AJ maturitní okruhy

Native Canadians – Inuits:

Canadian flag

Canadian National Tower in Toronto: Canadian countryside

British queen is the official head of Canada

Ottawa – the capital city

16. HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS IN THE ČR VS. THE UK AND THE USA

In April we celebrate Easter. On Easter Monday boys go from house to house and whip girls. As a treat they get an egg, money, a drink, a ribbon or chocolate eggs, rabbits or hens. There are many variations of this tradition according to the region. Women usually prepare eggs and then they paint them or decorate. Houses are decorated with catkins, flowers. People eat sponge cakes in the form of lamb. In the Czech Republic Christmas is the most popular family holiday. People decorate the house with advent wreaths, candles and Christmas tree with chains, baubles, chocolates or other ornaments. Traditional Christmas dinner is on Christmas Eve on 24 December. Our dinner is fish soup, fried carp and potato salad. Children wait to hear a ringing bell signal from the „Baby Jesus“. This usually happens after the Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. Then they unwrap their gifts under the Christmas tree. We listen to carols or watch christmas fairytales. Some people cut apples to see their future. People celebrate the coming of the New Year on 31st of December at midnight. During the first minutes of 1st January they wish each other all the best for the new year, a lot of happiness and health, there are fireworks in town and cities.Christmas – is celebrated a bit differently in GB or the USA than in CR. On 24 December children hang stockings on the fireplace or on their beds and believe that St. Nicholas (or Santa Claus) will fill them with presents. On Christmas Eve after children have gone to bed. Santa rides a sledge pulled by reindeers in the sky, entering homes through chimneys. On 25 December which is called Christmas Day in the morning they unwrap the presents under the Christmas tree. Christmas dinner is one of the most important meals of the year. The British usually have roast turkey and potatoes followed by special Christmas pudding. 26 December is called Boxing day.Easter – it’s a Christian feast. Many people go to church. In GB Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays. Children look forward to Easter Sunday called Easter day which is a day for chocolate eggs, lambs, the symbol of a new life. In the USA and GB children spend the morning on Easter Sunday hunting for eggs hidden all over the garden.Halloween – it’s celebrated on 31 October. Children dress up in Halloween costumes of ghosts, witches etc. They typically carve lanterns out of pumpkins and put a candle inside. They also play game of trick or treat, they go to the neighbours‘ houses and are given sweets, fruit or money (give us some sweet or we will do something bad).St. valentines day – it’s celebrated on 14 February. It’s lovers‘ festival. People send Valentine cards and Exchange gifts.Mothers day – it’s celebrated on the second Sunday in May. On Mothers‘ Day children give small gifts or cards to their mothers.May day – on 1 May people put a tall maypole in the centre of the town decorated with colourful ribbons and flowers. There are carnivals through the streets. This is popular in Oxford.April fools day – it’s celebrated on 1 April and on that day you are allowed to make jokes and pranks.Holidays in GB The edinburgh international festival – it’s celebrated from 12 August to 2 September. It’s festival of Scottish music and dancing. They do sports: tossing the caber, throwing the hammer or tug of war.Guy fawkes’s day – it’s a day of bonfires and fireworks to remember the unsuccessful attempt at blowing up the parliament on 5 November 1605. Guy Fawkes and his guys put 36 barrels of gunpowder beneth the House of Lords.Trooping the colour – it’s Queen’s official birthday celebrated on 6 June. It takes place at Whitehall with Horse Guards. On that day the Queen awards honoursSt Patrick’s day – it’s celebrated on 17 March. It’s a typical Irish holiday which is now celebrated almost everywhere in the world, especially in the USA. People are dressed in green and there’s music, dancing and drinking everywhere. The symbol of the day is the Irish national flower green shamrock.Holidays in USAThanksgiving day – it’s celebrated on fourth Thursday in November. Family gets together and have special dinner. They eat turkey and cranberry sauce. This is followed by pumpkin pie. This was celebrated after the first European settlers succesfully arrived in North America. Veteran’s day – it’s celebrated on 11 November. It’s memory of soldiers who died in WWI.The day of Independence – it’s celebrated on 4 July. There are fireworks, parades and other events on that day.17. THE EUROPEAN UNIONThe EU is an organization of European states that have given special powers to the European institutions and have agreed on common policies. The idea of creating a united Europe appeared after WWII in order to secure the peace, progress in Europe and to become an economic power. On 9th May is celebrated as the day of Europe. Institutions of the EU The European Parliament (has legislative and monitoring powers) The Council of the European Union (represents the government of the member states) The European Commission (members are the heads of all member states) The European Court of Justice (coordinates application of the laws) The Court of Auditors (controls investments and monitors correct and lawful application) 5 more important essential parts in the EU The European Economic and Social Committee The Committee of Regions The European Central Bank The European Ombudsman The European Investment Bank The original 6 members: Belgium Germany France Italy Luxembourg the Netherlands