Warmth and

awakening-тепло та пробудження

pagan-язичницький

to reborn-перероджуватись

dyeing-фарбування

Ascension Day-Вознесіння

fragrant-ароматний, духмяний

wedding- весілля

2. Read and translate the text:

What are the traits of Ukrainian Character?

First, there is kindness.There is also hospitalityand friendliness.There is respect for elders, for the deceased;love for children, nature and animals.

Ukrainians have a sense of humour,they are musical, artistic. They are wonderful craftsmenfamous for their masteryin weaving, wood-carving,and ceramics.

But skilland diligencein working the land is perhaps the greatest talent the Ukrainians possess.

Life depended on the rhythms of cultivating the soil. Holidays were celebrated during periods of transition from one type of agricultural activity to another.

Easter, for example, is a spring holiday. Spring is a time of ploughingand sowingin the fields, a time of warmth and awakening after a cold, hungry winter. In pagantimes Ukrainians believed that the gods died and were reborn every year. An example of pagan customs is the dyeing of eggs.

To the Christian Ascension Day (the 40th day after Easter) Ukrainians added a pre- Christian tradition of going to the field to inspect the progress of the wheat.

The Trinity is celebrated in summer, on the 50th day after Easter. Traditionally people decorate their homes with green tree branches and fragrantherbs.

August 2, St. Ilia’s Day marked the beginning of autumn. «Until dinner it’s summer, after dinner it’s autumn^»-, people said. On the 19th of August, or on “Saviour Day”, vegetables, fruit, mushrooms, and honey were blessed.

Weddings usually took place in the middle of October.

A unique feature of Ukrainian Christmas festivities is the “vertep”, or puppet theatre. Young people walk from house to house singing about the birth of Christ, greeting everyone with the holiday.

3. Answer the questions:

1. What are the traits of the Ukrainian character?

2. What is the greatest talent the Ukrainians possess?

3. What are the spring holidays?

4. What summer holidays do you know ?

5. What is a unique feature of Ukrainian Christmas festivities?

6. What holiday do you like best of all?

4. Continue the sentences:

1. Ukrainians have a sense………..,……..,……..

2. They are wonderful craftsmenfamous for……………

3. Life depended on………………

4. ……………..is a spring holiday.

5. Spring is a time of……………, a time of………………

6. In pagantimes Ukrainians believed that………………….

7. To the Christian Ascension Day Ukrainians added a pre- Christian tradition of…………………

8. At The Trinity traditionally people decorate their homes with ……………

9. In the St. Ilia’s Day people say: “……………………”

10. A unique feature of Ukrainian Christmas festivities is………………….

5. Find the Ukrainian equivalents:

ü гостинність та дружелюбність

ü повага до старших та хворих

ü почуття гумору

ü майстерність та старанність

ü обробка землі

ü весняне свято

ü язичницькі традиції

ü дохристиянська традиція

ü прикрашати будинки

ü ляльковий театр

6. Fill in the blanks with some or and: