Téma: Srovnání obrázků v angličtině

Jazyk: Angličtina

Přidal(a): Studijni-svet.cz

Níže můžete vidět 2 obrázky na témata Holidays and Celebrations či Family/Relationships. Zkuste si nejprve napsat vlastní srovnání obrázků na papír, až poté si přečtěte náš vzorový popis těchto obrázků. Pokud nevíte jak na to, na stránkách máme rychlý přehled, jak na „describing a picture“.

Vzorový příklad řešení

I can see two pictures connected to the topic of Christmas and family life. In both pictures there are families celebrating Christmas. They all look happy and they are smiling, probably they are excited to be together and celebrate this beautiful part of the year.

In picture A, the people are sitting at a big table that is nicely decorated, for example with red candles.

Another symbol of Christmas and festive atmosphere is the Christmas tree in the background. The room looks really cosy. I can see nine people, some of them older, some younger – there is even a
small girl on the right. I guess they are grandparents with their grown-up children and grandchildren. Their clothes look nice, some are wearing red, men are wearing shirts. At the moment, they are holding a glass of Champagne, probably.

In picture B, I can see a street in a town or a bigger city. There are some houses, street lights and trees with snow on them which adds to the Christmas atmosphere. The family look very happy and cheerful and are laughing. The man is carrying his little girl on his back and the woman is carrying something wrapped, probably a Christmas present, and Christmas lights.

In picture A, the people are inside, probably in the living room, and are having Christmas dinner, while in picture B, the family are outside. I can see some snow in the background and Christmas lights on the woman´s shoulder, so I can say it´s Christmas time but I don´t know what day of Christmas it is.

Probably the family are going home from a walk or are going to buy their Christmas tree. In picture A, there are quite many people, on the other hand, in picture B there are just 3 family members – only the immediate family, mum, dad and a child. In picture A, the atmosphere is very festive, whereas in picture B, the atmosphere is more relaxed.

I would prefer to be in the second picture because the atmosphere looks really relaxed and I love spending Christmas time outside when there is snow and I am about to buy presents, meet my family and friends and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere.

Kam dál?

Pokud se vám líbily cvičné obrázky s řešením, více jich najdete v akademii Studijni-svet.cz jako součást v podrobného e-booku „Popis obrázku v angličtině“.

Otázka: Seasons of the Year

Jazyk: Angličtina

Přidal(a): Terkusai

Seasons of the Year

The year is divided into four seasons: spring, summer, autumn (fall), and winter. Each season has its own unique characteristics and impacts on the environment, weather, and human activities.

Spring

Weather and Nature

• Mild temperatures and increasing daylight: Spring is known for its pleasant weather as the chill of winter fades away and the days start to get longer.
• Trees and plants begin to bloom: This is the season when flora comes back to life. Trees grow new leaves, flowers start to bloom, and the landscape becomes vibrant with colors.
• Animals come out of hibernation: Many animals that hibernate during winter start to wake up and become active. Birds return from their migrations, and new life begins with many animals breeding.

Human activities

• Outdoor activities: People enjoy spending time outside, engaging in activities like hiking, picnics, and gardening. It’s a time to appreciate the rejuvenating nature.
• Spring cleaning: This tradition involves thorough cleaning of homes, symbolizing a fresh start. It’s a time to declutter and organize.
• Festivals and holidays: Spring brings celebrations like Easter, Holi, and various cultural festivals that signify renewal and rebirth.

Summer

Weather and Nature

• Warm to hot temperatures: Summer is characterized by the hottest weather of the year, with long, sunny days and short nights.
• Plants are in full bloom: Vegetation is lush and green. This is the season when many fruits and vegetables are harvested.
• Active wildlife: Many animals are active, raising their young and taking advantage of the abundant resources.

Human activities

• Popular outdoor activities: People indulge in swimming, sunbathing, barbecues, and outdoor sports. It’s a season for vacations and relaxation.
• Summer vacations: Families often travel to beaches, mountains, and other tourist destinations to enjoy the warm weather.
• Festivals and holidays: Events like Independence Day, the summer solstice, and various music festivals are celebrated with enthusiasm.

Autumn (Fall)

Weather and Nature

• Cooler temperatures: As the heat of summer wanes, autumn brings cooler weather and shorter days.
• Leaves change color: Deciduous trees’ leaves turn shades of red, orange, and yellow before falling to the ground, creating beautiful scenery.
• Harvest season: This is the time to gather crops like apples, pumpkins, and grains. It’s a season of abundance and preparation for winter.

Human activities

• Seasonal activities: People enjoy apple picking, visiting pumpkin patches, and participating in autumn festivals. It’s a time to embrace the changing season.
• Preparation for winter: Activities include storing food, insulating homes, and collecting firewood to prepare for the cold months ahead.
• Festivals and holidays: Celebrations like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and various harvest festivals mark this season.

