Усна розмовна тема "Святкування і традиції Британії"

BRITISH CELEBRATIONS

You know, Alex, my greatest dream has come true! I’m going to Great Britain for my summer holidays. My friend Josh invited to visit his family in Liverpool. I’m sure to have a good time there, because British traditions are very interesting.

Let me tell you a few words about British festivals. Like in the other countries they have both Christian and national holidays. Christmas and Easter are the greatest Christian holidays. Christmas is celebrated on the 25^th of December, but people start to celebrate it a day before. They traditionally decorate their house with evergreen plants like holly or mistletoe and put presents under  a Christmas tree. The biggest fir-tree is set in London, in Trafalgar Square. All British families have a traditional Christmas supper which consists of roasted turkey, Christmas pudding and a mince pie. People often go to church and sing Christmas songs called carols. Every English family sends and receives Christmas cards. They are traditionally with a robin, Santa Clause or a sleigh pulled by reindeer.

As I know all young people like celebrating St. Valentine’s day on the14th of February. It is a day of sweethearts. It is the day that you show your love to your close people. Most people send “valentines” in a shape of a red  heart. People of all ages love to send and receive “valentines”  which can have a small rhyme inside:

   Roses are red,

   Violets are blue,

   Sugar is sweet,

   And so are you.

It’s strange enough, but English are probably the only people in Europe without a national day. But there is one day when all people celebrate. It’s Guy Fawkes Day on the fifth of November. It is to remember the Gunpowder Plot and its leader, Guy Fawkes. He wanted to kill King James I and put twenty barrels of gunpowder under the room of the Houses of Parliament. Nowadays people let off fireworks and make large bonfires on this day. You can hardly find anyone indoors because all the streets look magically.

So I’m looking forward to my trip and I’ sure I’ll be able to learn much more about British celebrations.