Traditions of America
Made by Kushоnko Zоya -10gr.
Every nation has different customs and traditions, its own way of life.
In Europe there are people who have lived in the same house and been in the same job for 20, 30 or more years. That’s not the American way of life. The Americans love change, they call it the spirit of adventure, a spirit that they think is more characteristic of America than of Europe. They like to move away, to change houses and jobs.
While the Englishman thinks it is ill mannered to ask private questions, the American doesn’t feel that at all. He will tell you all about himself, his wife and family, and ask where you have come from, what your job is, how you like America and how long you are staying. The American prefers sociability. In his home he doesn’t object to being seen by everyone — he actually likes it.
With this sociability goes overwhelming hospitality. A national Thanksgiving Day is perhaps the only holiday spent by the Americans at home. Table decorations follow a traditional pattern — a harvest of Indian corn, apples, oranges, walnuts and grapes. Flowers also bring the fall scene indoors. The centrepiece is the traditional roast turkey.
Still another American tradition concerns Halloween. Its origin dates back hundreds of years to the Druid festival. The Druid New Year began on November 1, marking the beginning of winter and the reign of the Lord of Death. The custom of telling ghost stories on Halloween comes from the Druids. On this occasion children usually wear ghost costumes or false faces. They also carve out rounded eyes in pumpkins and put burning candles inside them to make them visible from far away.
Another big holiday is Christmas.
Coming home for Christmas - one of the major American traditions. Regardless of where the Americans are the rest of the year, they want to get home and meet my family and friends for Christmas.
Thanksgiving and Christmas - the busiest times of the year at airports, train stations and bus depots. It seems that the whole of America - in the movement, and Americans are finding a way to spend the weekend with your loved ones.
Christmas means that the house will be full of cousins, aunts and uncles who can not see each other for a year. Everyone helps in the preparation of the festivities. Some go to choose a Christmas tree, decorate the house or other wrapped gifts. And of course make a lot of food!
Christmas
Halloween
Thanksgiving Day
Vocabulary
Custom-обычай
Tradition-традиция
Spirit-дух
Private-личный
Overwhelming-подавляющий
Occasion-случай
Major-главный
Movement-движение
Exercices
№1
1)The Americans love …
2)They like to move…
3)A national … … is perhaps the only
holiday spent by Americans at home.
4)Halloweenorigin dates back…
5)… … … … - one of the major American tradition.
6)Thanksgiving and Christmas - …
№2
Compare two parts of the sentences.
1) Table decorations follow a traditional pattern
2) Coming home for Christmas -
3) Some go to choose a Christmas tree,
a) one of the major American traditions.
b) decorate the house or other wrapped gifts.
c) — a harvest of Indian corn, apples, oranges, walnuts and grapes.
№3
Visible from far away Дух приключений
The spirit of adventure Характеристика Америки
Private questions Виден из далека
Characteristic of America Подавляющее гостеприимство
Overwhelming hospitality Предпочитает общительность
