United Kingdom (Russian name from English. Great Britain; full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ), in English is usually shortened to " United Kingdom" - "United Kingdom"; England and Great Britain are not the same thing, the British usually add "British" to the word England, that is, " british england» (British England) is an island state in the north-west of Europe.
United Kingdom- one of the largest states in Europe, a nuclear power, is a member of the European Union, the Council of Europe, the UN Security Council, the G8, NATO, the OECD and the WTO. The successor of the British Empire, the largest state in history (which existed in the 19th - early 20th century). Great Britain occupies a leading position among the world's financial centers.
GBP - £
, or GBP, the national currency of Great Britain, is currently recognized as one of the most stable world currencies.
United Kingdom was known as the land of albinos, so it was called Albion. The word " Britannia» (Britannia) The Romans called the British Isles, hence the name of this island. The word "Great" was added to the word "Britain" in order to designate the country as a political entity. Thus, Britain is an island and Great Britain is a geopolitical unit.
It is the third most densely populated island in the world, after Java and Honshu.
historical areas of the UK
: England, Wales, Scotland(there are approximately 750 islands in Scotland, 130 of which are uninhabited) and Northern Ireland
- in fact, they are four different countries with their own characteristics.
According to statistics, most Britons consider themselves to be English, while, for example, the Irish are exclusively Irish, and the Scots are Scots.
AT England located
- a city that cannot be confused with any other. city rich architectural monuments, theatres, nightlife, shops, restaurants, museums and art galleries.
For over 1,000 years, British monarchs have been called Westminster
(Central London) its "home" - it is here that Buckingham Palace is located, as well as many former royal residences. And if you walk through the oldest district of London (City), where life has been in full swing for 2000 years, then you will be transported to the exciting past of this city, where much has been preserved in its original form, and the places where the inhabitants of the city went centuries ago are open now.
London Tower(Tower) - one of the main attractions and one of the oldest buildings in the UK. The Tower is known, among other things (in its history it was a fortress, a palace, a mint, an arsenal, a prison, an observatory), as a royal treasury. The crown of Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, is kept here. This product is encrusted with the famous Indian diamond – Ko-i-nur (“mountain of light”). Also here you can find the crown of St. Edward, which is used in the rite of coronation of the future monarch.
It is in the UK the oldest subway in the world, drawbridge Tower Bridge, red telephone booths and police bobbies in constant helmets, as well as the most recognizable symbol of London and Great Britain - Big Ben, the famous clock tower in the Palace of Westminster (by the way, the clock tower near the Houses of Parliament of Great Britain was officially renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honor of the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II).
Windsor, Oxford, Cambridge, York, Bath, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool - far from full list cities to visit in England. Another striking attraction of this area is (
), mysterious (legends connect him with the name of Merlin, and with the druids, and with the ancient Romans) and one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, inscribed on the World Heritage List.
This is a country that can interest and captivate absolutely everyone: fans of history will be happy to get acquainted with the country where the industrial revolution took place; nature lovers will appreciate the natural beauty of the UK immersed in greenery; admirers of detective stories will feel the atmosphere of Baker Street, where, sitting by the fireplace, on cold evenings, the famous Sherlock Holmes solved riddles; The hearts of sports fans will melt at the sight of Wimbledon tennis courts and Wembley football stadium...
This is the kingdom of unshakable traditions, cultural heritage and modern outlook on life.
Great Britain in everything has its own special style!
student 6 "A" class Fayzulaeva Rinata
Research on English language"" London - the capital of Great Britain, the sights of London.""
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Research work in English: "" London - the capital of Great Britain, the sights of London." " pupils of 6 "A" class Faizulaeva Rinata Supervisor: English teacher Nadbitova V.N. MBOU "Zenzelinskaya secondary school" of the Limansky district of the Astrakhan region 2012-2013 academic year
London is the capital of theUnited Kingdom GB and NI Over eight million people live in London. It is one of the largest cities in Europe. It stands on the Thames river. Millions of tourists visit this city every year. I want to tell you about London! London has three big parts: the City, the West End and the East End
The map of London The West End of London has many historic places and places of interest. The East End is the poorest district in London with piers, warehouses and slums The city of London is a big business, commercial, financial and trade center
The Coat of Arms of London
london buses Buses in London are of different colours: the red buses go to London. the green ones usually go from London to the country. Buses in London are double - deckers People don "t stand in London buses. In the center of London buses don" t move very fast. It "s cheaper to go by bus. I" d like to go by red double - decker bus
Attractions of London!!! Big Ben The Tower of London Westminster Abbey Trafalgar Square Hyde park The Houses of Parliament Madame Tussaud's Museum The Buckingham Palace The British Museum St. Paul's Cathedral The Tower Bridge
Big Ben Big Ben is the biggest clock bell in Britain. It weighs 13.5 tons. The clock tower is 318 feet high. People go 374 steps to reach the top People called Big Ben after Sir Benjamin Hall. He was a big man. First it was a joke. But now we know the clock by that name.
