2. Every country and every nation has own traditions and customs. It's very important to know traditions and customs of other countries. It helps to know more about the history and line of different nations. English are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up.

3.  January 1 – New Year’s Day  February 14 – St. Valentine’s Day  March – Mother’s Day  April – Easter  June – Father’s Day  October 31 – Halloween  December 25 – Christmas Day

4.  New Year's Day is less popular in Britain than Christmas.  On December 31 people usually visit their friends.  There is a lot of dancing and eating.

5.  There are some traditions on New Year's Day.  One of them is the old First Footing.  The first man to come into the house is very important. The Englishmen believe that he brings luck. This man (not a woman) must be healthy, young, pretty-looking. He brings presents - bread, a piece of coal or a coin.

6.  People buy or make Valentine cards and send them to people they love.  They should not write their names on the cards.  Those who get them must guess who sent them.

7.  There are many folk tales and customs surrounding the celebration of Valentine’s Day in the UK.  One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor decided that single men made better soldiers, he outlawed marriage for young, single men.  But Valentine continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.  When Valentine's actions were discovered, he was put to death.

8.  It is celebrated in Britain on the fourth Sunday in March.  On this day children help their mothers at home and give or send them cards and presents.

9.  It is the most important festival in the Christian church year.  At this day children eat chocolate Easter eggs.  Sometimes parents hide them in the house or in the garden and the children look for them.

10.  Easter eggs, Easter Rabbit (Easter Bunny) and sending Easter cards are tradition in Britain.  Easter eggs are very important. They are a symbol of rebirth in most cultures.  People decorate them with different colours using special techniques.  Children believe that the Easter Rabbit hides the eggs in the garden.

11.  It is celebrated on the third Sunday in June.  On this day children give or send their fathers and grandfathers cards or presents.

12.  They say ghosts and withes come out on Halloween.  Children make Jack-o-lanterns out of pumpkins.  Some people have Halloween’s parties and dress as witches and ghosts.

13.  Jack-o-Lanterns (Pumpkin Lanterns) are hollowed out pumpkins with a face cut into one side.

14.  In the weeks before Christmas people are busy. They make or buy Christmas cards and send them to their friends, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.  They also buy Christmas presents.  The children decorate the Christmas tree with toys and little coloured lights.

15.  The traditional Christmas meal is roast turkey and Christmas pudding.  On Christmas Eve everybody puts their presents under the Christmas tree.  People say that at night Father Christmas puts presents into the stockings which children usually hang on their beds.

16.  Every year the people of Norway give the city of London a present. It's a big Christmas tree and it stands in Trafalgar Square.  There are beautiful Christmas decorations in the streets.  Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year - the time of love, joy and hopes.

17.  St. Valentine’s Day  Easter  New Year’s Day  Mother’s Day  Christmas  Father’s Day  Halloween  on the 25 th of December  in June  on the 14 th of February  on the 31 st of October  in March  on the 1 st of January  in April

18.  Are there many holidays in Great Britain?  Do Russian people celebrate some of these holidays?  What is the most favorite holiday in your family?  What is the most popular holiday in Britain?  When English people celebrate Halloween?  What symbols has Eastern?