British Traditions and Customs – Британские традиции и обычаи. Обычаи и традиции Великобритании

British nation is considered to be the most conservative in Europe. It is not a secret that every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions. In Great Britain people attach greater importance to traditions and customs than in other European countries. Englishmen are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up. The best examples are their queen, money system, their weights and measures.
There are many customs and some of them are very old. There is, for example, the Marble Championship, where the British Champion is crowned; he wins a silver cup known among folk dancers as Morris Dancing. Morris Dancing is an event where people, worn in beautiful clothes with ribbons and bells, dance with handkerchiefs or big sticks in their hands, while traditional music – sounds.
Another example is the Boat Race, which takes place on the river Thames, often on Easter Sunday. A boat with a team from Oxford University and one with a team from Cambridge University hold a race.
British people think that the Grand National horse race is the most exciting horse race in the world. It takes place near Liverpool every year. Sometimes it happens the same day as the Boat Race takes place, sometimes a week later. Amateur riders as well as professional jockeys can participate. It is a very famous event.
There are many celebrations in May, especially in the countryside.
Halloween is a day on which many children dress up in unusual costumes. In fact, this holiday has a Celtic origin. The day was originally called All Halloween’s Eve, because it happens on October 31, the eve of all Saint’s Day. The name was later shortened to Halloween. The Celts celebrated the coming of New Year on that day.
Another tradition is the holiday called Bonfire Night.
On November 5,1605, a man called Guy Fawkes planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament where the king James 1st was to open Parliament on that day. But Guy Fawkes was unable to realize his plan and was caught and later, hanged. The British still remember that Guy Fawkes’ Night. It is another name for this holiday. This day one can see children with figures, made of sacks and straw and dressed in old clothes. On November 5th, children put their figures on the bonfire, burn them, and light their fireworks.
In the end of the year, there is the most famous New Year celebration. In London, many people go to Trafalgar Square on New Year’s Eve. There is singing and dancing at 12 o’clock on December 31st.
A popular Scottish event is the Edinburgh Festival of music and drama, which takes place every year. A truly Welsh event is the Eisteddfod, a national festival of traditional poetry and music, with a competition for the best new poem in Welsh.
If we look at English weights and measures, we can be convinced that the British are very conservative people. They do not use the internationally accepted measurements. They have conserved their old measures. There are nine essential measures. For general use, the smallest weight is one ounce, then 16 ounce is equal to a pound. Fourteen pounds is one stone.
The English always give people’s weight in pounds and stones. Liquids they measure in pints, quarts and gallons. There are two pints in a quart and four quarts or eight pints are in one gallon. For length, they have inches” foot, yards and miles.
If we have always been used to the metric system therefore the English monetary system could be found rather difficult for us. They have a pound sterling, which is divided into twenty shillings, half-crown is cost two shillings and sixpence, shilling is worth twelve pennies and one penny could be changed by two halfpennies.

Перевод топика: Британские традиции и обычаи

Британские традиции и обычаи

Британская нация, как полагают, является самой консервативной в Европе. Это не секрет, что каждая нация и каждая страна имеет свои собственные обычаи и традиции. В Великобритании люди уделяют большее внимание традициям и обычаям, чем в других европейских странах. Англичане гордятся своими традициями и тщательно хранят их. Лучший пример – их королева, парламентская монархия, денежная система, их система мер.
Существует много обычаев, и некоторые из них очень древние. Есть, например, мраморный чемпионат, где британского чемпиона коронуют; его награждают серебряным кубком, известным среди танцоров народного танца как Моррис Дансинг. Моррис Дансинг – это событие, когда люди, одетые в красивые одежды с лентами и колокольчиками, танцуют под традиционную музыку, держа в руках носовые платки или большие палки.
Другим примером являются состязания по гребле, которые проходят на реке Темза, часто в Пасхальное Воскресенье. Лодка с командой от Оксфордского университета и вторая лодка с командой от университета Кембриджа плывут наперегонки.
Британцы думают, что большие национальные гонки на лошадях – самая захватывающая гонка в мире. Она проходит около Ливерпуля ежегодно. Иногда это случается в один и тот же день, когда проходят состязания по гребле, иногда это бывает на неделю позже. Могут участвовать как наездники-любители, так. и профессиональные жокеи. Это – очень известный праздник.
Много праздников в мае, особенно в сельской местности.
Хэллоуин – день, когда многие дети наряжаются в необычные костюмы. Фактически, этот праздник имеет кельтское происхождение. День первоначально называли Кануном всего Хэллоуина, потому что это случается 31 октября, накануне Дня всех святых. Название было позже сокращено до Хэллоуина. В этот день кельты праздновали наступление Нового года.
Другая традиция – это праздник, который называется Ночь костра.
5 ноября 1605 года человек по имени Гай Фокс планировал взорвать здание парламента, где король Джеймс I должен был в тот день открыть заседание парламента. Но Гаю Фоксу не удалось совершить задуманное, он был пойман и позже повешен. Британцы все еще помнят ту ночь Гая Фокса. Это другое название этого праздника. В этот день можно увидеть детей с фигурками, сделанными из мешковины и соломы и наряженными в старую одежду. 5-го ноября дети помещают свои фигурки в костер и сжигают их, затем зажигают свои фейерверки.
В конце года проходит самый известный новогодний праздник. В Лондоне многие люди на празднование кануна Нового года приходят на Трафальгарскую площадь. Там в 12 часов ночи 31-го декабря они поют и танцуют.
Эдинбургский Фестиваль музыки и драмы – ежегодный популярный шотландский праздник. Настоящим валлийским праздником является Айстедфод, ежегодный фестиваль бардов, национальный фестиваль традиционной поэзии и музыки, с соревнованием за лучшую новую поэму на валлийском языке.
Если мы посмотрим на английскую систему мер и веса, мы можем убедиться, что британцы – очень консервативные люди. Они не используют международную, принятую во всем мире систему мер. Они сохранили свои старые меры. Есть девять основных мер. Для общего использования, наименьшей мерой веса является одна унция, тогда как 16 унций равны фунту. Четырнадцать фунтов – один стоун.
Англичане всегда определяют вес людей в фунтах и стоунах. Меру жидкости они измеряют в пинтах, квартах и галлонах. В кварте – две пинты, в одном галлоне – восемь пинт или четыре кварты. Для измерения длины они используют дюймы, футы, ярды и мили.
Если мы всегда привыкли использовать единицы метрической системы, то английскую денежную систему нам было бы трудно понять. Они имеют фунт стерлингов, который делиться на двадцать шиллингов, полкроны стоит два шиллинга и шесть пенсов, шиллинг стоит двенадцать пенни, один пенни можно поменять на два полпенни.

