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Holidays in the United Kingdom

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Содержание


Spring holidays
Summer holidays
Autumn holidays
III. Conclusion
IV. A list of the literature
V. Appendix
The Wassail Song
It's Valentine's Day
Down a Sunny Easter Meadow
It's Hallowe'en
2. Christmas Wishes
3. Rhymes on Valentine cards
4. Public holidays in the countries of the United Kingdom for 2008
Northern Ireland
5 . The roots of the holidays
Подобный материал:
Ministry of Education and Science of RF

Municipal Educational Establishment

Secondary Comprehensive School № 198


Essay

Holidays in the United Kingdom

as a reflection of British traditions


Done by Vika Kuznetsova,

10 A form student

Guided by Tatyana Zhilina,

an English teacher


2009

Contents

I. Introduction 3

II. Main body 4

1. Public holidays and celebrations in Great Britain 4

2. Winter holidays 5

2.1. London's Christmas Decorations 5

2.2. Cards, trees and mistletoe 5

2.3. Carols 6

2.4. Christmas Day 6

2.5. Boxing Day 6

2.6. First Footing 6

2.7. New Year's Day 7

2.8. Up-Helly-Aa 7

2.9. St Valentine's Day 8

3. Spring holidays 9

3.1. St David's Day 9

3.2. St Patrick's Day 9

3.3. Mother's Day 10

3.4. April Fool's Day 11

3.5. Easter 11

3.6. St George's Day 12

3.7. May Day 13

3.8. Spring Bank Holiday 13

4. Summer holidays 14

4.1. Birthday of the British monarch 14

4.2. Midsummer's Day 14

5. Autumn holidays 15

5.1. Harvest Festival 15

5.2. Hallowe'en 15

5.3. Guy Fawkes Night 16

5.4. Remembrance Day 17

5.5. St Andrew's Day 17

III. Conclusion 18

IV. A list of literature 19

V. Appendix 20

1. Rhymes about holidays 20

2. Christmas wishes 22

3. Rhymes on valentine cards 23

4. Public holidays in the countries of the United Kingdom for 2008 24

5. The roots of the holidays 25

I. Introduction


Every nation and every country has its own traditions and customs. They are a part of a national history. Traditions make a nation special. Some of them are old-fashioned but people remember and follow them, others are part of people’s lives. Some British customs and traditions as well as some holidays are known all over the world but there are also holidays which are known only in Great Britain.

At the school English lessons we studied some popular British holidays such as Christmas, St Valentine`s Day, Guy Fawkes Night and the ways the British spend them. I found this information very interesting but not sufficient. I would like to know about the historical roots of these holidays which determined their characteristics. Also I would like to learn about some typically British holidays.

I am sure to learn a foreign language one should know the culture of this country to understand its people and their language.

Working on the essay I will improve my English, enrich vocabulary. I think this work will take my knowledge one step up.

The aim of my project is learning about the customs and traditions of some holidays in Great Britain.

The objectives are as follows:

1. to collect the material on the theme of the essay;

2. to systematize the chosen material;

3. to make conclusions;

4. to formalize the essay;

5. to prepare the presentation on the theme of the essay;

6. to make the presentation .

The essay consists of 5 chapters. The necessary information for it was found in 3 educational books, 2 educational newspapers and 3 Internet sites.

The Appendix is also suggested.

The Power Point presentation consisting of 13 pages is performed.


II. Main body

  1. Public holidays and celebrations in Great Britain


Great Britain is a country of customs and traditions. A lot of them have very long histories. Some are funny, some are strange. But they all are interesting and they are internal and essential part of the British way of life.

There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries. They are the days when most of offices and shops are closed and people don't need to go to the work. British Bank Holidays are: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday and Summer Bank Holiday. Bank Holiday is official day off, common day of rest, besides Sunday.

British bank holidays have been recognized since 1871. The name Bank Holiday comes from the time when banks were shut and so no trading could take place during this time. This time is often spent with family.

Besides public holidays, there are also different festivals, anniversaries, special days for example Bonfire Night on which certain traditions are observed. (See Appendix 4)


  1. Winter holidays


Winter holidays were traditionally the most popular festivals of the year, partly because there was less agricultural work to be done during the winter. People celebrate Christmas and the New Year`s Day and there are lots of different traditions connected with these holidays.


2.1 London's Christmas decorations


Every year the people of Norway give the city of London a present. It's a big Christmas tree. They install it in Trafalgar Square. Central streets of the city always have beautiful decorations at. Thousands of people come to look at them.


