British Holidays in the UK January 1st New Year's Day 5th Twefth Night February 1st Candlemas Day 14th Valentine's Day March 1st St David's Day (Wales National Day) 17th St. Patrick's Day (Ireland's Special Day) April 1st April Fool's Day 23rd St George's Day (England's National Day) May 1st May Day June Trooping the Colours July Swan Upping on the River Thames August Notting Hill Carnival September Harvest Festival October 31st Halloween November 5th Bonfire Night 11th Remembrance Day December 25th Christmas 26th Boxing Day

Twelfth Night 5th January. Why is it bad luck to leave the decorations up after Twelfth Night?

Candlemas Day (the Christian festival of lights). 2nd February. In pre-Christian times, this day was known as the 'Feast of Lights‘.

National Days St. David’s Day 1st March. St David (Dewi Sant), the patron saint of Wales. The national emblems of Wales are daffodils and leeks.

St. Patrick's Day 17th March. St. Patrick is Ireland's patron Saint. The national emblem of Ireland is the Shamrock.

St. George's Day 23rd April. St. George is the patron saint of England. His emblem, a red cross on a white background, is the flag of England, and part of the British flag.

May Day 1st May. Traditional English May Day celebrations include Morris dancing, crowning a May Queen and dancing around a Maypole. A traditional May Day dance is Maypole Dancing.

Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake 26th May. Eventual crowd figures were estimated at 5000.

Trooping the Colour The second Saturday in June. The parade route goes from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horseguards Parade, Whitehall and back again.

Swan Upping on the River Thames Takes place in July each year. Commencing on the 3rd Monday at Sunbury. Ending at Abingdon on the Friday. The 19 crewmen represent the Queen's, Vintners, and Dyers, Companies. The Queen's Skiff

The Company of Dyers (craft of dyeing) The Company of Vintners (wine merchants)

Harvest Festival We are traditionally held on or near the Sunday of the Harvest Moon. This is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox (about Sept. 23). It is a celebration of the food grown on the land.

Halloween 31st October. Halloween comes from All Hallow Even, the eve (night before) All Hallows day. Therefore, Halloween is the eve of All Saints Day.

Bonfire Night 5th November. Throughout England, towns and villages... light huge bonfires, let off magnificent fireworks, burn an effigy (a homemade model of a man, like a scarecrow) and celebrate the fact the Parliament and James I were not blown sky high by Guy Fawkes.

Boxing Day It is usually celebrated on the following day after Christmas Day (26 December). Strictly speaking, Boxing Day is the first weekday after Christmas.