Winter

Weather and Nature

• Cold temperatures: Winter is characterized by the coldest weather, often with snow and ice, especially in temperate and polar regions.
• Dormant plant life: Many trees and plants go into dormancy, and the landscape often appears barren and still.
• Animal behavior: Some animals hibernate to conserve energy, while others migrate to warmer regions.

Human activities

• Winter sports and activities: People engage in skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and building snowmen. Winter sports are popular in regions with snow.
• Indoor activities: As the weather turns colder, indoor activities like reading, cooking, and spending time with family become more common.
• Festivals and holidays: Winter is a time for celebrations like Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve, and the winter solstice, which bring warmth and joy during the cold months.

Conclusion

Each season has its own distinct characteristics and influences on nature and human life. Understanding these changes helps us appreciate the beauty and variety of the natural world throughout the year.

Téma: Travel offices and travel agencies

Jazyk: Angličtina

Přidal(a): Anonym

The origins are connected with an epic travel that an English businessman Thomas Cook organized to take over 500 people by train from Derby to Rugby. The aim of the group trip was to go to protest at an anti-alcohol event… It was around 1841.

Then 4 years later in 1845 he started his first travel office in the world and 30 years later he had branches all over the world. His first mass travel abroad was to organize over 150 thousand people to go to Paris by train for a Great Exhibition.

Thomas Cook came up with tools which are still used today, for example:

• A voucher
• An itinerary
• A contract

The first Czech travel office started in 1920, it became Čedok in 1926, it was a private office back then after WW2 it became national. Since 2016 it is owned by a Polish company Itaka.

Differences between a travel office and travel agency:

A travel office

Sells the product that they themselves create. They do not sell anybody else´s packages (transport, accommodation, good, guide), they sell only their own creations and are in chargé of all holiday. Tour operators look into all aspects of a holiday, they plan almost each and everything. In the Czech Republic are for example Čedok, Alexandria, Blue Style…)

A travel agency

Helps anyone plan their trips, whether it’s individuals, families, or businesses. Independent businesses that focus solely on providing travel services. Offers a wide range of travel services to the general public, including booking flights, hotels, and tours. Aims to make money by selling travel services and earning commissions. Typically regulated by government authorities to ensure consumer protection. In the Czech Republic for example Inviaa, Zájezdy.cz….

In essence, a travel office helps manage travel for a specific group, like employees, within an organization, while a travel agency offers travel services to anyone who needs them.

Last minute

Refers to booking travel arrangements, such as flights or accommodations, shortly before the intended departure date. Travel agencies or websites often offer last-minute deals for those who are flexible and willing to book spontaneously.

First minute

This term is often used in the travel industry to promote early booking discounts. Travel agencies or websites may offer special deals for travellers who book their trips well in advance, sometimes even a year or more ahead of the departure date. These early booking incentives can include discounted fares, room upgrades, or other perks.

Working in a Travel Office:

A travel office is usually found within a larger organization, like a company or a school. People working here help arrange travel for the organization’s employees or members. Their job is to book flights, hotels, and rental cars, and make sure everything runs smoothly for travellers. They have to follow the organization’s rules and budgets, and often work closely with other departments, like finance, to manage expenses.

The clients in a travel office are limited to the people within the organization. This means they have a smaller group to focus on, and they need to make sure everyone’s needs are met efficiently.

Working in a Travel Agency:

On the other hand, a travel agency is an independent business that helps anyone plan their trips. This could be individuals, families, or even other businesses. People working in a travel agency have a broader range of clients to serve, which means they need to be adaptable and good at understanding different people’s needs.

In a travel agency, you’ll be booking flights, hotels, and tours for clients, but you’ll also be involved in sales and marketing. You might need to promote special deals or packages to attract new clients. And since you’re working independently, you have more freedom to negotiate with vendors and find the best deals for your clients.

Otázka: Notable days in English speaking countries

Jazyk: Angličtina

Přidal(a): ivo

UNITED KINGDOM

St. Valentine’s Day (14^th February)

• Since the Middle Ages this day has been celebrated by lovers. People give gifts (e.g. flowers, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and other kinds of sweets, sometimes even more expensive things) or send greeting cards called Valentines to people they like. Couples often have a romantic dinner in a restaurant.
• The day is called after St Valentine who was killed by Romans (because he was a Christian). According to a legend he helped some Christian lovers to get married.

Easter (in March or April)

• Originally it was a pagan festival of the coming spring. Christians remember Christ’s death and his return to life.
• Saturday is traditionally spent decorating Easter eggs (symbol of new life); on Sunday morning they are hunted for by children in a lot of families (parents have hidden them all over the house and garden). In other families parents tell children that their Easter basket (waiting for them when they wake up) full of painted and chocolate eggs, chocolate rabbits and marshmallow chicks has been delivered by the Easter Bunny. There are also traditional meals, e.g. roast lamb or hot cross buns.

