The course of year, Weather, important holidays and anniversaries

The Czech republic has a moderate continental climate. There are some differences between summer and winter but they are not so big. A year is divided into four seasons: spring, summer, autumn. Each season lasts for about three months and is interesting in some way.

Spring begins on the 21st March. Many people consider spring and summer the most beautiful seasons of the year and that is why they usually fall in love in spring. Nature begins to awake from its long winter sleep and new life starts. Nights get shorter and days get longer. There is more sunshine and it is warmer and warmer. The weather in spring, especially in April is really unpredictable and changeable.

June 21 is the date when summer begins. School children love this season the most because they have two months holidays. Everybody starts to be more interested in the weather because people set off (vyrazit na cestu) for journeys and take holidays. In summer the rain often comes in the form of a storm. All of sudden (náhle) the sky is overcast (zatahne se), it gets dark and cools down, a breeze changes into a strong wind and the storm is about to break. Then there is a blow (úder) of thunder and a flash of lightning and a heavy downpour. It is dangerous to stand under a tree during a storm because the lightning might hit it. Summer is also the time of strawberries, bilberries, raspberries, blackberries and cranberries and the harvest of corn.
At the beginning of September when the school year begins, summer in reality is over and on the 23rd September autumn come. In autumn the sun sets earlier and rises later and days get shorter. The nice weather breaks although we can still enjoy a few fine days of Indian summer. Many people go picking mushrooms. The leaves of maples, birches, ashes, beeches, oaks, becomed tinted yellow, orange, brown and red and make lovely contrast with evergreen conifers (pines, spruces). This colourful period does not last long because soon the trees shed their leaves and by November they will be bare. Birds flock together and set out for the journey to the south. In Autumn the weather  is unsettled, the sky is often cloudy, mornings are dull and it looks like raining. People reefer to the weather as awful, wretched or nasty.

According to the calendar, winter comes on December 21, but in fact it often begins earlier. Typical winter weather brings snowfall, icy wind and hard frosts. we can enjoy skiing, in the mountains, and hills, covered with a thick layer of fluffy snow and we admire (obdivovat) the winter scenery. The roads become icy and slippery and it makes driving hazardous because you can skid easily. Gardeners often become worried about their fruit trees and gamekeepers about the game which may freeze to death and that is why they have to feed the animals.

Holidays and anniversaries in Great Britain
New Year’s day -  January the 1st – titles and decoration are conferred by the queen, It usually takes place on the Trafalgar square
St. Valentine’s day - February the 14th  - a lovers feast. Young people send Valentine cards, usually without their sign and exchange gifts. The day was named after one clergy man who was executed
St. David’s day - March the 1st the patron saint of Wales
St. Patrick’s day - March the 17th the patron saint of Ireland. People often wear shamrock on that day, because it is the symbol of Ireland

All Fools day -  April the 1st , it is named after the custom of playing parricidal jokes and tricks on people and you can shout “April fool!”

Easter -   is celebrated as in the whole Europe. Easter eggs, dyed and decorated or made of confectionery symbolising new life are given as presents

May day -  is celebrated with dancing around Maypoles, the political parties of the left hold processions and public meetings
Mothers day - 2nd Sunday in May

The mid-summer’s day June 24th ,there is sunrise ceremony at Stonehenge. Somewhere the midsummer fires are lit as pre -Christian times when this ritual was performed to give strength to the sun and drive out the devil
Official birthday - In June the Queen’s official birthday is celebrated. It is a great ceremony with a parade of the Queen’s guards and soldiers and ceremony of Trooping the colour at the gorse guards parade in London
Halloween - in Britain is celebrated only in the North of England and Scotland, but is generally celebrated in the USA and Canada. Children dress up in Halloween costumes of ghosts, witches, wizards etc. they go to the neighbours houses and they say to the people “Trick or treat.” The children are given the sweets, fruit or money. the most common trick is soaping the windows. People make a lantern from a scraped pumpkin with eyes, nose and mouth. Then a candle is lit inside.

Guy Fawkes Night - on November 5th , ther was the unsuccessful plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 – it’s called the Gunpowder plot – the consecrations were executed. It is celebrated with bonfires, fireworks and the burning of guys

St. Andrew’s day -  November 30th, the patron saint of Scotland
Christmas - 25th December, is family holiday in Britain
Boxing day -  26th In the past apprentices and tradesmen collected money in boxes on that day. During Christmas time people sing carols and songs
Important holidays in USA

St. Patrick’s day - 17th March, originally it was an Irish holiday. St Patrick is the patron of the Irish people. On this day everywhere is green colour. The symbol of the day is shamrock.
Easter - many homes organise “Easter egg hunt” – also the president
Memorial day - It is celebrated 4th Monday in May. The American honour the dead of all wars

Independence day 4th July, the birthday of the USA. typical of this day is the atmosphere and enjoyment, there are family beach party and the fireworks at night
Columbus Day -  2nd Monday in October, This day commemorates Columbus landing in the New World
Veteran’s day -  November 11th
Thanksgiving day - every 4th Thursday in November. It is a family holiday
Valentine’s day -  the same in Britain
Halloween - the same in Britain
 
Important holidays in the Czech republic
The most important national holiday in our country is the 28 of October when we celebrate the anniversary of the Birth Czechoslovakia.