british sports and festivals

British sports, festivals and holidays:

British sports, festivals and holidays

Sports:

Sports Having a drink at the local pub, going for a walk in the country, working in the garden or watching sports on TV ---these are all ways in which many British people like to relax on weekends. Such activities are deeply rooted in the British experience over centuries, and tell us about how modern Brits like to spend their free time.

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But these activities are not just recent inventions. Going to a public house for a glass of ale, working the land or going to watch a ball game were familiar activities in Shakespeare ’ s time .

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In the past, Britain was a mainly agricultural society, but also a very religious society and the influence of the Christian Church on people ’ s lives was very great. One obvious example is how Sunday---the day of the week when everyone traditionally went to Church---is still the day that most people have off in the UK. In the recent years the government has changed the laws and now some shops and pubs are allowed to open on Sundays, but such changes are very recent and very controversial.

Popular sports in Britain:

Popular sports in Britain There are many popular sports in Britain, such as: football, tennis, cricket, golf, horse racing, hunting, equestrianism( 马术比赛 ), fishing.

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Football There are legends that suggest that games like football and rugby actually derived from the “ sport ” of ancient warriors celebrating victory by kicking around the decapitated head of an enemy. There is a similar tale about origins of bowling. : It ’ s said that in ancient times, Scottish warriors rolled the skulls of their enemies along the grass for sport.

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One writer during the era of Renaissance once described football as: “ nothing but beastly fury and extreme violence ” . Today, violence is still associated with football. “ Football hooligans ” , supporters of rival teams, sometimes clashes before, during and after matches and occasionally run riot through the town.

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“ FA ” refers to the Football Association. the FA Cup is the trophy title for a series of games played by major member teams of the Football Association. Over 20 million tickets are sold to FA games each season. The FA and the FA Cup

Tennis:

Tennis A more gentle sport that is a sure sign that summer has arrived is the popular game of tennis. Tennis was invented in Britain and it owes its origins, literally, to the church.

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Wimbledon is a suburb in London .It is the place where the world ’ s best players gather to complete in the annual international tennis championship. It is one of the major events of the British sporting calendar and probably the most famous tennis event in the world. There are a lot of other social activities associated with “ Wimbledon fortnight ” .

Cricket:

Cricket Cricket was one of the first team sports in Britain to have organized rules and to be played according to the same rules nationally. Before the Victorian era, and in modern Britain, people from all walks of life play cricket, but in the 19 th century, cricket became a sport associated with the upper class. It was a kind of “ snob ” game played by boys who attended public schools. Cricket matches usually do not last just a few hours. They can go on for days.

Golf:

Golf The game of golf was invented by the Scottish and today avid golfers around the world dream of playing on the famous and ancient golf course at St Andrews, not far from Edinburgh.

Horse Racing:

Horse Racing The true sport of British kings is not skiing or golfing, but horse racing. There are two kinds of horse racing: flat racing and steeplechase . The Grand National is the world ’ s most famous steeplechase. Established in 1837, in recent years the Grand National has become increasingly controversial because of the dangers involved.

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Every year some horses (and riders too) can be injured in trying to negotiate a jump for example. Badly hurt horses are usually shot, and animal lovers find it unacceptable that animals should be hurt and killed just for our enjoyment. Now the Grand National courses is designed to be difficult enough to be exciting, but not so difficult as to cause serious injuries.

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6. The Royal Ascot 皇家阿斯科特赛马会 It is the biggest social event associated with horse racing. People dress up and go to show off their fashionable clothes as well to watch the races and place their bets. Women especially wear very elaborate and exotic hats. This event gets much attention from the media and the public.

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7. Hunting Hunting is a sport enjoyed by many wealthy and aristocratic families. But many animals rights groups find this an unacceptable and cruel recreation. So , people of extremist animal rights groups, make efforts to prevent the hunt from proceeding by laying false trails to distract the dogs which track the quarry and by making noise.

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Equestrianism 马术 Equestrianism is a horse sport involves riding skills such as show jumping and carriage driving, as well as speed. It is another horsy sport associated with the aristocracy.

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Fishing Fishing, sometimes called angling, is by a long chalk the most popular participation sport in the UK. It combines sport, the tranquility and beauty of being outdoors, and sometimes the joy of being able to eat the catch!

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Holidays and Festivals in Britain

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Religious Holiday 1 、 Christmas and its traditions Christmas is the biggest and the most popular British holiday celebrated on December 25th each year to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. People usually decorate homes with evergreen plants, Christmas trees and ornaments. They also exchange gifts and Christmas cards. Three typical British traditions on Christmas are: the Christmas Pantomime, the Queen ’ s speech over the TV and radio, and the Boxing Day.