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Almost every nation has a reputation of some kind. The English are reputed to be cold, reserved, rather haughty people. They are steady, easy-going and fond of sports. There are certain kinds of behavior, manners and customs which are peculiar to England.

The English are naturally polite and are never tired of saying and . They are generally disciplined, you never hear loud talk in the street. They don"t rush for seats in buses and trains, but they take their seats in queues at bus stops. English people do not shake hands when meeting one another, they do not show their emotions even in tragic situations. They seem to remain good-tempered and cheerful under difficulties.

The English are a nation of stay-at-homes. There is no place like home. The Englishman says because he doesn"t wish his doings to be overlooked by his neighbours. It is true that English people prefer small houses, built for one family. The fire is the focus of the English Home. Other nations go out to cafes or cocktail bars. The fireplace is the natural centre of interest in the room. They like to sit round the fire and watch the dancing flames, exchanging the day"s experience. In many houses you will still see fireplaces, sometimes with columns on each side and a shelf above it on which there is often a clock or a mirror or photos.

The love of gardens is deep-rooted in the British people. Most men"s conversations are about gardens. It may be a discussion of the best methods of growing cucumbers, a talk about the plot which differs from all the others.

The British like growing plants in a window-box outside the kitchen or in the garden near the house. They love flowers very much.

Britain is a nation of animal lovers. They have about five million dogs, almost as many cats, 3 million parrots and other cage birds, aquarium fish - and 1 million exotic pets such as reptiles. In Britain they have special dog shops selling food, clothes and other things for dogs. There are dog hair-dressing saloons and dog cemetries. In Britain pets can send Christmas cards to their friends, birthday cards. Owners can buy for their pets jewelled nylon collars, lambswool coat for a dog, lace-trimmed panties, nightgowns, pyjamas, and so on. There are special animal hotels at the airports. The English people believe that they are the only nation on the earth that is really kind to its animals. How do they spend their week-ends.

Those who live in cities and towns like to go out of town. They may go to stay in the country. Every Englishman is fond of the countryside in a nice thatched cottage with roses round the porch and in the garden, the fresh air and bright sun. No crowds of people, silence and leisure.

Those who stay at home try to do all the jobs they, were too busy to do during the week. Some go shopping on Saturday mornings, some do the house - washing, cleaning. Some men do and watch sporting events.

Saturday evening is the best time for parties, dances, going to the cinema or theatre.

On Sunday after breakfast they may go to work in the garden take a dog for a walk, play a visit to a pub. Sunday is a day for inviting friends and relatives to afternoon tea.

There are some traditions concerning food. English cooking is heavy, substantial and plain. The Englishman likes a good breakfast. To him a good breakfast means porridge with, fish, bacon and eggs, toast and marmalade, tea or coffee. It is the same day to day. The English like their toast cold.

Tea is part of the prose of British life, as necessary as potatoes and bread. Seven cups of it wake you up in the morning, 9 cups will put you to sleep at night.

The midday meal is called lunch. This meal consists on week- days of stew, fried fish, chops, liver or sausages, vegetables. Rice and macaroni are seldom served. Then does an apple tart, or hot milk pudding. Sunday dinner is a special occasion, it is a joint of beef or lamb with vegetables. Then goes a large heavy pudding with custard. From 4 to 6 there is a very light meal called 5 o"clock tea. It is a snack of thin bread and butter and cups of tea with small cakes. This became a kind ritual. At this time everything stops for tea.

Dinner (usually at 6 p.m.) is much like lunch and is in many families the last meal of the day. Supper is a snack of bread and cheese and cocoa.

The English have a popular speciality known as fish and chips. They are bought at special fish and chips shops.

