Nyelvtanulás | Angol » Graduation Exam in English, Customs, Holidays and Festivals in the CR, Great Britain and the USA

Source: http://www.doksinet GRADUATION EXAM IN ENGLISH CUSTOMS, HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS IN THE CR, GREAT BRITAIN AND THE USA, Possible framework : A) INTRODUCTION Both the Czechs and the British as well as the Americans have many different customs because of their different location, history, national character and traditions.That´s why we can also find some quite specific holidays and festivals observed and celebrated only in the CR, GB, or in the USA. On the other hand, the common or very similar pagan past and especially Christianity are the reason, why there are many common or very similar customs, holidays and feastdays, preserved and observed in the same time / on the same days and in the same or very similar way; naturally with some local differences. Celebrations kinds of celebrations : public holidays, religious holidays / feastdays, eventful days (významné dny), family celebrations. B) BODY Holidays, festivals, feastdays and eventful days in the CR : Holidays and

festivals in the CR 1st January – Public Holiday – The Day of the Resumption of the Independent Czech State, New Year´s Day 6th January – Epiphany, Twelfth - Night 14th February – St. Valentine´s Day 12th March – Eventful Holiday – The day, when the CR enter NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) 1st April – All Fools Day / April Fools Day Easter (the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, usually March – April) – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday 1st May – Labor Day (May Day) 5th May – Eventful Holiday – The May Uprising of Czech Nation 8th May – Public Holiday – Liberation Day second Sunday in May – Mother´s Day 1st June – International Children´s Day 5th July – Public Holiday – The Day of St. Cyril and St Method 6th July – Public Holiday – Master Jan Hus was burned to death 28th September – Public Holiday – The Day of Czech Statehood (St. Wenceslas) 28th October –

Public Holiday – The day of the rise an independent Czechoslovakia 2st Noveber – The Day of Our Ancestors 17th November – Public Holiday – The Day of Fighting for Freedom and Democracy (International Students´ Day) 6th December – St. Nicholas 24 – 26th December – Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day 31st December – New Year´s Eve Source: http://www.doksinet Holidays and festivals in Great Britain : based upon legends, ghost stories, superstitions, ancient customs, long-lasting tradition; many popular festivals and public holidays ( pagan + Christian tradition fused ) are observed / celebrated traditionally like in many other countries : ►31 December : New Year´s Eve (= Hogmanay in Scotland) having merry family parties; people gather in squares, at midnight they link arms and dance and sing a famous song “Auld Lang Syne”; London – Trafalgar Square enthusiasts swim in the fountains; ► 1 January : New Year´s Day the first visitor on New Year brings

good luck, but must be a dark man ►14 February : St.Valentine´s Day a lover´s feast; named after Saint Valentine, the Patron Saint of lovers; people send a “love” card (Valentine card) to whom they love but traditionally they do not sign it,; the receiver must guess who has sent it; nowadays the cards often have a joke inside; ►mid-March to mid-April ( fixed according to the moon ) : Easter time based upon ancient pagan celebrating of the coming of new spring again (the Spring equinox = jarní rovnodennost); Christians remember Christ´s death and his return to life (resurrection); the Church tradition has given some days of Easter time special names Pancake Day ( = Shrove Tuesday)(Palačinkový den, Postní úterý) (eating lots of pancakes, even holding pancake races in some towns), Ash Wednesday (Popeleční středa), Palm Sunday (Květná neděle), Good Friday (Velký pátek) – the day when Christ was crucified and died for people´s sins), Easter Sunday, Easter

Monday; nowaday at Easter time people celebrate the idea of new birth : in Britain giving each other chocolate Easter egg to open and eat it on Easter Sunday; in America Easter egg hunt/ roll (chidren look for dyed hard-boild eggs hidden around the house; on Good Friday bakers sell hot cross buns (velikonoční mazance), Easter Monday is a holiday people go to the seaside, watch sporting events such as football matches or horce-racing; unlike in our country there is no tradition of beating girls with an Easter rod on Easter Monday, though; ► 1 May : May Day the idea of fertility is celebrated by the dancing of children around the Maypole on village green; it is not a work feast as in our country, though; ►31 October : Halloween ( the Eve of All Saint´s Day or All Hallows Day ) (Dušičky, Všech svatých) based upon ancient pagan tradition marking the beginning of winter; celebrated it is a much more important festival in the USA than in Britain; connected with witches and

