Holidays in Britain: Holidays and traditions of Great Britain. UK national holidays

One of the most important holidays in the UK is Christmas, which is traditionally celebrated on December 25th. The whole country lights up with festive lanterns and lights on the eve of the holiday, it is celebrated even by families who do not identify themselves with any religious denomination. Christmas trees are set up in the squares and in the living rooms. Houses are also decorated with toys, garlands, wreaths and mistletoe sprigs that are hung from the ceiling. It is customary to celebrate Christmas in the family circle, the whole family and relatives gather at the dinner table. The dishes of the Christmas table are strictly traditional - a turkey with baked vegetables is always served, for dessert the hostess prepares a Christmas pudding. Another treat is specially brewed mulled wine. December 26 is the day of gifts - on this day it is customary to exchange souvenirs and go on joint walks.

On January 5, on the eve of Christian Baptism, Twelfth Night is celebrated. On this day, everything must be removed from the house and from the street. holiday decorations Otherwise, the whole next year will be unsuccessful. Those decorations that remain in the house must not be removed until the next Christmas, otherwise the owner of the house will fail. On February 14, lovers celebrate Valentine's Day by exchanging love-themed cards and gifts. Great Britain is a monarchy, the entire population of the country loves and honors the royal family, and therefore the birthday of the queen (king) is considered a national holiday. It is celebrated separately from the real date of birth of the ruling monarch for over 300 years. The holiday takes place on the first, second or third Saturday of June, in honor of the queen or king, a military parade is arranged, at which all members of the royal dynasty are present. Ends bright and noisy holiday great fireworks.

New Year's Eve in the UK is also customary to celebrate with a parade. The British spend the night with family and close friends, they treat New Year's Eve as a new frontier. On this night, it is customary to make promises to yourself, set goals and make grandiose plans for the next year. At 12 noon on January 1, a colorful parade starts in London. Acrobats, dancers, musicians and actors take part in it. On the fourth Sunday during Lent, the British celebrate Mother's Day. On this holiday, you must definitely visit your mother or grandmother, give her flowers or at least a postcard. During the celebration of Easter, it is customary to exchange chocolate eggs and special cross-patterned buns. Easter begins to be celebrated on Friday, rituals and festive events end only on Monday. Copyright www.site

The main holiday of Northern Ireland is Saint Patrick's Day, the heavenly patron of this country, it is celebrated on the day of his death, March 17th. The holiday is celebrated throughout the UK, in a number of cities in the US and other countries. In London, a large-scale parade is held to coincide with St. Patrick's Day. Manchester hosts a two-week Irish festival, which includes a market, cultural events. The festival ends with a colorful parade. But the main events take place in Belfast, the streets are filled with green scenery and decorations, even the water in the fountains is painted green. October 21 is not celebrated official holiday Apple day. Within its framework, fairs are held where not only to buy apples, but also to try dozens of different dishes from this fruit, as well as take part in funny apple contests.

One of the iconic events in the fashion world takes place in London. London Fashion Week attracts the most famous designers, world stars of cinema and show business come to the defile. The event takes place twice a year - in February and September, the best British fashion houses showcase new collections to the public at shows. A very original Straw Bear festival is held in the vicinity of Cambridge. During the parade, processions with straw stuffed bears pass through the streets, which are burned at the stake at the end of the holiday. In early August, Mansfield hosts the festival of the legendary hero of England, Robin Hood, accompanied by theatrical performances and historical reenactments of battles. In February, the Viking Festival takes place in York, which was the capital of the Viking kingdom many centuries ago. The inhabitants of the city are transformed into fearless warriors and participate in impromptu battles.

Everyone knows with what sublime metaphors poets like to sing of foggy Albion. Think about what associations come to your mind when you hear about the UK? I think for the most part, the Queen, the Tower, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, pubs, rain, fog, and so on down the list. And what associations should arise in the head of a fan of good music? That's right, festivals.


The festival is one of interesting events already firmly established important point in the entertainment program of many music fans. Even if you're not a big fan of a particular band or singer, you can have a great time lounging in the sun and expanding your musical tastes by soaking up the music that comes to your ears.

