СодержаниеIntroduction 2
British Holidays 3
Bank holidays 4
Christmas 5
Boxing Day 7
New Year 8
Bank holiday 9
Easter 10
Good Friday 12
National days 14
The St. David's Day 14
St. Patrick's and the Shamrock 15
St. George's Day 15
St. Andrew's Day 16
Other British Festivals and Holidays 17
Mothering Sunday 17
Saint Valentine's Day 18
November, 5 is Guy Fawkes's Day. 19
Midsummer's Day 20
Harvest 20
April Fool's Day 21
Halloween 23
Conclusion 26
References 27ВведениеEvery nation and every country has its own traditions and customs. Traditions make a nation special. Some of them are old-fashioned and many people remember them, others are part of people's life. Some British customs and traditions are known all the world.
From Scotland to Cornwall, Britain is full of customs and traditions. Some of them are very beautiful, colourful and picturesque, and seem to be quite reasonable; others are curious, sometimes funny, and they often are maintained simply as a tourist attraction. In additions, many English traditions have long outlived themselves and became burdensome. Moreover, they make no sense in the present day. But they are preserved and kept alive because of the well-known traditional English conservatism.
One cannot really imagine Britain without all its traditions, this integral feature of social and private life of the people living on the British Isles that has always been an important part of their life and work.
English traditions can classified into several groups: traditions concerning the Englishmen's private life (child's birth, wedding, marriage, wedding anniversary); which are connected with families incomes; state traditions; national holidays, religious holidays, public festival, traditional ceremonies. The national traditions absorb, accumulate and reflect the historic experience of the part generations. The aim of my work is to describe in details customs and habits concerning British holidays. Studying them will help us to understand better the English way of life.Литература1. British Life and Culture http://projectbritain.com/
2. Материалы сайта http://www.history.com
3. Материалы сайта http://en.wikipedia.org
4. Stephen Rabley, Customs and Traditions in Britain, Longman, 1986
5. Susan Sheerin, Jonathan Seath, Gillian White Spotlight on Britain, Oxford
6. James O'Driscoll Britain - The country and its people (OCR), Oxford,
7. Birdsall Timesaver Festivals and Special Days in Britain, Scholastic Inc.
8. Голицынский Ю. "Great Britain" изд. "Каро" г. С.-Петербург, 1999г.;
9. Ощепкова В.В. "Britain in Brief" изд. "Лист" г. Москва 1999 г.;
10. Материалы сайта http://www.citizensinformation.ie
11. Материалы сайта http://www.2008bankholidays.co.uk/
12. Материалы сайта http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk
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