Holidays in England in English. UK holidays in January
Introduction
Holidays are part of the culture of any country. In order to better understand another people, it is not enough to know only the language of this people, it is very important to get acquainted with its history and culture. Of course, there are common features that characterize a particular nation. The British character was greatly influenced by the island location, and even the opening of the railway tunnel under the English Channel in May 1994, the tunnel that connected the UK and France, did not make much adjustments.
If you leave the stereotypes, the UK is a country of friendly and hardworking people with a good sense of humor. Almost the whole world speaks beautiful and logical English. It was this nation that proudly declared its I with a capital letter (in English, the word I (I) is always written with a capital letter). "Dieu et mon droit" (God and my right - fr.) - the motto of the British monarchy, which became the motto of the British. What is it, Great Britain? Great Britain is a relatively small island with an interesting variety of regions that carefully preserve their national traditions. To understand the origins of the holidays in Great Britain, it is worth referring to the historical and geographical sketch of this country. Name of the country: Great Britain or Foggy Albion, or Britain (Britain) - it includes the countries of England, Wales, Scotland. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) - it is made up of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Scotland hosts one of the world's most popular rock music festivals - Pink Pop.
5. In the old days, among the representatives of the aristocracy, it was customary on December 26 to give gifts to vassals and servants who received a day off on this day, because on Christmas they served at the holiday with the owners.
6. On December 26, merchants gave out to everyone who worked for them (sellers, servants, clerks ...) original Christmas bonuses - boxes with delicious food and goodies. Some believe that this gave the name to the holiday.
There are several more versions of the origin of the name of this holiday, and now it is hardly possible to single out the only correct one. Actually, in countries where the “Boxing Day” is celebrated, they don’t go in cycles especially in this. It is enough that this is a day off and one of the good Catholic Christmas traditions.
Great Britain to everyone who only read about it in books or watched in films seems to be a very mysterious country. And if you delve into the question of what holidays are celebrated in the UK, it becomes clear that in this country people really live unpredictable, cheerful and loving to relax. Wikipedia tells about the holidays in Great Britain quite interestingly, and in general the topic of holidays is always relevant, and you can talk about it forever.
Looking at what holidays there are in the UK and what in other countries, we can conclude that the British are really stiff and do not like festivities and fun, although this is not at all the case. You need to read about the holidays in the UK in English, in the original language it will immediately be clear how much they are tied to their national and religious days.
On New Year's Eve, December 31, it is traditional in England to get together with families or friends to celebrate the New Year at midnight and sing together "Auld Lang Syne" - a folk song with lyrics by Scottish poet Robert Burns. New Year's Eve can drag on until the morning and even longer! Many people make traditional New Year's resolutions on New Year's Eve, promising themselves to achieve goals or kick bad habits in the coming year. True, most of these resolutions are successfully forgotten at the end of the festivities (it is enough to recall Bridget Jones's "fortitude" in this regard).
In the photo: a New Year tree on a London street.
In Scotland, the New Year's celebration is called Hogmanay, having its roots in pagan beliefs. Scottish people celebrate the New Year in a big way - with music, dancing, culinary feasts and torchlight processions, and Edinburgh is the epicenter of this festive revelry.
January 25 - Burns' Night in Scotland.
Many Scots celebrate this day with a gala 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 skirts - kilts, musicians play bagpipes, and on almost every table you can see "haggis" (haggis) - a traditional Scottish dish of sheep's heart, liver and lungs with turnips and potatoes.
UK holidays in February
February 14 - Valentine's Day.
This is the day when love is in the air! Today, Valentine's Day has become a celebration of love and romance. Many people across the UK invite their significant other for a romantic dinner and give them valentine 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 "Day of pancakes" (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 host "pancake races" in which participants flip pancakes on the run with a frying pan in their hand. The “homeland” of these competitions is 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 largest Chinese New Year celebrations are held in London, with an annual parade in London's Chinatown featuring free performances, music, dance, acrobats, food feasts and fireworks. In addition to London, colorful street performances in honor of the Chinese New Year can be seen in other major cities in the UK, including Manchester, Nottingham, Liverpool and Birmingham.