2.2 Cards, trees and mistletoe


In 1846 the first Christmas cards began in Britain. That was five years after the first Christmas tree. Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, brought this German tradition (he was German) to Britain. He and the Queen had a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1841. A few years after, nearly every house in Britain had one. In the earliest times green trees were symbols of life. Candles at Christmas also go back to those times. People believed that their light helped them to forget the darkness of winter.

24 December is the date of Christmas Eve. On this day people traditionally decorate their trees with fairy lights, angels and small toys. On top of their trees they put a star. This star represents the star appeared over the stable in which Christ was born. They take down the decorations on Twelfth Night, which is on 5 January. Also everybody puts the presents under the Christmas tree. People say that at night Santa Claus puts presents into the stockings, which children usually hang on their beds.

Santa Claus got his name from a man known as St Nicolas, who lived in the fourth century. He gave his wealth to the poor and often to children. After he died, the Dutch brought this legend to colonial America. Soon the Dutch name Sinter Klaus became Santa Claus.

Christmas mistletoe is an older tradition. People put a piece of this green plant with its white or red berries over a door. People believe that mistletoe brings good luck. Young people have a chance to kiss the girls under it, plucking each time a red berry from the mistletoe. It is said that the girl who wasn't kissed under it at Christmas wouldn't get married that year. (Read Christmas wishes in Appendix 2)


2.3 Carols


Before Christmas, groups of singers go from house to house. They sing traditional Christmas songs or carols and collect money for charity. Famous British Christmas carols are: «Good King Wenceslas», «The Holly and The Ivy» and «We Three Kings». No church or school is without its carol service. Carols were used for the first time during Christmas in the fifteenth century.


2.4 Christmas Day


25 December is the date of Christmas Day. It is one of the most popular holidays in Great Britain. Christmas is a joyful religious holiday when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Christmas story comes from the Bible. An angel appeared to shepherds and told them that a Savior had been born to Mary and Joseph in a stable Bethlehem. Three Wise Men from the East (the Magi) followed a wondrous star which led them to baby Jesus to whom they paid homage and presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Christmas has been associated with gift giving since the Wise Men brought gifts to welcome the newborn Jesus Christ. On this day everyone gives and receives presents. People celebrate it with their families together. Relatives usually meet for the big dinner. Traditional Christmas food includes roast turkey with carrots, potatoes, peas, cranberry sauce, Brussels sprouts and gravy. After the turkey there is Christmas pudding. After the lunch they go to the sitting room to listen to the Christmas speech of the Queen, shown on TV. (Read the rhymes about Christmas in Appendix 1)


2.5 Boxing Day


26 December is Boxing Day. It is an extra holiday after Christmas Day. This is the time to visit friends and relatives. Traditionally boys from the shops went from house to house with wooden boxes and asked for money at Christmas. At each house people gave them money. This day is called Boxing Day because at one time the presents were put in Christmas boxes.


2.6 First Footing


In Scotland the name for New Year's Eve is Hogmanay. It is the biggest festival of the year. After midnight people visit their friends and take a present — a piece of coal. That is because according to tradition the first visitor of the year must carry coal into the house. This is «first footing». People say that it brings good luck.


2.7 New Year's Day


People celebrate The New Year on 1 January. It is not as popular as Christmas in England, but it is rather popular in Scotland. In Britain a lot of people make New Year Resolutions on the evening of 31 December. This holiday is less popular than Christmas, so some people even ignore it. (Read New Year rhymes in Appendix 1)

2.8 Up-Helly-Aa


Up-Helly-Aa is a relatively modern festival. People celebrate it on 27 January (for 2009).

In the IX century, men from Norway came to the Shetlands (The Shetlands are islands near Scotland). These were the Vikings, which opened the new page in the history of this island. They came to Britain in ships and carried away animals, gold, and sometimes women and children, too.

Up-Helly-Aa is traditionally Scottish holiday which is devoted to this occasion. It is in the main town of the Shetland Islands Lerwick. Up to the Second World War Up-Helly-Aa was overwhelmingly a festival of young working class men. Women have never taken part in the procession. In the winter of 1931-32 there was an unsuccessful move to cancel the festival because of the dire economic situation in the town. Since 1949, when the festival resumed after the war, much has changed and much has remained the same. The numbers participating in the festival have become much greater, and the resources required correspondingly larger. However, despite the changes, there are numerous threads connecting the Up-Helly-Aa of today with its predecessors 150 years ago.

