2. QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY-s
The Queen celebrates two birthdays
each year: her actual birthday on 21
April and her official birthday on a
Saturday in June.
Official celebrations to mark Sovereigns'
birthday have often been held on a day
other than the actual birthday,
particularly when the actual birthday has
not been in the summer. King Edward
VII, for example, was born on 9
November, but his official birthday was
marked throughout his reign in May or
June when there was a greater
likelihood of good weather for the
Birthday Parade, also known as
Trooping the Colour.
The Queen usually spends her actual birthday privately, but the
occasion is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London at
midday: a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21 gun salute in
Windsor Great Park and a 62 gun salute at the Tower of
London. In 2006, Her Majesty celebrated her 80th Birthday in
2006 with a walkabout in the streets outside of Windsor Castle
to meet well-wishers.
On her official birthday, Her Majesty is joined by other members
of the Royal Family at the spectacular Trooping the Colour
parade which moves between Buckingham Palace, The Mall
and Horseguards’ Parade.
3. British
Harvest
Festival
In Britain churches
celebrate harvest festivals
when the wheat has been
cut and the apples have
been picked. The churches
are decorated in flowers
and greenery. Fruit and vegetables are also put on display, with a
loaf of bread in the middle. Sometimes a plough might be bought
into the church for blessing so as the next years harvesting will be
plentiful.
In Britain a corn dolly is created by plaiting the wheat stalks to
create a straw figure. The corn dolly is kept until the spring. This
was done as people believed that the corn spirit lived in the wheat
and as the wheat was harvested, the spirit fled to the wheat which
remained. By creating the dolly the spirit is kept alive for the next
year and for the new crop. Sometimes these dollies are hung up in
the barn or sometimes in the farmhouse or even in the church. In
spring the dolly would be ploughed back into the soil. There are
many types of corn dolly.
There is also another story to the corn dolly which is to be found in
the folksong John Barleycorn . Three men swear that must die.
They take a plough and bury him alive. But in the spring he rises
through the soil. After a while he grows big and strong, even
growing a beard, so the three men cut him down at the knee, tie
him on to a cart, beat him, strip the flesh off his bones and grind
him between two stones. But at the end it is John Barleycorn who
defeats his opponents, proving the stronger man, by turning into
beer.
In Britain harvest festivals are celebrated mostly in Christian
churches. An old tradition is to bake a loaf in the shape of a wheat
sheaf, using the last of the harvested grain. The loaf is taken to the
richly decorated church as a symbol of thanksgiving for the
harvest.
4. Mother’s
Day in
Britain
Mothering Sunday,
sometimes known as
Mother's Day, is held
on the fourth Sunday of Lent. It is exactly three weeks before Easter
Sunday and usually falls in the second half of March or the
beginning of April.
Traditionally, people visited the church where they were baptized.
Mothering Sunday is now a celebration of motherhood. People visit
and take gifts to their mothers and grandmothers.
What do people do?
Mother's Day, or Mothering Sunday, is now a day to honor mothers
and other mother figures, such as grandmothers, stepmothers and
mother-in-laws. Many people make a special effort to visit their
mother. They take cards and gifts to her and may treat her to
brunch, lunch or high tea in a cafe, restaurant or hotel. People who
cannot visit their mother usually send gifts or cards to her.
An important part of Mothering Sunday is giving cards and gifts.
Common Mother's Day gifts are cakes, flowers, chocolates, jewelry,
and luxurious clothing. Some people do not give a physical gift, but
choose to treat their mother or grandmother to a special meal,
beauty treatment or fun outing.
Specially decorated Mother's Day cakes are available in many
stores. In the days and weeks before Mothering Sunday, many
5. schools, Sunday schools and children's organizations help their
pupils to prepare a handmade card or gift for their mother.
