Despite the image of prim ladies and gentlemen that has developed in the world, the British also love to relax and celebrate their national holidays. Getting to know the culture and history of the country of Elizabeth II, as well as understanding the mentality of the royal nation, is impossible without British celebrations. Let's look at the main ones. We are ready. Are you?

Initially, UK public holidays and public holidays should be separated. Not every festival will be a day off, and not every day off will be a holiday. By the way, in Russia there are also a number of celebrations that we celebrate with pleasure, although the state does not allow us to take a break from work.

Bank holidays in Britain are called Bank holidays, because neither banks nor other official bodies work these days:

Northern Ireland has two additional holidays per year: St. Patrick's Day(March 17) - St. Patrick's Day and " Battle of the Boyne» Celebration(July 12) - Anniversary of the momentous Battle of the Boyne. The Scots rest for 2 days in honor of the New Year (January 1-2) and have an additional day off in honor of St. Andrew's Day ( St. Andrew's Day) November 30th, who is their patron saint.

No less significant are other holidays in the UK, which, however, require presence at the workplace:

TABLE OF UK HOLIDAYS

WHEN	NAME	A COUNTRY KINGDOMS
The 25th of January	Burns Night Burns Night	Scotland
The 14th of February	Valentine's Day St. Valentine's Day	The whole state
March 1	Saint David's Day St. David's Day	Wales
4th Sunday Lent	Mothers Day Mother's Day/Mothering Sunday	The whole state
April 1	Fool's Day Fool's Day/April Fools Day	The whole state
April 1	Fool's Day Fool's Day/April Fools Day	The whole state
April 23	St. George's Day St. George's Day	England
1st of May	Beltane Beltane/Beltain	Scotland, Ireland
1st, 2nd or 3rd Saturday June	Queen's Birthday Queen's Official Birthday	The whole state
3rd Sunday of June	Father's Day Father's Day	The whole state
August 1-8	Eisteddfod Eisteddfod	Wales
August 1-25	Edinburgh Fringe Festival Edinburgh Festival Fringe	The whole state
Last weekend of August	Notting Hill Carnival Notting Hill Carnival	The whole state
October 31	Halloween Halloween	The whole state
November 5	Bonfire Night Bonfire's Night	The whole state
11th of November	Day of Remembrance Remembrance Day	The whole state
November 30th	St. Andrew's Day St. Andrew's Day	Scotland
December 25	Christmas Christmas or Xmas	The whole state
December 26	Boxing Day Boxing Day	The whole state

Read more about holidays in England

Holidays such as Christmas, April Fool's Day or Halloween in the UK have become widespread in the CIS countries. But let's take a closer look at those English holidays that have no analogues in the post-Soviet space.

• Burns Night- anniversary of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Scottish culture blooms in all its colors on this day: men dress in traditional checkered kilts, the sounds of bagpipes are heard, and at the festive table you can try the national dish of lamb offal with lard, onions and seasonings, cooked in a lamb stomach - haggies.

• Queen's Birthday(monarch) - according to documents, Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, but since the mid-18th century it has been customary to celebrate the ruler’s name day separately from the real date of birth. Since the beginning of the 20th century, this day has been celebrated in June so that the warm summer hours, which are rare for Foggy Albion, do not go to waste. Traditionally, such holidays in London are accompanied by a military parade, which is always attended by the royal family.

• Beltane- a holiday of fire, light and the beginning of summer. Beltane's second name is Walpurgis Night. It is customary to light fires and jump over them to undergo purification. Those who have livestock spend it between lit fires and animals.
• Eistetvod and Fringe- the largest festivals of songs, dances and other arts in Europe. These days, representatives of a wide variety of nationalities come to Edinburgh to perform on one of the many open-air stages.
• Bonfire Night celebrated in honor of not the most rosy event in British history. In 1605, on the night of November 5th, Guy Fawkes (leader of the Gunpowder Plot) tried to blow up the London House of Parliament in order to destroy King James I. The reason for the disagreement was religion, since James I was a Protestant, and the members of the Gunpowder Plot were Catholics who wanted to see the power of only a Catholic monarch. Fortunately, the explosion of the powder barrels in the basement was prevented, Guy Fawkes was captured and executed, and after that, every November 5th, the people of Great Britain organize a large-scale fireworks display and burn an effigy symbolizing Guy Fawkes.

