СОСТАВЬТЕ 15 ВОПРОСОВ ПО ДАННОМУ ТЕКСТУ

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Like any other country the USA has a lot of holidays and interesting traditions. In 1971, the dates of most federal holidays in the USA were officially moved to the nearest Monday if by President Nixon. There are four holidays which are not necessarily celebrated on Mondays: Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day, Independence Day and Christmas. When New Year’s Day, Independence Day, or Christmas falls on a Sunday, the next day is also a holiday. When one of these holidays falls on a Saturday, the previous day is also a holiday.

Federal government offices, including the post office, are always closed on all federal legal holidays. Schools and companies don’t work on such major holidays as Independence Day and Christmas but many people work, on Veterans’ Day, for example.

Federal legal holidays are observed differently in different states. The dates of these holidays are appointed by the state government. Each state can agree on the same date that the President has proclaimed, such as Thanksgiving. There arc other legal or public holidays which are observed at the state or local level. The closing of local government offices and businesses varies. Whether citizens have the day off from work or not, depends on the decision of local authorities.

In the United States New Year’s Day is on January 1, but Americans begin celebrating on December 31. A lot of parties take place across the United States on this day. Sometimes people have masked balls, when guests dress up in costumes and cover their faces with masks. Following an old tradition, guests unmask at midnight. Most television channels show Times Square in the heart of New York City. It is overcrowded with those who want to celebrate New Year in the centre of the biggest city in the USA. At one minute before midnight, a lit ball drops slowly from the top to the bottom of a pole on one of the buildings. People count down from 10 to 0 at the same as the ball drops. When it reaches the bottom, people hug a„d kiss and wish each other Happy New Year!
On January 1, Americans visit relatives, friends and neighbours. Many families watch the Tournament of Roses parade which takes place in California on television. The main theme of this parade varies from year to year. The procession is usually more than five miles long with thousands of participants.