Background
Mothering Sunday was originally a time when people returned to
the church, in which they were baptized or where they attended
services when they were children. This meant that families were
reunited as adults returned to the towns and villages where they
grew up. In time, it became customary for young people who were
working as servants in large houses, to be given a holiday on
Mothering Sunday. They could use this day to visit their own mother
and often took a gift of food or hand-me-down clothing from their
employers to her. In turn, this moved towards the modern holiday,
on which people still visit and take gifts to their mothers.
Traditionally, people observed a fast during Lent. Lent is the period
from Ash Wednesday until Good Friday. During the Lent fast,
people did not eat from sweet, rich foods or meat. However, the fast
was lifted slightly on Mothering Sunday and many people prepared
a Simnel cake to eat with their family on this day.
A Simnel cake is a light fruit cake covered with a layer of marzipan
and with a layer of marzipan baked into the middle of the cake.
Traditionally, Simnel cakes are decorated with 11 or 12 balls of
marzipan, representing the 11 disciples and, sometimes, Jesus
Christ. One legend says that the cake was named after Lambert
Simnel who worked in the kitchens of Henry VII of England
sometime around the year 1500.
6. Father's Day in
United Kingdom
Father's Day is held on the third
Sunday of June in the United
Kingdom. It is a day to honor
fathers and father figures, such as
grandfathers and fathers-in-law. Many people make a special effort to
visit their fathers or to send them a card or gifts.
What do people do?
On Father's Day, many people make a special effort to visit their father.
They often take or send cards and gifts. Common Father's Day gifts are
ties, socks, underwear, sweaters, slippers and other items of clothing.
Other people give tools for household maintenance or garden work,
luxury food items or drinks.
Many Father's Day gifts have slogans such as "The World's Best Dad",
"For My Father" or just a simple "Dad" on them. The increase in print-on-
demand services offered by photo processing companies has made
personalized gifts even more popular for Father's Day. Photographs of
children can be printed on desk calendars, mugs, T-shirts, mouse mats,
bags and even ties. Many fathers are expected to take these to the
office to remind them of their families while they are working.
In the days and weeks before Father's Day, many schools, Sunday
schools and children's organizations help their pupils to prepare a
handmade card or gift for their father. Mothers and other family members
may help children to make personalized gifts, such as calendars with
drawings made by the children.
Some families celebrate Father's Day by planning an outing or weekend
trip, perhaps just for the male members of the family. This may be a
simple walk in the countryside or a whole planned "experience". Popular
Father's Day experiences include driving a fire engine, rally car, tank or
even airplane or taking a golf, football or cricket lesson with a celebrity
coach. Other families organize a special meal at home or in a pub or
restaurant. A common Father's Day meal is a traditional roast dinner
with meat, stuffing, potatoes and vegetables, which can be eaten in a
pub and accompanied by pints of ale or lager.
7. Halloween in
United
Kingdom
Halloween is a holiday
annually celebrated on
October 31. Some people hold
Halloween parties on or
around this date, where the
hosts and guests often dress
up as skeletons, ghosts or other scary figures. Common symbols of
Halloween include pumpkins, bats and spiders.
What do people do?
Halloween celebrations in the United Kingdom include parties where
guests are often expected to arrive in a costume to reflect the day's
theme. Other people gather together to watch horror films, either at
home or at a cinema.
Some children go trick-or-treating. This means that they dress up and go
to other peoples' houses, knocking on the door for treat of sweets or a
snack. Those who do not give out a treat may be tricked with a joke
instead.
Halloween has its origins in pagan festivals in England, Scotland, Wales
and Ireland. Many stores and businesses see Halloween as a chance to
promote products with a Halloween theme.
Public life
Halloween is not a bank holiday in the United Kingdom. Schools,
businesses, stores and other organizations are open as usual. Public
transport services run on their normal timetables.
Background
Halloween has its origins in pagan festivals held around the end of
October in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. People believed that,
at this time of year, the spirits of dead people could come 'alive' and walk
8. among the living. They thought that it was important to dress up in
costumes when venturing outside, to avoid being harmed by the spirits.
This may be the origin of the Halloween costumes seen today. In Puritan
times, Halloween celebrations were outlawed, but they were revived in
later times.