• IN Remembrance Day in the UK honor the memory of soldiers who died in the First World War. The symbol of the holiday is a red poppy, which is threaded into the buttonhole of a jacket. Poppy petals bloom on the chest, symbolizing wounds received in battle. John McCrae, a Canadian physician and poet, celebrated the beauty of this flower and its connection to warfare in his poem "In Flanders Fields." On this day, it is customary to lay flowers at military monuments, and at 11 o’clock on November 11, in many Commonwealth countries it is customary to observe a minute of silence.

Christmas For the British it is a more important holiday than New Year. It is celebrated on November 25 according to Catholic traditions associated with the difference between the Gregorian and church calendars. People carefully prepare for this day: they decorate houses, decorate the Christmas tree, and select gifts for family and friends. It is customary to hold night services in churches, as well as theatrical performances on religious themes.

St. Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day is already firmly rooted in our community. Traditionally, on the Day of Love, February 14, it is customary to send cards in the shape of hearts - Valentine's cards, as well as secretly confess your feelings. According to legend, St. Valentin was an ordinary priest and field doctor who secretly married lovers in cruel war times. The fact is that the government believed that a single man would fight better on the battlefield, since his heart would not be drawn home to his family, his beloved wife and children. Therefore, military personnel were forbidden to marry. And Saint Valentine, sympathizing with the young people, tied them in marriage, for which he was captured and imprisoned. There he met the warden's daughter and fell in love with her, but could not admit his feelings. When the time for execution approached, Valentin decided to confess and wrote a love letter to his beloved, which she read after the execution on February 14, 269.

Halloween Initially, it was not celebrated for the sake of collecting candy and scary costumes. Historically, the holiday is based on the Celtic rite of Samhain and the Christian All Saints' Day. It is on October 31, according to popular belief, that the line between our world and the other world becomes especially thin. This allows creatures from the afterlife to penetrate us and drag away the living with them. To prevent the spirits from touching them, the Celts put on scary masks and turned off the lights in their homes, which attracted ghosts. Nowadays, costume parties are more entertaining in nature, and children “carol” around the neighbors, begging for sweets with the words “trick or treat.” If you don’t treat the restless little ones with something sweet, they may well play some mischief - litter the house with toilet paper, hide garden gnomes, or stain the railings with molasses.

Conclusion

Some of the English holidays are very similar to ours. For example, New Year, Christmas or Easter. Others vaguely resemble our celebrations, but are based on completely different historical events (compare the English Bonfire Night and our Maslenitsa). The British also have their own traditions that have no analogues in our culture.

Study the rituals and traditions of Great Britain using our website, or even better, go to England and see everything with your own eyes!

Happy upcoming holidays and celebrations!

Big and friendly EnglishDom family

Learn English and not know English holidays? This nonsense, and also short-sighted: if you find yourself in Britain in August, it would be a shame not to see the largest carnival in Europe, in November - the stunning fireworks of Guy Fawkes Night, in June - the celebration of the official Queen's Birthday.

And by congratulating your British colleague on the holiday, you will not only make him (or her) happy, but also strengthen your professional relationship. But enough about business (“Work done, have your fun”): today we are talking about how the British spend their free time from work, namely, about the holidays!

The English word holiday comes from the phrase “holy day”, “sacred day”, which in the past was dedicated to worship. Nowadays, there are both religious and secular holidays.

In addition, there are a number of strange holidays - one or more for every day of the year. For example, in the UK they hold Straw Bear Festival and Scarecrow Festival, celebrate Kissing Friday and Blessing of the Throats Day, and hold Cheese Rolling Championships ) and swimming in a diving mask in a swamp (Bog Snorkelling Championships) - and the like.