ghosts (at parties people dress up in strange costumes pretending they are witches), pumpkins with cut horrible faces and a lit candle inside thus turned into scaring “jack-on-lanterns”, playing difficult games for fun, children dressed in white sheets knock at their neighbours´doors asking a “trick or treat” + playing a trick on somebody ► 5 November : Guy Fawkes Night ( = Bonfire Night ) since 1605 a very speciall British holiday only commemorating the unsuccessful attempt of a Catholic plotter called Guy Fawkes to blow up the Protestant English Parliament on 5 Nov 1605 (the Gunpowder Plot) burning a dummy, made of straw, called ´Guy´ on a bonfire; fireworks are set off, firework displays organized by local councils; ►Christmas time (the Christmas season) perhaps the most important festive period of the year for both the British and American families; based upon the ancient tradition of the celebration of the winter solstice (zimní slunovrat) / traditional

festivities of winter, later combined with the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ; a lot of traditions connected with Christmas : going home for Christmas is a custom all family meet together, decorating the house brightly coloured paper, holly, mistletoe; a decorated Christmas tree in the corner of the front room (decorations, candles), hanging a Christmas wreath of green holy on the front door as a symbol of the Christmas season; buying Christmas presents in advance (several weeks before Christmas), sending Christmas cards; its feast days (they are all public holidays) include : ∗ 24 December : Christmas Eve (Štědrý den v naší zemi, Vánoční předvečer) children socks / stockings / pillow cases – for small or larger presents which Father Christmas (not Jesus Christ as in our country !) is believed to bring secretly at night coming Source: http://www.doksinet down the chimney and putting them under the Christmas tree x unlike in our country the presents

are opened on December 25th at breakfast time (!) ∗ 25 December : Christmas Day (Boží hod vánoční, narození Ježíše Krista) unwraping the gifts under the Christmas tree, traditional Christman dinner (roast turkey with roast potatoes and other vegetables, Christmas pudding, mince pies, nuts, fruit and sweets); Christmas cake at tea-time; being with one´s family at home; singing Christmas carols (such as Good King Wenceslas, Silent Night, Jingle Bells); ∗ 26 December : Boxing Day (Den svatého Štěpána) giving presents of money (years ago put in a box) to the tradesmen (the milkman, the postman, etc.), going with the children to a pantomime (a show based on a fairy-tale; such as The Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood); visiting friends and relatives; going to game (football, cricket) matches; Some other special feast days in Britain : 6 January Twelfth Night (svátek Tří králů) 1 April April Fools´ Day ( second Sunday in May ) Mother´s Day ( = Mothering

Sunday ) : in honour of all mothers; ( third Sunday in June ) Father´s Day : in honour of all fathers; on a Monday (the date changes every year) Bank Holidays ( several ) : public holidays when banks, post offices, shops and some attractions are closed; 24 June Midsummer Day (svátek svatého Jana) ceremonies in honour of the Sun (based on the ancient pagan tradition of celebrating the summer solstice (letní slunovrat)( preceded by Midsummer Night supernatural beings are said to wander about; bonfires are lit to strength the sun and drive out devil; the Sunday nearest to 11 November Remembrance Sunday ( formerly Armistice Day or Poppy Day ) commemorating the armistice (příměří) of November 11, 1918 terminating WW I, and all those who died in both World Wars wearing an artificial poppy (symbolizing the soldiers who died in the cornfields with popies (obilná pole s vlčími máky) of Flanders, Belgium in WWI; (= Veterans´ Day in the USA); Holidays and festivals in the

USA : ∗ common “worldwilde” celebrated holidays are naturally observed (dodržovány) and celebrated in America as well, they include : Christmas, New Year´s Eve and Day, St Valentine´s Day, Easter, Halloween (much more important here than in Britain, though) ∗ typically “American” holidays include : 4th July – Independence Day = the greatest American national holiday because it marks the birth of the free and independent United States of America : (on 4 July 1776 in Philadelphia the people heard the Liberty Bell and the Declaration of Independence was read to them) ceremonies organized in all American towns and cities : parades and festivities, especially many outdoor celebrations such as stage shows, boat races, various funny competitions, folk dancing, and lively music; magnificent fireworks in the evening Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November) : a day when families love to meet / gather together / a day for family reunions (like at Christmas);

commemorating the Pilgrim Fathers and their celebrating their first very rich / successful harvest in the summer of 1621 (after the hard / severe winter of 1620 /1621 in which a half of them died); they gathered and gave thaks to the Lord (Bohu); has been celebrated since 1621 – at first irregularly and regionally, but since President Lincoln´s “National Thanksgiving Proclamation” in 1863 part of the American tradition; very traditional big family dinner is given (quite similar to that one of the Pilgrims Father´s : roast turkey with dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, mik, and coffee) Martin Luther King Day (the third Monday in January) : in honur of the outstanding black clergyman / preacher who fought for civil rights for his people; his struggle was based upon Gandhi´s idea of nonviolence; asassinated in Memphis in 1968; Source: http://www.doksinet Presidents´ Day (the third Monday in February) : first the birth of the first US president, now to

