Методические указания для студентов 2 курса 6 часть «Культурные и национальные традиции"

Государственное бюджетное профессиональное образовательное учреждение

Нижегородской области

«Краснобаковский лесной колледж»

Воронина М.В.

Методические указания к развивающему курсу

английского языка для студентов II курса

(«Культурные и национальные традиции»)

Красные Баки

2015 год

Настоящие методические указания предназначены для студентов II курса всех специальностей КБЛК очной и заочной формы обучения для организации аудиторной и самостоятельной работы студентов.

Методические указания состоят из лексического материала и закрепляющих упражнений и текстов.

Учебно-методические указания составлены преподавателем английского языка ГБПОУ НО КБЛК Ворониной М.В.

Holidays

№1. Read and translate the holidays:

1. April Fool’s Day

2. Boxing Day

3. Christmas

4. Easter

5. Epiphany

6. Father’s Day

7. Guy Fawkes Day

8. Halloween

9. Independence Day

10. Knowledge Day

11. Labour Day

12. May Day

13. Memorial Day

14. Mother’s Day

15. New Year

16. Pancake Day

17. Shrovetide

18. Saint David's Day

19. Saint Patrick’s Day

20. Saint Valentine’s Day

21. Teacher’s Day

22. Thanksgiving Day

23. Victory Day

24. Wassailing

25. Women’s Day

№2. Match the picture and their definition:

a) On this day children help their mothers and give cards and presents.

b) Many people have gatherings eating dyed eggs.

c) People have parties and stay up until midnight.

d) People play tricks on friends.

e) Children find their presents in stockings.

f) People decorated Maypole and dance around it.

№3. Read the sentences, write agree or disagree with the statements, and explain it.

1. Mother’s Day is celebrated on the 1^st of January.

2. When Big Ben strikes 12 English people drink a toast for New Year.

3. Christmas is marked by setting the fir-tree and decorating it with toys and candles.

4. The original Maypoles were freshly cut flowers.

5. English children like to play jokes and tricks on the 25^th of December.

6. At Easter people usually dye eggs and exchange them with others.

№4. Find the correct ending of each sentence in right column.

№5. Answer the questions about holidays in writing.

1) What holiday is not popular in Britain?

2) Where do children get presents in Christmas?

3) What is decorated with flowers and ribbons for dancing?

4) When is Mother’s Day celebrated?

5) What symbols of Easter do you know?

6) What do people do in April Fool’s Day?

№6. Find German words in the text and change them in English.

Every country and every nation has its own customs and traditions. Englishmen are proud of their traditionelle.

Christmas is a great English religious holiday. The traditional food is turkey, Christmas cake, Weihnachten pudding made of fruit. In England on Neujahr 's Eve a lot of people go to Trafalgar Square, at midnight, they all cross their arms join hands and sing. Maifeiertag celebrations have their origins in the Roman festival of Flora, goddess of flowers, which marked the beginning of summer.

There are many others Feste in Great Britain.

№7. Write about your favourite holiday. The following questions may help you.

1) What is your favourite holiday?

2) When is it celebrated?

3) What kind of holiday is it?

4) How do you celebrate it?

5) Do you eat special food?

6) What do you like most about it?

№8. Match the symbol and the holiday:

№9. Find the right date for every holiday:

№10. Translate the words:

праздник, традиция, обычай, примета, церемония, парад, фестиваль, карнавал, костюм, угощение, напитки, подарок, приз, выходной, символ, культура, гость, танец, песня.

№11. Fill in the gaps with the following words and word combinations.

1. Halloween or … of All Saints’ Day is celebrated on October 31.

2. Though there are few … working today, a Sweeps Festival is celebrated in Rochester on the first weekend in May, in honour of this old profession.

3. St. Valentine’s Day is celebrated on … 14.

4. To present … on Christmas is a good tradition.

5. … is a characteristic feature of English people.

6. I know that many English people like … animals.

7. Thanksgiving Day is very popular in … .

8. The people can spend … with their families, as it is a four-day holiday.

9. As the … cooks, make the simple homemade … .

10. The Lord Chancellor presides over Parliament sitting on a … , which symbolizes the importance of wool in English history.

№12. What do you know about these traditions?

2 3

1

№13. Fill in the gaps with the suitable words:

№14. Сomplete the sentences.

