Home and Foreign Holidays and Traditions

Every country has its own traditions and superstitions. In Britain traditions play more important part in the life of people than in some other countries. English are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up. There is a big difference between American and British people. They say an Englishman in America is respected: Americans like his accent and his country. An American in England is thought to be a little strange because of his behavior and his language. To the English their private lives, holidays, gardens and animals are important. For American the work is the most important thing in life. And in England you can hear the most extraordinary excuse not to go to work, for example “My dog’s got a cold”. The English are a nation of stay-at-homes. There is no place like home. The Englishman is never tired to say ‘My house is my castle.’ The Americans are different. They are more open, they speak their minds. If they don’t like something, they actually tell it directly. Not like the British, who might think one thing and say another. Americans start conversations with people in the street, in the subway; they are more enthusiastic. American customs underline independence and freedom of the nation. Every country is also known for its food. England is noted for its pudding, bacon, marmalade, porridge and five-o’clock-tea. America is the country of Coca-Cola, hamburgers and chewing gum.

There are international holidays which are celebrated in all countries world-wide. They are: Christmas, New Year, Easter and St. Valentine’s Day. There are also some special holidays which are usually celebrated in a particular country when people all over the country do not work and have special celebrations. It is very important to follow special traditions, because they unite people. Public holidays in Britain are called bank holidays, because the banks as well as most of the offices and shops are closed. The most popular holiday is Christmas. Every year the people of Norway give the city of London a present. It’s a big Christmas tree and it stands in Trafalgar Square. Central streets are beautifully decorated. The fun starts the night before, on the 24th of December. Traditionally this is the day when people decorate their trees. Children hang stockings at the end of their beds, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and fill them with toys and sweets.

New Year’s Day is less popular in Britain than Christmas, yet it has a joyful celebration in Ukraine. People stay awake until after midnight on December, 31 to watch the Old Year out and the New Year in. Many parties are given on this night. Theatres, night clubs and streets are crowded. In every home there is a New Year tree glittering with colored lights and decorations. Children always wait for Father Frost to come and give them a present.

In different countries according to their traditions and history, there is a set of various national holidays. But there is one thing, which unites all of them: a holiday is always fun and pleasure.

Ukraine

Ukraine is a rich farming, industrial and mining region in south-eastern Europe. The Ukrainian Parliament passed a declaration of sovereignty in July, 1990, and in August, 1991, declared Ukraine an independent state. Its population is about 45 mln people. The capital of Ukraine is Kyiv. Ukraine has its own armed forces, and maintains its own diplomatic relations with foreign countries. Ukraine covers about 603.700 sq. km being larger than any country in Western Europe. From east to west Ukraine stretches for more than 1300 km and from north to south for almost 900 km. It borders on Belarus and Russia on the north and on the east. In the south it is bounded by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. In the west Ukraine borders on Moldova, Rumania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.

Administratively, Ukraine is divided into 24 regions and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Ukrainians make up less than three fourths of the population; Russians constitute around 22%, Jews around 1%, and there are Polish, Belarusian, Moldovan, and Hungarian minorities. More than half of the population is urban. The majority of those practicing a religious faith belong to a branch of Orthodox Christianity.

Ukraine is in ideal geographical position for the development of its resources, lying between 440 and 520 latitude north, on the same latitude as the USA, Britain. The climate is mild and warm, with a hot summer and a cold winter. Together with its fertile black soil, this makes it ideal for the development of intensive agriculture. Ukraine’s steppe is one of the chief wheat-producing regions of Europe, and the area was long known as the “breadbasket of the Soviet Union”. Other major crops include corn, rye, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, sunflowers, and flax.

The main part of Ukraine is located in the watershed of the Dnieper-River, which divides Ukraine into two parts: Right-Bank and Left-Bank Ukraine. Ukraine’s proximity to the Black Sea and the presence of large navigable rivers running through its territory has promoted the development of trade and culture. The territory of Ukraine is criss-crossed by railroads and highways, oil and gas pipelines and high-voltage transmission lines – all of which ensure close economic ties with Eastern and Western Europe. Ukraine is a highly industrialized country, whose economic potential is great.

Kyiv is the capital of our country. It is the largest city in the Ukraine. More than three million people live there. Kyiv was founded more than 1500 years ago. It is the political, economic, industrial and cultural centre of our country. In Kiev there are many museums, monuments, theatres, cinemas, libraries and palaces. Thousands of students study in this city. The Kyiv-Mohila Academy, the Kiev Polytechnic University, many other institutions of higher education are at their disposal.

Kyiv is situated on the banks of the river Dnieper. The city is very green. It is one of the most beautiful cities of Ukraine. Supreme Council of Ukraine, the President and the Government are located in Kyiv. Ambassadors of many countries live here too.

Khreschatyk is the main street of Kyiv. It is not very long, but it is wide and straight. A lot of people visit Khreschatyk every day, but especially crowded the street is on weekends. Some of people go shopping because there are many good shops there. Others go to the cinema, watch the fountains or sit on the benches. In the evening many people walk along Khreschatyk. There you can see many bright lights. People like it because it is nice, green and full of attractions.

Ukrainians are proud that our capital is one of the best and oldest cities in the world.

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 1081