ENGLISH

- 16 (544) - APRIL 2011

HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS

CONTENTS

WEIRD TRADITIONS AND CELEBRATIONS ................................................. 2 STRANGE EASTER TRADITIONS .................................................................. 3 WEDDING CEREMONIES AROUND THE WORLD ........................................ 5 GATHERINGS AND CELEBRATIONS .......................................................... 10 TASK 1 ................................................................................................... 16 TASK 2 ................................................................................................... 17 VOCABULARY QUIZ: HOLIDAYS ......................................................... 18 EARTH DAY SONGS ..................................................................................... 26 WORLD HOLIDAY CALENDAR ..................................................................... 32

WEIRD TRADITIONS AND CELEBRATIONS If we look at traditions from the culture and history in the Western world or examine any other culture across the globe, we will notice that there are a number of weird traditions that seem extremely bizarre to us in the current century. And while they may seem weird to many of us (human sacrifice, dueling during the 15th - 20th centuries, foot binding in China during the 10 th-the early 20th century, neck rings worn by women in a few African and Asian cultures), they are perfectly acceptable in their cultures being a part of some kind of ritual. CHEESE ROLLING The Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling is an annual event held at Cooper's Hill near Gloucester, England. People from all over the world take part in this event though it is traditionally by and for the people who live in Brockworth, the local village. The event takes its name from the hill where everything happens. Once a year, young men and women hurl themselves down a hill so steep that it is impossible to remain standing, in pursuit of a seven or eight pound wheel of locally made Double Gloucester cheese. MONKEY BUFFET FESTIVAL The Monkey Buffet Festival is held annually in Thailand. Every year, about 2,000 monkeys are invited to eat fruits and vegetables during an annual feast held in honour of gods. The festival provides food and drinks to the local monkey population, thanking them for drawing tourists to the town. LA TOMATINA La Tomatina is a festival that is celebrated in the Valencian town of Bunol, in which participants throw tomatoes at each other making this chaotic event the world's biggest tomato fight and the brightest Spain's summer festival calendar with thousands of people coming to this little Valencian town. The origins of La Tomatina aren't clear. THE BURNING OF THE CLOCKS After the Winter Solstice the longest night of the year the days begin to get longer at last. Brighton celebrates the lengthening days with its own local Northern fire festival The Burning of the Clocks. The event includes a themed parade with as many as 1,000 participants, followed by the burning of paper and willow lanterns on the beach and a fireworks parade. WEARING POLKA DOTS Imagine streets full of people wearing polka dots and dining tables full of round shaped food and fruits on one single day of the year. This all actually happens in the Philippines on New Year's Eve every year. Filipinos believe that this will bring them prosperity by associating the round dots with coins and wealth.
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BURNING PORTRAITS It isn't pleasant to see someone's picture burning, but in Ecuador that's a real fiesta. The locals gather together with pictures that represent something from the last year and burn it. That's the way they rid of the past. On New Year's Eve the night in Ecuador is enlightened by all these fires throughout the country. CAMEL WRESTLING A kinder, gentler version of bullfighting? Perhaps. In Turkey, camel wrestling is a popular event where spectators watch in fascination as two specially bred male camels wrestle each other. Serious injuries are rare, but spectators should be ready for being sprayed by the milky saliva of the camels. MASAI SPITTING The Masai tribe, located in Kenya and Tanzania, greet each other by spitting. When greeting elders, a tribesman must spit in his hand before offering a handshake showing respect. The men spit on newborns, telling them that they are bad. It is believed that if a baby is praised, it will be cursed with a bad life. WIFE CARRYING CONTEST When it is a Columbus Day weekend in Finland, it means that it's time to hoist your wife on your back and start running like nobody's business. Wife carrying is a contest that started out in Finland; some say, as a joke. However, there are historical records showing that this game was practised every year since at least the 1800's. Theoretically it's celebrating a famous kidnapping of women by Viking men who then married them. Nowadays the contest is taken very seriously with several styles of carrying your wife approved and official judges preparing the course track. Even more impressing games are popular in several countries, including the U.S. where they take place every year in Maine and the prize is the woman's weight in beer.