Halloween (31^st October)

• Among the old Celts it was the last day of the year that is why people tried to scare witches and evil spirits away.
• These days it is usual to light pumpkin lanterns. It is a night of especially children’s parties, of fun and games. Children go to see their relatives and their friends’ families dressed in masks and costumes. (The most common costumes are witches, ghosts, skeletons and popular characters.) They say “Trick or treat” and people give them sweets, fruit or money. Horror movies and ghost stories are narrated and shown on TV on this day.

Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night) (5^th November)

• Originally, people in Britain celebrated the unsuccessful plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 (Guy Fawkes was the leader of a group of conspirators who wanted to kill the king but were discovered and executed.)
• Nowadays, it is just a festival when families and friends come together to watch fireworks. Sometimes they light bonfires and burn paper figurines of “Guy” on the fire. Cooking potatoes in the fire and drinking soup are other typical activities.

Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) (11^th November)

• It is the day when people remember the soldiers who died in WWI and all other wars since. The first Poppy Day was in 1921. Some ex-soldiers made and sold paper poppies to get money for disabled ex-soldiers or for families of dead soldiers.
• Even these days a lot of people buy and wear small poppies. At 11 a.m. there is a two-minute silence. And there are ceremonies at war memorials all over the country. The most important one takes place at the Cenotaph in London where the Queen and the Prime Minister are present.

Christmas

• 24^th December: Unlike the Continentals, the English have no traditional celebration on Christmas Eve. Before English children go to bed on this day, they hang up Christmas stockings and believe that Father Christmas (or Santa Claus) comes down the chimney and fills up the stockings with presents. Larger things are put under the Christmas tree.
• 25^th December: Christmas Day is the most festive day of British Christmas. In the morning children unwrap their presents, then some people attend a Christmas mass. At noon Christmas dinner is a great occasion: It consists of roast turkey, roast potatoes and vegetables; Christmas pudding is served as a dessert. There are a lot of carols on the radio and TV and the monarch addresses the nation.
• 26^th December: It is called Boxing Day from the custom in earlier times when postmen, milkmen, dustmen, newspaper boys were given money which they collected in their Christmas boxes. Lots of people go to see their friends; parties are given in the evening, people also enjoy watching various sports (especially football) matches.

New Year’s Eve (31^st December)

• It is not as important as Christmas for the English. People usually stay up till midnight and drink a toast to the new year. In London some people gather in Trafalgar Square and celebrate the coming of the new year with singing and dancing.
• The Scottish name for New Year’s Eve is Hogmanay – they traditionally celebrate it much more than Christmas. Families often have guests, before midnight a lot of people gather in the squares, they sing and dance in the Scottish style. (Auld Lang Syne)

UNITED STATES

• In the U.S.A. there are no national holidays because each state has the right to decide about its own holidays. However, many holidays are observed by most states.
• Some of them are the same as in the UK – e.g. Easter, Christmas, St. Valentine´s Day or Halloween. 11^th November is called Veterans´ Day but it also honours people who fought for their country in wars.
• The two best-known holidays typical for the USA are:
  • Independence Day (4^th July)
    • It celebrates “the birthday” of the USA because on 4/7/1776 American Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence.
  • Thanksgiving Day (4^th Thursday in November)
    • Its history started in 1620 when Pilgrims (a group of Protestants from England) arrived in America. They believed their lives in America would be free, better than in their native country.
    • However, their first winter on the American continent was very difficult for them. They starved and a lot of them died of hunger and disease.
    • In 1621 Native Americans helped them a lot. They taught them how to grow plants, how to hunt and fish. In the autumn Pilgrims had a rich harvest, so they celebrated the first Thanksgiving. They wanted to thank to God and Indians for their food and wealth.
    • At present Thanksgiving is a very important family holiday. A lot of people have a 4 to 5 – day long weekend, at schools there are holidays. People often travel long distances to meet their families.
    • They have a huge Thanksgiving dinner which usually consists of roasted turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce and vegetables. Typical desserts are pumpkin (or apple) pies.
    • On Black Friday a lot of people start their Christmas shopping. Many big cities organize parades (military, fancy-dress etc.). The Thanksgiving weekend is also a time for sport – you can watch American football matches at stadiums or on TV.

QUESTIONS

• Characterize Christmas in Britain. Compare them to Christmas in the Czech Republic (date, meals, traditions and activities, symbols). You and Christmas.
• What happens on St. Valentine’s Day?
• What do you know about Easter in Britain?
• What is Halloween?
• What happens on Guy Fawkes Night and Remembrance Day?
• In what way do people spend 31^st December in Britain?
• Are there any national holidays in the S.A.?
• Which holidays popular in the U.S.A. are the same (or similar) as in the UK?
• Characterize the two best-known holidays which are typical for the USA.

Otázka: Festivals in the U.K. and the U.S.A.

