Text 5 May Spring Festivals

How is May Day celebrated in Britain?

1. May Day in Britain. May Day is not a public holiday in Britain, but working people celebrate this day. Workers march through the streets and hold meetings to voice their own demands and the demands of other progressive forces of the country. The issues involved may include demands for higher wages and better working conditions, pro­tests against rising unemployment, demands for a change in the Go­vernment's policy, etc.

What kind of dancing was often part of the May Spring Festival in ancient times? Whom did the celebrating people usually represent during the festival?

2. May Spring Festival. The 1st of May has also retained, to some extent, its old significance — that of a pagan spring festival. In ancient times it used to be celebrated with garlands of flowers, dancing and games on the village green¹. A. Maypole was erected — a tall pole wreathed with flowers, to which in later times ribbons were attached and held by the dancers. The girls put on their best summer frocks, plaited flowers in their hair and round their waists and eagerly awaited the crowning of the May Queen. The most beautiful girl was crowned with a garland of flowers. After this great event there was dancing, often Morris dancing, with the dancers dressed in fancy costumes, usually representing characters in the Robin Hood legend (Robin Hood, Little John, Maid Marian — a boy disguised as a girl, Friar Tuck). May-Day games and sports were followed by refreshments in the open.

Is the May Spring Festival celebrated nowadays?

3. This festival was disliked by the Puritans — radical members of the Church of England in the 16th-17th centuries, and suppressed during the Parliamentary republic of 1649-53. After the Restoration the festival was revived but has gradually almost died out. However, the Queen of May is still chosen in most counties, and in many villages school Maypoles are erected, as well as other elements of the festival still survive with people in different parts of the country.

What is the largest May Festival in Britain, when does it take place and how long is its history?

4. Merry England and London Queen Festival. Visitors from many parts of the world are usually among the thousands of people gather­ing on the Common² at Hayes, near Bromley, Kent to witness the Crowning of London's May Queen. It is the largest May Queen Festival in Britain and over a thousand children take part. The date is the second Saturday in May. The actual crowning takes place at about 3 p.m. As many as 40 May Queens from different parts of the country are present and with their attendants present a colourful spectacle. The festival has been held since 1880.

What is the origin of the Morris dance?

5. Morns Dancing. While many of the British old customs have faded away, that of Morris dancing has achieved a remarkable revi­val in the 20th century, and new groups of Morris dancers are appear­ing every year. The Morris, a rustic merry-making, was common in England in the 14th century, and may have been introduced by Eleanor of Castile, wife of King Edward I (1272-1307). It was a popular feature of village festivals, especially as part of the May Games, often includ­ing solo characters such as dancer with a hobbyhorse or the Maid Marian and accompanied by the pipe and tabor — a combination of two instru­ments played by one man, with the pipe as a small recorder being held in the right hand, while the left hand beating the tabor, a small drum suspended from the player's shoulder or waist. Opinion is divided as to the origin of this dance, but a most widespread popular belief is that it is derived from a Moorish dance (in Spain) called 'moresca'.

2. Подготовить темы к экзамену:

1. My speciality – a director of mass events

2. My visit to the theatre

3. My visit to the cinema

4. A film review

5. My favourite actor (actress)

6. My favourite director

7. Perm

8. Perm theatres

9. Cultural institutions of Perm

10. Festivals

3. Выучить 50 неправильных глаголов (по карточкам).

Требования к экзамену:

1. Письменный перевод текста со словарём (1200 знаков за 45 минут)

2. Устный экзамен:

1. Беседа по теме

2. 50 неправильных глаголов

3. Чтение профессионально-ориентированного текста и пересказ его на русском языке.

Литература

1. Бурова, З.И. Учебник английского языка для гуманитарных специальностей вузов / З.И. Бурова. – М.: Айрис-пресс, 2006.

2. Либерман, Н.И. Английский язык: для вузов искусств / Н.И. Либерман. – М.: Высшая школа, 1989.

3. Любимцева, С.Н. Деловой английский. Учебник / С.Н. Любимцева, Б.М.Тарковская, Л.Г. Памухина. – М.: «ГИС», 1998.

4. Тексты о Перми (из методических рекомендаций):

- Пермь

- Учреждения культуры Перми

5. Шевелёва, С.А. Английский для гуманитариев: учебное пособие для вузов / С.А. Шевелёва. – 2-е изд., перераб. и доп. – М.: ЮНИТИ-ДАНА, 2009. – 397 с.

6. Янушкова, Т.П. «Английский язык для студентов институтов культуры» часть 1 / Т.П. Янушкова. – Мн.: Высшая школа, 1988.

7. Янушкова, Т.П. «Английский язык для студентов институтов культуры» часть 2 / Т.П. Янушкова. – Мн.: Высшая школа, 1988.

Учебное издание