UK holidays in March
March 1st is Saint David's Day in Wales.
Saint David is the patron saint of Wales, and March 1 is essentially a celebration of Welsh culture. On this day, the people of Wales attach daffodil flowers to their clothes and eat cole (cawl) - a traditional Welsh soup made from seasonal vegetables, lamb or pork. Celebrations are held throughout Wales, including a large parade in Cardiff.
March 6 - Holi.
This "Festival of Colors" marks the end of the Hindu winter season and falls on March 6, 2015. In many cities in the UK, including London, Manchester, Bristol and Belfast, people celebrate the occasion by running through the streets and showering each other with colorful powders!
March 15 - Mother's Day.
This is a day to celebrate motherhood, when people thank their mothers for their labors throughout the year. On this day, it is customary to give mothers a card and other gifts, as well as invite them to a gala dinner in a restaurant or cook a special dish at home.
March 17 is Saint Patrick's Day in Northern Ireland.
St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and is currently celebrated by Irish communities around the world. In the UK, St. Patrick's celebrations are held in major cities including Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and London, as well as Belfast. Many Britons dress in green and attach a shamrock (“lucky clover”) to it, 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 commemorating 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 color the eggs and take part in the hunt for Easter eggs (Easter egg hunts).
April 23 - Saint George's Day in England.
Legend has it that Saint George was a Roman soldier who slew a dragon to save a princess. He became the patron saint of England, and St George's Day is considered a national English holiday. The Cross of Saint George (a red cross on a white background) is depicted on the national flag of England. Celebrations on this day include moreska dancing (an English folk dance), however, since St. George's Day is not a holiday, most people do not participate in any special celebrations on this occasion.
April 23 - William Shakespeare's birthday.
On this day, festive events are held in honor of this great English playwright. The biggest celebrations are held 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 (Beltane, or Beltain)
Celtic festival of fire, praising fertility and marking the beginning of summer. Rooted 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 Batser Ancient Farm in Hampshire, where a 30-foot 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 rest and (if you'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, since 1748 the birthday of the King or Queen of Great Britain has traditionally been celebrated in June. On this occasion, London hosts an annual military parade known as Trooping the Colour, attended by the royal family.
June 21 - Father's Day.
On this day, they express gratitude to fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers and fathers-in-law. Most Britons give their fathers a card or gift and have dinner together at a restaurant or pub.
June 21 - Summer Solstice.
Pictured: Stonehenge in Wiltshire, UK.
On this special day, many English people flock to the mysterious Stonehenge site in Wiltshire, where 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 sight 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 dress in white uniforms, and spectators in the stands traditionally enjoy strawberries and cream.
UK holidays in July
July 17 - Uraza Bayram, or Eid al-Fitr.
This day marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and is widely celebrated by Muslim communities in the UK. Each community tends to organize 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 Eisteddfod is the largest cultural event in Wales 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 theatrical 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 2500 concerts in 250 venues. Spectacles include plays, comedy shows, music and dance performances. Many students put on their own shows in Edinburgh on this day.
August 31 - Carnival in Notting Hill.
Held in west London on a "long" weekend that includes a 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 colorful costumes, listen to diverse music from salsa to reggae and taste the national Caribbean cuisine from street stalls. Don't forget to bring your holiday spirit, a supply of cash and... patience - the streets can get 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 fashion industry workers, but even people who are far from the world of fashion can buy a ticket to a 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 (Halloween).
Pictured: Halloween in London.
Today, Halloween traditions draw inspiration from the celebration of the Christian All Saints' Day and the Celtic festival of Samhain. On this day, children go around their neighbors and beg for sweets with the traditional question “Trick or treat?”, carve scary faces out of pumpkins, and adults have parties and gather in pubs, clubs or student hostels. The main rule is to look as intimidating as possible, so on this day, long queues line up in stores selling makeup and other holiday paraphernalia.
