Traditions bring families together and help create ties that
bind for a lifetime. They provide inspiration, give birth to
memories and establish the uniqueness of a family.
Each family creates traditions in its own unique way,
while taking part in celebrations that have great symbolic
meanings.
A tradition can be passed on for generations or it can be
established the year the first child is born. A strong sense of
family in which rituals and traditions is one of the most
evident traits in healthy families. It gives the family a
frame. It places it in context historically, linking the past
with the future in such a way that members feel part of a
larger ethnic or religious family.
As your own special holidays draw near, take some time to start your
own family customs. These days are filled with commitments, shopping
lists and places to be. It’s easy to forget the true meaning of why we
gather together. Whether it’s to observe Christmas, Easter or some
others festival, we can incorporate into each gathering the gift of a
tradition passed down from parent to child, and from friend to friend.
There are only six public holidays in Great Britain, that is days on
which people do not work. They are: Christmas, Boxing Day, Good
Friday, Easter Monday, Spring Bank Holiday and Late Bank
Holiday. The New Year’s is also a public holiday in Scotland.
All holidays except Christmas and Boxing Day are movable they do
not fall on the same day each year.
Besides public holidays there are other festival
and anniversaries, on which certain traditions
are observed, for example, Pancake Day,
Bonfire Night, Saint Valentine’s Day,
Mother’s Day, etc. But these are not days off.
Still, they help to keep many traditions, which
Englishmen have always been famous for.
St Patrick’s Festival has been in existence since 1996. From a
one day celebration it has developed into a 5-day festival, the
biggest in Ireland. It takes place in March in Dublin. Carnival
of music, street theater, fireworks and dances attract a lot of
participants and spectators. The parade has become an
essential element of the Festival.
In Great Britain, the New Year is not as
widely celebrated as Christmas. The most
common type of celebration is in a New
Year’s Eve party. In Wales and in the north
of Britain, almost all children are allowed
to stay up until midnight, so that they can
left the Old Year out and bring the New
Year in. Just before midnight, the ashes are
cleared from the fireplace so that the year
will begin afresh.
Money, especially silver money, is placed
outside the door, and bread and a piece of coal
are put out there as well to ensure health
wealth, and happiness to the household. A
few minutes before twelve o’clock all the
doors of the houses are opened to allow the
spirit of the old year to depart when the clock
strikes twelve, everyone wishes everyone else
“a happy New Year”. Then toasts, kisses, and
handshakes are exchanged, and usually.
The rest of the night is spent eating, drinking,
singing, and dancing.
After midnight many people visit friends and
neighbors to celebrate the New Year.
There is a funny tradition connected with the New
Year: the First Foot. This refers to the first visitor to
enter a house on the morning of New Year’s Day. He
is welcomed with the warmest hospitality.
Traditionally, the First Foot should cross the
threshold with a lump of coal and silver coins in his
hands to ensure the wellbeing of the family for the
coming year.
Coal helps to make a fire in midwinter, and there
shall never be lack of food and drink during the
coming year.
The First Foot must be a man because it is believed that if a woman
first sets foot in the house, had luck will follow the family
throughout the year. It is a good thing everywhere if he is a “tall,
dark-haired, and handsome” man.
Of course, not everyone goes out: a lot of people stay at home and
watch the celebrations on TV. On New Year’s Day, people often
make their New Year’s Resolutions, which they usually forget after a
few days.
Some people ignore New Year’s Eve completely and go to bed at the
usually time.
There are many holidays in our country. They are
the New Year’s the Women’s Day, the Victory
Day and etc. These are national holidays when
people all over the country do not work and
celebrate the holidays. Besides, there have
appeared some new national holidays recently:
the Christmas in January and the Day of
Sovereignty of Russian Federation. There are
new official holidays in other republics, too.
Now people celebrate religious holidays, Christmas and Holy Easter,
first all. On Christmas people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Easter
is in spring; people present each other painted eggs that symbolize life.
Besides, there are many professional days in our country: Teacher's Day,
Miner’s Day, the Army Day, etc.
The gayest holidays is the New Year’s. All people like it, because it is
connected with a new year, new hopes. Future always seems brighter to
people. This holiday is the most popular with the children. At night
Father Frost comes to the children’s homes and bright them present. Not
only children, but all people get presents from their friends and relatives.
Another special thing about this holiday is the New Year’s tree,
which is decorated for the night and stays a few days later as
well.
Children and their parents dance around the tree, sing song.
On this day there are always very interesting TV programmers
many movies and cartoons. The New Year’s is a family holiday.
Most of the people stay in their families. Still, young people
other have parties of their own.