So, the holidays of the United Kingdom are many and varied. But, unfortunately for the British, There are not so many official holidays (holiday calendar for 2015):

		New Year's Day - New Year	Public Holiday
			Scotland
		St Patrick's Day - St. Patrick's Day	Northern Ireland
		Good Friday - Easter	Public Holiday
	Monday	Easter Monday - Monday of Easter week
	Monday	Early May Bank Holiday - Bank holiday at the beginning of May	Public Holiday
	Monday	Spring Bank Holiday	Public Holiday
	Monday	Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) (Substitute Day) — Battle of the Boyne (Protestant Day)	Northern Ireland
	Monday		Scotland
	Monday	Summer Bank Holiday	Public holiday (except Scotland)
	Monday	St. Andrew's Day - St. Andrew's Day	Scotland
		Christmas Day - Christmas	Public Holiday
		Boxing Day	Public Holiday
	Monday	Boxing Day (Substitute Day) (the holiday falls on a weekend, so the holiday has been moved to Monday)	Public Holiday

As can be seen from the table, Not all holidays in England, Ireland and Scotland are the same. But each member of the Commonwealth can boast a number of its own “holy days”. In our article we provide a list of the most important and popular holidays in the United Kingdom, from January to December.

January

1 – New Year’s Day

On the night from December 31 to January 1, residents of the United Kingdom celebrate the beginning of the New Year. This holiday is traditionally celebrated among family and friends, welcoming the first minutes of the new year with an old song based on the words of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, ‘Auld lang syne’. The party can go on long after midnight, until the New Year. It's common to make New Year's resolutions, such as achieving a goal or quitting a bad habit.

In Scotland, New Year's celebrations are called Hogmanay [ˌhɔɡməˈneː]).

January 25 — Burns’ Night

On Burns Night, many Scots hold a special dinner in honor of Robert Burns. with reading the poems of this poet. Men can wear a kilt, bagpipes sound, and almost always on the table there is haggis (traditional Scottish pudding made from lamb tripe: heart, liver and lungs) with turnips (turnips) and potatoes (tatties).

January 31 - Chinese New Year

Outside of Asia, the most lavish New Year celebrations are held in London. In Chinatown (West End) there is a parade with music, performances by acrobats and dancers, as well as a food fair and fireworks. But the holiday is not limited to this: celebrations take place throughout the country. Large street parades are also held in other cities, including Manchester, Nottingham, Liverpool and Birmingham.

February

January 14 - Valentine's Day

Love is in the air! The historical Valentine's Day is today a celebration of love. Many residents of the United Kingdom dine in restaurants with their sweethearts and give them Valentine’s cards, chocolate, and sweets. If you're single, you can get an anonymous Valentine from a secret admirer!

March

Shrove Tuesday or "Pancake Day"

Lent (Lent) is a traditional Christian period of abstinence lasting 40 days. Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) is the day before the start of Lent, Ash Wednesday, when housewives prepare a hearty meal with lots of eggs, milk and sugar.

Nowadays, even non-religious people cook and eat pancakes on this day. Pancakes in England are made thin (unlike in America) and are most often served with lemon and sugar or corn syrup (golden syrup).

Some towns in the UK also host pancake races, in which participants try to run a distance with a frying pan in their hands, tossing a pancake as they run. One of the most famous races is held in Olney, Buckinghamshire, where the first pancake race is believed to have taken place back in 1445.

“Ash Wednesday” - the exact date is determined according to the solar and lunar calendars

Christian holiday marking the beginning of Lent (Lent).

March 8 – International Women’s Day

On International Women's Day, very popular in the UK and Europe, it is customary to honor all women, and sometimes - give the fair sex small gifts (for example, flowers).

Mother's Day / Mothering Sunday

Mother's Day in England is almost always celebrated in March, three weeks before Easter Sunday. On this day, mothers are honored and thanked for everything they do for us. It is customary to give mothers cards, gifts, invite them to a restaurant or cook a festive dinner for them.

March 17 - St. Patrick's Day - North. Ireland

St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland, revered by all Irish communities around the world. In the UK, the day is marked by celebrations in many cities, including Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and London, as well as Belfast.

Crowds of people take to the streets, wearing green clothes or adorning themselves with the symbol of the three-leaf clover (shamrock), which is believed to bring good luck.

April

April 1 - April Fool's Day

One day a year is possible - and even necessary! - “make jokes” and organize practical jokes(to play a prank / practical joke / trick on smb.).

Even in newspapers, on television and radio, comic news is often published and broadcast on April 1st. The prank is accompanied by the exclamation “April fool!” (this is what they call someone who “gets caught”). At noon, however, the time for jokes ends.

Palm Sunday

Christian holiday marking the beginning of Holy Week.

