Historical Information

New Year (January, 1)

The beginning of the new year has been welcomed on different dates throughout history. Great Britain and its colonies in America adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, in which January 1st was restored as New Year's Day.

Ways of celebrating differ as well, according to customs and religions of the world. People in Moslem societies, for example, celebrate the New Year by wearing new clothes. Southeast Asians release birds and turtles to assure themselves good luck in the twelve months ahead. Jewish people consider the day holy, and hold a religious ceremony at a meal with special foods. Hindus of India leave shrines next to their beds, so they can see beautiful objects at the start of the new year. Japanese prepare rice cakes at a social event the week before the new year.

Whatever the custom, most of people feel the same sentiment. With a new year, we can expect a new life. We wish each other good luck and promise ourselves to do better in the following year.

St. Valentine's Day

There are several legends about St. Valentine's Day. One of the legends says that Valentine was a Christian priest who lived in the 3^rd century A.D. He was put into prison by Roman authorities for his teachings and was beheaded on February 14. According to the legend he performed a miracle — he cured his jailer's daughter of her blindness. Before the execution he wrote her a letter signed «From Your Valentine». Another legend says that the same Valentine wrote to children and friends who loved him from the jail.

According to another legend, Valentine was an Italian bishop who lived at about the same time. He was thrown into prison because he secretly married couples, contrary to the laws of the Roman Empire. The legend says that he was burnt at the stake.

February 14 was also a Roman holiday. On this day young men randomly chose the name of the girl to escort to the festival. The custom of choosing a sweetheart on this day became very popular in the medieval Europe. Later this custom spread to American colonies.

One of the earliest popular symbols of the day is Cupid, the Roman god of Love, who is represented by the image of a young boy with a bow and arrow.

Now, St. Valentine's Day is the day of sweethearts. On this day, people show their friends, relatives and loved ones that they care for them. People send candy or flowers to those whom they love. Most people send “valentines”, greeting cards named after St. Valentine's letters written from jail. Valentines may be sentimental and romantic, or funny and friendly. Valentines may be anonymous. Valentines can be heart-shaped or may carry hearts on them. People buy valentines or make them themselves. You can write a short rhyme inside the heart:

“Roses are red.

Violets are blue,

Sugar is sweet,

And so are you!”

Or you can buy valentines with messages in them. If you are shy, you can sign it “Your secret admire”.

Vocabulary:

St. Valentine's Day — День святого Валентина

Christian — христианский

priest — священник

prison — тюрьма

to behead — отрубить голову

authorities — власти

teachings — учение

miracle — чудо

to cure — исцелить

jail — тюрьма

jailer — тюремщик

blindness — слепота

execution — казнь

bishop — епископ

to marry (couples) — венчать (пары)

to be burnt at the stake — быть сожженным

randomly — случайно

sweetheart — возлюбленный

medieval — средневековый

custom — обычай

to spread — распространяться.

to care for — любить

valentine — открытка или подарок, посылаемые в день Валентина

anonymous — анонимный

heart-shaped — в форме сердца

image — образ, изображение

to execute — казнить

to behead — обезглавливать

symbol — символ

Дата добавления: 2014-12-07