The Tower of London! The Tower of London - a fortress, built on the north bank of the River Thames. It "s the historic center of London. One of the oldest historic building of Great Britain, has long served as the residence of British monarchs. The Tower was built in the eleventh century
Beefeaters of Tower Beefeaters, the guards of the Tower, wearing traditional medieval uniform. They appeared in the 15th century under Henry 8th,and were responsible for the royal buffet Currently,38 beefeters of Tower greet guests, drive trips, take photo with tourists and feed the ravens
Westminster Abbey It is the gothic cathedral in London. Place the coronation of British monarchs.
Trafalgar Square This square is famous for the tall monument in the center of it. The monument, which is called Nelson's Column,was built to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar and to honor Admiral Nelson. Nelson is a British hero. When he was 21 he became a captain. In the Trafalgar battle the British fleet destroyed French and Spanish ships and won. Nelson became famous in this battle.
St. Paul's Cathedral St. Paul's Cathedral - London cathedral dedicated to St. Paul's Cathedral Paul. Cathedral is considered one of the most prominent and famous London landmarks. The first cathedral was built on the same place in the year 604, but was destroyed by fire after 70 years.
The Houses of Parliament
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The Hyde Park The Hyde Park - is the royal park. I would like to walk on this beautiful park.
I "d like to see wax figures by own eyes!
The British Museum um
Research
"Holidays of Great Britain as a reflection of English culture"
Introduction
English holidays are an integral part of the culture of the English-speaking world, a way of their self-expression, the source of habits and behavior. Often, in order to understand the soul and character of the inhabitants of a particular country, it is necessary to get acquainted with their customs and traditions. Traditional holidays can reflect not only the national character, but also the history of the country.
In our English textbooks, we find information about the most famous holidays in English-speaking countries. We know Christmas, Boxing Day, Halloween, Easter, Valentine's Day, Guy Fawkes Night, but in the school curriculum we get only general facts.
Most kids our age and older can't even answer the simplest questions. Among the students of our schoolwe conducted a survey , during which more than 80% of respondents could not answer us such questions as, for example: "Why is the pumpkin a symbol of Halloween" or "Who was the same Valentine, after whom the holiday is named on February 14".
That is why we believe that our research work is veryrelevant.
The purpose of our study:
To reveal the features of English culture.
Object of study are UK holidays.
Subject of study - history of British traditions and customs.
The main objectives of the study:
- deeply study the traditions and customs of English-speaking countries;
Highlight Interesting Facts relating to history English holidays;
Find the least known and characteristic of British culture significant events.
Research methods:
Sociological survey of schoolchildren (interviewing), the study of literature and the media - at the initial stage;
Analysis and generalization of the data obtained - at the main stage of the study.
Working process:
So, after the interview, we set to work. We carefully studied the history of the emergence of famous traditions and found many interesting facts about the British holidays known to us:
It's hard for the British to imagineChristmas in London without street illumination in the form of Her Majesty's crown. The festive city is transformed: it puts on garlands of lights and contains a whole forest of Christmas trees, the main of which - on Trafalgar Square - is annually brought here from Norway as a gift. This is how Norwegians express their gratitude to Great Britain for saving members of the Norwegian royal family During the Second World War.
By tradition, all the inhabitants of England on the eveChristmas hang stockings or socks on the fireplace so that Santa Claus can put gifts in them. If you believe the legend, once upon a time Santa accidentally dropped a gold coin into a sock through a chimney, and since then it has become a custom to hang a stocking on the fireplace on Christmas Eve - what if something falls there?
At Christmas in the UK, they try to stick to traditions. All windows of rural houses in the UK are lit by candles at Christmas. Shortly before the holiday, in many villages, women competed for the best Christmas candle decoration.
Another ancient custom is preserved - to decorate the house for Christmas with branches of eternal greenery: holly, ivy, mistletoe. According to custom, only on this holiday, on Christmas Eve, men have the right to kiss a girl who accidentally stopped under a decoration from this plant.
The British have special traditions andNew Year. At midnight on New Year's Day, the front and back doors of English houses are always open. This custom symbolizes the outgoing and coming year.