Jazyk: Angličtina

Přidal(a): Pužmanová

Festivals and Important days

• Of course we have many important moments for celebration. Most often we celebrate the birthday, name day, wedding and. At this occasion the guest of honour receives presents, flowers, candies and other gifts.
• The British are conservative. They still use their traditional system of weights and measures, they drive on the left and they still wear traditional school uniforms at some schools. Their mania for tea at any time of the day is world famous.
• The Americans are far from having the reputation of being conservative. The Americans have a fondness for grandiosity and freedom.
• Both the British and the Americans observe holidays and feasts in which many of the national customs and traditions have been preserved.

In Britain:

• 1) New Year´s Eve is the last day of the year on 31 December. They have family parties. People dance, tell jokes and stories, eat and drink. In Scotland they call the last day Hogmanay. We celebrate the arrival of the New Year either at home with the family or we go to a hotel or to some restaurant, while some of us go out to the mountains to celebrate.
• 2) St. Valentine´s Day (February 14th – it is lover´s day).On this day young people send Valentine cards to a person of the opposite sex. The cards have funny, loving or serious contents such as “I’ll be your sweetheart, I’ll be your Valentine”…
• 3) All fool’s day. It is named after the custom of playing practical jokes and tricks on people. Then you can shout “April Fool”.
• 4) Easter is a religious holiday. It is an ancient symbol of spring and new life. Christians remember Christ’s death and his return to life. We celebrate Easter on the Sunday and Monday after the first spring full moon. On Monday in the morning boys go around with a rod woven out of willow branches to spank the girls. They are rewarded with coloured eggs or ribbons.
• 5) Mother’s day (2nd Sunday in May) honours all mothers.
• 6) Father’s day (3rd Sunday in June) honours all fathers.
• 7) Halloween (October 31st) is a night of traditional fun and games. Children light pumpkin lanterns to ward off witches and evil spirits. They play tricks and dress up in strange clothes. In Britain it is celebrated only in the North of England and in Scotland, but it is generally celebrated in the U.S.A. and Canada. Children go with their baskets or bags to their friend´s and neighbours’ houses and when people come to the door, children say “Trick or treat” which means “Give us a treat or we will play a trick on you”.
• 8) Remembrance Day (November 11th) two minutes’ silence honours those killed in the two world Wars. The symbol is poppy-it symbolizes blood.
• 9) Christmas – Unlike the Continentals, the English have no traditional celebration on Christmas Eve. Before English children go to bed on Christmas Eve, they hang up Christmas stockings and believe that Santa Claus or Father Christmas come and fill up the stockings with presents and toys. The most festive day of Christmas is Christmas day and at midday Christmas dinner is a great occasion. It consists of roast turkey with Chestnut stuffing and roast potatoes and Christmas pudding. December 26th is called Boxing Day. From the custom in earlier times of giving postmen, milkmen, dustmen and the like small sums of money, which they collected in their Christmas boxes.

United States:

There are no national holidays in the USA since each state has the right to decide about its own holidays.

• 1) Martin Luther King’s Day (the third Monday in January). He was a black leader and civil – rights campaigner.
• 2) St. Patrick´s day – March 17th. The festival comes to the USA from Ireland. Everything turns green on this day. Millions of three leaved shamrock (representing the Holy Trinity) are used for decorations.
• 3) Memorial day – the fourth Monday in May. The American honour the dead of all wars.
• 4) Easter is not a national holiday. Most Americans spend Easter with the family. In some families they organize an egg – hunt children look for eggs which the adults hid somewhere. There is a traditional Easter Egg Roll in front of the White House.
• 5) Independence Day (Jule 4th) each city has its own ceremony, all-day picnics, baseball matches and in the evening are huge fireworks. Everything has started in year 1776. The Continental Congress declare that the 13 American Colonies will no longer be the subject of Britain. They were United, free and independent.
• 6) Valentine’s Day see above
• 7) Halloween see above
• 8) Thanksgiving Day – every fourth Thursday in November. It remembers the first settlers – Pilgrim Fathers who came in 1620. It is a family holiday. It was first celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrim settler’s o Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts, on their first harvest. Now it is an occasion for the whole family to be together and enjoy a traditional dinner (roast turkey).
• 9) Christmas in the USA is not a family holiday, families invite friends to join them at Christmas dinner and often give parties. On Boxing Day most shops are open although people have a day off. Christmas traditions are observed. Santa Claus visits homes of good children on the night before Christmas and leaves them gifts.

Otázka: Halloween

Jazyk: Angličtina

Přidal(a): Jitka1224

Halloween

Halloween is an American holiday, but it is also celebrated by many people in Britain. It is celebrating on the 31^St October. It is funny holiday for children. A pumpkin is a symbol of Halloween, but also witches flying on broom, cats, ghosts, goblins, skeletons, spiders. People carve pumpkin and put candle inside it.

