BRITISH FESTIVALS
NATIONAL DAYS IN THE UK
ST DAVID’S DAY – 1st March
o national day
o is celebrated in Wales
o people:
o attend mass or service
o attend parades or eisteddfodau (recitals and concerts)
o wear Welsh costumes
o eat traditional fool – cawl
o national emblems: daffodils and leeks
o national symbol: dragon
o St David
o was a Celtic monk who lived in 6th century
o Patron of Wales
ST PARTICK’S DAY – 27th March
o is celebrated in Ireland
o is bank holiday in Northern Ireland
o to keep Irish identity:
o attending mass or service
o attending parades
o wearing green, shamrock
o eating traditional food – Colcannon, Irish stew, Boxty
o drinking Guinness, Irish whiskey, Irish cream
o national emblem: shamrock
ST GEORGE’S DAY – 23rd of April
o is celebrated in England
o it is feast day
o wear traditional clothes
o eat traditional food
o Queen announced who would be given the Order of the Garter
o national emblem: red rose
ST ANDREW’S DAY – 30th of November
o is celebrated in Scotland
o since 2006 – official bank holiday
o it is official flag day
o attend parades
o play traditional games
o national emblem: thistle
RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS
CANDLEMAS DAY – 2nd February
o Christian festival of lights
o people bring the candles to church where they are blessed
SHROVE TUESDAY (“Pancake Day”)
o is the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent
o Shrove Tuesday – because people used to confess (=to shrive) their sins
o eat pancakes because they are made of fat, flour and eggs which were forbidden during Lent
o take part in Olney pancake race
o children skip in Scarborough
o Annual Pancake Grease
o the town crier ring the Pancake Bell
ASH WEDNESDAY – in March
o Christian festival
o day after Shrove Tuesday – mark the beginning of Lent
o marks the beginning of repentance, fasting, abstinence in preparation for Easter
o people attend a religious service where the ashes are blessed and placed on their forehead
o Ash Wednesday tradition: putting an ash twig down sb feet
EASTER SEASON – in April
o Maundy Thursday (Holly Thursday)
o is the beginning of the three day celebration of Easter
o commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles
o English traditions:
o until 1689 – monarch washed feet of poor in Westminster Abbey
o monarch gives Maundy Money (special coins printed in that day) to pensioners at Royal Maundy Service
o Yeomen of the Guards carry the Maundy Money in red and white purses
o Good Friday
o is the public holiday
o Christians remember the day when Jesus was crucified on a cross
o fast, take part in a procession
o eat traditional food – hot cross buns
o children take part in Easter Egg Hunt – parents hide Easter Eggs and children search for them
o Easter Saturday
o Easter Sunday
o commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ
o gather together for a Sunrise Service
o eat special food – boiled eggs, roast lamb
o chocolate eggs are given to children
o Easter Monday
CHRISTMAS – in December
o Christmas Eve
o decorate houses and Christmas tree
o hung up mistletoe and holly
o hung up Christmas stocking near the fireplace
o go to a special carol service and Midnight Mass
o children await for Father Christmas who brings presents
o Christmas Day
o it is a bank and public holiday
o attend church service
o eat Christmas Dinner – turkey (main dish), mince pies, Christmas pudding
o sing Christmas carols and pull Christmas crackers
BOXING DAY – 26th of December
o it is a bank holiday
o is celebrated on the following day after Christmas Day
o is the day when people would box up their presents
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