BÀI GIẢNG DẠNG VĂN BẢN (SCRIPT)

Môn học: Văn hóa Anh Mỹ

Unit 10: Holidays, Leisure Activities, and Traditional Dishes (USA)
10.1. Holidays in the USA
10.2. Popular Leisure Activities in the USA
10.3. Traditional Dishes in the USA

Slide Nội dung

Hello everyone. Welcome to Unit 10 of the course. In this unit, we will explore
1
American holidays, their leisure activities, and their traditional food.

2 Like other countries in the world, Americans celebrate many holidays throughout
the year.
They share three national holidays with many countries: Easter Sunday, Christmas
Day, and New Year's Day.
Easter falls on a spring Sunday that varies from year to year, celebrates the
Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians, Easter is a day
of religious services and the gathering of family. Many Americans follow old
traditions of coloring hard-boiled eggs and giving children baskets of candy. On
the next day, Easter Monday, the president of the United States holds an annual
3 Easter egg hunt on the White House lawn for young children.
Christmas Day, December 25, is another Christian holiday; it marks the birth of
the Christ Child. Decorating houses and yards with lights, putting up Christmas
trees, giving gifts, and sending greeting cards have become traditions even for
many non-Christian Americans.
New Year's Day, of course, is January 1. The celebration of this holiday begins
the night before, when Americans gather to wish each other a happy and
prosperous coming year.
Eight other holidays are uniquely American (although some of them have
counterparts in other nations). For most Americans, two of these stand out above
the others as occasions to cherish national origins: Thanksgiving and the Fourth of
4 July.
Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November, but many Americans
take a day of vacation on the following Friday to make a four-day weekend,
during which they may travel long distances to visit family and friends. The
 holiday dates back to 1621, the year after the Puritans arrived in Massachusetts,
determined to practice their dissenting religion without interference.
After a rough winter, in which about half of them died, they turned for help to
neighboring Indians, who taught them how to plant corn and other crops. The next
fall's bountiful harvest inspired the Pilgrims to give thanks by holding a feast. The
Thanksgiving feast became a national tradition -- not only because so many other
Americans have found prosperity but also because the Pilgrims' sacrifices for their
freedom still captivate the imagination. To this day, Thanksgiving dinner almost
always includes some of the foods served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry
sauce, potatoes, pumpkin pie. Before the meal begins, families or friends usually
pause to give thanks for their blessings, including the joy of being united for the
occasion.
The Fourth of July, or Independence Day, honors the nation's birthday -- the
signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It is a day of picnics
and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks. The flying of the
American flag (which also occurs on Memorial Day and other holidays) is
widespread. On July 4, 1976, the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence was marked by grand festivals across the nation.
Besides Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July, there are six other uniquely
American holidays.
Martin Luther King Day: The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., an
African-American clergyman, is considered a great American because of his
tireless efforts to win civil rights for all people through nonviolent means. Since
his assassination in 1968, memorial services have marked his birthday on January
5 15. In 1986, that day was replaced by the third Monday of January, which was
declared a national holiday.
Presidents' Day: Until the mid-1970s, the February 22 birthday of George
Washington, hero of the Revolutionary War and first president of the United
States, was a national holiday. In addition, the February 12 birthday of Abraham
Lincoln, the president during the Civil War, was a holiday in most states. The two
days have been joined, and the holiday has been expanded to embrace all past
 presidents. It is celebrated on the third Monday in February.
Memorial Day: Celebrated on the fourth Monday of May, this holiday honors the
dead. Although it originated in the aftermath of the Civil War, it has become a day
on which the dead of all wars, and the dead generally, are remembered in special
programs held in cemeteries, churches, and other public meeting places.
Labor Day: The first Monday of September, this holiday honors the nation's working
people, typically with parades. For most Americans it marks the end of the summer
vacation season, and for many students the opening of the school year.
Columbus Day: On October 12, 1492, Italian navigator Christopher Columbus
landed in the New World. Although most other nations of the Americas observe this
holiday on October 12, in the United States it takes place on the second Monday in
October.
Veterans Day: Originally called Armistice Day, this holiday was established to
honor Americans who had served in World War I. It falls on November 11, the day
when that war ended in 1918, but it now honors veterans of all wars in which the
United States has fought. Veterans' organizations hold parades, and the president
customarily places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National
Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

In addition, there are other festivals

While not holidays, two other days of the year inspire colorful celebrations in the
United States. On February 14, Valentine's Day, (named after an early Christian
martyr), Americans give presents, usually candy or flowers, to the ones they love. On

6 October 31, Halloween (the evening before All Saints or All Hallows Day),
American children dress up in funny or scary costumes and go "trick or treating":
knocking on doors in their neighborhood. The neighbors are expected to respond by
giving them small gifts of candy or money. Adults may also dress in costume for
Halloween parties.
 Various ethnic groups in America celebrate days with special meaning to them even
though these are not national holidays. Jews, for example, observe their high holy
days in September, and most employers show consideration by allowing them to take
these days off. Irish Americans celebrate the old country's patron saint, St. Patrick, on
March 17; this is a high-spirited day on which many Americans wear green clothing
in honor of the "Emerald Isle." The celebration of Mardi Gras -- the day before the
Christian season of Lent begins in late winter -- is a big occasion in New Orleans,
Louisiana, where huge parades and wild revels take place. As its French name
implies (Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday," the last day of hearty eating before the
penitential season of Lent), the tradition goes back to the city's settlement by French
immigrants. There are many other such ethnic celebrations, and New York City is
particularly rich in them.
It should be noted that, with the many levels of American government, confusion can
arise as to what public and private facilities are open on a given holiday. The daily
newspaper is a good source of general information, but visitors who are in doubt
should call for information ahead of time.

