Урок " Праздники и традиции". Reading and discussion

Let’s read the text about celebrating New Year in Russia and then let’s find out what other traditions do you have in your families:

New Year in Russia

In Russia New Year is celebrated on the 31st of December.

New Year in Russia is a national holiday. On New Year's Eve it is a tradition to put on new and the best clothes. Also it is considered that it is important to give the money which you have borrowed back . On New year’s Eve people forgive each other and try to be kind. The New Year's table should burst with tasty dishes and wine to make the coming year be rich and cheerfull. Before every New year it is recommended to wash up windows and mirrors, floors and make your flat look very clean and cosy. All the people decorate the trees with beautiful toys.

On New year’s Eve close people gather at the New Year's table usually in the evening at about 8 -9 o’clock in the evening to see of the old year,to wish each other that the best things of the old year to pass in the new one.

Invariable attributes of a New Year's table in Russia by tradition are champagne, "Olivier's" salad and «a herring under a fur coat», tangerines and pies.

After the speech of the head of the state on TV at 0 o'clock 0 minutes, the chiming clock of the Moscow Tower in Red Square beats 12 times. With the first blow of it everyone clinks glasses with champagne and thinks of wishes.

After that kids go to see if Father Frost has brought presents. It’s a tradition to put present under the New Year tree. Father Frost and his granddaughter Snegurochka are the symbols of Russian New year. Fathre Frost wears a long red or blue winter coat, valenky, a hat and warm gloves. He has a magical baculus. There is a residence of Father Frost in the city Velikiy Ustug. Father Frost has nice horses and travel in a sleigh.

Later at bight on the 1st of January lots of people go out to set fireworks and have fun around the New Year trees at the main squares of the city.

On the 1^st and 2d of January people visit each other and give presents and New Year cards.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Key words:

a national holiday

Decorate

the chiming clock of the Moscow Tower

Father Frost

set fireworks