Перевод текста: Customs and Traditions in England

Почти каждая нация имеет репутацию некоторого вида. Англичане, как предполагают, являются холодными, сохранены, довольно надменные люди. Они устойчивы, спокойны и любящий спортивные состязания. Есть определенные виды поведения, манер и таможни, которая является специфической для Англии.

Англичане естественно вежливы и никогда не устали от высказывания, и. Они вообще дисциплинируются, Вы никогда не слышите громко разговор на улице. Они не мчатся для мест в автобусах и поездах, но они берут их места в очередях в автобусных остановках. Английские люди не обмениваются рукопожатием, встречая друг друга, они не показывают их эмоции даже в трагических ситуациях. Они, кажется, остаются уравновешанными и веселыми под трудностями.

Англичане - нация домоседов. Нет никакого места как дом. Англичанин говорит, потому что он не желает, чтобы его события пропустились его соседями. Верно, что английские люди предпочитают маленькие здания, построенные для одной семьи. Огонь - центр англичан Домой. Другие нации выходят к кафе или коктейль-барам. Камин - естественный центр интереса в комнате. Они любят сидеть вокруг огня и наблюдать танцующий огонь, обменивая опыт дня. Во многих зданиях Вы будете все еще видеть камины, иногда с колонками на каждой стороне и полке выше этого, на котором есть часто часы или зеркало или фотографии.

Любовь к садам является закоренелой в британских людях. Большинство мужских бесед - о садах. Это может быть обсуждение лучших методов растущих огурцов, разговор о заговоре, который отличается от всего другие.

Британцы как растущие заводы в коробке окна вне кухни или в саду около дома. Они любят цветы очень.

Великобритания - нация любителей животных. Они имеют приблизительно пять миллионов собак, почти так много котов, 3 миллиона попугаев и другие птицы клетки, рыба аквариума - и 1 миллион экзотических домашних животных, типа рептилий. В Великобритании они имеют специальные магазины собаки, продающие пищу, одежду и другие вещи для собак. Есть салоны парикмахерских услуг собаки и кладбища собаки. В Великобритании домашние животные могут послать Рождественские открытки их друзьям, поздравительным открыткам. Владельцы могут купить за украшенные драгоценными камнями воротники нейлона их домашних животных, lambswool пальто для собаки, урезанных шнурком штанишек, длинных ночных рубашек, пижамы, и так далее. Есть специальные гостиницы животных в аэропортах. Английские люди полагают, что они - единственная нация на земле, которая является действительно доброй к ее животным. Как делают они тратят их уикэнды.

Те, кто живет в городах и городах, любят выходить из города. Они могут пойти, чтобы остаться в стране. Каждый англичанин любит сельскую местность в хорошем соломенном доме с розами вокруг подъезда и в саду, свежем воздухе и ярком солнце. Никакие толпы людей, тишины и досуга.

Те, кто остается дома попытка сделать все рабочие места они, были очень заняты, чтобы сделать в течение недели. Некоторые ходят по магазинам по субботам утром, некоторые делают дом - мытье, очистку. Некоторые мужчины делают и часы, носящие события.

Вечер субботы - наилучшее время для сторон, танцев, идя к кино или театру.

В воскресенье после завтрака они могут пойти, чтобы работать в саду, берут собаку на прогулке, играют посещение паба. В воскресенье - день для того, чтобы пригласить друзей и родственников к послеобеденному чаю.

Есть некоторые традиции относительно пищи. Английская кулинария тяжела, существенна и проста. Англичанин любит хороший завтрак. К нему хороший завтрак означает овсянку с, рыбу, яичницу с беконом, тост и мармелад, чай или кофе. Это - то же самое повседневно. Англичане как их холод тоста.

Чай - часть прозы британской жизни, по мере необходимости как картофель и хлеб. Семь чашек этого разбудили Вас утром, 9 чашек поместят Вас, чтобы спать ночью.

Пищу полудня называют завтраком. Эта пища состоит в неделю - дни тушатся, жарившая рыба, отбивные, печень или колбасы, овощи. Рису и макаронам редко служат. Тогда делает яблочный пирог, или горячий пудинг молока. В воскресенье обед - специальный случай, это - соединение говядины или ягненка с овощами. Тогда идет большой тяжелый пудинг с заварным кремом. От 4 до 6 есть очень легкая пища, названная 5-часовым чаем. Это - закуска тонкого хлеба с маслом и чашек чая с маленькими пирогами. Это стало добрым ритуалом. В это время все останавливается для чая.

Customs and traditions

English customs and traditions, first of all, concerns United Kingdom political system. In Great Britain there is no written constitution, only customs, traditions and precedents. After the English Revolution of Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy headed by King (now Queen, Elizabeth the second). Traditionally the Queen acts only on the advice of her Ministers. She reigns but she does not rule.

Englishmen have traditions not only in political, but in social life. For example, London, the capital of England, is traditionally divided into three parts: the West End, the East end, and the City. The City is a historical, financial and business center of London. The East End is the district inhabited by the workers, and the West End is a fashionable shopping and entertaining center. English people like to spend their free time in numerous pubs where they can have a glass of beer and talk about different things with their friends.

