Раздел 5. Традиции и культурное многообразие.
Текст 1. TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS
Every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions. In Britain traditions play a more important part in the life people than in other countries.
Englishman are proud of their tradition and carefully keep them up. Foreigners coming to England are struck at once by quite a number of customs and peculiarities in English life. Some ceremonies are rather formal, such as the Changing of the State opening of Parliament. Sometimes you will see a group of cavalrymen riding on black horses through the streets of London. They wear red uniforms, shining helmets, long black boots and long white gloves. These men are Life Guards. Their Special duty is to guard the king or the queen of great Britain and very important guests of the country.
To this day an English family prefers a house with a fireplace and a garden to a flat in a modern house with central heating. Most English live gardens. Sometimes the garden in front of the house is a little square covered with cement painted green in imitation of grass and a box of flowers. They love flower very mach.
The English people like animals very much, too. Pet dogs, cats, horses, ducks, chickens, canaries and other friends of man have a much better life in Britain than anywhere else. In Britain they have special dog shops selling food, clothes and other things for dog. In recent years the English began to show love for more “exotic” animals such as crocodiles, elephants, tiger, cobras, camels.
Holidays are especially rich in old traditions and are different in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Christmas is a great English national holiday and in Scotland it is not observed at all. But six days later, on New Year’s Eve the Scotts begin to enjoy themselves. All the shop and factories are closed on New Year’s Day. People invite their friends to their houses. Greetings and presents are offered.
A new tradition has been born in Britain. Every year a large number of ancient motorcars drive from London to Brighton. Some of these veteran cars look very funny. This run from London to Brighton is a colorful demonstration. People are dressed in the clothes of those times. It is not a race, and most of the cars come to Brighton, which is sixty miles from London, only in the evening.
Текст 2. American Customs.
Americans are very punctual. It is important to be on time at business, social and public events. If you must miss an appointment for any reason, telephone ahead to the person you were supposed to meet, saying that you won’t be able to come.
When you invited to a home where food will be served, it is best to let your host or hostess know in advance if you are on a diet. It is all right, however, to say, “No, thank you,” if you would rather not eat or drink what is being served. No further explanation is needed, but if you would like to explain, people are interested.
In some homes the atmosphere is quite formal. In other, it is informal and you may sit at the kitchen table to eat dinner. Informality is a way of taking you into the warmth of the firmly circle.
It is not always customary to sot at dinner table as we do in Russia. When you are at a party you may be walking from one sitting room to another, talking to the guests with a glass of wine in your hand. Food is served in one of the rooms and you can help yourself to whatever you like and whenever you like.
The Americans may have a party on one occasion in several houses at a time. The party starts in one house where they have some light wine and snacks, and then move on to another house and still another, traveling from houses to houses, talking drinks and food with them; and previous arrangements are made about what food each family cooks. Normally three or four houses are involved. Such a party is called progressive dinner.
Generally Americans tend to be fairly informal. They often (but not always) address each other but their given names on first meetings. They also tend to abbreviate a lot. For example, Mass. Ave. means Massachusetts Avenue. Do not be surprised and ask what these abbreviations mean.
New Year’s Day has traditionally been the occasion for starting new programmes and giving up bad habits. People talk about “turning over a new leaf.” Many Americans make New Year’s resolutions, promising themselves and their families are to spend less money, give up smoking, begin a diet, or control one’s temper. To Americans the closing of one calendar year and the opening of another is a serious, yet happy occasion.
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