1. Learning English through Festivities Beatriz López Medina

2. January New Year’s Day 1st January countdown - New Year’s Eve - Happy New Year! – first footing - resolutions – hangover- Hogmanay

3. Burns Night January 25th Burns supper – toasts and speeches - haggis – poem: My love is like a red rose – Auld Lang Syne January

4. January Australia Day January 26th parades – bands – picnic – shopping – sports events - fireworks displays – ceremonies

5. February February 14th Valentine’s Day Be my Valentine – candy hearts- a card- a box of chocolates – a date – Cupid – getting a Valentine

6. March Saint Patrick’s Day 17thMarch shamrock – leprechaun – pot of gold -snakes - parades – green - Celtic cross - rainbow

7. April April Fool’s Day April 1st Jokes – tricks – pranks – fool’s errand

8. April Easter Hiding Easter eggs – Easter Bunny – lamb - Easter egg hunt – Easter basket – chocolate Easter bunny – Holy week – Easter Sunday

9. Maypole May Day May 1st Morris dancing May

10. June Ascot week racehorses- race-meeting – dress code - designer outfits – spectacular hats – badgeholders - Royal Ascot

11. July Canada Day July 1st parades, carnivals, festivals, barbecues, fireworks, air and maritime shows, free musical concerts, citizenship ceremonies

12. July Independence Day 4th July Declaration of Independence – American dream - Ellis Island - the Statue of Liberty – fireworks – stripes and stars

13. August Notting Hill Carnival Street festival – multi-cultural diversity – Caribbean culture - traditions

14. Labour Day (USA) first Monday of September end of summer – rest – picnics, BBQs, fireworks, water sports – parade – speech – labour union - September

15. Diwali (India) Festival of lights – fireworks – blessings – clay lamps – worship – Hindu gods and Goddesses - gambling October

16. October Halloween October 31st Trick or treat? – pumpkin – jack-o-lantern - bat - ghosts – haunted house –candy – skeleton – vampire - spooky

17. Guy Fawkes November 5th Bonfire Night – gunpowder plot – houses of Parliament - cellar – barrels – blow up - conspirators November

18. November Thanksgiving 4th Thursday of November Mayflower – pilgrims –– Black Friday – parade- dinner: turkey, stuffing gravy, cranberries, corn, pies

19. December Christmas December 25th Christmas Carols – Christmas Eve – Christmas cards – mistletoe – pantomime – wreath – Christmas tree – presents – Santa Claus – stocking – reindeer - holly

20. Boxing Day December 26th St. Stephen’s Day – Christmas box – sales - family time: watching sports, walks in the countryside, playing board games … December

21. Happy everything!!!!

22. Would you like to know more? http://web.tiscalinet.it/smssm/english/ http://www.learnenglish.de/britishculture.htm http://www.americanfamilytraditions.com/ http://studyinaustralia.gov.au/Sia/en/LivingInAustralia/CustomsTraditions.htm