Задание №47203 ЕГЭ Английскому языку

Imagine that you are preparing a project with your friend. You have found some interesting material for the presentation and you want to read this text to your friend. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text silently, then be ready to read it out aloud. You will not have more than 1.5 minutes to read it.

Merry Christmas… and a Happy New Year! Those are the words that you will likely hear many times during the holiday season. Why don't people wish you a Festive Christmas? And a Merry New Year?

Historians and linguists can't pinpoint for sure exactly why we tend to use Merry Christmas. The greeting dates back to at least 1534 in London, when it was written in a letter sent to Henry the 8th's chief minister Thomas Cromwell from bishop John Fisher. Scholars also note the phrase was used in the 16th century English carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Merry Christmas certainly picked up steam in 1843 with the publication of a Charles Dickens's book. That same year the phrase also appeared on the first commercially-sold Christmas card.

Despite its prevalence in the United States and its historical underpinnings, Merry Christmas never gained universal support. For example, each year, Queen Elizabeth used to wish British citizens a Happy Christmas in her annual broadcast.