Праздники Великобритании

BRITISH HOLIDAYS

There are a number of holidays, which are celebrated in Great Britain every year. There are national, traditional and religious holidays. Many of them are quite old, important and well-known. Most of public holidays in the United Kingdom are known as Bank holidays because banks are closed on these days. They are: New Year’s day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Shrove Tuesday (or Pancake day), May Day, Spring Bank holiday (in May), Summer Bank holiday (in August), Christmas Day (December, the 25^th) and Boxing Day (December, the 26^th – the day of exchanging Christmas presents). Spring and Summer Bank holidays are really popular in the UK. The British take short trips to the country or to the seashore and have much fun with their families and friends.

There are also some national holidays which are celebrated locally, in separate places. For instance, Scottish people have Hogmanay (or New Year’s Eve - December, the 31^st), Burns’ night (January, the 25^th) and St. Andrew’s day (November, the 30^th). Northern Irish people celebrate Orangemen’s Day (July, the 12^th) and St. Patrick’s day (March, the 17^th). The national holiday in England is St. George’s day (April, the 23^rd) and in Wales - St. David’s day (March, the 1^st). People of Northern Ireland celebrate Orangemen’s Day with parades and marches to commemorate the Battle of Boyne in 1690. Burns’ Night celebrates the life and work of a world-famous poet Robert Burns and his contribution to the Scottish culture.

Besides, there are some special festivals in Great Britain. One of them takes place on the 5th of November. On that day, in 1605, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I. He didn't succeed. The King's men found the bomb, took Guy Fawkes to the Tower and cut off his head. Since that day the British celebrate the 5th of November. They burn a dummy, made of straw and old clothes, in a bonfire and let off fireworks. This dummy is called a "guy" (like Guy Fawkes).

Let’s make a list of holidays celebrated in Great Britain.

The New Year's Day is celebrated on the first of January. It is not so popular in England as in our country, but it is rather popular in Scotland. On that day people usually visit their friends and there is a lot of dancing and eating. In Scotland people bring a piece of coal for good luck in the New Year.

The next holiday of the year is St. Valentine's Day. It is on the 14th of February. People buy or make Valentine cards and send them to the people they love. In March there is Mother's Day. All the children and adults, come to their mothers on that day to express their love and gratitude. In April there is Easter. At Easter children eat chocolate Easter eggs. Sometimes parents hide them in the house or in the garden and children have to look for them. In June there is Father's Day. On Father's Day children give or send their fathers and grandfathers cards and presents. On the 31st of October there is a Halloween. They say ghosts and witches come out on Halloween. People make lanterns out of pumpkins. Some people have Halloween parties and dress as witches and ghosts.

The 25th of December is Christmas Day. It is one of the people's favourite holidays. Every year the people of Norway give the city of London a present. It's a big Christmas tree and it stands in the Trafalgar Square. There are beautiful Christmas decorations in the streets. Before Christmas, groups of singers go from house to house. They collect money for charities and sing carols, traditional Christmas songs. Many churches hold a service on the Sunday before Christmas. The fun starts the night before, on the 24th of December. Traditionally this is the day when people decorate their trees. Children hang stockings at their beds, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and fill them with toys and sweets. On Christmas Eve everybody puts the presents under the Christmas tree. Christmas is a family holiday. All the family usually meet for the big Christmas dinner of turkey and Christmas pudding. And everyone gives and receives presents. The 26th of December, Boxing Day, is an extra holiday after Christmas. It’s the time to visit friends and relatives.