CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF BELARUS
AND GREAT BRITAIN, HOLIDAYS
- Now let’s talk about customs and traditions. What can you tell me about your favourite holiday?
My favourite holiday, or, better to say, holidays are, definitely, the New Year and Christmas. Christmas is a traditional holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus with both religious and secular aspects. It is commonly observed on December, 25 by Catholics, and on January, 7 by the Orthodox Church. New Year and Christmas are the first, and the most joyful, holidays of the year, when people see the Old Year off and the New Year in.
I enjoy the holidays for several reasons. Firstly, they have a special atmosphere of joy and excitement everyone looks forward to for several months. They are holidays of renewal and magic, exchanging presents and wishes.
The second reason I prefer this holiday to all the rest is that it is the centre of the New Year and Christmas season which is, in fact, a sequence of holidays. It starts on the 25th of December and finishes on January 14, and everyone has a chance of relaxing after a long period of hard and stressful work.
There are many New Year and Christmas traditions which make these holidays so special. For Christmas people decorate their houses with mistletoe and the Christmas tree, go to church, send Christmas cards — and, of course, give and receive gifts.
My favourite Christmas tradition has been receiving and giving presents since my childhood when gifts were put under the Christma-tree for me and I believed it was Father Frost who brought them, unheard and unseen while I was sleeping. I believe Christmas presents should be special and have a touch of magic, enabling your dearest wishes to come true. Firstly, giving gifts to all the members of the family adds to love and affection in it and helps to forget minor quarrels and misunderstandings. It makes you believe you are a family no matter what happens. Secondly, it creates the atmosphere of joy and magic. This simple and long-standing tradition helps you to believe in miracles and renewal, and regain optimism if you are in trouble.
- Do you find some British holidays and traditions special? Why (not)?
British nation is considered to be the most conservative in Europe. It is not a secret that every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions. In Great Britain people attach greater importance to traditions and customs than in other European countries. Englishmen are proud of their traditions and keep them up carefully. The best examples are their queen, money system, their weights and measures.
There are many customs and some of them are very old. There is, for example, the Marble Championship, where the British Champion is crowned; he wins a silver cup known among folk dancers as Morris Dancing. Morris Dancing is an event where people, dressed in beautiful clothes with ribbons and bells, dance with handkerchiefs or big sticks in their hands.
Another example is the Boat Race, which takes place on the river Thames, often on Easter Sunday. A boat with a team from Oxford University and one with a team from Cambridge University held a race.
British people think that the Grand National horse race is the most exciting horse race in the world. It takes place near Liverpool every year. Sometimes it happens the same day as the Boat Race takes place, sometimes a week later. Amateur riders as well as professional jockeys can participate. It is a very famous event.
Another colorful holiday is Halloween. It is celebrated for hundreds of years. On this day children dress in funny ghostly costumes and knock at the neighbor's doors. After shouting "Trick or treat" they get gifts of candy or money. Nowadays Englishmen take turnips, potatoes, pumpkins, cut holes in them and place candles inside.
There is one more holiday, which has a great significance especially for young lovers it is the St. Valentine's Day. It is celebrated on the 14-th of February. Valentine's Day is sweethearts' day when people in love express their affections for each other. The message is - "Will you be my Valentine?" Valentines used to be for young lovers, but nowadays grandparents, cousins and friends of any age express their affection through a small gift or a card.
Another tradition is the holiday called Bonfire Night.
On November 5,1605, a man called Guy Fawkes planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament where the king James 1st was to open Parliament on that day. But Guy Fawkes was unable to realize his plan and was caught and later, hanged. The British still remember that Guy Fawkes' Night. It is another name for this holiday. This day one can see children with figures, made of sacks and straw and dressed in old clothes. On November 5th, children put their figures on the bonfire, burn them, and light their fireworks.
In the end of the year, there is the most famous New Year celebration. In London, many people go to Trafalgar Square on New Year's Eve. There is singing and dancing at 12 o'clock on December 31st.
These are the most exiting holidays in England, I think. As we can see they make the life of people richer and happier, make them feel proud of their country, its history and culture.
- What questions can you ask a British teenager about his/her birthday celebration?
How do you usually celebrate your birthday?
Do you invite a lot of guests for your birthday party?
Do you like to get presents on your birthday?
What was the most exciting birthday you’ve had?
- Which holiday celebration will you recommend your British friend? Belarussian Holidays
Throughout many centuries of history, the Belarusian people created its unique and original culture. Traditional folk customs and rites harmoniously interlace with Christian traditions.
Christians make up the biggest part of the population of Belarus. According to the Christian doctrine, Christmas and Easter are the main religious holidays, annually celebrated by millions of believers all over the country. In Belarus, all the Christian holidays are celebrated twice: by the Catholic and Orthodox religious calendars.
Along with Christian holidays, such folk festivities of pagan origin as Kupalle (Midsummer Night) and Maslenitsa (Shrovetide) are widely celebrated in Belarus. Folk games and traditional ceremonies are part of them. One of the main traditions of Kupalle is search for the mythic paparats-kvetka (fern flower). Those, who find it, will enjoy good luck for the whole year; all their wishes will come true. Maslenitsa is a ceremony at the junction of two seasons; it sees off winter and meets spring. Popular festivals of folk music, dancing and national costumes are organized at the time of Maslenitsa.
New Year is widely celebrated all over the country. Preparations to this holiday start a couple of weeks before. The towns and cities of Belarus put on holiday attire; illumination, New Year trees in the squares and New Year fairs add to the holiday mood. The culmination of the festivity is the December 31— January 1 night, when various concerts and open-air merrymaking take place. January 1 is an official holiday.
The Belarusian people are proud of the country’s past and its traditional culture. The medieval festival “The White Castle” is arranged every spring in Minsk. The spectators can admire performances in costume, combats of knights and ancient music. Every summer, in Belarusian castles (in Lida, Mir, Novogrudok, Nesvizh, etc.) knights’ tournaments and international medieval festivals take place. They attract spectators and participants from many countries of the world. During several days, you will have a chance to plunge into a romantic atmosphere of the Middle Ages, to contemplate a reconstruction of historic events, to become an apprentice of a craftsman, enjoy medieval music and try on knights’ armor or ladies’ magnificent dresses.
- Do you think it is important to follow our grandparents’ traditions? Why?
I n my opinion it’s very important for people to follow their grandparents’ traditions. First of all, they provide a sense of comfort. Because traditions are familiar, you know what to expect because the tradition has been repeated over time. There is no surprise or anything new, you have memories of the last time you participated and you feel a sense of security.
Secondly, they bring people closer together. The holidays give families a reason to come together and celebrate. Even families fraught with interpersonal issues may put their grievances aside for a short time to honor the tradition.
Thirdly, they give you a sense of belonging. Because everyone is celebrating the same tradition, you immediately have a lot in common with those around you. You are a part of the community because you know all the rituals surrounding the tradition and engage in them as a group.
And finally, they say that if you don’t know your past you won’t have your future.