On that day adults go to work and children go to school and at the evening children dress to costumes and parents stay at home. Children dress costumes like witch, vampire, zombie, ghosts, skeleton, but supermen, batman too. Children come from door to door and say: “trick or treat “ – it means give me something or I will make dirty your house and adult give them sweets.

People play game bobbing – prepare basket with water and apples, get hands behind back and try to take by mouth apples from water. In Czech this holiday we do not celebrate.

Otázka: Holidays in the world

Jazyk: Angličtina

Přidal(a): ilons

Each country has their own special days which they celebrate.

Some  countries have the same  holiday but  the celebration has a different  form. I think  Christmas is the most  important holiday an almost globally celebrated around  the world.Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. A symbol of  Christmas is the Christmas tree, which  is decorated with lights  chains and decorations.People decorate  their  homes and around their houses.

The Christmas symbol in the Czech Republic is Christmas sweets that people  make at  home alone. The celebration culminates   with Christmas  dinner , then  singing  carols  and  unwrapping   presents. Most religious people visit church   for midnight mass.  Christmas dinner  consists of fish soup, fried carp and potato salad.Christmas holidays are three days.  Most people spend  Christmas Day with their own family without grandparents ,uncles, aunts and cousins. On other days, they visit other family members

The Christmas symbol in the USA is Santa Claus, a Christmas tree, light chains and decorations  Christmas holidays are three days. Christmas  culminates  with unwrapping  presents on the twenty-fifth  of December in the morning then lunch. In a large area of in the USA, Christmas is an opportunity  to meet with  the entire family. Families must travel a long distance  for Christmas to celebrate  in a big family circle. A festive dinner is consists  of  roast turkey with stuffing, corn ,pumpkins,beans and  potatoes.

Great Britain celebrates as in the USA, but the  symbol of Christmas is Father Christmas.

Another holiday which is celebrated  all around the world is  Easter. Easter was originally a  celebration of spring and fertility. Christians are reminded of the resurrection  of Jesus Christ. The date of Easter is different every year. Holidays  are celebrated on the first Sunday after the spring full moon . The symbol  of Easter is an egg  that symbolizes  beginning of life. The egg  are colored  and decorated with Easters motifs. Lamb is a  Jewish tradition which symbolizes God´s flock  that lead the Lord.  Easter cakes  are baked and shaped   of in the form of  a lamb.

In the Czech Republic, the holidays culminated on Monday, when men and boys walk around the neighborhood and beat women and girls with Easter Caroling wicker and say Easter carols . As a reward, the receive painted eggs and  a colored ribbon  . Ribbons have a different color, each color represents something different.

Red – love and affection

Blue – hope for something more

Yellow – rejection

Green – sympathy and popularity .

Girls and women can pour water or perfume on the men and boys after lunch. Traditional lunch is chicken with stuffing. The presented eggs are made  from egg spread  .

Celebrations in the UK are different. The symbol is  an egg too. The whole family meets and divides the chocolate egg with each other. Everyone has a taste  of chocolate , tradition means  a community of family and close  family ties . The holiday  culminates on Sunday. Adults hide eggs in the house and in the garden and children look for eggs on Sunday morning. Kids think that eggs are hidden by the Easter Bunny .Traditional food is lamb.

Easter in the USA is the same as in the UK . The difference is the meal when  baked ham , potatoes and vegetables are servered.

Halloween X Souls

The same holiday which  is celebrated around the world is a Christian holiday when we remember the dead. They have a name for Halloween or All Souls‘ Day

In the Czech Republic and England, the holiday is celebrated as well. Families visit cemeteries where they lay candles and flowers. The holiday is celebrated on the first of November.

The USA celebrates on October 31. Children dress up in scary costumes and go around the neighborhood. Kids say „ trick or treat“and   receive candy as a reward. The traditional symbol of the holiday is the  pumpkin, which a candle in inserted into .

Valentine’s Day

Another holiday which has spread to more countries is Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated on February 14 . The holiday  is celebrated in English-speaking countries. The Czech Republic doesn´t have   a long tradition , it is celebrated by the  younger generation. Previously amorousness was celebrated in May. The patron of the holiday is the  priest Valentine, who amorousness   indulged secretly.  They give presents for example a red heart or valentine wishes.

In USA there are other public holidays

Thanksgiving is a North American holiday. It is celebrated in  the period of the harvest festival . The holiday celebrates a big  harvest . It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November . The whole family meets and celebrates together .The traditional food is a good roasted turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce. The second day is Black Friday. On Black Fridays are a big discounts in the stores.

Independence Day It is the biggest national holiday . The holiday  is celebrated on the fourth of  July . The holiday symbolizes the adoption of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. People organize picnics , parades, the at American flag hangs at every house and there are a lot of fireworks in the evening.

Martin Luther King Day. It is celebrated on the third Monday in January. Martin Luther King pushed  for racial equality in America. Americans do volunteer work and the day is known as a date of service to others.