Halloween used to be called All Hallows Eve, or the day before All
Saints' Day, observed on November 1. Halloween is also known as Nut-
crack Night, Thump-the-door Night or Apple and Candle Night. Some
people call Halloween Bob Apple Night or Duck Apple Night. This comes
from a traditional game played at this time of year and known as 'apple
bobbing' or 'apple ducking'. A bucket or other container is filled with
water and one or more apples are floated on the water. The contestants
take turns trying to catch an apple with their teeth. They must hold their
hands behind their backs at all times.
Some people believe that apple bobbing is a reminder of the way women
accused of witchcraft in the middle ages were tried. They were tied to a
chair and repeatedly ducked into a river or pond. If a woman drowned,
she was declared innocent. If she survived, she was declared a witch
and burnt at the stake. Others think that apple bobbing is a way for
young people to predict who they will marry or whether their partner is
faithful.
Some aspects of the modern Halloween celebrations, such as carving
lanterns out of vegetables originated long ago. Others were introduced
more recently, often as a form of commercial promotion. Many customs
originated in the United States and have travelled back to the United
Kingdom.
Symbols
There are various symbols are associated with Halloween. The colors
orange and black are very common. Other symbols include pumpkin
lanterns, witches, wizards, ghosts, spirits and characters from horror
films. Animals associated with the festival include bats, spiders and
black cats.
9. CHRISTMAS
The Twelve Days of
Christmas -
December 26th to
January 6th
The sixteenth century saw
England first officially celebrate
the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
premiered in the first year of the
seventeenth century, in a performance at the court of Elizabeth
the First.
Advent is usually solemn and religious in spirit, while Saint
Steven's Day marks the beginning of the twelve days of
Christmas, a light hearted time given over to merry making and
fun. It is a holiday of heart-warming homecoming and family
gatherings, with candles glowing in the windows as a sign of
welcome.
During the ancient 12-day Christmas celebration, it was
considered unlucky to let the log in the fireplace stop burning.
This log was called the Yule log and would be used to light the
fire in New Year, to ensure that good luck carried on from year
to year. The Yule Log custom was handed down from the
Druids, but with the advent of gas and electric fires it is rarely
observed nowadays.
Another custom in medieval times, was to hide a dried bean in
a cake, the cake was then eaten on Twelfth Night (January 6),
during the most boisterous party of the year. The finder of the
10. bean became "King of the Bean" and ruled the party for the
night.
Another eating myth is that for every mince pie you eat over the
12 days of Christmas you will have a month of good luck the
following year!
However, according to A Celebration and History(ISBN 0-679-
74038-4), by Leigh Grant, the written lyrics to "The Twelve
Days of Christmas" first appeared in Mirth without Mischief in
the early 1780s in England. Grant states that the tune to which
these words are sung apparently dates back much further and
came from France. Mirth without Mischief describes "The
Twelve Days of Christmas" as a type of memory game played
by children at that time. A leader recited the first verse, the next
child recited the second verse, and so on until someone missed
a verse and had to pay some kind of penalty in the game.
There was no religious significance. At anyrate the popular
urban myth makes a good story... at least as good as the song
itself, so here is a slice of urban myth culture for you: A very
famous song about this time of year is "The Twelve Days of
Christmas", which has a very interesting history. During the
period 1558 to 1829 Catholics in England were prohibited from
any practice of their faith by law - private or public. It was a
crime to be a Catholic. Some people say that the song was
written to help young Catholics learn the tenets of their faith
during that period when to be caught with anything in 'writing'
indicating adherence to the Catholic faith could not only get you
imprisoned, but could also get you hanged, drawn and
quartered! The song's gifts are allegedly hidden meanings to
the teachings of the faith. "True Love" mentioned refers to God.
"Me" refers to every baptized person, here are the other lyrics
and their other hidden meanings. However, some people say
this is an Urban Myth, but you can make your own mind up.
