The Excursus to the History of Holidays and Celebration of Russia, Great Britain and the USA.

T o understand each other we must not only know the languages but know culture of the country whose language we want to speak. The culture is the wide conception. That’s why let’s speak about holidays, because holidays are the traditions and customs of people. Let’s try to compare Russian holidays with the holidays in Great Britain and the USA.

Every country has its own national holidays but there are holidays that are common for many countries. People all over the world know New Year’s Day, Christmas and Easter.

N ew Year’s Day is a family event in Russia. People begin to prepare for this holiday beforehand. People decorate their New Year trees with tinsels, various baubles and colored lights. They usually put their presents under the tree. When the Kremlin clock strikes 12, they see the New Year in.

ew Year’s Day is less popular in Britain than Christmas. But in Scotland, Hogmanay is the biggest festival of the year. They celebrate New Year. The preparation for the occasion begins several days before the New Year’s Eve, which is known as Hogmanay. The night of Hogmanay is a time for merry – making.

On New Year’s Day American people see the old year off and New Year in. Most of them stay up all night even children. At midnight many Americans go outside and shout “Happy New Year!”. Some people set of fire works and blow automobile horns which are heard everywhere. Everybody exchanges presents and good wishes. Offices, banks, factories and stores don’t work on this holiday.

Y ou see, that the holiday of New Year in Great Britain, in Russia and in the USA is almost the same. And let’s have a look at one holiday else. It is Christmas.

C hristmas in Russia became more popular during the last years. It is celebrate on the 7th of January. Christmas is celebrated with all night services in churches.

Christmas is the most popular holiday in Great Britain. Every year the people of Norway give the city of London a big Christmas tree and it stands in Trafalgar Square. The central streets are beautifully decorated. People send Christmas cards to greet each other. Children hand their stockings, hoping that Father Christmas will come with toys and sweets. Before Christmas groups of people go from house to house and sing Christmas carols and collect money for charity. The families meet for a traditional dinner of turkey, and Christmas pudding, and everyone gives and receives presents.

A merican people decorate fir trees with toys and candies for Christmas. Children wait for Santa Claus who comes to every house, and brings them presents. Before going to bed little one leave their shoes to find in them what they want most of all the next morning. Some Americans, especially young people, like to celebrate it in restaurants and cafes, but most of them prefer to stay at home with their families on this day.

P eople all over the world know Easter. It is the holiday which is celebrated as in Russia as in Great Britain and the USA. It is the religious holiday. Although our country was not religious country but our people always celebrate Easter. Easter is the time when certain old traditions are observed. It is celebrated as the start of spring. It is the time for giving and receiving presents, such as Easter eggs, hot cross buns, fluffy little chicks, baby rabbits, and spring time flowers to signify nature’s reawakening.

B ut every county has its own national holidays which are celebrated only in this county. For example Russia. There are dates and events in our county that are memorable to Russian people. They are: Victory Day, the Day of Reconciliation and Harmony, Women’s Day, the Day of Spring and Labour, Independence Day, Country Defendant’s Day, Constitution Day, Maslenitsa. Besides there are many professional days in our country: Teacher’s Day, Miner’s Day, etc. As all people in the world Russian people like holidays and celebrations.

There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries. They are: Boxing Day, Good Friday, Spring Bank Holiday and Late Summer Bank Holiday. All holidays and traditions are connected with the history and culture of the country.

Boxing Day is a holiday after Christmas. It is celebreted on the 26-th of December. People usually visit their friend’s, go for a drive or for a long walk, or just sit around and watch TV recovering from too much food after Christmas dinner. In the county there is fox-hunting. Four times a year the banks are closed on Monday apart from traditional weekends. Such Days are called Bank Holidays.

Besides public holidays, there are certain traditional festivals which have existed over centuries. There are Pancake Day, Guy Fawkes’ Night, Saint Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Halloween, April’ Fool's day, etc. These days are not the days off. But they help to keep many traditions, which Englishmen have always been famous for.

We would like to tell you about the most interesting holidays in our mind. The firs of them is Saint Valentine’s Day. Nowadays this holiday became popular in our country too. This holiday is a holiday honoring lovers. It is celebrated February 14 by the custom of sending greeting cards or gifts to express affection. The cards, known as valentines, are often designed with hearts to symbolize love. There are several legends about St. Valentine’s Day. But now, St.Valentine’s Day is the day of all sweethearts. On this day, people send presents or flowers to those whom they love.

The next holiday is Halloween. It is celebrated in the end of October. It goes back many, many hundreds of years. At that time the Celts lived in England. The Celts said: “In this night the ghosts of the dead come back”. Nowadays children in Great Britain and in the USA dress up as witches or ghosts. Some children also make jack-o’-lanterns out of pumpkins. They put them in the windows at night. In the evening, the children go out in groups and knock at people’s doors, they call out: "Trick or Treat”. Most people then give the children a “treat”, a sweet, some chocolate. If people do not give a treat the children play a trick on them.

O ne of the popular holidays is April Fool’s Day. It is celebrated in our county too. The origin of April Fool’s Day is not known exactly. Some believe the celebration of April F F F Fool’s Day began many years ago in France. Some time later England and Scotland decided to adopt the custom of playing jokes on people. They celebrate this holiday on the first of April. In our country this day is called the day of humour.

The population of the USA is made up of people of different nationalities. Centuries ago they brought with them their native celebrations. But there are some holidays which are marked in the USA originated in America: President's Day (Washington’s Birthday); Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labour day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day.

We would like to give you some information about these holidays. For example President’s Day or Washington’s Birthday is marked on February 22-nd. George Washington was the Commander – in – chief of the North American army during the War for Independence. He led the army to victory on July 4, 1776 the famous Declaration of Independence was signed by 13 United States of America. Later Washington was elected President of the USA and was in office for 8 years. And one of the greatest holiday is Independence Day on July 4. Cities and towns are decorated with flags on that day, there are parades in some places.

L abour Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September. On this day workers make a public show with matches, meeting, etc. It also marks the beginning of the school year and the end of summer. Thanksgiving Day is marked on the fourth Thursday of November. On this day the Americans honour the memory of the first settlers. It also marks the end of the harvest season. It is a long Standing tradition to make a festive meal with turkey on this day.

W e have just done the excursus to history of holidays and celebrations of Russia, Great Britain and the USA. As for us we think this theme is not only interesting but is very wide. That’s why we haven’t enough time to retell about it more detail. But we hope you have taken an interest in this information and you’ll find the opportunity to broaden your outlook. Good luck!!