STRANGE EASTER TRADITIONS AN EASTER TREE This tradition was started by a single family more than forty years ago. The Kraft family from Saalfeld, Germany started placing plastic eggs in a tree outside their house in 1965. The tradition has grown over the years from only a handful of plastic eggs to beautifully painted egg shells. The family even has an official site eierbaumsaalfeld.de . While it looks odd, the tradition is enjoyed by the whole town and if we have a Christmas tree, why not have an Easter tree?
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SPANKING WOMEN Surely the strangest Easter custom takes places in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, where there is a tradition of spanking or whipping women on Easter Monday. Males throw water at females and spank them with handmade whips a pomlzka made of willow and decorated with ribbons at the end. While this may sound strange, it's not an insult, in fact pomlzka means "make young". The idea behind the tradition is that anyone hit with the whip will be healthy, beautiful and happy during the upcoming year. It doesn't sound too fun for the women! TRICK OR TREATING When most people think of little kids dressed as witches they immediately think of Halloween. However in Sweden, you could see a little girl trick or treating on Easter. This is because Easter usually falls very close to the Swedish tradition of Walpurgis Night which is on April 30th. Walpurgis Night in Sweden is celebrated by lighting bonfires in attempts to scare evil spirits and witches. On the Thursday before Walpurgis little girls dress up as witches and paint their faces, after which they go from house to house collecting candies. Since this falls close to Easter, in many parts of Sweden girls go trick or treat during Easter, and people light bonfires to keep Judas away. KEEP AWAY FROM HELPING If the man of the house in Poland takes part in preparing the traditional Easter bread, custom has it that his moustache will turn grey and the dough will fail. So the lucky man of the house is kept away from helping. A GIANT OMELETTE More than 4,500 eggs are used to cook up a giant omelette on the streets of Haux in France. The meal must feed up to 1,000 people and is prepared in the main square in time for lunch. THE BILBY The Easter bunny is the most popular symbol of Easter thanks to the Americans, but over in Australia they prefer to use their native marsupial, the Bilby. This is due to the fact that the rabbit has destroyed their land, crops and vegetation. No wonder they don't like the bunny!
From the Internet resources, compiled by Anna LIASHEVSKA

GLOSSARY:
weird bizarre bind hurl pursuit feast solstice polka dot ' , ,
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saliva tribe spit hoist spank whip willow insult marsupial

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WEDDING CEREMONIES AROUND THE WORLD Children grow so fast, and the time comes when they start thinking about their future. They dream about it, make plans, choose a career, fall in love and come to the decision that they are ready to build a family. A new family starts with marriage. And a wedding is a special occasion for every couple, especially for girls. Every girl desires the best wedding ceremony and she considers every single detail of her big day in order to remember the event as long as possible. Commonly, wedding ceremonies share rituals that are influenced by families and cultures. Find out about various wedding traditions around the world and consolidate the knowledge with the help of after-reading tasks. Natalia Vovchenko, a teacher of English INDIAN WEDDING TRADITIONS
Vladyslav TATARIN, school # 159, Kyiv

Every country has its own wedding traditions. They vary from culture to culture. Indian wedding traditions are very elaborate and include various rituals and customs. They are very unusual and tell us more about the Indian culture. An Indian wedding is a fusion of different rituals and endless enjoyment. The most notable element of Indian weddings is that each state of the country follows its own wedding traditions. In spite of this, there are many things that are common at an Indian wedding. There are usually a lot of people at these weddings, from 100 to 10 thousand, but sometimes people don't know the bride before the wedding. The venue of the main wedding ceremony is always the bride's home. After the marriage ceremony the guests are served with wonderful dinner. Four main Indian wedding traditions are: - Kashmiri wedding; - Tamil wedding; - Bengali wedding; - Maharashtrian wedding. Kashmiri wedding. This whole process includes a long list of events and is more of a festival. The wedding ceremony is accompanied by music and dance. Bachkot, a traditional singing group is invited to the wedding. Tamil Wedding. Tamil weddings perform extravagant rituals. They have preand post-wedding rites. The groom's father holds a coconut over the bride and the groom's heads and circles it around them three times at the end of the wedding. Then a special wedding gift is given to the bride, a necklace signifying her married status. Bengali wedding. Bengali weddings are traditionally in four parts: the bride's gaye holud (yellowing the body), the groom's gaye holud, the wedding ceremony, and the reception. These often take place on separate days. The first event in a wedding is an informal one: the groom presents the bride with a ring marking the "engagement" which is gaining popularity.
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Maharashtrian wedding. Maharashtrian marriage is perhaps the simplest in the whole country. Unlike other weddings, most of the rituals are preformed early in the morning. The Maharashtrian marriage procedure starts with finding a suitable counterpart. After this, the horoscope of the boy and the girl are matched by the prophets. After the horoscopes match, the mahurut for the wedding is taken out. This is followed by the preparations for the marriage, with the wedding rituals being performed along side. WEDDING TRADITIONS OF ITALY
Masha MAMONOVA, school # 159, Kyiv

There are a bunch of different wedding traditions all over the world. Each country has its special wedding traditions. As Italy is one of the most beautiful and interesting countries, I was really interested to get to know its wedding traditions. In Veneto, it is customary for the Italian couple getting married to walk to the wedding chapel together. The townsfolk place obstacles in the bride's path to see how she will react to domestic situations. If she picks up a broom, for example, she will keep a clean house. If they put a child in her way and she stops to help him, she will be a good mother. In some regions, the bride and the groom must cut a log in half before they reach the wedding site, using a double handled saw. This demonstrates their partnership in love and marriage. Tying a ribbon in front of the wedding chapel to symbolise the bond between the couple getting married is another popular wedding custom in Italy. The actual wedding ceremony (sposalizio) is officiated by a priest or civil authority. Old church tradition warns against marrying during Lent and Advent, and marriage is also avoided in the months of May and August. A lengthy celebration begins with a mass in the morning; and the dancing and feasting that follow may continue well into the weak hours of the morning. Here is Italian folklore: to ward off evil spirits, the groom in Italy might carry a piece of iron in his pocket; the bride wears a veil to hide her face from jealous spirits; tearing the veil is considered good luck. Sunday marriages are believed to be the luckiest. It is considered bad luck for the bride to wear any gold on the day she is married until wedding rings are exchanged. GREEK WEDDINGS
Olga BABAK, school # 159, Kyiv

