N. Kryazheva - The United States and the United Kingdom. Past and Present (pdf), страница 9

many guests watch televisionas part of the festivities. Most of the television channels show Times Square in the heart of New YorkCity.New Year's DayOn January first, Americans visit friends, relatives, and eighbours. There is plenty to eat and drinkwhen you just drop in t0 wjsh Уоиг 'oved ones anc' friends the best for the vear ahead. Many families andfriends watch television together enjoying the Tournament of Roses parade preceding the Rose Bowlfootball game in Pasadena,California. In the warmer regions all around the countrythere are other games whose names are characteristic of the state. People watch the Orange Bowl gamein Florida, the Cotton Bowl in Texas.In most cultures, people promise to be better, to change their lives in the following year. Thesepromises are called New Year resolutions.

Americans have inherited the tradition of writing down them.Whatever the resolution, most of them are broken or forgotten by February!Words and Phrases:legal - законныйall around - повсюдуmidnight - полночьto promise - обещатьto drop in - зайтиbowl - ваза, кубокto precede- предшествовать to inherit - унаследоватьresolution- обещаниеto originate - происходитьPresident's Day (traditionally February 22]George Washington was the country's first president. Abraham Lincoln brought the country throughCivil War.

Their birthday were both in February and are celebrated together.St Valentine's Day [February 14]St.Valentines Day has roots in several different legends that have found their way to us through the ages.One of the earliest popular symbols of the day is Cupid, the Roman God of Love, who is represented bythe image of a young boy with bow and arrow. Three hundred years after the death of Jesus Christ theRoman emperors still demanded that everyone believe in the Roman gods.

Valentine, a Christian priesthad been thrown in prison for his teachings. On February 14) Valentine was beheaded, not only becausehe was a Christian, but also because he had performed a miracle. He supposedly cured the jailer'sdaughter of her blindness. The night before he was executed, he wrote the jailer's daughter a farewellletter, signing it, "From Your Valentine". Another legend tells us that the same Valentine, well loved by all,wrote notes from his jail cell to children and Tr,ends, who missed him.Another Valentine was an Italian bishop who lived at about the same time.

He was imprisoned becausehe secretly married couples, contrary to the laws of e Roman emperor. Some legends say he was burnedat the stake.St. Valentine's Day is now a day for sweethearts, it is the day that you shovt your friend or the lovedone your care. You can send candy to someone you think is special. Or you can send roses, the flower oflove.

Most people send "valen-tines", a greeting card named after the notes that St. Valentine wrote fromjail."Valentines" can be sentimental, romantic, and heart-felt. They can be funny friendly, and anonymous ifthe sender is shy.Americans of all ages love to send and receive valentines.

Hand-made valentines, created by cuttinghearts out of colored paper, show that a lot of thought was put into making them personal. "Valentines"can be heart-shaped, or have hearts, the symbol of love, on them. In elementary schools, children make"valentines" for their classmates and put them in a large decorated box, similar to a mail-box. OnFebruary 14, the teacher opens the box and distributes the "valentines" to each student. After thestudents read their "valentines" they have a small party with refreshments.You can write short rhymes inside the "valentines":I'll be your sweetheart,If you will be mineAll of my lifeI'll be your ValentineFebruary the fourteenth dayIt's Valentine they say.I choose you from among the rest,The reason is I love you bestSure as the grapes grow on the vine,So sure you are my valentine.The rose is red, the violet blue,Lilies are fair and so are you.Roses are red.Violets are blueSugar is sweetAnd so are you!Or you can buy valentines with messages in them.