Easter - a great church holiday. And in the countries of Great Britain there are special traditions that are different from those that have developed in Russia. PThe Easter holiday in England has its own special symbols: the main symbol is the Easter Bunny. It symbolizes abundance and fertility. The legend says that it was with this animal that the ancient goddess Istra appeared in ancient times. It is believed that this animal hides Easter eggs for children and leaves baskets of sweets for them. Searching for hidden eggs around the house is a traditional Easter fun in English families.
We all know the holiday well.halloween and its attributes: mysterious costumes, pumpkin heads and an atmosphere of mysticism.Children dressed as fairy-tale heroes go home with baskets, and according to tradition, they should be treated with sweets, otherwise there will be no luck.
Turning to history , we were able to find out that the pumpkin among the Celtic peoples was a symbol of the harvest, and the holiday itself is associated with the belief that on the night of October 31, the gates to the world of spirits open. In order to scare away evil spirits, people made scary costumes and made Jack Lanterns out of pumpkins with their own hands. According to legend, the custom of making pumpkin lanterns was introduced by an Irish blacksmith, nicknamed Stingy Jack.
Through research, we learned that Valentine's Day, associated with the name of a Roman priest. According to , long ago domineering and cruel decided that a single man, not burdened by a wife and family, would be better off fighting in battle. Claudius forbade men to marry. Saint Valentine was and a priest who sympathized with the unfortunate lovers and secretly from everyone, under cover of night, tied the knot of loving men and women. However, Valentine was soon imprisoned and sentenced to death penalty. There, Valentine met the warden's beautiful daughter, Yulia. Before his death, a priest in love wrote a declaration of love to his beloved girl - the first postcard - a Valentine's card.
The guys and I alsowere able to find out detailed information about Guy Fawkes night, celebrated annually on November 5th. It turned out that this night bears the name of the instigator of the gunpowder plot, which did not take place in 1605. As conceived by Guy and his supporters, the entire parliament, together with the king's family, was supposed to literally fly into the air. However, the plan was not destined to come true: Guy was caught and sentenced to death. Since then, people have celebrated the failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament and overthrow King James.
The main tradition of the holiday is burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes at the stake, building burning rivers in the streets, as well as launching grandiose fireworks throughout the night.
We were particularly interested in the study of little-known events, having great importance for the British. We discovered the following holidays and festivals that are not mentioned in school textbooks:
HOLI HOLIDAY
Holi, also known as"Festival of colors" celebrated on March 6th. This "Festival of Colors" marks the end of the winter season in the Hindu calendar. In many UK cities, including , Manchester, people are celebrating this event by running through the streets and showering each other with colorful powders!
People don't just throw paint on each other. They communicate in a relaxed atmosphere, listen to live music that accompanies the festival, and participate in games. And this is understandable, because the essence of the festival of colors Holi is the chanting of youth, spring and new life.
The Holi festival originated in India and is celebrated for several days. The main idea of the festival is to show the triumph of virtue over evil through bright colors. The members can be seen singing and dancing. Farmers dress cows in flowers and let them roam the streets freely. On this day, people stop any quarrels, forgive each other and wish good luck.
WALPURGIS NIGHT
Walpurgis Night is the main coven of witches. The streets of England are filled with witches of all ages - of course, not real ones, but townspeople in carnival costumes. This holiday also marks the imminent arrival of summer.
The history of Walpurgis Night is rooted in the pagan holiday of spring and fertility and falls on the night of April 30 to May 1. It is believed that on this night, the villagers performed a magical ceremony to exorcise the witches. People kindled bonfires, on which a straw effigy of a witch was burned, called church bells and made a detour of the dwelling with torches in order to drive away evil spirits. And it was also believed that the healing herbs collected that night acquire magical powers.
The name of Walpurgis Night is associated with the name of Saint Walpurga, a Wimburn nun.Following ancient traditions, people still make huge bonfires to cleanse themselves from the evil spirits of winter with the power of fire.
CHIMNEY SWEEP FESTIVAL
Every year on May 1st at the castle Gathering cheerful people in a variety of costumes. On this spring day, the British celebrate the day of the chimney sweep, one of the most mystical and mysterious professions.The Chimney Sweep Festival was first held in the UK in 1981 and has since become a regular event. The festival program lasts 3 days.
There was a legend in England that chimney sweeps were the lost children of the rich people of the country, who had a difficult test of cleaning soot. After passing these tests, chimney sweeps will find their family and happiness. It is considered a good omen to meet a chimney sweep in the English streets. They are even invited to weddings to give young people a happy and long life together!