There are plenty of customs and superstitions about weddings. I would like to tell you about wedding traditions in Greece. The traditional Greek wedding reception is usually a huge party and can last through the night. Dishes are smashed on the floor for good luck and money is thrown at the musicians. Tradition in Greece is to have your bed made before you actually sleep with your new spouse. During this ceremony, the bed is "made" with hand-knit linen and then adorned with Koufetta almond candies, rose petals and, of course, money from friends and family for good luck. In many Greek villages, they gently roll babies on the bed to insure fertility.
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On the day of the Greek wedding ceremony, the groom asks the bride's father for his daughter's hand in marriage. The groom's best man then accompanies the couple to the church to be married. He places gold crowns made of orange blossoms on the heads of the bride and the groom. These crowns are linked with a silk ribbon. For the rest of their wedding day the newlyweds are honoured as king and queen. Greek brides often put a lump of sugar in their glove for a "sweet" marriage. Sometimes instead of sugar, they carry a branch of ivy which symbolises endless love for your partner. Wedding rings are blessed twice, first on the engagement day and second on the wedding day. Nowadays, after the wedding ceremony, guests are offered bombonieres. These delightful gifts of sugar-coated almonds are wrapped in net. And, by the way, another hallmark of modern weddings is the wild and deafening loud concerto of automobile horns before and after a wedding ceremony. WEDDINGS IN JAPAN
Olga SHALYGA, school # 159, Kyiv

Historically, Japanese wedding ceremonies were performed in Shinto Shrines ( ). The bride is painted in white colour from head to toe, visibly declaring her maiden status to the gods. She wears a white kimono and an elaborate headpiece covered with many ornaments to invite good luck to the happy couple. A white hood is attached to the kimono, which the bride wears as a veil to hide her "horns of jealousy" from the groom's mother who will now become the head of the family. Japanese grooms wear black kimonos to the wedding ceremony. While the bride and the groom exchange their wedding vows, their families face each other. Central to the traditional Japanese marriage ceremony is the ritual of drinking nine cups of sake, after which newlyweds are considered united. The bridal couple in Japan takes nine sips of sake, becoming husband and wife after the first sip. They will set across the table from each other looking directly into the eyes of the other, each taking a sip at the same moment, being very careful to set the cup down on the table at the same exact moment. The purpose of this is to keep one from dying before the other. The tradition says that whoever's cup is set on the table last will be the first to die. The families and guests also drink sake to symbolise the bonding of the couple as well as of the two families. The fathers of the groom and of the bride then introduce their respective family members. For the wedding reception the bride changes into a red kimono and again later into a western-style gown. The wedding party and invited guests are engaged in games, skits and karaoke during the reception. Guests are expected to offer the couple goshugi - money - in festive envelopes either before or after the wedding ceremony. Due to better climate, many Japanese brides prefer spring and autumn wedding dates. Certainly, wedding anniversaries are thought to be lucky, so it is common to see dozens of newlywed couples for their honeymoon on the same day.
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TASKS 1. Choose the best answer to complete the sentences. 1. It is customary for the Italian couple getting married to walk to the wedding chapel together in . . a) Veneto b) Prague c) Vienna 2. The townsfolk place .. in the bride's path to see how she will react to domestic situations. a) leaves b) obstacles c) stones 3. If they put . in her way and she stops to help him, she will be a good mother. a) the flower b) an animal c) a child 4. Cutting a log in half demonstrates the couple's in love and marriage. a) friendship b) partnership c) situation 5. The actual ceremony (sposalizio) is officiated by a priest or civil authority. a) celebration b) church c) wedding 6. . marriages are believed to be the luckiest. a) Sunday b) Friday c) Wednesday 2. Match the beginnings of the sentences with their endings. There are 2 extra sentences you don't need. 1. Indian wedding traditions are very elaborate and include various 2. This whole process includes a long list of events and is .. 3. In spite of this, there are many things that .. 4. The venue of the main wedding ceremony is always .. 5. The wedding ceremony is accompanied 6. Then a special wedding gift is given to the bride, a necklace signifying 7. An Indian wedding is a fusion of .. 8. Wedding traditions and customs in India are very unusual and they tell us .. a) . the bride's home. b) . her married status. c) . rituals and customs. d) . are common at an Indian wedding. e) . more about the Indian culture. f) . by music and dance.
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3. Complete the sentences. 1. Historically, Japanese wedding ceremonies were performed in .. . a) cafes b) shrines c) churches d) restaurants 2. A white .. is attached to the kimono. a) flower b)tape c)bow d)hood 3. Japanese grooms wear .. kimonos to the ceremony. a) red b) dark blue c) black d) yellow 4. The bride and the groom exchange their wedding . . a) rings b) necklaces c) vows d) kisses 5. Wedding ritual drinking includes .. sips of .. . a) 5, vodka b) 9, sake c) 3, tea d) 7, brandy 6. Brides and grooms become husbands and wives after the sip. a) fifth b) ninth c) third d) first 7. The purpose of putting cups on the table at the same time is to keep the other from . a) dying b) running away c) falling d) jumping 8. The new bride changes into a .. kimono. a) green b) blue c) red d) violet 9. Guests give .. to the newlyweds. a) books b) money c) postcards d) letters 10. Japanese brides prefer for the wedding dates. a) spring and summer b) autumn and winter c) spring and autumn d) autumn and summer

