Файл: Кажекина.doc

If you have a trick played on you in the United States, you are an "April fool." In England, you might be called a "noddy," which means a "fool" or "simpleton." But if you live in England, don't try to play any tricks in the afternoon of All Fools' Day. In England, tricks are played only till noon. If you do try to play a trick in the afternoon, you will probably hear this shout:

"Up the ladder and down the wall,

You're the greatest fool of all!"

In Scotland, a person who is fooled by being sent on some foolish errand – such as finding a left-handed monkey wrench – is said to be "hunting the gowk." Gowk means "cuckoo" or "simpleton."

The custom of playing harmless tricks on April 1 is said to have begun in France more than four hundred years ago. At that time, *Jew Year's Day was March, 25. Celebrations went on through April, 1, at which time people exchanged New Year's gifts.

Then, the French adopted a new calendar. New Year's Day was switched from March, 25 to January, 1. This confused many people for a long time. On April, 1 those who remembered the switch began to play tricks on those who forgot.

And in France, a person who is fooled is called a poisson d'Avril, which means "April fish." Why a "fish"? No one is quite sure. Perhaps it is because in April fish are young and easily caught. In France, as a special treat, you can buy chocolate fish on April Fools' Day.

Maypoles and parades (may, 1)

In many countries, the first of May is May Day – a day to welcome spring. People gather flowers and dance, often around a Maypole.

May Day came to the United States from England – but it was brought to England by the ancient Romans. In Rome, there was a day in spring when the young men paraded through the city, carrying a pine tree. There was also a festival to honor Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers. When the Romans conquered England, the pine tree became a Maypole.

On May Day in England, the pole was set up on the village green and decorated with flowers and ribbons. A May Queen was picked and crowned with flowers. Villagers danced around the Maypole, holding the ends of ribbons that hung from the pole. As they danced, they wove the ribbons in and out.

In time, some people thought the merrymakers worshiped the Maypole. For a while, the Maypole was forbidden by law. Bui it reappeared later. To this day, children in parts of England and elsewhere still sing and dance around the Maypole on May Day.

Cheese rolling

Of all Britain's famous customs and traditions, cheese rolling is probably the strangest – and certainly the most spectacular.

Every year, large crowds of people gather at Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire to watch the Cheese Rolling Championship.

A group of brave (and crazy) people roll a large cheese down the hill, and then run down after it. In theory, competitors must catch the cheese, but as it can reach speeds up to 70 miles an hour, this rarely happens.

Cheese Rolling is one of the oldest customs in Great Britain. It's been going on for hundreds of years and nobody knows for sure when it first started.

The master of the ceremonies must wear a white coat, ribbons and a top hat. He starts the event with the traditional signal: 'One to be ready, two to be steady, three to prepare – and FOUR to be off.'

In the past the cheese-rolling day also included a fair that took place at the top of the hill.

Four races are held on the day: three for men and one for women. There are also uphill races for children.

Cheese Rolling is a dangerous sport. There is usually an ambulance at the event – to treat people with sprained ankles, black eyes and sometimes more serious injuries.

Oh, and what's the prize for winning in this 'extreme' sport? You get to keep the cheese!

Belarus "kalyady" has come

Pay attention to these words. Pick out sentences with these words from the text and read them out:

Kalyady – Каляды;

Christmas – Рождество;

Epiphany [i'pifsni] – Крещение;

Svyatki – Святки;

Kalyadnaya Kuttzya – Калядная кутья;

Bethlehem – г. Вифлеем (библ.);

Christ [kraist] – Христос

Read out these phrasal verbs and expressions several times till you remember them:

to get rid of – избавляться от чего-л.;

to see the New Year in – встречать Новый год;

treat to – угощать чём-л.;

they say – говорят;

to play the accordion – играть на аккордеоне;

to act out – представлять, разыгрывать.

Match the English words and their Russian equivalents:

eternity ярмарка

fair бессмертие

mysterious вечность

vagrant избавляться от

smart предки

to get rid of бродячий

forefathers веселый

merry таинственный

immortality переодеваться

to disguise нарядный

Combine the words with the help of the preposition of:

groups a. everything bad

many countries b. Christ's birth place

the masks c. elite

a sort d. ''Kalyady"

a symbol e. Goats and Bears

eternity f. immortality

the name g. the world

holiday h. porridge

to get rid i. merry young boys and girls

Give the comparative and superlative of the following adjectives:

Long, old, late, young, ancient, delicious, bad.

Give the three forms of the following verbs:

to come, to spoil, to begin, to call, to hold, can, to treat, to bear, to disguise.

Give the plural of:

Calendar, amateur, carol, fair, story, masquerade, holiday.

Write the derivatives of the following words:

To fall, a mystery, to celebrate, a host, to congratulate, music, to perform, an origin.

These words can be used both as verbs and nouns. Make up your own sentences to show the difference in their usage:

Work, visit, purpose, feature, treat.

Read these expressions and find their English equivalents in the text:

Таинственное время года; древние языческие традиции; актеры-любители; угощать восхитительными вещами; быть священной едой; символ бессмертия; давать представления: играть на аккордеоне; происходить от.

Read the text and get ready to speak about “Kalyady”

«Kalyady» has come

If you want to experience real joy – the joy that isn't even spoiled by falling snow or severe frost – you should come to Belarus when "Kalyady" is being celebrated. Catholics celebrate it from December, 25 to January, 6 when the sun turns its gaze towards spring and the days begin to become longer. As for Orthodox Christians and the old calendar, the mysterious time of the year comes a bit later – it continues from January, 7 to January, 19. People say that "Kalyady" is a God's holiday. In Russia, all these days and nights from Christmas till Epiphany are called "Svyatki" (Sacred Evenings) and in Belarus – "Kalyady." It is a jolly time when people are enjoying themselves.

During "Kalyady" groups of merry young boys and girls in smart clothes go from house to house in Belarusian villages and towns. "Kalyady" celebrations have ancient, pagan traditions. In many countries of the world, people have carnivals and masquerades to see the New Year in. Such festivals are also held in Belarus.

Each person in the processions of "Kalyadovschchyki"(carol-singers) has a role according to his character and temperament: one of them bears the star, others sing carols, amateur musicians play the accordion or beat the tambourine, amateur actors are disguised as Goats,

Bears, Storks, Horses, Gypsies and Old Men. Hosts and hostesses usually treat them to delicious things and thank them for well-wishing and carol-singing.

"Kalyady" is the time when three ritual suppers are cooked in every Belarusian home. They are called "Kalyadnaya Kuttzya". Our forefathers believed that "Kuttzya" (a sort of porridge – "kasha" – made from barley) was sacred food which could save and protect people's lives. So "Kuttzya" was a symbol of immortality and eternity of life.

On "Kalyady" the Belarusians like to visit each other, celebrate weddings and arrange fairs. By the way, it was at the fairs in the old days when vagrant musicians and puppeteers gave their performances. Small puppet theatres called "Batleyka" were popular in Belarus. They acted out stories about Christ from the Bible. Some people think that the word "Batleyka" originated from the word "Bethlehem" – the name of Christ's birthplace. So we can say that our theatre has its roots in "Kalyady."

The pagan holiday of "Kalyady" coincided later with Christmas, which was celebrated by Christians. The main purpose of "Kalyady" is to get rid of everything bad in one's life and to begin a new life cycle with joy and optimism.

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Файл: Кажекина.doc

April fool! (april, 1)

Maypoles and parades (may, 1)

Cheese rolling

Belarus "kalyady" has come

«Kalyady» has come

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