Favourite English Holidays

St. Valentine’s Day April Fool’s Day Easter Mother’s Day Halloween Christmas New Year

St Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14. It is a happy day for young people. People give each other “valentines”. A “valentine” is a special greeting-card. They are often red or pink and have pictures of hearts. The day is the time to send little gifts to those you love. Flowers and candy are favourite presents.

It is a day for fun. It is celebrated on April 1. People play jokes on friends and parents. But nobody buys presents or goes to restaurants. Now it is a very popular holiday in many countries.

Easter is a very popular holiday in Great Britain. The British celebrate the idea of the new birth. Egg- rolling is a traditional Easter pastime. Many competitions take place. People have a great time.

Mother’s Day comes on March 22. It is a day when British people honour their mothers. 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.

Halloween is celebrted on October 31. Children go trick-or-treating. Halloween is the day before All Saints' Day. Children dress in costumes and masks and go from door to door saying "trick or treat". The neighbours give them sweets or fruit.

Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated on December 25. People decorate their homes with Christmas trees, wreaths and ornaments. Children write letters to Santa Claus and tell him what presents they would like to get. People send Christmas cards to relatives and friends. A Christmas tree is one of the main symbols of Christmas in most homes.

British people celebrate New Year on the 31 st of December. They decorate a fir-tree with toys, coloured balls and sweets. People have New Year parties at home. They cook tasty food for dinner and invite their friends. At 12 o’clock they wish one another “A happy New Year”.