英美國家概況uint10

1、main main pointpointSportsFootball Cricket Horse Racing,Hunting and Equestriansm TennisGolf Holidays and festivals in BritainReligious HolidaysNational HolidaysHolidays in the Four NationsEnglandNorthern IrelandScotland WalesConclusionmain main pointpoint Having a drink at the local pub,going for a

2、walk in the country,working in the garden or watching sports on the telly(television)these are all ways in which many British people like to relax on weekends or when their daily shifts at work have ended.If todays British person were to be transported 500 years into the past,he or she would find ma

3、ny familiar pursuits and games played in rough but recognisable forms.And because many of the sports we see played throughout the world today were born in Britain,the history of such activities is of interest to people everywhere.Sports The idea of sports having seasonslike the football seasonalso c

4、omes from the narural rhythms of an agricultural society,where the timing of harvests and the general weather affected how people spend their time.In the winter,bad weather kept people in doors and there was not so much work to do on the farm.There is a similar grisly tale told about origins of bowl

5、ing:it is said that in ancient times,Scottish warriors rolled the skulls of their enemies along the grass for sport.FootballWhile all social classes used to join in the local football match,during the Renaissance the idea began to emerge that some sports were too rough for aristocratic young men.One

6、 influential writer of the era described football as “nothing but beastly fury and extreme violence”and not at all suitable for gentlemen.In Shakespeares time,football was played in the cities as well as the countryside.Today,violence is still associated with football.”Football hooligans”supporters

7、of rival teams,sometimes clash before,during and after matches and occasionally run riot through the town,breaking windows and beating each other up.While football violence gets a lot of attention,before big matches when trouble is expected,police patrol the streets,pubs near the football grounds ar

8、e closed,and shops lock their doors and shutter their windows.Football hooligans Wimbledon,actually a London suburb,is where the worlds best players gather to compete on gress courts.It is one of the major events in the world.Besides actually watching the tennis matches,other activites closely assoc

9、iated with the “Wimbledon fortnight”are eating strawberries and cream,drinking champagne and hoping that it doesnt rain.Tennis Tennis was invented in Britain and it owes its origins,literally,to the Church.Church records indicate that by the mid-15th century,people were making a game of bouncing a b

10、all off the side of their local churches or cathedrals,first using the hand,and later a racquet. Cricket was one of the very first team sports in Britain to have organised rules and to be played according to the same rules nationally.By 1787 the rules were fixed,a full century before national rules

11、were fixed for other sports like tennis,rugby and football.The reason that fixed rules were applied to cricked so early on was a financial one:aristocrats loved betting on cricket matches and if people were going to risk money on a game,they wanted to ensure that the game would be played fairly.Cric

12、ket Before the Victorian era,and in modern Britain,people from all walks of life play cricket,but in the 19th century,cricket became a sport associated with the upper classes.In was a kind of a “snob”game played by boys who attended public schools. As generations of public school boys grew up to bec

13、ome the civil servants and rulers of the UK and its colonies,cricket became associated with a set of moral values,in particular the idea of “fair play”which characterised British government. The rules of cricket are as obscure as the language.With most sports,you can understand what is going on by s

14、imply watching for a while,but with cricket this is not the case.However,whether you understand the game or not,it is enjoyable to watch.It is a very distinctive sport:the players wear white trousers and appear quite formally dressed.Spectators gather around the :green”,a large field,in chairs,enjoy

15、ing the sun,sipping drinks and watching the teams play.Another unusual thing about cricket is that matches do not last just a few hours.They can go on for days. 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 cours

16、e at St Andrews,not far from Edinburgh.The Scots took their recreation seriously:by the 16th century,golf wes already so popular that the Archbishop of St Andrews was only allowed to keep his rabbit warrens on the links(golf course)as long as his rabbit-raising activities didnt interfere with people

17、 who wanted to play golf.And while many students of British history have heard of Mary Queen of Scots,the tragic and beautiful queen who was beheaded in the 16th century during a controversy over the succession to the throne,few know that she liked to play golf.Indeed,she become the object of gossip

18、 and criticism because she was seen out on the links shortly after the death of her second husband.Golf The true sport of British Kings(and Queens)is not skiing or golfing,but horse racing. Organised national horse races have been held throughout Britain for hundreds of years.At the heart of medieva

19、l life was the horse,a symbol of authority and wealth and necessary to travelling,hunting and warfare.Sports which involve the riding of horses are still considered rather snobbish or aristocratic sports because of course the average British family cannot afford to own a house.Horse Racing,Hunting a

20、nd Equestriansm There are two kinds of horse racing:flat racing,where horses and riders compete on a flat,oval track；and steeplechasing,which is racing either across the countryside,or around a course designed to represent the obstacles you might encounter in the countryside.The Grand National is th