Maundy Thursday

Thursday of Holy Week, Christian holiday of commemoration of the Last Supper.

Good Friday

Christian holiday commemorating the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Easter Sunday - the exact date is determined according to the solar and lunar calendars

In the Christian calendar, Easter is the most important holiday of the year. It was installed in honor of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

People celebrate Easter in different ways, but many give each other chocolate eggs and bake Easter buns with a cross on them(hot cross buns).

April 23 - St. George's Day

Legend has it that Saint George was a Roman soldier who killed a dragon to save a princess. He is now the patron saint of England, and April 23 is England's national holiday. St. George's Cross can be seen on the flag of England (a red cross on a white background).

William Shakespeare was also born on April 23rd. And the best place to celebrate this day is undoubtedly the hometown of the great writer, Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, where a festival dedicated to this day is held. In 2014, the celebrations were especially grand as they celebrated the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth.

May

May 1 - first day of May (May Day)

May 1st welcomes the arrival of summer. And although summer officially begins only in June, the first day of May celebrates the end of the cold and the hope of a mild summer. The holiday tradition includes dancing around the maypole.

May 5 and 26 are bank holidays

Two Mondays in May are considered days off. Britons can skip work or school and, if they're lucky, spend the day outdoors enjoying the first sunshine of spring.

June

June 14th - The Queen's Official Birthday

Although the actual birthday is celebrated on April 21st, according to a tradition dating back to 1748, the king's or queen's birthday is celebrated in June.

On this day, a traditional military parade called Trooping the Color is held in London, which is hosted by the Queen herself, surrounded by members of her family.

3rd Sunday of June - Father's day

On this Day, fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, fathers-in-law and fathers-in-law are honored. Many British people give their older male relatives a card or a gift, or arrange a dinner or a trip to a restaurant together.

July

Eid al-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr)

Marking the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan, The holiday of Eid al-Fitr is widely celebrated by Muslim communities in Great Britain. Typically, each community organizes its own celebrations, but cities such as London and Birmingham have larger celebrations of the event.

August

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The world's largest arts festival,"The Fringe" has thousands of performances and productions in 250 theater venues. The festival is open to any theatre, comedy, music or dance production, and many drama students come to Edinburgh at this time to stage their first productions.

25 August – Notting Hill Carnival

Held in West London on a bank holiday, this carnival is the largest street festival in Europe. About 1 million people come to admire the colorful carnival floats, dancers in colorful, spectacular costumes, hear the sounds of salsa and reggae and enjoy Caribbean cuisine from street stalls. Bring some holiday spirit, plenty of cash, and be patient—the carnival gets pretty crowded.

September

London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week(in 2014 it took place from September 12 to 16) sets fashion guidelines— along with similar weeks in Paris, Milan and New York. This event is intended for fashion industry professionals, but anyone can purchase tickets to the Fashion Weekend, where they can get into the spirit of fashion shows. London hosts two fashion weeks every year, the first of which takes place in February.

October

October 23 – Diwali

Diwali (or Deepavali) is the Festival of Lights celebrated by Hindu, Sikh and Jain religious communities.

Leicester (the city that hosts the largest Diwali celebration outside India), London and Nottingham host vibrant street performances featuring traditional Indian dishes. Indian music is played and traditional Indian dances are performed. And of course, the streets are illuminated with a variety of lamps, lanterns, candles and fireworks.

October 31 — Halloween

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On New Year's Eve, December 31st, in England it is traditional to gather with families or friends to ring in the New Year at midnight and sing together "Auld lang syne" - a folk song based on the words of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. The New Year's Eve can last until the morning and even longer! Many people make traditional New Year's resolutions on New Year's Eve, promising themselves to achieve their goals or quit bad habits in the coming year. True, most of these resolutions are successfully forgotten after the end of the festivities (it is enough to recall the “perseverance” of Bridget Jones in this regard).

In the photo: New Year's tree on the street of London.

In Scotland, New Year's celebrations are called Hogmanay, which has its roots in pagan beliefs. Scotland celebrates the New Year in style with music, dancing, culinary feasts and torchlight processions, and Edinburgh is the epicenter of the festive revelry.

January 25 – Burns’ Night in Scotland.

