Святі покровителі Британії./ Patron Saints of Britain. 


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Святі покровителі Британії./ Patron Saints of Britain.



ST. PATRICK is the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he was enslaved by Irish pirates who raided his home, probably in South Wales. He managed to escape from the pirates and began to be trained as a priest for priesthood, but he never completed his training. Still he was determined to return to Ireland and to evangelize its people. He is said to have landed again in Ireland in the 5th century and his work was a vital factor in the spread of Christian influence there. His symbols are snakes and shamrocks. His feast-day is 17 March. This church festival is regarded as a national day in Ireland. Shamrock was used by St. Patrick to illustrate the doctrine of Trinity. It is adopted as the national emblem of Ireland.

ST. GEORGE is the patron saint of England. He was martyred at Lydda in Palestine: he was shod in red-hot shoes, broken on a spiked wheel and immersed in quicklime. The legend of his having slain a dragon was very popular: he rescued a king’s daughter from becoming the dragon’s tribute and so managed to covert her people. Richard I (the Lionheart) was said to have had a vision of him and was able to restore the saint’s tomb at Lydda. Saint George was proclaimed chief patron of England when English soldiers under Henry V won the battle of Agincourt. His feast-day is 23 April. On this day some patriotic Englishmen wear a rose pinned to their jackets.

ST. ANDREW is the patron saint of Scotland. He was a New Testament apostle who was martyred on an X-shaped cross (St. Andrew’s Cross). He was said to have given the Pictish army a vision of this cross at the battle of Athenstoneford between King Angus of the Picts and King Athelstan of the Angles. St. Andrew was foisted upon Scotland as its patron when the old Celtic and Culdee centres were superseded by the new bishopric of St. Andrew’s. His feast-day is 30 November. On this day some Scotsmen wear a thistle in the buttonhole.

ST. DAVID is the patron saint of Wales. According to the legend he was the son of a Prince of Cardiganshire and uncle of King Arthur. He was a Christian abbot and bishop and founded twelve monasteries from Croyland to Pembrokeshire. In these monasteries the regime was very austere. He was nicknamed “Aquaticus” after his habit of drinking only water. His feast-day is 1 March. This day is regarded as the national holiday of Wales (although it is not an official bank holiday). On this day many Welshmen wear either a daffodil or a leek pinned to their jackets. These plants are traditionally regarded as national emblems of Wales.

5. Національний характер та національні стереотипи Великої Британії та США. Characteristics and National Stereotype in Great Britain and the USA.

Almost every nation has a reputation of some kind. The French are supposed to be amorous, cheerful and fond of champagne. The Germans are dull, formal, efficient and fond of military uniforms, and parades. The Americans are boastful, energetic, sociable and vulgar. The English are reputed to be cold, reserved people who do not yell in the street, make love in public or change their governments as often as they change their shirts. They are steady, easy-going, and fond of sports.

The foreigner’s opinion of the English is very often based on the type of Englishman he has learned about from novels and anecdotes. It is obvious that this cannot be taken as general for the whole people. There are, however, certain kinds of behaviour, manners and customs, which are peculiar to England.

The English are a nation of stay-at-homes. There is no place like home, they say. Even nowadays, when travelling became so popular with all classes, this peculiar feature has preserved. When an Englishman is not working he withdraws from the world to the company of his wife and children. Of course, he likes a glass of beer in the pub, but he remains a stay-at-home. “The Englishman’s home is his castle”, is a saying known all over the world, and it is true that English people prefer houses, built to house one family, perhaps with a small garden.



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