4. Agree or disagree with the following statements. 1. The traditional Greek wedding reception can last through the night. 2. There is a tradition in Greece to have your linen made before you actually sleep on it with your husband. In many Greek villages people gently roll babies on the bed to insure health. The groom's best man accompanies the couple to the church to be married. The crowns are linked with a hand-knit ribbon. Nowadays, after the wedding ceremony, guests are offered bombonieres. SELF CHECK
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3. 4. 5. 6.

GATHERINGS AND CELEBRATIONS GATHERINGS Anniversary ; jubilee ; baby shower ; christening ; barbecue/cookout/picnic ; family get-together '; fte /feit/ ; fte - day ; graduation ( ); parade ; festival ; carnival ; occasion ; potluck dinner , ; reception () ; wedding ; anniversary party ; birthday party ; fancy dress party ; going-away party ; welcome party ! buffet ; commemoration party '; funeral / burial ceremony . CELEBRATION NOUNS Celebration ; event feast , ; invitation invitation card -; costume greeting card ; thank-you note guests ; confetti balloon ; ornament birthday cake ; fireworks display cracker ; wish sparkler ; treat bonfire ; candle party hat ; goodie bag ; paper plate ; piata (- '-); wingding ;
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; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

package ; gift/present ; 1) wrapping paper ; 2) ribbon ; 3) bow . CULTURE CORNER In some countries, a baby shower is a way to celebrate the soon or recent birth of a child by presenting gifts to the parents at a party. The term "shower" is often meant that the expectant mother is "showered" with gifts. Traditionally, baby showers were given only for the family's first child, and only women attended. The original reason was for women to share wisdom and lessons on the art of becoming a mother. Typical gifts related to babies include diapers, baby bottles, clothes, and toys. It is common to open the gifts during the party. Some hosts arrange baby-themed activities, such as games to taste baby foods or to guess the baby's birth date or gender. The baby shower is typically arranged and held by a close friend rather than a member of the family, because it is thought to be rude for families to beg for gifts on behalf of their members. Diaper - ; host - ; gender - ; on behalf - . CELEBRATION VERBS attend a party ; cancel a get-together , ; hold a reception ; postpone a dance ; throw a going-away party ; celebrate ; entertain ; give , ; invite ; receive/get ; banner . WEDDING
CULTURE CORNER

Egyptians believed that the 'Vein of love" ran from the ring finger to the heart and having the ring placed there meant everlasting, eternal love. Vein ; eternal
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WEDDING WORDS Proposal ; go down on one knee ; pop the question ; engagement ring ; engaged ; fiance ; fianc ; breaks off the engagement ; bride , ; groom , ; bridesmaids ; groomsmen , ; maid of honour ( ); best man ( ); wedding list ; pre-wedding nerves ; wedding bells ; marriage licence ; rehearsal dinner ; Registry Office ; bridal registry ; objections to the marriage (someone can speak or forever hold their peace) ; to be proclaimed "man and wife" ; newlywed/newly wedded/just married ; priest/vicar , ; procession ; flower girl , ; walk the bride down the aisle ; wedding vows ; draw up a guest list ; reception ; reception venue ; speech ; honeymoon . WEDDING CLOTHES Wedding dress ; tuxedo ; matching dresses ; train ; head piece (); veil ; lace ; ribbon ; bouquet ; plastron . tie/bow tie , -; French cuff ;
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CULTURE CORNER VOWS BY THE HUSBAND (INDIA) I will consider my wife to be THE BETTER half. I will look after her just as I look after myself. Accepting her as in-charge of my home, I shall plan things in consultation with her. I will never express dissatisfaction about any shortcomings in my wife. If there are any, I will explain them to her lovingly. I will support her in overcoming them. I will always have faith in my wife. I will never look at another woman with wrong intent, nor have an illicit relationship. I will be affectionate and treat my wife like a friend. I will bring home all my income to my wife. The household expenses will be incurred with her consent. I will always make an effort to ensure her comfort and happiness. I will not find fault or criticise my wife before others. We will sort out our differences and mistakes in privacy by ourselves. I will have a courteous and tolerant attitude towards my wife. I will always follow a compromising policy. If my wife is unwell, or is unable to fulfill some of the responsibilities or through some misunderstanding behaves wrongly, I will not withdraw support or refuse to fulfill my responsibilities towards her. Intent illicit affectionate incur consent sort out courteous unwell withdraw ; , ; , ; ; , ; ; ; ; ( ).

WEDDING CAKE 1) Wedding cake tier stand ; 2) tier ; 3) plate ; 4) pole/column ; 5) icing/frosting ; 6) fondant ; 7) marzipan .

