Registrační číslo projektu: CZ.1.07/1.5.00/34.0948 Jazyk : anglický

1. Registrační číslo projektu: CZ.1.07/1.5.00/34.0948 Jazyk: anglický Datum vytvoření: 11. 12. 2012 Cílová skupina: studenti vyššího gymnázia, 16–18 let Druh učebního materiálu: studijní materiál + kontrolní otázky Očekávaný výstup: student bude znát základní svátky a tradice USA Anotace: materiál slouží jako příprava k základní úrovni maturitní zkoušky

2. The most important US holidays : Holidays and Traditions in USA New Year’s Eveand New Year’s Day St Valentine's Day IndependenceDay Easter Halloween Thanksgiving Christmas

3. SUMMARY Thanksgivingis the principal American holiday. It was first celebrated by the English Pilgrim's who used tothankfor one's welfare and good harvest. Thanksgiving is generally celebrated within a family circle with a large afternoon feast. Christmas Dayis a federal holiday and it is celebrated throughout the whole United States. There are other Christian holidays such asEasterorSt. Patrick’s Day being observed, though with varying degrees of religious fidelity. Independence Day (also known as the Fourth of July) celebrates the anniversary of the country’s Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. It is generally observed by parades throughout the day and the shooting of fireworks at night. Halloween is thought to have evolved from the ancient Celtic/Gaelic festival of Samhain, which was introduced in the American colonies by Irish settlers. It has become a holiday that is celebrated by children and teens who traditionally dress up in costumes and go door to door trick-or-treating for candy. It has also brought about an emphasis on frightening urban legends and movies. Saint Valentine's Dayis a day of love. Easter. Hard-boiled eggs are decorated by many Americansand baskets of candy, fruit, toys and so on are given to children New Year’s Eve. People celebrate the end of a year and the beginning of another.

4. Saint Valentine's Day, is observed on February 14 each year. Saint Valentine was imprisoned for performing weddingsfor soldiers who were forbidden to marry, and for ministering to Christians, who werepersecuted under the Roman Empire. Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the hearts, doves, and the figure of the wingedCupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-producedgreeting cards. New Year’s Eveand New Year’s Day New Year's Eve is celebrated at evening social gatherings, where many people dance, eat, drink alcohol, and watchfireworks to mark the new year. The celebrations generally go on past midnight into January 1.

5. Easter Hard-boiled eggs are decorated by many Americansand baskets of candy, fruit, toys and so onare given to children. Egg rolling races are held in the United States. There is a big race held on the lawn of the White House in Washington DC on Easter Monday. Sometimes even the President takes part in the “White House Easter Egg Roll”, which was hosted by the First Lady in 2007. Eggs are rolled down a hill or slope and there is a variety of activities, as well as food and entertainment, for families. Halloween is celebrated worldwide on October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints. Typical festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, carving pumpkins and telling scary stories.

6. Independence Day, July 4, commemoratesthe adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. This holiday is generally associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States.

7. Thanksgiving iscelebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. The"First Thanksgiving„took place in 1621, Plymouth.This day traditionallycelebrates the giving of thanks for the autumn harvest and the dinner of turkey is served together with pumpkin pie.

8. Christmas The Christmasdinner usually consists of roast turkey, served with stuffing and gravy, with roast potatoes, vegetables (parsnips, sprouts, and carrots), as a dessert comes christmas pudding.

9. Christmas Eve occurs on December 24when the Midnight Mass is celebrated. On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus visits after the small children are in bed, leaving gifts for them. Often he will fill stockings hung by the fireplace with candy and toys. On Christmas Day, December 25, there's a large family dinnerwith Turkey or Ham as the main course. Christians may attend a church service late on Christmas Eve, or on Christmas Day. Boxing Day, December 26, is a public holiday when people go and visit their families. It is also a day when money are given to poorer countries and workers.

10. Questions • What holidays are beingcelebrated on the following days? December 31/January 1 December 26 the fourth Thursday of November February 14 July 4 December 24 October 31 • What is typical for the following holidays? Christmas Day Thanksgiving Halloween Independence Day Easter • Are there any differences between American and British Christmas and Easter?

11. CITACE Všechny uveřejněné odkazy [cit. 2012-11-01]. Dostupné pod licencí Public Domainna WWW: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thanksgiving-Brownscombe.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Spirit_of_%2776.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_the_United_States Všechny uveřejněné odkazy [cit. 2012-11-03]. Dostupné pod licencí Creative Commons , BY na WWW: Snímek 4 Replytojain, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:New_Year_Ball_Drop_Event_for_2012_at_Times_Square.jpg Chordboard, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Antique_Valentine_1909_01.jpg Snímek 5 ShealahCraighead, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WHEasterEggRoll.jpg TobyOrd, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jack-o%27-Lantern_2003-10-31.jpg Snímek 7 MagnusManske http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:New_England_Thanksgiving_Dinner.jpg

12. Snímek 8 KathleenFrench, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Candy_canes.png Soerfm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_pudding.JPG TheKohser, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oven_roasted_brine-soaked_turkey.jpg MagnusManske, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ChristmasDinnerScotland.jpg Antilived, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fourth_of_July_fireworks_behind_the_Washington_Monument,_1986.jpg Snímek 9 King Prince, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:New_Orleans_Department_Store_Santa_Claus_1954-1.jpg Rlogos, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiny_Brite_Assortment.JPG