Customs and traditions of Belarus and great Britain, holidays

№1

1. Now let's talk about customs and traditions. What can you tell me about your favourite holiday?

I think all people like holidays because they don’t work and have a good time. They can visit their friends and relatives, invite guests and have a lot of fun.

There are many different holidays. On the first of January we celebrate New Year. On the seventh of January and the twenty-fifth of December we have Christmas. The twenty-third of February is the Day of the Defenders of the Motherland or the Army Day. On the eighth of March we congratulate our mothers, grandmothers, sisters and all the women with their holiday. Then comes Easter and Radonitsa. The ninth of May is Victory Day. The third of July is Independence Day. Then comes the seventh of November, the day of the October Revolution and so on.

But my favourite holidays are Christmas and New Year. They are full of magic, presents and hopes.

Every year we have a New Year tree and decorate it with toys, tinsel and coloured lights. We send and get many greeting cards. We buy and give presents to our dearest and nearest. I like to get presents. Last year my parents gave me a … and many tasty things as a present.

We usually have a holiday supper with a lot of delicious things. Traditional dishes are roast chicken, fish, different kinds of salads, fruit and vegetables. And of course, we have a holiday cake. When the clock strikes twelve, the grown-ups drink a toast to the New Year and wish «Happy New Year» to each other. Then we dance, sing songs, watch holiday TV and play games. If the weather is fine, we go for a walk to the center of the town to watch fireworks.

In conclusion I’d like to say that I like New Year because there is no school, there is no homework and there are no teachers. I see the new year in with a lot of enthusiasm, with new hopes and new wishes.

2. Do you find some British holidays and traditions special? Why (not)?

I think, I do. Besides public holidays there are a lot of special days or festivals, on which different traditions and customs are observed, but unless they are Sundays, they are working days. One of such days is Halloween. People believe that on this day the souls of the dead come back to the places where they used to live. In the evening there are a lot of parties, where people come dressed up as ghosts, witches, cats, bats or anything scary. Most people don’t take these characters seriously, but use the opportunity to make fun, to play a trick on others or frighten them. Houses are decorated with pumpkins. Children play amusing games. I can’t understand why this holiday is a great fun in Britain.

In our country we also have a day dedicated to the memory of those who died. It is called Dziady. To express their honour to the dead, the Belarusian people lay the table with food on this day and they visit graves of the dead. On this day even the air is filled with solemn feeling and people don’t have parties and fun.

3. What questions can you ask a British teenager about his/her birthday celebration?

1. I can ask a British teenager when his or her birthday is.

2. Do you organize your birthday party in or out?

3. Do you invite your classmates?

4. There is nothing like a cake for a birthday party, isn’t there?

5. Do your family members ask you what you want for a birthday present?

4.Which holiday celebration in Belarus will you recommend your British friend?

Firstly, I would recommend my British friend to come to our country in summer as our nature is the most attractive in this season. Moreover the oldest and the most loved and celebrated pagan holiday is in the night from the 6^th of July to the 7^th of July. It’s Kupalle, summer solstice.

Secondly, I would tell my friend some words about this tradition. The central part in Kupalle celebration is a fire, which symbolizes life. The holiday is usually celebrated in a meadow, a forest glade (поляна) and a river bank. The wheel set on fire symbolizes the sun. One of the customs of this holiday is looking for a blossoming fern flower. There is a lot of dancing in karagods, singing, competing and jumping over the fire. Young people wear national linen costumes.

And finally I would recommend my British friend to visit the village of Alexandria where the most fascinating event is held and all national traditions are observed. I’m sure Kupalle is worth seeing.

5. Do you think it is important to follow our grandparents' traditions? Why?

As you know every country and nation has its own customs and traditions. They are inseparable part of people’s life, history and culture. Traditions, holidays and rituals link the present and the past, help pass the knowledge, experience, wisdom, skills, habits and practices of older generation. And of course we should follow our ancestors’ traditions, though they are not numerous.

I strongly feel that children, teenagers and young people should know and observe the traditions of their country. Holidays, traditions and rituals help pupils learn more about history and culture of their country. Celebrating national and local holidays makes young people united and has a great impact on their character-shaping.

To conclude, our future depends on the younger generation and adults must teach them to keep up the holidays, customs, ceremonies, traditions and rituals that have become part and parcel of our existence. To my mind these customs link our past and our present, unite generations and they are all parts of the Belarusian way of life. We should adopt other people’s experience and wisdom.

№ 2

1. Now let's talk about customs and traditions. What can you tell me about your favourite holiday in Belarus?

(см. № 1/1)

2. Would you like to take part in a British holiday celebration? Why?

Of course, it would be very exciting. I would eagerly take part in the celebration of Halloween because it’s a special day for children. Firstly, I want to take part in its preparation: carving the pumpkin, making scary costumes of witches, ghosts, vampires, cats and bats. As far as I know children parties offer amusing games, such as apple bobbing and others. It would be fun to participate in the ‘trick or treat’ custom and to taste special dishes which are cooked for the holiday.