Great Britain is the best suited to visit music festivals and see the country at the same time. Therefore, I would like to present to your attention the largest and most interesting festivals.

1.Leeds And Reading

A double festival where you can hear your favorite artists. One of the oldest festivals in the world. The main directions are punk, rock, alternative, metal and of course, warming the soul, indie. Leeds And Reading is especially famous for the fact that the band Nirvana gave their last UK concert here in 1992, and the leader of the group, Kurt Cobain, took the stage in wheelchair.

Where: Leeds and Reading respectively, England
When: the end of August, it is better to check the dates on the official website.
Who: Classics of British rock, the best of those musicians who gave us foggy Albion. Muse, Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Franz Ferdinand, Iron Maiden The Killers, Oasis, Blur and more

2 Glastonbury

Also popularly referred to as Glasto, one of the biggest music events of the year in the UK, just like Leeds. The number of people who come here for "musical recreation" is almost 150,000. Agree, a rather big figure. According to the number of visitors and the scope of the festival.

Where: a few kilometers from Glastonbury, England
When: last weekend of June.
Who: all the same classic representatives of British rock Muse, Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, as well as The Prodidgy, Pendulum, The Verve, and in 2009 Lady Gaga performed at the festival

3.Mathew Street Music Festival

One of the largest festivals of the so-called free music. You can come here to expand your musical tastes, hear many new bands from Canada, Italy, France and other countries. Also, a definite plus is that, unlike the previous two, Mathew Street Music Festival is free. Moreover, it began its existence as a festival dedicated to the music of the Beatles.

Where: Mathew Street, Liverpool, England
When: Last weekend of August.
Who: the members change every year, it is unlikely that you will find super-popular groups here. However, ACDC are announced for 2012, so this event should not be missed.

4.Download Festival

A two-day festival for true connoisseurs of heavy music. This is where it is worth breaking away in full. On several stages you can find music for really sophisticated listeners. Download is quite a young festival, the first time it was held in 2003. But even then the headliners were the monsters and fathers of the heavy Iron Maiden. If this name tells you something, then you can safely go to this festival.

Where: Donington Park Circuit, England
When: end of spring
Who: 30 seconds to mars, Korn, Alice Cooper, Pendulum, Rob Zombie, Def Leppard, Linkin Park, in general, the list is very diverse, also, if you are interested, you can hear the recruits who joined the ranks of the army of heavy music.

5. The 'V' festival

A relatively young festival compared to Glasto and Leeds, however, it managed to win the hearts of music lovers. As usual, it takes two days.

Where: Chelmsford and Staffordshire, at the same time. This is an interesting feature. You can choose the city that you are more interested in, comparing it with your musical tastes, of course.
When: penultimate weekend of august
Who: all the popular British artists, here you have Lily Allen and The Killers in one bottle. In general, the choice is more than diverse.

In general, the number of music festivals held in the UK is very large. And this applies not only to rock or pop music. Do you love jazz? So Glasgow is your destination. Moreover, music festivals in Foggy Albion are held almost all year round. But of course, only in the summer outdoors can you get great amount impressions, and not only musical ones, meet new people and just have a great time. After all, a music festival is a special atmosphere and special emotions that you will not experience anywhere else.

All nationalities have their own national holidays, traditions and customs that are unique to their culture. Holiday events are loved by the inhabitants of every country, they prepare for them, look forward to them, celebrate them with pleasure and part with regret until next year. English holidays- it is an integral part of the culture of the English-speaking world, a way of their self-expression, the source of habits and behavior. Often, in order to understand the soul and character of the inhabitants of a particular country, it is necessary to get acquainted with their customs and traditions. Let's take a look at the most famous holidays celebrated by residents of English-speaking countries.

Holidays in England

New Year, January 1st. The most important custom of this winter holiday, which is invariably revered by the British, is the tradition of the first guest. If a dark-haired man enters the house after midnight, then the next year will be successful for this family. The guest must bring a coal with him and, without saying a word, throw it into the fireplace, and only after that congratulate the hosts. This custom means that peace and prosperity will reign in the house.

