Independence Day
Did you know that US citizens celebrate 4 July as Independence Day?
It is the anniversary of the publication of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain in 1776, more than a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. The Declaration explained why the thirteen American colonies at war with the United Kingdom of Great Britain considered themselves as thirteen independent sovereign states. These states subsequently formed the United States of America. The text of the declaration contains such well-known phrases as “all men are created equal” “inalienable rights”, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. The majority of the declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson.
Independence Day is a public holiday. It is a day off work for the general population, and school and most of businesses are closed. Many people celebrate the holiday by displaying the American flag outside their homes, arranging fireworks and patriotic music. Families have picnics and barbecues and hold watermelon and hotdog eating competitions as well as sporting events, such as baseball games, three-legged races and tug-of-war games. Unfortunately, most of the official celebrations will be cancelled this year for safety reasons due to COVID 19 pandemic.
posłuchaj nagrania – podcast
Vocabulary
citizen – obywatel
celebrate – świętować
Independence Day – Dzień Niepodległości
anniversary – rocznica
publication – publikacja/ ogłoszenie
Declaration of Independence – Deklaracja Niepodległości
outbreak – wybuch (wojny, pandemii)
American Revolutionary War – Wojna o niepodległość Stanów Zjednoczonych
explain – wyjaśniać
colony – kolonia
considered themselves – uważały się za
sovereign – suwerenny, autonomiczny
state – stan
subsequently – następnie
contain – zawierać
all men are created equal – wszyscy ludzie są sobie równi (dosłownie: zostali stworzeni równymi sobie)
inalienable rights – niezbywalne prawa
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – życie, wolność i dążenie do szczęścia
majority – większość
public holiday – święto państwowe/ dzień wolny
day off work – dzień wolny od pracy
general population – ogół ludności
display a flag – wywieszać flagę
arrange – organizować
fireworks – ognie sztuczne
barbacue – grill
watermelon and hotdog eating competitions – zawody w jedzeniu arbuzów i hot dogów
three-legged race – wyścig par z jedną nogą związaną/ wyścig na trzy nogi
tug-of-war – przeciąganie liny
unfortunately – niestety
cancel – odwoływać
for safety reasons – ze wględów bezpieczeństwa
pandemic – pandemia
Grammar – Liczebniki porządkowe/ Ordinal numbers
Reguła: (w uproszczeniu) od “4” wzwyż dodajemy końcówkę „th”. Uwaga: five – fifth, nine – ninth
1st – first
2nd – second
3rd – third
4th – fourth
5th – fifth
6th – sixth
7th- seventh
8th – eighth
9th – ninth
10th – tenth
Np. George Washington was the first president of the USA, John Adams was the second, Thomas Jefferson – the third and Abraham Lincoln the sixteenth.
Poland’s Independence Day falls on 11 November (the eleventh of November).
Uwaga – W amerykańskiej odmianie języka angielskiego daty zapisujemy w kolejności miesiąc/ dzień/ rok – np. The Declaration of Independence was published on July 4, 1776.