21、e worlds most famous steeplechase.While it is the sport of kings,kings and commoners alike enjoy betting on the horses.In any town centre you can go into a betting shop and place a bet on the horses.The biggest social event associated with horse racing is the Royal Ascot,where people dress up and go

22、 to show off how fashionable they are as well to watch the races and place their bets.Another horsy sport associated with the aristocracy is equestrianism,sports which can involve riding skills such as show jumping and carriage driving,as well as speed. Hunting for wild game was born of necessity,bu

23、t it developed into a recreational pursuit in medieval England.They sometimes arranged for the servants to herd the deer into a corner of the park so that even the delicate aristocratic ladies could take their bows and arrows and bag a deer for dinner.Many of the ancient manor houses you can still v

24、isit in Britain have their herds of deer,although now these are more for decoration than for sport. More common than hunting within an enclosed park was chasing an animal across the countryside on horseback,with a spear,arrows,and dogs and servants to assist. A hunting meet is a very exciting thing

25、to watch:huntsmen and women mounted,traditionally clad in red jackets,white jodhpurs and high boots,On their beautiful horses surrounded by barking,excited hunting dogs and anxious servants,charge across the green fields and hedgerows of the countryside.But as the reason for all this activity is to

26、chase and kill a tiny rabbit or fox,Animal Rights groups find this an unacceptable recreation for a society that is supposed to be civilised.There have been recent attempts to pass laws in Parliament to ban blood sports.These attempts have been defeated by narrow margins.Since many MPs and Lords are

27、 from wealthy families which enjoy hunting,they tend to vote against these efforts to ban one of their pastimes. Throughout the year the Britain celebrate many holidays which reflect the religious,historical,social and cultural diversity of their country.Some holidays are celebrated throughout the c

28、ountry and mark important events of the Christian calendar.Other holidays are based in local customs and traditions which reflect the variety of experience in different regions.What almost all of the holidays have in common whether they are local,regional or nationalis that they provide an opportuni

29、ty for families and friends to get together to visit,eat,exchange good wishes and enjoy each others company and hospitality.Holidays and festivals in Britain Although Britain remains a mainly Christian nation,most Britons do not go to church regularly or engage in Chreistian worship.Because of immig

30、ration and changing beliefs,most of the worlds religions are practised in Britain,with sizeable Hindu,Jewish,Muslim and Sikh communities and numerous smaller groups.The result is that although many Christian festivals are observed they have been adapted to fit the needs of a modern,secular society.I

31、t is not unusual to find non-Christians as well as Christians participating in some of the activities surrounding Christmas and Easter.Religious Holidays Christmas,December 25th,is the biggest and best loved British holiday.Schools close for the holiday period,as do shops and offices,so people can s

32、pend time at home with their families.Nowadays,Christmas is celebrated by most Britons by exchanging gifts and Christmas card,preparing holiday foods,and decrating homes and workplaces with colourde lights,Christmas trees and ornaments. There are three Christmas traditions which are particularly Bri

33、tish:one is the Christmas Pantomime,a comical musical play.The”panto”is usually based on a version of a traditional childrens story like Cinderella,written to include songs and jokes which can be enjoyed by adults and children. Another British Christmas tradition is to hear the Queen give her Christ

34、mas message to her realm over the television and radio.The British Queen is also the Queen of other nations,like Canada and Australia,and so her message is broadcast to her millions of subjects throughout the world.She usually talks about the year that has passed and expresses her hope for the futur

35、e.A third British tradition,which is also celebrated in countries with British heritages,is Boxing Day,which falls on the day after Christmas.Traditionally,it was on Boxing Day that people gave do not have servants.this custom is no longer observed and most people cannot even tell you what one is su

36、pposed to do on Boxing Day.However,a new Boxing Day custom has emerged,in the cities at least:shopping. Boxing Day is a day for visiting,eating and relaxing.For church goers it is Easter,not Christmas,which is the most improtant Christian festival.Easter commemorates the Crucifixion and Resurrection

37、 of Jesus Christ.It occurs in the spring,when schools and universities close for a break.While Christians attend many church services over the Easter period,for most people the main symbol of Easter is the Easter egg,originally a Christian symbol of new life.Nowadays people give each other chocolate

38、 or candy Easter Eggs which are often very large,elaborate and expensive.Christmas and Easter have been adopted and celebrated by non-Christian people who emphasise the secular rather than the religious aspects of the holidays.There are also many non-Christian festivals which are observed by people

39、with different beliefs and many schools and workplaces will allow such people to take time off to allow them to celebrate a particular special day.One of Britains most impressive and colourful festivals happens on the second Saturday in June when the Queens Brithday is officially celebrated by “Troo

40、ping the Colour”around Buckingham Palace in London.The UK,unlike most countries,does not have a “national day,”but the pomp and ceremony surrounding the Queen inspecting her troops draws hundreds of people.The ceremony derives from old military traditions in which regimental flags were paraded befor

