[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
a list of things that they promise to do in the coming year (for example, "I will try to be nice to people, I will
give up smoking, I will go on a diet"). In (3)__________, January 2nd is also a public holiday.
January 6th. This day is called (4)__________, but most people call it (5)__________, and it is the last day of
the Christmas period. We must remove our Christmas (6)__________ before the sun sets, or we will have an
unlucky year.
January 25th: People in Scotland celebrate (7)__________, where they remember the famous Scottish poet
(8)__________ (1759 1796). They celebrate by drinking (9)__________ and eating traditional foods such as
(10)__________ and (11)__________ (potatoes and turnips).
February
(12)__________. This day happens 41 days before Easter (so it sometimes takes place in March). British
people often call it (13)__________ Day, because of the food we traditionally make and eat on this day. The
day after is called (14)__________, and is the beginning of the period called (15) __________: this period lasts
until (16)__________, and some people observe it by giving up something they enjoy (such as smoking,
eating chocolate, etc).
February 14th: This is (17)__________ Day. It is not a holiday, but is a day to tell your loved one how
important they are by spending all your money on cards, presents, and an expensive meal out.
February 29th: Years in which there are 29 days in February are called (18)__________ years. Traditionally,
this date is the only one when a woman can ask a man to marry her!
March
March 1st: (19)__________ Day. He is the patron saint of (20)__________. (21)__________ people often
observe this day by wearing a (22)__________ (a spring flower that is associated with this country).
March 17th: (23)__________ Day. He is the patron saint of (24)__________ (where this day is observed as a
public holiday). (25)__________ people all over the world celebrate this day with parties, drinking and
dancing.
On the last weekend of March, we put our clocks (26)__________ by one hour. This is the beginning of
(27)__________ (28)__________ (29)__________.
The Sunday three weeks before Easter is called (30)__________ Sunday, although most people call it
(31)__________ Day. Children visit or send cards and flowers to their (32)__________.
58
A year in the UK: Traditions, holidays and other occasions 2
Choose the correct words and expressions in bold in this text.
April
April 1st. This day is called April (1) Fools' / Twits' Day. Traditionally, people play jokes and tricks on each
other (but they are only allowed to do this until (2) midday / midnight). Newspapers and radio and
television programmes often have humorous 'joke' articles or features that are designed to trick people.
(3) Good / Black Friday is an important day in the Christian calendar (it usually takes place in April, but
sometimes happens in March). This commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. People in the UK observe
this day by eating hot cross (4) cakes / buns (= sweet bread with fruit and spices) for (5) breakfast / dinner.
Banks, post offices and many businesses are closed across the UK on this day.
Easter (6) Saturday / Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, although many people in the
UK treat it as a (7) secular / religious holiday. Chocolate Easter (8) eggs / crosses or chocolate rabbits and
chickens are often given to children. Families often get together and eat a traditional meal of roast
(9) turkey / lamb. The next day, Easter (10) Sunday / Monday, is a public holiday in England, Wales and
(11) Scotland / Northern Ireland, but not in (12) Scotland / Northern Ireland.
April 21st: This is the Queen's (13) birthday / Coronation day, although it is not a public holiday. The
Queen actually has two of these every year: in addition to the one in April, she has an official one in June!
April 23rd is St (14) George's / Swithin's Day. He is the patron saint of (15) Wales / England. People do
not celebrate this day, but many churches and some public buildings fly the national flag, which is (16)
white with a red cross / green with a white circle.
May
1st May (May Day) is not a holiday in the UK, but the first (17) Monday / Friday of the month is (so if that
day falls on May 1st, then May 1st is a holiday). Many towns and villages hold fairs and fetes where you can
see traditional events such as (18) Morris / Austin dancing, and (19) maybug / maypole dancing. The last
(20) Monday / Friday of May is also a public holiday (and is called the (21) Spring / Summer Bank Holiday).
June
June 21st is the first official day of summer, and is also the (22) warmest / longest day of the year. 24th
June is known as (23) Whitsun / Midsummer Day.
The third Sunday in June is (24) Father's Day / Grandparents' Day, which is similar to Mother's Day (see
March on the previous page), although it is not as widely observed.
July
July 12th in Northern Ireland is a public holiday and is known as the Battle of the (25) Boyne / Liffey or
Orangemen's Day. This was, and remains, very much a political and religious holiday with historical origins:
Orangemen are (26) protestants / Catholics who want Northern Ireland to remain a part of the United
Kingdom.
August
The first Monday of August is another public holiday in (27) Northern Ireland / Scotland, and the last
Monday of August is a public holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland / Scotland.
59
A year in the UK: Traditions, holidays and other occasions 3
Rearrange the letters in bold to make words. In some cases, you will need to split these into
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]