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Unit 13. Holidays in britain Holidays and Notable Special Days in the uk

The calendar below contains the most important and well known festivals and popular events in Britain. If you are looking for the date of a particular holiday or festival in the UK, then you will find it here.

January
1^st New Year's Day	People welcome in the New Year on the New Year's Eve. In Scotland, people celebrate with a lively festival called Hogmanay. Parties, fireworks, singing and dancing, to ring out the old year and ring in the new.
5^th Twelfth Night	Evening before Epiphany, Twelfth Night marks the end of the Christmas festivities. All Christmas decorations should be removed so as not to bring bad luck upon the home.
6^th Epiphany	The last day of Christmas season, also known as Twelfth Day. Feast celebrated for the anniversary of the baptism of Christ. Christians celebrate the visit of the Magi or wise men to the baby Jesus.
25^th Burns' Night	The people of Scotland honour their greatest poet, Robert Burns.
February
2^nd Candlemas Day	Christian festival of lights. Tradition that commemorates the presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple. That was the day on which the year's supply of candles for the church were blessed.
14^th Saint Valentine's Day	A time to tell someone that you love him/her. Both men and women can send cards. Traditionally names are not written on the cards.
March
1^st St David's Day	The national day of Wales celebrated in honour of St David, the patron saint of Wales.
17^th St. Patrick's Day	The national day of Northern Ireland celebrated in honour of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
March/April
Shrove Tuesday (moveable feast)	"Pancake Day"
Mothering Sunday (Mother’s Day) - 4th Sunday of Lent (moveable feast)	Children pay respect to their Mothers. They often give their Mothers a gift and a card.
Maundy Thursday (moveable feast)	Also called Holy Thursday: the feast on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. The Queen follows tradition of giving Maundy Money to a group of pensioners.
Good Friday (moveable feast)	Public holiday in much of the UK. The saddest day of the Christian Year, when Jesus was put to death. Many churches hold a special service. It is traditional to eat fish and warm 'hot cross buns' on Good Friday
Easter (moveable feast)	The most important christian festival, the celebration of the death and coming to life again of Jesus Christ. Churches hold a special service. The traditional Easter gift is a chocolate egg. A traditional Easter food is tasted.
April
1^st April Fool's Day	A day of fun and jokes
21^st the Queen's (real) birthday	The Queen's real birthday is on 21 April and the date is a private celebration.
23^rd St George's Day	England's National Day. St. George is the patron saint of England and also of scouting.
May
1^st May Day	Traditional May Day celebrations: crowning a May Queen and dancing around a Maypole.
May Day Bank Holiday	The first Monday of the month.
Whit Sunday (Pentecost) (moveable feast)	Christian Festival. Christian observation of the day when the God the Holy Spirit came to the disciples in the forms of tongues of fire and rushing wind. It is a traditional day for baptism and confirmation of new Christians
June
The Queen's Official birthday and Trooping the Colour (2nd Saturday in June)	The official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II is marked each year by a military parade and march-past, known as Trooping the Colour (Carrying of the Flag).
July
Swan Upping	A ceremony during which Queen’s swans are counted and marked on the River Thames
August
Notting Hill Carnival	The carnival is held by the Caribbean immigrants who live in and around the Notting Hill area, on the Summer Bank Holiday. It features a colourful procession, elaborate and extravagant costumes, and the music of many steel bands.
August Bank Holiday	Last Monday in August.
September
Harvest Festival (end of September)	Celebration of the food grown on the land. In schools and in churches, people bring food from home to a Harvest Festival Service. The food that has been put on display is usually given to people in need.
October
31st Halloween	The Eve of All Saints Day
November
5th Bonfire Night	Guy Fawkes Night.
11^th Remembrance Day	People remember the millions of soldiers who died in the two World Wars and in other wars.
30th St Andrew's Day	St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. Scots all around the world celebrate St Andrew's Day with traditional food, music (especially bagpipes) and dancing.
December
Advent Sunday	The first of the four sundays before the 25th December. Start of Advent. Christian time of preparation for observing the birth of Jesus Christ.
Advent	Begins on the Sunday nearest to 30th November and lasts until midnight on Christmas Eve. Advent is the new year of the Christian Church and the church season that leads to Christmas Day.
24^th Christmas Eve	Young children wait for Father Christmas to come and hang Christmas stockings or bags up ready for presents. Christians go to a special carol service at their church on Christmas Eve night.
25th Christmas	Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Observed by prayers, exchanging of gifts, and family parties.
26th Boxing Day	Traditionally, Boxing Day is the day when families get together. It is a day of watching sports and playing board games with the family.
31^st New Year's Eve	At midnight everybody joins hands and sings Auld Lang Syne.

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