1st (31st) – New Year’s Day. On New Year’s Eve (or Hogmanay in Scotland )
December), it is traditional to celebrate midnight with your friends or
family. Usually people celebrate the event with delicious food and
alcohol. Sometimes people have masquerade balls, party etc. It is
celebrated with fireworks at night.
Many people make ‘New Year’s resolutions’, promising to achieve a goal
or break a bad habit in the coming year.
15th (or third Monday) – Martin Luther King Birthday. This day had been
observed as a public holiday for many years in 27 states and Washington,
D.C. Finally, in 1986, President Ronald Reagan declared the third Monday in
January a federal legal holiday commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King's
birthday.
Schools, offices and federal agencies are closed for the holiday. All
weekend, popular radio stations play songs and speeches that tell the
history of the Civil Rights Movement. Television channels broadcast special
programs with filmed highlights of Dr. King's life and times.
14th – Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air! Historically the Feast
of St Valentine, who was secretly marrying and then he was
killed. Nowadays this is a celebration of romance. Many
people in the UK or USA go out for dinner with their
sweethearts, and give them a Valentine’s card, chocolate or
flowers.
12th – Abraham Lincoln‘s Birthday - Various activities such as reenactments, concerts and birthday parties are often organized for
the day.
22th – This federal holiday is formally called "Washington's
Birthday" and is celebrated on the third Monday in February.
However, it is a common practice (in some states) to celebrate the
birthdays of both Presidents Lincoln and Washington on this day Presidents’ Day.
1st – St David’s Day (Wales). St David is the patron saint of Wales,
and March 1 is a celebration of Welsh culture. People in Wales
might wear a daffodil and eat cawl, a soup of seasonal
vegetables and lamb or bacon. Events are held across Wales,
including a large parade in Cardiff.
17th – St Patrick’s Day (Northern Ireland). The Feast of St Patrick is a
national holiday in Ireland, and is now celebrated by Irish communities all
around the world. In the UK, there are St Patrick’s Day events in cities
including Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and London, as well
as Belfast. Many people go out with friends, wearing green or a shamrock
symbol (the lucky clover) and drinking Guinness, the Irish dark beer.
30th – Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate
motherhood, and to thank mothers for everything they do
throughout the year. Many people give their mothers a card
or gift, treat them to a day out or cook a meal.
- in USA second Monday of May
1st – April Fools’ Day. For one day of the year, it is acceptable – even
encouraged! – to play tricks, pranks and practical jokes. Even
newspapers, TV and radio shows often feature fake stories on April 1.
It’s customary to reveal the joke by saying ‘April fool!’ (the person who
falls for the joke is the ‘fool’), and to stop playing tricks at midday.
23rd – St George’s Day (England). The legend is that St George was a
Roman soldier who killed a dragon to rescue a princess. He is now the
patron saint of England, and this is England’s national day. You might still
see St George’s Cross (a red cross on a white background, England’s
national flag) or events with morris dancing (an English folk dance), but it
is not a bank holiday and most people don’t hold special celebrations.
18th–21st – Easter. Easter is a Christian holiday celebrating the
resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is always on a Sunday in March or April,
and the previous Friday (Good Friday - the day on which Jesus was
crucified) and following Monday (Easter Monday) are bank holidays.
People celebrate Easter in different ways, but many give each other
chocolate Easter eggs and eat ‘hot cross buns’ (sweet buns with a
cross design), while children decorate eggs or take part in Easter egg
hunts.
1st - It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of
different customs that are expressions of joy and hope after a long
winter. copyright of protectbritain.com
Traditional English May Day celebrations include Morris dancing,
crowning a May Queen and dancing around a Maypole.
30th – Memorial day. A day to honor the memory of those who have
given their lives for their country. Flowers and flags are placed on the
graves of the war dead in cemeteries in the U.S.A., Europe and the
Pacific. There is a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in
Arlington National Cemetery.
14th – The Queen’s Official Birthday. Although the Queen’s real
birthday is on the 21st of April, it has been a tradition since 1748 to
celebrate the king or queen’s birthday in June. A military parade
known as Trooping the Colour is held in London, attended by the
Royal Family.
14th – Flag Day falls within National Flag Week, a time when Americans
reflect on the foundations of the nation’s freedom. Many people in the
United States honor this day by displaying the American flag at homes and
public buildings. Other popular ways of observing this holiday include: flagraising ceremonies; Flag Day services; school quizzes and essay
competitions about the American flag; musical salutes; street parades; and
awards for special recognition.
15th – Father’s Day. Father’s Day is a day to show appreciation to
fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers and fathers-in-law. Many people
in the UK give their father a card or gift, have a meal together or go
out for drinks.
- in USA third Sunday of June
21st – Summer Solstice. Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, has its
true moment in the sun as people come from across the country to
celebrate the longest day and shortest night of the year. Stand
inside the monument facing northeast through the entrance
towards a stone outside the circle called the Heel Stone, and you'll
see the sun rise over stone like a blazing fire.
