Customs, traditions and holidays

Ex…Guess, what these holidays are: Easter, May Day, Pancake Day, Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebration, Christmas, April Fool’s Day, May Day, 26^th December: Boxing Day, St Valentine’s Day, New Year. Match them with the description below:

1. Fairy lights and brightly decorated trees illuminate the streets, carols ring out from cathedrals and churches, and children anxiously await the arrival of the most enjoyable holiday. It is a traditional family reunion day. On this day, many people attend a church service, open their presents, eat dinner and watch the Sovereign's annual broadcast on television. Preparations for it are always pleasant: buying gifts, sending cards and decorating the tree. In Britain, it is the most important public holiday of the year. It combines the custom of giving gifts with the tradition of spending this day with the family.

2. It comes right after Christmas and is celebrated as a bank holiday in Britain (a “Bank” holiday is an official public holiday when all banks, post offices, most factories, offices and shops are closed). It was formerly the custom to give “Christmas boxes”, or gifts or money, to servants and tradesmen on this day. The custom gave a name to the holiday.

3. This day is now a public holiday in England, but it is not marked with any particular custom in Britain, largely because it comes so soon after Christmas. But in many large towns and cities there is a public gathering on Eve. It is a big holiday. When the clock strikes 12 people stand in a circle, join hands and sing the famous song. They have an old custom called 'first-footing'. It is considered lucky if a dark-haired man is the first to set in the house after midnight, bringing a coin, a piece of bread, or a lump of coal as a symbol of plenty for the coming year.

4. It is the day for lovers! Boys and girls, sweethearts and lovers, husbands and wives, friends and neighbours, and even the office staff exchange greetings of affection. It is usually written in the heart-shaped cards: “Words cannot describe how I feel inside, but once again it’s nice to say, Darling, I Love you more each day!”

5. It is popular name for Shrove Tuesday, the forty days before Easter. People traditionally eat pancakes on this day which are made from eggs, flour and milk. In many towns pancake races are held on Shrove Tuesday in which women run with pancakes.

6. This is the funniest day of the year, when practical jokes are played.

7. It is the most important Christmas religious festival. It is associated with eggs and with the coming of spring, and most churches are specially decorated with flowers for the services held on this Day.

8. The 23^rd of April, the birthday of the greatest literary genius, is always marked at Stratford. In the evening there is a performance of the chosen “Birthday Play” in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

9. It is a traditional celebration of the coming of spring, when many outdoor events are held, and at which a May Queen may be elected.

Ex. Read and get information about the origin of different names:

What’s in a Name?

The way in which British surnames have developed is very complicated.

Before the Normans arrived, the use of surnames wasn’t really known. Many English surnames were originally connected with a person’s job – Charles Baker, Margaret Thatcher; someone’s size – Jack Long, Mary Little; or a family relationship – Robin Williamson (son of William), Peter Richardson. The most common Welsh surnames were all originally Christian names in some form: Dylan Thomas, Roger Davies ( a form of David), Geoffrey Jones (from John), David Williams, etc. Many other names come from the tradition of calling a child ‘son of’ his father using the Welsh word ap (or ab). This ‘p’ can be found at the beginning of many common Welsh names, such as Gary Pritchard, which is the same as the English Richardson. Other examples are Prees, Price, Parry, and Pugh.

Welshmen living in England are often called by the nickname ‘Taffy’. This may come from the river Taff, which runs through the capital Cardiff, or may come from Dafydd, the Welsh form of David.

Years ago, all Irish people spoke Gaelic, and this language is still spoken in some parts of Ireland, although today all Irish people speak English also. Evidence of Gaelic is still found in place-names, for example ‘bally’ – town, ‘slieve’ – mountain, ‘lough’ – lake, ‘inis’ – island, ‘drum’ – mountain top, ‘glen’ – valley.

The influence of Irish Gaelic is also found in the names of people. Here are some typical Gaelic first names:

Sean [ ] – same as John;

Seamus [ ] – same as James;

Liam [ ] – same as William;

Seanna [ ] – same as Joanna.

Paddy (short for Patrick) and Micky (short for Michael) are not Gaelic names but they are found so often in Ireland that these two names are sometimes used jokingly to mean an “Irishman”. Many Irish surnames begin with:

O’… meaning ‘from the family of’;

Fitz… meaning ‘son of’;

Kil… meaning ‘son of’;

Gil… meaning ‘son of’.

Here are some examples:

O’Brien [ ]

O’Neil [ ]

Fitzwilliam [ ]

Fitzgerald [ ]

MacMahon [ ]

MacHugh [ ]

Kilmartin [ ]