipan on … represent the eleven true …. 7. Young women would rise early to … their faces in May…. 8. All Orange walks include at least one … which is always accompanied by a …. 9. … is thought to bring good luck and … evil spirits. 10. The large end of the … would be placed into the … and would be lit from the … of the previous year’s log.
Task III. Complete the sentences.
1. The name “bank holiday” comes from the time when …. 2. In Wales the back door is opened to …. It is then locked up to … and at the last stroke …. 3. The first-foot is required to carry four articles: …. 4. When St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday, some bishops will …. 5. Easter is a movable feast because …. 6. The pastry cross on top of the buns symbolises and reminds Christians of …. 7. Two garlands are prepared by the village children. One is made of … and the other of …. 8. The Orange Order was established as a.... 9. The traditional Christmas dinner consists of … 10. On Boxing Day the alms boxes ….
Task IV. Are the statements true or false? Correct the false ones.
1. Britain has a lot of public holidays compared with other European countries.
2. Saint patron’s Day is celebrated only in Northern Ireland.
3. People sing “Auld Lane Syne” when sitting at the festive table.
4. A female first-foot is believed to bring bad luck.
5. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated only by Irish people.
6. Easter is a purely Christian holiday.
7. On Good Friday churches are not decorated and most of the pictures and statues are covered over.
8. Easter Sunday is not a public holiday.
9. Children cannot take part in the traditional Easter Egg Hunt.
10. Easter Monday has little religious significance.
11. Only the most honourable citizens are allowed to see the garlands on Garland Day.
12. The May Queen takes an active part in the games and dancing thus encouraging her “subjects”.
13. Elderly lodge members do not take part in parades on Ora
Дата добавления: 2015-10-23; просмотров: 153 | Нарушение авторских прав
| <== предыдущая страница | | | следующая страница ==> |
| Example 37: Major 13 | | | Hunting the Mallard |