Now, 1000 years later, people in the Shetlands remember the Vikings with a festival. Every winter the people of Lerwick make a 30-foots model of a ship with the head of a dragon at the front. It's a Viking «long ship». Then the Shetlanders dress in Viking clothes, light a torch, stride on streets and blow in traditional military forges. They carry the ship through the town to the sea. There they burn it. They do this because the Vikings put their dead men in ships and burnt them. But there aren't any men in the modern ships.

The Scottish ground during long time was exposed to attacks of the Vikings, therefore many festivals, which are traditional for this territory, bear in themselves a print of the Scandinavian culture. Today Scots are proud of similar history and communication with the well-known Scandinavian pirates.

Official date of a holiday has been fixed only in the beginning of XIX century - to this day noble men have returned from Napoleonic wars. Now the festival is a party for the people of The Shetland Islands.


2.9 St Valentine's Day


People celebrate this holiday on 14 February.

No one really knows the actual origin of Valentine` Day. Many historians seem to trace it to an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia. This was held on February 15 to honor Faunus, the god of animal life, hunting, the guardian of the secret lore of nature. After Christianity spread, some think this festival became Valentine`s Day.

Others connect Valentine`s Day with the saint of the early Christian church. According to one story, St Valentine was a priest who would marry young couples against the orders of the Roman Emperor, who believed that single young men made better soldiers.

People in England probably celebrated Valentine`s Day as early as the 1400`s.

St Valentine's Day is for people in love. On that day, people buy or make Valentine cards and send them to the people they love. You can also send a card to a person you don't know. Traditionally you mustn't write your name on it. (Read the rhymes on valentine cards in Appendix 3)

Some historians trace the custom of sending verses on Valentine`s Day to a Frenchman named Charles, Duke of Orleans. Charles was captured by the English during the battle of Agincourt in 1415. He was taken to England and put in prison. On Valentine`s Day he sent his wife a rhymed love letter from his cell in the Tower of London.

In the 1700`s and 1800`s many shops sold handbooks called Valentine Writers. These books included verses to copy and various suggestions about writing valentines.

One of the customs the young people liked was name-drawing. The names of the girls were written on slips of paper and put into a jar. Each young man drew a slip. The girl whose names he drew was to be his sweetheart for a year. The young people hoped to find their own mates on St Valentine's Day. They chanted magic charms and spells, trying to make their wishes come true. This pagan magic had been added to the holiday by the British. (Read the rhymes about St Valentine`s Day in Appendix 1)


  1. Spring holidays



3.1 St David's Day


1 March is a very important day for Welsh people. It's St David's Day. Every year the Welsh organize the festival, which is devoted to this person. But who was St David?

St David (Dewi Sant in the Welsh language) was a Celtic monk, abbot and bishop, who lived in the sixth century. He was the grandson of Ceredig, King of Ceredigion and son of Non. He helped to spread Christianity through the West of Britain. He founded many religious centers in Wales and even travelled on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he was made an Archbishop. He and his followers were famous for being ascetics, which meant they abstained from any pleasures to help make themselves closer to God. He was given the name Dewi Ddyfrwr (David the Water Drinker) because he only ate simple food and drank only water all his life. He eventually settled at Glyn Rhosyn, in south-west Wales, where he established a very strict ascetic religious community. Many miracles have been attributed to him, the most incredible of which was performed when he was preaching at the Synod of Llanddewibrefi - he caused the ground to rise underneath him so that he could be seen and heard by everyone. How much truth is in this account of his life by Rhigyfarch is hard to tell. Dewi died in 589. He was made a saint in 1123 and St. David’s day has been celebrated in Wales since this point.

On 1 March, the Welsh celebrate St David's Day and wear daffodils in the button holes of their coats or jackets.


3.2 St Patrick's Day


St. Patrick's Day, on 17 March is Ireland's greatest national saint holiday and celebrated in many countries around the world. The date marks the anniversary of the death of the missionary who became the patron saint of Ireland. It is a happy holiday for the Irish wherever they may be.

St Patrick was born in Scotland in the end of fourth century in the year 387 to wealthy parents. At the age of sixteen, he was taken to a prison by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. Legend says that on Easter Sunday St Patrick plucked a shamrock from the ground and explained that by its triple leaf and single stem that it represented the blessed Trinity.

