British and Russian Religious Holidays
(A ROLE PLAY)
Teacher: Today we'll speak about religious holidays in Great Britain and in Russia. What holidays do people in both countries celebrate?
Student: The most popular holiday on the British Isles is Christmas. The 25 of December is Christmas Day. It is a happy holiday for many people in different countries. Some weeks before Christmas English people are busy. They send greeting cards to all their relatives and friends. You can buy Christmas cards or you can make them. Many children make their cards at school.
Student: People buy a Christmas tree and decorate it with toys, coloured balls and little coloured lights. On Christmas Eve people put their presents under the tree. When children go to bed they put their stockings near their beds. At night Father Christmas comes. He has got a big bag of presents for children. He puts the presents into the children's stockings.
Student: Every year there is a big Christmas tree in the centre of London in Trafalgar Square. This is a present from the people of Norway to the people of Great Britain. They send it to Londoners every year and Londoners decorate the Christmas tree.
The shops are very busy at Christmas. People want to buy presents for their family and friends.
People open their presents on Christmas morning and they are happy with what they get. For Christmas dinner people eat turkey and the Christmas pudding. At five o'clock it's time for tea and Christmas cake. On this day people wish their nearest and dearest a merry Christmas. Do you celebrate Christmas in Russia?
Student: Yes, certainly, but we, Russians, celebrate Christmas on the seventh of January, and many people think, that New Year is more popular in Russia. I know, in February the British have a wonderful day for all lovers-St. Valentine's Day. Will you tell us about this holiday?
Student: Nobody knows much about St. Valentine. People call him the saint of love. On this day children write their names on cards with hearts on them and give them to their classmates. Schoolchildren and older people give cards, presents and flowers to their boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands and wives. Some people do not put their names at the end of their cards because they want their name to be a secret.
Student: Young Russians liked this holiday very much. They also make valentine cards, have parties and wish each other great love. We are sure that to celebrate St.Valentine's Day will be soon a tradition in our country. And what about St.Patric's Day? We don't have such a holiday in Russia!
Student: St. Patrick's Day is also very popular in the UK and other English -speaking countries. The symbol of this holiday is a shamrock.
The 17th of March is a national holiday in Ireland - St. Patrick's Day. People send greeting cards.On that day people wear a shamrock. A shamrock is a plant with three leaves. It is the national emblem of Ireland.
On St. Patrick's Day we decorate our schools, houses and streets with green
shamrocks. And we all wear something green. We say that everyone is Irish on this day. People say:" Kiss me. I am Irish.".
Teacher: Easter is a great religious holiday in both countries. How do people celebrate it in Great Britain and in Russia?
Student: "Happy Easter!" - say people in Great Britain greeting each other.
Student: However, in Russia after church services people kiss each other 3 times and usually say: "Christ is risen!" and the answer is "He is risen indeed!"
Student: hi England it is time to give and to get presents. On Easter Sunday children get chocolate eggs or rabbits. You can buy them at any sweet shop in the weeks before Easter.
Student: Traditional Easter food in Russia consists of painted eggs and an Easter cake, which is called kulich.
(Дети угощают друг друга пасхальной выпечкой-куличом и булочками "hot-cross buns").
Student: Hallowe'en. Autumn comes and it's time to celebrate Hallowe'en. It's a funny holiday for children and grown-ups. .
Student :In late October the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer. It is colder and darker and cold winds blow. The leaves fall down from the trees. The year is ending and everything is dying.
Student: People stay at home in the evenings and at weekends. It is the time of Hallowe'en. Hallowe'en is a great holiday. Hallowe'en is the end of autumn and the start of winter.
Student: hi the past this festival was a time of fear. People believed in ghosts and witches and they stayed at home.
Student: At Hallowe'en the ghosts of the dead and all the witches of the world rode in the sky on their broomsticks.
Student: Many countries celebrate Hallowe'en, but in different ways. People invite their relatives and friends to Hallowe'en parties and send invitation cards. Today this festival is a time for fun, for Hallowe'en parties.
Student: Now ghosts and witches are people dressed in old and funny clothes. On the 31st of October at Hallowe'en parties they eat tasty autumn food - pumpkin pies and cakes.
Student: Ghosts and witches can be seen.
Trick or Treat Trick or Treat!
Give us something good to eat. Do you celebrate such a holiday in Russia?
Student: You see, it is not a tradition yet, but it becomes popular among the young people nowadays. You know, it is interesting to take part in Hallowe'en parties and have fun.
Teacher: To finish I would like to thank all the students, who took part in our discussion and told us some interesting facts about British and Russian religious holidays. I am sure you had a wonderful time.
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