8. Общее и различное в странах и национальных культурах (English (topics for exam 2 sem in PDF))

British nation is the most conservative in Europe. Englishmen are proud of theirtraditions and carefully keep them up. The best examples are their queen, money system,their weights and measures.There are many customs in Great Britain and Russia connected with different religiousholidays.In Britain Christmas is more popular than New Year’s Day. The fun starts the nightbefore the 24th of December. Traditionally this is the day when people decorate theirtrees. Christmas is a family holiday.

Relatives usually meet for the big Christmas dinnerof turkey and Christmas pudding. And everyone gives and receives presents.What about Russia, we celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January. And in spite of NewYear’s Day, usually Russians go to the church, but give presents to each other on theNew Year’s Day.For Christians Easter Sunday is very important day. In Britain chocolate bunnies andEaster eggs are given to children as presents. For Russians it is more usual to eat Eastercake and colour eggs.There are some quite different celebrations in Britain and Russia.

For example, in BritainHalloween is a day on which many children dress up in unusual costumes. Russianscelebrate Ivan Kupala Day when young people build a big fire and jump across it, girlsput a circlet of flowers on the head and everybody swims in the river and sings songs.What about stereotypes. Stereotypes are generalizations or beliefs about people based ontheir membership in a particular group. Stereotypes can be positive, negative, or neutral.There is a stereotype that the British are not emotional, they are stand-offish, reservedand hard-to-know. Of course, many people think that the British can talk only aboutweather, drink tea all the time.

In the same time there are a lot of funny stereotypes aboutRussians. For example, we drink only vodka, play the balalaika, wear shapka-ushankaand there are a lot of bears in our streets.But if a foreigner visits Britain or Russia, he can see that it is not quite true.

Of course,the British drink tea very often and also there is a tradition called “5 o’clock tea”. ButRussian people like drinking tea too..