HALLOWEEN join in.

Young children usually go trick or treating with parents or an older brother or

• Halloween is celebrated on 31 October. This isn't a public holiday in Britain. sister.
• Halloween is the night before the Catholic festival of All Saints and the pagan Halloween parties
Celtic festival of Samhain (1 November). If you are in Sheffield, in the north of England, at the end of October you
• Halloween is also sometimes called All Hallows' Eve or All Hallowtide and can can go to Fright Night. What is Fright Night? People in Sheffield say it's 'Britain's
also be written Hallowe'en. Biggest Halloween Party' and it attracts about 40,000 people each year. There are
• Halloween colours are orange and black. Orange is related to harvests because the activities for kids, teenagers and adults including a fancy dress catwalk, urban dance,
end of October is the end of the harvest. Black is related to death. a monster in the fountain and a zombie garden, as well as the traditional apple
In the UK Halloween traditions are very much alive and popular, especially bobbing and a competition for the best pumpkin lantern. If you don't have a big
amongst kids and teenagers. We looked at some of the most common. Halloween party in your area, some people have parties at home or at youth clubs
Pumpkin lanterns where they dress up and play scary games or tell ghost stories.
These are pumpkins with the inside removed and eyes, mouth and a nose Watch a horror film
cut into one side. A candle is placed inside the empty pumpkin and the light creates a Not in the mood for a Halloween party? Older teenagers that aren't helping
scary face effect. In the past people used potatoes or turnips to make lanterns but their younger sisters and brothers to trick or treat sometimes watch a scary film with
nowadays pumpkins are more popular. They are easier to cut and you can buy them friends either at home or at the cinema. Any film with the words 'Halloween',
in supermarkets. People use pumpkin lanterns to decorate their homes at Halloween. 'Vampire', 'Dead' or 'Zombie' in the title is probably going to be quite scary.
Do people actually eat their pumpkins? Yes, they do! Pumpkin soup and pumpkin In the UK films are divided into categories depending on whether they are
curry are very popular meals at this time of year. for children, teens or adults. 'U' films are suitable for all ages, '15' films are for
Apple bobbing people aged 15 or over and '18' films are for adults only. Many cinemas in the UK
To play this game, lots of apples are placed in a large tub or bowl of water. show old black-and-white, classic horror films such as Psycho on the night of 31
The competitors have to take a bite from one of the apples without using their hands. October. Interestingly, you needed to be over 18 to see Psycho at the cinema in 1960.
To make this more difficult, the competitors have their eyes covered with a scarf. Now, though, the film has a '15' rating.
You are not allowed to use the sides of the bowl to help you bite the apple. This Happy Halloween!
game often involves getting very wet so it's a good idea to bring a towel! Apple EXERCISES
bobbing may be related to the ancient Roman festival of remembering the dead, Exercise 1. Match the vocabulary with the correct definition.
which was also in October. The Romans remembered the goddess of trees and fruit, 1. a costume a. the time of year when fruit and vegetables are collected on farms
called Pomona. When they came to the UK, about 2,000 years ago, they continued 2. a pumpkin b. a light that has a handle and can be carried or hung up
with this tradition. 3. a fright c. a large, orange, football-sized vegetable
Dressing up 4. a lantern d. to wear special clothes
People of all ages dress up on Halloween. The most popular fancy dress 5. harvest e. a set of special clothes
costumes include witches, vampires, ghosts, skeletons, zombies and monsters. You 6. to dress up f. a scary or frightening thing or event
can buy a costume from a shop or you can make your own one at home. It's easy to Exercise 2. Circle True or False for these sentences.
make a ghost costume from an old white sheet or wear black clothes to look like a 1. People celebrate Halloween on 31 October in Britain. True False
witch. You can even paint 'blood' dripping from your mouth using bright red tomato 2. Halloween is not a public holiday in the UK. True False
ketchup to look like a vampire! What would you choose? Rachel, 14, from Liverpool 3. Halloween lanterns are usually made from potatoes. True False
says, 'If you go trick or treating it's best to dress up as a witch. You don't need a bag 4. Apple bobbing is a game which involves apples, water and a bowl. True False
for the sweets - you can just use your witch's hat!' 5. Only children dress up at Halloween. True False
Trick or treating 6. Trick or treating is an American custom that is now popular in Britain. True
Children dress up and then visit the houses in their neighbourhood asking False
for a 'trick or treat'. The neighbour gives them sweets or money as a 'treat'. If there is 7. Fright Night is a big Halloween party in the north of England. True False
no treat, the children play a trick on the neighbour, for example they might throw 8. The film Psycho is suitable for all ages. True False
soap at the window. Some people think that playing tricks is unkind but luckily there Exercise 3. Write the words in the correct group.
is nearly always a treat. This custom is imported from the USA and is more popular soup pumpkin vampire curry ghost zombie
with young people than with adults. The police in some parts of Britain give out 'No apples sweets skeleton witch tomato ketchup monster
trick or treat, please!' posters for people to display on their door if they don't want to  Food.......................................................................................................................
 Halloween characters...........................................................................................
