In every country, there are different holidays and festivals. I would compare the USA, Czech Republic and Britain.
In USA, Thanksgiving is a very important holiday. It’s the oldest American holiday, first celebrated in 17th century, due to Pilgrims. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Families usually meet themselves together, have a big dinner, eat stuffed turkey and a pumpkin pie.
The other important day is Independence Day. The fourth of July has been the most important annual national holiday in the United States since 1776, when America was declared independent. The day is celebrated with parades, picnics, speeches, fireworks and bonfires.
Halloween is the day all American children wait for- they say trick or treat behind your door and you give them candy. Children dress up in funny clothes and masks. The name Halloween means All Hallows Eve-the Eve of All Saint’s day, celebrated on October the 31st. Ghosts, witches, spirits are all present in celebrations. People even decor their houses-often with Jack O’ Lantern, a pumpkin witch holes as a face in it.
Saint Valentine’ s day, is lover’s holiday. People give presents, send greeting cards to people they like or admire.
In Britain, they also celebrate Saint Valentine’s day, Halloween… but as in the rest of Europe, Easter is also celebrated there. It is an ancient symbol of life and spring, Christians remember the death of Christ and his return to life.
On November the 5th, there is Guy Fawkes night. The unsuccessful plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 is commemorated with bonfires, burning of guys as Guy Fawkes (whose gunpowder was discovered and he with his other companions were executed).
On November the 11th or the nearest Sunday, Remembrance Day is celebrated. It is a ceremony in Whitehall in London when there are 2 minutes of silent to remember those who were killed during 2nd world war.
In Czech Republic, we have so many holidays and special traditions due to our very rich history. Starting with the 1st of January, as New Year. People eat lentils to have money in the future year.
In April, there is Easter Sunday and Monday. It is celebrated on the first full moon after March, 21st. The symbols are eggs, flowers, lamb, hare (zajíček). In Czech Republic, boys whip (šlehat) girls so they stay attractive for men in future year.
In May, there are two holidays- on May the 1st, there is Workers day (it has origins in Communist era), on May the 8th, there is Liberation day, which celebrates the end of the 2nd world war.
On July, the 5th, we celebrate Cyril and Methodius day. We remember two important priest for our country-they brought Christianity to the Slavic people in central Europe.
The day after, July the 6th, we remember Jan Hus, a catholic priest who was burned at the stake (hranice).
On September the 28th, we have Saint Wenceslas day, as the anniversary of prince Wenceslas, also known as Czech Statehood day.
On October the 28th, we celebrate Czechoslovak Independence Day, when in 1918, the independent Czechoslovak republic was founded.
Many people even nowadays remember communist era and demonstrations connected to it- on November the 17th, we remember the Struggle for freedom and democracy day, because in 1989, there was a giant demonstration against communism which started the Velvet revolution.
Of course we celebrate Christmas in Czech Republic too. It’s divided into: Christmas Eve (24th), Christmas Day (25th) and Saint Stephen’s day (26th). It celebrates the birth of Christ. Families gather together, they eat carp and potato salad, cut the apples and sing carols.
Tuto maturitní otázku vytvořila Natálie V. Další maturitní otázky z angličtiny najdete zde:
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