Holidays

Task 1. Read the text and fill in the table to compare the legal holidays in Ukraine, the USA and the UK.

When people work a lot they want to have a good rest. Holidays (‘holy days’) are the days free from work, usually these are special days for the commemoration of an important event. Holidays are often accompanied by public ceremonies, such as parades and carnivals, and by religious observances; they may also be simply a time for relaxation. Days of commemoration are observed throughout the world. The famous observations and commemorations are Bastille Day in France, Victory Day in Russia, and the New Year in China.

National holidays (public or legal holidays) are proclaimed by the central government and observed throughout a country. On legal holidays banks and schools are closed and business transactions are restricted. In Ukraine the legal holidays are New Year’s Day (January 1), Orthodox Christmas (January 7), International Women’s Day (March 8), Orthodox Easter, Holy Trinity Day (Triytsya) — Orthodox Pentecost, Labour Days (May 1–2), Victory Day (Memorial Day in Lviv Oblast) (May 9), Constitution Day (June 28), Independence Day (August 24).

In the USA the legal national holidays are New Year’s Day (January 1), Presidents Day (a combined observance of George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays that occurs near the date of Washington’s birthday), the Fourth of July (Independence Day), Labour Day (the first Monday in September), Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November), and Christmas Day (December 25).

There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries. They are: Christmas Day (December 25), Boxing Day (December 26), New Year’s Day (January 1), Good Friday (before Easter), Easter Monday, May Day (May 1), Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May) and Summer Bank Holiday (last Monday in August). Public holidays in Britain are called bank holidays, because the banks as well as most of the offices and shops are closed.

Type of Holiday	Ukraine	The USA	The UK
Holidays connected with country’s history.	Independence Day
Holidays connected with calendar.	New Year’s Day		Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday
Religious observations.
Holidays unique for this country only.

Task 2. Explain the meaning of the holiday vocabulary and give the examples.

Celebration of a date may include:	For example:
observations and commemorations
parties
festivals
parades

Task 3. Fill in the table with the italicized words. Talk about the parties using the table.

Christmas, Easter, Birthday party, Guy Fawkes Night, St. Valentine’s Day, Halloween.

	Party	It’s traditionally for … to… There is a common trend in … to…
		birthday cake, candles, to send invitations, to give/receive a present, to give flowers, to play party games
		to make Jack-o-lantern out of a pumpkin, to dress up, to wear a … costume, to wear a mask/wig, to have your face painted, to trick-or-treat, to play ‘apple-on-a-string’ game
		to send an anonymous card to smb. with kisses (XXX), to decorate a card with love hearts, to buy and give flowers, to have a romantic dinner
		to spend Christmas eve with a family, Santa Claus, presents, stockings, holy, Christmas decorations, Christmas turkey, Christmas pudding, Christmas cards, crackers
		to make a guy, to have a bonfire party, to set off fireworks
		chocolate Easter eggs, Easter bunnies, chickens, hot cross buns, egg-hunt

Task 4. Buying a Present. You are going to a party. Make a suggestion on what presents you might and might not buy using the table and the ‘Key Language’.

	Positive Points	Negative Points
Watch	Elegant, something you may keep as a reminder, practical.	Good quality might be expensive, might not need one, connected with super­stitions.
Camera	Useful, creative, can give a lot of pleasure, take lots of photos, better quality pictures than mobile phone camera.	Expensive to buy, might be more useful for teenagers or people enjoying active time, some people prefer mobile phone cameras.
Box of Chocolates	Appropriate for celebrations, always everyone likes chocolate.	Not a lasting reminder, flattering for dieters.
Puppy/Kitten	Adorable, good companion, lots of fun, gives you a sense of responsi­bility.	Needs lots of looking after, time-consuming, have to take it for walks.
Clothes/Footwear	Practical, always useful, may be fashionable.	Too ordinary for a present, difficult to guess the wish, might not like the style.
CD/DVD	Good add to the collection, useful for leisure time.	Might not suit musical taste, might already have them, prefer to down­load everything from the Internet.
Perfume	Feminine or masculine, a popular gift, always useful.	Matter of personal choice, not a lasting reminder.
Picture/ Photograph in the Frame	A good lasting memory, may remind of pleasant life moments.	May not match the style of the apartment, there may be no place for it in the room.
Present Certificate of the Shop	May buy what you want at any time in the favourite shop.	May not know the favourite shop, the shop may not have interesting things to buy, may not be a lasting memory.
Your Own Present

Key Language

Why don’t we buy…? That would mean…

I think we should opt for … as…

This will be a good idea because…

The best choice would be… Then she could…

It will be the bad choice because…

Task 5. On a separate sheet of paper write a letter to your friend describing the party you visited using the table.

Time	Events
Much before the party	· prior to the actual event · we were looking forward to · preparations began (a week/a month) in advance · were invited/invitations were sent to
On the day of the party	· on the actual day · before the guests arrived · we got everything arranged for the party · we were coping with party anxiety
When the party started	· heard a ring at the door · presented hostess with flowers · exchanged greetings, handshakes, kisses, compliments · helped the guests with their coats · tidies one’s hair, put lipstick on, made oneself home
During the party	· the proper mood was set by (music, decorations, people) · started the conversation going · discussed studies, politicks, the latest news, fashion, music books · made the conversation common · got on one’s hobby-horse · laughed to one’s heart content · poured out tea/coffee. · to bring refreshments · to enjoy oneself / to have fun · background music was played to enliven the atmosphere · to pay smb. a compliment · to return a compliment to smb.
After the party: Positive impressions	· to be a real success · the music was a real treat · we larged it up · we burned the dance floor · we danced the night away
After the party: Negative impressions	· the party was a flop/frost · it was a real failure · poured the cold water on · played the baby · played the fool

Дата добавления: 2014-11-29