The English are traditional about their meals. They eat eggs and bacon with toasts for breakfast, pudding or apple pie for dessert. Every English family has five o"clock tea. A typical feature of an English house is a fireplace, even when there is central heating in the house.

English people like domestic animals. Every family has a pet: a dog, a cat or a bird.

Politeness is a characteristic feature of Englishmen. They often say "Thank you", "Sorry", "Beg your pardon". Russian people, I think, have to learn this good custom.

Englishmen have many traditional holidays, such as Christmas, St.Valentine"s Day, Mother"s day, Easter and others.

Some English customs and traditions are famous all over the world. Bowler hats, tea and talking about the weather, for example. From Scotland to Cornwall, the United Kingdom is full of customs and traditions. Here are some of them.

St. Valentine’s

St. Valentine"s Day 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 by the image of a young boy with bow and arrow. Three hundred years after the death of Jesus Christ, the Roman emperors still demanded that everyone believe in the Roman gods. Valentine, a Christian priest, had been thrown in prison for his teachings. On February 14, Valentine was beheaded, not only because he was a Christian, but also because he had performed a miracle. He supposedly cured the jailer"s daughter of her blindness. The night before he was executed, he wrote the jailer"s daughter a farewell letter, signing it, "from Your Valentine". Another legend tells us that this same Valentine, well-loved by all, wrote notes from his jail cell to children and friends who missed him. Whatever the odd mixture of origins, St. Valentine"s Day is now a day for sweethearts. It is the day that you show your friend of loved one that you care. You can send candy to someone you think is special. Or you can send "valentines" a greeting card named after the notes that St. Valentine wrote from jail. Valentines can be sentimental, romantic, and heartfelt. They can be funny and friendly. If the sender is shy, valentines can be anonymous. Americans of all ages as other people in different countries love to send and receive valentines. Handmade valentines, created by cutting hearts out of coloured 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, they have a small party with refreshments. You can right a short rhyme inside the heart:

There are gold ships
And silver ships,
But no ships
Like friendship.

Valentine cards are usually decorated with symbols of love and friendship. These symbols were devised many centuries ago. Lace symbolises a net for catching one"s heart. If you get a Valentine with a piece of a lace you may understand that the person who sent it must be crazy about you. A symbol should have several meanings, so some experts maintain that lace stands for a bridal veil. A ribbon means that the person is tired up, while hearts, which are the most common romantic symbol, denote eternal love. Red roses are also often used as a love emblem. Valentine"s Day grows more and more popular in many countries of the world. Some people have already begun to celebrate it in Russia. They try to imitate European Valentine customs and want to known more about their origin. St. Valentine"s Day is the day when boys and girls. friends and neighbours, husbands and wives, sweethearts and lovers exchange greeting of love and affection. It is the day to share one"s loving feelings with friends and family, but it is young men and girls who usually wait it with impatience. This day has become traditional for many couples to become engaged. That makes young people acknowledge St. Valentine"s as the great friend and patron of lovers.

November, 5 is Guy Fawkes’s Day.

On the 5th of November in almost every town and village in England one can see fire burning, fireworks, cracking and lighting up the sky, small groups of children pulling round in a home made cart, a figure that looks something like a man but consists of an old suit of clothes, stuffed with straw. The children sing:" Remember, remember the 5th of November; Gun powder, treason and plot". And they ask passers-by for "a penny for the Guy" But the children with "the Guy" are not likely to know who or what day they are celebrating. They have done this more or less every 5th of November since 1605. At that time James the First was on the throne. He was hated with many people especially the Roman Catholics against whom many sever laws had been passed. A number of Catholics chief of whom was Robert Catesby determined to kill the King and his ministers by blowing up the house of Parliament with gunpowder. To help them in this they got Guy Fawker, a soldier of fortune, who would do the actual work. The day fixed for attempt was the 5th of November, the day on which the Parliament was to open. But one of the conspirators had several friends in the parliament and he didn"t want them to die. So he wrote a letter to Lord Monteagle begging him to make some excuse to be absent from parliament if he valued his life. Lord Monteagle took the letter hurrily to the King. Guards were sent at once to examine the cellars of the house of Parliament. And there they found Guy Fawker about to fire a trail of gunpowder. He was tortured and hanged, Catesby was killed, resisting arrest in his own house. In memory of that day bonfires are still lighted, fireworks shoot across the November sky and figures of Guy Fawker are burnt in the streets.

Christmas.

It is certain that Christmas is celebrated all over the world. Perhaps no other holiday has developed a set of customs and symbols. This is the day when many people are travelling home to be with their famillies on Christmas Day, 25th December. The Christmas story comes from bible. An angel appeared to shepherds and told them that a Savior had been born to Mary and Joseph in a stable in Bethlehem. Three Wise Men from the East followed a wondrous star which led them to the baby Jesus to whome they paid homage and presented gifts of gold, frankicense and myrrh. To people all over the world, Christmas is a season of giving and receiving presents. In Scandinavian and other European countries, Father Christmas, or Saint Nicholas, comes into house at night and leaves gifts for the children. Saint Nicholas is represented as a fidly man with a red cloak and long white beard. He visited house and left giftes, dringing people happiness in the coldest months of the year. Another character, the Norse God Odin, rode on a magical flying horse across the ages to make the present day Santa Claus.

