Holidays in Great Britain and in the USA

There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries. They are: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, May Day and others. Public holidays in Britain are called bank holidays, because the banks as well as most of the offices and shops are closed.

The most popular holiday is Christmas. Every year the people of Norway give London a present. It’s a big Christmas tree and it stands in Trafalgar Square. Central streets are beautifully decorated.

The fun starts the night before, on the 24^th of December. Traditionally this is the day when people decorate their trees. Children hang stockings at the end of their beds, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and fill them with toys and sweets.

Christmas is a family holiday. Relatives usually meet for the big dinner of turkey and pudding. And everyone gives and receives presents. The 26^th of December, Boxing Day, is an extra holiday after Christmas Day. This is the time to visit friends and relatives.

In the United States Christmas is usually a one-day official holiday, marked by special church services, gift-giving and feasting. Santa Clause comes from the North Pole in his sleigh, dressed in a red cap and jacket, entering the house through the chimney. He is a fat and merry individual. He has gifts of whatever you may wish for.

New Year’s Day is less popular in Britain than Christmas. But both in Britain and in the USA people stay awake until after night on December the 31^st to watch the Old Year out and the New Year in. Many parties are given on this night. Theaters, night clubs, restaurants are crowded. When midnight comes, they greet the New Year: people gather in the streets of big cities, they ring bells, blow whistles and automobile horns, some shoot off guns and firecrackers.

On the 30^th of May American people celebrate Memorial Day. It is a national holiday. On that day the Americans honour the servicemen who gave their lives in past wars. The cemeteries are decorated with flags on that day.

One more national public holiday in the USA is Independence Day, celebrated on the 4^th of July. On this day, in 1776, America signed the Declaration of Independence. This holiday is considered to be the most important.

Easter is a church holiday. The Americans give each other presents of coloured or even decorated eggs which are the symbol of new life. The Easter hare, which children believe, brings the Easter eggs, may be understood as a transformed Easter lamb. There is a belief that wearing three new things on Easter will bring good luck throughout the year.

The first Monday in September is Labour Day. It marks the end of the summer and the beginning of autumn. Parents go to summer camps and take their children back home.

The 14^th of February – St. Valentine’s Day – is not a national holiday in the USA, but it is widely celebrated among people of all ages by the exchange of “valentines”. A “valentine” is a greeting red card with red trimming and pictures of hearts.

Halloween is the day before All Saints’ Day. Children dress up as ghosts and witches and go out into the streets on that day. They go from house to house and say: “Trick or treat!” People give them candy, cookies and apples. A favourite custom is to make a jack-o’-lantern. Children scrape out a pumpkin and cut the outlines of eyes, nose and mouth in its side. They light a candle inside the pumpkin to scare their friends.

Besides public holidays there some special festivals in Great Britain. One of them takes place on the 5^th of November. On that day, in 1605, Guy Fowkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I. He didn’t succeed. The king’s men found the bomb, took Guy Fawkes to the Tower and cut off his head. Since that day the British celebrate the 5^th of November. They burn a dummy, made of straw and old clothes, on a bonfire and let off fireworks. This dummy is called a “guy”. Children can often be seen in the streets before the 5^th of November saying “Penny for the guy”, in such a way they collect some money to buy fireworks.

On the fourth Thursday of November the Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It is the family day when all members of the family gather at home. The family eats a large traditional dinner, usually with turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

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Tasks for the discussion

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