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DATING VERBS ask someone out ; go on a date ; go out with someone ; flirt with somebody ; fancy somebody ; entrap someone ; be in love with ; fall in love with/fall for somebody ; have an affair with somebody ; have a crush on somebody ; have things in common ; meet people online ; be madly/passionately in love with ; be crazy / wild / mad about ; to fall head over heels for someone / ; can't do without someone ; adore ; cherish ; hug ; kiss ; seduce , ; go Dutch ; go steady ; propose to someone ; be the apple of someone's eye tie the knot/take the plunge ; stand someone up ' ; turn someone down ; get engaged ; get married ; break up with ; get divorced . DATING NOUNS Blind date ; boyfriend / girlfriend , ; my love / sweetheart / dear / honey ; love at first sight ; cuddle ; suitor ; gallantry , ; jealousy ; engagement ; relationship ; flirtation ; affair / love affair ; break up/split-up . ADJECTIVES Single/unmarried , ; engaged ; married divorced ; widowed
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, ; .

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES 5th 10th 15th 20th 25th 30th 40th 50th 60th Wooden Tin Crystal China Silver Pearl Ruby Golden Diamond ' () '

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY FLOWER GIFTS YEAR FLOWER 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14lh 15th 20th 25th 28th 30sh 40th 50th Carnation Lily of the valley Sunflower Hydrangea Daisy Calla Freesia Lilac Bird of paradise Daffodil Tulip Peony Chrysanthemum Dahlia Rose Aster Iris Orchid Lily Gladiolus Yellow roses, violets ,

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People have always loved and adored holidays and festivals. We know lots of stuff about them. But is our knowledge of holidays the same with holiday vocabulary? Try to pass the following tests to find that out.

TASK 1 Match the following words with their explanations. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) wedding; bride; groom; veil; bridesmaids; groomsmen; maid of honour; best man; ring bearer; newly wedded; reception; reception hall; wedding vows; wedding cake;

a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) j) k) 1) m) n)