 BONFIRE NIGHT EXERCISES
In the UK, Bonfire Night (or Guy Fawkes Night) is celebrated on 5
November and the night skies are filled with colour. It’s a special day in honour of a Exercise 1. Match the words with the definitions.
historic event. 1. a bonfire a. the main government buildings in the UK
The history 2. a penny b. a type of explosive material
The year was 1605 and some English Catholics were angry because King 3. a barrel c. a large wooden container
James I was treating them badly. In November of that year, a group of men made a 4. gunpowder d. a large fire in the open air
plan to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London. An enormous explosion was 5. a firework e. a rocket that explodes in the sky, making bright light
planned for 5 November. This was the day that the king was due to open Parliament. 6. the Houses of Parliament f. a small coin in the UK
The plan became known as the ‘Gunpowder Plot’ and the leader of the group was
called Guy Fawkes. The men put 36 barrels of gunpowder in the Houses of Exercise 2. Complete the sentences with the correct number.
Parliament and waited for the king to arrive. The group decided that Guy Fawkes 18, 9, I (the first), 36, 1605, 5
should light the gunpowder and cause the explosion. Did they succeed? No, they 1. A group of people wanted to kill King James ….. .
didn’t. The police found the gunpowder before it exploded and they caught all the 2. Guy Fawkes planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament in ….. .
men involved in the plot. The men were tortured and killed. To celebrate his 3. Guy Fawkes and his men put ….. barrels of explosives in the Houses of
survival, King James ordered the people of England to have a bonfire on the night of Parliament.
5 November. 4. People remember the plot by enjoying fireworks and bonfires on ….. November.
Bonfires, Guys and fireworks 5. Edenbridge in Kent burns a ….. -metre Guy on a bonfire every year.
On 5 November, people remember the plot to blow up the Houses of 6. People under ….. can’t buy fireworks in the UK.
Parliament by celebrating ‘Bonfire Night’. All over Britain there are firework
displays and bonfires with models of Guy Fawkes, which are burned on the fire. The Exercise 3. Match to make correct sentences about the text.
Guy is made of old clothes and the clothes are filled with newspaper. The fireworks a) An enormous explosion were tortured and killed.
are a reminder of the gunpowder that Guy Fawkes hid in the cellar of Parliament. b) The plan to blow up are filled with newspaper to help it burn.
Some people have a small bonfire in their garden on 5 November, while in main the Houses of Parliament
towns and cities there are big bonfires and firework displays. c) Guy Fawkes and his men is known as the ‘Gunpowder Plot’.
The biggest firework display is the Edenbridge Display in Kent. Edenbridge d) Models of Guy Fawkes are cooked on the bonfire.
also has the biggest Guy: a nine-metre ‘celebrity’ model is burned there every year. e) The Guy is made with old clothes.
Last year the celebrity Guy was Wayne Rooney wearing Shrek-style ears and a f) The Guy’s clothes were sold to children.
football shirt. g) Potatoes was planned for 5 November.
Food h) In the past, fireworks are burned on fires.
It’s normally quite cold in November in Britain, so on Bonfire Night people Exercise 4. Complete the sentences with the correct active or passive verb form.
wear hats, scarves and gloves to spend the evening outside. They need some warm 1. We ___ a big party for Bonfire Night last year. planned/were planned
food too. Traditional Bonfire Night food is hot baked potatoes. They are cooked on 2. A lot ___ about the history of Bonfire Night. knows/is known
the bonfire and filled with butter and cheese. There are also toffee apples (apples on 3. Is it true that the king ___ Guy Fawkes? tortured/was tortured
a stick, covered in sweet toffee) and in the north of England they eat a special type of 4. British people ___ Guys on bonfires in local parks or in private gardens.
cake called parkin. Toasting marshmallows on the bonfire is also popular. Yum! burn/are burned
Penny for the Guy 5. Is the Guy ___ with old clothes? makes/made
In Britain only adults can buy fireworks but in the past they were sold to
children too. During the days before Bonfire Night, children used to take their home-
made Guys onto the streets and ask for ‘a penny for the Guy’ to collect money to buy
fireworks. Now you have to be over 18 to buy fireworks, and safety on Bonfire Night
is an important issue.

THANKSGIVING DAY
 Although it is unsure when the first Thanksgiving dinner actually took years, but the first official pardoning happened in 1989 when George Bush senior
place, the United States celebrates it on every 4th Thursday in November. In Canada, stopped a turkey from ending up on the table as the main course.
it's always celebrated on the 2nd Monday in October. Most businesses are closed,
and children don't go to school for 4 days. People travel across the country to be with EXERCISES
their families and celebrate being reunited with a big dinner. It's a time to be thankful Exercise 1. Find the correct answer to the questions below.
for all that they have. 1. When is Thanksgiving celebrated in Canada?
The tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving was started by Native American a. the beginning of September
Indians and the Pilgrims. The Pilgrims travelled from England to Holland, and then b. the beginning of October
half-way around the world to America to escape persecution and find religious c. the beginning of May
freedom. 2. How many people travelled from England in 1620 on one ship to America?
In the year 1620, 102 men, women and children travelled across the a. 40 b. 102 c. 120
Atlantic Ocean on a ship called the Mayflower. They arrived on the North West 3. What is another name for Thanksgiving?
coast of North America at a place they called Plymouth, and started a colony there. a. New World Day b. Macy's Day c. Turkey Day
It was already winter when they arrived and it was too late to grow crops. Exercise 2. Read the text again and put T (true) or F (false) next to each
They immediately started to build small houses. It was a long, cold winter and half of statement below.
the settlers became sick. By spring, many of them had died. 1. Thanksgiving is always in early November. …….