- People dance to popular music in a …

- Look at the star and make a…

- My friend sent me a beautiful…

-  In January we celebrate…

- On St. Valentine’s Day people send…

- Celebrating Halloween is a very old…

- People in Britain celebrate Christmas…

Topics about holidays

New Year

New Year is the principal winter holiday, as opposed to Christmas. It is universally recognized as such by both secular and religious people. Whereas New Year is mostly an occasion merely for parties and drinking in the West, most of the traditions associated with Christmas fall on New Year in Russia. The welcoming of the New Year is considered the most significant occasion of the winter.

The New Year's tree is identical to a Christmas tree in the West. It is decorated in the same way, with ornaments, lights and garland. Stars are usually perched atop the tree rather than angels, and ornaments of a religious nature as well as nativity scenes are notably absent.

Folklore holds that Ded Moroz ("Grandfather Frost") is charged with the responsibility for delivering presents on New Year's Eve. He is a large, bearded and grandfatherly man resembling Santa Claus, although he has no saintly identity, nor sleigh nor reindeer. He is sometimes said to be dressed in blue rather than red - this is a point of contention. Either way, he emerges on New Year's Eve with a gargantuan, overflowing sack of gifts and dispenses them to each family. The actual procedure of doing this is not a significant component of the mythology; he doesn't come down the chimney, but it doesn't really matter how he gets into your dwelling. Perhaps through the front door, perhaps through the window - who knows?

Instead of elves to help him, Ded Moroz has his grand-daughter Snegurochka ("Snowy"), with whom he lives somewhere in the northern forest. Snegurochka is generally portrayed as an attractive young blonde girl, often dressed in light winter attire and sometimes a red cap. Presents are also given on New Year. There is no requirement of waiting until the morning of New Year's Day to open them; instead, they are usually presented and opened shortly after greeting the New Year at midnight.

Christmas

Christmas is Britain's most popular holiday. Its traditions and early ceremonies were rooted in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. They are still part of contemporary Christmas celebrations.

The Druids, for example, honoured the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. The red berry of the holly was believed to protect one against witchcraft. Ivy symbolized immortality. The Vikings introduced the Yule log which used to be burnt in honour of God Thor. The English adapted this practice for Christmas and today's (electric) Christmas candle is a holdover from baronial days.

The custom of sending Christmas cards to friends and family originated in Britain, too. In 1843 John Calcott Horsley designed the first one for Sir Henry Cole. Thus began a real spread of sending Christmas cards and this practice soon became an established tradition. Favoured designs were Christmas feasts, church bells, plum and turkey as well as religious themes. Every year more than a billion Christmas cards are now sent in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities.

Since 1840 the decorated and illuminated Christmas tree has gained popularity in England. Prince Albert brought this rite over from Germany. In 1848 the Illustrated London News published a picture of the Royal Family around one. The English families followed the Royal example and it can truly be called a Victorian innovation. Each year a giant Christmas tree is set up and decorated near the statue of Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square. It commemorates Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during World War II.

On Christmas Eve carols are often sung by groups of singers walking from house to house, and children hang a stocking on the fireplace or at the foot of their bed for Father Christmas to fill. Caroling dates back to the Middle Ages when beggars were seeking for money, food or drink wandering the streets singing holiday songs.

On Christmas Day gifts are opened in the morning. Later the family will gather for the traditional Christmas dinner consisting of Brussels sprouts, fried potatoes with roast turkey, roast beef or goose. Sweet mince pie or Christmas pudding is served for dessert.

The pudding might contain coins or lucky charms for children. For afternoon tea Christmas cake is offered. It is rich baked fruit cake with marzipan and icing. A party favourite are Christmas crackers. There will be one to each plate on the Christmas dinner table. A Christmas cracker is a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy.

The annual broadcasting of the Queen's Christmas Message is on Christmas Day afternoon. In 1932 King George brought this custom into being.

Boxing Day is on December 26th. This day takes its name from a former custom giving a Christmas box to delivery men and trades people called regularly through the year. Nowadays dustmen, milkmen, or postmen get a tip for a good service at Christmas time.

St. Valentine’s Day

St. Valentine’s Day comes on February 14. It is widely celebrated among people of all ages. Valentine’s Day is a time when people in love express their feelings to those whom they love or adore. Some people give greeting cards, flowers, chocolates, perfumes or jewelry to their admirers or partners while others take their loved ones for a romantic dinner at a restaurant or even propose to get married.