An important tradition of the festival is a colorful procession with dances, led by "my lord", followed by a procession with "Jack-in-the-Green" - a boy decorated with green leaves and branches, teenagers dressed as clowns tumble and do different things in front of him, and after them come the lords and ladies. At the end of the procession comes the "milady" who collects the "treasury".
The unusual traditions of Great Britain includeCHEESE RUNS. For this competition, which is held on the last Monday of May, come from everywhere.The festival takes place on Cooper's Hill. It has been celebrated for over 200 years. The racers run down a hillside in pursuit of a 4kg cheese that reaches a speed of 100km/h.
Analysis of the study results:
At the beginning of the study, we set the following goal: reveal the peculiarities of English culture through national holidays. Having studied history, we learned many interesting facts about the origin of British traditions.
We have come to the following conclusion - the culture of Britain is original, multifaceted and interesting to study. Every holiday, whether official or not, has its own fascinating history. It is amazing that, despite the fact that we live in an age of progress and technology, England manages to miraculously preserve its wealth - its history and centuries-old traditions.
Our research has helped us to take a deeper look into the culture of the UK and get one step closer to the state, whose language is the most widely spoken in the world.
We have already performed in our class, told our classmates about our research work. Our peers learned a lot.
But our research work does not end there - we also plan to develop and publish a small guide for the schoolchildren, which will be called "The most interesting facts about the holidays in Britain.
Thank you for your attention!
List of literature and media sources:
http://www.ru-uk.net
http://britainrus.co.uk/
http: //London life. en
http://www.homeenglish.ru
http: //russianlondon. com
P. Hobday “England. Customs and etiquette»
I. Eagles "History of England"
Notes "On the legends of the old woman of England" E. Sheards
MOU "Pomar middle comprehensive school»
Volzhsky municipal district
Republic of Mari El
Research
"Holidays UK and USA"
Chernova Evelina,
Mironov, Mikhail
Sibagatulin Andrey,
Lapteva Svetlana,
8th grade students
Project Manager:
Gavrilova Alevtina
Vladimirovna, teacher
in English
with. Pomary, 2012
Introduction
1. Analysis of theoretical material. The role of holidays in the cultural life of the country
2.Experimental part
2.1. Types of holidays, their classification.
UK and US holidays
2.2. Similarities and differences in cultural traditions
US and UK
3.Conclusion
4.Literature
Introduction
Today there are many holidays, and they all have their own name. There are many of them in every country, for each country there are significant dates that are not in any other, but there is also something in common between many English-speaking countries. To understand the peoples of other countries, it is not enough to know only the language, you need to know the culture and history of this country. So, the study of cultural traditions, in particular the study of the peculiarities of the celebration of various festivals, customs adopted by the peoples of the countries of Great Britain and the USA today, we can talk about relevance of this topic: Firstly, since the United States is a multinational country, and its territory is inhabited by peoples who, in addition to public holidays, celebrate their national holidays (for example, Americans of Irish descent celebrate St. strengthening interethnic cultural relations within the country. Secondly, the main public holidays of these countries existed at different times, but so far they have not lost their significance, since they are an integral part of the life of every person.
aim This research work is on the example of the common holidays of Great Britain and the USA to show the similarities and differences in the cultural traditions and customs of these countries. To study the features of the holidays in these countries.
The goal is revealed through the following research objectives:
– to study their role in the cultural life of the country.
- identify similarities and differences in cultural traditions regarding common holidays.
– to explore the features of holding common holidays and festivals in each of these two countries.
object studying my work are the cultural traditions and customs of Great Britain and the USA.
Working hypothesis: Getting started, we suggested that there are similarities and differences in the cultural traditions of the UK and the US.
Our research work consisted of the following stages:
1. The study of theoretical material.
2.Experimental part.
3. Analysis of the obtained results.
4. Formulation of elections.
Practical significance The research lies in the fact that, based on the results obtained by us, we can distinguish between the features of holding common holidays in each of the two countries.