41、e the monarch.In the 18th century such pageantry used to occur daily,but early in Victorias reign it was decided that this ceremony should only be held on the sovereigns brithday.British diplomats abroad will often have a special party or event to celebrate the Queens birthday.National HolidaysIt is

42、 in the local festivals of England,Wales,Northern Ireland and Scotland that the distinctive cultural and political identities of the four nations of the United Kingdom can be seen.Many festivals and customs have been invented,adopted and used to serve political or religious functions in times of con

43、flict.For example the historic battles between the Protestants and Catholics in the 17th century are commemorated,often with symbolic or even real violence,in England and Northern Ireland.Special days in Scotland and Wales demonstrate their national pride in their unipue languages and cultures and r

44、emind us that there is much more to the UK than “the English”and “England”.Holidays in the Four Nations The English do not celebrate their famous writers or battles or patron saints,although they have all these things.However,one truly English holiday is Bonfire Nightsometimes called Guy Fawkes Nigh

45、tcelebrated in the early autumn. One the evening of 5 November 1605,a plan to blow up the British Parliament,kill the Protestant King and replace him with a Catholic king was discovered.One of the conspirators,Guy Fawkes,was found in the cellars of Westminster with 36 barrels of gunpowder.He and the

46、 other members of his gang were arrested,tortured and killed.Protestant politicians decided that the Gunpowder Plot had failed because God wanted the Protestants to continue to rule England.Parliament passed a legal act calling for a “Public Thanksgiving to Almighty God”for revealing the plot,to be

47、held on the anniversary of the event.Nowadays,English people still celebrate this event in the traditional way.In early November,gangs of small children appear on British streets,often with a straw effigy called the “Guy”.EnglandThe biggest Bonfire Night celebration is held in the small medieval tow

48、n of Lewes,where torchlight parades wind through the narrow streets.The paraders wear costumes and carry models of severed heads on pikes,often dripping blood,which represent Protestantisms enemies.When the paraders reach the Bonfire,fireworks are used to fight mock battles between Catholics and Pro

49、testants.At the end of these battles,giant effigies of the Pope and Guy Fawkes are blown up with fireworks.Another festival which comes from the 17th century battles between Catholics and Protestants is the Protestant celebration of their victory at the Battle of the Boyne(12 July)in 1690.The Cathol

50、ic King James II was forced off the throne in 1688.William of Orange,affectionately known as King Billy,was invited to take the Irishboth Catholic nationsJames tried to retake the throne but his forces were defeated by King Billy on the banks of the Boyne River in County Kildare,now a part of Irelan

51、d.Northern IrelandThe Twelfth is the high point of what is known as the Marching Season,when Protestant “Orangemen”take to the streets wearing their traditional uniforms of bowler hats,black suits and orange sashes,marching through the streets singings,banging drums and playing in marching bands.The

52、 Orangemen often clashverbally,legally or sometimes violentlywith the Catholics as they attempt to parade through Catholic neighbourhoods,symbolically asserting their continued dominance over the Irish.During Orange Marches there is a massive police and army presence surrounding the parades and the

53、atmosphere can be very tense.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 15th century and is thought to have brought Christianity to Ireland.He lived in Great Britain,but at the age of

54、16 was captured by Irish raiders,taken to Ireland and made a slave.He eventually escaped and returned to Britain,where he had a dream in which the Irish begged him to return,Although his memories of years of slavery in Ireland made him hesitate,he followed this call and had a very successful mission

55、ary career.The shamrock is a popular symbol to wear on St Patricks Day,and it is also considered very lucky to wear something green.While most British people welcome the coming of the New Year with parties,in Scotland,New years Eve called Hogmanayis the major winter celebration,and overshadows Chris

56、tmas which is a very quiet affair.How Hogmanay is celebrated varies throughout Scotland,but one widely practised custom is “first footing”.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 you

57、ng,preferably dark haired and handsome man,is considered particularly lucky.First footers often brings a bottle of spirits,alcohol,a lump of coal or a peat as a gife and are given a “dram of whisky”as their reward.ScotlandEach year Scottish people all over the world celebrate their most beloved mati

58、onal poet,Robert Burns,by holding a Burns Supper on the evening of his birthday(25 January).Burns wrote mainly in the Scots dialect and his poems drew on older traditions of Scottish folk songs and stories and so have a wide popular appeal.Halloween is a Scottish festival that comes from the great f

59、east of the pagan Celts which marked the arrival of the winter half of the year.Halloween is notable for showing the darker,supernatural side of Celtic customcommunion with the dead,mischief,fortune-telling and masquerades are common practices.Children make “turnip lanterns.”Turnips are hollowed out and holes are cut to make eyes,nose and mouth.Then candles are placed inside the turnip and it is set in the windows to scare away witches and ot