Valentine’s Day cards are the most popular gifts. They can be ready-made or hand-made. Also Valentine’s cards can be pink or red-coloured and some of them can be heart-shaped. Some valentines are very fancy; they are decorated with ribbons, paper lace and images of cupids. A card can be different; it can be sentimental with love poetry, friendly or satirical.

The origins of this day are not clear. Some sources believe that it stems from the story of St Valentine, a Roman priest who was executed on February 14, around 269 C.E. According to one legend, Valentine served as a priest during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he forbade marriage for young men. Valentine disobeyed the order of Emperor Claudius II and secretly married young couples anyway. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, he was sentenced to death. In prison he fell in love with his jailer’s daughter who visited him during his confinement. Just before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From Your Valentine”.

Today, St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of love, young people, happy marriages and the holiday was named after him. St. Valentine’s Day is a good day for parties. The restaurants and clubs are decorated with red and pink paper hearts. Chocolate, candies and cookies are often cut in the shape of hearts.

Father’s Day

Father’s Day comes on the third Sunday in June. It is not a national holiday on that day. Americans honour their fathers. Many people send their fathers a card or a gift. Americans are great letter-writers. Whatever happens in a family, they congratulate all the members. They congratulate people on Easter, Christmas and Whitsun. They do not have to possess great literary talent themselves, because one can find printed texts for all possible occasions. One may select and check any of these suggested texts: “Here’s to Father: always loved, respected, and admired”. “Warmest wishes for your happiness on Father’s Day and ever after”. About 1909, the churches of Spokane, Washington, set aside the day to honour fathers. The custom soon spread throughout the United States and Canada. During the autumn, some colleges celebrate Dad’s Day. They set aside a Saturday during the football season. On Dad’s Day, they honour the fathers among the members and friends of the college.

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day comes on the second Sunday in May. It is a day when Americans honour their mothers. It is not a national holiday. Mother’s Day is an American national observance in honour of motherhood. The holiday, suggested by Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, was set (1914) by an act of Congress for annual celebration. It is also observed in England and Germany. In 1907, the day was celebrated in a church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A member of that church planned the Sunday morning service to honour her own mother. More and more churches in cities and states set aside the day to honour mothers. Since 1914, the whole country has observed Mother’s day. Most mothers like to celebrate the day with family reunions. Many people send their mothers a card or a gift. Some people take their mothers to a restaurant for dinner. It is a custom to wear a red or pink flower if one’s mother is living. It is the custom to wear a white flower if one’s mother is dead.

Thanksgiving Day

There is one day a year when all Americans stay home with their families and eat a big dinner. This is Thanksgiving Day.

The pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day in the fall of 1621. The pilgrims sailed to America on board the "Mayflower" ship for religious freedom. They were among the first European settlers in America. There were people living in America before the pilgrims arrived. These people were the Native American Indians.

The pilgrims first winter in the New World was very difficult. They had arrived too late to grow many crops. Without fresh food half of the pilgrims died. The following spring the Indians taught the pilgrims how to hunt, fish, plant and survive in America. The crops did well and in the fall of 1621 pilgrims had a great harvest. They were thankful and decided to celebrate with a Thanksgiving feast. They prepared a dinner of turkey, corn, beans and pumpkins. They invited their Indian friends to share this feast. The Indians brought food for the feast too (they even brought popcorn!)

Americans still celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the fall. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. Turkey is still the main dish and pumpkin pie is the most popular dessert.

Victory day

The most memorable public event I`ve ever visited is definitely the Victory Day. It`s is traditionally held on the 9th of May in honour to the USSR victory over the Nazi Germany.

Despite the fact that a lot of cheerful parades are held on this day, I can`t say that this public holiday is a happy day for everyone. On the contrary, many people are sad because their close relatives and friend died on this terrible war! Almost every family in Russia has a person who didn`t return from the battlefield of the most inhuman war ever. It was mostly young and healthy people with great love to their Motherland who had to struggle frantically with terrible enemies. Moreover, many people were seriously injured and became disabled. However, we are happy that our country wasn`t occupied by the enemies, that`s why we are having plenty of parades all over the country.

I personally have quite contradictory feelings about this event. On the one hand, I feel patriotic and proud of my Motherland, which managed to protect its independence. On the other hand, though, I fell sorry for soldiers and civils, who sacrificed their lives in order to protect the not only the country, but its new generations.

