SOME HOLIDAYS IN GREAT BRITAIN

OBJECTIVES To enrich students’ vocabulary To develop students’ speaking, reading and listening skills To extend students’ knowledge about holidays in Great Britain

WARMING-UP Listen to the song and say what it is about and when and where people sing it.

MATCHING Christmas February, 14 New Year March, 17 St. Valentine’s Day April, 1 St. Patrick’s Day October, 31 April Fools’ Day December, 25 Easter January, 1 May Day Sunday in May Mother’s Day Sunday in June Father’s Day late March or early April Halloween May, 1

GUESS WHAT HOLIDAY IS DESCRIBED On this day people send special cards to somebody they love and also give symbolic gifts. It is not an official holiday. This holiday is marked on the evening of October 31 preceding All Saints Day and is especially loved by children who enjoy wearing strange costumes and getting treats. This holiday gives children their chance to show their love and respect to their mothers.

This holiday is the Christian feast which celebrates the resurrection of Christ and is held on the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring. This holiday honours St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It’s a holiday when children show their love for their father by giving him something like a new tie, and father pretends to like it. It’s a holiday when funs and jokes are very popular.

This holiday is considered to be the most important festival in Great Britain with buying presents, cooking turkey and singing carols. This holiday marks the ending of the old year and the beginning of the new year. This holiday is traditionally held in May when a May Queen is elected and different games and sports are played outdoors.

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES (CHECKING UP THE HOMETASK) Christmas goes on for three days………… Christmas traditions are…………………… A New Year Party is……………………….. The first visitor to enter a house on New Year's morning is…………………………… The first visitor must……………………….. Boys send cards to their girlfriends on…… Lent is a period……………………………… A May Queen is…………………………….. On May Day people usually……………….. London's May Queen is crowned at………

READING ACTIVITY 1 Halloween means "holy evening" and takes place on October 31st. It is celebrated by many people in the United Kingdom. This holiday is connected with witches and ghosts. At parties people dress up in strange costumes and pretend they are witches. They cut horrible faces in pumpkins and put a candle inside, which shines through their eyes. People play different games such as trying to eat an apple from a bucket water without using their hands.

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS What does Halloween mean? What is it connected with? How do people dress up? What games do people play?

READING ACTIVITY 2 In Ireland Saint Patrick’s Day is both a holly day and a national holiday. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland as he was the one who brought Christianity to the Irish. They celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. The Irish all over the world march in parades, dance the Irish jig and gather to sing Irish songs. People wear green in memory of Ireland.

AGREE OR DISAGREE St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by the Irish all over the world. St. Patrick is the patron saint of England. The Irish march in parades, dance and sing. People wear grey on this day.

Role-play. Ask your British friend about British celebrations Role-play. Ask your British friend about British celebrations. Use the list below. Example: A: What do people use to decorate fir trees on Christmas? B: People decorate fir trees with Christmas decorations and lights. People give gifts to their relatives and friends. People cook dinner for the whole family. People dye eggs and present their relatives and friends with them. People make fancy costumes and put them on. People go to church and stay for a service. People write and send beautiful postcards.

1. Listen to the song “JINGLE BELLS” and fill in the blanks with necessary words Dashing through the … In a one-horse … sleigh, Over the fields we …, Laughing all the way; The bells on bob-tail ring, They make our … bright, What … it is to ride and sing A sleighing … tonight. Refrain: Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way! Oh, what … it is to ride In a one-horse … sleigh. A day or two ago, The horse was lean and lank, I thought I’d … a ride, Misfortune seemed his lot, And soon Miss Fanny Bright We got into a drifted … Was seated by my …. And then we got upsot. Refrain

2. Listen to the song “JINGLE BELLS” again and correct the mistakes Dashing through the snow In a two-horse open sleigh, Over the fields they go, Laughing all the way; The bells on bob-tail ring, Making spirits bright, What fun it is to ride and dance A sleighing song tonight. Refrain: Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way! Oh, what fun it is to ride In a two-horse open sleigh. A day or two ago, The dog was lean and lank, I thought I’d take a hike, Misfortune seemed my lot, And soon Miss Fanny Bright We got into a drifted bank Was seated by his side. And then he got upsot. Refrain

LET’S SING THE SONG Dashing through the snow In a one-horse open sleigh, Over the fields we go, Laughing all the way; The bells on bob-tail ring, Making spirits bright, What fun it is to ride and sing A sleighing song tonight. Refrain: Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way! Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh. A day or two ago, The horse was lean and lank, I thought I’d take a ride, Misfortune seemed his lot, And soon Miss Fanny Bright We got into a drifted bank Was seated by my side. And then we got upsot. Refrain

Look at Betty's diary and play 'Happy Birthday' game in pairs. Pupil A chooses a date. Pupil B gives the correct greeting.

EXAMPLE: A: August 4 (The fourth of August) B: Happy Birthday, Dad! DEAR MUMMY! MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HOME ASSIGHNMENT Write a letter to your friend in Ukraine describing the imaginary situation: you celebrated Christmas with the English family in London.