For most British families, this is the most important festival of the year, it combines the Christian celebration or the birth of Christ with the traditional festivities of winter. On the Sunday before Christmas many churches hold a carol service where special hymns are sung.Sometimes carol-singers can be heard on the streets as they collect money for charity. Most families decorate their houses with brightly-coloured paper or holly, and they usually have a Christmas tree in the corner or the front foom, glittering with coloured lights and decorations. The Christmas tree was popularized by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, who introduced one to the Royal Household in 1840. Since 1947, the country of Norway has presented Britain annually with a large Christmas tree which stands in Trafalgar Square in commemoration of Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during the Second World War.

There are a lot of traditions connected with Christmas but perhaps the most important one is the giving of present. Familly members wrap up their gifts and leave them bottom of the Christmas tree to be found on Christmas morning. Children leave sock or stocking at the end of their beds on Christmas Eve, 24th of December, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and bring them small presents, fruit and nuts. They are usually not disappointe! At some time on Christmas Day the familly will sit down to a big turkey dinner followed by Christmas pudding. Christmas dinner consists traditionally of a roast turkey, goose or chicken with stuffing and roast potatoes. Mince pies and Christmas pudding flaming with brandy, which might contain coins or lucky charms for children, follow this. (The pudding is usually prepared weeks beforehand and is customarily stirred by each member of the family as a wish is made.) Later in the day, a Christmas cake may be served - a rich baked fruitcake with marzipan, icing and sugar frosting.

The pulling of Christmas crackers often accompanies food on Christmas Day. Invented by a London baker in 1846, a cracker is a brightly colored paper tube, twisted at both ends, which contains a party hat, riddle and toy or other trinket. When it is pulled by two people it gives out a crack as its contents are dispersed.

26th December is also a public holiday, Boxing Day, which takes its name from a former custom of giving a Christmas Box - a gift of money or food inside a box - to the deliverymen and trades people who called regularly during the year. This tradition survives in the custom of tipping the milkman, postman, dustmen and other callers of good service at Christmas time. This is the time to visit friends and relatives or watch football.

At midnight on 31th December throughout Great Britain people celebrate the coming of the New Year, by holding hands in a large circle and singing the song:

Should auld acquaintance be forget,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forget?
And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We"ll take a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!..

New Year"s Eve is a more important festival in Scotland than it is in England, and it even has a special name. It is not clear where the word "Hogmanay" comes from, but it is connected with the provision of food and drink for all visitors to your home on 31th December. It was believed that the first person to visit one"s house on New Year"s Day could bring good or bad luck. Therefore, people tried to arrange for the person or their own choice to be standing outside their houses ready to be let in the moment midnight had come. Usually a dark-complexioned man was chosen, and never a woman, for she would bring bad luck. The first footer was required to carry three articles: a piece of coal to wish warmth, a piece of bread to wish food, and a silver coin to wish wealth.

Easter.

Easter is a Christian spring festival that is usually celebrated in March or April. The name for Easter comes from a pagan fertility celebration. The word "Easter" is named after Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess og spring. Spring is a natural time for new life and hope when animals have their young and plants begin to grow. Christian Easter may have purposely been celebrated in the place of a pagan festival. It is therefore not surprising that relics of doing and beliefs not belonging th the Christian religious should cling even to this greatest day in the Church"s year. An old-fashioned custom still alive is to get up early and climb a hill to see the sun rising. There are numerous accounts of the wonderful spectacle of the sun whirling round and round for joy at our Saviour"s Resurrection. So many people go outdoors on Easter morning hoping to see the sun dance. There is also a custom of putting on something new to go to church on Easter morning. People celebrate the holiday according to their beliefs and their religious denominations. Christians commemorate Good Friday as the day that Christ died and Easter Sunday as the day that He was resurrected. Protestant settlers brought the custom of a sunrise service, a religious gathering at dawn, to the United States.

Today on Easter Sunday, children wake up to find that the Easter Bunny has left them baskets of candy. He has also hidden the eggs that they decorated earlier that week. Children hunt for the eggs all around the house. Neighborhoods and organizations hold Easter egg hunts, and the child who first the most eggs wins a prize.

Americans celebrate the Easter bunny coming. They set out easter baskets for their children to anticipate the easter bunnys arrival whi leaves candy and other stuff. The Easter Bunny is a rabbit-spirit. Long ago, he was called the "Easter Hare". Hares and rabbits have frequent multiple births, so they became a symbol of fertility.

Christians fast during the forty days before Easter. They choose to eat and drink only enough to feep themselves alive.

The day preceding Lent is known as Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day. Shrove Tuesday recalls the day when people went to Church ti confess and be shriven before Lent. But now the day is more generally connected with relics of the traditional feasting before the fast. Shrove Tuesday is famous for pancake calebration. There is some competition at Westminster School: the pancakes are tossed over a bar by the cook and struggled for by a small group of selected boys. The boy who manages to get the largest piece is given a present. This tradition dates from 1445. In the morning the first church bell on Orley is rung for the competitors to make pancakes. The second ring is a signal for cooking them. The third bell set rung for the copetitors to gather at the market square. Then the Pancake bell is sounded and the ladies set off from the church porch, tossing their pancakes three times as they run. Each woman must wear an apron and a hat or scarf over her head. The winner is given a Prayer Book dy the Vicar.

Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday in Lent. It is customary to vasit one"s mother on that day. Mother ought to be given a present - tea, flowers or a simnel cake. It is possible to buy the cake, they are sold in every confectionery. But it is preferrable to make it at home. The way Mothering Sunday is celebrated has much in common with the International Women"s Day celebration in Russia.

Good Friday is the first Friday before Easter. It is the day when all sorts of taboos on various works are in force. Also it is a good day for shifting beers, for sowing potatoes, peas, beans, parsley, and pruning rose trees. Good Friday brings the once sacred cakes, the famous Hot Cross buns. These must be spiced and the dough marked with a cross before baking.

Eggs, chickens, rabbits and flowers are all symbols of new life. Chocolate and fruit cake covered with marzipan show that fasting is over. Wherever Easter is celebrated, there Easter eggs are usually to be found. In England, just as in Russia, Easter is a time for giving and receiving of presents that traditionally take the form of an Easter egg. Easter egg is a real hard-boiled egg dyed in bright colors or decorated with some elaborate pattern. Coloring and decorating eggs for Easter is a very ancient custom. Many people, however, avoid using artificial dyes and prefer to boil eggs with the outer skin of an onion, which makes the eggs shells yellow or brown. In fact, the color depends on the amount of onion skin added. In ancient times they used many different natural dyes fir the purpose. The dyes were obtained mainly from leaves, flowers and bark.

At present Easter eggs are also made of chocolate, sugar, metals, wood, ceramics and other materials at hand. They may differ in size, ranging from enormous to tiny, no bigger than a robin"s egg. Easter Sunday is solemnly celebrated in London. Each year the capital city of Britain greets the spring with a spectacular Easter Parade in Battersea Park. The great procession, or parade, begins at 3 p.m. The parade consists of many decorated floats, entered by various organizations in and outside London. Some of the finest bands in the country take part in the parade. At the rear of the parade is usually the very beautiful float richly decorated with flowers. It is called the Jersey one because the spring flowers bloom early on the Island of Jersey.

In England, children rolled eggs down hills on Easter morning, a game has been connected to the rolling away of the rock from Jesus Christ"s tomb then He was resurrected. British settlers brought this custom to the New World. It consists of rolling coloured, hardboiled egg down a slope until they are cracked and broken after whish they are eaten by their owners. In some districts this is a competitive game, the winner being the player whose egg remains longest undamaged, but more usually, the fun consists simply of the rolling and eating.

Harvest

Corn Dollies

Many countries seem to have had a similar custom to the British one of making a design from the last sheaf of corn to be harvested. In Britain a corn dolly is created by plaiting the wheat stalks to create a straw figure. The corn dolly is kept until the Spring. This is because people believed that the corn spirit lived in the wheat and as the wheat was harvested, the spirit fled to the wheat which remained. By creating the corn dolly the spirit is kept alive for the next year and the new crop. Sometimes the corn dolly is hung up in the barn, sometimes in the farmhouse, and sometimes in the church. In Spring the corn dolly would be ploughed back into the soil. There are many types of corn dolly.

The story of John Barleycorn

A story to the corn dolly is to be found in the folksong John Barleycorn. Three men swear that John Barleycorn must die. They take a plough and bury him alive. But the Spring comes and John rises through the soil. After a while he grows big and strong, even growing a beard, so the three men cut him down at the knee, tie him on to a cart, beat him, strip the flesh off his bones and grind him between two stones. But at the end it is John Barleycorn who defeats his opponents, proving the stronger man, by turning into beer.

Harvest Festivals

In churches all over Britain there are services to thank God for the Harvest. As part of these services local people bring baskets of fruit and vegetables to decorate the church. The produce is then distributed to the poor.

Halloween

The word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve. November 1, "All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints Day"), is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints. But, in the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31. The holiday was called Samhain (sow-en), the Celtic New year.

One story says that, on that day, the disembodied spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. It was believed to be their only hope for the afterlife. The Celts believed all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the living.

Naturally, the still-living did not want to be possessed. So on the night of October 31, villagers would extinguish the fires in their homes, to make them cold and undesirable. They would then dress up in all manner of ghoulish costumes and noisily paraded around the neighborhood, being as destructive as possible in order to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to possess.

Probably a better explanation of why the Celts extinguished their fires was not to discourage spirit possession, but so that all the Celtic tribes could relight their fires from a common source, the Druidic fire that was kept burning in the Middle of Ireland, at Usinach.

Some accounts tell of how the Celts would burn someone at the stake who was thought to have already been possessed, as sort of a lesson to the spirits. Other accounts of Celtic history debunk these stories as myth. The Romans adopted the Celtic practices as their own. But in the first century AD, Samhain was assimilated into celebrations of some of the other Roman traditions that took place in October, such as their day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple, which might explain the origin of our modern tradition of bobbing for apples on Halloween. The thrust of the practices also changed over time to become more ritualized. As belief in spirit possession waned, the practice of dressing up like hobgoblins, ghosts, and witches took on a more ceremonial role.