Many Scots celebrate this day with a festive dinner. On this day they honor and remember the Scottish poet Robert Burns by raising glasses in his honor and reading his poems. Men dress in traditional Scottish kilts, musicians play bagpipes, and on almost every table you can see “haggis” - a traditional Scottish dish of sheep's heart, liver and lungs with turnips and potatoes.

UK holidays in February

February 14 is Valentine's Day.

This is the day when love is in the air! Nowadays, Valentine's Day has become a holiday of love and romance. Lots of people across the UK invite their significant other over for a romantic dinner and give them Valentine's cards, boxes of chocolates and flowers. On this day, even people who are not in a relationship may well receive anonymous “Valentines” from secret admirers.

February 17 – Maslenitsa, or “Pancake Day”.

In the photo: Russian Maslenitsa in London.

Maslenitsa is celebrated on the last day before the start of the Christian Lent, which lasts 40 days. On this day, many, even non-religious, families bake pancakes from eggs, milk and sugar.

Some cities in the UK even hold “pancake races”, in which participants flip pancakes while running with a frying pan in their hand. The “homeland” of these competitions is considered to be the city of Olney in Buckinghamshire, where, according to historians, the first pancake race in England took place back in 1445.

February 19 - Chinese New Year.

Outside of Asia, the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations are in London, with an annual parade in London's Chinatown featuring free performances, music, dancing, acrobats, food feasts and fireworks. In addition to London, colorful Chinese New Year street performances can be seen in other major UK cities including Manchester, Nottingham, Liverpool and Birmingham.

UK holidays in March

March 1 is St David's Day in Wales.

Saint David is the patron saint of Wales, and March 1st is essentially a celebration of Welsh culture. On this day, Welsh people attach daffodil flowers to their clothes and eat cawl, a traditional Welsh soup made from seasonal vegetables, lamb or pork. Celebrations take place across Wales, including a large parade in Cardiff.

March 6 - Holi.

This "Festival of Colors" marks the end of the winter season according to the Hindu calendar and falls on March 6th in 2015. In many UK cities, including London, Manchester, Bristol and Belfast, people celebrate by running through the streets and throwing colorful powders at each other!

March 15 is Mother's Day.

It is a day to celebrate motherhood when people thank their mothers for their efforts throughout the year. On this day, it is customary to give mothers a card and other gifts, as well as invite them to a festive dinner in a restaurant or cook a special dish at home.

March 17 is St. Patrick's Day in Northern Ireland.

St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and is now celebrated by Irish communities around the world. In the UK, St. Patrick's celebrations take place in major cities including Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and London, as well as Belfast. Many Britons dress in green and wear a shamrock (lucky clover), meet friends and drink Guinness Irish dark beer.

UK holidays in April

April 1 is April Fool's Day.

April 3-6 – Easter weekend.

Easter is a Christian holiday that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is always celebrated on one of the Sundays in March or April, which is called Easter Sunday. The Friday before Easter and the Monday after it are days off. The British celebrate Easter in different ways, but generally most give each other chocolate eggs and eat 'hot cross buns' - sweet buns with a cross pattern on top - while children paint eggs and take part in egg hunts. Easter egg hunts.

April 23 is St. George's Day in England.

Legend has it that St. George was a Roman soldier who slayed a dragon to save a princess. He became the patron saint of England, and St. George's Day is considered a national English holiday. St George's Cross (a red cross on a white background) appears on the English national flag. Celebrations on this day include moresca dancing (an English folk dance), however, as St George's Day is not a public holiday, most people do not participate in any special celebrations on the occasion.

April 23 is William Shakespeare's birthday.

On this day, festive events are held in honor of this great English playwright. The biggest celebrations take place in Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, where a week-long festival dedicated to Shakespeare is held.

UK holidays in May

May 1 – Beltane (or Beltain)

Celtic fire festival celebrating fertility and marking the beginning of summer. With its roots in the ancient historical era of Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man, modern versions of this holiday are gaining popularity these days. The largest celebrations are held in Edinburgh, Thornborough in Yorkshire and the ancient Butser Farm in Hampshire, where a 30-foot-tall effigy of the Wicker Man is traditionally burned at sunset.

May 4 and 25 are bank holidays in 2015.

On two Mondays in May, the British relax and (if they're lucky) spend time outdoors, under the warm spring sun.

UK holidays in June

June 13 is the official celebration of the Queen's birthday.