UK holidays in November
Whole November - Movember
November is also called Movember, or Usabr (from the English mustache - 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.
November 5 - Bonfire night.
Historically, this day marks the anniversary of the Guy Fawkes plot to blow up the House of Lords and assassinate King James I in 1605 – this failed plot is reflected in the nursery rhyme “Remember, remember the 5th of November; gunpowder, treason and plot ”(“ Remember the fifth of November. Treason is insidious and the gunpowder plot ”). These days, the anniversary of this event is celebrated with spectacular fireworks held in most cities in the UK, but the most impressive fireworks can be seen in Lewes, in East Sussex, where fire shows are accompanied by colorful parades, music, costumed performances and the burning of a straw or paper effigy.
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 of India), London and Nottingham, put on spectacular street performances with traditional Indian food, music, crafts and dance - and, as usual, all this action is accompanied by the lighting of lanterns. and candles, as well as fireworks.
November 11 - Remembrance Day.
Every year in the UK on November 11, members of the armed forces are honored. On this day, it is customary to remember the fallen in battle, so many fighters for peace ardently support this holiday. The British Royal Legion Charitable Trust 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 minute of silence is traditionally observed.
November 30 - St. Andrew's Day in Scotland.
Local national holiday. This day honors the patron saint of Scotland - St. Andrew. Various festive events are held throughout Scotland, including the preparation of traditional Scottish dishes, poetry readings, bagpipes and national dances. This is a great opportunity to see the traditional ceilidh group dance. Fortunately, as a rule, there is always a mentor who is ready to teach dance to beginners.
UK holidays in December
There are countless winter fairs and festivals throughout the UK throughout December. Usually announcements about such events are published in local magazines and newspapers.
The most popular December events include the following:
Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, London.
Pictured: Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, London.
In addition to the traditional Christmas market, here 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
A 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 see the original 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 of 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 buy unique souvenirs made by local craftsmen.
Winter Festival at the Eden Project Botanical Garden in Cornwall.
In December, the choir sings Christmas songs in this botanical garden, there are trees, live reindeer and a winter skating rink for people of all ages.
Christmas market in Belfast
This international market near City Hall sells festive food and drink, as well as crafts, souvenirs and Christmas decorations from around the world.
Pantomime
The traditional Christmas pantomime is a mixture of comedy and musical theatre, where the participants dress up in funny costumes and the audience directly participates in the performance. Usually, pantomimes are arranged 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 6 to 14 December. The largest menorah in Europe is installed on Trafalgar Square in London. It is usually lit by the Mayor of London on the first day of Hanukkah, which is accompanied by free donut giveaways 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 each other gifts and sing Christmas carols, drink warmed wine with spices and eat pies with sweet fruit filling (mince pies), and if you're lucky and it snows, they play snowballs and make snowballs. snowmen. Traditionally, a whole baked turkey with baked potatoes, vegetables and gravy sauce is served for Christmas dinner, and Christmas pudding (biscuit with dried fruits) is served for dessert, but each family has its own traditions of this holiday.
26 - Boxing Day.
The day off after Christmas is called boxing day (literally translated from English - "box day"). It is believed that this holiday owes its name to the former tradition, according to which the heads of families gave servants and merchants "Christmas boxes" with money and gifts. Nowadays, this tradition no longer exists, but on Boxing Day it is customary for families to gather, go for walks, watch sports events and eat the leftovers of Christmas feasts.
Here you can find UK holidays. Public, national, official and unofficial holidays in the UK.
The historical and cultural home of the English language is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This country is rich in traditions, fascinating history and the most beautiful English accent. Also, England is one of the most conservative countries in the world, which is why its inhabitants are very reverent and respectful of national customs and honor existing traditions.
