Customs and Traditions in Great Britain

Some English customs and traditions are famous all over the world. Bowler hats, tea and talking about the weather, for example. From Scotland to Cornwall, the United Kingdom is full of customs and traditions. Here are some of them.

St. Valentine's is the saint of people in love, and St. Valentine's day is February, 14. On that day, people send valentine cards and presents to their husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends. You can also send a card to a person you don't know. But traditionally you must never write your name on it. Some British newspapers have apage for Valentine's Day messages on February 14th

April, 1 is April Fool's Day in Great Britain. This is a very old tradition from the Middle Ages. At that time servants were masters for one day of the year. Now April Fool's Day is different. It's a day for jokes and tricks.

May, 1was an important day in the Middle Ages. In the very early morning young girls went to fields and washed their faces with dew. They believed this made them very beautiful for a year after that. Also on May Day young men of each village tried to win prizes with their bows and arrows, and people danced round the Maypole.

November, 5 is Guy Fawkes's Day. All over the country people build wood fires, or «bonfires», in their gardens. On top of each bonfire is a guy, this is a figure of Guy Fawkes. On November, 5, 1665, Guy Fawkes tried to kill King James I. He and a group of his friends put a bomb under the Houses of Parliament in London. But the king's men found the bomb and Guy Fawkes. They took him to the Tower of London, where his head was cut off. Before November 5, children use guys to make money. They stand in the street and shout: «Penny for the guy».

 

- to be famous all over the world – быть известным во всем мире

a bowler hat - котелок

to be full of customs and traditions – быть полным обычаев и традиций

- a saint - святой

to send valentine cards to smbd. – посылать валентинки кому-либо

a Valentine's Day messagе – послание Дня святого Валентина

- April Fool's Day – День смеха

the Middle Ages – средние века

a servant – слуга

a master – хозяин

a trick – проделка, проказа

- to wash one's face with dew – умывать лицо росой

to win a prizе – выиграть приз

to dance round the Maypole – танцевать вокруг майского шеста

- to build a bonfire – устроить костер

to put a bomb under smth. – заложить бомбу под что-либо

to cut somebody's head off – отрубить голову кому-либо

to use a guy to make money – использовать чучело, чтобы заработать денег

Task 22. Answer the questions to the text:

1. What proves that the United Kingdom is a country of traditions?

2. How is St. Valentine's Day marked?

3. What is April Fool's Day?

4. What are the old traditions of May Day?

5. Why is the guy put on top of the bonfire on November, 5?.

Task 23.Translate into English:

1. Coeдиненнoe Kopoлевствo полно oбычаев и тpaдиций, известных во всем мире.

2. День святого Валентина, святого возлюбленных, отмечается 14 февраля.

3. 1 aпpeля - день смexa, день шуток и проделок

4. 1 Maя - пpaздник прихода (coming) весны.

5. 5 ноября люди сооружают большие костры и сжигают (burn) чучело Гая Фокса.

6. Гай Фокс жил в 17 веке и пытался подложить бомбу под парламент.

7. Заговор (plot) был раскрыт, Гая Фокса посадили в Тауэр и отрубили ему голову.

Task 24. Read and translate the text “The Ceremony of the Keys”

The Ceremony of the Keys

Every night at 9.53 p.m. the chief Warder of the Yeomen Warders (Beefeaters) of the Tower of London lights a candle lantern and then makes his way towards the Bloody Tower. In the Archway his Escort await his arrival. The Chief Warder, carrying the keys, then moves off with his Escort to the West Gate, which he locks, while the Escort «present arms¹». Then the Middle and Byward Towers are locked.

The party then return to the Bloody Tower Archway, and there they are halted by the challenge of the sentry². «Halt!» he commands. «Who goes there?» The Chief Warder answers, «The keys». The sentry demands, «Whose keys?» «Queen Elizabeth's keys», replies the Chief Warder. «Advance, Queen Elizabeth's keys; all's well», commands the sentry.

Having received permission to proceed through the Archway, the party then form up facing the Main Guard of the Tower. The order is given by the officer-in-charge to «Present Arms». The Chief Warder doffs³ his Tudor-style bonnet and cries, «God preserve Queen Elizabeth». «Amen», answer the Guard and Escort.

At 10 p. m. the bugler⁴ sounds the «Last Post» (signal to return). The Chief Warder proceeds to the Queen's House, where the keys are given into the custody⁵ of the Resident Governor and Major.

The Ceremony of the Keys dates back 700 years and has taken place every night during that period, even during the blitz of London in the last war. On one particular night, April 16, 1941, bomb blast disrupted the ceremony, knocking out members of the Escort and Yeomen Warders. Despite this, the duty was completed.

Only a limited number of visitors are admitted to the ceremony each night. Application to see it must be made at least forty-eight hours in advance at the Constable's office in the Tower. Visitors with permission are admitted at 9. 40 p. m. and leave at 10 p. m.

¹ to present arms [pri'zent a:mz] – брать на караул

² sentry ['sentri] – часовой, караул

³ doff [d f] — сбрасывать. скидывать

⁴ bugler ['bju:glә] - горнист

⁵ custody ['kΛstәdi] — oxpaнa

Lesson 16. Traditions and Holidays in Russia

Pre – reading