Listening and Speaking Spring 2004 Seibert TIUA

Listen to the history of St. Patrick's Day and answer the following questions

Purpose: (1) Listening practice (2) Learning about a U.S. holiday

 

True or False (T or F)

 

 

__ St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on the third Tuesday of March, which is sometimes March 17.

__ St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated for thousands of years in Ireland.

__ Traditionally, Irish families in Ireland attended church on St. Patrick's day. They didn't dance or celebrate.

__ The first St. Patrick's day parade occurred in New York City in 1762.

__ Millions of Irish immigrants came to the United States beginning in the mid-1800s because they were rich and had enough money to travel.

__ The Irish in the United States had trouble finding jobs because of discrimination.

__ The Irish eventually gained political power in the United States because they were good politicians.

__ Nowadays, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people in many countries.

__ Green is the color we associate with St. Patrick's Day because St. Patrick's favorite color was green.

 

 

Listen and complete

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated __________________ March 17. March 17 is the __________________ of the death of St. Patrick, __________________ most important saint. The Irish __________________ observed this day as a __________________ holiday for thousands __________________ years.

On St. Patrick's Day, Irish __________________ attended church in the morning and celebrated in __________________ afternoon. They danced, drank and __________________ the traditional __________________l of Irish bacon and cabbage.

The first St. Patrick's Day parade __________________ __________________ not in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish __________________ serving in the English military marched __________________ New York City on March 17, 1762.

When the Great __________________ Famine happened in Ireland in 1845, almost a million poor, __________________, Catholic Irish began to __________________ in the United States to escape starvation. "Americans" did not __________________ their Catholic religious beliefs and __________________ Irish accents, so the Irish immigrants had __________________ finding jobs.

However, the Irish soon __________________ to realize that their large numbers __________________ them political power. __________________, annual St. Patrick's Day parades __________________ a show of strength for Irish Americans.

Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by __________________ of all backgrounds in the United States, __________________, and Australia. Although North America is home to the __________________ celebrations, St. Patrick's Day has been __________________ in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore, and __________________.

Green is associated with St. Patrick's Day because it is the __________________ of spring, of Ireland, and of __________________ shamrock. The shamrock is the __________________ plant of Ireland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17. March 17 is the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick, Ireland's most important saint. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of years.

On St. Patrick's Day, Irish families attended church in the morning and celebrated in the afternoon. They danced, drank and ate the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762.

When the Great Potato Famine happened in Ireland in 1845, almost a million poor, uneducated, Catholic Irish began to arrive in the United States to escape starvation. "Americans" did not like their Catholic religious beliefs and their Irish accents, so the Irish immigrants had trouble finding jobs.

However, the Irish soon began to realize that their large numbers gave them political power. Suddenly, annual St. Patrick's Day parades became a show of strength for Irish Americans.

Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest celebrations, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore, and Russia.

Green is associated with St. Patrick's Day because it is the color of spring, of Ireland, and of the shamrock. The shamrock is the national plant of Ireland.