The United Kingdom consists of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland. Each country is unique in its own way and is linked to the other three by a number of similarities and differences. So each area has its own distinctive accent, and often completely different vocabulary. The same applies to traditional holidays. If Christmas is invariably celebrated on December 25 in every country in the UK, then a 4-day festival on New Year's Eve, Edinburgh Hogmanay, is a holiday that takes place only in Scotland.
All public holidays in the UK are also called "bank" (bank holidays), ie. days of official holidays in banks and other organizations. "Banking" holidays are, as a rule, approved by the Royal Proclamation. The traditional holidays of England, Wales and Northern Ireland are considered to be largely the same in terms of dates and customs, with those in Scotland slightly different from those of their neighbours.
So the most popular winter holidays in the UK are undoubtedly New Year and Christmas (New Year and Christmas). Catholic Christmas falls on December 25, which is an official holiday, and December 26 and 27 as Boxing Day And Christmas Bank Holiday. The New Year, like in many countries of the world, is celebrated on January 1st. However, for the British, Christmas itself is of particular importance and it is on this day that the largest treats occur, including a Christmas dinner with stuffed turkey in England, roast goose in Wales and Ireland. Another dish that symbolizes Christmas is Plum Pudding. The houses of the British on this holiday become like fabulous decorations, as they are decorated with Christmas tree branches, wild berries, colorful candles, and a sprig of mistletoe over the door. The custom says that if a man and a woman meet under a branch of mistletoe, they must kiss. The most favorite symbol of children on this holiday is Christmas socks, prudently hung over the fireplace so that Santa Claus fills them to the limit with gifts.
Another important holiday for the British takes place on February 14th. This St. Valentine's Day. Nowadays, this holiday is celebrated in almost all countries of the world. Millions of people on this day declare their love to their halves and do it beautifully, with the help of postcards - valentines, or heart-shaped souvenirs. Originally appearing in England, the expression "Be my Valentine" has now spread all over the world.
Saturated with interesting holidays and spring. So every year on March 17, all residents of Northern Ireland celebrate St. Patrick's Day- originally an Irish religious holiday in honor of the memory of the saint, whose name is associated with the emergence of Christianity in the country. The symbol of this holiday is the shamrock in honor of the Holy Trinity, as well as green. On this day, national festivals with Irish folk music are held throughout Britain and other English-speaking countries.
April begins with a day of laughter, or, in other words, in Britain on April 1, on a cheerful note, a holiday is held April Fool's Day (April's Fool). It's a day of harmless practical jokes. It is noteworthy that in Scotland this holiday is called Cuckoo Day. On the first of April, it is customary to play funny situations, make fun of acquaintances and friends, and even the media are happy to participate in this.
The English love their Queen very much and therefore Her birthday (Queen's Birthday), which falls on April 21, is celebrated by the whole country. All television channels, radio and newspapers are sure to congratulate Queen Elizabeth II. However, the official celebration Monarch's birthday in England (Queen's / King's Official Birthday) originates from 1748 and is assigned to the 2nd Saturday of June. On this day, there is a ceremonial parade, a solemn carrying of the banner, a review of the troops and a magnificent secular ball at the end of the day.
The next spring holiday, which is celebrated not only by the countries of Great Britain, but by the entire Christian world, is Easter. The date of Easter varies from year to year, but it usually falls in March or April. Major public holidays in England follow each other. This Good Friday, Easter itself or Holy Sunday (Easter Day) And Easter Monday or Egg Nyte). The invariable symbol of the holiday are chocolate Easter eggs (Easter Eggs) and the Easter Bunny (Easter Bunny), symbolizing abundance and fertility.
The official holiday is the 1st Monday of May. This holiday went down in history as Spring Day (May Day). On this day, merry festivities, costume processions, and other fun events take place in all parts of Britain. And cities are decorated with flower garlands. Also Spring Day is associated with the national hero Robin Hood.
