ТЕМА 17: КУЛЬТУРНЫЕ И НАЦИОНАЛЬНЫЕ ТРАДИЦИИ, ОБЫЧАИ, ПРАЗДНИКИ

Ex. 1. Read the text “CHRISTMAS IN BRITAIN” and answer the following questions:

1. When do Christmas preparations usually begin?

2. What do children receive to count down the days before Christmas?

3. What tradition dates back to 1846?

4. Where did Prince Albert introduce the custom of the Christmas tree from?

5. How long should the Christmas tree be kept at home?

6. What kinds of evergreen can the British use to decorate their houses?

7. Did British children leave anything for Father Christmas and his reindeer?

8. Who presents a huge Christmas tree to the City of London every year?

9. Why do children hang their stockings by the fireplace before Christmas?

10. Describe a typical Christmas dinner.

TEXT: CHRISTMAS IN BRITAIN

In Britain, Christmas is normally spent at home, with the family and is regarded as a celebration of the family. There are many preparations which begin on the 1^st of December when children receive advent calendars to count down the days until Christmas. For each day of December, there is a little door to open and inside there is a picture of a traditional Christmas image such as an angel or a robin red breast. People also begin sending Christmas cards to their friends and relations. This is a tradition that dates back to 1846. Another old tradition is the Christmas tree. Almost every family has a decorated tree at home, although some nowadays are artificial. The Christmas tree was first popularized by Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, who introduced the custom from his native Germany in 1840.

Christmas trees are usually decorated with electric lights, toys, chocolate sweets and a star or fairy at the top. According to tradition, the tree is decorated on Christmas Eve, but in practice many people decorate their trees earlier. The tree should be taken down 12 days after Christmas.

As well as Christmas trees, people often decorate their houses with evergreens (plants which do not lose their leaves in winter): a wreath of holly on the front door and garlands of holly, ivy and fir indoors. Christmas mistletoe is an older tradition than Christmas trees. This green plant with white berries is often hung in bunches above doorways for good luck. The rule is that any couple passing under the mistletoe must kiss.

There are also usually decorations in most towns and cities. In most towns, there is a Christmas tree in a prominent place and in big cities, such as London and Glasgow, there are impressive displays of lights which people travel from all over to see. Every year the people of Norway give the City of London a Christmas present of a huge tree which stands in Trafalgar Square.

There are many special rituals connected with Christmas Eve which are followed by most families in anticipation of Father Christmas’ arrival during the night. Father Christmas is also known as Santa Claus in Britain, this comes from the European name for him, Saint Nicholas. Children often leave a snack for Father Christmas – traditionally milk and cookies – as well as a carrot for the reindeer who pull his sleigh.

Children usually leave empty stockings by the fireplace or at the foot of their bed for Santa to fill with presents. Nowadays, children receive many presents, most of which do not fit into a stocking, but the stocking is filled with small gifts like pencils, oranges, nuts, coins and small toys.

Now on Christmas Day at 3p.m. the Queen makes a speech on radio and TV. It’s ten minutes long. In it she talks to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth about the past year and congratulates them on coming Christmas and New Year.

On Christmas Day, after presents have been opened, people prepare traditional food for Christmas dinner. Although the tradition of turkey for Christmas dinner is not very old (goose was the traditional Christmas meat in the 1900s), most people have turkey for dinner. Some people prefer roast beef or goose. A typical Christmas dinner consists of roast turkey, cranberry sauce, carrots, Brussels sprouts and gravy. The traditional dessert is Christmas pudding that is covered with brandy and set alight.

Crackers are also usual at Christmas dinner. These came to Britain from China in the 19^th century. Two people pull a cracker and the one who is left with the largest part, when the cracker bursts open, wins the contests – usually a joke, a paper hat and a small toy.

Families usually relax at home after Christmas dinner, playing games or watching TV. There are often popular films shown or special Christmas editions of popular comedies.