The Native American Indians gave the Pilgrims food and taught them how 2. The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted one day. ………
to survive in their new home. They showed them how to grow corn, how to hunt and 3. The settlers were able to grow crops immediately in America. ………
which plants they could eat. So, the Pilgrims were able to continue their new life 4. Many of the settlers didn't make it through the first winter. ……….
with a sense of hope. Everyone now had food and a home. The Indians and the 5. The Indians brought very little food to the first Thanksgiving. ………..
Pilgrims soon became allies, and later signed a peace treaty. 6. Every year the president saves a turkey from being eaten on Thanksgiving.
To celebrate the excellent harvest and new relationships, the governor of ……….
the new colony invited the Native Americans for a large feast. The Indians brought Exercise 3. Find a word or phrase in the article which means...
five deer, goose, duck, turkey, fish, shellfish, and fruit and vegetables such as 1. the group of English people who sailed to America ……..
pumpkins. The celebration continued for three days. 2. unfair treatment because of someone's religious beliefs or race …….
Now almost 400 years later, many people think that the story of how 3. the right to act, speak or think without limits ……..
Thanksgiving started is just that - a story. In modern times, 'Turkey Day' (an 4. a place that is controlled by another country where people from that country live
informal name for Thanksgiving), is a special holiday for both Americans and ……..
Canadians. Although there are slight differences, the two countries agree that roast 5. people or countries who help and support each other ……….
turkey is the symbol of this holiday dinner. For Americans, no Thanksgiving meal 6. a written agreement between countries so that they don't fight each other ……..
would be complete without corn on the cob, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, 7. a large, special meal for a lot of people to celebrate something …….
yams, cranberry sauce and of course the famous pumpkin pie. With so many dishes 8. large vehicles that are decorated and used in parades ……….
to be prepared for this one evening, most of the family helps out in the kitchen. To Exercise 4. Complete the sentences with the verbs in the correct form.
prepare the turkey, first it is stuffed with seasoning mix and then roasted. When itâs carve hold pardon reunite roast serve stuff
cooked itâs served and carved at the table and families feast together. 1. Most people a turkey the night before Thanksgiving, so it's ready to
Many organizations in America prepare free Thanksgiving meals for those go in the oven.
that are less fortunate. In NYC, The Feeding NYC project prepares and sends food 2. We chestnuts on the fire last Christmas.
to over 35,000 families for this holiday. 3. You need a sharp knife to the turkey.
The city also holds an annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with floats 4. What time do you the turkey at a Thanksgiving dinner?
and balloons. 5. The family at the airport and then went for pizza at their favourite
Thanksgiving traditions vary depending on the region, but playing backyard restaurant.
football on Turkey Day with family and friends has been a tradition across the 6. The Truman family always a festive New Year's Eve dinner party.
country since the 19th century. The NFL traditionally holds a series of games that are 7. The prisoner was by the president. He was free to go.
played during Thanksgiving weekend in the United States.
The annual White House tradition of pardoning the turkey is televised and
watched by millions. Turkeys have been given to presidents for Thanksgiving for CHRISTMAS
 Christmas in the UK is the biggest holiday of the year. Family gatherings, Snow
turkey, presents and parties are just some of the things that come to mind when we Snow at Christmas is part of British culture. You often see it on Christmas
think about Christmas time. Christmas can mean different things to different people. cards, you can buy fake snow to decorate your house and there are even songs about
For many people it means eating a lot, spending time with family and visiting snow at Christmas. It doesn't snow every year in UK, but many people hope for a
relatives and friends. For children it often means presents, presents and more white Christmas. People can bet on whether it will snow or not on 25 December too.
presents! Turkey and crackers
The origins of Christmas Christmas dinner is usually eaten at midday or early afternoon. It usually
In ancient times people had mid-winter festivals when the days were short includes roast turkey, vegetables and potatoes. There are also lots of alternatives to
and the nights were very long. They believed that their ceremonies would help the the turkey dinner for vegetarians who prefer a meat-free Christmas. For dessert,
sun's power return. The Romans decorated their homes with green plants in there's a rich, fruity cake called Christmas pudding. Traditionally, a Christmas
December to remind Saturn, their harvest god, to return the following spring. In the cracker is placed next to each person. When you pull the cracker with the person
year 440 the Christian church decided that the birth of Christ should be celebrated next to you, you hear a loud 'bang!' and a paper hat, a joke and a small gift fall from
every year on 25 December. Some of these ancient customs were adopted by early the cracker. You have to wear the hat, tell the joke to the other people at the table
Christians as part of their celebrations of the birthday of Jesus Christ. Green plants and keep the gift.
are still used to decorate many British homes in December. At Christmas we cover EXERCISES
trees (real ones or reusable synthetic trees) with shiny balls and flashing lights! Exercise 1. Match the vocabulary with the correct definition.
Cards and presents 1. a charity a. a tube made of card that goes 'bang' when you pull it
It's very common to send Christmas cards to friends, family, colleagues, 2. a department store b. a bird, similar to a chicken but larger
classmates and neighbors in the weeks leading up to 25 December. Christmas is 3. a chimney c. a type of large shop that sells many different things
traditionally a time for helping other people and giving money to charities. Many 4. the music charts d. an organization that tries to help people
people send charity cards, where a percentage of the price of each card goes to 5. to bet (on something) e. having a strong, heavy or sweet flavor
charity. People send fewer cards than in the past as they now send Christmas 6. a turkey f. to try to win money by guessing correctly
greetings by email or via Facebook. Christmas presents are reserved for close friends what is going to happen in the future
and family. Traditionally the giving of a gift is symbolic of the Three Wise Men 7. a Christmas cracker g. a list of the best-selling songs at the moment
giving their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. Popular presents 8. rich (flavor) h. a part of a house above a fire that lets the smoke out
for young people in the UK in recent years include a smartphone, a PlayStation and Exercise 2. Circle True or False for these sentences.
