CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

Christmas Day is observed on the 25th of December, it is the most widely celebrated festival in all its parts except Scotland. The reason for this is clear. With its numerous, often rather quaint social customs, it is undoubtedly the most colourful holiday of the year, and, moreover one that has always been, even in the days when most people were practising Christian, а time for eating, drinking and making merry.

However, despite the popularity of Christmas, quite а number of English people dislike this festival, and even those who seem to celebrate it wholeheartedly, have certain reservations about it. The main reason for this is that Christmas has become the most commercialized festival of the year. The customs and traditions connected with Christmas, for example giving presents and having а real spree once а year, made it an easy prey to the retailers, who, using modern methods of advertising, force the customer to buy what he neither wants nor, often, can reasonably afford. An average English family sends dozens and dozens of Christmas cards, and gives and receives almost as many often practically useless presents. As much of this spending is forced upon people and often means that а family has to do without things they really need, it inevitably leads to resentment towards the festival. Needless to say that it isn’t the old customs and traditions that are to blame, but those who make huge profits out of the nationwide spending spree which they themselves had boosted beyond any reasonable proportion.

8. The British style of life: traditional and modern.

English Customs and Traditions

English life is full of traditions and the English are said to be steeped in traditions. Traditions can be divided into different classes: those connected with sports, with entertainments, with holidays and some occasions and those with no particular connection.

What we deal with here is a more or less random collection of customs chosen for their particular interest, their importance, former or present, in lives of the people.

The English are great lovers of sports; and when they are neither playing nor watching games, they like to talk about them. By the way, such sports and games as football, volleyball, basket-ball, tennis and boxing are quite popular in England just as all over the world. But there are games which the English are especially fond of. They are cricket and golf. Cricket is a game impossible to describe to foreigners and they are usually unable to appreciate it. It is at times not so much a game as a kind of dignified public ritual performed by 22 men in white flannels and two stationary old gentlemen in white coats who are the referees.

There are all kinds of racing in England: motor-racing, three-legged racing and even racing for dogs and donkeys.

Boat racing is very popular in England. People started to use boats for racing in the 19th century. This is one event that is fully amateur in the truest sense, with no cups or medals, the only reward being the satisfaction and pride of having had a part in it, win or lose. The annual boat contest between Oxford and Cambridge Universities dates back to 1829. It takes place in London on the Thames.

Much leisure time is devoted to gardening. Most English people like gardens, and this is probably one reason why so many people prefer to live in the Country. The British like making things grow whether it is in a window-box outside the kitchen, or in the garden. Flower-shows and vegetable-shows with prizes for the best exhibits are immensely popular.

Britain is a nation of animal lovers. Everybody knows that. They will speak affectionately to and of their dogs and cats, which is more than they will do concerning their friends and family. In Britain pets can send Christmas cards to their friends, birthday cards, there are even cards available for birds, fish and reptiles.

The most imposing and spectacular traditions are those are connected with Parliament and Government as Parliament is a very old institution and acquired traditions of its Town. One of them is the state opening of Parliament when, as tradition dictates, the Queen reads the speech prepared by the Prime Minister to both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Queen drives in a state coach pulled by six horses from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. The ceremony takes place in the House of Lords with a few leading members of the House of Commons standing close to the end of the chamber^ opposite the throne technically 'outside' the House of Lords. This is also dictated by the tradition.

Another tradition connected with Parliament is known as "Guy Fawkes Day" which dates back to 1605 when some Catholics with Fawkes at the head decided to blow up Parliament. On this day a group of men In black hats and red coats with lanterns in their hands searched the Cellar of Parliament. The origin of this tradition has been forgotten by most people but for children is a day of great fun and merriment because big fireworks are lit' on this day.

The pageantry and glamour of traditions and ceremonies , connected with Parliament serve to catch the popular imagination and divert public attention from questions of vital importance.

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 1036