Now let’s move on to American leisure activities, the second topic of the unit.
Do you know what American often do in their spare time?
At one time, leisure meant resting, relaxing, doing nothing, sitting on the front porch
swing and watching the world go by. Today, however, most Americans crowd a lot of
activities into their so-called leisure time. They may perform these activities to
7
become physically fit, learn something new, do something creative, bring the family
closer together, or have a great adventure. Having fun, of course, is another goal, but
many Americans take their leisure pursuits quite seriously; they hope these activities
will enrich their lives in some way.
American leisure activities are: sports, exercises, and outdoors activities.
 The most popular sports among Americans are: football, basketball, and baseball.
Team sports appeal to Americans' love of socializing and competing. The most
popular team sports in the U.S.A.- baseball, football, and basketball - are both

8 spectator sports and participatory sports. Boys and girls begin playing softball (a
game similar to baseball but with a bigger softer ball) when they are about 9 or t0
years old. In high school and college, football and baseball are played primarily by
boys and men, and basketball is played by both sexes.

Baseball is often called the national pastime. People from other countries sometimes
wonder why Americans enjoy this sport so much. "lt's dull," they say. “Most of the
time, the players are just standing still, waiting for someone to hit the ball.” And
that's true. But hitting that ball is quite a challenge. A pitch thrown by a professional
pitcher usually travels more than 90 miles ( 145 kilometers) an hour. Hitting a ball

9 thrown that fast is a difficult challenge for any athlete, so when a batter hits the ball
out of the ball park (a home run!), the fans scream and cheer. The professional
baseball season ends with the World Series, seven games played between the nation's
top two teams. As with championship football, fans sometimes pay hundreds of
dollars for a ticket to a World Series game. But those that watch the games at home
on TV probably see them better.

American football is not what Europeans call football. To Americans, that game is
soccer. American football involves knocking down a player who is trying to carry the
ball down the field. Although players wear a lot of padding and other protective geat
injuries are fairly common. Versions of the game that involve less physical contact -
flag football and touch football - are played by teams enjoying the sport just for fun
10
and exercise.
As a spectator sport, football is extremely popular especially among men. Women
sometimes call themselves" football widows" because during the football season their
boyfriends or husbands are either at the stadium or glued to the TV set. Both college
 football (played on Saturday afternoons) and professional football (played on Sunday
afternoons and Monday nights) attract huge audiences. At the end of the college
football season, the best teams compete in Bowl games. The day's festivities are
colorful and exciting, involving parades with floats and marching bands. Bowl games
attract huge crowds and big TV audiences. The professional football season ends with
the Super Bowl, the game between the country's top two teams. More than 130
million people worldwide watch it on TV. lt is the most watched TV show in the
world. Because of this huge audience, advertisers pay about 52 million for a 30-
second advertisement!

Basketball is the world’s most popular indoor sport while baseball and football are
played outdoors (or in huge enclosed stadiums),
Variations of the game are also played informally outdoors. Nearly every park in the

11 U.S. has a basketball net and hard-surface playing area, and many American homes
have a basketball net outdoors. In the U.S. there are 29 professional men's teams. In
addition, women's professional basketball has been growing in popularity. Basketball
is also played competitively by high school and college students.

Other sports namely golf, bowling, tennis, skiing are also popular among Americans.
It should be noted that people in the U.S.A. play extreme sports, which are risky
activities involving speed, high skill, and danger. They include dare devil tricks on
snowboards, skateboards, and bicycles; parachute jumps off bridges or cliffs; bungee
jumping; bare foot water skiing; and skydiving. Most Americans consider extreme
12
sports enthusiasts extremely foolish. However, others see them as carrying on the
traditional pioneering, adventurous spirit that enabled Americans to conquer a
wilderness.
There are some Americans who want to get away from urban life and get back to
nature. They go hiking, camping, boating, or fishing. They enjoy water skiing on a
 quiet lake or scuba diving in the ocean. And some, despite the disapproval of animal
lovers, commune with nature by hunting small animals (such as ducks and rabbits) or
large ones (such as deer and bears). A bout 16 million Americans get hunting licensese
each year. Finally, many Americans enjoy the great outdoors at home by taking care
of their lawns and gardens.

For entertainment, Americans play sports, listen or perform music, visit zoos, circuses,
gamble on races, watch TV, go to the park, read, collect stamps/coins; surf the internet
surfers, taking photographs, build doll house furniture, painter, make jewelry, grow
13 flowers, and so.
Many hobbies have magazines and Internet groups devoted to their field.