Christmas :

Christmas

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2 、 The Boxing Day （节礼日） and its traditions It is a typical British tradition celebrated on the day after Christmas. People used to give Christmas gifts or money to their staff or servants on this day. And now they mostly do shopping, pay visits, enjoy eating or just relax.

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3 、 Easter （复活节） This festival occurs in the spring, which commemorates the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the most important Christian festival for many church-goers. The Easter egg, originally a Christian symbol of new life, is the main symbol of Easter for most people. Rabbits and chicks are also animals traditionally associated with Easter.

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※ Non-Christian festivals and holidays 4 、 Ramadan （斋月） It is a traditional Islamic festival, a fast which lasts 29 days during which nothing can be eaten or drunk between dawn and nightfall, and ends with a festival . 5. Chinese New Year ----- dragon dance, fireworks, parades and family celebrations.

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二、 National Holidays ※ Trooping the Color （每年女王生日之际在白金汉宫前举行的盛大检阅庆祝活动） It is an official celebration for the Queen ’ s Birthday on the second Saturday in June around Buckingham Palace in London. This ceremony of the Queen inspecting her troops derives from old military traditions in which regimental flags were paraded before the monarch. Early in Victoria ’ s reign, it was decided that this ceremony should be held on the sovereign ’ s birthday. British diplomats abroad will often have a special party or event to celebrate the Queen ’ s birthday.

女王81岁生日检阅禁卫军[ 2007-06-18 09:21 ]:

女王 81 岁生日检阅禁卫军 [ 2007-06-18 09:21 ] 中国日报网环球在线消息 : 英国女王伊丽莎白二世 6 月 16 日度过了 81 岁的官方生日，英国举行了传统的皇家阅兵式，女王和她的丈夫菲利普亲王检阅了禁卫军列队，卡米拉、威廉王子等王室成员和一些政府高级官员观看了典礼。

女王的马车穿越禁卫兵列队 :

女王的马车穿越禁卫兵列队

上千名士兵接受英女王检阅 :

上千名士兵接受英女王检阅

女王的禁卫兵原地踏步 :

女王的禁卫兵原地踏步

2009:

2009

烈日当空挺军姿 戴皮帽苏格兰卫兵当场晕倒 (2010):

烈日当空挺军姿 戴皮帽苏格兰卫兵当场晕倒 (2010)

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三、 Holidays in the 4 Nations 1 、 England: Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Night) and the traditions

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It is a truly English holiday celebrated in November. It originates from the 1605 Gunpowder Plot- -a plan to blow up the British Parliament, kill the Protestant King and replace him with a Catholic king. People celebrate it by having public bonfires and fireworks. A straw effigy called the “ Guy ” (one of the conspirators Guy Fawkes) is thrown on the bonfire. The biggest Bonfire Night celebration is held in Lewes .

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注：伊莉莎白一世上任時，制定了许多法条以反罗马天主教。 Guy Fawkes 是天主教組织的一员，他深深感覺英政府对待罗马天主教徒的不公平。因此他们期待英王詹姆士一世可以改善这种情況，但是他并沒有。 Guy Fawkes 参与了由 Robert Gatesby 领导的谋反组织，密谋杀死詹姆士一世。首先，他们买下一栋紧临国会大廈的房子，这栋房子有个地窖可以通往国会大廈，于是他们准备了充足的火药藏在地窖里，准备于 11 月 5 日英王詹姆士与他的亲信们在国会大廈召开会议时炸毀国会大廈与詹 姆士。

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Guy Fawkes 的工作就是看守这堆火药并负责点燃保险丝，但是，就在他炸毀国会大廈前，密谋被发现了。他被抓进大牢，在严刑烤打之下，供出了所有参与这项计划的人名。 从此以后，英格兰毎年 11 月 5 日都会纪念这个日子，英格兰的大城小镇都会点燃营火，用来焚毀一座 Guy Fawkes 的肖像，并施放烟火，以庆祝英王与国会大廈沒有被密谋给炸毀。

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2 、 Northern Ireland ： （ 1 ） the Orange March This festival comes from the battles between Catholic and Protestants. In 1688, William of Orange was invited to take the throne and the Catholic king James II was driven into exile. In 1690, he defeated James ’ forces in the Battle of the Boyne. This victory symbolizes the Protestant “ right ” to be in Ireland and the defeat of Catholicism as the nation religion . It is the Protestant ’ s celebration of their victory at the Battle of the Boyne (12 July) in 1690.

