Holidays in the UK

The most colourful and favourite time for many people is the holidays. In Britain, there is something for every taste! From English holidays such as Hogmanay to international ones – Easter and New Year’s Eve are celebrated here just like in other countries. The British also respect the festivals of other cultures, so right in the centre of London you can easily find yourself at the celebrations of the Chinese New Year, Indian Diwali or Jewish Hanukkah.

Today we’re going to tell you in detail about the holidays that Brits celebrate throughout the year.

Winter

This time of year is accompanied by the joyous anticipation of Christmas and New Year. And here the British have their own interesting traditions.

25 December — Christmas

For Christians living in England, this is a significant day. It is notable not only as the birthday of Jesus Christ, but also as the day of mass baptism of the English, which was performed by Augustine of Canterbury in 597. In addition, Christmas has long been established in the public consciousness as a good family holiday, so even people indifferent to religion look forward to it.

Traditionally, compositions of hanging plants — mistletoe, holly, ivy — are hung outside and inside the house. For the festive table they prepare roast turkey, Christmas pudding and, of course, mulled wine. Classic entertainment includes making wishes, singing Christmas carols and snowball fights (if the weather is favourable).

26 December — Boxing Day.

In earlier centuries, aristocrats and landlords used to reward their servants with money and gifts in gratitude for their faithful service during Christmas week. Today, gifts and warm words are exchanged with family and friends. This day is considered so important that it is even included in the list of official holidays of Great Britain. The British people enjoy having a rest, visiting each other and finishing the leftover Christmas dinner.

31 December — Hogmanay.

This is the Scottish New Year, but it dates back to pagan times. The main symbol of this day is fire! Torches, fireworks, fire shows, burning of effigies and other manifestations of fire. Of course, within reason and safety. Thus, winter is shown that it is not eternal and the sun will soon win. And translating into figurative language, it is a hope that any hardships will end and happiness will surely follow.

1 January — New Year

It is not as popular in Britain as it is in Europe. But nevertheless, this holiday is also warmly regarded. On this night, many people write their plans for the year and make a vow to become a better person. For example, to stop smoking or to start exercising, or simply to make their deepest wishes.

25 January — Robert Burns’ Birthday

Despite the fact that the poet was born in Scotland, this date is a bank holiday of Great Britain in all its corners. On this day it is customary to have a dinner where the most popular and favourite poems of Burns are read. Traditional Scottish dishes are put on the table: haggis (lamb giblets with oatmeal and onions), turnip garnishes and pies with ale. The men walk around in kilts and the women in tartan cloth. The sound of bagpipes can be heard everywhere. And everyone drinks nothing but Scotch whisky.

Spring

At this time of year, there are many interesting holidays connected with local traditions. Of course, the Brits also celebrate the 8th of March and the 1st of April. But we will focus on those dates that have special significance here.

17 March — St. Patrick’s Day (St. Patrick’s Day)

This holiday has long been celebrated outside Ireland, which is patronised by this Saint. On this day, large-scale processions and carnivals take place in many cities of the country and even abroad. The emerald colour reigns, Irish beer is drunk everywhere, Irish dances are danced and Irish folk songs are sung.

Floating date — Easter

As in the rest of the world, it is a whole set of commemorative days. Easter is preceded by Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday. The latter is even an official day off in the UK, as Christians are forbidden to work during this time. Of course, all of this is crowned by Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Christ.

In England, eggs are not only coloured but also made of chocolate. In England, eggs are not only coloured but also made of chocolate. Pictures and figures of Easter bunnies laying eggs are also popular.

1 May — Beltane.

Also known as Walpurgis Night. This holiday in the UK dates back to the Celtic times, when druids asked the gods for fertility. For this purpose, bonfires were lit on the highest hill or place in the village. On the contrary, the lights in the houses were turned off so that the evil spirits that flocked to the fire would not get inside.

Around the fires they sang hymns to the sun, danced round them, jumped over them, drove cattle between them to rid them of diseases, and walked round their plots of crops with torches. At the end of the feast, these torches were used to light a fire in the hearth to show that the sun had come to the house and the earth again.