1. Analysis of theoretical material.
The role of holidays in the cultural life of the country
At all times, for different peoples, the holiday was a special event, it was distinguished from other weekdays and it had a special meaning in the life of the family, the whole society, and the country. Over the years, many memorable dates have been preserved in the festive culture, and many ways have appeared to celebrate this or that date. Despite the fact that all holidays are somewhat diverse, many of them have something in common. Holidays have always existed in the culture of different peoples, and now they exist in the culture of different countries. Every day on our planet some kind of holiday thunders. They prepare for the holidays, they are remembered and not forgotten. They create a festive atmosphere and bring people together. The famous Russian scientist I. Snegirev wrote about the concept of “holiday” as follows: “The very word holiday expresses abolition, freedom from everyday work, combined with fun and joy. There is a holiday free time , - a significant action, the accepted way of performing solemn actions; the latter is contained in the former. There is such a thing as "the educational value of folk holidays." In his work on the work of F. Rabelais, M. Bakhtin noted: “The holiday is the primary and indestructible category of human culture. On a holiday, the doors of the house are open to guests to the limit - for everyone, for the whole world, on a holiday all the abundance (festive food, clothes, decoration of the room) are preserved, of course, and holiday wishes for all the best (but with almost complete loss of ambivalence), holiday toasts , festive games and disguise, festive cheerful laughter, jokes, dances, etc. The holiday does not lend itself to any utilitarian understanding (as rest, detente, etc.). The holiday just frees from all utilitarianism and practicality; it is a temporary exit to a utopian world. It is impossible to tear off a holiday from the life of the body, earth, nature, space. On a holiday and “the sun plays in the sky”, it’s like “special festive weather” ... Dressing up, dressing up, disguise are a necessary element of any holiday, because they provide anonymity for participation in the festive action, help to remove social and psychological barriers. In the Dictionary of Antiquity, the word holiday comes from the Latin "dies festus", "fesia / feria", which means "a day free from work." Since ancient times, it was believed that the task of the holiday is "to restore the broken harmony between people and nature and eliminate the alienation of people from nature and society." The first stage of any holiday is a happy expectation, preparation for it. Then comes the holiday itself and, “alas,” the end of the holiday. Impressions from the holiday are stored in the soul of a person for a long time, being for him a source of "spiritual strength". One of the main reasons we celebrate events of any kind is to remember our ancestors and the traits of past times. By celebrating something, we show our respect for the people who played a role in the historical process of the country. We enrich our knowledge, learn a lot of new things from the history and culture of the country. Young people listen carefully to the stories of their elders about what and how they celebrated in their times, because traditions tend to change in some cases. By introducing something new into the celebration of some memorable date, or by borrowing some tradition from other peoples, we unite people among ourselves. Thus, other cultures join the culture of the country in which they live, not forgetting their own cultural traditions. The nation becomes more friendly, despite the difference in religion. In some cases, there is an exchange of cultural information, when the culture of another country penetrates into the culture of one country, a holiday is borrowed and acquires modified features and traditions of celebration.
2. Experimental part.
2.1. Types of holidays, their classification. UK and US holidays
“Holidays are such wonderful days on which, in accordance with one or another tradition, for example, folk or religious, it is customary to have fun, arranging parties with feasts, solemn ceremonies. In a word - to single out this day from a series of everyday life, by any actions that contribute to idle pastime, relaxation or saluting and increased attention to any event. The holiday calendar can include both days off, if the holidays correspond to the order of the day off in the month in which the holiday is assigned (usually these are professional holidays), and working days, if the holiday corresponds to a specific date. The calendar of holidays also includes religious holidays, international holidays, professional holidays, state official holidays, unofficial holidays and personal holidays relating only to a specific person, his family, or a certain circle of people, friends and acquaintances. The largest number of holidays falls on international holidays, popular and not so popular, each of which, in different countries has a different priority and, accordingly, fame. In the UK, there are only 38 official holidays: 5 of them are official public holidays: New Year's Day (New Year's Day), Catholic (Good) Friday (Good Friday), Spring Day in the UK, Day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Catholic Christmas (Christmas) ; 12 of them are festivals, memorable dates etc., which are of great importance for the country, but are not holidays in the truest sense of the word, 21 are holidays celebrated in the country, but do not have official days off. You can also celebrate religious holidays, there are only 7 of them - this is Catholic (Good) Friday (Good Friday), Catholic Easter (Easter), the Day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Halloween - the eve of All Saints' Day (Halloween, All Hallows Evening or Beggars Night ), All Saints' Day, Guy Fawkes Day and Catholic Christmas.
There are 54 holidays in the USA: 7 are official state holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day in the USA, Independence Day ), Labor Day (Labor Day) and National Hunting and Fishing Day in the USA (National Hunting and Fishing Day); 13 - festivals, anniversaries, etc., which are of great importance for the country, but are not holidays in the truest sense of this words, 34 - holidays celebrated on the territory of the country, but not having official days off.Religious holidays can also be celebrated, there are only 6. As for personal holidays, these are naturally birthdays, wedding anniversaries and many others that are celebrated in a circle family and friends, or holidays related to a specific group of people.We will consider only the main common and most popular holidays in these two countries.These are:
· Catholic Easter (Easter) - Sunday after the first full moon, after the day of the vernal equinox.
Queen's birthday is the second Saturday in June.
