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Every nation and every country has its own traditions and cus-
toms. In Britain traditions play a more important role in the life of
people than in other countries. They say British people are very con-
servative [kən'sз:vətɪv]. They are proud of their traditions and care-
fully keep them up. But when we speak about British traditions we
always remember that there are four parts in Britain — England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Traditions are different in
these parts of the country.
You already know some of the English traditions and holidays.
We hope you remember St. Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Hal-
loween which have also become traditional American holidays. Here
are some more facts about old English traditions.
The ravens are one of the most famous sights at the Tower of
London. They have lived in the Tower from its very beginning, over
900 years ago and as one of the old English legends ['leʤəndz] says,
only so long as they are here will the Tower stand. If the ravens
leave the Tower of London, the Crown and England will fall. One
can say the ravens hold the power of the Crown itself. But the birds
have never left the Tower. In the 17th century King Charles II or-
dered that six ravens should always live in the Tower of London and
since then they have been under Royal protection. The ravens are
black. Each raven has got its name and the keepers carefully look
after them. If one of the birds dies, another younger raven takes its
place. The keepers cut the birds’ wings a bit as they are afraid that
they may fly away.
Another old English custom is Guy Fawkes’ Day. As it gets dark
on the 5th of November (and before) children go out into the streets
with a figure ['fɪgə] like a scarecrow. They stand in the streets and
squares asking for “a Penny for the Guy”.
Then with the money they have collected they buy fireworks and
burn the guy (the figure like a scarecrow) on their bonfire.
People watch the fireworks and some people go to parties in the
evening.
People in Russia have their own special traditions. One of them is
Maslenitsa — the holiday, which lasts for a week, to say goodbye to
winter. People celebrate it at the end of February or at the beginning
of March. During this holiday they celebrate the end of winter and
the beginning of spring. In old times people usually cooked pancakes,
had fires, burnt straw figures of winter, they sang songs and danced.
Now during “Maslenitsa week” people always cook pancakes. They in-
vite their friends, their nearest and dearest, to see each other and eat
pancakes with sour cream, fish, caviar or butter, sugar, honey.
Though different countries have different traditions and holidays
people all over the world know some of them. They are — Easter,
Christmas and New Year.
1.What do you think traduccion and customs depend on?
2.What are the british people like?
3.Do the British people keep their own traditions?
4.What legend about the Tower have you learnt from the text?
5.Why do the keepers in the Tower cut the ravens' wings?

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