Memorial Day  It is celebrated on the last Monday in May. Americans remember victims who died in the war.

Other holidays in the UK

There are more public holidays in Great Britain. Some holidays are celebrated in Northern Ireland , which belongs to Great Britain. Holidays are called bank holidays . St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Ireland on  the 17th of March. St. Patrick spread education and helped establish the Christian faith . The symbols of the celebration are the color green and shamrock, which represents the Holy Trinity. Irish people celebrate  with music , parades and the color green  is everywhere.

Czech Republic

The holidays are a reminder of important days in our history. The holidays previously  celebrated parades and  posting flags. Nowadays, the holidays are used as free days  or to hold demonstrations  where people want to highlight on the problems.

Holiday work  –  first May

Day when the 2nd World War was ended – 8th  May

Day when Prince Wenceslas was murdered 28th September

Day when the Czechoslovak state was formed  28th October

Day when Freedom and Democracy were fought for 17th November

The holidays which are  Christian. The Christians  go to mass.

Remembrance of the  coming  of Christianity in Great Moravia, Cyril and Methodius 5th July

Remembrance day when champion Jana Huse was burned 6th July

Otázka: Customs and holidays

Jazyk: Angličtina

Přidal(a): Milan Štefek

New Year´s Day– 1. January

– Family time, entertainment programs on TV usually enjoyed from the comfort of home

– many football matches are played

-people traditionally take a shower in the fountain in Trafalgar Square

St. Valentine’s Day –  14. February

-a lover´s day

-young people send valentines (Valentine´s cards), which may include poem or message

– they are mostly anonymous

– lovers exchange small gifts such as plush animals

– St. Valentine secretly wedded soldiers, who were banned of marrying, because of what he was beheaded

St. David´s Day 1.March

-very important for Welsh people

-the Welsh celebrate this day and wear daffodils in the button holes of their coats or jackets

St. Patrick´s Day 17.March

– St. Patrick was the Irish saint and became the patron of Ireland

– people often wear something green and some pubs sell green beer

Easter – late March or early April

– a spring fest of the Christian Church by which is celebrated the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday after crucifixion on Good Friday

– bakers sell cross buns, which are toasted and eaten with butter

– On Easter Sunday people give colored and chocolate eggs to each other and send cards

– Some cities have Easter parades with games and sports and a big Easter egg hunt

– habits like pouring water to boys

All Fool´s Day – 1. April

– people play practical jokes and trick to the other

– successful tease shouts at the victim “April Fool!”

– In earlier das, 1. April looked very different. Servants become masters and on the contrary. Masters used to have obey the servants.

St. George´s Day 23.April

– St. George Cross flag is flown and some people wear red rose

May Day – 1.May

-important day in the Middle Ages

-very early morning, young girls went to the fields and washed their faces with dew (believing it will make them beautiful)

-even now many villages have maypole and on 1. May they dance around it

Midsummer´s Day – 24.June

– at Stonehenge is held very old ceremony during the sunrise

– In Scotland and Cornwall are somewhere lit the fires to give the sun the strength

Halloween – 31. October

–  old word for ”Hallows Evening”, the night before ”All Hallows” or ”All Saints‘ Day”

– for old Celts Halloween (Samhain) was the last day of the year and the beginning of winter

– children dress on Halloween costumes and go from house to house knocking at the door and saying “Trick or treat!”. People give then some sweets or money. But if the children are not treated, they soup the windows of house and car or sprite the water to owners face.

– some people cut the face in the pumpkin and put candle inside = jack-o´-lantern

– also many parties are held

Guy Fawkes Day 5.November

-one of Britain’s most popular festivals

-people have fireworks parties where they build big wood fires (bonfires) in their gardens and burn ”Guys“ on the top of them

-Children usually make „Guys“ with straw, old clothes and newspapers before November 5th and they use them to collect money for fireworks. Children stand with their ”Guys“ in busy streets or outside shops and ask people for ”a penny for the guy“

Remembrance Day 11.November

-day to remember all the people who fought in the wars – the living as well as the dead

– people wear artificial poppies on clothes

St. Andrew´s Day 30.November

-national holiday of Scotland

-St. Andrew was martyred on an X-shaped cross and became the Scottish patron saint

Christmas

Cristmas Eve 24. December

– people haven´t traditional celebration, the day is reserved for the office parties

– before going to the bed children hang  up Christmas stockings on the fireplace, believing that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and fills up the stockings with presents

– children leave pies for Father Christmas

– Christmas trees are decorated with lights and ornaments, but no sweets are hung on the tree

-on the wall or over the door is hung a sprig of mistletoe – girl standing under it can be kissed without having any objections to it

– in London people go to  Trafalgar Square where they sing, dance or paddle in the fountain

