10. FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS
10. FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS
FESTIVALS IN THE USA
- INDEPENDENCE DAY - is celebrated on the fourth of July. There are lots of fireworks in the street. Independence Day celebrates America´s independence from Great Britain. America wanted to be independent because the British wanted them to pay taxes. America became independent in 1776. The first President of the United States was George Washington.
- HALLOWEEN - is an autumn festival. It is celebrated on the night before All Saints Day (the night of October 31). People often have parties on the day. Children or yong people sometimes dress up as ghosts and witches. They carve the inside out of a pumpkin and cut a face in it so that when a lit candle is put inside. Teh face shines with a scary flame. Children go from house to house in their costumes, they knock on the doors and play trick-or-treat (either you give them a treat or they will play a trick on you! A treat is a small gift: something sweet - candy or apples. A trick is something bad done to you, such as putting some soap on your door handle.) A traditional game is "apple bobbing" - you have to pick apples out of a bowl of water with your teeth. That´s a big fun!
- THANKSGIVING - this celebration has a historical background. In 1620 a group of people sailed from England to America on a ship called the Mayflower. They were called "Pilgrims" (or "Pilgrim Fathers"). They wanted to start a new life in America. Their journey started in Plymouth (south England). When they arrived in America, they called their new home "Plymouth", too. The first winter was very cold. Many of them fell ill and died. They didn´t know how to grow food. However, the Native Americans helped them and showed them how to grow corn and other vegetables and gave them medicines to treat their illnesses. They also showed them how to build better houses. In a year, all the Pilgrims, who survived, had a new home. They wanted to thank the Native Americans, so they invited them to a special dinner to celebrate their friendship. This special dinner was the first Thanksgiving. Since that, Thanksgiving has been celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. A turkey with cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes is eaten on this day. A pumpkin pie is also traditional.
FESTIVALS IN ENGLAND
PANCAKE DAY - takes place in spring. There are "pancake races" in the streets. People run and throw pancakes in the air. Lots of pancakes are made and eaten in English homes on this day.
On April 1, ALL FOOLS DAY is celebrated. On this day you can play jokes on people.
MOTHERING SUNDAY (or Mother´s Day) - mothers get some gifts
GUY FAWKES NIGHT - also called "Bonfire Night" - celebrated on November 5. It is named after Guy Fawkes who wanted to blow up the Parliament and the King in 1605. He was arrested, hung, drawn and quartered, and then (according to a legend) thrown onto a bonfire. Today, it is a very noisy festival. There are lots of fireworks and bonfires. Children walk around with a model (an effigy) of Guy Fawkes and ask for a "penny for the guy". Then, they buy fireworks for the money. Many people protest against the fact that children can buy fireworks.
In November, REMEMBERANCE DAY honours veterans. Red paper poppies are sold by the British Legion to raise money for veterans.
CHRISTMAS IN ENGLAND
Before Christmas, children write letters to Father Christmas, who is the British version of Santa Claus. Then they throw these letters into the fire.
December 24 is called Christmas Eve.
On Christmas Day (December 25), children get up as early as possible in the morning. They open the gifts which were left there by Father Christmas the night before. When all the gifts are opened, Christmas dinner is eaten. This is turkey and desert: Christmas pudding. Christmas pudding is traditionally prepared a long time before Christmas. When it is served on Christmas day, some brandy can be poured over it and flamed.
CELEBRATIONS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
St. Nicholas Day
St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on the 6th of December, but on the evening before (on the 5th of December) angels, devils and St. Nicholas walk from house to house and give presents to the children who have behaved well. The children have to sing a song or tell a poem. Children are mostly afraid of the devil.
CHRISTMAS
In the Czech Republic, we celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December. We start to prepare for Christmas four weeks before this day. This time is called "Advent". Children have special calendars called "Christmas Calendars" - it has 24 windows and every day, children open a window and find a piece of chocolate. Traditionally, during the time of Advent, Czech women clean the house and bake Christmas cookies and cakes.
Before Christmas or on 24 December, a Christmas tree is decorated with Christmas ornaments, chocolate candies, gingerbread or candles. If you don´t eat meat on this day,you will see the "golden pig" in the evening.
Christmas dinner starts around 6 pm. A traditional dish is fried carp with potato salad. Someone hates fish and prefers schnitzel or sausages.
After Christmas dinner, presents are opened. Some people go to church later in the evening for midnight mass.
SILVESTR
In English speaking countries, this day is called "New Year´s Eve", but in the Czech Republic, this celebration is called Silvester (according to the Calendar). People celebrate the end of the year, drink and eat a lot. There are lots of fireworks in the streets and they are even set off out of the windows. This can be dangerous and lots of people get injured every year.
EASTER
Easter is celebrated in early spring. On Easter Monday, men and boys go from house to house and hit the women with a stick (made of woven willows) so that the girls and women stay young and beautiful. Then the girls give them coloured (dyed) eggs - either real eggs or made of chocolate.
PICTURE-BASED DISCUSSION
