1. Czech holidays and celebrations
Mgr. Zdislava Šmídová

2. Anotace Kód DUMu: VY_32_INOVACE_1.AJ.20
Číslo projektu: CZ.1.07/1.5.00/
Vytvořeno: prosinec 2012
Ročník: 3. ročník a 4. ročník – čtyřleté gymnázium (RVP-G)
Septima a Oktáva – osmileté gymnázium (RVP-G)
Anotace:
Tento materiál by vytvořen jako téma pro maturitní okruh: Czech holidays and celebrations
na Gymnáziu a JŠ Svitavy; přibližně na jednu, popřípadě více vyučovacích hodin (pro výklad i
opakování – shrnutí učiva). Obsahuje jednak přehled faktografických údajů, tak i anglickou ustálenou
terminologii, doplněné o interaktivní cvičení: rozhovory s diskuzí na dané téma (role-play).
Je primárně zaměřen na dva poslední ročníky gymnázia, i přesto se dá využít i v nižších ročnících
osmiletého i čtyřletého studia vcelku nebo jeho jednotlivé části.
Pomůcky: interaktivní tabule
Vzdělávací oblast
Jazyk a jazyková komunikace
Vzdělávací obor
Anglický jazyk
Tematický okruh
Czech holidays and celebrations

3. Czech holidays and celebrations
RED –LETTER DAYS
- PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
- CHRISTMAS
- EASTER
CELEBRATIONS
- BIRTHDAYS
- NAMEDAYS
- WEDDINGS
- ANNIVERSARIES

4. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS January 1st, 1993 May 1st - May Day
it is the date of foundation of the Czech Republic
generally January 1st is called the New Year's Day
Reality: so most Czechs try to get over their hangover
Those Christians who are sober attend mass to give
thanks for the previous year
May 1st - May Day
political parties on the left celebrate a holiday of working people
an international Day of Labour is celebrated to remember a strike by American workers in Chicago that took place on May 1, 1886 (the strikers were demanding an 8‑hour working day)
Reality: Nowadays - day off , -a day of love when lovers kiss under blooming cherry trees

5. May 8th
the day of the liberation of Czechoslovakia from the Nazis by the Soviet Army
it marks the end of WWII
Reality:
Ceremonial acts take place
the Czech president, political representatives and
WWII veterans commemorate the end of the
war by placing flower wreaths
at memorials of the victims of WWII

6. July, 5th
the day of St Cyril and St Method who came from Byzantium to Great Moravia in 863
to teach the people of Great Moravia how to read and write
spread Christianity
they used the old Slavic language
created the Glagolitic alphabet
Reality:
religious celebrations take place
masses and processions
enjoy a day off at the beginning of the
summer

7. July, 6th
Master John Huss
- a Catholic preacher of the commons
- a religious reformer
- a dean of Charles University
was burned to death at the stake as a heretic in 1415 in Kostnice
spreading his revolutionary criticism
Reality:
Czechs take two days off and join them with the weekend
they spend it at their summer cottages

8. September 28th St Wenceslas Day
St Wenceslas is the patron saint of the Czech lands
the duke of Bohemia
was born in 907
( the son of Bořivoj I. and Drahomira)
educated, godly and very believing ruler
died on September 28, 935
murdered by his younger brother Boleslav I.
Reality:
one of the longest squares in Prague is named after this historical figure
the statue of Saint Wenceslas
masses in the name of St Wenceslas are also said

9. October 28th, 1918 the date of foundation of the first independent
Czechoslovak Republic
the Czechoslovak state declared independence at the end of the First World War (WW I) in 1918
until that time Czech and Slovak countries had been part
of the Austro‑Hungarian Empire
the first president, Tomaš Garrigue Masaryk
Reality:
On this day the president of the republic gives
honours to people who did special deeds

10. celebrated on 2nd November a Christian festival in honour of dead
November 2nd
ALL SOUL´S DAY
celebrated on 2nd November
a Christian festival in honour of dead
people say prayers for the souls of the dead
commemorate their late relatives or friends
clean tombstones / gravestones
place bunches or basket of flowers on their graves
light candles
lay wreaths of flowers or leaves (in the shape of circle)
as a sign of respect for people who have died
- to place flowers and candles on their graves.

