Holidays that we celebrate in our country, the UK and the USA

Firstly, I’d like to say something about public holiday. A public holiday is a special day, when we observe a significant historical or religious event. People normally have a paid day off work and schools are closed. Public holidays are also called bank holidays in the UK and Canada.

There are many national holidays in the Czech Republic. I will chose just some of them. We of course celebrate New Year’s Day, which is also our national holiday of the restoration of the independent Czech state. Then we celebrate Liberation Day on 8^th May. It’s the celebration of the end of the Second World War in 1945. Then we celebrate for example St Wenceslas’ Day on 28^th September. St Wenceslas is our patron saint of the Czech Republic. On 28^th of October we celebrate the foundation of Czechoslovakia in 1918 and at the end of the year, we, of course, celebrate Christmas. But our major day of Christmas is 24^th December, not 25^th like in the ESC.

In addition, I want to mention some British holidays. One of the best known is Guy Fawkes Night (or Bonfire Night). British people celebrate it on 5^th November and they commemorate the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Traditionally people light up fireworks and light bonfires. Then there is Halloween, which is celebrated in Britain, as well as in the USA. They celebrate it on 31^st October. It’s the time, when children dress up and go to neighbours for sweets, trick or treat.

Should I speak about American holidays, I’d start with the most popular holidays- the Independence Day on 4^th July. Americans commemorate the day, when the Declaration of independence was signed. Very popular are parades all over the country. Then there is Thanksgiving on fourth Thursday in November. It was celebrated in 1621 for the first time by religious group of Puritans, who left England and settled on the America continent. During the first year a lot of Pilgrims died because of cold and hunger, but then Native Americans (called Indians) helped them and they had good harvest and thanks to them they survived the winter. In modern times it is mainly family holiday with traditional dinner- roast turkey.

Finally, I’d like to say some words about me and holidays. The most favourite holidays for me are Christmas. It’s the time, when my whole family gets together, nobody wants to argue and there is friendly atmosphere. What’s more, I really enjoy baking cookies. Mum always says, that she doesn’t want to get overweight, so she doesn’t want to bake many varieties of cookies. However, I have to say, that mum always lose it and when the Christmas atmosphere catches her up, she gives up. Should I speak about presents, I’d say that they are not that important for me. I’d be glad for everything, just to know, that I have somebody, who likes me. But personally, I love wrapping presents.

All in all, I think, that holidays are part of our lives and it’s great to have some free time, which we spend not only with friends, but also with our family.

Structure:

• Holidays in general
• Holidays in the Czech Republic-New Year’s Day, Liberation Days,St Wenceslas’ Day, Christmas
• British holidays- Guy Fawkes Night (and the history), Halloween
• American holidays- the Independence Day, Thanksgiving (and the history)
• Me and holidays- Christmas, the importance of Christmas, what I enjoy
• The importance of holidays