What I really hate about this day is disrespect for out saviors, which is shown by some of the citizens. I`m really displeased with the fact that the streets are overcrowded with overdrunk people. Besides, some teens don`t understand the importance of this event for everyone and they don`t treat the main symbol of it properly. To put it in another way, they use George Ribbons as lasers! It`s unbelievably rude to our history!

We must be grateful to those who puttheir lives on the altar of the USSR victory. We must keep their memory carefully and appreciate everything they did for us, as we are living just because they are dead.

Shrovetide

Shrovetide is one of the most favourite holidays in our country. It lasts from Monday till Sunday.

It comes either at the end of February or at the beginning of March, this is so-called movable festival. In 2015, Shrovetide took place in February (from 16^th up to 22^th).

This holiday means the end of winter and the spring coming. It has pagan origin. During this holiday people visit each other, children play snowballs, light bonfires, enjoy horse-sledging.

During these days people should avoid eating any kind of meat, but they are to eat much butter, cheese, sour cream, lots of pancakes.

Lent follows Shrovetide, it is the strictest and long holiday, it lasts 7 weeks. During these weeks people avoid eating fat meals, meat and there are few entertainments.

People must work hard, pray and clean their soul.

Easter

Easter is the most important holiday of the year.

Easter egg is called pysanka. Pysanka shells have been found in archaeological sites from more than 3000 years ago, and many of those designs are still being used on pysanka today.

Preparation for Easter starts seven weeks ahead of time with the advent of Lent. Believers don’t eat meat and animal products.

Palm Sunday, the week before Easter, is known  as Willow Sunday. People bring home willow branches which have been blessed in church.

The week is dedicated to preparing for Easter. The Thursday before Easter is called Clean Thursday. According to the tradition one should bathe before sunrise on this day. The house must be clean too.

Good Friday is the day that the women of the family bake “paska”,  Easter bread.

On Saturday children dye Easter eggs to add to the Easter basket which will be blessed in church. It also includes pysanka, salt, paska, sausage and ham. In the evening people go to church for the Easter mass, which lasts all night.

Easter Sunday is a day of singing songs and eating. Young girls dance and sing about nature and spring. People exchange pysanky.

Day of Knowledge

The National Day of Knowledge is celebrated in all parts of our country on the 1st of September.

Teachers, parents, pupils usually gather at the school yards in the morning of this day They can have different performances or concerts dedicated to The Day Of Knowledge. After that everybody congratulate each other and then pupils and parents give flowers to the teachers to thank them for patience and energy and to congratulate them with this holiday.

It also starts the new studying year both in schools and in the institutes or universities. Students and tutors merrily gather at the Assembly Halls to congratulate each other with the beginning of the new studying term.

Knowledge is very important in modern life. It helps a person to choose a trade or profession and to be able to work well. Knowledge helps us to be active, useful citizen of our country. Everybody must have great knowledge nowadays.

Usefulness and need of knowledge is very important especially for young people in their choosing a profession. It helps them to learn how to work together with other people, to be active in life and to think of others as well as themselves.

To prepare well for your practical life and future profession pupils must learn all school subjects, take optional courses read books or magazines on specialized subjects.

Knowledge of people, of their daily life, of their work and of their interests helps us to be happy and to become good citizens and patriots of our country.

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks.

Modern customs of the holiday involve celebrations where early morning festivals are held to watch the groundhog emerging from its burrow. In southeastern Pennsylvania it is a big social event in which food is served, speeches are made. The Pennsylvania German dialect is the only language spoken at the event, and those who speak English pay a penalty, usually in the form of a nickel, dime or quarter, per word spoken, put into a bowl in the center of the table.

The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day, already a widely recognized and popular tradition, received worldwide attention as a result of the 1993 film of the same name, Groundhog Day, which was set in Punxsutawney and featured Punxsutawney Phil.

Groundhog Day is a 1993 American comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. It was written by Ramis and Danny Rubin, based on a story by Rubin.

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by the Irish and Irish at Heart in big cities and small towns alike with parades, "wearing of the green," music and songs, Irish food and drink, and activities for kids such as crafts, coloring and games on the 17-th оf March. Its a time for fun. Some communities even go so far as to dye rivers or streams green!

The day is generally characterised by the attendance of church services, wearing of green attire (especially shamrocks), and the lifting of Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol, which is often proscribed during the rest of the season.