There are not many holidays in the summer, but two events at the end of August deserve special attention. The first holiday is August Bank Holiday which takes place every last Monday in August. This day is considered an official holiday, and the local population tries to spend it with their families in nature. The second holiday is Carnival in Notting Hill (Notting Hill Carnival) which takes place every last Sunday of August. This is a street festival for two days, during which everyone tries to put on fancy or extravagant clothes, music plays non-stop until late, food fairs and many other interesting events are held. Sometimes famous musicians play in the streets, and orchestras play Caribbean or Arabic music.
One of the favorite holidays of the British, and now of many other nationalities in the world, is the holiday Halloween held annually on October 31st. The holiday appeared thanks to the ancient Celts, and marks the eve of All Saints Day (All Saint's Eve). Despite the fact that Halloween is not officially a day off, this day is celebrated especially actively in the country. People put on colorful costumes, decorate their homes, visit their neighbors with the words trick-or-treat and beg for sweets. The symbol of the holiday is traditionally a pumpkin with a carved face and a candle inside, popularly known as the Jack-o'-lantern or Jack-o'-lantern. This Halloween attribute is found in all English people. He is called upon to protect the house from evil spirits and from all evil spirits. The Irish celebrate Halloween especially brightly. On this day, they have massive fireworks and bonfires are lit everywhere. And this holiday is less popular in Scotland.
Another interesting autumn holiday is celebrated by the British on the night of November 5th. This Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night. On this night, fireworks rattle throughout England, bonfires are lit and an effigy of Guy Fawkes, a man who tried to commit the Gunpowder Plot in the 17th century and blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, is burned. Many people at the same time burn the garbage accumulated in the yard, arranging a kind of farewell to autumn. The boys on the streets beg for coins with words allegedly for Guy, and with the collected money they buy firecrackers.
Well, at the end of the year comes the preparation for the Christmas holidays, the so-called Advent Post (Advent), lasting from 1 to 24 December. Residents of England stock up on Christmas attributes and gifts for loved ones. One of the traditional attributes is a wreath with five candles, one white and four red. Every next Sunday before Christmas, one red candle is lit, and the white one is for the Nativity of Christ. In Scotland there is an ancient tradition called Yule Log(Christmas log), which is associated with an ancient Scandinavian holiday. At one time, the Vikings burned a large log so that the sun would shine brighter, and the Scots burned a large candle instead of a log so that light and good would come into the house, and with them soon comes Christmas(December 25) is the most important holiday of the year.
March is a good time to visit the UK. This month there are several holidays in different parts of the country. Note: Some dates may vary depending on the year.
During the UK holidays in March, travel companies in England offer a wide range of services and special discounts for various events - for visits to the London Eye, a cruise on the Thames, etc. Most .
March 1 - St. David's Day (Wales)
This and the entire Welsh culture. On this day, it is customary to attach daffodils to clothes and eat a traditional Welsh soup - cawl. Festive festivities take place throughout Wales, but the largest parade can be seen in its capital, Cardiff.
Mother's Day (Fourth Sunday of Lent)
This international holiday in England is celebrated three weeks before Easter Sunday. In 2019 it falls on March 31. On this day, people congratulate their mothers and give them memorable gifts. 
Second Monday in March - Commonwealth Day
Commonwealth Day 2019 is celebrated 11th of March. This holiday is celebrated by countries that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations (53 countries that were previously part of the British Empire) and recognize the British monarch as a symbol of "free unity". 
March 17 - St. Patrick's Day (N. Ireland)
This is the national holiday of Ireland, which is loved and appreciated around the world. It is widely celebrated in all major cities in the UK - not only in Belfast, but also in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Nottingham. 
People dress up in green suits, pin shamrocks to their clothes and have fun with friends over a glass of Guinness, participating in parades and festivities.
Easter in England (March-April)
It's the Friday before Easter Sunday. It is considered a public holiday in the UK and a public holiday. 
This is an important Christian holiday celebrated all over the world.
We can say that March is a great month to visit Ireland and Wales because of the festivals held in these countries. When planning your trip to the UK, keep in mind that prices for tickets and accommodation will be higher for the dates leading up to St. Patrick's Day, and there will be much fewer budget accommodation options.