Although the Queen's actual birthday falls on 21 April, the birthday of the King or Queen of Great Britain has traditionally been celebrated in June since 1748. To mark the occasion, London hosts an annual military parade known as Trooping the Colour, which is attended by the royal family.

June 21 is Father's Day.

On this day, gratitude is expressed to fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers and fathers-in-law. Most Britons give their fathers a card or gift and have dinner together in a restaurant or pub.

June 21 – Summer Solstice Day.

In the photo: Stonehenge in Wiltshire, UK.

On this special day, many English people flock to the mysterious ancient monument of Stonehenge in Wiltshire - here people celebrate the longest day and shortest night of the year. It is especially interesting to stand inside the stones facing northeast, towards the stone outside the circle, called the “Heel Stone”, and watch the sun rise like a blazing fire - this spectacle impresses people of all faiths, especially pagans and worshipers sun cult.

July 12 - 29 - Tennis tournament in Wimbledon.

The Wimbledon tennis tournament is a great event for all sports fans. It has been held annually at the All England Club in London since 1877. Tennis players wear white uniforms, and spectators in the stands traditionally enjoy strawberries and cream.

UK holidays in July

July 17 – Eid al-Fitr, or Eid al-Fitr.

The day marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan and is widely celebrated by Muslim communities in the UK. Each community typically organizes its own events, but the largest celebrations are traditionally held in the city centers of London and Birmingham.

UK holidays in August

August 1-8 – Eisteddfod.

The National Eisteddfod is Wales' largest cultural event and one of the oldest cultural festivals in Europe. On this day you have a great opportunity to enjoy Welsh music and literature, see dance and theater performances, purchase national Welsh books and handicrafts and much more.

August 7-31 - Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The largest arts festival in the world, with over 40,000 performances and over 2,500 concerts across 250 venues. Entertainment includes plays, comedy shows, music and dance performances. Many students stage their own shows in Edinburgh on this day.

August 31 – Notting Hill Carnival.

Held in West London over a long weekend, covering the bank holiday. Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street festival in Europe. It is visited by over 1 million people who come to London to see colorful boats and dancers in bright costumes, listen to a variety of music from salsa to reggae and taste traditional Caribbean cuisine from street stalls. Don't forget to bring a festive mood, some cash and... patience - the streets may be crowded on this day.

UK holidays in September

September 18-22 - London Fashion Week.

London Fashion Week sets global fashion trends, along with other major fashion shows in Paris, Milan and New York. In general, fashion week is organized for workers in the fashion industry, but even people far from the world of fashion can purchase a ticket to the show in London and plunge into the world of the latest fashion trends. Shows are held 2 times a year - at the end of February and September.

UK holidays in October

October 31 – Halloween.

In the photo: Halloween in London.

Today, Halloween traditions draw inspiration from the Christian celebration of All Saints' Day and the Celtic festival of Samhain. On this day, children go around neighbors and beg for sweets with the traditional question “Trick or treat?”, cut scary faces out of pumpkins, and adults throw parties and gather in pubs, clubs or student dormitories. The main rule is to look as intimidating as possible, which is why on this day long lines line up at stores selling makeup and other holiday paraphernalia.

UK holidays in November

All November - Movember

November is also called Movember, or Usabr (from the English moustache - mustache and november - November). This month, the number of mustachioed people on the streets is growing and for good reason - throughout November, the Movember charity event is being held in the UK, designed to raise people's awareness of men's health issues.

November 5 – Bonfire night.

Historically, the day marks the anniversary of Guy Fawkes' plot to blow up the House of Lords and assassinate King James I in 1605 - a failed plot echoed in the nursery rhyme "Remember, remember the 5th of November;" gunpowder, treason and plot" (“Remember the fifth of November. Insidious treason and a gunpowder plot”). These days, the anniversary of the event is celebrated with spectacular fireworks displays in most UK towns, but the most spectacular fireworks displays can be seen in Lewes in East Sussex, where fire shows are accompanied by colorful parades, music, costume performances and the burning of straw or paper effigies.

November 11 - Diwali.

Diwali (or Deepavali) is the traditional festival of lights of the Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities of Great Britain. Many British cities, including Leicester (which hosts one of the largest Diwali celebrations outside India), London and Nottingham, stage spectacular street performances featuring traditional Indian food, music, crafts and dancing - all accompanied by the lighting of lanterns. and candles, as well as fireworks.