Ex. 2. Look through the text attentively and find the equivalents for these words:

1. рождественский календарь            11. особый ритуал

2. малиновка                                       12. ожидание, предвкушение

3. искусственная ель                           13. легкая закуска

4. обычай                                   14. северный олень

5. сочельник                                        15. пустой чулок

6. венок из остролиста              16. индейка

7. гирлянда                                         17. клюквенный соус  

8. омела                                      18. брюссельская капуста

9. дверной проход                         19. мясная подлива

10. видное место (площадь)      20. хлопушка

Ex. 3. Are you superstitious? There are a lot of superstitions connected with Christmas and New Year’s Day. Most of them have roots in long-ago times, before the arrival of Christianity in Europe. Read the text and share your impressions with your group-mates. What information was new to you? What do you like best of all? Are there any Christmas superstitions in Russia?

Christmas superstitions

· If the wind is blowing on Christmas Day, you are in for a good year.

· If you want to have good health throughout the next year, eat an apple on Christmas Eve.

· If you wear new shoes on Christmas Day, it will bring you bad luck.

· If a baby is born on Christmas Day, it will have a special fortune.

· If it snows on Christmas Day, Easter will be green.

· Good luck will come to the home where a fire is kept burning throughout the Christmas season.

Christmas pudding

In Britain, this popular dessert is surrounded by many superstitions. It is said puddings should be prepared with 13 ingredients to represent Christ and His Disciples.

Traditionally, it’s lucky to help make the pudding – so every member of the family takes turns to stir the pudding and make a wish. But to preserve good luck, the pudding should be stirred clockwise and with a wooden spoon.

Putting a silver coin in the pudding is another age-old custom that is said to bring wealth, health and happiness to the person who finds it.

Other things put in the pudding include rings, which mean marriage within a year, and thimbles and buttons – which predict that the finders will remain spinsters and bachelors.

New Year superstitions

· If the first visitor at your house on New Year’s Day is an unknown dark-haired man, then a year of good luck will follow.

· If the first visitor has red hair, it’s extremely unlucky. The arrival of a woman is total disaster.

· If you lend anything on New Year’s Day, you’ll be lending all the year.

· If you wash your hair on New Year’s Day, you’ll wash away good luck.

· If you sweep the floor or dust the furniture on New Year’s Day, good fortune will be swept away.

Only for girls

Would you like to know the name of your future husband?

According to an old superstition, you’ll dream of your future husband if you

· wear your nighty inside out;

·  sleep with a mirror under your pillow;

· count nine stars each night, for nine nights;

· rub your bedposts with a lemon;

· put several leaves under your pillow.

Christ [kraist] – Христос

Disciple [di’saipl] – апостол

takes turns to stir [stэ:] – поочередиразмешивают

clockwise [‘kl kwaiz] – почасовойстрелке

thimble [‘ imbl ] – наперсток

spinster – стараядева

bachelor [‘b t l ] – холостяк

nighty [‘naiti] – ночнаярубашка

bedpost [‘bedpust] – столбиккровати

Ex. 4. Here are some amazing Christmas facts. Do you know that…

... the first turkeys were brought to Europe by the Spanish Conquistador Fernando Cortes who came across them in Mexico in 1519? In fact, thanks to the Aztecs we can now enjoy other tasty things. They grew corn, chilli pepper, tomatoes, pumpkins, peanuts and chocolate beans. Imagine the cinema without the Aztecs – no popcorn or peanuts or chocolates!

… the well-known image of Santa Claus was invented by Coca-Cola? The producers of this soft drink were very unhappy because their soft drink was considered a “summer drink”. They wanted to sell it in the winter, too. So they hired a guy called Haddon Sundblom to make a nice advertisement for them. Actually, he modelled Santa Claus more or less on his friendly neighbour, who had a round face, a short beard and a red nose… So thanks to Coca-Cola, half of the world is now giving each other gifts for Christmas.

… an Internet site for Santa Claus was set up in 1997?

… in 1995, in Canada, Santa Claus was given his own postcode – HOHOHO?