11. November 17th very important milestones from our history In 1939
Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia and proclaimed it
the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Czech students demonstrated against the occupation and the demonstration was brutally suppressed
in reaction, Czech universities were closed by the Nazis on November 17
In 1989
the Velvet Revolution – video
- started as a student demonstration against the communist regime
This day commemorates the struggle and fight for freedom
Reality:
more than a day off for most people
some bring flowers and light candles on Narodni třida in Prague and
other places connected with the Velvet Revolution

12. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - video
CHRISTMAS - video
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - video
a yearly celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ
a holiday of peace and calm
look for suitable presents
Advent begins four weeks before Christmas Eve
Preparations:
* Christmas sweets
vanilla rolls, ginger bread and sweets with nuts, almonds, coconut, raisins and chocolate

13. * Christmas market
Bronze Sunday, Silver Sunday and Gold Sunday
* Christmas decorations
St Nicholas Day
December 6th
St Nicholas + an angel + a devil
Children must say whether they have been good the whole year
They sing a song or recite a poem
Good children get a bag or a sock full of fruit
and sweets
Bad children get only coal and potatoes

14. Christmas tree a pine, spruce or fir artificial decorations:
* glass stars
* balls
* bells
* gingerbread
* candles
* sparklers

15. CUSTOMS
*children do not eat anything all day
* they want to see the golden piglet
* dinner -fish soup, fried carp with potato salad,
sweets and fruit
*listen to or sing Christmas carols - video
*fairy tales – video
entertainment programmes (TV)
*do some old customs:
- pour lead
- cut off apples
- send walnut shells on the water (future)
* at midnight both believers and unbelievers go
to the midnight mass - video

16. EASTER pagan origin and celebrate a new start of life in nature
Christian Easter lasts for one week
called Holy Week:
* PALM SUNDAY
* SHROVE TUESDAY
* ASH WEDNESDAY - the first day of Lent
* HOLY THURSDAY- Last Supper of Christ
* GOOD FRIDAY- crucifixion of Jesus Christ
LENT -eat less food or stop doing something that
they enjoy
* it ends on Easter Sunday-
- on that day Jesus returned to life
- resurrection

17. EASTER
* boys have to prepare plaited willow canes decorated with ribbons * girls have to colour, decorate or paint eggs * boys with their canes go from house to house - video - chase girls and whip them saying traditional rhymes - asking for Easter eggs * also pour water on each other * small children are given chocolate eggs and small presents from the Easter Bunny

18. TRADITIONAL MEALS and SYMBOLS
a special mixture of smoked meat
eggs and fresh nettle
sweet cakes called "mazanec" with a cross on the top
small plain cakes called "Jidáše"
a sweet cake in a shape of a lamb called "beránek„
grow corn in flowerpots
SYMBOLS
cards with Easter folk symbols
baby animals (symbol of new life)
early spring flowers (snowdrops, daffodils)
wishing each other good health and happiness

19. CELEBRATIONS BIRTHDAY - video the day we were born
we invite our relatives and friends to a party
we prepare some refreshment:
- sandwiches with butter, ham or salami
- eggs, some salad and vegetables
- sweets and cakes, ice-cream, crisps
- lemonade and other soft drinks
- some wine or other spirits
guests usually bring flowers and some presents – a box of chocolates, books, some cosmetics
pictures, toys for children
they congratulate us on our holiday

20. NAMEDAYS
the name day on the day when there is our first name in the calendar
have a party
* we eat, drink
* talk, tell jokes and some stories
* play cards or other table games
* simply we enjoy a party
* or just eat, drink and watch TV

21. WEDDINGS - video the wedding announcement wedding clothes
brides use to wear marvellous long white dresses decorated with a lace, ribbons
embroideries
bridegrooms wear a dark elegant suit
with a tie or a bowtie
bridegroom buys the wedding rings
wedding party
wedding ceremonies are held at the town halls or register office or in the church
guests give many presents to young couple
* bed linen, towels, a tablecloth
* chinaware, glasses, coffee sets, tea sets
* lamps, pictures, pots, vases, some pottery pieces

22. ANNIVERSARIES Wedding anniversary * silver wedding anniversary
- the date that is exactly 25 years after the wedding
* golden anniversary
- is exactly 50 years after the beginning of something
* diamond anniversary
- 60 years after the date when two people were married

23. ANNIVERSARIES the birth of a baby finishing the school year
getting a new job
your first salary
passing a driving test
passing an exam
a sport victory
winning a scholarship
winning a Hollywood Oscar
winning an award/ a prize
the New Year
retiring from work

24. ROLE-PLAY
Imagine that your Japanese friend wants to know more about CZECH HOLIDAYS Explain: 1) public holidays in the CR 2) Christmas 3) Easter 4) birthday/ nameday 5) weddings 6) anniversaries CHANGE YOUR ROLES

25. Zdroje a použitá literatura
KNIŽNÍ ZDROJE:
SMITH - DLUHÁ, Gabriella a kol. Angličtina otázky a odpovědi. Olomouc: INFOA, 2007, ISBN X.
EL-HMOUDOVÁ, Dagmar. Angličtina - Maturitní témata. Český Těšín: Petra Velanová, Třebíč, 2006, ISBN
ELEKTRONICKÉ ZDROJE:
ORŠULÁK, Tomáš; DOKTOROVÁ, Tatiana. HOLIDAYS AND TRADITIONS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC [online]. [cit ]. Dostupný na WWW:
FOTOGALERIE:
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