The custom of Halloween was brought to America in the 1840"s by Irish immigrants fleeing their country"s potato famine. At that time, the favorite pranks in New England included tipping over outhouses and unhinging fence gates.

The custom of trick-or-treating is thought to have originated not with the Irish Celts, but with a ninth-century European custom called souling. On November 2, All Souls Day, early Christians would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes," made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers, could expedite a soul"s passage to heaven.

The Jack-o-lantern custom probably comes from Irish folklore. As the tale is told, a man named Jack, who was notorious as a drunkard and trickster, tricked Satan into climbing a tree. Jack then carved an image of a cross in the tree"s trunk, trapping the devil up the tree. Jack made a deal with the devil that, if he would never tempt him again, he would promise to let him down the tree.

According to the folk tale, after Jack died, he was denied entrance to Heaven because of his evil ways, but he was also denied access to Hell because he had tricked the devil. Instead, the devil gave him a single ember to light his way through the frigid darkness. The ember was placed inside a hollowed-out turnip to keep it glowing longer.

The Irish used turnips as their "Jack"s lanterns" originally. But when the immigrants came to America, they found that pumpkins were far more plentiful than turnips. So the Jack-O-Lantern in America was a hollowed-out pumpkin, lit with an ember.

So, although some pagan groups, cults, and Satanists may have adopted Halloween as their favorite "holiday," the day itself did not grow out of evil practices. It grew out of the rituals of Celts celebrating a new year, and out of Medieval prayer rituals of Europeans. And today, even many churches have Halloween parties or pumpkin carving events for the kids. After all, the day itself is only as evil as one cares to make it.

Fire has always played an important part in Halloween. Fire was very important to the Celts as it was to all early people. In the old days people lit bonfires to ward away evil spirits and in some places they used to jump over the fire to bring good luck. Now we light candles in pumpkin lanterns.

Halloween is also a good time to find out the future. Want to find out who you will marry? Here are two ways you might try to find out:

Apple-bobbing - Float a number of apples in a bowl of water, and try to catch one using only your teeth. When you have caught one, peel it in one unbroken strip, and throw the strip of peel over your left shoulder. The letter the peel forms is the initial of your future husband or wife.

Nut-cracking - Place two nuts (such as conkers) on a fire. Give the nuts the names of two possible lovers and the one that cracks first will be the one.

There are several unusual traditions:

"Wrong side of the bed"

When people are bad tempered we say that they must have got out of bed on the wrong side. Originally, it was meant quiet literally. People believe that the way they rose in the morning affected their behavior throughout the day. The wrong side of the bed was the left side. The left always having been linked with evil.

"Blowing out the candles"

The custom of having candles on birthday cakes goes back to the ancient Greeks. Worshippers of Artemis, goddess of the moon and hunting, used to place honey cakes on the altars of her temples on her birthday. The cakes were round like the full moon and lit with tapers. This custom was next recorded in the middle ages when German peasants lit tapers on birthday cakes, the number lit indicating the person"s age, plus an extra one to represent the light of life. From earliest days burning tapers had been endowed with mystical significance and it was believed that when blown out they had the power to grant a secret wish and ensure a happy year ahead.

Every nation becomes special by means of its own traditions and customs. There is no other nation that clings to the past with the tenacity of the British. They are really proud of their traditions, they cherish them. When we think of Britain we often think of people drinking white tea, eating fish and chips, sitting by the fireplace or wearing bowler hats, but there is much more in Britain than just those things. Some British traditions are royal, such as the Changing of the Guard which takes place every day at Buckingham Palace. The Trooping of the Colour happens on the Queen’s official birthday. It’s a big colouful parade with hundreds of soldiers and brass bands.

British holidays (Christmas, Easter, Guy Fawkes Night, Remembrance Day) are especially rich in old traditions and customs. A traditional Christmas dinner consists of roast turkey and potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet mince pies and Christmas pudding. On Christmas Eve children hang up their stockings around the fireplace for Father Christmas to fill with presents. At Easter chocolate eggs are given as presents symbolizing new life. Guy Fawkes Night is also known as Bonfire Night because English people burn stuffed figures on bonfires. On Remembrance Day red poppies are traditionally worn in memory of servicemen who lost their lives in wars. National Morris Dancing can be seen throughout the month of May in most of English villages. Groups of men and women wear coloured costumes, carry white handkerchiefs and perform their lively folkdance.

One of Englishmen’s traditions is their tender love for animals. Pets are members of English families and are protected by law. There are even special cemeteries for animals in Great Britain. Most English people love their gardens too. They enjoy gardening and decorating their houses with beautiful flowers and plants.

Sports play an essential part in the life of Britain and it is a popular leisure activity. Rugby, golf, cricket, polo and horse-racing are British national sports and they are played on village greens and in towns on Sundays.

Politeness and punctuality are typical features of all British people. They often say “Sorry”, “Please” and “Thank you” with a smiling face and they always try to arrive on time.

The British are also traditional about their breakfast. They usually eat bacon and eggs, a toast with orange jam, a bowl of cereals or porridge in the morning.

There are over 60 thousand pubs in the United Kingdom. Pubs are an important part of British life too. People talk, eat, drink, meet their friends and relax there.

