Reading

Pre-reading activities. 1. Discuss the following questions. 1. Why do winter celebrations tend to bring much mistery to people’s life? 2. Does any winter celebration depend on the country it comes from? 3. If so, state the general differences in its celebrating in America, Britain and . 4. Are winter holidays alike both for average people and royal family members? 5. Are any similar features of European and Slavic traditions of celebrating winter holidays?

2. Study the following words and word combinations. Read, translate and retell the text using them. celebratin – observing (a day or event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing; paganism – a hedonistic spirit or attitude in moral or religious matters; annual – happening yearly; symbol − something that represents or stands for something else, usually by convention or association; image − a representation or likeness of a person or thing; effigy – a crude figure or dummy representing a hated person or group; good fortune − an auspicious state resulting from favorable outcomes; legume −any table vegetable of the family; prosperity − the condition of prospering; success or wealth; representative − one that serves as an example or type for others of the same classification; vigor − physical or mental strength, energy, or force; pleaserable − enjoyable, agreeable, or gratifying; crux − a vital or decisive stage, point, etc; abundance − a great or plentiful amount; stranger – a foreigner, newcomer, or outsider; carol – a song of praise or joy, especially for ; combine − to bring into a state of unity; merge; antiquity − ancient times, especially the times preceding the Middle Ages; rare − infrequently occurring. …As the Symbol of Resurrection

Although in the first centuries AD the Romans continued celebrating the , the early Catholic Church condemned the festivities as paganism. But as Christianity became more widespread, the early church began having its own religious observances concurrently with many of the pagan celebrations, and New Year's Day was no different. The tradition of using a baby to signify the New Year was begun in Greece around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth. Although the early Christians denounced the practice as pagan, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced the Church to reevaluate its position. The Church finally allowed its members to celebrate the New Year with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of the baby Jesus. During the Middle Ages, the Church remained opposed to celebrating New Years. 1 has been celebrated as a holiday by Western nations for only about the past 400 years. The use of an image of a baby with a New Year’s banner as a symbolic representation of the New Year was brought to early America by the Germans. They had used the effigy since the fourteenth century. Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes “coming full circle,” completing a year’s cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune. Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the New Year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another “good luck” vegetable that is consumed on New Year’s Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year’s Day. British celebrate New Year on January 1, i.e. the first date of the first month of the Georgian . British celebrations reflect high vigor, enthusiasm, pleasure, and delight; and at the same times give a glance of their rich customs and traditions. They reflect the British belief that one should initiate anything with positive hopes and beliefs of pleasurable coming time. Also, one should move ahead and over the past problems and difficulties of life, and should only remember them to learn few good lessons of life. With this as the crux of all, British celebrate their New Year. Off late, one have visible experience an addition of contemporary traditions to New Year celebrations in British, such as taking oath, making resolution, etc. British New Year celebrations are eminent all around the world, and common and royal people from all around the world put in efforts to be a part of it. In England, there is a tradition of opening the back door of the house as soon as the church bell rings twelve. It is considered to be a reflection of one’s farewell to the old year. Then a dark haired moon, preferably young and good looking, is asked to enter through the front door with salt, coal, and bread in his possession. Doing so is traditionally believed to bring good luck, and also ensure abundance of food (bread), money (salt), and warm (coal) in the coming year. One should prefer to bring in a stranger. Also a blonde, a woman, or a red-haired are unwelcomed, as they are considered to be bring bad luck to the house. Apart from England, it is also rigorously followed in Scotland. In Scotland, New Year is refereed as “Hogmanay”, which has been derived from the name of an oak cake which is distributed among small children on New Year’s Eve. In Wales, New Year’s Eve is referred as “Nos Galan”, while New Year’s Day is referred as “Dydd Calan”. On New Year’s Day, small children wake up early in the morning, and then make a visit to all the neighbors in the neighborhood, while singing New Year special carols. People out of generosity and love, give them coins, cookies, mince pies, apples, and other sweets. This goes on till the noon. Celebrating New Year in Ukraine combines the most joyful feelings associated with peace, love and understanding. This holiday in Ukraine is associated with new beginnings, many gifts, and the implementation of the deepest wishes in the coming year. New Year, like many other holidays in Ukraine, has its roots in antiquity. Ukraine has its own unique feature of New Year celebrations. It consists in the fact that residents, mostly in central and eastern parts of the country still celebrate its coming twice – on Moscow time, and Kiev, i.e. at 23.00 and midnight. This is due to the fact that the country has long been part of the USSR and many people simply got used to celebrate the New Year with the striking of Moscow chimes. There is another interesting feature of New Year celebrations in Ukraine, it is connected with the fact that Peter I shifted its date. So far, 13 January is still celebrated by people of Ukraine, but it is called old New Year. Old New Year – a rare historical phenomenon and an additional holiday for the Ukrainian people. It is celebrated though with smaller celebrations, but with the ancient Slavic traditions.

3. Answer the following questions based on the text. 1. What were the outlooks of the church on paganism? 2. Why did many ancient religions use a baby as a symbol? 3. Did the policy change in the Middle Ages times? Why? Why not? 4. Why a ring was also taken as a symbol of New Year celebrating? 5. What do people usually consume for this holiday in the USA? In Great Britain? In Ukraine? 6. What about combining the rare and contemporary traditions of New Year celebrations in British? 7. What are winter celebrations associated with in Ukraine? 8. What is the one proof at least to show the uniqueness of New year celebrations in Ukraine? 9. What about old New Year in Ukraine? 10. Do all celebrations show the identity or unlikeness of different cultures in different countries?

4. Look through the text. State whether the following statements are True or False. 1. New Year’s day was the same in pagan culture and in Christianity. 2. The baby was chosen as a symbol of fertility. 3. Egyptians also used it as a symbol of a newly-born spirit. 4. A symbolic representation of the New Year was brought to early America by the Germans. 5. A ring was a symbol of starting a year’s cycle. 6. Common and royal people celebrate New Year separately in Britain. 7. It is also different in different parts of Britain. 8. Celebrating New Year in Ukraine is associated with the period of coldness and stiffness. 9. There is nothing unique in its celebration. 10. Peter I shifted the date of New Year celebrating.

5. Fill in the gaps using the following words.

luck, tradition, celebrations, events, custom, resolutions, Hogmanay, pagan, celebrating, gifts

1. Besides concerts, street parties, fireworks and more earthbound fire spectaculars there are a number of very ancient traditions associated with … in Scotland. 2. Some say these traditions are dying out in favor of public…, but they can still be found in smaller communities and private celebrations. 3. After the stroke of midnight, neighbors visit each other, bearing traditional symbolic … such as shortbread or black bun, a kind of fruit cake. 4. The first person to enter a house in the New Year, the first foot, could bring … for the New Year. 5 Scotland’s fire festivals at Hogmanay and later in January may have … or Viking origins. 6. Britain has its own way to welcome the New Year, with different countries and cities … it in a unique way. 7. When talking about the New Year in Britain, one can't forget telling about the traditional … of “First Footers”. 8. This … is mainly followed in Scotland and Northern Ireland with the first footers bringing in a piece of coal, bread and whisky. 9. The start of New Year’s Day, at midnight, is heralded by fireworks, parties and special …, which are often televised. 10. Many American people make New Year’s ….