1. Every year more and more people attend the Cucumber Festival. the Cucumber Festival. Lots of guests and tourists from the USA, France, Spain and other countries come to Suzdal to greet the hero of the festivity: to greet the hero of the festivity: the Suzdal Cucumber. the Suzdal Cucumber.

2. It seems that cucumber is neither a fruit norIt seems that cucumber is neither a fruit nor a vegetable. a vegetable. The Russian word for cucumber ("ogurets")The Russian word for cucumber ("ogurets") comes from its Greek name "agourus“, comes from its Greek name "agourus“, which literally means "unripe". which literally means "unripe". The cucumber first took root in India.The cucumber first took root in India. It was cultivated there 7 thousand years ago.It was cultivated there 7 thousand years ago. Nobody knows when it first appeared inNobody knows when it first appeared in Russia. It is known that in the region of Vladimir it was grown 5-7 centuries ago. Russia. It is known that in the region of Vladimir it was grown 5-7 centuries ago.

4. Suzdal is one of the most renowned centers of cucumber production. The residents of Suzdal have had a special passion for cucumbers for a long time. Anania Fеdorov, a Suzdalian priest, (священник) has been practicing the art of cucumber-cultivation for centuries, nursing cucumbers like babies and even giving them different names PASSION - УВЛЕЧЕНИЕ

6. 1.F olk theatre is one of the best Russian tradition in which the Cucumber place the main role 2. “The Cucumber Exhibition” presented the main symbol of the Festival in different forms: wood, paper, glass yellow and green as a real Suzdal cucumber. You can buy these souvenirs and take them home 3. You can also listen to Russian folk songs and dances 4. Some people wear Cucumber Fairy costumes 5. According to the tradition a huge balloon carried the symbol of the Festival the Green Cucumber far away into the sky. 6. During the Festival guests can taste as many cucumbers as they want

8. CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING 1. WHEN IS CUCUMBER FESTIVAL CELEBRATED? IT IS CELEBRATED IN SUZDAL 2. WHAT IS THE DATE OF THIS HOLIDAY? THE 15 TH OF JULY 3. WHAT IS THE SYMBOL OF THE HOLIDAY? THE GREEN CUCUMBER IS A SYMBOL OF THE HOLIDAY 4. WHAT DOES “THE CUCUMBER EXHIBITION PRESENT? WOOD, PAPER AND GLASS SOUVENIRS 5. WHAT DO SOME PEOPLE WEAR? THEY WEAR CUCUMBER FAIRY COSTUMES 6. WHAT DOES HUGE BALLOON CARRY? IT CARRIES THE SYMBOL OF THE FESTIVAL THE GREEN CUCUMBER