2.2. Similarities and differences in the cultural traditions of the USA and Great Britain
The object of study of my work is the cultural traditions and customs of Great Britain and the USA. One of the main traditions of different countries of the world is the celebration of their national holiday. For the US, it's Independence Day. What is the national holiday in the UK? Great Britain is an island state, and as such it has long influenced the political and socio-economic development of other countries. Thanks to the flexible policy of Britain, it was possible to prevent hostilities on its territory and, therefore, it was characterized by a high standard of living and well-being of the English people. The people of the United Kingdom did not need national self-assertion and they did not need to be reminded every year that they were British. True, during the existence of the British Empire, Empire Day was celebrated, but it did not last long and was a day off only for teachers and schoolchildren. It was later replaced by Commonwealth Day, which has been celebrated as the Queen's birthday since 1996. The national holiday is necessary not only for the strengthening and self-affirmation of the nation, but also for official purposes. So, for example, on this day abroad, it is customary for ambassadors to hold receptions in honor of the day of their country, they represent their homeland, speaking on television, etc. The main winter holiday - New Year's Day for the UK can only be called a continuation of the festive Christmas days. It is not so dearly loved and not so widely celebrated. While Americans love this holiday and celebrate it quite noisily starting from December 31st. The Tournament of Roses and the Pantomime Parade are associated with the celebration of the new year. The origins of their traditions originated in the middle of the last century. AT major cities The United States arranges parades, and in Great Britain they put up the country's main Christmas tree on Trafalgar Square in London. New Year in Britain is celebrated in accordance with local, national traditions and personal preferences. Someone prefers to celebrate it at parties with friends, someone likes to gather in Piccadilly Circus or Trafalgar Square, many honor family traditions and therefore celebrate the New Goal with their families at the festive table, while in the USA they like to celebrate this holiday noisily in clubs, restaurants, theaters. In both countries, people give each other gifts, wish happiness, however, in the UK, this tradition is not so widespread. The British honor family traditions, so many of them celebrate the New Year with their families at a festively set table. As in England, a turkey is served at Christmas, so in Scotland, on New Year's Eve, haggis is prepared - the culinary emblem of this country. Sounds toast "Your good health!" - For your health! The most famous tradition in Britain is the tradition of the first guest. It is believed that after the clock strikes 12 times, if a person with dark hair appears on the threshold, then the year will be successful. Usually in England, a guest brings bread, coal, a pinch of salt with him, as symbols of food, warmth and prosperity. The first guest must be treated. Christmas (Christmas Day) is a beloved holiday of the British, but it is also widespread among Americans. It is celebrated on December 25th. This is a Christian holiday that is usually celebrated for several days. Preparing for this holiday, the Americans put a Christmas tree in the largest room of the house and decorate it with toys and candles, this tradition first appeared among the British. They began decorating the house and giving gifts of hanging plants such as holly, ivy, and mistletoe. “Each of these plants is connected in its own way with the divine principle. Ivy represents immortality. Holly, an evergreen shrub with glossy sharp leaves, is designed to instill in a person faith in the best and hope. Its shiny red berries symbolize the blood of Jesus Christ. The veneration of mistletoe as a sacred plant became a custom long before the birth of Christ. For example, the Druids believed that it was able to cure many diseases and protect against evil spells. From here came the tradition of hanging mistletoe branches intertwined with a ribbon over the entrance to the house. It was believed that a man had the right to kiss a girl who accidentally found herself under a branch of mistletoe. This custom of kissing under the mistletoe during the Christmas and New Year holidays has survived in the United States to this day.” On this day, the custom of giving gifts appeared, which finally established itself in Victorian England, before that, gifts were exchanged on New Year's Eve or on Twelfth Night (the feast of the Epiphany). When giving someone a gift, people usually say "Merry Christmas!" - "Merry Christmas!". In both countries, children hang stockings on the fireplace and wait for Santa Claus to come at night and put presents there. This custom also originated in Victorian England. “For him, there is such an explanation: “Christmas grandfather” traveled through the air and entered houses through a chimney. Going down to one of the houses, he dropped some gold coins into a sock, which they hung to dry over the hearth. Since then, on Christmas Eve, socks and stockings have been hung on the fireplace in the hope that something will fall there. The celebration of St. Valentine's Day on February 14 in the UK began earlier than in the US. This day got its name from the Christian martyr Valentine, who was sentenced to death. An order was issued forbidding marriage, but Valentine disobeyed and secretly married the lovers. In the UK, a special place on this day is given to flowers. As you know, there is a whole alphabet of flowers, thanks to which you can express all your feelings. The British borrowed the tradition of giving flowers on this holiday from the French in the early 18th century, and the Americans at the beginning of the last century on Valentine's Day began to send marzipans to their loved ones. Later, after the start of the production of caramel, words corresponding to the holiday began to be scratched out on sweets. The candies were red and white. Red meant passion, and white meant purity of love. But the Americans added one more tradition to all others: a week before the holiday, schoolchildren cut papier-mâché heart-shaped figurines, paint and make various inscriptions, and then give them to lonely, unhappy and sick people. The British also have a similar tradition: in addition to the gift, they give each other valentines - cards in the form of a heart. Now you can buy a wide variety of valentines, but the inscription remains unchanged on all postcards: “To You, with Love from Valentine” (with Love from Valentine).
