Otázka č. 8 - Holidays and Celebrations
United States:
- Independence Day
- When celebrated: July 4th
- Why: Marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
- How: Celebrated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, and patriotic events.
- Columbus Day
- When celebrated: Second Monday in October
- Why: Commemorates Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492.
- How: Celebrated with parades, festivals, and educational events.
- Thanksgiving
- When celebrated: Fourth Thursday in November
- Why: Originated as a harvest festival, now a day of giving thanks for blessings and sharing a meal with family and friends.
- How: Celebrated with a traditional meal including turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, along with parades and football games.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- When celebrated: Third Monday in January
- Why: Honors the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
- How: Commemorated with events such as marches, speeches, and volunteer activities promoting equality and justice.
- Presidents' Day
- When celebrated: Third Monday in February
- Why: Honors all U.S. presidents, particularly George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
- How: Celebrated with sales, historical reenactments, and educational programs.
- Groundhog Day
- When celebrated: February 2nd
- Why: Tradition holds that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.
- How: Celebrated with festivities in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, including the emergence of Punxsutawney Phil.
- Halloween
- When celebrated: October 31st
- Why: Originally a Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season, now celebrated with costumes, trick-or-treating, and parties.
- How: Decorated with spooky themes, costumes, haunted houses, and pumpkin carving.
- Veterans Day
- When celebrated: November 11th
- Why: Honors military veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces.
- How: Observed with ceremonies, parades, and moments of silence to honor veterans' sacrifices.
- Christmas Day
- When celebrated: December 25th
- Why: Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
- How: Celebrated with religious services, gift-giving, festive meals, and decorations such as Christmas trees and lights.
- New Year's Eve
- When celebrated: December 31st
- Why: Marks the end of the current year and the beginning of the new one.
- How: Celebrated with parties, fireworks, and counting down to midnight.
United Kingdom:
- Easter
- When celebrated: Sunday between March 22 and April 25
- Why: Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- How: Observed with church services, egg hunts, and family gatherings.
- Guy Fawkes Day
- When celebrated: November 5th
- Why: Commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the English Parliament.
- How: Celebrated with fireworks, bonfires, and effigy burning.
- Remembrance Day
- When celebrated: November 11th
- Why: Honors the members of the armed forces who died in the line of duty during World War I and subsequent conflicts.
- How: Marked by ceremonies, two-minute silence, and wearing red poppies.
- St. Patrick's Day
- When celebrated: March 17th
- Why: Commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.
- How: Celebrated with parades, wearing green, and festivities.
- April Fools' Day
- When celebrated: April 1st
- Why: Tradition of playing practical jokes and hoaxes on others.
- How: Pranks and jokes played on friends, family, and coworkers.
- Boxing Day
- When celebrated: December 26th
- Why: Originally a day when employers gave gifts to their employees, now a day for shopping, sports events, and charitable activities.
- How: Observed with shopping sales, sports matches, and charitable donations.
Czech holidays:
- Den vítězství (Victory Day)
- When celebrated: May 8th
- Why: Celebrates the end of World War II in Europe in 1945.
- How: Celebrated with parades, military honors, and commemorative events.
- Den osvobození (Liberation Day)
- When celebrated: May 9th
- Why: Commemorates the liberation of Czechoslovakia by Soviet forces in 1945.
- How: Celebrated with various events, parades, and remembrance ceremonies.
- Den památky na oběti komunistického režimu (Memorial Day for the Victims of Communism)
- When celebrated: March 25th
- Why: Remembers the victims of the communist regime and the fight for freedom and democracy.
- How: Observed with memorial events, discussions, and documentary screenings.
- Den české státnosti (Czech Statehood Day)
- When celebrated: September 28th
- Why: Celebrates the establishment of the independent Czechoslovak state in 1918.
- How: Celebrated with various events, parades, and cultural activities.
Vocabulary
- Celebration - oslava
- Holiday - svátek
- Festivity - slavnost
- Tradition - tradice
- Gathering - shromáždění
- Festive mood - sváteční nálada
- Feast - hostina
- Decorations - dekorace
- Party - večírek
- Parade - průvod
- Fireworks - ohňostroj
- Family reunion - rodinné setkání
- Ceremony - ceremonie
- Toast - přípitek
- Joy - radost
- Laughter - smích
- Gift-giving - dávání dárků
- Caroling - koledování
- Spirit - duch (sváteční)
- Cheer - veselí
- Memories - vzpomínky
- Resolutions - předsevzetí
- Joyful atmosphere - veselá atmosféra
- Happiness - štěstí
- Sharing - sdílení
- Community - komunita
- Celebratory meal - slavnostní jídlo
- Excitement - vzrušení
- Holiday spirit - sváteční duch