Festivals and holidays

TEREZA DOLEŽALOVÁ, V8A

GYMNÁZIUM JIŘÍHO ORTENA

20TH MARCH 2015

Content

Festivals in the USA

Festivals in England

Festivals in the Czech Republic

Festivals in the USA

Independence day

4th July

Lots of fireworks in the street

Celebrates independence from Great Britain

America wanted the independence because of pay taxes

Independence 1776

The first president: George Washington

Halloween

The night of October 31

Parties

Costumes

Trick-or treat

Pumpkins with the scary faces

Traditional game: apple bobbing – picking apples out of a bowl of water with the teeth

Thanksgiving

1620 – a group of people (Pilgrims) sailed from England to America on a ship (Mayflower)

Native Americans taught them how to grow corn and vegetables, build better houses and treat their diseases

After a year, they wanted to thank the Americans – invited them for a diner -> the first Thanksgiving

On the fourth Thursday in November

Traditional: Turkey with cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes; a pumpkin pie

Christmas

December 25

Decorate their homes and gardens with lights

Turkey

Exchange gifts

Mythical fugure: Santa Claus

Festivals in England

Pancake day

In spring

Pancake races

People run and throw pancakes in the air

Guy Fawkes Night – „Bonfire Night“

November 5

Guy Fawkes – wanted to blow up the Parliament and the King in 1605

– arrested and thrown onto a bonfire

Very noisy festival

Lots of fireworks and bonfires

Chlidren walk around and ask for a „penny for the guy“

Buy fireworks for the money

St Patrick‘s Day

March 17

In tribute to St Patrick, the patron of Ireland

Brought the Christianity to Ireland

Symbol: a green shamrock

Christmas

December 24: Christmas Eve

December 25: Christmas Day – people open the gifts

Christmas dinner: Turkey and Christmas pudding

Mythical figure: Father Christmas

Festivals in the Czech Republic

St. Nicholas Day

December 6

During the evening before: angels, devils and St. Nicholas – from house to house and give presents to well behaved children

Children: sing a song or tell a poem

Christmas

Advent

Christmas tree: ornaments, chocolate candies, gingerbread, candles,…

Christmas dinner: fried carp with potato salad

Midnight mass

Mythical figure: Little Jesus

Silvestr

Celebrating the end of the year

Fireworks in the streets

In English speaking countries: New Year‘s Eve

Easter

In spring

Easter Monday:

men hit the women with a stick (woven willows)

girls and women stay young and beautiful

Girls and women give men coloured eggs

Sources

http://www.topics.estranky.cz/clanky/maturitni-temata/10_-festivals-and-holidays.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/christmas-day

http://www.myczechrepublic.com/czech_culture/czech_holidays/

http://anglictina-maturita.studentske.cz/2008/03/holidays-and-traditions.html

17th March 2015