Russian and Czech Christmas Folk Traditions at the Lessons of Russian Language

The diploma thesis deals with the analysis and detailed description of the basic holidays of the civil year. The theoretical part of the thesis contains the study of the most popular folk traditions, religious rituals and beliefs of the Slavs, the way how Christian church (Catholic and Orthodox) influenced on the origin of fundamental traditions and rituals. There is also a description of the way the major Slavonic holidays are held. Czech and Russian traditions are compared in order to find some basic similarities and differences between them and to analyze the development of the traditions in historical context. Such issues as language pedagogy, intercultural language competence and how to use traditions at Russian lessons at primary and secondary schools are also emphasized in the work. The practical part of the thesis deals with the analysis of some books used for teaching Russian language at Czech schools in order to find out how customs, folk traditions and holidays are described and presented. It also contains the research of the contemporary situation at Czech schools in the form of the testing of the teachers of Russian language and the students of elementary and secondary schools. The aim of the research is to find out which methods the teachers are dealing with for the successful..