80s retro fashion. 1. Some modern Christmas traditions date from Roman times. True False
Father Christmas (aka Santa Claus) 2. British people send money to friends, family and neighbors at Christmas. True
Every year small children tell Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus, False
exactly what presents they would like to receive. They can write him a letter with a 3. Gold, frankincense and myrrh are popular Christmas presents for young people in
list of requests or they can visit him personally in one of the large department stores the UK. True False
across Britain in the weeks before Christmas. On the night of 24 December, Father 4. Santa Claus is another name for Father Christmas. True False
Christmas travels through the sky on a sleigh pulled by magic reindeers and delivers 5. A song by Rage Against the Machine was the best-selling song at Christmas one
presents to children across Britain. How does he enter the children's houses? Via the year. True False
chimney, of course! 6. It doesn't always snow at Christmas in Britain. True False
The Christmas number one 7. A Christmas cracker is a type of dessert. True False
Every year, for a few weeks around Christmas time, the UK music charts go 8. Only Christians celebrate Christmas. True False
mad. Groups and singers who normally make cool music create a song that they hope Exercise 3. Circle the best preposition to complete these sentences.
will be number one - the best-selling song on Christmas Day. The Christmas number 1. The Romans decorated their homes with green plants in / on / at December.
one is written about in newspapers, talked about on the radio and people can even bet 2. In the year 440, the Christian church decided that the birth of Christ should be
money in betting shops to see which song will win the race. Recently, the Christmas celebrated every year in / on / at 25 December.
number one has been dominated by singers who have won reality television 3. In / On / At Christmas we cover trees with shiny balls and flashing lights.
competitions. However, some music fans are not happy about this dominance. One 4. In / On / At the night of 24 December, Father Christmas travels through the sky.
year, they started an anti-corporate Facebook campaign to try and prevent the
Christmas number one being another reality show song. Instead, they encouraged NEW YEAR
people to buy a song by the rock band Rage Against the Machine. They won!
 New Year’s Eve celebrations start in the evening on 31 December in the
UK. Some young people go to parties and others stay at home with their family. EXERCISES
After the celebrations, it’s traditional to make plans for the New Year on 1 January.
These plans are called ‘New Year’s resolutions’ and the idea is to make some Exercise 1. Match the words with the definitions.
positive changes in your life. Some of the most popular resolutions are: to do more a. Hogmanay to strongly decide that you are going to do something
exercise, to stop smoking, to eat more healthily, to save money and to learn b. New Year’s Eve 31 December
something new. c. to stay up 1 January
We asked young people around the UK about their plans and resolutions for d. New Year’s Day to stay awake and not go to bed at your usual time
the New Year. e. to make a resolution the name of the New Year celebrations in Scotland
Mary, 17, Glasgow - In Scotland, we celebrate Hogmanay at New Year.
Last year I went to Edinburgh, our capital city, to the Hogmanay Street Party. It was Exercise 2. Are the sentences true or false?
epic! There were lots of cool bands – I saw Kasabian and Franz Ferdinand. The 1. New Year’s Eve is on 31 December every year. True False
fireworks were amazing too. I think there were nearly 100,000 people there! I’m 2. New Year’s resolutions often involve health and money. True False
going again this year. My resolutions for this year are to be nicer to my little brother, 3. Hogmanay is celebrated at New Year in England. True False
spend less money on clothes and stop biting my nails. 4. It’s traditional to go swimming in Brighton on New Year’s Eve. True False
Ben, 16, Brighton - What are my plans? Well, I’m going swimming with 5. People sing a song called ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at the start of the New Year. True
my parents on the New Year’s Day swim this year. It’s freezing cold in the water but False
it is a fun way to start the year. Quite a lot of people meet on Brighton beach for this 6. Most British people know all the words to ‘Auld Lang Syne’. True False
first swim of the year. I hope it doesn’t snow! I won’t be partying the night before
because I’m not really a party kind of person. My family usually have a quiet Exercise 3. Fill the gaps with the correct name from the list.
evening and watch the celebrations on TV. My resolutions are to do my homework Mary Stuart Ben Sophie
on time, eat less junk food, save up for a motorbike and remember my girlfriend’s 2. ….. is going to a street party in Scotland.
birthday this year! 3. ….. is going to sing a song.
Sophie, 18, Newcastle upon Tyne - This New Year’s Eve I’m going to the 4. ….. will be in a foreign country on New Year’s Eve.
centre of Newcastle with my sisters and friends to see in the New Year. I love being 5. ….. wants to stop biting her nails.
in a crowd when the clocks strike midnight. Everyone kisses each other at twelve 6. ….. isn’t going to make any New Year’s resolutions.
o’clock. Then we all sing a song called ‘Auld Lang Syne’ – it’s really funny because 7. ….. doesn’t like parties.
nobody can remember the words! We will probably get back home at four or five in 8. ….. wants to learn to play a musical instrument.
the morning. As for my resolutions, I’m going to learn how to play the guitar, go 9. ….. wants to have a healthier diet.
running every day and study hard to get good grades for university.