25. December

– the most festive day

– in the morning children find presents

-at midday is served traditional Christmas dinner consisting of roasted turkey with chestnut stuffing, roasted potatoes and Christmas pudding made of dried fruit, eggs, suet and little of flour boiled for many hours

– people sing carrols

Boxing Day 26. December

– traditionally people gave postmen, milkmen or newspapers boys small sums of money, which they collected in small wooden boxes

– now, Boxing Day is the real day for Christmas parties and visiting friends

New Year´s Eve 31.December

– people stay up till midnight to see old year go and the new come

– the new year is celebrated by singing and dancing

Hogmanay– it´s the Scottish version of New Year´s Eve

– dinner contains haggis

– before midnight people gather in the square and sing folk songs while dancing

– at midnight they link the hands and sing Auld Lang Syne (The good old days)

– the first visitor of the house in the new year must bring the coal and wish:  ”LANG MAY YOUR LUM REEK” (hope your chimney will smoke for a long time)

Otázka: Festivals and celebrations

Jazyk: Angličtina

Přidal(a): Mensa30

Festivals and celebrations in the Czech Republic

I think that people are social being, so celebrating is in their nature. It´s occasion for meet relatives, or people. You can have a good time over meals and drinks. You can chat, sing, dance or meet new partner.

In my family we usually celebrate the baptism, name day, birthday, wedding and so on. We usually invite our relatives and we drink and eat some foods. I have been drunk last year when we were on the feast in Syrovín. I and my cousin wear a national folklore clothes and we drank a lots of wine and maybe a few shocks of slivovitz. But I remember everything.

We have holidays and festivals around the year such as Christmas, New Year´s Eve, Easter or St. Nicolas day and so on. In our village we have feast and harvest-home (dožínky) or we just maypole putting up (stavění máje). We celebrate also Mother´s day or St. Valentine´s day.

We have holidays during them are banks close and we call them Bank holidays. On the 1 of may it is Labour day , on the 8 of may it´s Liberation day, on the 5 of July it´s Cyril and Methodius day, on the 6 of July it´s John Huss day. Foundation of Czechoslovakia on the 28 of October is the most important of celebrations.

Now I want talking about Christmas

In my family. We are believers, so we celebrate the birth of Jesus-baby. Jesus was born in Bethlehem to the Virgin Mary. He was visited by angles and wise Men (Tří králové). But we also have family reunion, exchange gifts and we enjoy peace and quiet atmosphere.

Advent is special time before Christmas. It´s a tradition to have an advent wreath with four candles, they are lit one by one each week up to Christmas Eve. When I was a child I had an advent calendar, there was 24 small numbered windows and doors with a piece of chocolate. I loved it.

In my family we clean house and decorate it with mistletoe. My mother and brother bake Christmas sweets and my father buys the Christmas tree usually buys spruce. I´m last minute buyer, it means that I buy presents maybe week before Christmas.

On the 24 of December my mother and father put up the Christmas tree and decorate it with Christmas decorations like glass balls, festoons, candles, electrical lights and sparkles. My brother and I usually decorate candlestick. I learned it in primary school and since that I do it every year. In the evening my parents and grandparents prepare Christmas dinner. We usually have fried carp, potato salad, and some dessert. We usually have Christmas dinner at around 5 o´clock, and then we go to Christmas tree my father rings the bell and we sing carol. Then finally unwrap the presents.

We go to Christmas mass around 10 o´clock. We don’t do and special customs.

Christmas means to me peace time and it´s occasion when our family is together and I don’t go to school.

One week later we have new year´s Eve. It´s on December 31st. That day we celebrate New Year´s Eve, which means the end of the old and the beginning of the New Year. January 1st we call New Year´s Day. The night between these two days is full of celebrations. People always dance, drink or chat. Some people make New Year´s resolutions. My parents usually go out to their friends and I invite my friends to our house and we dance, drink or do some activities.

Easter is celebrated in spring; the date is stated by the church. The date is movable.

For believers it is the most important festival. We remember the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The symbol is a lamb. We also welcome the end of winter and the beginning of spring with Easter eggs as a symbol of a new life and fertility. In the Czech Republic boys usually pleat wicker twigs and girls decorate eggs and prepare ribbons. On Easter Monday boys walk house to house and they whip girls. Girls reward them with eggs, sweets and refreshments and a drink like wine or water. Sometimes we water girls and they are fresh for the rest of the year.

St. Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the 14^th of February. Its lover’s day. On this day young people send Valentine cards, buy flowers and sweets to which they like or admire. The cards have funny, loving or serious contents. The day was named after one clergy man, who was executed.

