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Bachelor Thesis MASARYK UNIVERSITY BRNO FACULTY OF EDUCATION Department of English Language and Literature Bachelor Thesis Brno 2012 Jan Škoda MASARYK UNIVERSITY BRNO FACULTY OF EDUCATION Department of English Language and Literature Differences in Christmas and Easter in Great Britain and the United States Bachelor Thesis Brno 2012 Supervisor: Author: Michael George M.A. Jan Škoda 2 Prohlášení: “Prohlašuji, že jsem závěrečnou bakalářskou práci vypracoval samostatně, s využitím pouze citovaných literárních pramenů, dalších informací a zdrojů v souladu s Disciplinárním řádem pro studenty Pedagogické fakulty Masarykovy Univerzity a se zákonem č. 121/2000 Sb., o právu autorském, o právech souvisejících s právem autorským a o změně některých zákonů (autorský zákon), ve znění pozdějších předpisů.” Declaration: “I declare that I have compiled this bachelor thesis by myself and that I have used only the sources listed in the bibliography.” Brno 9th December 2012 Jan Škoda 3 Acknowledgments: I would like to express my thanks especially to my supervisor, Michael George, M.A., for his interesting and inspiring ideas during my work on the thesis. I am also very indebted to my family and friends who were capable with me and encouraged me during the time I have been working on my thesis. 4 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 7 1. HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS ................................................................................... 9 1.1. Christmas symbols and customs ....................................................................... 13 1.1.1. Angels ....................................................................................................... 13 1.1.2. Bells .......................................................................................................... 14 1.1.3. Christmas card ........................................................................................... 14 1.1.4. Christmas carols ........................................................................................ 15 1.1.5. Christmas tree ........................................................................................... 15 1.1.6. Holly, ivy and Mistletoe ............................................................................ 16 1.1.7. The crèche ................................................................................................. 17 1.1.8. Christmas gifts .......................................................................................... 17 1.1.9. Santa Claus ................................................................................................ 17 1.2. CHRISTMAS IN BRITAIN THEN AND NOW ............................................. 18 1.2.1. Christmas in Scotland ............................................................................... 20 1.2.2. Scottish Christmas traditions..................................................................... 21 1.2.3. Christmas in Wales ................................................................................... 22 1.2.4. Welsh Christmas traditions ....................................................................... 22 1.2.5. Christmas in Northern Ireland ................................................................... 24 1.2.6. Northern Ireland Christmas traditions ....................................................... 24 1.3. CHRISTMAS IN THE UNITED STATES THEN AND NOW ...................... 25 1.3.1. Christmas in New England ....................................................................... 29 1.3.2. New England Christmas traditions............................................................ 30 1.3.3. Christmas in the South .............................................................................. 31 1.3.4. Southern Christmas traditions ................................................................... 31 1.3.5. African-American Christmas .................................................................... 32 1.3.6. African-American Christmas traditions .................................................... 32 2. HISTORY OF EASTER ......................................................................................... 35 2.1. Days of Lent and Easter ................................................................................... 36 2.1.1. Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday) ................................ 36 2.1.2. Ash Wednesday ......................................................................................... 36 2.1.3. Palm Sunday ............................................................................................. 37 2.1.4. Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) ......................................................... 37 2.1.5. Good Friday .............................................................................................. 37 2.1.6. Easter (Easter Sunday) .............................................................................. 38 2.1.7. Easter Monday .......................................................................................... 38 2.2. Easter symbols and customs ............................................................................. 38 2.2.1. Easter Bunny ............................................................................................. 39 2.2.2. Easter Eggs ................................................................................................ 39 2.2.3. Paschal Candle .......................................................................................... 39 2.2.4. Paschal Lamb ............................................................................................ 40 2.3. EASTER IN BRITAIN .................................................................................... 40 2.3.1. Shrove Tuesday ......................................................................................... 41 2.3.2. Ash Wednesday ......................................................................................... 42 2.3.3. Palm Sunday ............................................................................................. 42 2.3.4. Maundy Thursday (Sheer Thursday) ........................................................ 43 2.3.5. Good Friday .............................................................................................. 43 2.3.6. Easter (Easter Sunday) .............................................................................. 44 2.3.7. Easter Monday .......................................................................................... 45 5 2.4. EASTER IN UNITED STATES ...................................................................... 46 2.4.1. Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras) ................................................................... 48 2.4.2. Ash Wednesday ......................................................................................... 48 2.4.3. Palm Sunday ............................................................................................. 49 2.4.4. Maundy Thursday ..................................................................................... 49 2.4.5. Good Friday .............................................................................................. 49 2.4.6. Easter (Easter Sunday) .............................................................................. 50 2.4.7. Easter Monday .......................................................................................... 50 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................... 52 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 54 6 INTRODUCTION The theme of my bachelor thesis is Differences in Christmas and Easter in Great Britain and the United States. Christmas and Easter are the most widely celebrated holidays among Christians and non-Christians all over the world. Each country, region, or ethnicity is unique. It can be said that holidays teach us about traditions and customs of the country and they are a rich source of cultural information. I decided for this topic when I was thinking about the principle of holidays. I was always wondering why we celebrate holidays. I found interesting the idea about differences in Christmas and Easter in Great Britain and United States because I thought that there are any, but I was mistaken. I like Christmas more than Easter, therefore I began to describe Christmas and subsequently Easter, even though Easter may seem more important concerning Christians. The thesis deals with both religious and secular aspects. The thesis is divided into two main chapters involving Christmas and Easter. The main aim of my thesis is to focus on regional differences in celebration and customs of these two holidays in Great Britain and the United States and try to find out how these regional differences originated and why are certain traditions or customs important and significant in some region and in another not. It is a comparison of two popular holidays. In my thesis is Great Britain mentioned first concerning both holidays, because it historically influenced the United States in many aspects. The first part of the thesis is devoted to analysis of Christmas from historical point of view and nowadays significance. It focuses on why and for what reason is Christmas celebrated. I chose main symbols that are connected with Christmas in common and described their origin and significance. It deals with an
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