Stuart, 14, Devon - I’m going snowboarding in Spain with my cousin and Exercise 4. Fill the gaps with the correct verb from the list.
my parents. I want to stay up till midnight on New Year’s Eve but maybe I’ll be too spend, go, remember, eat, be, do, save up, study
tired after snowboarding all day. My New Year’s resolution is to not make any New 1) ….. nicer to my little brother
Year’s resolutions. They are impossible to keep! 2) ….. my girlfriend’s birthday this year
Lots of Brits make New Year’s resolutions and then after a week or a month 3) ….. less junk food
they find it difficult to continue. How can people keep their resolutions? 4) ….. running every day
Life coach Emma Nesdale gives some advice. 5) ….. my homework on time
’Make simple resolutions that are easy to do. If you want to lose weight you 6) ….. hard to get good grades for university
can decide to give up crisps and cakes rather than go on a strict diet. It’s a good idea 7) ….. less money on clothes
to write your resolutions on a piece of paper to help you remember your plans. It’s 8) …… for a motorbike
easier to stick to your resolutions if you involve other people. You could go running
with a friend or study for exams with a classmate.’
Happy New Year! V A L E N T I N E' S DAY
 February 14th is traditionally a celebration of love.
Cards
Sending a Valentine's card to a loved one is a custom that started more than
a century ago. Couples give cards to each other, but it is also traditional to send an
anonymous card to anyone you secretly love. This practice is particularly common in
schools and can be a source of great amusement and embarrassment as everyone tries
to work out who sent a card and who has a secret admirer! Valentine's Day symbols
on cards include hearts designs, doves, and the figure of the winged angel, Cupid.
Poems
The card might also feature a poem. Probably the most famous lines from a
Valentine's Day poem are: Roses are red, violets are blue,
Honey is sweet, and so are you.
There are some ironic variations on this poem such as:
Roses are red, violets are blue,
You look like a monkey and smell like one too!
Mobile love
Millions of people use digital means of creating and sending Valentine's
Day greeting messages such as e-cards, social media posts or printable greeting
cards. Texting your Valentine message is an easy (although maybe not very
romantic!) option. Valentine's Day text messages include:
• WUBMV - will you be my Valentine • xoxoxoxoxo - hugs and kisses
• LUWAM<3 - love you with all my heart • ImRdy4Luv - I'm ready for
love
• :'-) - I'm so happy, I'm crying • ILUVU - I love you
Flowers and chocolates
As well as cards, February 14th is also a day for giving gifts. Traditionally,
men give chocolates or flowers to their wives or girlfriends. There are lots of
websites offering advice on which Valentine's present to buy. Popular choices
include red roses, a box of chocolates, romantic songs, a phone, jewellery, a photo
frame or perfume.
Unusual gifts
Some people think that flowers and chocolates seem a little ordinary and so
they look for a more unusual gift. For romantic people with plenty of cash, these
gifts could include a helicopter flight, a balloon ride, the chance to test-drive a
Ferrari or an all-day session at a health club. Others, however, complain that
Valentine's Day is yet another opportunity for ever-increasing commercialism. For
true romantics, the gift of love is enough. Valentine's Day is a popular day to either
propose or get married - you'd never forget your wedding anniversary!
Valentine's Day: love it or hate it?
We asked a few Brits about their views on Valentine's Day and here's what
they said. Following the tradition of Valentine's Day, all the comments below are
anonymous.
 'Love it! I always send cards to my mates - and my boyfriend, of course.'
 'I would prefer to go without it. I don't want gifts or money or anything like that.
Knowing that I'm appreciated and that I can make others happy is good enough
for me.'
 'I got a card last year - but I still don't know who sent it. I haven't got a
girlfriend.'
 'My mum sends me a card every year. It's sort of sweet but I think I'm getting a
bit old for that now.'
 'It's just really humiliating. I've never received a Valentine's card in my life. A
day to switch off my phone because I know I'm not going to get any messages.'
 'My boyfriend sent me a text message last year on Valentine's Day. I suppose
that's kind of romantic but I'd rather have a present or even a real card.'
 'I sent an anonymous Valentine's card to a boy in my class when I was younger.
Then my brother told him it was from me. I was so embarrassed!'
 'I'm single so it's definitely irritating. It's too commercial anyway.'
 'If a girl likes me I don't need to waste money sending her a card just because
it's a tradition.'
EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Match the vocabulary with the correct definition.
1. to propose (to smb.) a. something that people normally do in a particular country
2. a custom b. a present; something that you give to another person
3. commercial c. without a name
4. a gift d. a person who sends a card to somebody that he/she likes,
but without saying who sent it
5. a secret admirer e. related to buying and selling
6. anonymous f. to ask somebody to marry you
Exercise 2. Circle True or False for these sentences.
1. Valentine's Day is on February 14th. TrueFalse
2. It's traditional to send cards secretly on Valentine's Day. True False
3. WUBMV means 'Will you buy me a Valentine's card'. True False
4. Chocolates and flowers are popular presents on February 14th. True False
5. It's unlucky to get married on Valentine's Day. True False
6. All British people love Valentine's Day. True False
Exercise 3. Circle the best word to complete these sentences.
1. Is it traditional / traditionally / tradition to give presents on February 14th in your
country?
2. We have a similar traditional / traditionally / tradition but it's in April.
3. I think I've got a secret / secretly / secretive admirer!
4. If someone secret / secretly / secretive loves you, maybe you'll receive a card on
Valentine's Day.
5. Sending a card anonymously / anonymous / anonymity is a crazy idea!
6. Don't write your name on the card if you want to be anonymously / anonymous /
anonymity.