… that the largest Christmas cracker was 45.72 metres long and 3 metres in diameter?

It was made by Australian international rugby player Ray Price to surprise his friends.

… in 1988, the world-famous singer Madonna sent out Christmas cards to her friends – it was a picture of herself and her daughter, just like “Madonna and child”.

… according to a survey, 7 out of 10 British dogs get Christmas gifts from their loving owners?

… scientists say that Christmas trees are edible? The needles are a good source of vitamin C.

conquistador [k n’kwistэd ] – конкистадор

Aztecs [‘ zteks] – ацтеки

softdrink – безалкогольный напиток

tohire [‘haiэ] – нанимать

advertisement (ad) [эd’vэtismэnt] – реклама

neighbour [‘neibэ] – сосед

edible [‘edэbl] – съедобный

Ex. 5. Christmas is a winter holiday, isn’t it? But what about another English-speaking country – Australia where there is no winter at all? How do the Australians celebrate Christmas? If you are interested in the story, read the following text.

TEXT:CHRISTMAS DOWN UNDER

Christmas in Australia is not like anywhere else! Everything is topsyturvy since December is one of the hottest months of the year. But the Australians have a great time anyway. Those who live near the coast go to the beach on Christmas day. They have a swim, play cricket or volleyball, surf or just sit around with family and friends enjoying Christmas dinner. Santa Claus arrives at Australian beaches on a surfboard – quite a change from sliding down a chimney! And since the weather is hot he often wears a swimsuit or funny baggy shorts.

Christmas is a great time for kids and students – it’s the beginning of their summer holidays and this means FUN, SUN and SURF!

Many Christmas decorations and symbols are the same as in Great Britain or the USA: Christmas trees (usually plastic), Dickensian* images of turkeys and plum puddings, snow scenes… But among the decorations you can also see toy kangaroos and koalas stifling in Santa hats or red scarves! And instead of holly and mistletoe the Australians often use local plants – Christmas bush and Christmas bell. 

In spite of the heat many Australians still have traditional hot Christmas meal. This usually includes roast turkey and a flaming Christmas pudding with a tasty brandy sauce. Others prefer a more sensible meal of seafood or cold ham, turkey and salads. Ice cream Christmas pudding (vanilla ice cream with nuts and fruit and choc bits) is one way round the traditions and the heat. For tourists with a taste for the unusual, roast emu, crocodile, kangaroo and possum can be found in some Australian restaurants.

Australia is also the home of Carols by Candlelight, a tradition, started by Norman Banks, a radio announcer, in 1937. One day Banks saw a lonely woman listening to a Christmas carol by candlelight. He decided to do something to relieve the loneliness some people felt during the holidays. Today, Carols by Candlelightis held each Christmas Eve and involves tens of thousands of people. They spread blankets on the ground, light their candles and sing Christmas songs together. The view is amazing with thousands of candles waving in the dark!

Christmas in Australia is also celebrated in a fun way on the 25^th of July. This “cold Christmas” is usually just another excuse for a get-together with friends and family, but it’s becoming more and more popular!

topsyturvy [‘t psi ‘tэ:vi] – перевернутый, вверхтормашками

to slide down – скользить

baggy [‘b gi] – мешковатый

*Dickensian [di’kenziэn] – диккенсовский; CharlesDickens – Чарльз Диккенс (1812-1870), классик английской литературы, один из величайших юмористов. Как романист, известен во всем мире. Всегда пользовался большой любовью и признанием в России. Известные романы – «Посмертные записки Пиквикского клуба», «Оливер Твист», «Николас Никльби», «Лавка древностей», «Домби и сын» и др.

to stifle [‘staifl] – задыхаться

flaming [‘fleimi ] – горящий

sensible [‘sensibl] – разумный

seafood – морепродукты

way round – компромисс

emu [‘i:mju:] – эму (страус)

possum [‘p sэm] – опоссум

radio announcer [э’naunsэ] – диктор

to relieve [ri’li:v] – облегчать

excuse [iks’kju:s] – предлог