One of the favorite holidays of the British, which is celebrated with all its might. Secret giving of gifts, making pairs by drawing lots, exchanging sweets and soft toys- This day of all lovers consists of some surprises. And, of course, a wide variety of hearts.

Mother's Day, March 22. An analogue of our March 8th. This holiday has its roots in the Victorian era, when children from an early age had to earn money by hard work, being far from home. And only one day a year they could spend with their family. Now it is a holiday in England, when children give their mothers flowers and touching gifts.

Walpurgis Night, 30 April. Witches' Sabbath or Fertility Festival. According to legend, at this time all the witches gather together and the gates to the country of the elves open. The streets of England are filled with witches of all ages - of course, not real ones, but townspeople in carnival costumes. This holiday also marks the imminent arrival of summer.

Chimney Sweep Festival, 1 May. The British believe that a meeting with a chimney sweep is a very good sign that brings good luck and happiness. Therefore, they are often invited to weddings. This tradition originated a long time ago, from the time when the hard work of chimney sweeps was revered - they were respected at all times and considered noble people.

Street entertainment festival, 12 August. This holiday lasts for several days, the streets of the cities are filled with noisy crowds. Carnivals, parades, concerts, theatrical performances, folk festivals, colorful fairs, competitions and attractions - on this day, few people stay at home, everyone succumbs to the general noisy and cheerful mood.

Halloween, October 31st. Every year on this day, the streets of England turn into a real fairy tale with witches in hats, devils with pitchforks, ominous pumpkins, and other "cute" characters. Kids in outfits fairytale heroes go home with baskets, and according to tradition they should be treated with sweets, otherwise there will be no luck.

Christmas, December 25th. A favorite holiday not only for English children, but also for the older generation. Traditionally, all the inhabitants of England hang stockings or socks on the fireplace so that Santa Claus can put gifts in them. According to the legend, once upon a time Santa accidentally dropped into a sock through a chimney. gold coin, and since then there has been a custom to hang a stocking on the fireplace on Christmas Eve - what if something falls there?

Holidays in Scotland

New Year, January 1st. In Scotland, this holiday is called Hogmanay, and is celebrated on a larger scale than Christmas. Here, as in England, there is a tradition of the first guest, who must bring with him a biscuit, whiskey or fruit pie. After midnight, the owners open wide the doors of their houses - to spend old year, and processions with torches are arranged in the streets to exorcise evil spirits with fire.

Night of Robert Burns, 25 January. A very revered holiday in Scotland in honor of the popular and famous poet, whom the Scots are very proud of and honor his memory every year. This event is celebrated according to a certain scenario, in national costumes, with skits, poetry readings, songs, dances and a gala dinner.

Whiskey Festival, 3 May. This holiday has no definite origins, on this day the Scots just gather to have fun. Noble alcohol flows like water, and competitions are held with prizes, which are rare varieties of whiskey.

Independence Day, 24 June. As the story goes, on this day in 1324, Robert the Bruce (King of Scotland) defeated the English king, restoring independence in his country. Today this holiday is celebrated "on a grand scale" - with folk festivals, concerts, festivals, national songs and dances.

Bagpipe Championship, 14 August. This event takes place annually in Green Park (Glasgow) throughout the day. Indispensable condition: each participant must be dressed in a national Scottish costume with a mandatory kilt skirt.

St. Andrew's Day, 30 November. The day of the patron saint of Scotland, St. Andrew, the official holiday of the country. It is celebrated very widely: with performances, fairs, music and dances. On the tables on this day there is exclusively traditional food.

Holidays in Ireland

New Year, January 1st. Most ancient holiday in Ireland, it is celebrated mainly in the family circle at the festive table. IN new year's eve The Irish traditionally open doors for good luck, prepare national dishes (pudding and cumin pie), and wait for any guests who, according to tradition, should bring bread and salt to the hosts. Salutes and fireworks in Ireland, alas, do not happen, as they are prohibited by law.

St.Patrick 's Day. March 17. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland this holiday considered very important by the Irish. Only in this country it is celebrated on a grand scale and marks the arrival of spring. On this day, residents put on red wigs and green suits, and, not forgetting to grab pots of clover (the symbol of Ireland), rush to the parade, where dances, music and fireworks await them.