7. Do you think British people are romance / romantic / romantically?
8. He gave me some songs called 'Music for love and romance / romantic /
romantically'. Do you think he likes me?
I N T E R N A T I O N A L W O M E N'S D A Y
What is International Women’s Day?
 International Women’s Day takes place every year on 8 March to celebrate
the achievements of women all over the world. It started with a protest that took
place in New York City in 1908 where women went out onto the streets to demand
the right to vote, shorter working hours and better pay. Since then it has taken many
forms and today it’s a global event that is supported by lots of charities, NGOs,
governments and academic institutions. In some countries March 8 is an official
holiday, but in most it’s a normal working day.
Why do we need an International Women’s Day?
In today's world it may appear that women have all the same opportunities
as men. If you watch the news you will see women astronauts, women prime
ministers and women leaders in business. However, if you look at the statistics you
realise there’s still a long way to go. The BBC did a report a few years ago that
showed that in the UK women occupied only 30.9% of the most senior positions
across a range of jobs in areas like politics, business and policing. So, although
progress has been made since 1908, there is still a lot to do before we see an equal
number of men and women in the top jobs and receiving equal pay.
How is IWD celebrated in the UK?
A lot of special events take place in towns and cities all over the UK to
celebrate International Women’s Day. There are exhibitions, theatre shows, talks,
discussions, walking tours, films, workshops, fun runs and so much more. All the
events are designed to celebrate the role of women in society and to make us all take
a step back and think about the progress that has been made, but also about the
changes that still need to take place to ensure the world is a fair and equal place for
all its citizens. To find out what is happening in your country have a look on the
events page of the International Women's Day website.
Think globally and act locally
The message for women around the world is to ‘think globally and act
locally’. This means to learn about some of the key issues that women face around
the world and then to try to take action close to home. Emma Watson, the actress
who played Hermione in the Harry Potter films, is a great example of someone who
is doing something to raise awareness about the issues that women face globally. She
has launched a campaign called HeForShe, which aims to get people talking at all
levels about gender equality. The aim is to create a ‘gender-equal world’. The
HeForShe campaign makes it very clear that it’s the role of men as well as women to
make changes in all areas of their lives, both at work and in the family, to help make
this possible. With the support of UN Women, the United Nations organisation to
support women, Emma’s campaign is surely going to make a big impact.
The future
Can you imagine a future where there’s no need at all to even have an
International Women’s Day? Where there is total equality for men and women?
Hmmm … something to think about but perhaps in your lifetime this could happen!?
EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Match the words with the definitions.
a) an achievement a non-governmental organisation (similar to a charity)
b) a protest a series of actions to achieve a particular goal
c) global involving the whole world
d) an NGO a subject or a problem that people are discussing
e) a citizen a person’s identity as male or female
f) to raise awareness something positive that you work hard to do
g) an issue to increase knowledge and understanding
h) to launch a public event to show disagreement with something
i) a campaign to introduce something new
j) gender a person who lives in and belongs to a particular place
Exercise 2. Are the sentences true or false?
1. International Women's Day takes place every year on March 9. True False
2. International Women's Day is only celebrated in a few countries. True False
3. International Women's Day started over a hundred years ago. True False
4. All women around the world can have a holiday on March 8. True False
5. The idea of International Women's Day is to raise awareness about all issues that
affect women. True False
6. Less than a third of the top jobs in the UK are occupied by women. True False
7. Emma Watson’s campaign is called SheForHer. True False
8. The HeForShe campaign only involves women and men aren’t allowed to take
part. True False
Exercise 3. Fill the gaps with the correct words from the list.
global, issue, raising awareness, achievement, launch, campaign, protest, gender
1. It was a real ….. to become the first female astronaut.
2. When a lot of people disagree with something they can organise a …. in a public
space, to make their voices heard.
3. A …. event involves lots of countries from all around the world.
4. Emma Watson's HeforShe campaign is ….. about gender equality.
5. When you want to tell a lot of people about a new project you ….. it by talking to
the press.
6. A ….. is a series of actions to reach a goal.
7. A person's ….. is their identity as male or female.
8. A problem or subject can also be called an ….. .
A P R I L F O O L’S DAY
When and what is April Fool’s Day?
 April Fool’s Day is on 1 April. It’s the custom in the UK to play a trick or a April Fool’s Day is a great idea. It’s easy to forget the actual date and I
joke on someone on this day. If the person falls for the joke, then they are called an always believe everything I read in the newspapers or watch on the TV news. I
‘April Fool’. In fact, it’s only half a day because April Fool’s Day finishes at usually believe the big national hoaxes and it always makes me laugh afterwards. It’s
midday. No more jokes after lunchtime, please! good to remind us that maybe we shouldn’t always believe everything we hear in the
What kind of tricks do people play? news. Louise
Here are some April Fool’s tricks from around the world: April Fool’s Day is fun when you’re young. I remember putting a plastic
In the 1990s Burger King published an advert in the magazine USA fried egg on my dad’s plate for breakfast as a trick. He decided to cut it up and
Today offering new ‘Left-handed Whoppers’ (hamburgers) for the 32 million left- pretend to eat it! Now I think some of the tricks are a bit silly and people can be a bit
handed Americans! Thousands of customers ordered the new burger in the cruel playing tricks on their ‘friends’! Clare
restaurants. So watch out this year on 1 April!