November 11 - Remembrance Day.

Every year in the UK, members of the armed forces are honored on November 11th. On this day it is customary to remember those who died in battle, so many peace activists ardently support this holiday. The Royal British Legion Charity sells paper poppies on this day to raise funds for veterans and their families (the poppy flower is a symbol of Remembrance Day). At 11 a.m., a two-minute moment of silence is traditionally observed.

November 30 is St. Andrew's Day in Scotland.

Local national holiday. On this day, the patron saint of Scotland, St. Andrew, is honored. Festive events take place across Scotland, including traditional Scottish cooking, poetry readings, bagpipe playing and traditional dancing. This is a great opportunity to see the traditional ceilidh group dance. Fortunately, as a rule, there is always a mentor ready to teach dance to beginners.

UK holidays in December

Throughout December there are countless winter fairs and festivals across the UK. Typically, announcements about such events are published in local magazines and newspapers.

The most popular December events include the following:

"Winter Wonderland" in Hyde Park in London.

Pictured: Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park in London.

In addition to the traditional Christmas market, you will find rides, circus shows, a winter skating rink, artificial snow and an exhibition of ice sculptures. If you get cold, you can warm up with a glass of hot chocolate or mulled wine.

Hogwarts Castle at Christmas

Winter version of the Harry Potter tour, organized by Warner Bros. studios in Leavesden, a suburb of London. During the tour, you will be able to view an authentic model of Hogwarts Castle, as well as see with your own eyes the Great Hall decorated for Christmas dinner.

Frankfurt Christmas Market in Birmingham

The largest German fair outside Germany and Austria. At the fair you can taste traditional German mulled wine, German sausages, pretzels and other national German sweets. In addition, at the craft fair you can purchase unique souvenirs made by local craftsmen.

Winter festival at the Eden Project botanic garden in Cornwall.

In December, this botanical garden features a choir performing Christmas songs, Christmas trees, live reindeer and a winter skating rink for people of all ages.

Belfast Christmas Market

This international market near City Hall offers holiday food and drink, as well as crafts, souvenirs and Christmas decorations from around the world.

Pantomimes

The traditional Christmas pantomime is a mixture of comedy and musical theatre, where participants dress up in funny costumes and the audience directly participates in the performance. Pantomimes are usually staged for children, but adults will also be interested in seeing this unique British spectacle at least once.

December 6-14 - Hanukkah.

Jewish communities across the UK traditionally celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. In 2015 it will be held from December 6 to 14. Europe's largest menorah is being erected in Trafalgar Square in London. It is usually lit by the Mayor of London on the first day of Hanukkah, which is accompanied by the distribution of free donuts and live musical performances.

December 25 - Christmas.

Most people in the UK celebrate Christmas, even if they are not religious. On this day you can see Christmas trees on the streets, people give gifts to each other and sing Christmas carols, drink warmed wine with spices and eat pies with sweet fruit filling (mince pies), and, if you are lucky and it snows, play snowballs and sculpt snowmen. Traditionally, Christmas dinner includes a whole roasted turkey with baked potatoes, vegetables and gravy sauce, and Christmas pudding (a sponge cake with dried fruit) for dessert, but every family has its own traditions for this holiday.

26 - Boxing Day.

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Spring Day in Great Britain

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St. Valentine's Day

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All Saints' Day

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Guy Fawkes Day

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Mother's Day in the UK

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Scottish Independence Day

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Orange Day

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Boxing Day

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Queen Elizabeth's Birthday

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Commonwealth Day

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It is always interesting and useful to study the life of other peoples and countries, to travel to these countries, to get acquainted with the way of life of people. You cannot get a complete picture of the country and its people without getting acquainted with the holidays held in a particular place and the peculiarities of their implementation.

When talking with any person about England, the famous double-decker red buses, Big Ben, soldiers in beautiful uniforms, the Queen, Stonehenge, the prime meridian immediately come to mind. But the sights are not the whole country. Many holidays in England are unknown to the average person. And they are quite interesting and different from holiday dates in other countries.

Variety of holidays in England

It should be noted right away that English holidays are similar in dates to holidays in Wales and Northern Ireland, but are somewhat different from holidays in Scotland.