23rd–July 6th – Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Wimbledon, the
world’s oldest tennis tournament, is a summer highlight for sports fans.
Held at the All England Club in London since 1877, Wimbledon is
known for the tennis players’ white dress code and the tradition for
spectators to eat strawberries and cream.
4th – Independence day. It honors the day in 1776 when the
Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, thus
establishing the U.S.A. Each city and town has its own ceremony; there
are parades, band concerts, speeches by public officials, and fireworks
displays in the evening.
The first Monday - Labor Day is a day of rest in USA or the last chance for many
people to go on trips before the summer ends. For students, it is the last
chance to organize parties before school starts again. In some neighborhoods,
people organize fireworks displays, barbecues and public arts or sports events.
The football season starts on or around Labor Day and many teams play their
first game of the year during Labor Day weekend.
12th – Columbus Day Officially, the people of the USA are invited to celebrate
the anniversary of the discovery of their country with church services and other
activities. In some towns and cities, special church services, parades and large
events are held. Most celebrations are concentrated around the ItalianAmerican community. The celebrations in New York and San Francisco are
particularly noteworthy. In Hawaii Columbus Day is also known as Landing Day
or Discoverer's Day.
31st – Halloween. The modern way of celebrating Halloween is based on
the Christian feast of All Hallows’ Eve and the Celtic festival of Samhain.
Children go trick-or-treating (knocking on neighbours’ doors to ask for
sweets) bobbing apples or carve pumpkins, while older students go to
parties and Halloween events at pubs, clubs or Students’ Unions – the
important thing is to dress up some costume.
5th – Bonfire night/ Guy Fawkes Day. Celebration of UK. Historically, this
marks the anniversary of Guy Fawkes’ plot to blow up the House of Lords
and assassinate King James I in 1605 – the failed Gunpowder,Fawkes and
the other conspirators were execured. Plot is remembered in the
children’s rhyme ‘Remember, remember the 5th of November;
gunpowder, treason and plot’. Today, it is commemorated with
spectacular displays of fireworks and the burning of guys.
11th – Remembrance Day. Every year, November 11 is a memorial
day to honour members of the armed forces – the aim is to
remember those who lost their lives in battle, so many peace
campaigners also support the event. The symbol of Remembrance
Day is a poppy, and each year the Royal British Legioncharity sells
paper poppies to raise funds for veterans and their families. It is
customary to observe a two-minute silence at 11am.
-in USA
Veterans Day is intended to honor and thank all military personnel
who served the United States in all wars, particularly living
veterans. It is marked by parades and church services and in many
places the American flag is hung at half mast. A period of silence
lasting two minutes may be held at 11am. Some schools are closed
on Veterans Day, while others do not close, but choose to mark the
occasion with special assemblies or other activities.
Fourth Thursday – Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Day is traditionally a day
for families and friends to get together for a special meal. The meal often
includes a turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, pumpkin pie,
and vegetables. Thanksgiving Day is a time for many people to give thanks
for what they have.
Thanksgiving Day parades are held in some cities and towns on or around
Thanksgiving Day. Some parades or festivities also mark the opening of the
Christmas shopping season. Some people have a four-day weekend so it is a
popular time for trips and to visit family and friends.
30th – St Andrew’s Day (Scotland). Honouring its patron saint, St
Andrew’s Day is Scotland’s national day. There are many events
across Scotland, including traditional meals, poetry readings,
bagpipe music and country dancing. This is a great opportunity
to go to a ceilidh – a party with Gaelic folk music and dancing.
Fortunately, there is usually a ‘dance caller’ to teach the steps!
25th – Christmas. Most people in the UK or USA celebrate
Christmas, even if they are not religious. There will be Christmas
trees, presents, carol singing and mulled wine (warm, spiced red
wine), mince pies (small pies with a sweet fruit filling). The
traditional Christmas dinner is a whole roast turkey with roast
potatoes, vegetables, gravy and Christmas pudding for dessert (a
steamed sponge pudding with dried fruit) – but each family has its
own variations.
26th – Boxing Day. The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day, and
is a bank holiday in the UK. It’s believed to have been named after
the ‘Christmas box’ of money or gifts which employers used to give
to servants and tradesmen. Nowadays, there are no particular
Boxing Day customs, but most people spend the day with their
families, going for a walk, watching sports or eating the Christmas
leftovers.
http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss5/b/co
mholengl.cfm
http://holidaygirl.hubpages.com/hub/List-ofUnited-Kingdom-Holidays-and-Celebrations
http://resources.woodlandsjunior.kent.sch.uk/customs/holidays.html
http://www.educationuk.org/global/articles/fe
stivals-and-holidays/
http://www.projectbritain.com/easter/maund
ythursday.htm
http://www.projectbritain.com/lent.html