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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 November, 11. It is the holiday formerly observed
in the United States as Armistice Day and commemorates the
signing of the Armistice ending World War I. The day is set
aside in honour of all those who have fought in defense of the
United States.
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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