March 17th is St. Patrick's Day in both the US and the UK. It is originally an Irish holiday that has British roots. Saint Patrick has become so popular in the United States, where the Irish population is very large, that the day of his death is celebrated on a national scale. There are several legends about this holiday. According to one of them: “Patrick was born on March 17, 415 in Wales (Wales) in the family of a deacon of the local church. At the age of 16, he was captured by pirates, brought to Ireland, where he fell into the service of the leader Milch. The young man was a shepherd. About that period of his life, he later wrote: “I prayed many times a day. Love for the Lord and the fear of God came to me more and more, and my faith grew stronger.” According to the legend, six years later he heard the voice of God: “You will soon return home.” "Look, your ship is waiting." Patrick escaped from captivity and, thanks to prayers, was able to persuade the captain to take him on the ship. Later, he met the French Bishop Germanus (Saint-Germain), who helped him to strengthen himself on the path of spiritual development. Years later, St. Patrick returned to Ireland as a missionary on behalf of Pope Celestine I. Mount Croagh Patrick is named after him, where he fasted for forty days and nights. It is on this mountain, as the legend says, that St. Patrick performed one of his miracles - he commanded snakes from all over the Irish land to gather at his feet, and then drove them out. According to legend, one large and cunning snake did not want to leave the Emerald Isle. The saint had to resort to cunning. He built a big box and told the snake that there was no way she could fit in it. The stubborn reptile succumbed to a sense of contradiction and began to argue with the missionary. As soon as the snake climbed into the box, the saint quickly covered it and threw it into the sea. If on Valentine's Day everything turns red, then on St. Patrick's Day everything turns green. Green hats, suits, green shamrock as a symbol of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the United States, this holiday is most widely celebrated in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Atlanta, where the Irish population is the largest. Traditionally, costumed parades with brass bands take place in Britain on this day; it is believed that the Americans introduced this tradition. In America, every year there is a big street parade in New York, when the Irish march along the main street of the city, thus symbolizing the triumph of the Catholic faith, and on a festive morning, a morning mass is held in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Every year, tens of thousands of pilgrims, many of them on bare feet, climb the holy mountain "Croagh Patrick", 765 m above sea level. Today, St. Patrick's Day is a holiday of spring and joy, which is celebrated not only in Ireland, Great Britain, but also far beyond their borders. April 1 is April Fools Day in these countries. If in Russia this day, as usual, begins with a joke: “Wake up! Overslept for work! ”, then in the USA funds mass media every year, for fun, a list of the most stupid people in the country is announced, warning that they are joking. Some believe that this day was previously celebrated in many countries as the day of the spring solstice, which was accompanied by jokes, pranks and funny tricks. But there is another version of the origin of the holiday: “Before Charles 9 reformed the calendar in France from Victorian to Gregorian in the 16th century, the New Year was celebrated not on January 1st, but at the end of March. New Year's week began on March 25 and ended on April 1. On New Year's holidays, it is customary to have fun not only now, but also those distant times. News at that time spread very slowly, and some did not receive news for several years. Some conservative (or perhaps simply ignorant) people continued to celebrate the New Year in the old style on April 1st. Others laughed and made fun of them, presented stupid gifts and called April fools (April's Fools). So the so-called April Fools' Day arose. Then it turned into a tradition. In Scotland, this day is called Cuckoo Day. "Usually in the UK, jokes are played on friends and acquaintances, but the media also takes part.True, there is one peculiarity - the time of the pranks is limited - only until noon.Mother's Day (Mother's Day) in the UK and the USA is similar to March 8 in Russia.In the UK, the roots of this holiday go back to Victorian times, when children lived and worked away from their parents and were allowed to visit them only once a year.On this day they gave their parents small gifts - bouquets of flowers and fresh eggs. , which the inhabitants of ancient Greece dedicated to Rhea, the mother of the gods.Starting from 1600, a tradition appeared in England to celebrate Mother's Sunday.On this day, which fell on the fourth Sunday of Lent, mothers were honored. The history of the origin of this holiday has preserved several curious facts. For example, at that time, many English poor people worked as servants for the rich. Since they often worked far from their families, they had to live in the homes of their employers. On Mothering Sunday they were given a day of rest so that they could go home and spend that day with their mothers. The symbol of the holiday was a special, maternal cake, which was presented to the mother as a sign of respect. After the spread of Christianity in Europe, holidays began to be held in honor of the Mother Church - a symbol of spiritual power that