A zoo in Japan said that they had a giant penguin that was 165cm tall and
weighed 80kg! In fact, it was a man dressed up in a penguin suit. EXERCISES
One year in the UK a children’s news programme said that scientists had Exercise 1. Match the words with the definitions.
invented a ‘Brain Band’. It was a coloured head band that you put on your head and a. I don’t mind a silly person
it helped to make you more intelligent! In an on-line poll, 47 per cent of the children b. a day off to do something funny
who heard the news wanted to buy a ‘brain band’! c. to have a laugh it’s not a problem for me
In 1949 a radio presenter in New Zealand told listeners that there were millions d. really good fun very enjoyable
of wasps coming to invade. He told viewers to wear their socks over their trousers e. to get in trouble to enjoy yourself and have a good time
and to put honey on their doors. Millions of listeners believed him! f. to play a trick to be punished for doing something wrong
In 1976 a very famous British astronomer told radio listeners that at 9.47 a.m. g. a fool a joke or trick on the entire country
the earth was going to experience a feeling of less gravity. He said that Jupiter and h. a national hoax a day when you don’t go to work or school
Pluto would cross and if listeners jumped in the air at exactly 9.47 a.m. they would Exercise 2. Are the sentences true or false?
feel the sensation of having no gravity! Hundreds of listeners phoned the radio to say 1. April Fool’s Day is on 13 April. True False
they had jumped and floated in the air! 2. You can play tricks on people all day on April Fool’s Day. True False
Ikea announced that the shop had launched a dog highchair (highchairs are 3. An April Fool is a person who plays a joke on someone after midday. True
usually for babies!) named 'HUNDSTOL' (Swedish for dog chair). Google ‘IKEA False
dog high chair’ for more details. 4. The media and international companies invent stories to trick people on April
The free London newspaper, Metro, came up with a novel idea to deal with the
Fool’s Day. True False
problem of litter on the underground (unfortunately it was only a joke). They said
5. People play tricks on their friends and family on April Fool’s Day. True False
that the newspaper was now edible – ‘the only paper that you can eat after reading’.
A British newspaper announced that Portugal had ‘sold’ Cristiano Ronaldo, the 6. Most people don’t like April Fool’s Day. True False
footballer, to Spain for €160 million. Why? To try to clear its national debt. It was a Exercise 3. Complete the summaries of the April Fool’s Day news.
joke, of course. dogs, burgers, penguin, paper, invention, insects, planets, sportsperson
Do people actually like April Fool’s Day? 1. A fast-food chain advertised ….. for left-handed people.
We asked some Brits this question. This is what they said: 2. A man pretended to be an extra-large ….. at a Japanese zoo.
I love April Fool’s Day. It can be really good fun. I love playing tricks on 3. A TV programme told children about an ….. which can make you more
people and I don’t mind if people play tricks on me. It’s one day of the year you can intelligent.
be really silly and have a laugh and it’s OK. You have to be quite sensible for the 4. Radio listeners were worried about ….. in New Zealand.
other 364 days of the year, so I look forward to 1 April. Malisa 5. An astronomer said that the position of the …..would change gravity.
I don’t like April Fool’s Day. It makes me a bit nervous. I keep thinking 6. A shop told customers about a special piece of furniture for ….. .
someone is about to play a trick on me. When 12 o’clock passes I feel quite relieved 7. A London newspaper told readers that their news was printed on edible ….. .
that it’s finished for another year! Johnny 8. The British media said that Portugal sold a top ….. to solve the country’s financial
When I was at school, April Fool’s Day was always good fun. We played
problems.
tricks on each other and sometimes on the teacher. In fact, one year one of the boys
at school put a bucket of water on top of the door and when the chemistry teacher
EASTER
came in, he got very wet! It was funny, but the boy got in big trouble! Phil
 In the UK, schools close for about two weeks at Easter time. Read on to Exercise 1. Match the vocabulary with the correct definition.
find out more about how Easter is celebrated in Britain. 1. packaging a. the season after winter when plants grow again
What does it mean? 2. a chick b. a day when most shops, offices and schools
Easter is a spring festival of new life. As a pagan tradition, it is the in a country are closed
beginning of growth and new life after the cold, winter months. The name comes 3. a public holiday c. a baby chicken
from the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn and spring - Eostre. For Christians, 4. extraordinary d. the paper or plastic around something to protect it
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and practicing Christians attend 5. spring e. to do something but not do it too much
special church services at Easter time. Easter celebrates life and rebirth, which is 6. to do something in moderation f. really amazing or unusual
why we see lots of symbols of new life and fertility at Easter, like eggs, chicks and Exercise 2. Circle True or False for these sentences.
rabbits. 1. Easter is a summer festival. True False
When is it? 2. The exact date of Easter is different every year. True False
Unlike Christmas, Easter isn't on the same date each year. It takes place on 3. The Easter holiday is two weeks long for everyone in the UK. True False
the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring. Schoolchildren and students in the 4. Chocolate eggs are extremely popular. True False
UK have about a two-week holiday at Easter time, which is almost as long as the 5. Doctors and dentists say that people should not eat any Easter eggs. True False
Christmas holiday. It's also the first public holiday after Christmas and everyone 6. In an egg hunt, children hide eggs for adults to find. True False
looks forward to their Easter break as a moment to relax, have a short holiday or visit Exercise 3. Circle the best answer to complete these sentences.
family and friends. 1. Easter celebrates / is celebrated life and rebirth.
Chocolate eggs 2. The name Easter comes / is come from Eostre, the goddess of the dawn and spring.
