Цель мероприятия: Обобщить и систематизировать учебный материал страноведческого характера по теме "Необычные мировые фестивали”.

Развивающие задачи.

Воспитательные задачи.

Практические задачи.

Ход мероприятия

T: Today we’re going to speak about world’s bizarre festivals. I think such festivals are really worth seeing. Why do you think these festivals are organized?

P1: I think their aim is to commemorate some significant occasions in their history.

P2: In my opinion, such festivals preserve traditions or mark some religious events.

P3: These festivals are organized to unite people, to provide entertainment, in other words just for merry-marking.

T: I can’t help agreeing with you. Every country has its unique customs and events.

You have prepared some interesting materials about those of them that draw huge crowds of both local people and tourists coming from all over the world. Why have you chosen these festivals?

P1: The one I’m going to tell you about is so colorful and unique that is attracts people from all over the world.

P2: As for me, I can say, that my festival is so bizarre and crazy that I can hardly put it into words.

T: Really? It’s so exciting! So, it’s high time that we start. What countries are represented here, I wonder?

P1: Brazil, Spain, England, America and Finland.

T: Great. Who will be the first to start?

P1: To my mind, the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is worth being the first, because it’s one of the most colourful events and is considered one of the greatest shows on Earth.

The first festival dates back to 1723, so it has a long history. It gives a chance to learn about the true culture of Brasil, sums up the culture of Brazilians. This festival is a euphoric event where people dance, sing, party and have tons of fun. It’s the result of months of preparation. This great event begins with the crowing of the Fat King, who is presented with a giant silver and gold key by the city’s major.

The festival takes place in the streets, squares, bars, clubs and all other venues. The culmination of it is the Samba Parade. Different samba schools have to pick themes, write music and lyrics, make costumes and floats practicing all year round to succeed in the Parade.

Seniors and children of all ages participate in these marches. Some bands attract as many as over 10.000 participants.

Nowadays the slums’ black communities are still the most involved groups in all the carnival preparations. These people often live without water, electricity and sewage system. However, they join in the festivities and they actually " make the Carnival” in Rio.

T: Thanks a lot. I think everybody will agree with me that it’s an outstanding festival, we can’t help admiring it. But now let’s visit Spain, Valencia.

P2: Have you ever heard of La Tomatina? It’s a festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Bunol in the Valencia region of Spain. Tens of thousands of participants come from all over the world to fight in a harmless battle where more than one hundred tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets.

At around 10 a.m. the first event of the Tomatina begins. The tomatoes come from Extremadera where they are less expensive. The tomato fight has been a tradition since 1944 or 1945. Nobody knows for sure why it began. Shopkeepers along the Plaza use huge plastic covers to protect their storefronts. During the fight the participants must squish the tomatoes before throwing for safety reasons. The fighting begins and ends within the space of an hour.

T: Imagine the cleaning process after all that fight?

P: Oh, yes, dirty people taking showers and trucks spraying water down the streets.

T: But all is well that ends well. Now let’s turn to another country England. The Cooper’s Hill Chinese Rolling! We are all attention. When is it celebrated, I wonder?

РЗ: On the 2^nd May Bank Holiday at Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire. Competitors race down the hill after a Double Gloucester cheese, and the first person over the line wins the cheese.

Competitors are trying to catch the cheese throwing themselves down the hill, but it’s almost impossible. Besides such a risky adventure often results in minor and serious injuries and some people have to be carted off by ambulance.

T: Luckily, children aren’t allowed to race, though there are a few uphill races for boys and girls.

P4: Not only English people are eccentric and fun loving but Americans as well. If you want to remember your childhood and get muddy, the annual World Pillow Fighting Championships are for you. Anyone over the age of 14 can take part in the fight. Competitors have to stand on a slippery wet pole over a pit of mud holding a wet feather pillow in one hand. The first contestant to topple his opponent into the mud wins the fall. This fight is rather entertaining, isn’t it?

T: It depends. As for me I wouldn’t mind taking a trip to Valencia. But now is time for you, Masha. Finland, if I’m not mistaken?

P5: Yes, the Finnish are also fond of organizing odd festivals.

One of them is the Wife Carrying Championship in Sonkajarvi. If a man wants to take part in the championship, he must bring a wife, but not necessarily his. Carrying their wives contestants must negotiate a 253.5 metre course covering sand, grass and asphalt. It is rather difficult but the winner gets his wife’s weight in beer.

T: As they say, "The winner takes it all”. So, it’s enough for today. Maybe some festivals are silly and even crazy but they remind us that life isn’t boring and we should derive as much pleasure as we can from it.

P: Yes, besides laughter makes us healthier and lengthens our lives.

T: Lastly, why not fill in the table called " Our attitude to these events", using the expressions written on the cards.

The expressions: to get muddy, to behave like a kid, to get a portion of adrenaline, foolhardy, to result in injuries, to overcome fear, participants, adventurous nature, memorable experience, to derive pleasure, to contend for a prize.

Pupils fill in the table and speak about the festivals they would like to visit most of all.

The best pupils are awarded with prizes.