Maslenitza is one of the most favourite holidays in our country. It lasts from Monday till Sunday.
It comes either at the end of February or at the beginning of March, this is so-called movable festival. In 2002, Maslenitza took place in March (from 3d up to 9th).
This holiday means the end of winter and the spring coming. It has pagan origin. During this holiday people visit each other, children play snowballs, light bonfires, enjoy horse-sledging.
During these days people should avoid eating any kind of meat, but they are to eat much butter, cheese, sour cream, lots of pancakes...
May Day is the holiday of the first day of the month of May. But before 1752, when the calendar was changed, it was 11 days earlier.
It is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is said to be a time of love and romance. It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of different customs that are expressions of joy and hope after a long winter.
May Day celebrations have their origins in the Roman festival of Flora, goddess of flowers, which marked the beginning of summer. People decorated their houses and villages with fresh-cut flowers gathered at dawn in the belief that the vegetation spirits would bring good fortune.
May 1st was an important day in the Middle Ages. In the very early morning, young girls went into the fields and washed their faces with dew. They believed this made them very beautiful for a year after that. Also, on May Day the young men of each village tried to win prizes with their bows and arrows.
In some places May Day celebrations begin at sunset on 30 April. They include lots of floral decorations and processions through towns and villages...
On July 4 the Americans celebrate their national holiday — Independence Day. The United States gained independence as a result of gradual and painful process.
By the mid 1700's, it became difficult for thirteen British colonies in the New World to be ruled by a king 3000 miles across the ocean. The British empire imposed high taxes upon the colonies.
In 1774, the First Continental Congress drew up a list of grievances against the British crown. This document was the first draft of the document that would formally separate colonies from England.
In 1775, the Revolutionary War began. On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress presented a second draft of the list of grievances. On July 4, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of independence. But the War of independence lasted until 1783. After the war Independence Day became an official holiday....
There are a lot of holidays in the USA. Many of them are associated with the history of the nation. The main holidays of the USA are New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.
The New Year's Eve is a time for merriment. Most Americans spend this night with friends, at home or in restaurants. Thousands of people gather in New York in Times Square to see the New Year in. The Tournament of Roses takes place in Pasadena, California, on January 1 each year. Prizes are given to the cities with the most unusual floral compositions.
At Easter there is a tradition for people to buy new clothes. After church services many people take walks along the streets of their towns, wearing their new Easter hats and suits. This is usually called the "Easter Parade"...
Probably the most widely celebrated holidays in the United States of America are Thanksgiving, Independence Day and Christmas.
Thanksgiving Day is marked on the fourth Thursday of November. On this day Americans thank their God for his blessings. Families gather together for a traditional dinner which includes roast turkey and pumpkin pie.
Independence Day is marked on the 4th of July as the birthday of the United States as a free and independent nation. Generally, picnics, parades and firework displays are held all over the country on this day....
There are many national holidays in Russia, when people all over the country do not work and have special celebrations. The major holidays are: New Year's Day, Women's Day, May Day, Victory Day, and Independence Day.
The first holiday of the year is New Year's Day. People see the new year in at midnight on the 31st of December. They greet the new year with champagne and listen to the Kremlin chimes beating 12 o'clock.
There are lots of New Year traditions in Russia. In every home there is a New Year tree glittering with coloured lights and decorations. Children always wait for Father Frost to come and give them a present. Many people consider New Year's Day to be a family holiday. But the young prefer to have New Year parties of their own....
A men needs rest after hard work. Very often we are eagerly looking forward to weekends and holidays to enjoy ourselves.
The word "holiday" comes from the words "holy day". Holidays were first religion festivals. Now many holidays have nothing to do with religion. Almost every country has holidays honouring important events in its history.
Some holidays come on the same date of the same month, for instance, New Year's Day or Cristmas. But some do not. Some, such as Easter, are movable holidays.
New Year's Day is very popular all over the world. It is my favourite holiday. We usually get together, we like celebrate this holiday at home....
Almost every country has holidays honouring important events in its history. Some holidays come on the same date, some are movable.
New Year's Day is very popular all over the world. It is my favourite holiday too.
We celebrate Cristmas on the 7th of January. On the 6th of January people cook much food because the day after we must not work. On this day we have a sacred supper. It begins when the first star lights up. As the legend says, this star announced the birth of the Gods Son.
We celebrate Christmas for two days. In the evening a group of boys comes. They sing songs. By these songs they congratulate on holiday...
There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries. They are Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday, and Summer Bank Holiday. Public holidays in Britain are called bank holidays, because the banks as well as most of the offices and shops are closed.
The most favourite holiday is Christmas. Every year the people of Norway give the city of London a present. It's a big Christmas tree and it stands in the Trafalgar Square.
Before Christmas, groups of singers go from house to house. They collect money for charities and sing carols, traditional Christmas songs. Many churches hold a service on the Sunday. before Christmas.
The fun starts the night before, on the 24th of December. Traditionally this is the day when people decorate their trees. Children hang stockings at their beds, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and fill them with toys and sweets...
Halloween is a festival that takes place on October 31. In the United States children wear costumes and masks and go trick-or-treating. Many of them carve jack-o'-lantens out of pumpkins. Fortunetelling and storytelling about ghosts and witches are popular activities.
Halloween developed from new year festivals and festivals of the dead. Christian church established a festival on November 1 called All Saints' Day so that people could continue to celebrate their festivals.
The Mass said on All Saints' Day was called Allhallowmass. The day before All Saints' Day was known all hallows' Eve or All Hallow e'en...