11. Boxing Day -
December 26th
In England Boxing Day celebrated
on December 26th, is traditionally
a time to give gifts to tradesmen,
servants, and friends.
It originated in medieval times,
when every priest was supposed
to empty the alms box of his
church and distribute gifts to the
poor. Wealthy people indulged in huge Christmas feasts,
and when they were finished, packed up the remains of
feasts in boxes and gave them out to their servants. It
didn't become widely celebrated though until Victorian
England.
In Ireland there is an Irish custom called "feeding the
wren". The custom is based on a legend of St. Stephen.
Once he was forced to hide in a bush, but a chattering
wren gave him away. In the past Children caged the
wren to help it do penance for this misdeed. Nowadays
children carry a long pole with a holly bush at the top -
which is supposed to hide a captured wren.
In the UK Boxing Day is still a public holiday, some
shops and supermarkets open nowadays, but banks and
most offices remain closed.
12. St Patricks Day in
United Kingdom
St Patrick's Day occurs on March
17. It is a national holiday in Ireland
and commemorates one of its
patron saints, St Patrick. In the
United Kingdom, it is celebrated in
Irish pubs and in cities, such as
Nottingham and London where
many people with an Irish
background live.
What do people do?
March 17 is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland. The degree to which people
celebrate St Patrick's Day varies according to their religious and political
affiliations. Those, who believe that Northern Ireland should remain part of the
United Kingdom, do not generally celebrate the day. Those, who believe that
Northern Ireland should become part of a United Ireland often celebrate St
Patrick's Day. A large parade is held in Belfast but the level of public funding it
receives depends on which political parties control the local council.
March 17 is just a normal day for many people in England, Scotland and
Wales. They go to school or work as normal, and do not hold or attend any
special events. Some may go for a drink in their local Irish pub at lunch time,
after work or in the evening. However, in some towns and cities, particularly
those with large Irish populations, parades and other large scale events are
organized.
A weekend of celebrations is organized in Nottingham. These include a
parade, children's workshops, an arts festival and performances by well-
known Irish musicians. There is also a parade, attended by many thousands
of people in Birmingham. An Irish festival lasting three days is held in
Liverpool.
A whole week of celebrations is organized around St Patrick's Day in London.
These include a parade and a festival held close to, but not always on, March
13. 17. The parade visits Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden and the festival
are held in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Covent Garden. Together,
the parade and festival allow people to experience many aspects of Irish
culture including food, crafts, dance and music.
Public life
St Patrick's Day is not a public holiday in England, Wales or Scotland. In these
three parts of the United Kingdom, schools, stores, businesses and other
organizations are open as usual. Public transport systems run to their normal
timetables. Local events, such as parades, can cause some local disruption to
traffic. If you think this may affect you, it is a good idea to check the local
press for details.
St Patrick's Day is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland. Schools and many
organizations are closed. Stores and other businesses may be open or
closed. Public transport systems may run on holiday timetables. There may be
some local disruption to traffic due to parades or other events. The bank
holiday falls on the following Monday if March 17 falls on a Saturday or
Sunday.
Background
St Patrick is one of Ireland's patron saints. He is believed to have died on
March 17 in or around the year 493. He grew up in mainland Britain, but spent
time in Ireland as a young man and later as a missionary. According to
popular legend, he is buried under Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, County
Down, and banished all snakes from Ireland. However, it is thought that there
have been no snakes in Ireland since the last ice age. The “snakes” that St
Patrick banished from Ireland, may refer to pagan worshipers of snake gods.
The date of St Patrick's Day is fixed as March 17. It is occasionally be moved
by the authorities of the Catholic Church. This happened in 1940, so that the
celebrations would not fall on Palm Sunday, and in 2008 to avoid Holy
Monday, the last Monday before Easter Sunday. These changes do not often
affect non-church celebrations. In particular, the bank holiday in Northern
Ireland is still held on March 17 or the Monday afterwards if March 17 falls on
a Saturday or Sunday.