Now let’s shift our topic to food. Talking about American food, names we are likely to
mention are KFC, MCDonald, Burgerking - restaurants where fast food is served.
14 Yet, is it true that American only eat fast food? The answer is absolutely no.
Actually their expenditures on fast food are a relatively small portion of their total food
expenditures.

Traditional American cuisine is, however, regional, based on what is available. It is

differentiated generally by method - frying in the South and boiling in New England -
and by national origin. The Germans and the English had the biggest effect on the
development of American cooking because they represented the largest groups of
America’s first immigrants. It should not be forgotten, however, that the United

15 States began its existence as 13 English colonies inhabited mostly by English men
and women who brought their taste for English cooking with them. The development
of the jambalaya that became called American food can be seen, therefore, as a
gradual liberation from simple English home cooking, decried by visitors to England
for centuries as an abomination, a tradition kept alive today by French presidents.
Midwest cuisine is based heavily on the movement and settlement first of Germans
 and then Scandinavians. Southern cuisine is inextricably mixed with the legacy of
slavery, as black slaves over time turned high-table English plantation cooking into
flavorful dishes no longer English or African, but completely American. Southwestern
cuisine can no longer be broken down into its component native Indian,
Mexican, Spanish, and Anglo components. California, with its incredible ethnic
diversity, has developed a regional cuisine that is consciously based on fusing the
culinary arts of various cultures with locally produced goods. The Pacific Northwest
is a developing cuisine but is most certainly based on regionally available fresh food.
So what does it mean to have an American meal? There is no recipe for cooking the
American way. American cooking, like American life, is an individual effort in which
innovation and efficiency are prized. Quite simply, American food is what Americans
cook and eat. It is food appropriated from the cultures of the people who lived or came
there and, in most all cases, changed to fit local circumstance, taste, and the means of
mass production.

1. Hot dogs
The history: While Germans and Austrians disagree about who first invented the hot
dog, mentions of sausages date back to Roman times, though it was German
“dachshund” sausages that first caught the attention of the American public. The
sausages were wildly popular at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where
many say the invention of the hot dog bun occurred.

16 2, Apple pie
The history: Perhaps the most iconic item on any all-American menu, apple pie first
came to the U.S. by way of British, Swedish, and Dutch immigrants, where it was a
staple of colonial diets for more than a century thanks to its cheap preparation.
During World War II, apple pie became inextricably linked to American culture, and
has since become a fixture of Americana.
3. Macaroni and cheese
The history: The mouthwatering combination of pasta and cheese predates the
founding of America by several hundred years, but Thomas Jefferson is widely credited
with introducing the much-loved dish into American cuisine. After a trip
through Italy, Jefferson brought a pasta maker and Parmesan cheese back to Virginia
and famously served the dish at a state dinner in 1802.
4. Reuben sandwich
The history: Whether it was the creation of a man named Reuben Kulakofsky in
Nebraska, or originally dreamt up by the proprietors of Reuben's Delicatessen in New
York City, the classic corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut sandwich is
emblematic of 20th-century American cuisine, with Jewish, German, and Irish
ingredients all making an appearance.
5. Chocolate chip cookies
The history: The history of the chocolate chip cookie is one with an unimpeachably
American history. Ruth Graves Wakefield, the owner of the now-famous Toll House
Inn in Massachusetts, whipped up the first batch in 1938. Her recipe has graced the
back of every bag of Nestlé chocolate chips since the 1940s.
6. Buffalo chicken wings
The history: One version of the story says Teressa Bellissimo came up with the
Buffalo wing as a way to make use of an accidental shipment of chicken wings;
another says that it was a late-night snack prepared on the spot to satiate her son and
his drinking buddies. Regardless, the origin of the Buffalo wing is little disputed, and
was first served in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in—where else—Buffalo, New York.
7. The hamburger
The history: Though the name “hamburger” and the ingredients have strong German
roots, the burger as we know it today was likely born in New York, when German
immigrants combined the famous “Hamburg steak” from their homeland with two
slices of bread. The burger’s popularity at Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exposition,
 the first official World's Fair in the U.S., soon made it a household name.
8. Biscuits and gravy
The history: We can thank the British for the original biscuit, while sawmill gravy
came about as a cheap, filling breakfast option in early American history. During the
Revolutionary War, biscuits and gravy became a staple among the food-strapped
colonies, and thus, an American favorite was born.
9. Clam chowder
The history: Likely inspired by seafood stews in northern France and southwest
England, clam chowder first landed in New England in the early 1700s. By the middle of
the 18th century, recipes had begun to appear in newspapers in the
colonies, and since then, variations from Manhattan to Seattle have become a part of
American cuisine.
10. Barbecue ribs
The history: Barbecuing is as old as this country—George Washington even made
reference to a barbecue in Virginia in 1769. Whether you’re partial to Memphis’s wet
ribs, Kansas City’s hearty barbecue sauce, or the Carolinas’ pork-only menus,
barbecue in America has evolved from a basic form of cooking into a highly
specialized, regional art.

17 This is the end of Unit 10. Thank you for your listening.