Task 2. Read and translate the texts on traditions and holidays in Great Britain

Task 1. A. Answer the questions to the text.

1. When was Robert Burns born?

a) on April 23, 1564;

b) on January, 25 1802;

c) on January, 25 1564.

2. What traditional Scottish dishes are tasted on Robert Burns’ birthday?

a) chicken broth, boiled herring and haggiswith boiled turnip and potatoes;

b) chicken broth, boiled herring and fried meat with wine;

c) haggis, boiled herring and potatoes.

3. What is the celebration of R. Burns’ birthday followed by?

a) it is followed by dancing, pipe music and reciting Burns’ poems;

b) it is followed by singing the poet’s famous “Auld Lang Syne”;

c) it is followed by dancing, pipe music, reciting Burns’ poems and singing the “Auld Lang Syne”.

4. How is the anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth celebrated?

a) flags are hung in the main street, people buy springs of rosemary;

b) a long procession goes along the streets to the church where everyone puts flowers at the poet’s grave;

c) Flags are hung in the main street, people buy rosemary, and people go to the church and to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

5. Why is the Edinburgh International Festival one of the important events in the world?

a) because the Edinburgh International Festival is held annually;

b) because the Festival is international, it gives a representation of the best artistic production from many countries;

c) because the Edinburgh International Festival is one of the greatest festivals in the world.

B. Compare the celebrations of R. Burns’ and W. Shakespeare’s birthdays.

Burns’ night

January 25 is the birthday of Scotland’s greatest poet Robert Burns¹. There are hundreds of Burns clubs in Britain and throughout the world; on the 25^th of January they mark the birth of Scotland's greatest poet. The first club was founded in 1802. Thousands of people drink a toast to the memory of Robert Burns. The traditional dishes are tasted. To the sounds of bagpipes there appear on the tables the traditional dishes of the festival dinner: chicken broth, boiled herring, and haggis – a typical Scottish dish. It is eaten with boiled turnip and potatoes. The dinner is followed by dancing, pipe music, and reciting Burns’ poems. The celebration ends with singing the poet’s famous Auld Lang Syne ².

Shakespeare’s Birthday

Every year the anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth is celebrated in Stratford-upon-Avon³. He was born on April 23, 1564. Flags were hung in the main street, people buy springs of rosemary⁴. A long procession goes along the streets to the church where everyone puts flowers at the poet’s grave. In the evening there is a performance in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre⁵.

The Shakespeare Birthday is celebrated from spring to autumn. So, when his birthday comes each year, people think of William Shakespeare, a son of Stratford.

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