a man just married or about to be married; a female friend or relative who acts as a witness at the wedding; the promises that the bride and the groom make to each other during the ceremony; a boy at the wedding that holds the wedding rings; the place for the party that takes place after the wedding ceremony; a marriage ceremony usually with its accompanying festivities; female friends or relatives who help the bride at the wedding; a woman just married or about to be married; male friends or relatives who help the groom on the wedding day; a rich iced cake served at a wedding reception; a woman and a man just married; large and very light piece of fabric; a male friend or relative who acts as a witness at the wedding; the party after the wedding ceremony; SELF CHECK
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TASK 2 Complete the sentences below with the best answer. 1. Karl and his girlfriend finally after going steady for eight months. The wedding is next month. a) got engaged b) got married c) got divorced 2. Cindy really .. Tim, but I don't think the feelings are mutual. a) breaks up with b) has a crash on c) goes steady with 3. My parents are really compatible with each other because they .. , and thus, they see eye-to-eye on most things. a) have things in common b) go Dutch c) stand each other up 4. We're going to throw a for my brother because he is going overseas for a year to study. a) parade b) reception c) going-away party 5. It looks like we're going to have to .. the cookout until next week because of the weather. a) postpone b) hold c) throw 6. When you have a .. at someone's house in some parts of the United States, you should bring a dish to share with the rest of the people. a) potluck dinner b) feast c) dance SELF CHECK
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VOCABULARY QUIZ: HOLIDAYS APRIL FOOLS' DAY 1. April Fools' Day is not really a holiday - it's more of a day to play .. on people, a) jokes b) funny 2. In English-speaking countries, this is the day when you try to make your friends believe something that isn't true - and if they believe it you're . to say "April Fool!" a) supposed b) supported 3. The origins of the day are .. . a) unclear b) uncleaned 4. April Fools' Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. In Poland, for example, the tradition is to get people wet by water on them. a) pouring b) poring 5. A "practical joke" is a playful trick that usually puts the receiver in an . position. a) embarrassing b) embarrass 6. Another word for "practical joke" is . . a) prank b) plank 7. I can't believe you . for it! = I can't believe you believed it! a) felt b) fell 8. A .. is an attempt to trick an audience (or person) into believing that something false is real. a) saga b) hoax 9. In several English-speaking countries, including the UK, Australia and New Zealand, April Fools' .. says that you have to play a joke before noon (12:00 pm). If you play a joke after 12:00 pm, you, yourself, are .. the "fool". a) tradition, considered b) customary, consigned 10. A .. person is one who believes things very easily. a) sellable b) gullible SELF CHECK
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ST. PATRICK'S DAY 1. St. Patrick's Day is the .. holiday of the Irish people. It celebrates Saint Patrick one of the patron saints of Ireland. It is an official holiday in the Republic of Ireland, and is .. celebrated in many other English-speaking countries. a) national, widely b) nation, great 2. This day is all about having fun. Many St. Patrick's Day parties around everything green and/or Irish. a) corner b) centre 3. Many cities around the world have St. Patrick's Day .. . The biggest ones are in New York, Savannah (Georgia), and Dublin. a) marching b) parades 4. Part of the tradition is that one has to wear at least one green item of .... . In parts of the world, children who do not wear anything green are either pinched, or punched in the arm. a) clothing b) cloth 5. One very .. symbol of St. Patrick's Day (mainly because it is a symbol of Ireland) is the "shamrock" a three-leaf clover. a) reconnaissance b) recognisable 6. . lots of alcohol has, in many places, become synonymous with St. Patrick's Day. a) Drinking b) Taking 7. In Chicago, the river is actually .. green every year for St. Patrick's Day. a) dyed b)died 8. Historically, Saint Patrick's Day was celebrated only as a religious holiday up . about 100 years ago, when it became a public holiday. a) by b) until 9. You don't have to be Irish to celebrate this holiday. In fact, it is for non-Irish people to think of themselves as "Irish for a day" on St. Patrick's Day. a) customary b) custom SELF CHECK
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EASTER 1. Easter is a Christian religious holiday that commemorates the crucifixion and of Jesus Christ. These days, Easter has a lot of . traditions as well, which is why many nonChristians also celebrate it. a) revival, secular b) resurrection, sectional 2. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is an or "public" holiday in some parts of the English-speaking world. a) efficient b) official 3. Easter and all of its related holidays (Good Friday, Lent, etc.) are known as feasts/holidays, which means their date changes from year to year. a) movers b) moveable 4. One of the main Easter traditions is .. eggs which involves painting them in a variety of colours. a) decorating b) dressing 5. On Easter Sunday, many people participate in a traditional Easter egg .. the colored eggs are hidden by the parents, and the children have to look for them. a) look b) hunt 6. Many Christians (even the ones who don't normally go to church) attend .. on Easter Sunday. a) mass b) sermon 7. A very popular symbol of Easter is the Easter .. traditionally, he's the one who "hides" and delivers the eggs. a) Bunny b) Hare 8. Many families place coloured eggs, and other decorated items, in an Easter.. . These are given to children when they wake up on Easter Sunday. a) basket b) bowl 9. In England, many people . chocolate eggs instead of real ones. a)exchange b) change 10. Lent is a period of when one is not allowed to eat certain foods which starts 40 days before Easter. Most people no longer .. Lent. a) feasting, absolve b) fasting, observe SELF CHECK
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MOTHER'S DAY/FATHER'S DAY/NATIONAL GRANDPARENTS' DAY 1. Mother's Day is a holiday, celebrated in many countries around the world, that honours mothers and .. . a) motherhood b) moms 2. Traditionally on this day, mothers receive a of flowers, a gift, a greeting card, or a combination of these things. a) bouquet b) collection 3. According to a recent survey, in the United States, Mother's Day is the most popular day to dine . in a restaurant. Taking one's mother out to a restaurant to be a very popular present. a) outside, senses b) out, seems 4. The holiday exists thanks to the of Anna Jarvis, an American woman who campaigned to create a special holiday for mothers. She was , and this version of the holiday later spread to other countries. a) action, success b) efforts, successful 5. Father's Day is a recent holiday in the United States it was only officially recognised in 1972. a) relatively b) relative 6. Soon after the .. of Mother's Day (1922), a woman named Sonora Dodd promoted the idea of a national holiday to honour fathers. a) creativity b) creation 7. Dodd's idea had . success at the time, but eventually it .. on and became an official holiday. a) limited, caught b) limiting, went 8. These days fathers usually receive typically . gifts such as electronics and tools, as well as greeting cards. a) masculine b) muscular 9. An even more holiday is "National Grandparents Day", which only obtained official in the United States in 1978, and in Canada in 1995. Sadly, in North America this holiday is not as popular as Mother's Day or Father's Day. a) recent, status b) recently, state SELF CHECK
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MEMORIAL DAY 1. Memorial day is an American holiday that is on the last Monday of May. a) seen b) observed 2. The day is about remembering U.S. soldiers who have died in military to their country. a) servicemen b) service 3. The origins of the holiday stem back to the American . War. The day was created to honour Union (Northern) soldiers. a) Civil, fallen b) Civic, fell 4. Many people still follow the tradition of visiting cemeteries and . on this day. a) memos b) memorials 5. Social gatherings such as .. or barbecues are a popular way to spend Memorial Day. Despite the solemn nature of the holiday, many see it as a day of fun and . . a) picnics, relaxation b) pickets, retribution 6. Memorial Day is considered by many as the start of Summer. a) unofficial b) unwarranted 7. This holiday was .. known as "Decoration Day". a) before b) formerly 8. Many flags around the United States fly half-staff, or half-. , which means halfway down the flagpole. a) mast b) mask 9. In many other parts of the world, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, this holiday is known as "Remembrance Day", and is held on November 11. In the United States, November 11 is called "Veterans' Day" a day which honours all veterans . and dead. a) live b) living 10. Memorial Day, due to its .. in the American Civil War, is not observed anywhere outside the United States. a) origins b) seeds SELF CHECK
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HALLOWEEN 1. Halloween is on the last day of October. Many of its current traditions actually stem from times. a) feasted, prehistoric b) celebrated, pagan 2. One of the main Halloween traditions involves wearing .. . a) costumes b) outfits . 3. Another popular tradition is called "trick-or-treating". This is when children who are dressed . in scary or funny costumes go around the neighbourhood asking for candy. a) out b) up 4. Children come to someone's house, .. the doorbell (or knock), and when someone answers the door, the children are supposed to say "Trick or treat!", which means they want candy :) a) sound b) ring 5. Halloween is not only for children. Many .. celebrate this holiday as well, usually by going to parties. a) adults b) elders 6. Another popular tradition involves . a pumpkin (cutting out what's inside and making a face out of it). a) carving b) craving 7. After a pumpkin is , people usually place a candle in the middle to make the "face" . This pumpkin face with a candle inside is called a "jack-o-lantern". a) craved, shine b) carved, glow 8. In some parts of the English-speaking world, people light .. , which are large controlled outdoor fires. a) bonfires b) campfires 9. Many people their front yards, back yards, and windows with all kinds of "scary" images like witches, ghosts, goblins, etc. a) decorate b) renovate

