1. Now let’s talk about customs and traditions. What can you tell me about your favourite holiday in Britain? British nation is considered to be the most conservative in Europe. It is not a secret that every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions. In Great Britain people attach greater importance to traditions and customs than in other European countries. Englishmen are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up.
There are many customs and some of them are very old. There is, for example, the Marble Championship, where the British Champion is crowned; he wins a silver cup known among folk dancers as Morris Dancing. Another example is the Boat Race, which takes place on the river Thames, often on Easter Sunday.
Halloween is a day on which many children dress up in unusual costumes. In fact, this holiday has a Celtic origin. The day was originally called All Halloween's Eve, because it happens on October 31, the eve of all Saint's Day. The name was later shortened to Halloween. The Celts celebrated the coming of New Year on that day.
Another tradition is the holiday called Bonfire Night.On November 5, 1605, a man called Guy Fawkes planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament where the king James 1st was to open Parliament on that day. But Guy Fawkes was unable to realize his plan and was caught and later, hanged. On November 5th, children put their figures on the bonfire, burn them, and light their fireworks.
In the end of the year, there is the most famous New Year celebration. In London, many people go to Trafalgar Square on New Year's Eve. There is singing and dancing at 12 o'clock on December 31st.
A popular Scottish event is the Edinburgh Festival of music and drama, which takes place every year. A truly Welsh event is the Eisteddfod, a national festival of traditional poetry and music, with a competition for the best new poem in Welsh.
2. Would you like to take part in a British holiday celebration? Why? Certainly, I strongly believe that taking part in the celebration of any of British holidays is interesting, thrilling and funny.
3. What questions can you ask a British teenager about his/her best school celebration? What school holidays do you have? What role do school traditions play in your life? Do you like to play an active role in celebration or to be passive?
4. What national souvenirs will you recommend a Belarusian tourist in Great Britain? I will recommend purchasing something connected with London Olympic Games which were held in 2012.
5. Nowadays more and more people are getting interested in customs and traditions of different countries. What do you think about it? People are not satisfied with their knowledge of national holidays and traditions so they are eager to know something interesting about other countries.
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BELARUSIAN CUSTOMS and TRADITIONS
1. Now let’s talk about customs and traditions. What can you tell me about your favourite holiday? Throughout many centuries of history, the Belarusian people created its unique and original culture. Traditional folk customs and rites harmoniously interlace with Christian traditions.
Christians make up the biggest part of the population of Belarus. According to the Christian doctrine, Christmas and Easter are the main religious holidays, annually celebrated by millions of believers all over the country. In Belarus, all the Christian holidays are celebrated twice: by the Catholic and Orthodox religious calendars.
Along with Christian holidays, such folk festivities of pagan origin as Kupalle (Midsummer Night) and Maslenitsa (Shrovetide) are widely celebrated in Belarus. Folk games and traditional ceremonies are part of them. Maslenitsa is a ceremony at the junction of two seasons; it sees off winter and meets spring. Popular festivals of folk music, dancing and national costumes are organized at the time of Maslenitsa.
My favourite holiday is New Year. New Year is widely celebrated all over the country. Preparations to this holiday start a couple of weeks before. The towns and cities of Belarus put on holiday attire; illumination, New Year trees in the squares and New Year fairs add to the holiday mood. The culmination of the festivity is the December 31— January 1 night, when various concerts and open-air merrymaking take place. January 1 is an official holiday.
The Belarusian people are proud of the country’s past and its traditional culture. Every summer, in Belarusian castles (in Lida, Mir, Novogrudok, Nesvizh, etc.) knights’ tournaments and international medieval festivals take place. They attract spectators and participants from many countries of the world.
2. Do you find some Belarusian holidays and traditions special? Why (not)? One of the main traditions of Kupalle is search for the mythic paparats-kvetka (fern flower). Those, who find it, will enjoy good luck for the whole year; all their wishes will come true. This makes the holiday a special one.
3. What questions can you ask a Belarusian teenager about his/her birthday celebration? How many friends do you usually invite? Have you got special rules or customs of celebration? Which songs do you usually sing on birthdays?
4. Which holiday celebration in Belarus will you recommend your British friend? I will recommend visiting the medieval festival “The White Castle” which is arranged every spring in Minsk. The spectators can admire performances in costume, combats of knights and ancient music.
5. Do you think it is important to follow our grandparents’ traditions? Why? It’s absolutely important to follow them in order to save them for our ancestors.
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