Holidays in great britain

There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries. They are: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday and Summer Bank Holiday. Public holidays in Britain are called bank holidays, because the banks as well as most of the offices and shops are closed.

The most favourite holiday is Christmas. Every year the people of Norway present the city of London a big Christmas tree and it stands in the Trafalgar Square.

Before Christmas, groups of singers go from house to house. They collect money for charities and sing carols,traditional Christmas songs. Many churches hold a service on the Sunday before Christmas.

The fun starts the night before, on the 24th of December. Traditionally this is the day when people decorate their trees. Children hang stockings at their beds, hoping that Father Christmas will come down thechimneyduring the night and fill them with toys and sweets.

Christmas is a family holiday. All the family usually meet for the big Christmas dinner of turkey and Christmas pudding. And everyone gives and receives presents. The 26th of December, Boxing Day, is an extra holiday after Christmas. It's the time to visit friends and relatives. This day postmen and servants receive their presents in the boxes.

New Year's Day is less favourite in Britain than Christmas. But in Scotland Hogmanay, New Year's Eve is the biggest festival of the year.

Besides public holidays, there are some special festivals in Great Britain. One of them takes place on the 5th of November. On that day, in 1605, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I. He didn't succeed. The King's men found the bomb, took Guy Fawkes to the Tower and cut off his head.

Since that day the British celebrate the 5th of November. They burn a dummy, made of straw and old clothes, in a bonfire and let off fireworks. This dummy is called a "guy" (like Guy Fawkes).

Places to see in ukraine

There are many places worth sightseeing on the territory of Ukraine because of its ancient history.

A wide range of interesting things awaits the tourists, beginning with Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, where there exist magnificent historic sights, St. Sophia's Cathedral (1017—1031), the Kyiv Cave Monastery (1051) and numerous museums.

A cruise on the Dnipro River offers visitors a fascinating introduction to Ukraine's history and culture.

It's interesting to visit Zaporizhzhia where Cossack movement began in the 15th century. Nearby is the famous 700-year-old oak tree — 36 metres high.

Odessa, a regional centre, has a Philharmonic and the famous Opera and Ballet Theatre.

The old town of Kaniv is situated on the high right bank of the Dnipro River. This town is world-known for its Tarasova Hora. Taras Shevchenko, the great Ukrainian poet, artist and philosopher, is buried here.

Chernihiv is one of the oldest towns in our country . There are five out of twenty-five architectural landmarks of the 11th—12th centuries preserved in Chernihiv. It was one of the most important centres of Kyivan Rus'.

Another place in Ukraine, which attracts a lot of visitors, is Uman'. It is famous for its dendrologic park-reserve "Sophiyivka". This park was set up in 1796—1801 by Count Pototsky for his wife, Sophia, and was called after her name. The park is one of the most outstanding monuments of garden architecture in Ukraine.

Lviv, a beautiful city in the west of Ukraine, was founded by Prince Danylo Halytsky. Historically, the city was first mentioned in 1256. Today Lviv has an area of 155 square km. Its core is the city of the 14th—18th centuries. It is densely built up with tall stone buildings, many of them in their original style. The Lychakiv Cemetery contains some famous monuments to well-known Ukrainian and Polishresidents of Lviv. The oldest monument in Lviv is the foundation and walls of St. Nicholas' Church, built by Prince Danylo in the 13th century. The remnants of Vysoky Zamok also date back to the 13th century. Lviv is the only city in Ukraine that still has some original Renaissance architecture.

In the south the Crimea lies, with its warm weather, seashore sanatoriums and rest homes.

Travelling across Ukraine one can have an excellent opportunity to learn its history and culture, to see its ancient monuments and picturesque views Ukraine has always been famous for.

Outstanding People of Great Britain 

Great Britain made a great contribution to the science, literature, music and arts of the world.

It gave mankind a lot of outstanding scientists, writers and poets, musicians and painters.

Thomas More, who lived in the 15th century was an outstanding humanist, scientist and statesman.

His work “Utopia” brought him world-wide acknowledgement.

Many prominent people were influenced by his ideas of a free democratic state described in “Utopia”.

William Shakespeare is one of the most famous writers in the world.

His plays “Romeo and Juliet”, “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”, “King Lear”, “Macbeth” were translated into almost every language and staged in every theatre.

He described the characters and feelings, which can be called international and living forever.

Daniel Defoe, Robert Burns, Walter Scott, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll are only a few names well-known all over the world.

William Hogarth, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable contributed to the world’s painting treasures.

Great Britain has also given the world many outstanding scientists.

Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin was born in Scotland.

He spent his working hours almost entirely in hospitals and laboratories.

His discovery of penicillin did more to help suffering people than anything else for centuries.

When he died in 1955 his old friend said: “… by his work he relieved more suffering than any other living man”.

Ernest Rutherford, a famous English physicist worked in the field of radio-activity.

His brilliant researches established the existence and nature of radioactive transformations.

He was one of the founders of the atomic theory of physics and creators of the first atomic model.

M. Faraday made his major discovery in the field of electricity — the electromagnetic induction.

He also made several important observations on the conductivity of different materials.

Enjoying world-wide popularity, Faraday remained a modest man, who rejected high titles.

All of them considered hard labour and love for mankind to be the main reason of their success.