If you are shy. you can sign it: "Your SecretAdmirer".For teen-agers and adults, major newspapers throughout the country have a Valentine's Day offer.Anyone can send a message for a small fee, of course, to a sweetheart, a good friend, an acquaintanceor even a spouse of fifty years. For a small fee, the message is printed in a special section of thenewspaper on February 14.Words and Phrases:bow - лукto pick mate - найти паруarrow - стрелаsweetheart - возлюбленныйpriest - священникheart-felt - искреннийto throw - швырятьadmirer - поклонникto behead - обезглавить fee - платаstake - колnot only ...

but also - не только ... но иmiracle - чудоfarewell letter - прощальное письмоspouse . супругjailer - тюремный надзирательMartin Luther King fthe third Monday in January]Martin Luther King - the man of peace was assassinated in 1968- In 1986 President Ronald Reagandeclared the third Monday in January a federal legal holiday commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King'sbirthday.Martin Luther King's death did not slow the Civil Rights Movement. 0lack and white people continued tofight for freedom and equality. Mrs. Coretta Scott King, the widow of the civil rights leader, established theMartin Luther King Memorial Center in Atlanta in 1970.On Monday, January 20, 1986, in cities and towns across the country people celebrated the first officialMartin Luther King Day, the only federal holiday commemorating the Afro-American.Easter Fa Sunday in March or April]People celebrate the holiday according to their belief and their religious deno-mi-nations.

Christianscommemorate Good Friday as the day that Jesus Christ died and taster Sunday as the day that He wasresurrected. Protestant settlers brought the custom of a sunrise service, a religious gathering at dawn, tothe United States.In England children rolled eggs down hills on Easter morning, a game which as been connected to therolling away of the rock from Jesus Christ's tomb when.He was resurrected. British settlers brought thiscustom to the New World, moth Easter Sunday, people give chocolate Easter eggs as presents. Somemothers and fathers tell their children that the Easter Rabbit brings the eggs and hides them in thegarden. The children must go outside and look for them,Traditionally, many celebrants bought new clothes for Easter, which they wore to church.After churchservices, everyone went for a walk around the town.

This led to the American custom of Easter paradesall over the country. Perhaps themost famous is along Fifth Avenue in New York City.Mother's Day [second Sunday in May]In 1910, the governor of West Virginia proclaimed the second Sunday in IVb as Mother's Day and ayear later, every state celebrated it.On the second Sunday in May, American children of all ages treat their moth, ers to something special.It is the one-day out of the year when children, young and old, try to show in a tangible way how muchthey appreciate their mothers.On Mother's Day morning, some American children follow the tradition of serv* ing their mothersbreakfast in bed. Other children will give their mothers gifts which they have made themselves or boughtin stores.

Adults give their mothers red car-nations, the official Mother's Day flower. If their mothers aredead, they may bring white carnations to their graves. This is the busiest day of the year for Americanrestaurants. On her special day, family members do not want Mom to cook dinner!Memorial Day (last Monday in May]Memorial Day is not limited to honor only those Americans from the armed forces, it is also a day forpersonal remembrance. Families and individuals honor the memories of their loved ones who have died.Church services, visits to the cemetery, flowers on graves, or even silent tribute mark the day with dignityand solemnity.On Memorial Day, the President or Vice President of the United States gives a speech and lays awreath on the tombs.

Members of the armed forces shoot a rifle salute in the air. Veterans and familiescome to lay their own wreaths and say prayers. There is a chance that one of the soldiers buried here isfather, son, brother or friend.Words and Phrases:Easter - пасхаbelief -вераto believe - веритьto resurrect - воскреснутьGood Friday - страстная Пятницаappreciation -оценкаto appreciate - оцениватьgift - подарокto proclaim - провозглашатьto lay - возложитьwreath - венокto pray- молитьсяsettlers - поселенцыto settle-селитьсяsunrise service - утренняя службаat dawn- на рассветеto roll down hills - скатывать с горокtangible-доступный, ощутимыйcarnation- гвоздикаto treat - угощатьgrave - могилаto bury - хоронитьsolemnity- серьезность, важностьto shoot a rifle salute- дать салютFlag Day [June 14]National flags are not mere symbols of a country. Their colors and designs convey past history andfuture goals.It is a interesting to point out that the United States did not even have a standard-ized flag until 1912.Called the "Stars and Stripes and Old Glory" the flag is one of the most complicated in the world.