CUSTOMS and TRADITIONS Maturita Exam

customs and traditions in this presentation we will talk about the holidays family occasions and ceremonies new year's epiphany valentine's day st patrick's day all fools day easter mother's day independence day halloween thanksgiving all saints day st nicholas day christmas weddings and funerals over the course of the year we have many opportunities for celebration we celebrate birthdays name days weddings the christenings of our relatives graduations and many other events on this occasion we toast to the honored person who receives some presents for example flowers box of chocolates book watch or ring new year's on the 1st of january people worldwide celebrate new year's day together with new year's eve on the 31st of december there are huge crowds of cheerful people in the squares and streets loud music lot of champagne and food people go to parties and balls watch big fireworks and welcome the upcoming new year at midnight people wish each other happy new year people make new year's resolutions and promise to change or improve their lives three kings day epiphany on the 6th of january 12 days after christmas we commemorate three kings day valentine's day the 14th of february is valentine's day it is the day for lovers and friends we send valentine's postcards to each other buy sweets and chocolates in the shape of heart lovers write short poems such as i'll be your sweetheart and i'll be your valentine or roses are red violets are blue you are my valentine love you st patrick's day st patrick's day is on the 17th of march it is the most significant irish holiday which also spread to the usa this holiday is named after st patrick the irish patron who brought christianity to ireland people dressing green drink guinness and have fun there are colorful parades in towns and cities across ireland and the usa all fool's day the first of april is all fool's day on this day people make jokes and play tricks on their friends question time number one when is the new year and how do people celebrate it number two what do we commemorate on january 6th number three when and how do people celebrate valentine's day number four who is saint patrick and why is he important in irish history number five where when and how do people celebrate st patrick's day number six what is april first what do people do on this day bonus question how do you spend new year's eve or new year's day easter we celebrate easter at the end of march or at the very beginning of april it is the biggest christian holiday of the year and it lasts several days we start this holiday with monday thursday holy thursday this is followed by good friday where we commemorate jesus's crucifixion and then comes easter sunday where we commemorate jesus resurrection followed by easter monday this day is very special in slovakia on this day boys chase girls pour cold water on them and whip them with willow whips it is said that girls will be healthy and strong all year round easter symbols are symbols of new life lamb yellow chickens easter eggs catkins easter bunnies on the table we can see various kinds of smoked cheese ham and potato salad mother's day mother's day is celebrated on the second sunday in may on this day all mothers are honored it is special day to say love you mom we buy flowers chocolate bars or other small gifts independence day independence day is on the 4th of july celebrated in the united states of america on this day all americans commemorate the declaration of independence of 1776 the declaration was adopted by 13 american colonies that gained independence from the british it is day of fireworks and parties people dress in national colors decorated with national flags question time number one when do we celebrate easter number two what is another expression for holy thursday number three on which day do we commemorate jesus's crucifixion and jesus's resurrection number four name easter symbols number five how do people in slovakia celebrate easter monday number six when and how do we celebrate mother's day number seven what is the declaration of independence of 1776 about number eight when where and how is independence day celebrated bonus question how do you spend eastern monday give details halloween halloween is on the 31st of october people decorate their houses in the scariest ways with spider webs coffins bats witches ghosts candles goblins skeletons and of course carved pumpkins its origin goes back to the celts who believe that the spirits of the dead would come to their houses and take over their bodies on that day therefore they disguise themselves with animal heads and skins to cheat or confuse them nowadays children go from house to house knocking on doors saying trick-or-treat which means if you don't give them treat they will play trick on you people are dressed up in fancy costumes and go to parties to have fun all saints day all saints day is on the 1st of november and all souls day is on the 2nd of november this holiday is more or less connected with going to cemeteries or graveyards decorating graves with beautiful flowers people light candles and pray for their beloved relatives who rest in peace r.i.p thanksgiving thanksgiving is on the last thursday in november it is the oldest american holiday it was first celebrated in the 17th century after the first successful harvest which helped people survive the winter the settlers celebrated their harvest and thanked god for this bounty nowadays families gather and enjoy themselves and good food there is stuffed turkey on every table question time when is halloween celebrated and what do people use to decorate their houses number two what do you know about the old celtic tradition relating to halloween number three what do children do on halloween today number four what do the slavaks do on all saints day number five when is the origin of thanksgiving number six when where and how do people celebrate thanksgiving bonus question talk about halloween in all saints day point out the differences between them saint nicholas day saint nicholas or santa claus day is on the 6th of december on this day saint nicholas an angel and devil visit the children children love to sing song say poem or pray good children get fruits and sweets and naughty children get coal and potatoes christmas everyone looks forward to the most beautiful christian holiday of the year the holiday of calm and peace during this holiday we celebrate the birth of baby jesus it is time for our family and friends time for exchanging gifts symbols of christmas christmas tree christmas decorations christmas lights christmas wreath christmas carols sparklers special meals midnight mass candles bells the nativity scene charitable contributions benefit concerts in slovakia christmas preparations are connected with cleaning households baking gingerbread and other pastries decorating houses with lights and visiting christmas markets on the 24th of december through to christmas eve we put up real or an artificial christmas tree sing or listen to christmas carols and prepare christmas eve's dinner the christmas menu in slovakia varies from region to region but generally consists of christmas toast wafers with honey sauerkraut soup fried carp and potato salad and homemade cakes when we finish dinner we go to the christmas tree and unwrap the christmas presents at midnight we go to midnight mass to the nearest church on the 25th of december it is christmas day on the 26th of december it is boxing day on this day relatives visit one another in the past servants and salespeople got presents usually money from the gentry these presents became known as christmas boxes traditions that our family follows at christmas we decorate our christmas tree in the morning on december 24th and listen to christmas carols before christmas dinner we pray together at the very beginning of dinner we eat christmas wafers with honey our typical christmas dinner consists of sauerkraut soup and fried carp with potato salad when we finish dinner our father rings the bell to tell us that our presents are already under the christmas tree then we go caroling to our relatives houses and at midnight we go to our local church for midnight mass important family celebrations and meetings weddings at wedding the two people getting married are the bride and the groom the bride has her maid of honor and her bridesmaids and the groom has his best man and groomsmen few days before the wedding ceremony the husband-to-be gives party for his male friends it is called stag party or stag night the wife-to-be gives party for her female friends and it is called hen party or hen night wedding ceremony is formal act that can be religious in church if it is church wedding or white wedding it is with priest it can also be civil wedding in the town hall at registry office with the mayor the engaged couple exchanges their wedding rings and promises to live together through good and bad times after the wedding friends and relatives are invited to wedding reception with layered wedding cake then the newlyweds go on honeymoon funerals sometimes families meet at very sad occasion when someone dies the body is put into coffin at the funeral the body may be cremated or buried in cemetery or graveyard the grave is marked with gravestone the widow or the widower together with close relatives are mourning for their beloved who are ip rest in peace question time number one what happens after man and woman decide to get married number two what is the difference between church wedding and civil wedding number three what is wedding reception number four who is widow or widower bonus question study the topic customs and traditions again and give three-minute speech on these topics valentine's day and sent st patrick's day describe the holidays halloween versus all saints day point out the differences between them the oldest american holiday thanksgiving how we celebrate easter in my town or village how we celebrate christmas in my family choose the topic you want to talk about