Christmas in Great Britain

Unlike the CR they don’t celebrate Christmas Eve, Children hang up Christmas stockings at the end of their beds and believe that Santa Claus or Father Christmas rides through the air on a sledge drawn by reindeer and comes down the chimney and fills up the stocking with presents and toys. The main festive day is on the 25 of December – Christmas day. In the morning children like unwrapping presents and at midday Christmas dinner is served. It consists of roast turkey with stuffing and roast potatoes and Christmas pudding. There are plenty of carols on the radio and TV. The Queen makes a speech on the radio and television. On the 26 of December is called Boxing day – from the custom in earlier times of giving postmen, milkmen and servants a small sums of money which they collected in their Christmas boxes. New year´s Eve in Great Britain is not very important holiday. In London people gather in Trafalgar Square and celebrate the coming of the New Year with singing and dancing.

Otázka: Christmas

Jazyk: Angličtina

Přidal(a): Lenka Klímová

Food

At Christmas there are a lot of special meals. People make a lot of pastries before Christmas Day (vanilla crescents, gingerbread, Linz wheels etc.). A lot of people make planted Christmas cake which they can eat for breakfast.

At Christmas day some people don´t eat, because they want see golden piglet in the evening. Other people cook cabbage soup, lentil soup or “ Kuba” for lunch. Kuba is meal with hulled grain and mushrooms.

For dinner at Christmas Eve people usually eat carp with potato salad. Potato salad is made with potato, vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, onions, pickles, salami and mayonnaise). People who don´t eat fish have got for example chicken and pork schnitzel or sausage.

On 25th December  or St. Stephen´s day  people prepare goose, turkey or different meat, because this day isn´t as festive as Christmas Eve.

Presents

Presents are the symbol of Christmas.

Baby Jesus brings presents in the CZ.

Children write the letters for Baby Jesus.

We find the presents under the Christmas Tree.

We wrap presents into the Christmas colorful paper and we decorate them with a ribbon.

Children are very happy and they are in anticipation, then the bell ring.

When we want some special goods, you go to the stone shop. When you want to  buy in comfortanf you want to avoid the shopping rust , you can buy on the internet, but Attention! You must buy on the internet earlier.

Christmas day & Eve

We celebrate 24.In the morning we eat plaited Christmas cake and drink cocoa. All day we watch fairy tales. We prepare soup for lunch. Before lunch we go to the wood and we feed deer, wild pigs, hares etc. We decorate Ch. tree. When we come to the home we listen carols and prepare potato salad and father kills carp. We have dinner at 5 oclock.  After dinner we unwrap gifts which are under the Christmas tree from Baby Jesus . Then we relax , look at the gifts and eat homemade pastries. We visited some relatives.

Jesus Christ and Christmas

In the time of Chtistmas Jesus Christ was born.

His father was Joseph and his mother was Maria.

People believe, that he was born in Bethelem on straw.

People at Jesus’s time believed, that he was their saviour.

Jesus was given many presents by many people because of that.

Place of Jesus’s birth is in Bethelem.

This time people celebrate Christmas to remind his birth.

Children believe that Baby Jesus brings presents.

You can read in story the Bible (the New Testament)

Ideas and symbols

Cristmas are about rest, peace and time spent with family and friends.

Christmas arent about presents, but being with the most important people for you.

Christmas symbols:

– Christmas trees

• Spruce – smrk
• Fir – jedle
• Pine- borovice
• Plastics

– Postcards

– letters to Baby Jesus

– Star

– Lights

– Candles

– Glassballs, ornaments

– Carol

– Baby Jesus

– Reindeer

– Sleigh-sáně

– Nativity scene-betmén

– Bells-rolnicky, zvonky

– Mistletoe-jmelí

– Home-made pastries-cukrovy

-planted Christmas cake

-santa claus

-stocking

Time of Christmas, period, days

Christmas begins by Advent. Advent starts on the 4th Sunday before December 25^th.. Christmas are celebrated every year  People make Advent wreath with 4 candles. Every Sunday is one candle lit. During Advent people are preparing for Christmas and follow the traditions. People celebrate on the 24. of December when we have Christmas dinner. There are two day of holiday after it.

CZ x USA, GB

1 – In Czech, we eat on Christmas Eve  carp for a dinner.

2 – Christmas dinner in the USA includes turkey or ham, potatoes and pie.

3 – In the USA is Santa and we have a Baby Jesus.

4 – Many people in the USA celebrate Christmsa day on December 25th.

5 – In the USA „Santa“ brings presents in the morning on December 25th.

6 – In  the USA, people find their presents in a stocking, which is hung
above the fireplace.

7 – In the USA after dinner on Christmas Eve, children go to bed early, but
not before t hunging their stockings on a fireplace.

8 – In Czech Republic we writte letters to Baby Jesus what we would like to
have under the tree on a Christmas Eve.

home –made pastries

scale carp

advent

wreath

mistletoe

bells

candles (to light a candle, 4 lit candle)

carol (caroler)

sleigh, reindeer, chimney

nativity scene

savior (Caster-crucifixion resurrection)

Bethelem Cradle, Baby Je

glass balls, straw

babe

plaited CH. cake

crackers

golden piglet