gives life and protection from danger. Over time, Mother's Day of the Church and Mother's Sunday began to be celebrated as one holiday: people honored their mothers as earnestly as the church. In the United States, Mother's Day was first publicly supported in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe, the author of the Republican anthem. Calling for this day to be dedicated to peace, she organized massive Mother's Day rallies every year in Boston." In terms of popularity, this holiday is in fifth place among Americans after St. Valentine's Day, Father's Day, Easter and Christmas. On this day, children bring gifts to their mothers and spend some time with her. And in the UK, this day is quite calm. The women rest while the men do housework and prepare dinner. On this day, according to tradition, it is customary to serve a simnel cake, decorated with 12 marzipan balls. Sometimes husbands take their wives to restaurants, children give flowers and gifts, and if the children are far from their parents, they will call their relatives or send a postcard, letter or e-mail to congratulate them. Another beloved holiday by many is Halloween - the eve of All Saints' Day (Halloween, All Hallows Evening or Beggars Night). It is celebrated on October 31st. It is said that this holiday is at least two thousand years old. “This controversial holiday takes its origins from Celtic culture. The Celts had "beginnings of the seasons". There were four of them. Samhain marked the arrival of winter and was celebrated on October 31st. In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV approved All Saints Day on November 1, wanting to distract the English people from pagan customs. Later, November 2 became the Day of Souls - when all the dead were commemorated. However, the traditions were preserved in the people's memory, and it was not possible to defeat them to the end. According to another version, the Mexicans brought their peculiarity of celebrating Halloween to America. Now in the US every year children dress up in costumes and go door to door to collect candy. There is a whole code on what kind of candy to give to children. Upon returning home, parents check which sweets the children have brought. The entire celebration ends around 8 pm. On this day, it is also customary to cast fear on the people, even the media take part in this. After all, Halloween in the United States is, “in fact, an all-American carnival for which people prepare costumes for a year.” It was the Americans who introduced the tradition of carving holiday lanterns out of pumpkins and putting a candle inside. Before that, they cut them out of turnips, potatoes, and in England their beets. Recently, in the United States, it has become a tradition to play bowling with the symbol of Halloween on this day, but the rules remain the same - whoever knocks down more balls wins. In Britain and the United States, Easter is celebrated in April. Easter is a Christian holiday in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, celebrated by the Catholic Church on the first full moon Sunday after the spring equinox between March 22 and April 25. Easter is the most ancient and important holiday of the year. The name of the holiday goes back to the Jewish “Pesach”: the Jewish Passover, dedicated to the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery, was in the eyes of Christians a prototype of that redemption of mankind from sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the memory of which is dedicated to the Christian Easter. On this day religious services are held in churches. On this day, it is customary to wear new clothes as a symbol of the onset of spring. Children around the house are looking for hidden eggs, which have previously been painted in bright colors. They also organize Eggstravaganza competitions: the child who finds the most eggs wins a prize. In the mornings, children also roll boiled eggs from the mountain. The egg rolling down the mountain symbolizes the stone that broke away from the Holy Sepulcher. The winner is the one whose egg reaches the foot of the mountain first. In the United States, where Protestants and Catholics celebrate holidays according to the Gregorian calendar, there is no preference for any one religious tradition of celebrating Easter. This day is usually celebrated with family. Many Americans have a tradition of painting Easter eggs and giving children candy as gifts. On Easter Monday in the United States, the President and his children take part in the annual Easter Egg Ride on the White House lawn. In Boston, in honor of the holiday, talking dolls of the prophet Moses are being sold. Such fun costs 10 dollars. The doll teaches the owner with the words: “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Conclusion
England and America have their own interesting and varied cultural customs and traditions. Many traditions and customs came from Great Britain to the USA and acquired their own features, but they are still rooted in the past of Great Britain. For many centuries, they managed to survive and survive, as well as remain relevant in the modern world of high technology. These customs and traditions still exist and attract many people interested in studying the history and culture of Great Britain and the United States. The study of the traditions of these countries allows a deeper understanding and study of the living conditions of people, their social status, the historical past of the country as a whole and its individual regions.
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