Every country has its own traditions and customs for celebrating Christmas. The English-speaking countries celebrate Christmas on December 25th. This day is preceded by numerous preparations: every building on the street is decorated in a fairytale style, postcards and presents for family members and friends are bought, evergreen Christmas trees are erected on central squares of each city, Christmas carols are heard everywhere, etc. These preparations can start long before the actual holiday. For example, a month before the air is already filled by the atmosphere of Christmas. Modern stores and malls provide countless sales, which are rather beneficial. American people love to shop before Christmas. They can buy nice dresses and costumes for the coming holiday.
The USA is one of those countries where Christmas is the main event of the year. People of all ages love this holiday, not only because it’s a day-off, but also because it gives the opportunity to have lots of fun and to spend time in a family circle. It also denotes the beginning of New Year and new life. The day after Christmas is known as the Boxing Day. It’s when everybody opens the presents, which are found under the Christmas tree. Santa Claus is thought to be the one who brings these presents. Children believe that he enters the houses through chimney and leaves the gifts for them either under the tree or in colorful stockings, hanging above the fireplace.
Some Americans on the night of Christmas attend the mass at church. The traditional dish for dinner is a roast turkey with vegetables, rosemary and cranberry sauce. For dessert they serve either a fruit pie, a pudding with brandy sauce or pumpkin pies. Before going to bed people make wishes for the coming year. The tradition to celebrate Christmas in the United States dates back to the beginning of the 19th century. In 1800 Czech Protestants have started celebrating this holiday, which soon became rather popular. Already in 1840s people were putting up Christmas trees in their houses and in 1860s a magic red-costumed man with white beard appeared. It was Santa Claus, which got its name from St Nicholas. The tradition of Christmas card sending appeared in 1842. It was the year when a man, named William Egley, sent first one hundred cards to his friends. Since then, billions of cards are sent annually in the United States.
Brief History of the USA The history of the USA dates back only to the 15th century. In the 15th century there was no USA at all. The present territory of the USA was divided among some countries. In the 15th — 16th centuries some territory of the USA belonged to Great Britain (northern and western lands); southern parts (California, Florida, New Mexico, Texas) belonged to Spain, then — to Mexico; the central part, the territory was called Louisiana — to France; Alaska was possessed by Russia; some territories remained to be under Indians control. In 18th century there were only thirteen Britain's American colonies and they broke with Great Britain in 1776 and later were recognized as the new nation of the the United States of America, following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th"and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded their frontiers across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. There were three most dramatic experiences in the nation's history: the Civil War (1861-1865), the Great Depression of the 1930s and Vietnam War of the 1960s — 70s. After its victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the USA remains the world's most powerful state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and great advances in technology. Nowadays USA is world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India). It is about half the size of Russia or lightly larger than China or Brazil.
1. I don't watch TV every day
2. I don't cook every morning
3. I don't have a book
4. I don't go to shop every Sunday
Так как ,вы не закрепили 2 задание, о котором сказано в учебника. Я написла свои.