Holidays in Great Britain

There are many holidays in Great Britain There are many holidays in Great Britain. They are Christmas day, Boxing Day, New Year's day, Easter, May Day, Spring bank holiday and Summer bank holiday. Public holidays in Great Britain are called bank holidays because the banks as well as most of the offices and shops are closed.

Christmas is a family holiday 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. Its the time to visit friends and relatives. New Years Day is not such favourable in Britain than Christmas. But in Scotland Hogmanay, New Years Eve is the biggest festival of the year.

EASTER IN THE UK In the UK Easter is one of the major Christian festivals of the year. It is full of customs, folklore and traditional food. Why is Easter on a different day each year? This is because Easter Sunday is the Sunday after the first full moon after the first day of spring

St. Patrick's Day St Patrick’s Day is a global celebration of Irish culture on or around March 17. The most common St Patrick's Day symbol is the shamrock. Many people choose to wear the color green and the flag of the Republic of Ireland is often seen in St Patrick’s Day parades around the world. Irish brands of drinks are popular at St Patrick’s Day events. Another symbol of St. Patrick’s Day is Leprechauns. They are little people who wear green clothes and carry the pot of gold. Leprechauns cannot be offended or hurt.

Mother's Day Mother's Day is traditionally observed in Great Britain on the fourth Sunday in Lent. This is usually in March. The children would visit their Mother Church and then head straight to meet their own mother, with some fresh flowers. While the boys would present their mother with flowers, girls would go a step further by presenting them freshly baked handmade cakes, which were also called 'Simnel Cakes' and hence, the day was even named Simnel Sunday. Many people send their mothers a card or a gift. Some people take their mothers to a restaurant for dinner. It is a custom to wear a red or pink flower if one’s mother is living. It is the custom to wear a white flower if one’s mother is dead.

May Day The May garland is a symbol of the coming summer. To do a garland one must pick a lot of beautiful spring flowers that bloom in the fields and valleys. On May Day one can see beautiful garlands of flowers and greenery carried by children. Those who carry the garland are called garland-carriers. . The May Queen is the central figure in May Day celebrations. She is crowned with a crown of flowers. Everybody is to obey her orders. Being elected the May Queen was the great honour for a girl. This becomes clear from Alfred Tennyson's famous poem The May Queen.

Bonfire Night This holiday is known in Britain as Bonfire Night. Each year it’s celebrated with massive fireworks and bonfires. According to a calendar, the holiday falls on the 5th of November In larger cities the authorities organize collective bonfires in a communal space. There are also professional fireworks at park zones. Children’s favorite part during Gay Fawkes Night is the tasty food sold in streets. For example baked potatoes, homemade toffee apples, sausage rolls, popcorn etc. However, not everyone favors this legendary holiday and certainly it’s not a public holiday