One of the national festivals of English-speaking countries is Halloween. It takes place on October 31 on Allhallow’s Eve. The pumpkin is a symbol of this festival in which offensive face is cut out. A lighted candle is put into the pumpkin. It was considered that pumpkin left about the house on All Saints' Day drove off malignant demons. The song “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett is an informal hymn of this festival. On this day parties are held and people put on suits of the terrible creatures and monsters from films. Children go from house to house, sing songs and try to get sweeties. Besides that games and fortune-telling are widely spread on Halloween. At night children and teenagers tell each other horror stories and legends and the most popular legend is about Bloody Mary. She is said to appear in a mirror when her name is called three times. Organization of attractions where visitors are got scared is also an important tradition. On this holiday television broadcasts a lot of horror films and animations. On this day we can show our fantasy and live in the world of dead for a little while. Halloween has been gaining in popularity in Russia recently.
1. Oscar Wilde and Bernard Shaw are the most witty British writers.
2. Their children go to a private school.
3. Little Amanda collects all sorts of toy-pigs.
4. My father likes a lot of milk in his tea and a few lumps of sugar.
5. We usually spend our holidays in Spain.
6. My English friends live in a nice house that stands on a hill.
7. My brother sings in Italian opera.
8. My sister has a good appetite and she always eats heartily..
9. Let’s go outside. It is terribly hot in the house.
10. What do you see over there?
11. In England the traffic keeps to the left but on the Continent it keeps to the right.
12. They often come to see me in my town house.