Right up until his death on 17 March 460 AD Patrick continued to watch over the churches, which he had founded in all the provinces in Ireland. Patrick traveled extensively, baptizing, confirming and preaching as well as building churched, schools and monasteries.

The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on 17 March 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army. St Patrick's Festival was established by the Government of Ireland in November 1995. The first St Patrick's Festival was held over one day and night, on 17 March 1996. The live audience for the day was estimated to be 430000.

Now this day is celebrated with parades, speeches, festive dinners, and dances. In 2002, London mayor Ken Livingstone organized an annual Saint Patrick`s Day parade which takes place on weekends around the 17th, usually in Trafalgar Square. In 2008 the water in Trafalgar Square fountains was dyed green.

In fact, as the popular saying goes, on St Patrick's Day, everyone is Irish. Green is the colour of the day. People decorate their homes with green ribbons and balloons and they traditionally wear green clothes, hats and ties. You will also see lots of shamrocks. It is a small three-leaved green plant, which has become Ireland's national symbol. Many people will be eating Irish food such as Irish stew and corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day. A traditional meal includes ham and cabbage or bacon and cabbage. In Dublin, the festivities last for three days with plenty of colourful parades and streets theatres for both locals and tourists to enjoy.

In Great Britain, the Queen Mother used to present bowls of shamrock to members of Irish Guards.


3.3 Mother's Day


In March there is Mother's Day (22 March for 2009). All the children, little or adult ones, come to their mothers on this day to express their love and gratitude.

In the old days many girls from poor families in the country worked in rich houses. They did all the housework and their working day was usually very long. They often worked on Sundays, too. Once a year, it was usually a Sunday in March, they could visit their mothers. They went home on that day and brought presents for their mothers and for other members of their families. They could stay at home only one day and then they went back to their work. People called that day Mothering Day or Mothering Sunday. Later workers at the factories and girls who worked in the houses of rich families received one free day a week, and Mothering Day became Mother's Day.
On that day sons and daughters visit their mothers and bring them flowers and presents. The eldest son must bring his mother a good cake. If sons or daughters cannot be with their mother on that day, they usually send her presents. Mother's Day must be a day of rest for the mother of the family, so her daughters cook the dinner on that day and the sons help to wash the dishes.


3.4 April Fool's Day


1 April is April Fool's Day in Britain. This is a day for harmless tricks and good laughs. This is a very old tradition from the Middle Ages.

The beginning of tradition to celebrate April Fool's Day was in XVI century in France and is connected with a celebration of New Year. The start of the New Year was observed on 1 April. It was celebrated in the same way as it is today with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night. Then in 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world and 1 April became 1 January. During those distant times the news extended very slowly, and some people didn't receive news during years. Also there were cases when people refused to accept a new calendar and continued to celebrate New Year on 1 April. They were named fools and people played on them who as can. Then it has turned to tradition.

In 1698, a number of Londoners receive invitations to see the lions washed in the Thames. This event was described in newspapers. However, the same trick was repeated in 1860, and again a lot of curious Londoners came to enjoy the lions washed.

It is not accepted to send cheerful cards and give presents on this day. It is a day for jokes and tricks. Children and adults play small tricks on each other.


3.5 Easter


Easter is celebrated in April (12 April in 2009). On this day people celebrate resurrection of Jesus Christ. At Easter children eat chocolate eggs. There is a legend which is connected with Easter celebration.

Although the Сhristian religion gave the world Easter as we know it today, the celebration owes its name and many of its customs and symbols to a pagan festival called Eostre. Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of springtime and sunrise, got her name from the world east, where the sun rises. Every spring northern European peoples celebrated the festival of Eostre to honour the awakening of new life in nature. Christians related the rising of the sun to the resurrection of Jesus and their own spiritual rebirth.

Many modern Easter symbols come from pagan times. For example, long before the Christian era the egg was a symbol of fertility. In Christian times the egg took on a new meaning symbolizing the tomb from which Christ rose. The ancient custom of dyeing eggs at Easter time is still very popular. The Easter bunny also originated in pre-Christian fertility lore. The rabbit was the most fertile animal our ancestors knew, so they selected it as a symbol of new life. Today, children enjoy eating candy bunnies and listening to stories about the Easter bunny, who supposedly brings Easter eggs in a fancy basket. (Read the rhyme about Easter in Appendix 1)


3.6 St George's Day


St George's Day is England's national day which is celebrated on 23 April. On this day they hoist a flag of England, which is called The St George Cross. English carry red roses, an emblem of England; they prepare traditional English dishes, such as roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, sausages.

