Question

Составить небольшой рассказ с переводом о празднике "Английское Рождество".

Answer 1

Tradition to celebrate the winter solstice has existed since time immemorial. Before the beginning of the Christian era, the middle of winter has always been the time of a merry holiday. The reason for them was the shortest day of the year, on the 21st of December. Starting from this day, people burning fires at night called on the life-giving sun to return to them, soon the days grew longer, and spring returned. The Christmas of Jesus Christ
Christians around the world celebrate at this time the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The scripture, however, does not specifically mention the date of his birth. Even our calendar, which is believed to count the years from the birth of Christ, was compiled in the sixth century by the Italian monk Dionysius, not versed in the exact sciences.
Christmas until the middle of the 4th century could be celebrated in Europe any day between the beginning of January and the end of September. Pope Julius I first identified December 25 as the actual date of the birth of Christ. The choice was logical and astute. Any merriment was now attributed to Christmas, and not to some ancient pagan holiday.
For the first time the word "Christmas" appeared in English in 1038 in the book of Saxon England. It is also widely known that William the Conqueror crowned himself in Westminster by the King of England for Christmas 1066.
One of the pre-Christian rituals, which was included in the celebration of Christmas, was Feast of the Fools. The feast was a cheerful meal, including a lot of binge and food. The main thing at the feast was the Prince of Unrest. Usually it was a commoner who knows how to enjoy life and knows how to organize fun.
The church accepted this custom and in the period from the day of St. Nicholas (December 6) until the day of the Holy Innocents (December 28), a boy chosen from the singing cathedral, dressed in the bishop's regalia and conducted church services. Many cathedrals performed this ritual, including York, Winchester, Salisbury Canterbury and Westminster. Although in the 16th century Henry VIII abolished it, several churches, including the Hereford and Salisbury cathedrals, are still observing it.
December 28th was the day that children frightened in the Middle Ages. "The Day of the Holy Innocents" or "The Day of Beating Babies" is the day when Herod ordered to kill all children less than two years. In medieval England, children were reminded of the cruelty of Herod, punishing them with flogging. December 28 was considered an unfortunate day. On that day, no one got married, started a new business, and Edward IV refused to be crowned that day.
Another of the rituals - the burning of the Christmas tree Yule Log, comes from the customs of the Vikings, who arranged huge bonfires to celebrate the holiday. The word "Yule" existed in English for many centuries as an alternative term for Christmas.
Traditionally, a huge deck was brought from the forest on Christmas Eve, decorated with ribbons, and placed in the hearth, the fire in which was maintained for twelve days of Christmas.

Sarol, a Christmas chant, originally meant a dance with a song. The dance has gradually disappeared, and the song, telling about the history of Christmas, has remained. The earliest collection of Wynken de Worde hymns was published in 1521.
In the Middle Ages and the Tudor Age, the twelve days of Christmas were the most desirable time for people working on the land, who then were the majority. All work, except for caring for animals, stopped, and began again only on the first Monday after the Twelfth Night.
The "Twelve Days" had strict rules, one of which was the prohibition of spinning, the main occupation for women. During these Twelve Days, people visited neighbors and enjoyed the traditional Christmas meat pie. It included thirteen ingredients (dried fruit, spices and a little finely chopped lamb, in memory of the shepherds), personifying Christ and his apostles.
In the villages or castles on Christmas, actors acted representing the mysteries, in which the story of Christ was told.
Boxing Day Boxing Day is traditionally associated with gifts that were given to the poor in boxes. This is not entirely true. In the Middle Ages on the Day of Gifts the poor really received money from the gentlemen, but in clay pots with a hole at the top. These little pots were called "pigs." That's where the piggy banks appeared in the form of pigs.