SELF CHECK
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THANKSGIVING 1. Thanksgiving is an important public holiday in the Unites States and in Canada. It is considered a day to give . often to God for the things that one has. a) thank-you b) thanks 2. On this day, it's important to remember what you have to be for. a) thanked b) thankful 3. The holiday is nicknamed " Day" because this is the food that people associate most with Thanksgiving. a) Turkey b) Cranberry 4. Many communities have annual food drives (= a period of time over which they collect food donations) in order to feed the .. on this day. a) needy b) needed 5. A Thanksgiving dinner has turkey (usually whole), cranberry sauce, yams, and many other types of "autumn" food. a) tradition b) traditional 6. The most famous Thanksgiving dessert is pumpkin . a) cake b) pie 7. In English "to say " means to say a few words of thanks usually before eating a meal. a) grace b) graces 8. The history of American Thanksgiving goes back to 1621 when the Pilgrims, taught by a local American Indian tribe to . in the new country, set apart a day to celebrate immediately after their first . . a) surpass, harbour b) survive, harvest 9. Another popular Thanksgiving food is .. . The name comes from the fact that a Thanksgiving turkey is "stuffed" with this while it is cooking. a) stuffing b) stuff 10. (Watching) American football is often a major . of Thanksgiving celebrations in the United States. a) part b) slice SELF CHECK
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KEY (TASKS):
1. 1-; 2-b; 3-c; 4-b; 5-c; 6-. 2. 1-c; 3-d; 4-; 5-f; 6-b; 7-c. 3. 1-b; 2-d; 3-c; 4-c; 5-b; 6-d; 7-; 8-c; 9-b; 10-c. 4. 1-T; 2-F; 3-F; 4-T; 5-F; 6-T.

KEYS TO THE TESTS:

Task 1: 1-f; 2-h; 3-a; 4-1; 5-g; 6-; 7-b; 8-m; 9-d; 10-k; 11-n; 12-e; 13-c; 14-j. Task 2: 1-; 2-b; 3-a; 4-c; 5-; 6-. April Fools' Day: 1-; 2-; 3-a; 4-; 5-; 6-; 7-b; 8-b; 9-; 10-b. St. Patrick's Day: 1-; 2-b; 3-b; 4-; 5-b; 6-; 7-; 8-b; 9-. Easter: 1-b; 2-b; 3-b; 4-; 5-b; 6-; 7-; 8-; 9-; 10-b. Mother's Day/Father's Day/National Grandparents' Day: 1-; 2-; 3-b; 4-b; 5-; 6-b; 7-; 8-; 9-. Memorial Day: 1-b; 2-b; 3-a; 4-b; 5-; 6-; 7-b; 8-; 9-b; 10-a. Halloween: 1-b; 2-; 3-b; 4-b; 5-; 6-; 7-b; 8-; 9- Thanksgiving: 1-b; 2-b; 3-a; 4-; 5-b; 6-b; 7-; 8-b; 9-; 10-a.

From the Internet resources, http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com compiled by Anna LIASHEVSKA

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EARTH DAY SONGS

EVERY DAY AN EARTH DAY

By Ron Brown I Let's make every day an Earth Day. Let's keep the skies blue. Every day, an Earth Day For our friends and families and the animals too. Refrain: It's just one small world That we must depend on; One small world for all; One small world that we can save together. Will you answer the call? II Let's make every day an Earth Day. Let's keep the waters clean. Everyday, an Earth Day For the plants and creatures in this world with me. Refrain: Let's make every day an Earth Day Let's keep the skies blue. Every day, and Earth Day.