Перевод

Каждая нация становится особенной благодаря ее собственным традициям и обычаям. Нет другой такой нации, которая остается верной своему прошлому с упорством британцев. Они очень горды своими традициями и бережно их хранят. Когда мы думаем о Британии, мы часто представляем людей, пьющих чай с молоком, принимающих в пищу фиш-энд-чипс, сидящих у камина или со шляпой-котелком на голове, однако Британия – это нечто гораздо большее. Некоторые британские традиции являются королевскими, такие как Смена караула, которая происходит каждый день у Бакингемского дворца. Церемония выноса знамени проходит в официальный день рождения Королевы. Это большой красочный парад с сотнями солдат и духовыми оркестрами.

Британские праздники (Рождество, Пасха, Ночь Гай Фокса, День памяти) особенно богаты старинными традициями и обычаями. Традиционный рождественский ужин состоит из жареной индейки с картофелем, клюквенного соуса, сладких пирожков и рождественского пудинга. В канун Рождества дети подвешивают чулки возле камина для того, чтобы Санта наполнил их подарками. В Пасху в качестве подарков раздаются шоколадные яйца, как символ новой жизни. Ночь Гай Фокса известна также как Ночь Костров, так как англичане поджигают чучела на кострах. В День памяти традиционно носят красные маки для того, чтобы почтить память погибшим в войнах военным. Национальные Моррис танцы можно увидеть на протяжении всего мая в большинстве английских деревушек. Группы мужчин и женщин надевают красочные костюмы, держат в руках белые платки и выступают с зажигательными народными танцами.

Одной из традиций у англичан считается их нежная любовь к животным. Животные являются членами английских семей и находятся под защитой закона. Существуют даже специальные кладбища для животных в Великобритании. Большинство англичан также любят свои сады. Им нравится заниматься садоводством и украшать свои дома красивыми цветами и растениями.

Спорт играет существенную роль в жизни Британии и является популярным времяпрепровождением. Рэгби, гольф, крикет, поло и конные скачки – это национальные виды спорта, и в них играют на зеленых сельских лужайках и в городах по воскресеньям.

Great Britain Some English customs and traditions are famous all over the world. Tea and talking about the weather, for example. England is a land rich with traditions ranging from wassailing to special holiday events and superstitions. In Great Britain there is no written constitution, only customs, traditions and precedents. Traditionally the Queen reigns bul does not rule.

Great Britain Some English customs and traditions are famous all over the world. Tea and talking about the weather, for example. England is a land rich with traditions ranging from wassailing to special holiday events and superstitions. In Great Britain there is no written constitution, only customs, traditions and precedents. Traditionally the Queen reigns bul does not rule.

Определить язык Клингонский Клингонский (pIqaD) азербайджанский албанский английский арабский армянский африкаанс баскский белорусский бенгальский болгарский боснийский валлийский венгерский вьетнамский галисийский греческий грузинский гуджарати датский зулу иврит игбо идиш индонезийский ирландский исландский испанский итальянский йоруба казахский каннада каталанский китайский китайский традиционный корейский креольский (Гаити) кхмерский лаосский латынь латышский литовский македонский малагасийский малайский малайялам мальтийский маори маратхи монгольский немецкий непали нидерландский норвежский панджаби персидский польский португальский румынский русский себуанский сербский сесото словацкий словенский суахили суданский тагальский тайский тамильский телугу турецкий узбекский украинский урду финский французский хауса хинди хмонг хорватский чева чешский шведский эсперанто эстонский яванский японский Клингонский Клингонский (pIqaD) азербайджанский албанский английский арабский армянский африкаанс баскский белорусский бенгальский болгарский боснийский валлийский венгерский вьетнамский галисийский греческий грузинский гуджарати датский зулу иврит игбо идиш индонезийский ирландский исландский испанский итальянский йоруба казахский каннада каталанский китайский китайский традиционный корейский креольский (Гаити) кхмерский лаосский латынь латышский литовский македонский малагасийский малайский малайялам мальтийский маори маратхи монгольский немецкий непали нидерландский норвежский панджаби персидский польский португальский румынский русский себуанский сербский сесото словацкий словенский суахили суданский тагальский тайский тамильский телугу турецкий узбекский украинский урду финский французский хауса хинди хмонг хорватский чева чешский шведский эсперанто эстонский яванский японский Источник: Цель:

Результаты (русский ) 1:

Великобритании некоторые Английский обычаи и традиции являются известные во всем мире. Чай и говорили о погоде, например. Англия-земля богата традициями, начиная от Святочное специальных праздничных мероприятий и суеверий. В Великобритании существует нет писаной конституции, только обычаи, традиции и прецеденты. Традиционно bul царит королева не правило.

переводится, пожалуйста, подождите..

Результаты (русский ) 2:

Великобритания Некоторые английские обычаи и традиции являются известные во всем мире. Чай и говорить о погоде, например. Англия является страной богатой традициями, начиная от святочное хождение из дома в дом с пением рождественских гимнов в специальных праздничных мероприятий и суеверий. В Великобритании нет писаной конституции, только обычаи, традиции и прецеденты. Традиционно королева царствует бул не правило.