| HOLIDAYS and TRADITIONS There are three main types of holidays people celebrate all over the world: Religious holidays – pagan, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and others. Secular holidays – to commemorate historical dates, events and figures, to celebrate and honor certain groups – women, men, children, professions, minorities. They can be both national and international. Family holidays - we celebrate them at home, they are a good reason for a family reunion. It may be someone’s birthday, a wedding anniversary or one of the traditionally celebrated by the community in this culture. Christmas is a Christian holiday to celebrate the miracle of Jesus Christ the Savior’s Birth (Nativity). In catholic countries it’s on the 25th of December, while in Orthodox calendar it’s on the 6th of January. Families decorate Christmas trees and homes, send out Christmas cards, sing Christmas carols, exchange presents, have a big family dinner. A little later – on the 31st of December we celebrate New Year in a pretty much the same way. It’s also a tradition to make a wish and a list of New Year Resolutions, make fireworks. Saint Valentine’s Day is on the 14th of February. It’s dedicated to all people who are in love, on that day they send each other heart-shaped Valentines, exchange gifts, confess love. Easter is a religious holiday to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. People color eggs, make Easter cakes – to break the longest fast of the year. Women’s Day is internationally celebrated on the 8th of March to show solidarity of women and their support of one another and equal rights for all. Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day are devoted to parents. Children come to visit or call and send cards and presents. Victory Day is celebrated in many countries. In Russia it’s on the 9th of May – in memory of all the heroes and the victory in the Great Patriotic War (the Second World War). On that day there’s a military parade and a memorial service, veterans’ reunions. Labor Day is celebrated in the USA on the first Sunday of September to honor and recognize the Labor movement. People enjoy the parade and barbeques. In Russia we have the same on the 1st of May. Independence Day in Russia is on June 12 and in the USA – on the 4th of July. Halloween is on October 31. Children wear scary costumes, make Jack-o-lanterns out of pumpkins, trick or treat for sweets. Thanksgiving is in November, a day to give thanks (originally – for the harvest, also to Native Americans from colonists). Turkey, corn, pumpkin pies are traditionally eaten. |
Religious holidays – pagan, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu – религиозные праздники – языческие, христианские, буддистские, мусульманские, иудейские Secular holidays светские праздники Family holidays семейные праздники national национальные international международные to commemorate чтить память in memory of в память о celebrate праздновать honor/to recognize чествовать, почтить be devoted to / be dedicated to быть посвященным birthday день рождения wedding anniversary годовщина свадьбы family reunion сбор всей семьи Christmas Рождество Christmas carols рождественские колядки New Year Новый год Saint Valentine’s Day День Св.Валентина heart-shaped Valentines валентинки в форме сердца Easter Пасха Resurrection Воскресение Easter cake кулич fast пост Women’s Day Женский день Mothers’ Day День матери Fathers’ Day День отца Labor Day День труда Victory Day День Победы a military parade военный парад a memorial service поминальная служба veterans’ reunions встречи ветеранов fireworks салют Independence Day День независимости barbeques шашлыки Halloween Хэллоуин (День всех святых) Thanksgiving День Благодарения miracle чудо decorate Christmas tree украшать ёлку send out (Christmas) cards посылать (рождественские) открытки exchange presents/ gifts обмениваться подарками make a wish загадывать желание New Year Resolutions обязательства на следующий год confess love признаваться в любви scary costumes страшные костюмы trick or treat кошелёк или жизнь Jack-o-lanterns out of pumpkins фонарь из тыквы give thanks благодарить Congratulations! Поздравления! Best wishes! Наилучшие пожелания! festivities празднества harvest урожай |
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