3. What questions can you ask a British teenager about his/her best school celebration?

1. It is always interesting to know about extra-class activities held in British schools. So I will ask a British teenager how often they organize school celebrations.

2. What is your best school celebration?

3. Did you personally take part in the celebration?

4. Which do you prefer, to be a fan or a participant?

5. How did you prepare for the holiday?

6. Your parents helped organize school celebration, didn’t they?

7. Why did you like the holiday?

4. What good manners will you recommend a British tourist to follow in Belarus?

Though good manners are important across the globe, that doesn’t mean that they are the same all over the world.

The British are known to be a most polite nation. They always use polite words such as “thank you”, “please”, “sorry” and constantly smile. They know how to behave and what to say in different situations. So I’m not sure I can recommend good manners British tourists to follow in our country. The only advice I would give them is to walk and drive on the right-hand side of the road and to be more talkative.

5. Do you think it is easy to organize a good party? What mistakes do people sometimes make?

To my mind, it is easy to organize a party if you know your guests well and you are a creative person.

But you should think about a lot of things such as invitation cards, party area decorations, food and drinks.

To add to the mood of your party, get ready with romantic music and try to make your guests feel comfortable and welcome. It’s a well-known fact that young people like active rest, and they would like to play and dance. So, organize some games and competitions and trouble about music.

What concerns the second part of the question, I don’t know for sure what mistakes people sometimes make. May be they don’t follow the table manners or they are awkward at the table. May be they are too shy to take part in the party and they feel bored and don’t communicate. May be hosts forget about little things. But guests should be polite and don’t pay attention to them.

№3

1. Now let's talk about customs and traditions. What can you tell me about your favourite holiday in Britain?

Every country and every nation has its own customs and traditions. Britain is different from our own country. And this is natural. In Britain traditions play a more important part in the life of the people than in other countries. British people are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up.

If I’m not mistaken, the most popular holidays are Christmas and children like Halloween, Guy Fawkes Day and St. Valentine’s Day, though they are not bank holidays, I mean days off.

Of all holidays and traditions I adore St. Valentine’s Day as it is the most romantic holiday celebrated with enthusiasm in several countries around the world. As for the holiday itself, I like the way it is celebrated. There is a strong tradition of giving gifts of love to the beloved. Some of the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts are fresh flowers – mainly roses, teddy bears, chocolates especially heart-shaped and people have a romantic dinner with candles. I can’t but mention the new tradition of participating in Valentine’s Day Balls and dance parties organized by various societies, clubs and restaurants for lovers and friends, including parties for single people.

Luckily, we have recently begun celebrating this holiday and we can show our love to our friends, teachers, parents and other relatives.

2. Are you proud of our national holidays and traditions?

Of course, I am. Our national holidays and traditions reflect our national character. The Belarusians are fun-loving, outgoing, very humorous, friendly and extremely generous. They are also known to be hard-working. And hard-working people need good rest and relaxation. That’s why Belarusian people like large companies and abundant holiday tables with a lot of delicious food and drinks. Moreover, such traditions as Kupalle, Kalyady, Maslenitsa and Dazhinki attract a lot of people and involve them in participation in the celebrations.

3. What questions can you ask a British teenager about good manners in their country?

1. I would like to know if the British are sociable. 2. British people are very polite, aren’t they?

3. Is queuing a national habit? 4. What can you say about the British humour?

5. Why are you fond of your old customs and traditions?

6. Are the British youth clubbing lovers? 7. Do you like displaying your feeling and emotions?

4. What national souvenirs will you recommend a British tourist to buy?

Buying souvenirs in foreign countries is a part of cultural tourism. Local souvenirs made of natural materials are especially popular. And our craftsmen have a lot to offer. So I would advise a British tourist to buy straw boxes, spiders and flowers or sets of pottery. Crystal things produced at the factory in Grodno region are very popular with foreigners. They can also buy linen towels, table cloths and napkins. I’m sure a book with photos of Belarusian nature or our castles will always relive sweet memory of Belarus. I’d also recommend a British tourist to buy a set of postcards with sights of Belarus.

5. Nowadays more and more people are getting interested in customs and traditions of different countries. What do you think about it?

It’s quite natural that people want to know about customs and traditions of other countries because they differ greatly from their own traditions.

In my opinion, studying customs and traditions of different countries gives people an opportunity to broaden their mind, to improve knowledge of culture, history and geography and make their own life interesting and exciting. It is the best way to discover new ways of life, to meet interesting people. Visiting different countries, people not only watch rituals and ceremonies, they participate in them. This helps get new experience and wisdom and understand other people better. In one word, this unites people of different cultures, beliefs, races and makes them closer. It leads to understanding, friendship and respect among ethnic groups.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14