Harvest Festival, August 1st. In Ireland, the imminent arrival of autumn is celebrated with the Lughnasad holiday, which means "Lug's wedding." Its essence is gratitude to the gods for good harvest. On this day, the Irish eat a loaf of grain from the new harvest, kindle fires on the hills, bake traditional blueberry pies and make straw dolls.

Christmas, December 25th. It is considered the most important holiday in Ireland. Children decorate the Christmas tree, hang red socks on the fireplace, leave cakes for Santa's reindeer, adults stuff the turkey and make dried fruit pudding, hang bells and holly wreaths on the doors. And artists of different genres perform on the streets, choirs sing Christmas songs and fairs are held.

Saint Stephen's Day, December 26th. A holiday celebrated only in Ireland. On this day, all Irish boys dress up as chimney sweeps, smear their faces with soot, sing hymns and collect money, which then goes to charity. Horse racing is also held on this day, as St. Stephen is the patron saint of horses.

Holidays in Australia

New Year, January 1st. In Australia, the New Year comes early. This holiday is celebrated boisterously, with musical shows and magnificent fireworks. After the clock has struck midnight, all the festivities are traditionally interrupted by the ringing of bells and the buzz of car horns, after which the Australians continue to celebrate at picnics, rodeos, beach parties, costume carnivals, etc.

Australia Day, 26 January. The most favorite holiday of the inhabitants of this country. Parades and regattas are held all over Australia, in all regions beautiful fireworks take off into the sky. Music festivals, cricket matches, the honorary award "Australian of the Year" - the local population celebrates this holiday on a grand scale. Houses are decorated with flags and balloons, and all Australians give gifts to each other.

Royal Regatta, 9 February. This holiday lasts three days, a huge crowd of spectators gather to watch it. The regatta includes water skiing, rowing, boat racing, sailing and colorful event, on which the most beautiful girl receives the title of "Miss regatta". There are also exciting shows - swimming competitions and performances by sky diving professionals.

Mardi Gras Festival, 24 February. Carnival parade of non-traditional people sexual orientation. It is the largest festival in the world, carrying an almost iconic connotation. Every year on this event crowds of spectators gather to watch dancers in erotic costumes, exotic cabaret, theatrical performances and musical shows. Celebrities from all over the world visit this festival every year.

Harmony Day, March 21. In Australia, it is not so much a holiday as a social event. On this day, every Australian attaches an orange ribbon to their clothes, thereby protesting against racism and racial discrimination. Schoolchildren wear an orange badge and a sticker with a picture of happy people of different races, and students draw leaflets and distribute to passers-by - this is how Australians say "no" to racism.

Father's Day, September 6th. The essence of the holiday is to emphasize the important role a father plays in the upbringing of his child. In Australia, this day is celebrated with great joy, children enthusiastically draw cards for their dads, uncles and grandfathers, make handicrafts with their own hands, and give the most popular gift - a tie. Father's Day is a home holiday where the whole family gathers and arranges exciting intellectual games.

Christmas, December 25th. This holiday is held in Australia in a very colorful and original way. Vendors, drivers and ordinary employees put on hats with deer horns, and Santa Claus walks around shopping centers and takes pictures with children. On the night of Christmas, life on the streets of the cities stops - everyone gathers at the festive table. Traditional holiday dishes - turkey, fruit salad and seafood.

Boxing Day, December 26th. The day when all Australians traditionally exchange gifts. What is interesting: if the gift is not liked, then the donor can exchange it in the store for something else. A gift is certainly given in a box so that it takes a long time to unpack it - for intrigue. This is the whole point of this Australian holiday.

Holidays in the USA and Canada

New Year, January 1st. In Canada and in many states of the United States, it is customary to celebrate the New Year in fancy dress and masks, which are removed at midnight. In other states, people simply gather with the whole family at the festive table with traditional New Year's dishes. Also a large number of people come to New York specifically to watch a grandiose festive concert with fireworks on Times Square.

