1. HOLIDAYS IN GREAT BRITAIN
There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries.
They are: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day,
Spring Bank Holiday and Summer Bank Holiday. Public holidays in Britain are called bank
holidays, because the banks as well as most of the offices and shops are closed.
The most popular holiday is Christmas. Every year the people of Norway give the city of London a
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big Christmas tree and it stands in Trafalgar Square. Central streets are beautifully decorated. Before
Christmas, groups of singers go from house to house. They collect money for charity and sing carols,
traditional Christmas songs. Many churches hold a carol service on the Sunday before Christmas. The
fun starts the night before, on the 24th of December. Traditionally this is the day when people decorate
their trees. Children hang stockings at the end of their beds, hoping that Father Christmas will come
down the chimney during the night and fill them with toys and sweets. Christmas is a family holiday.
Relatives usually meet for the big Christmas dinner of turkey and Christmas pudding. And everyone
gives and receives presents. The 26th of December, Boxing Day, is an extra holiday after Christmas
Day. This is the time to visit friends and relatives or perhaps sit at home and watch football.
New Year's Day is less popular in Britain than Christmas. But in Scotland, Hogmanay is the biggest
festival of the year.
Besides public holidays there are some special festivals in Great Britain. One of them takes place on the
5th of November. On that day, in 1605, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill
King James 1. He didn't succeed. The King's men found the bomb, took Guy Fawkes to the Tower and
cut off his head. Since that day the British celebrate the 5th of November. They bum a dummy, made of
straw and old clothes, on a bonfire and let off fireworks.
HOLIDAYS IN THE USA
The population of the USA is made up of people of different nationalities. Centuries ago they
brought with them their native celebrations. Some holidays, which are marked in the United States,
originated in America. Most American holidays are not religious, but commemorative in nature and origin.
The number of holidays is different in different states - from 8 in the District of Columbia to 20 in
Oklahoma. But the most important holidays are celebrated throughout the USA. Ten holidays per year are
proclaimed by the federal government. They are:
1. NEW YEAR 'S DAY (January 1);
2. MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY (traditional - January 15, official - third Monday in January)
3. GEORGE W ASHINGTON ’ S BIRTHDAY (traditional - February 22, official - third Monday
in February);
4. MEMORIAL DAY (traditional - May 30, official - last Monday in May);
5. INDEPENDENCE DAY (July 4)
6. LABOUR DAY (first Monday in September),
7. COLUMBUS DAY (traditional - October 12, official - second Monday in October);
8. VETERAN'S DAY (traditional - November 11, official - second Monday in November);
9. THANKSGIVING DAY (fourth Thursday in November):
10. CHRISTMAS (December 25).
In 1971, the dates of many federal holidays were officially moved to the nearest Monday by
President Richard Nixon Many Americans think of 2 religious holidays - Easter and Christmas - as the most
important celebrations of the year.
On New Year's Day people see the old year off and the New Year in. A favourite place to see the old
year out is New York City's Time Square.
Most people stay up all night, even children. At midnight many people go outside and shout "Happy
New Year"! Some people set off fireworks and blow automobile horns which are heard everywhere.
Washington's birthday is m a r k e d o n F e b r u a r y 2 2. Ge o r g e Washington led the
American Army to victory in the War for Independence. Later he was elected President of the United States
and was in office for 8 years. The national capital of United States, a state and several towns are named after
George Washington.
Memorial Day honours the nation's armed services killed in wartime. The holiday, originally
called Decoration Day, is traditionally marked by parades, memorial speeches and ceremonies, and the
decoration of graves with flowers and flags. Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868, on the order of
General John Alexander Logan for the purpose of decorating the graves of the American Civil War dead.
One of the greatest holidays is Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence
was signed in Philadelphia. It proclaimed independence of thirteen British colonies from Great Britain. July 4 has
become the greatest holiday since. In the past this day was marked with big parades and fireworks, but now it is
celebrated more quietly. Cities and towns are decorated with flags on that day, there are parades on some places,
but most people just go on picnics to the countryside. Family picnics and outings are a feature of private
Fourth of July celebrations.
Labour Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September. Peter McGuire, the president of the first
Labour union in the USA, which started in 1869, chose September 5, 1882, for the first Labour Day. On this
day workers make a public show with marches, meetings and picnics honouring all the workers in the US. It also
marks the beginning of school year and the end of summer.
On Columbus Day Americans remember that Christopher Columbus reached America on October 12th,
1492. For Italian-Americans this is a very special holiday. Columbus sailed for the Spanish king, but he was in

2. fact an Italian. The biggest celebrations are in New York City, with huge parades through the streets.
Veteran's Day is a solemn occasion in honour of all American veterans of all wars. In many
communities veterans march in parades, national flags are displayed, special ceremonies, observing two
minutes' silence, are held at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
Thanksgiving Day, a legal holiday in the U.S., was first celebrated in early colonial times in New
England. The actual origin is probably the harvest festivals that are traditional in many parts of the world. After
the first harvest was completed by the Plymouth colonists in 1621, Governor William Bradford proclaimed a
day of thanksgiving.
Christmas is an annual festival, held on December 25, to celebrate the Nativity, or birth of Christ.
The Christmas tree, an evergreen trimmed with lights and other decorations, is derived from the so-called
paradise tree, symbolizing Eden.