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注： 1690 年 6 月 12 日，威廉三世在博因河畔（ the Boyne ）打败了詹姆士二世，北爱尔兰的新教徒每年都要游行庆祝这个纪念日。

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（ 2 ） St Patrick ’ s Day Northern Irish Catholics celebrate the birthday of the patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick, on March 17 each year. Patrick was a Catholic bishop who lived in the 5th century and is thought to have brought Christianity to Ireland. The shamrock （三叶草，爱尔兰国花） is a popular symbol to wear on St Patrick ’ s Day, and it is also considered very lucky to wear something green.

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注：根据广为流传的传说，圣巴特里克把蛇（基督教中邪恶的象征）赶出了爱尔兰。另一则传说是，他用三叶草做比喻，向爱尔兰异教徒宣讲基督教的三位一体（圣父、圣子和圣灵）论。

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3 、 Scotland: （ 1 ） Hogmanay In Scotland, New Year ’ Eve called Hogmanay (31 December)-is the major winter celebration, and overshadows Christmas (called Yule in Scotland) which is a very quiet affairs. There is a superstitious belief that the first person to cross the threshold of a household in the New Year can bring luck and prosperity: the appearance of a young, preferably dark haired and hand-some man, is considered particularly lucky. First footers often bring a bottle of spirits ， alcohol, a lump of coal or a peat as a gift and are given a “ dram of whisky ” as their reward.

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(2) Each year Scottish people all over the world celebrate their most beloved national poet, Robert Burns, by holding a Burns Supper on the evening of his birthday(25 January).

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（ 3 ） Halloween and the traditions It is a Scottish festival celebrated on 31 October each year. Communion with the dead, mischief, fortune-telling and masquerades are common practices. Some of the other customs are “ turnip lanterns ” for children and girls using magic spells to see into the future .

Halloween:

Halloween

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4 、 Wales: the Eisteddfod At the Eisteddfod, tents and pavilions are erected around a big open space: in the different tents competitions are held to find the best choirs, translators, essayists and poets. The highlight is the crowning of the two bards who have written the best poems of the festival.

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注：威尔士诗歌音乐比赛会，每年 8 月的第一周轮流在北威尔士和南威尔士举行，原是威尔士 12 世纪吟游诗人会， 19 世纪重新流行，成为一个现代节日。

Exercises:

Exercises The tradition of having Sunday off derived from the Christian Church. The origin of Bowling lies in the victory celebration ceremony by the ancient warriors. Tennis is usually regarded as a winter and spring sport. The game of golf was invented by the Scottish.

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5. The extremist animal-lovers ’ groups would like to have horse racing banned. 6. Easter is the biggest and best loved British holiday. 7. Christmas Pantomime is one of the three Christmas traditions that are particularly British.

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8. It is commonly believed that Boxing Day involves the sport of boxing. 9.The biggest Bonfire Night celebration is held in London. 10. In Ireland, New Year ’ s eve called Hogmanay (December 31st)is the major winter celebration.

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Which of the following was not an activity in Shakespeare ’ s time? A playing football B having a drink at a pub. C working the land D attending the Grand National

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2. Which of the following sports was not invented in Britain? A football B tennis C basketball D cricket

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3. Which of the following is not true about football in Britain? A millions of people attend the FA games each season. B “ football hooligans ” sometimes have violent clashes. C it was invented by the Scottish people. D it was once described as “ beastly ” violent.

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4. Where is the international tennis championships held? A Wembley B Wimbledon C London D Edinburgh

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5. Which of the following is truly a sport of the royal family? A cricket B skiing C golfing D horse racing

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6. Which one of the following Is not particularly British Christmas tradition? A enjoying the Pantomime. B the Queen broadcasting her Christmas message. C eating chocolate eggs. D shopping on the Boxing Day.

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7. Easter commemorates A the birth of Jesus Christ. B the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. C the coming of spring. D the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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8. Which community observes the traditional Ramadan? A Hindu B Sikh C Jewish D Muslim

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9. Which celebration particularly happens on the Queen ’ s birthday? A bonfires B the Orange March C trooping the color D masquerades

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10. Which of the following commemorates the Battle of Boyne? A the Bonfire Night celebration in Lewes. B trooping the color in London. C the Eisteddfod in Wales. D the Orange March in Northern Ireland.

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11. Of which people is Robert Burns a national poet? A the Welsh people B the Irish people C the Scottish people D the English people

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12. On which day is Halloween celebrated? A October 31 st . B November 5 th . C March 17 th . D December 25 th .