Where do British people go on their holidays

Two-thirds of all British people have their holidays in July and August, which
are the most popular (1).............. for holidays. English (2).............. children are
on holiday from the end of July to the beginning of (3)................. The traditional
British holiday is a (4)................... holiday. Children used to watch a Punch and
Judy show (puppets) and ride donkeys along a (5)............. Traditional things to
eat at the seaside are candy floss and a stick of rock sweet. Many British people
(6).................. much of their free time during the summer months down by the
sea. Children enjoy swimming in the sea and building (7).................. There are
places near the sea, such as Blackpool, Scarborough and Bournemouth,
(8)............... there is plenty to do even if it rains.
However, nowadays British people often spend their holidays (9)............. Europe
is the most popular (10)................ for UK residents, accounting for 80 per cent of
visits abroad. (11)............. has been the most popular country to visit since 1994,
with 13.8 million visits in 2005. France was second in p(12)..............., with 11.1
million visits. The number of visits by UK residents (13)............... the USA
increased by 2% in 2005 to 4.2 million, 6% higher than the number in 2001. The
number of visits abroad (14).............. by UK residents has more than tripled
since 1985, to a record 66.4 million visits in 2005.
Some Special Occasions
Halloween
Halloween is (1)........ on 31 October. It is an exciting event in the United States
and in Great (2)........ Halloween has ancient Celtic origins. At Halloween
American children in elementary schools take their costumes and masks to
school. Typical Halloween costumes are the w(3)........, ghost, skeleton,
m(4)..........., vampire or alien. Young people have fun making their own

costumes, but some prefer to buy them. In the afternoon the children put on their
(5)............. and have a Halloween party at school. Schools are decorated with
p(6)............., ghosts, witches and bats. It is a popular tradition to make jack
o'lanterns out of pumpkins. People put them in front of the (7)........ of their
homes. The jack o'lantern is of Celtic origin too. There are funny Halloween
games such as "bobbing for apples". Favourite Halloween (8).............. are
candied apples, nuts, liquorice, popcorn and pumpkin pie. American and British
children and teenagers go "trick-or-treating" on Halloween (9)......... They go
from house to (10).................. in their costumes and ring the (11).......... When the
door opens they shout, "Trick or treat?". People usually give them (12)......... or
money. If (13)........., the children play a trick! They write on windows with soap
or spray shaving cream on cars and people!

Bonfire Night

British people (1)............... Bonfire Night every year on 5 November in

(2)............... of a famous event in British history, the Gunpowder Plot. On 5
November 1605 a group of Roman Catholics planned to blow up the Houses of
(3)............... while King James I was inside. On the evening before, one of them,
Guy Fawkes, was caught in the cellars with (4)..............., and the plot was
d(5)................. He and all the other conspirators were put to death. Bonfire Night
is sometimes called(6)................. Originally, Bonfire Night was celebrated as a
victory for Protestants over Catholics, but the festival is now enjoyed by
(7)............... Some children (8)................ a guy, a figure of a man made of old

clothes stuffed with newspaper or straw to represent Guy Fawkes. The guy is
then (9)................ on top of a bonfire on Bonfire Night. Only adults are legally
allowed to buy fireworks. Unfortunately, there are sometimes accidents
involving (10).................... and there are now restrictions on the type of
fireworks

that

can

be

used

by

the

general

public.

Some people hold private bonfire parties in their (11).................., while others
attend larger public events organized by local councils or charities. Chestnuts or
potatoes (12)............ often put in the bonfire so that they will be cooked as it
burns.
EXERCISE 1: Match the definitions with the pictures. Write the
correspondent number in the box.

1 .

2.

3.

4.

5.

7.

6.

8.

a) It is a Christian holiday. Decorating eggs is a poplar activity on this day.

b) It's time to .............. someone that you love him/her.
c) It's time .............. people to think about their mothers. They usually buy
them ................ or chocolates.
e) The celebration of this day begins the night before and it is the time to
celebrate the ................. of a new year. People drink ........... and go to parties.

f) This celebration began in the 17th century after a bountiful harvest. Every
year family members join together and eat roast ............... and pumpkin pie.
g) Each year children ............... up as ghosts and monsters and go "trick or treat".
They expect a............... to give them sweets.
h) This is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Children and adults ................
pine trees and their homes with holy.
j) It's time for people to think about their fathers. They usually buy them
p.............. on this day.

EXERCISE 2: Write down the name of the holiday with the correct date
1. 1st January
2. 17th March
3. 1st April
4. 1st May
5. 31st October
6. 5th November
7. 26th December
8. last Sunday in May
9. late March or early April
10. last Thursday in November

EXERCISE 3: Write the correct occasions under the pictures.

1.

2.

3.

5.

4.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

EXERCISE 4: Matching to know about Christmas in Britain

1. Christmas Eve
2. Christmas Carols
3. Santa Claus/ Father Christmas
4. Christmas Cards
5. Christmas Dinner

6. Pantomime
7. Christmas Tree
a. a traditional Christmas p........
b. people send these to their ............... friends during Christmas
c. the .............. eaten at mid-day on Christmas day
d. the evening just ............... Christmas day
e. special ............... sung during Christmas season, about Jesus when he was
born
f. the tree deorated with tinsel, lights and small ornaments and presents are
put .......... it
g. a jolly man with white ............, a beard and mustache, dresses in a ............
suit, coming to houses through .............. to bring gifts to children