• Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home,

Your house is on fire, and your children will burn.

• Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief,

Doctor, lawyer, merchant, cheif.

• See a pin and pick it up,

All the day you will have luck.

See a pin and let it lay,

You'll have bad luck all that day.

• Cuckoo, cuckoo, tell me true,

When shall I be married?

• Monday for wealth,

Tuesday for health,

Wednesday's the best day of all;

Thursday for crosses,

Friday for losses,

And Saturday no luck at all.

AMERICAN GESTURES

Since gestures have different meanings in different parts of the world, they can also cause confusion. Here are five gestures common in the U.S.A. and the English-speaking portions of Canada which may confuse newcomers to North America.

The "come here" gesture: With the palm up, the forefinger wiggled at the person summoned. This gesture is rarely made to a superior, but is commonly used among peers, or in summoning service personnel (such as a waiter or porter). It is also sometimes used in sexual situations, when it is archaically referred to as a "come hither" gesture. It is confusing to some foreigners, since most of the world uses a full-hand scooping motion to summon a person.

The peace sign (also known as "V for victory"): With the palm out, forefinger and index fingers are pointed upwards and split into the shape of a "V." This sign achieved its greatest popularity in North America during the 1960s, when it came to signify "peace." Winston Churchill popularized it in the U.K. earlier, as the "V for victory" sign during the Second World War.

The meaning of this sign does not change in the U.S.A. if it is accidentally done backwards (with the palm in rather than out). However, it becomes an obscene gesture in the U.K. when reversed in this manner. English-speaking Canadians may also recognize this meaning. In a contemporary business setting, it is more likely to be used for its "V for victory" meaning.

Thumbs up: With an outstretched fist, the thumb is extended straight up. "Thumbs up" as a positive gesture quickly gained popularity in the U.S.A., especially as a visual signal in noisy environments. Pilots unable to shout "All's well!" or "Ready!" over the noise of their engines used it frequently. With a slight backwards tilt, this gesture is used for hitchhiking. However, in most of the Middle East and parts of Africa (notably Nigeria), this symbol can be obscene. It Japan, the thumb is considered the fifth digit; a raised thumb will order five of something!

The "A-OK" sign: With the palm out, the thumb and forefinger are curled into a circle, while the other fingers are extended upwards.

While this means "all's well" in North America, in France it signifies "zero" or "nothing," and in Denmark or Italy it can be taken as an insult. In Brazil, Guatemala and Paraguay, it is considered very obscene.

Pointing: A single outstretched finger (usually the index finger, sometimes the thumb) to designate an object or person.

Although "it's not polite to point," children - and many adults - frequently do. Pointing at objects is not considered rude, and useful for foreign nationals who don't know the name of something. Pointing at people is not polite, perhaps because of its use in court, to point out wrongdoers. In many cultures, pointing is done with a toss of the head, a thrust of the chin, or even a pursing of the lips. In Asia, the entire open hand is used, except in Malaysia, where the thumb is preferred.

CULTURAL PATTERNS

• Americans like to do one thing at a time.
• One-on-one conversation. It is rude to interrupt conversing people. Attention is exclusive, undivided.
• Americans concentrate on the job. They hate being interrupted.
• Americans take time commitments seriously. When the deadlines are fixed they should be observed. Everybody tries to meet the deadline. Schedules are also sacred.
• Americans are committed to the job. In everyday life it means that if a person says he has an 11 o’clock appointment nobody will detain him.
• Americans religiously adhere to plans. They always try not to change anything in their plans.
• Americans follow the rules of privacy. Interruptions in counseling, advising, conversations are rude.
• Americans seldom borrow or lend money from each other.
• Americans are believed to care more for things than people or relationships. They seem to place more emphasis on subjective and emotions decisions. Success is frequently measured with material things.
• American culture is heterogeneous, more diverse. Ethnic diversity is not limited by the territory. In the passport nationality is not shown. Formally there is only nationality: American.
• The message of an American is entirely in the words, there is no need to read between the lines.
• In the USA there is greater separation of business and friends/family; more isolated relationships, one set of acquaintances doesn’t know what the other set knows, or what you know.
• At meetings the Americans focus on the task. Speakers stick to the agenda.
• The Americans speak more directly, ready to say “no”.
• Business is not done off the job or after hours. Parties are for socializing. But on the other hand, there are business parties when participants discuss business things over lunch.

HOLIDAYS IN THE USA

People in every culture celebrate holidays. Although the word “holiday” literary means “holy day”, most American holidays are not religious, but commemorative in nature and origin. In the USA, the word “holiday” is synonymous with “celebration”!

In the strict sense, there are no national holidays in the United States. Each of the 50 states established its own legal holidays. The federal government, through the President and the Congress, can legally set holidays only for federal employees and for the District of Columbia. Most states, however, accept the federal legal holidays. Holidays for all federal offices, most states and local government offices, and many (but not all) businesses are:

New Year’s Day (January 1)

Martin Luther King Day (traditional – January 15; official – third Monday in January)

Presidents’ Day(third Monday in February)

Memorial Day (traditional – May 30; official – last Monday in May)

Independence Day (July 4)

Labor Day (first Monday in September)

Columbus Day (traditional – October 12; official – second Monday in October)

Veteran’s Day (traditional – November 11; official – second Monday in November)

Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November)

Christmas (December 25)

In the 1971, the dates of many federal holidays were officially moved to the nearest Monday by then – president Richard Nixon. But there are four holidays which are not necessarily celebrated on Mondays. 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 businesses close on major holidays like Independence Day and Christmas but many not always be closed, for example, on Veteran’s Day.

The many religious holidays such as Good Friday, Hanukkah, or Ramadan are observed, of course, by the religious, but they have no national, or official legal status. Rather, each state sets its own laws, and whether or not an employee is given time off also depends on labor agreements.

There are many traditional holidays, observed by a large number of Americans, which are also neither legal nor official. Among these are Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Halloween.

You can thumb through an ordinary calendar and discover many special days i.e. “minor holidays” which are observed by a relatively small number of people or by a particular interest group. For example, Girl Scouts’ Birthday (March 12), Citizenship Day (September 17), United Nations Day (October 24), would have limited observance.

Cultural Background

“Treat or Trick” («угощай, или мы тебя проучим») – a traditional cry of children who go round the neighborhood on Halloween.

Beggar’s Night («ночь попрошаек») – another name for Halloween.

Easter Parade (пасхальное шествие) – a parade on Easter Day during which women wear Easter bonnets (hats).

Washington ’s cherry tree (вишня Вашингтона) – according to the legend, little George Washington cut off a cherry tree and confessed in it. Washington cherry tree is associated with Washington ’s birthday (February 12).

Yule log (рождественское полено) – a big log burnt on Christmas Eve.

Forefathers’ Day (День предков) – the day of remembrance of the landing of the pilgrims in Plymouth in December 21, 1620. the day is celebrated in New England States.

Indian summer (бабье лето)

Black Monday (черный понедельник) – school slang – the first day at school after holidays.

Scavenger hunt (соревнование в поиске спрятанных предметов)

Inauguration Day (День инаугурации) – the official day of the beginning of a president’s term of office – January 20 – in a year following the leap year.

TASKS