Hlavná téma: čítanie, sviatky a tradície
Jeseň je obdobie plné farieb a tradícií. Pozrieme sa na typické sviatky a tradície naprieč anglicky hovoriacimi krajinami. Neopomenieme Halloween, Vďakyvzdanie ani ANZAC Day.
USA and Canada: Thanksgiving and Halloween
Počas jesene sa v USA a Kanade oslavujú dva typické sviatky: Halloween a Deň vďakyvzdania (Thanksgiving). Deň vďakyvzdania patrí medzi najväčšie sviatky a je typický rodinnou atmosférou, dobrým jedlom a poďakovaniami.
In the USA and Canada, Thanksgiving is the most well-known autumn holiday. Families gather on the fourth Thursday of November in the USA, or the second Monday of October in Canada, to express gratitude for what they have. The traditional meal often features turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce. Alongside Thanksgiving, Halloween is also very popular in North America. During this holiday, children dress up in costumes, go from house to house, and say „trick or treat“. People decorate their homes with pumpkins, spiders, and skeletons. In Canada, many people enjoy walking outside to see the colourful autumn leaves. This tradition is known as leaf peeping.
💡Both Canadians and Americans typically say fall instead of autumn.
United Kingdom: Bonfire Night, Harvest Festivals, Halloween
In the UK, the biggest autumn event is Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night) on 5 November. People remember the Gunpowder Plot from 1605, when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Families watch fireworks and light big bonfires.
In many schools and churches, there are Harvest Festivals, where people bring food to share with others. Halloween is also celebrated here. As in North America, children wear costumes, people decorate their homes with spooky decorations and have parties.
💡In British English, people say autumn, not fall.
Ireland: The Celtic Roots of Halloween
Slávenie Halloweenu má svoj počiatok práve v Írsku, v pradávnom sviatku s názvom Samhain.
Halloween has its roots in an old Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the summer season. Long ago, people believed that spirits came back to visit their homes. They lit fires and wore masks to scare them away. Today, Halloween in Ireland looks similar to that in the USA, but some families still play old games like bobbing for apples.
💡Many English Halloween words come from Irish and Scottish traditions.
Australia: ANZAC Day
Austrália sa nachádza na južnej pologuli, jeseň tam majú teda od marca do mája. V tomto období slávia spolu s Novým Zélandom sviatok ANZAC Day.
In Australia, autumn happens from March to May. People don’t have traditional autumn holidays like Thanksgiving, but they enjoy the cooler weather and outdoor activities. The biggest event at this time is ANZAC Day on 25 April, when Australians remember soldiers who fought in wars. It is a day of respect and national pride. Some people in Australia celebrate Halloween on 31 October – in spring. It is not as popular as in the USA or the UK, but it is becoming more common nowadays.
💡 Australians say autumn. ANZAC = Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
New Zealand: Harvest and ANZAC Day
New Zealand’s autumn is also from March to May. The countryside is full of Harvest Festivals. People celebrate ANZAC Day together with Australia to honour soldiers and show unity.
💡 New Zealand English is similar to British English.
Cultural Differences Compared to Slovakia
Autumn in Slovakia is quite different from autumn in English-speaking countries. In Slovakia, people celebrate All Saints‘ Day and All Souls‘ Day. They visit cemeteries, light candles, and remember their loved ones. These days are quiet and full of respect.
In English-speaking countries (mainly the UK, the USA, and Canada), this part of autumn is not so quiet. Halloween is much more about costumes, games, and parties than visiting cemeteries.
Tips
Otázky k jesenným tradíciám:
- What does „bobbing for apples“ mean, and how is it played?
- What do people usually eat on Thanksgiving?
- Why is ANZAC Day so important in Australia and New Zealand?
- Are there any similarities between All Saints‘ Day and Halloween?
- What are some typical foods or activities during Bonfire Night?
- Do autumn holidays differ between English-speaking countries and Slovakia?
- Do people in your country decorate their homes in autumn?
- What are autumn traditions and festivals in your country?
🗣️ Language bank
- autumn 🔊 – jeseň (BrE), fall 🔊 – jeseň (AmE)
- harvest 🔊 – úroda, zber úrody
- Thanksgiving 🔊 – Deň vďakyvzdania
- leaf peeping 🔊 – tradícia obzerania jesenného lístia
- bonfire 🔊 – vatra, oheň
- memorial 🔊– pamätník (pomník)
- to gather 🔊– zhromaždiť sa
- to decorate🔊 – zdobiť
- gratitude 🔊 – vďačnosť
- cranberry sauce 🔊 – brusnicová omáčka
- pumpkin pie🔊 – tekvicový koláč
- cemetery 🔊 – cintorín
- respect 🔊 – úcta
- soldier 🔊 – vojak
- unity 🔊 – jednota
Pozrite tiež
Príslovka so
Sometime, sometimes alebo some time?
Dušičky a všetkých svätých (vocabulary)
Zdroje obrázkov:
Obrázok Bonfire night by Richard Croft, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons