US Holidays
The list of holidays in the United States varies from state to state but generally includes the major holidays. Besides Christmas, Easter and St. Valentine’s Day celebrated in Christian countries, May Day and Halloween, the celebration of which is very much the same as in Great Britain, there are some specifically American holidays.
Memorial Day is observed in late May. It was introduced in 1868 for the purpose of decorating the graves of Civil Wir veterans and has since become a day on which all war dead are commemorated. Independence Day, or July Fourth commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. It emerged during the American Revolution and has been the most important patriotic holiday ever since. Traditionally it has been celebrated with the firing of guns and fireworks, parades, open-air meetings, and patriotic speeches. Today local authorities prevent much of the former display of fireworks and use of firearms. Veterans’ Day is celebrated on
Midsummer day and Midsummer night, names given to the feast of the nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24) and the preceding night (St. John’s Eve, June 23), have been associated with solar ceremonies since long before Christianity. Relics of such ceremonies are the bright bonfires and the merrymaking of midsummer night. Labour Day, the holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada on the first Monday in September to honour the labourer. Columbus Day is a holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America, celebrated on the Monday nearest to October, 12.
Thanksgiving Day commemorates the harvest reaped by the Plymouth Colony in 1621, after a winter of great starvation and privation. The first national Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed by George Washington in 1789. Now Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November. The day is observed by church services and family reunions with the customary turkey dinner reminding of the four wild turkeys served at the Pilgrims’ first thanksgiving feast.
Translate
the following sentences into English.1. Список праздников США различается от штата к штату, но обычно включает основные праздники, то есть Рождество, Пасху и День св. Валентина, которые отмечаются в христианских странах, Майский день и некоторые чисто американские праздники.
2. День поминовения погибших в войнах отмечается в конце мая; он был введен с целью украшения могил ветеранов гражданской войны и является днем, когда чествуются все погибшие в войнах.
3. День независимости увековечивает принятие Декларации независимости и отмечается стрельбой из ружей, фейерверками, парадами, митингами на открытом воздухе и патриотическими выступлениями.
4. День ветеранов ранее праздновался в Америке как День перемирия; он установлен в честь тех, кто защищал США.
5. Иванов день ассоциируется с обрядами, посвященными солнцу с дохристианских времен, и отмечается яркими кострами и весельем.
4. День Благодарения отмечается в память об урожае 1621 года после зимы великого голода и лишений.
1. The list of holidays in the United States varies from state to state but generally includes major holidays, that is Christmas, Easter and St. Valentine’s Day celebrated in Christian countries, May Day and Hallowe’en and some specifically American holidays.
2. Memorial Day is observed in late May, was introduced for the purpose of decorating the graves of Civil War veterans and is a day on which all dead are commemorated.
3. Independence Day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and is celebrated with the firing of guns and fireworks, parades, open air meetings and patriotic speeches.
4. Veteran’s Day was formerly observed as Armistice Day and is set in honour of those who have fought in defense of the United States.
5. Midsummer Day has been associated with solar ceremonies since long before Christianity and is celebrated with bright bonfires and merrymaking.
6. Thanksgiving Day commemorates the harvest of 1621 after a winter of great starvation and privation.
Из пособия “ЕГЭ. Английский язык. Устные темы” Занина Е. Л. (2010, 272с.) – Part two. Additional topics.
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