Groundhog Day, 2 February. Much loved by Americans annual holiday. They believe that the groundhog can predict the approach of spring, you just need to observe its behavior. According to legend, if a groundhog calmly crawls out of its hole, then winter will soon end. If he looks out and hides again, then the cold will last at least another month. Very often, Groundhog Day is celebrated with festivals that attract many tourists.

Valentine's Day, February 14th. traditional holiday in the US and Canada, accompanied by valentine hearts and chocolates. IN Lately On Valentine's Day in these countries, it is customary to give modern gadgets and other practical and useful things. It is on February 14 that the largest number of wedding ceremonies falls.

Grandparents Day, September 5th. This holiday was invented by a housewife from West Virginia. But the Americans liked the idea so much that it was decided to make the holiday nationwide. On this day, the whole family comes to their old people with flowers and gifts to play old-fashioned games and look at yellowed photographs, and grandparents treat their children and grandchildren with sweet pies.

Halloween, October 31st. The most popular holiday in the US and Canada, which is also called All Saints' Day. It is almost a fairy tale sight when kids dressed up in "terrible" costumes knock on the doors of houses with the words "Trick or Treat!" in the hope of getting sweets. Residential buildings are decorated with pumpkins with "burning eyes", figurines of black cats, witch dolls, and other mystical creatures and symbols.

Thanksgiving Day, November 26th. It is also a very popular holiday among Americans. Many traditions are associated with it, which the residents revere sacredly - they always go to church services and gather with the whole family at the festive table. On this day, charity flourishes - gifts are distributed to the homeless and the needy. Most important attribute holiday - stuffed turkey.

Christmas, December 25th. For this holiday in the USA and Canada, they prepare in advance - they buy gifts and Christmas decorations, decorate houses with tinsel and garlands. All states are full of festive illuminations and multi-colored lanterns, and the main Christmas tree of America is lit by the president himself. Children, dressed as angels, go around the surrounding houses and sing Christmas carols, for which they traditionally receive sweets and sweets.

The country has a large number of festivals and holidays, the vast majority of them are musical or sports.

Festivals of Celtic culture and music open festival New Year, they take place from January 13th and last until the end of January in the city of Glasgow, this is in Scotland. As you imagine, the main actors there will be men in skirts - Celts playing the bagpipes. These days Glasgow will host more than two hundred cultural events, which will be attended by both British performers and from the USA, Canada, France, Spain.

Valentine's Day February 14 is a popular holiday in the UK, flowers, especially red roses and valentines with the obligatory inscription "To You, with Love from Valentine" (with Love from Valentine) are mandatory attributes of this event. As we all know, valentines are just cards with hearts and words of love or friendship.

Followed by Valentine's Day Saint David's Day the first of March is a cultural and patriotic holiday for all people of Wales. The holiday is celebrated in the city of Cardiff, on this day it is customary to dress national clothes, the traditional festive dish is leek soup. Even the Empire State Building will be illuminated in green-red-white on this day, but it will be in New York.

Another saint's day, this time Patrick celebrated on the seventeenth of March. This Irish holiday is widely celebrated in many European countries, as well as in the USA and Canada. Costumed parades with wind instruments are held in the cities of Great Britain. The symbol of this day is the ubiquitous color green, which is present everywhere and in everything from green clothes to green beer.

If we celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, then in the UK there is a similar analogue - mothers Day, it is usually celebrated on the eighteenth of March or on the nearest day off, namely on the fourth Sunday of Great Lent. On this day, all women, and especially mothers, rest, and all of them hard work performed by their children or husbands. Families in the UK go to a restaurant or stay at home for a festive dinner with a traditional treat - simnel cake, decorated with 12 balls of marzipan. It is obligatory to congratulate your mothers, wherever you are, if you are a foreign tourist, you can also congratulate your mothers at home, perhaps this will be an educational surprise for your mother.

pay attention to April 1st in the UK, only the laziest can not play a trick on friends and friends, jokes usually take place only in the first half of the day, but in Scotland this holiday lasts two days. The second of April here is called the Day of the Tail, you can put buttons or devices that make obscene sounds in society, you can also discreetly stick a sticker on the back of the poor fellow with the call - Give me a kick. Remember that these days good joke it is considered the one at which the fool himself laughs.