Saint Patrick was the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland who is credited with bringing christianity to Ireland. Saint Patrick is most known for driving the snakes from Ireland. It is true there are no snakes in Ireland, but there probably never have been - the island was separated from the rest of the continent at the end of the Ice Age. Driving the snakes from Ireland was probably symbolic of putting an end to that pagan practice. While not the first to bring christianity to Ireland, it is Patrick who is said to have encountered the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites. The story holds that he converted the warrior chiefs and princes, baptizing them and thousands of their subjects in the "Holy Wells" that still bear this name.

So, why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, where March 17th is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.

Independence Day

On July, 4, 1776, a group of Americans representing the thirteen British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America signed a document stating that these colonies had the right to be free and independent. This document is known as the Declaration of Independence. July 4 is celebrated by Americans as a national holiday — Independence Day. There is a building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is called Independence Hall. Here the Declaration was signed. On the building there is the famous Liberty Bell which rang to tell people in the streets that a new country had been born. But Britain did not recognise this fact until1783, when the American colonists were victorious in the war of Independence with Britain. June, 14 is Flag Day in the USA. On that day in 1777, the Americans adopted their own flag. No one really knows who sewed the American flag but many Americans believe that it was made by Betsy Ross in her own home. You can see Betsy Ross sewing the flag on an American stamp.

Day of the Defender of Fatherland

On February, 23 — the Day of the Defender of Fatherland in Russia. This day is not celebrated only by men who are serving in Russian Army but also the future defenders of the Motherland.

Day of the Defender of Fatherland is devoted to people, who protected, protect and will protect the native ground. Brave soldiers struggled with the enemy and won. Day of the Defender of Fatherland is celebrated in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries. For safe life men should stand on a post in the afternoon and at night. Soldiers should prepare for service to Fatherland. My father served in army and I shall serve too. The man should be proud of that he serves in army, in fact there he becomes more courageously and more strongly.

Halloween

Halloween is a world-famous festival, which is the interplay of Celtic tradition to worship evil spirits, and Christian, all the saints. Its history goes back far into antiquity.Celtic year was divided into two parts-winter and summer. These people believed that in winter the sun was captured by Samheyn – tsar of dead men. They believe that at Halloweeen night Samheyn opened the gates of hell in the past and future, those guarding the gates of the shadow of the custodians (witches, demons, ghosts etc.). Celts believed that at Halloween night the souls of dead people came down to earth to complete unfinished business, while they can take any shape they liked, and the most evil soul could enter black cats.

When the Romans conquered the Celtic territory, they established their holiday rituals and traditions. The celebration took place on 31 of October at night in honor of the goddess Pomona, whose symbol was an apple. Nowadays there is such a tradition, as a game with apples, she took the beginning from the day of Pomona. In the seventh century Halloween was accepted as the Feast of All Saints. Although the church was against the traditions of coaxing the evil spirits, they could not do anything, and the holiday merged with Halloween. Halloween came to America with immigrants from Ireland and gained great popularity. During this festival people dress up, frighten and played tricks. The main attribute is a pumpkin with carved eyes, nose and mouth. There are many different views of the appearance of this attribute. The Romans pumpkin labeled wandering souls, druids put them near the house to scare ghosts. There is a legend about a drunk Jack who tricked the devil. He was forced to renounce Satan of his soul, but in heaven the soul of Jack could not enter and was forced to wander forever in the void. And that the soul could see the way the devil had given it a turnip lantern with embers inside. In the 19 century some people tried to oliminate the mystical roots of the festival. That is why many traditions and features of the festival have been lost. Many of us forgot that the essence of Halloween is to understand the link between past and future.

Today Halloween is celebrated around the world. This unusual holiday charms by its traditions and customs, which have gone through many centuries and come down to us.

“The King’s Bread And Butter” (by A. A. Milne)

The King asked
The Queen, and
The Queen asked
The Dairymaid:'
“Could we have some butter for
The Royal slice of bread?”
The Queen asked
The Dairymaid,
The Dairymaid
Said: “Certainly,
I’ll go and tell
The Cow
Now
Before she goes to bed.”
The Dairymaid
She curtsied'
And went and told
The Alderney:2
“Don’t forget the butter for
The Royal slice of bread.”
The Alderney
Said sleepily:
“You’d better tell His Majesty3
That many people nowadays
Like marmalade Instead.