Vypracovala: Mgr. Katarína Matiašková
Easter in Slovakia (Veľká noc na Slovensku)
The English word „Easter“ comes from the name of a pagan goddess of springtime (pohanská bohyňa jari) „Eostre“. Her special animal was hare (rabbit). Easter originally existed as a celebration of spring and fertility (plodnosť). It celebrates nature cominig back to life after cold long winter. Beating girls (šibanie dievčat) and throwing water or perfume over them (oblievanie ich vodou alebo voňavkou) were traditions originally connected with fertility. Easter is the time of year when people commemorate the crusifiction and resurrection of Jesus Christ (ľudia si pripomínajú ukrižovanie a zmŕtvychvstanie Ježiša Krista). The period of 40 days before Easter is called Lent (pôst). During this period Christians do not eat meat or drink alcohol. At the end of Lent people in our country do amazing things. Boys beat girls with willow canes (vŕbové korbáče) and throw cold water over them. The girls give the boys painted eggs. The boys are also served with cakes and alcohol. A traditional Easter food in Slovakia is ham and potato salad. On Good Friday (Veľký piatok) and Easter Monday (Veľkonočný pondelok) people do not go to work or school.
Eggs are symbols of spring and new life.
Easter in Britain and America
People celebrate Easter by giving chocolate eggs which are eaten on Easter Sunday (Veľkonočná nedeľa). On Good Friday bakers sell hot cross-buns (veľkonočné koláče s vyrytým krížom) and they are traditionally eaten for breakfast. Good Friday and Easter Monday are official holidays. On Easter Sunday children look for painted eggs all over the house and garden. This tradition comes from legend that Easter rabbits bring eggs: one woman dyed (nafarbila) some eggs during famine and hid them in the nest (hniezdo) as a gift for her children. The children found the nest and there was a rabbit which escaped. So they thought that rabbit brought the eggs.
St. Valentine´s Day in Sk, GB, the USA
It is on 14th February. It is the lovers´ day. On this day people send Valentine cards to a person they love, usually anonymously.
Halloween in GB, the USA
It is on 31st October. Hundreds of years ago people believed that bad spirits (zlí duchovia), like ghosts came in the winter. People made fires outside and curved out pumpkins (vyrezávali tekvice) to scare bad spirits.
Now children dress up like witches and ghosts and go to the houses around where they live. They knock the door and ask: „Trick or treat?“ maening „if you don´t give me a treat I´ll trick you“ (ak ma nepohostíš, vystrelím si z teba).
People decorate their houses with pumpkins and decorations which are usually black and orange.
Thanksgiving Day in the USA
It is on the fourth Thursday in November. It is celebrated in the whole of the USA. People commemorate the arrival (pripomínať si príchod) of a small group on new colonists. They were also called Pilgrims (pútnici). They called their new home New England. But the Indians were there first. The first winter was difficult. A lot of Pilgrims died. In the spring Indians help them to grow food and in the autumn they celebrated first harvest (zber, žatva). The Pilgrims wanted to give thanks and invited Indians for dinner.
Now Americans have roast turkey and vegetables for dinner.
Independence Day in the USA
It is on 4th July. This day commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence and establishing the USA. This day usually ends with fireworks (ohňostroj).
Mother´s Day in Sk, GB, the USA
It is on the second Sunday in May.
Labour Day (Sviatok práce)
In the USA, it is on 1st Monday in September. In Slovakia , it is on 1st May. In both countries it is a day of rest (oddych).
All Fools´ Day in Sk, GB
It is on 1st April. People play jokes and tricks on people (uťahujú si z ľudí) and shout „April Fool“ (kričia "prvý apríl").
Použitá literatúra:
Chudá, J., Chudý, T.: Topics for English Conversation, Príroda, Bratislava, 2001.