Public holidays in England are usually called "bank holidays", which means official holidays among banking and other organizations. Unofficial events, which the British also have in abundance, do not mean a day off, but are nevertheless held vigorously, such as April Fool's Day: jokes and practical jokes on this day are present even on TV screens and in the local press.

National English holidays, as in other countries, are associated with historical events that are of great importance for the country. One of the main such days for the British is St. George's Day, as for the Irish - St. Patrick's Day, for the Scots - St. Andrew's Day, and for the residents of Wales - St. David's Day.

Feast of St. George

St. George is considered the patron saint of England. The holiday takes place on April 23 (coinciding with the birthday and death of W. Shakespeare). Saint George opposed the persecution of Christians, for which he was executed. He is considered the embodiment of courage, protection of the weak and oppressed.

It is worth noting that almost all celebrations, except Christmas, New Year and Easter, fall on Monday for the British.

The British spend most official holidays with their families, in a quiet, homely atmosphere, but folk festivities, dating back centuries, or various festivals are held in such a way that every tourist would like to get to England precisely during such festive madness.

Major English holidays

The beginning of the year - January 1, as in other countries, coincides with the New Year celebration, but in England this event is not as large-scale as, for example, in Russia. Still, the main New Year's holiday for the British is Catholic Christmas, which falls at the end of the year, on December 25.

It is Christmas that is associated with magnificent celebrations and traditional treats in the form of stuffed turkey and pudding. There is also Boxing Day, celebrated on December 26, and Christmas Day of rest, December 27, which is a public holiday. The British traditionally decorate their houses with candles, berries, Christmas tree branches, and Christmas socks.

Another English holiday that has spread throughout the world today is Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day (February 14). Usually this event involves a romantic evening when lovers exchange gifts in the form of hearts and Valentine's cards.

Similar to our traditional holiday, March 8, is Mother's Day among the British. It is celebrated on March 10th. On this day, it is customary for women to rest, and for men to help them with the housework. Previously, the holiday was a church holiday and was called Mother's Sunday (it fell on the fourth Sunday of Lent), but then it merged with a secular holiday and now always takes place on March 10.

April 1st is celebrated as a joke April Fool's Day or April Fool's Day. Now this holiday, naturally, which is not official, has spread everywhere. On this day, friends play pranks on each other and make fun of each other.

England is a monarchy, the British love and honor their Queen, so her birthday is celebrated everywhere, twice a year. Real Queen's birthday falls on April 21, but the monarch's birthday is celebrated in England on the second Saturday of June. On this day, a ball is held, a parade and a review of troops are held.

Easter holidays usually fall in March or April and are celebrated in many countries, but what distinguishes the holiday in England are its symbols: the Easter bunny or rabbit, which signifies abundance, and Easter chocolate eggs.

The first Monday in May is considered an official holiday and is called Spring Day. The British associate it with Robin Hood, and is held in the form of costumed processions and folk festivals.

Summer events occur mainly in August. The last Monday in August falls on the August Rest Day, and the day off is considered official. On this day, it is customary to go outdoors with your family. On the last Sunday of August Notting Hill Carnival is celebrated. This is a two-day carnival, festivities, where everyone dresses up in whatever way they want, music is constantly heard, fairs and exhibitions are held.

Just like some others, a holiday called All Saints' Day or Halloween (October 31) has now spread throughout the world. Of course, it is not an official holiday, but it is celebrated by many. The symbol of Halloween is a pumpkin with slits in the shape of a face and a candle inside. On this day, young people pretend to be various evil spirits and scare each other.

On November 5th, Bonfire Night or the Night of Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up the London Parliament in the 17th century, is celebrated. On this night, his effigy is burned, fireworks are set off, and bonfires are lit. This national holiday is considered a kind of farewell to autumn.

At the end of the year, from December 1st until Christmas begins Christmas post, during which the British plan the Christmas weekend and prepare for the main holiday: they buy gifts and prepare various Christmas symbols.

Having figured out, or better yet seen, what events are held in England and on what scale they are celebrated, we can safely say that talk about the restraint of the British is largely untrue, at least during public festivities. No matter how prim and reserved the British may look from the outside, they know how to have fun no worse than you and me.