Summer

There aren’t many holidays in the UK during the summer. It is more of a season of festivals, carnivals and other colourful events. Nevertheless, there are a number of events worth celebrating.

Floating date — Trooping the Colour Day (Trooping the Colour)

It is celebrated on one weekend in June and is tied to good weather rather than specific dates. Soldiers from all regiments carry their banners. The festival is so named because the banners were usually very brightly coloured so that they could be seen from afar on the battlefield.

But another fact about this holiday is interesting. This day also marks the birthday of the current monarch, whenever he was actually born. This tradition was introduced by George II, who didn’t like the fact that the weather was always bad on his real birthday, 10 November.

The floating date is Lady Godiva’s Day (Godiva Procession).

This heroine is famous for agreeing to ride around the city naked out of compassion for the common people. Her husband, who owns the land, made her do so in response to her request for lower taxes. He thought the noblewoman would never agree to such a thing. But she told the townspeople to close their shutters tightly at the appointed hour and fulfilled her promise.

In honour of this, a procession is held in Coventry, where the events described above took place, with songs, dances and medieval decorations. The highlight of the programme, of course, is the competition for the best Lady Godiva. The girls taking part must have long hair that hides their nakedness, as described in the legend.

25 August — Notting Hill Carnival.

It was created to defeat prejudice and racial discrimination against people from the former colonies of the British Empire. It is a bright and colourful procession, in which not only representatives of Afro-Caribbean cultures take part, but also everyone. The main thing is to dress as brightly as possible and be ready to dance until the wee hours of the morning.

Autumn

Autumn is a time of traditional festivals in the UK. Some of them have been preserved since ancient times. However, there are also some that have been invented relatively recently.

23-24 September — Harvest festival (Harvest festival)

It is celebrated on the autumn solstice and since pagan times has symbolised gratitude to nature for the opportunity to live until the next spring. On these days, agricultural fairs are held, public spaces are decorated with baskets of fruit and vegetables, and various competitions are organised among farmers.

31 October — Samhain.

A Celtic festival of the dead, preceding the onset of the “dark” winter days. Accordingly, it was celebrated at night after sunset. Later, the fashion of celebrating Halloween came from the USA, and since their traditions are similar, the overseas “All Saints’ Day” has taken root and is now replacing the traditional Samhain in Britain.

According to legends, one should not go out of the city or village on this day. In general, it is better not to go out alone, otherwise you may fall under the influence of evil spirits, which will make your head spin and lead to death. But it is possible and necessary to dress up as dead people and ghosts. It is also possible and necessary to carve skulls, though in the old days in Ireland they were made of turnips, not pumpkins.

All of November — Usaber (Movember)

Not really a holiday, but rather a social action of great importance. In this month men let their moustaches go and do not shave for all 30 days of November. Thus, the participants of the action help to draw attention to the problem of men’s health. The moustache in this case not only plays the role of a typical male attribute, but also usually raises a lot of questions to the one who suddenly starts to grow it. This is an occasion to touch upon the topic of health.

Throughout November, community organisations are holding education and prevention events and collecting donations for the work of foundations specialising in prostate cancer, male depression and other illnesses.

5 November — Guy Fawkes’ night.

A rather special holiday in the UK, unique to this country. Sometimes it is also called Bonfire Night. Its history is as follows: a group of conspirators were preparing an assassination attempt on King James I and an explosion in the House of Lords. It was to be a nobleman called Guy Fawkes. But the intended offence was discovered and the conspirators were captured and executed.

Since then, the king’s rescue has been celebrated by setting off fireworks, lighting bonfires and fire shows. Another indispensable attribute: the Guy Fawkes mask, which has become one of the elements of mass culture. Also, effigies of the main character of this holiday are burnt in the streets of London.

11 November — Remembrance Day (Remembrance Day)

It is not a holiday, but a day of obedience for the soldiers who fell in the First World War. An important date for the country, symbolised by the poppy flower. So sometimes 11 November is referred to as Poppy Day. The inherent red colour reminds of the blood spilled during the battles. On this day, lay flowers at memorials, remember the dead ancestors and necessarily observe a minute of silence.

Of course, holidays in the UK are not limited to the above list. So, whenever you come to the United Kingdom, you’ll always have a reason to have a good time.