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ONE WORLD
By Lucas Miller

Refrain: There's just one world, We've got to share it; There's just one world, Try to cherish it; Just one world live upon it with care. I There are many mountains, Many valleys. Many rivers that sing, Many forests, But please remember this one thing: Refrain: II There are many turtles, Many lions, Many eagles on the wing, Many fishes, But please remember this one thing: Refrain: III There are many people, Many faces, Many blessings do they bring, Many voices, All of them together they sing: Refrain: IV If you will walk here with care and respect And your share of kindness, too. This world will take care of you, Your world will be kind to you that much is true. Refrain:
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SAVE (OUR WORLD)

By Colleen & Uncle Squaty I I am a whale in the ocean. I swim and I eat, with the fishes in the sea. Someone's been dumpin' garbage and sewage in my sea, and it's changin' my life permanently. And I liked my ocean just fine, you see. And I don't need nobody dumpin' garbage on me! Refrain: Save our world, everybody, The sky, and the water, and the trees. Save the world for our children, Save and don't be sorry... Save our world, you and me. II I am a monkey in the rainforest. My home and my food are in the trees. Someone's been cuttin' and burnin' my trees, And it's changin' my life permanently. And I liked my forest just fine, you see. And I don't need nobody cuttin' and burnin' my trees! Refrain: III I am an eagle on the horizon. And I fly just as far as I can see! But my sky is mil of smog, and the acid rains on me, And it's changing my life permanently! And I liked my sky just fine, you see, and I need no pollution in the air that I breathe! Refrain:

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KEEP YOUR WORLD CLEAN

By Marilyn M. Linford

It's your world and my world too; There are things that we can do To help our world be safe and clean From litter, trash, and other things, Here's what we'll do. We may be small but we can know Just where our litter ought to go. We'll put our litter in the can And lend our world a helping hand, That's what we'll do Recycling is nothing new And we can learn to do it too. When we are careful not to waste Our world will be a cleaner place, For me and you. It's your world and my world too; These are things that we can do. When we take care of our own space Our world will be a safer place, Won't you help too? It's your world and my world too. twice

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SWEET AND SOUR RAIN

By Chris Rowlings Refrain:

Sweet and sour rain Falling from the sky; The sour is the acid rain, The sweet is alkali. But when acid rain falls day after day On the lakes and the rivers And the soil and the clay There're changes in the water and the forest... Day after day, year after year The lakes become acid And the fish disappear And we wonder how we got this acid rain... Coming up the smokestack from your factory, Nickel smelting, steel producing factory; Coming from your car and truck emissions, Coal fired, nuclear plant emissions, Everything burning fossil fuel Emits hot sulfur as a rule; The sulfur combines with the oxygen, Combines with the water vapour again, Makes sulphuric acid, Sulphuric acid, acid rain, rain, rain, rain, rain Refrain: Sometimes the soil is like the sweet rain Neutralizing the sour again And helps prevent the damage to the forest Sometimes the lakes have sweet water too, Limestone or calcium buffers will do. They help to neutralize the acid rain...
From the Internet resources, compiled by Anna LIASHEVSKA
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GLOSSARY: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

cherish dump sewage

permanently ; sour alkali clay smokestack emission fossil fuel emit vapour neutralize limestone buffer

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WORLD HOLIDAY CALENDAR JANUARY 01 Global Family Day 04 World Braille Day 08 World Literary Day 11 International Thank-You Day 30 World Leprosy Day FEBRUARY 12 Darwin Day 21 International Mother Language Day 22 World Thinking Day MARCH 01 International Day of the Seal 08 International Women's Day 14 World Book Day 20 World Frog Day 21 World Down Syndrome Day 22 World Day for Water 23 World Meteorological Day 29 Earth Hour (8 pm local time) APRIL 02 International Children's Book Day 07 World Health Day 12 Yuri's Night 13 International Special Librarian's Day 21 International Creativity and Innovation Day 22 Earth Day 23 World Copyright Day 25 World Penguin Day MAY 03 World Press Freedom Day 05 International Midwives Day 08 World Red Cross Day 10 World Lupus Day 12 International Nurses Day 13 IEEE Global Engineering Day 15 International Day of Families 18 International Museum Day 21 World Day for Cultural Diversity
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22 International Day for Biological Diversity 23 World Turtle Day 24 World Schizophrenia Day 25 Towel Day 31 World No-Tobacco Day JUNE 08 World Ocean Day 14 World Blood Donor Day 16 International Day of the African Child 17 World Day to Combat Desertification & Drought 20 World Refugee Day 26 International Day against Drug Abuse & Trafficking JULY 11 World Population Day 16 World Snake Day AUGUST 08 Universal & International Infinity Day 09 International Day of the World's Indigenous People 10 International Biodiesel Day 12 International Youth Day 13 International Lefthanders Day 14 World Lizard Day 23 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade & its Abolition SEPTEMBER 08 International Literacy Day 13 International Chocolate Day 15 Software Freedom Day 16 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 19 Talk Like a Pirate Day 21 World Gratitude Day 22 World Car-Free Day 29 Inventors Day OCTOBER 01 International Music Day 02 World Farm Animals Day 03 World Temperance Day 04 World Animal Day 05 World Teacher's Day
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10 World Mental Health Day 16 World Food Day 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 24 United Nations Day 29 International Internet Day NOVEMBER 08 World Town Planning Day 16 International Day for Tolerance 21 World Television Day 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 30 International Computer Security Day DECEMBER 01 World AIDS Day 02 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 05 International Volunteers Day 07 International Civil Aviation Day 10 Human Rights Day
From the Internet resources, compiled by Anna LIASHEVSKA

GLOSSARY Braille leprosy seal midwives lupus diversity drought refugee abuse trafficking indigenous biodiesel abolition literacy preservation gratitude temperance eradication poverty elimination

( ); ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; (); ; ; , ; ; ; ; ; ;
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