St Patrick's Day was originally a religious occasion to mark the life and work of
St Patrick. In 1903 it became a public holiday in the whole of Ireland. Pubs
were not allowed to open on March 17 until the 1970s. It is only recently that
St Patrick's Day has become a secular holiday.
14. Maundy
Thursday in
United
Kingdom
Maundy Thursday is
a Christian
observance in the
United Kingdom.
The day, also known as Holy Thursday, occurs during Holy
Week and falls on the Thursday before Good Friday. It
commemorates Jesus Christ’s last supper and the initiation
of the Eucharist, which is observed in many Christian
churches.
What do people do?
Maundy Thursday in the United Kingdom features the
monarch offering Maundy money, also known as Royal
Maundy, to selected senior citizens – one man and one
woman for each year of the monarch’s age. The monarch
presents each man and woman with a red and white purse
during the service. The red purse traditionally contains an
allowance for clothing and provisions and the white purse
holds Maundy coins to match the monarch’s age.
Many church services, particularly in many Catholic and
Anglican churches, are held in the evenings. They may
involve the blessing of oils used for sacraments. Services
on this day usually reflect on the story of the Last Supper,
which is told in the Christian bible. This day also
15. commemorates the story of Jesus washing his disciples’
feet. Some priests or ministers may wash the feet of some
congregation members in memory of this event.
Public life
Maundy Thursday is not a public holiday in the United
Kingdom so schools, government offices and businesses
are open. Public transport providers run to their usual
schedules.
Background
It was a tradition for the monarch in England to wash the
feet of the poor (which the Yeoman of the Laundry pre-
washed) and kiss them on Maundy Thursday. This custom
took place in England until 1689. It can be traced back as
far as when kings in France performed this act as early as
the 11th century. The first English king to do perform the
feet-washing ritual was John after his excommunication.
The number of paupers was 13 until Edward III, who
changed it to the number of years he reigned.
The monarchs showed little enthusiasm for washing feet
after the reign of James II but giving gifts of food and
money remained. One silver penny would be given to one
poor man and one poor woman for each year of the
sovereign’s age. Food and clothing were also handed out to
the poor. It is, to this day, customary for England’s monarch
(king or queen) to distribute Maundy money on Maundy
Thursday.
17. Many people celebrate Easter Sunday by decorating,
exchanging or searching for eggs. The eggs may be fresh or
boiled eggs laid by chickens or other birds, chocolate eggs or
eggs made of other materials. Many children believe that the
Easter bunny or rabbit comes to their house or garden to hide
eggs. They may search for these eggs or find that the Easter
bunny has left them in an obvious place.
Some businesses and attractions hold Easter egg hunts. These
can be competitions to see who can collect the most eggs. In
some parts of the United Kingdom, people roll hard boiled down
slopes. In other places, there is a game in which people roll
hard boiled eggs against other peoples' eggs. The winner is the
person whose egg remains whole. After the game, the eggs are
eaten. In some parts of Scotland, fondant filled chocolate eggs
about the size of a hen's egg are covered in batter and deep
fried.
Public life
On Easter Sunday nearly all non-essential businesses and
organizations are closed. In England and Wales, stores are
also closed. In Scotland, they are allowed to open. Public
transport systems may run on a different schedule from other
Sundays. In some areas there may be no public transport.
On Easter Sunday nearly all non-essential businesses and
organizations are closed. In England and Wales, stores are
also closed. In Scotland, they are allowed to open. Public
transport systems may run on a different schedule from other
Sundays. In some areas there may be no public transport.
Background and symbols
Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon on or
after the vernal equinox. For many people, Easter marks the
celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his
crucifixion. However, many of the origins of the customs around
Easter originate in the pagan beliefs held by the inhabitants of
18. England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland before they were
converted to Christianity.
Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon on or
after the vernal equinox. For many people, Easter marks the
celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his
crucifixion. However, many of the origins of the customs around
Easter originate in the pagan beliefs held by the inhabitants of
England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland before they were
converted to Christianity.