For most British children, Easter means chocolate Easter eggs. The shops 3. Christians attend / are attended special church services at Easter time.
are full of bright Easter displays decorated with chicks, rabbits and flowers, all with 4. The eggs sell / are sold in cardboard boxes.
the objective of selling chocolate eggs in huge numbers. And it works! 90 million 5. Some people believe that too much chocolate eats / is eaten at Easter.
chocolate eggs are sold in the UK each year and each child receives on average eight 6. Chickens' eggs paint and decorate / are painted and decorated to give as presents.
chocolate eggs. 7. Eggs also hide / are also hidden for children to find.
However, the eggs are sold in cardboard boxes and sometimes there's more 8. Hot cross buns are typical cakes that make / are made at Easter time.
packaging than chocolate! Also, some people believe that too much chocolate is Exercise 4. Complete the sentences with a preposition from the list.
eaten and most doctors and dentists would advise people to eat Easter eggs in as at in (x2)
moderation. of (x2) on to
Other 'egg-straordinary' traditions 1. Easter is a spring festival new life.
In the UK, chocolate is definitely the most popular way to enjoy eggs at 2. Christians attend special church services Easter.
Easter. But there are some less sugary traditions, too. Chickens' eggs are painted and 3. Easter isn't the same date every year.
decorated to give as presents, and eggs are also hidden for children to find as part of 4. Everyone looks forward their Easter break.
an 'egg hunt'. Some places even hold competitions to see who can roll an egg down a 5. The shops are full bright Easter displays.
hill without it breaking! 6. The aim of most shops is to sell chocolate eggs huge numbers.
There are other special foods too. Hot cross buns are typical cakes that are 7. Dentists would advise people to eat Easter eggs moderation.
made at Easter time. They are spiced bread rolls with raisins and they always have a 8. Eggs are painted and decorated to give presents.
cross shape on top. They are delicious toasted with butter.

EXERCISES
EDINBURGH SUMMER FESTIVALS
Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is famous for its summer festivals. 1. jazz and blues a. a special day or days with fun things to see and
Edinburgh is the world’s festival city. There are twelve festivals throughout do
the year, half of which are celebrated during the months of July and August. 2. to take place b. to sing, dance, act/do something else with
Hundreds of thousands of people visit the Scottish capital during the summer. Here people watching you
are some of the events they can enjoy. 3. a tattoo c. (for an event) to happen; to be organised
The Edinburgh International Festival 4. to perform d. related to soldiers and the army
This is the original Edinburgh festival which began in 1947. Actors, 5. a festival e. styles of music
musicians, dancers and opera singers from all over the world perform to huge 6. military f. a show by soldiers with music and marching
audiences. You need tickets for most events which take place in theatres around the Exercise 2. Which festival would these people like to go to? Match the festivals
city. to the speakers.
The Edinburgh Art Festival a. Book b. Art
This festival is modern and has been celebrated for around ten years. It is a c. Military Tattoo d. Jazz and Blues
fantastic opportunity to see some of the city’s best visual art in art galleries and e. Fringe f. International
museums. Most events are free and include events such as fashion shows and art 1. I like looking at pictures at exhibitions and I'm interested in clothes.
exhibitions. 2. I like reading graphic novels and listening to stories.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe 3. I love comedy, but I don't want to buy a ticket for a show.
This is the largest arts festival in the world with thousands of shows which 4. I love watching plays and listening to opera music.
take place across the city. Anyone can perform in the festival and over 20,000 artists 5. I want to watch a show with traditional Scottish music and dancing.
take part, so there is always a huge variety of acts to choose from. Go to the Royal 6. I want to watch some theatre in the street and dance.
Mile, one of Edinburgh’s main streets, to watch performers such as magicians, Exercise 3. Fill the gaps with the correct verb phrase from the list:
acrobats and comedians for free. However, it can get very busy as thousands of take part buy includes join in
tourists and local people fill the city streets to enjoy the shows. visit take place listen to
The Edinburgh International Book Festival 1. You can six festivals during the summer in Edinburgh.
The largest book festival in the world began in 1983 and takes place every 2. Most events at the International Festival in theatres.
year in Charlotte Square Gardens in the centre of Edinburgh. There are over 700 3. The Edinburgh Art Festival fashion shows and art exhibitions.
events for children and adults who love books. You can meet many authors, talk to 4. Thousands of performers in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
them, ask them to sign a book or listen to them talk about their stories. Children can 5. You can stories at the Book Festival.
listen to stories and watch illustrators draw pictures of the stories. 6. At the Jazz and Blues Festival you can the carnival
The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival celebrations.
Music lovers come to this festival to enjoy music shows around the city. 7. You need to a ticket to go to the Military Tattoo Festival at
One of the highlights of this musical festival is the street carnival which is free to all. the castle.
Artists perform street theatre, dance and circus shows in amazing costumes and Exercise 4. Complete the people nouns with the correct ending: -er, -or, -ian or -
everyone can enjoy the music and join in the dancing. ist.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo act……
This show is 65 years old and takes place every evening during the festival art…….
outside Edinburgh Castle. You can listen to pipers and drummers in military bands, auth…….
watch traditional Scottish dancing and enjoy a firework display in the Edinburgh comed…….
night sky. More than 200,000 people buy tickets to watch the show live and around danc……
100 million people watch it on TV all over the world. illustrat…….
magic………
music. …….
perform………
sing………
tour……
EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Match the vocabulary with the correct definition.