honour (uctít) all the past US presidents; Memorial Day (the fourth Monday in May) : to honur the dead of all wars Labor Day (the first Monday in September) : in honour of the nation´s working people (= it equals our May Day); the new school year starts just after this day; Columbus Day (the second Monday in October) : it commemorates Christopher Columbus´s landing in the New World / discovering America on October 12th, 1492; Veterans´ Day (November 11th; equals Remembrance Sunday in GB; the President places a wreath (věnec) on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National cemetery) Mother´s Day and Father´s Day observed in special ways in the USA B) CONCLUSION As it can be seen from this brief review, there are a lot of similarities in the customs of both Czech and British as well as American people, because they come from the same European civilization historic foundations, and are influenced with similar present-day modern life with its global tendencies. On the

other hand, many customs and holidays are quite specific only for each of these particular countries, thus reflecting different local conditions, history, and traditions. It is certainly a good thing to know and understand them, because it can help us to avoid some embarrassing situations while visiting these very interesting English-speaking countries. Family and other celebrations: birthdays, name days, baptisms, weddings / funerals / degree ceremony / folklor festivals, banquet (feast) (´hody´). What are your favourite holidays? Why? How do you celebrate it? Source: http://www.doksinet CUSTOMS, HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS IN THE CR 1st January – Public Holiday – The Day of the Resumption of the Independent Czech State, New Year´s Day 6th January – Epiphany, Twelfth - Night 27th January – Eventful Holiday – The Memorable Day of the Victims of Holocaust and Crime Prevention Against Humanity 14th February – St. Valentine´s Day 8th March – Eventful Holiday –

International Women´s Day 12th March – Eventful Holiday – The day, when the CR enter NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) 28th March – Teachers´ Day 1st April – All Fools Day / April Fools Day Easter (the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, usually March – April) – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday 1st May – Labor Day (May Day) 5th May – Eventful Holiday – The May Uprising of Czech Nation 8th May – Public Holiday – Liberation Day second Sunday in May – Mother´s Day 1st June – International Children´s Day 27th June – Eventful Holiday – Memorable Day of the Victims of Communistic Regime 5th July – Public Holiday – The Day of St. Cyril and St Method 6th July – Public Holiday – Master Jan Hus was burned to death 28th September – Public Holiday – The Day of Czech Statehood (St. Wenceslas) 28th October – Public Holiday – The day of the rise an independent Czechoslovakia

2st Noveber – The Day of Our Ancestors 11th November – Eventful Holiday – The Day of Military Veterans 17th November – Public Holiday – The Day of Fighting for Freedom and Democracy (International Students´ Day) 6th December – St. Nicholas 24th December – Christmas Eve 25th December – Christmas Day 26th December – Boxing Day 31st December – New Year´s Eve 1. ledna – Státní svátek – Den obnovy samostatného českého státu, Nový rok 6. ledna – Svátek Tří králů 27. ledna – Významný den – Den památky obětí holocaustu a předcházení zločinům proti lidskosti 14. února – Svatý Valentýn 8. března – Významný den – Mezinárodní den žen 12. března – Významný den – Den vstupu ČR k Severoatlantické smlouvě (do NATO) 28. března – Den učitelů 1. duben - Apríl Velikonoce (první neděle po prvním úplňku po jarní rovnodennosti, obvykle březen - duben) – Zelený čtvrtek, Velý pátek, Bílá sobota, Velikonoční

neděle = Boží hod velikonoční, Velikonoční pondělí 1. května – Svátek práce (1 máj) 5. května – Významný den – Květnové povstání českého lidu 8. května – Státní svátek – Den vítězství (osvobození) 2. neděle v květnu – Den matek 1. června – Mezinárodní den dětí (MDD) 27. června – Významný den – Den památky obětí komunistického režimu 5. července – Státní svátek – Den slovanských věrozvěstů Cyrila a Metoděje 6. července – Státní svátek – Den upálení mistra Jana Husa 28. září – Státní svátek – Den české státnosti (Sv Václav) 28. října – Státní svátek – Den vzniku samostatného československého státu 2. listopadu – Památka zesnulých 11. listopadu – Významný den – Den válečných veteránů 17. listopadu – Státní svátek – Den boje za svobodu a demokracii (Mezinárodní den studentů) 6. prosince - Mikuláš 24. prosince – Štědrý den 25. prosince – 1