Preceding Catholic Easter Good Friday , many institutions and companies may not work on this day, services and prayers are held in churches. On the first full moon Sunday after the spring equinox between March 22 and April 25, Easter is widely celebrated in the UK. For all Brits, this is the most important holiday, the festive table is decorated with an Easter cake (simnel cake) and eggs are painted, a baked lamb with vegetables is a more serious snack, and on Sunday morning you can always try hot cross buns for tea. Friends or relatives in the UK are given both real painted eggs and, for example, chocolate or souvenir, as well as other sweets. Easter eggs, a symbol of new life - a traditional attribute of Easter, for children it is great fun. And it consists in finding these eggs, which the kids themselves painted the day before. The children are absolutely sure that the eggs, along with the basket and other sweets, were left somewhere by the Easter Bunny at night. Children's competitions for finding eggs are fun, the one who finds the most eggs will receive the main prize of the holiday. But the main festive events take place, of course, in the churches and temples of Great Britain, services are held in the morning, and organ music concerts in the evening. Must dress on this day new clothes, as a symbol of the end of the season of bad weather and the approach of summer.

Queen Elizabeth II's birthday is celebrated on April 21st both at Windsor Castle and throughout Britain.

Virgin London Marathon marathon in the city of London, in which everyone can take part on April 22. The distance is quite serious 26.2 miles, after which they hold street performances, festivities, snacks in pubs. The race is paid, you must first make a cash contribution, which is later transferred to charity. More than fifteen thousand participants take part in the marathon every year, other Londoners who do not want to run take part in street performances, which they prepare for in advance.

Walpurgis Night- a pagan holiday, widely celebrated in the UK on the night of the thirtieth of April to the first of May. According to the legend, the witches' sabbath takes place on Mount Brocken, which is in Germany, and in the UK there should be wilderness and bonfires.

Beltane celebrated on the first of May, the feast of cattle pastures for summer pastures. On the same day, England hosts the Rochester Chimney Sweep Festival, a colorful procession with dancing. This profession is still in demand, as there are many old buildings in the country that require specific care. To meet a chimney sweep is considered a great happiness, and chimney sweeps are often invited to weddings.

Whiskey Festival takes place on the third of May in the UK, a particularly large-scale action takes place in Speyside (Spirit of Speyside Whiskey Festival) in Scotland. And it is followed by other similar festivals throughout the summer, the final being the Autumn Speyside Whiskey Festival in September. As for the city of Speyside, there are more than a hundred whiskey distilleries. Of course, the most interesting part of the festival is the tasting of this exquisite drink, including especially aged and rare varieties. Here collectors meet, producers exchange experiences, but at the same time keep their secrets, you can visit national Scottish parties, dinners in distilleries, participate in competitions (quick construction of a barrel), visit exhibitions, whiskey museums and folk music evenings. By the way, the inventor of whiskey is Saint Patrick.

May holidays in the UK take place in cities with street processions festivities, but May Day has a medieval bias.

Spring Bank Holiday in the UK celebrated on the last Monday in May. As usual on this day, festivals or new exhibitions open in many cities in the UK.

Birthday of the English monarch celebrated on the first and second Saturdays of June. On this day, the national flag is hung on the buildings, and a ceremonial parade takes place at the residence of the British kings in Whitehall.

Scottish Independence Day is celebrated on June 24th. On the same days, as usual, the Wimbledon tennis tournament starts, which becomes the main event in the country for two weeks.

Fringe Arts Festival in Edinburgh held annually in early August. All kinds of arts are presented at the festival - from musical to comedy, from opera to dance.

Peterborough Beer Festival takes place on the twentieth of August. More than forty thousand people visit the festival every year.

October 21st is Trafalgar Day in the UK. The victory of the Royal Navy over the combined fleet of France and Spain in the Battle of Trafalgar. Today you can admire the parade of the Navy, the procession from the London Mall (London's Mall) to Trafalgar Square (Trafalgar Square).

All Saints Day in the UK November 1st is celebrated, like all over the world, and Halloween is widely celebrated the night before.