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played non-stop for all the young people who came to hear them. Among the artists were such unforgettable singers like Joe Cocker and Jimmy Hendrix. Even today the festival is remembered by many as one of the best musical events of the 20th century.

Good Friday

By tradition, Good Friday has always been a day of mourning and fasting, for decorating churches with branches of yew and other evergreens, and the ceremonial distribution of gifts to the poor. The name “Good Friday” was probably derived from God’s Friday, but AngloSaxons and Danes called the day “Long Friday”. The word “Long” may have referred to the long Church ceremonies held that day.

Many known Good Friday customs and beliefs are still held today, especially by country people. Some date backИto very early times. The in-

habitants of Beesands, a tiny fishing village in Devonshire, think it is un-

lucky to go fishing on Good Friday, whileДmany Devonians, even today,

insist on planting their seed potatoes, beans, and peas on Good Friday. It is

believed that put in the earth on this holy day will thrive. Many west coun-

to linger in the Greek islandбof Corfu,Аwhere the inhabitants throw crockery down a steep hill иon Good Friday, cursing Judas at the same time. It is perhaps as well that this solemn Friday is shortly followed by one of the happiest days inСthe Church calendar – Easter Sunday, on which Christians the world over celebrate the re-birth of Christ.

try farmers think that it is lucky to break a piece of china or pottery on

Good Friday. They think that the points of the broken pieces would pierce

the body of Judas, the disciple who betrayed Christ. A similar belief seems

April Fool

The custom of April Fooling originated in France, country which took the lead (in 1564) in shifting the New Year from what is now known as Lady Day (25th March) to 1st January. From the earliest periods of history people off all nations bestowed gifts upon their neighbors on New Year’s Day. As the old New Year’s Day (25th March) so often fell in Holy Week, the Church uniformly postponed the celebrations until the octave – 1st April. When, therefore, New Year’s Day was transferred to 1st January, people in France paid mock visits to their friends on 1st April, with the object of fooling them into the belief that that date was still New Year’s Day.

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Unlike a programmed Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an open arts festival and does not produce any of the shows, does not invite anyone to perform and pays no fees to participants. Around 600 companies perform every year and, put simply, they put on their own show, decide if and when they want to take part and hope to recoup their costs through ticket sales.

Why participate? Edinburgh is a fantastic networking opportunity. It is very rare to have so many diverse and influential people in the same place at the same time and you will rub shoulders with producers, journalists, festival directors, and also other companies or individuals who may have interests close to your own.

For less experienced groups or individuals the Fringe is a great training ground for the future. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the biggest and best-known arts festival in the world. It is an exciting challenge and an en-

meeting of Welshmen interested Аin WelshДpoetry, Welsh songs and music. One year it’s in a town inбNorth Wales; the next year, it’s in a town in south Wales. Between 10,000 and 15,000 people come to the Eisteddfod every year. Some wantиto listen to the poems; some want to listen to the singing; and some just want to meet their friends and talk in Welsh. There are competitionsСat an Eisteddfod: for the best Welsh poem and song of the year, and the best singers. The competitions are organized by the Druids. The Druids wear long clothes; their leader is always a poet. About a hundred years ago, some Welsh people became very interested in the old traditions in Wales. They decided to use some of the old traditions and ceremonies at the Eisteddfods. Welsh traditions are very old, and the Welsh people are very proud of them.

Saint Patrick’s Day by Dave Collet

St. Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. He was born in the fourth century and is famous for bringing Christianity into Ireland. It falls on the 17th of March.

St. Patrick was born to wealth parents in the late fourth century. Until the age of 16 years old, he thought of himself as a pagan. He was kid-

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napped and sold as a slave at this age by Irish marauders. It was during this capture that he turned to God. He managed to escape and then studied in a monastery. He died on the 17th of March, AD 461.

Shamrocks, leprechauns and the blarney stone are associated with St. Patrick’s Day. Shamrocks are three-leaved clovers found growing in patches on grass. You are thought to be lucky if you find a four-leaved clover, so do keep it if you ever come across one!

The village of Blarney is situated northwest of the Irish village of Cork. Blarney comes from the Irish word “An blarna”, meaning the plain. Blarney castle is a very famous castle in this village and is 90 feet tall. The world famous Blarney Stone is on the top story. It is said that if one kisses this stone, one will be given the gift of eloquence, meaning to have beautiful speaking abilities. Nowadays, the word blarney means the ability to influence and coax with fair words and soft speechИwithout offending.

Leprechauns are little Irish fairies, and they are thought to work as shoe-makers for other fairies. The IrishДsay that if a leprechaun is caught by a human, he will reveal where he hides his pot of gold. On this day, pictures of shamrocks and leprechauns are hung every where. Some people even dress up as leprechauns withАtheir big green hats!

Legend also says that St. Patrick could raise people from the dead. He is well-known for drivingбthe snakes out of Ireland, although many people dispute how true this is! Another great story was how he used the shamrock, with its threeиleaves, to explain the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost) to his followers.

St. Patrick’sСDay is celebrated world-wide with people dancing and singing in Irish Pubs, watching St. Patrick’s Day parade, drinking “green” beer, wearing green clothes and just generally having a good time. Children in Ireland have a tradition of pinching their friends who don’t wear green on this day!

Corned beef and cabbage is what most people have on this day. Another popular dish is Irish soda bread and potato pancakes. Irish pub owners go crazy on this day, putting green food colouring into their beers and traditional Irish Guinness Stout is a sell out in all Irish pubs! People also drink lots of Irish coffee, which is made with warm whiskey, sugar, coffee and topped off with whipped cream. Sound delicious? It is!

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Self-Assessment

Module 4

1.Look through Module 4 to find the answers to the questions 1 – 20.

1.What palaces are there in London and what are they famouse for?

2.What is the most popular museum or exhibition of wax figures in the world?

3.Who spends weekends and holidays in Windsor Castle? Why?

4.Who met his love in Windsor Castle while being imprisoned there?

5.How can you understand that Queen of England is in residence?

6.Why did Queen Victoria’s guests often feel hungry?

7.What do Rosslyn Chapel, the Templars and Da Vinci have in common?

8.What is Stonehenge?

9.How was Stonehenge constructed?

10.Where have Royals been born, married andИburied?

11.When did Edward VII die and why?

12.What are the terms for rock carvingsДand rock paintings and where in America can you see them?

13.What is Area 51?

14.Who were the Celts and whereАdid they live?

15.What are the colours and costumes of Halloween?

16.Who officially recognizedбSt Valentine's Day?

17.What famous British writers and poets do you know?

18.Have you ever readиtheir books or seen their screen versions?

19.What does the shamrock symbolize?

20.Describe howСto make a jack-o'-lantern.

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2. There are at least 23 hidden words. Find them!

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