svátek vánoční 26. prosince – 2 svátek vánoční (Sv Štěpán) 31. prosince - Silvestr Source: http://www.doksinet CELEBRATIONS In the Czech Republic, we have three different kinds of celebrations. There are public holidays, religious holidays, and family celebrations. In the following essay, I will describe many of these celebrations Religious Holidays: The most popular holidays are Christmas and Easter. In the CR, we celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December in honour of the birth of Jesus. We start to prepare for Christmas four weeks before Christmas Eve This period of time is called ´Advent´. To mark the days before Christmas, people make or buy an Advent wreath with four candles. On each of the four Sundays during Advent, a new candle is lit Children have a special calendar called a ´Christmas Calendar´. It is usually made out of paper and it has twenty four windows Every day, the children open a window to find a picture or piece of chocolate. Traditionally,

during the time of Advent, women are very busy cleaning the house, cooking, and baking Christmas cookies and cakes. The baked goods usually contain plenty of raisins, nuts, and chocolate In most families, it has become a tradition to have a Christmas tree. This is a rather new Christmat tradition which first became popular in Austria and France in the 19th century. The tree is usually a spruce tree, but it can also be a pine or a fir tree. The whole family decorates the tree with chocolate candies, gingerbread, candles, and Christmas ornaments. According to tradition, those who abstain from eating meat on the day of Christmas Eve will see the ´golden pig´ later in the evening as a reward. Christmas dinner starts around 6:00 pm. We usually have fish soup, deep fried carp with potato salad, and for dessert, we have apples as a symbol of health. The meal is followed by chocolates and cookies After dinner comes the best part of the day: opening the presents! Our whole family comes

together by the Christmas tree where we give each other presents while listening to Christmas carols, singing, and talking. The most popular Christmas carol is ´Silent Night´ which was written by an unknown songwriter in Austria in 1818. Some people have a tradition of going to church later in the evening for midnight mass. Then we usually spend the rest of the Christmas holiday visiting our friends and relatives. Another celebration during this same time of year is that of St. Nicholas held on the 6th of December Nicholas is the name of a Greek bishop from Myza who was very popular because he always helped people in need and gave presents to them. There are a few different ways to celebrate St Nicholas In some families, the children shine their shoes and leave them behind the window for St. Nicholas to fill with candy and small presents. In some villages, angels and devils walk from house to house on the evening before St Nicholas Day and give presents to the children who have

behaved well. Parents warn their children throughout the year that if they misbehave, they will be taken away by the devil on St. Nicholas day The second most celebrated religious holiday is Easter which we celebrate in early spring. On Easter Monday, all men and boys go from house to house and playfully whip the women with a stick made of woven willows. The men also pour cold water on the women so that they will stay young and beautiful throughout the following year. The women, in return, give the men decorated eggs and ribbons The egg are symbols of new life and spring. Public Holidays: In the CR, we celebrate many public holidays: - New Year´s Eve. We call it ´Silvestr´ and we usually celebrate the beginning of the new year in the mountains with our families of friends. Everyone dances, sings, and enjoys the last hours of the year At midnight, everyone drinks champagne and toasts for happiness and prosperity in the new year, hoping that it will be better than the previous year.

We continue celebrating until early in the morning and we come home tired. Many people make New Year´s resolutions promising themselves to give up bad habits in the following year. - The 1st of January: It is called the New Year´s Day. - The 1st of May: Political parties on the left hold celebrate a holiday of working – May Day - The 8th of May: The day of the liberation of Czechoslovakia from the Nazis and marks the end of WWII. - The 5th of July: The day of St. Cyril and St Method who came from Byzantia to teach the people of Great Moravia how to read and write. - The 6th of July: Master Jan Hus – a Catholic preacher of the commons was burned to death at the stake as a heretic in 1415. - The 28th of October: The day of the rise an independent Czechoslovakia in 1918. - The 2nd of November: This day is for our ancestors. The day is dedicated to honouring deceased family members. We go to the cemetery to place flowers and candles on their graves Family Celebrations: Some of the

most festive family celebrations are birthdays, name days, baptisms, weddings, and anniversaries. These are events which we of ten celebrate with our whole family We enjoy our time together and we often sing and dance. We also have more unfortunate reasons for coming together, for example at funerals Next: - degree ceremony folklor festivals banquet (feast)- ´hody´ (the first Sunday after 15th August eventually Sunday 15th August – after the dedication of our Baroque church of the Assumption of the virgin Mary)