St George's emblem, a red cross on a white background, is the flag of England, and part of the British flag. His emblem was adopted by Richard the Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century. The king's soldiers wore it on their tunics to avoid confusion in battle. But who was George?

Saint George Victor was the soldier of the Roman army and, under the legend, he was executed for Christian belief according to the order of emperor. The story says, that George Victor killed a monster with one stab of spear while the whole armies, which were sent against a dragon, couldn't overcome it. The date of his birth isn't established, but it is known, that he accepted the martyr death on 23 April in 303 AD.

On 23 April people arrange parades in the center of London.


3.7 May Day

As summer comes, Britain likes to celebrate the end of winter. They celebrate it on 1 May. It is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. May Day celebrations have their origins in the Roman festival of Flora, goddess of flowers, which marked the beginning of summer. On this day people decorate their houses with fresh-cut flowers.

It was an important day in the Middle Ages. In the very early morning, young girls went to the fields and washed their faces with dew. They believed this made them very beautiful for a year after that. Also on May Day the young men of each village tried to win prizes with their bows and arrows, and people danced round the maypole.

Many English villages still have a maypole, and on 1 May, the villagers dance round it. The original maypoles were freshly felled trees, stripped of their branches, brought into the community and adorned with garlands and ribbons. The maypole was originally a pagan fertility symbol.


3.8 Spring Bank Holiday


May is the English's favourite month. During almost all thirty days there is an atmosphere of fun. People celebrate Spring Bank Holiday on the last Monday of May. This day is called «Bank», because the banks as well as most of offices and shops are closed. You can eat English roast beef on the streets which are decorated with colourful garlands.


  1. Summer holidays



4.1 On the second Saturday of June birthday of the English monarch is officially celebrated. Queen was born on 21 April 1926, however, according to tradition, official actions are spent on the second Saturday of June (13 June for 2009). This tradition was established in the beginning of XX century by the British king Edward VII.

On this solemn event they hoist flags on all governmental buildings. In a residence of the British kings in Whitehall passes ceremonial parade. The main content of ceremony - carrying out a banner or, as they call it, solemn divorce of sentries with carrying out a banner. Towards to the monarch they bear a banner of Guards regiment which bears a guard duty in the Buckingham palace.


4.2 Midsummer's Day


Midsummer's Day, which is celebrated on 24 June, is the longest day of the year. On that day you can see a very old custom at Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, England.

Stonehenge is one of Europe's biggest stone circles. A lot of the stones are ten or twelve meters high. It's also very old. The earliest part of Stonehenge is nearly 5000-year-old. Druids used it for a calendar. They used the sun and the stones at Stonehenge to know the start of months and seasons.

Today, there are Druids in Britain, too. And every 24 June a lot of them go to Stonehenge. On that morning the sun shines on one famous stone — the Heel stone. For the Druids this is a very important moment in the year, but for a lot of British people it's just a strange old custom.


  1. Autumn holidays



5.1 Harvest Festival


Harvest Festival is a celebration of the food grown on the land. This is the time of year when all the crops have been harvested. Harvest festivals 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 23 September). In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon comes in September, but in some years it occurs in October.

Thanksgiving ceremonies and celebrations for a successful harvest are both worldwide and very ancient. In England, they have given thanks for successful harvests since pagan times. Harvest Festival reminds Christians of all the good things God gives them. This makes them want to share with others who are not so fortunate.

They celebrate this day by singing, praying and decorating our churches with baskets of fruit and food. In schools and in Churches, people bring food from home to a Harvest Festival Service. After the service, the food that has been put on display is usually made into parcels and given to people in need.


5.2 Hallowe'en


31 October is Hallowe'en, and u can expect to meet witches and ghosts that night. Hallowe'en is an old word for «Hallows Evening» or «Holy Evening», the night before All Saints' Day (1 November). Another name for All Saints Day is «All Hallows» (hallow is an archaic English word for «saint»).

The tradition of Hallowe'en began in the fifth century BC. This day the Irish Celts celebrated their New Year at that time, because they organized their year according to the agricultural calendar and marked the transition from one year to the next on October 31. In the year 835 AD the Roman Catholic Church made November 1st a church holiday to honour all the saints. This day is called All Saint's Day. Although it was a joyous holiday it was also the eve of All Souls Day, so in Medieval times it became customary to pray for the dead on this date. On that one night of the year, ghosts and witches are free. A long time ago people were afraid and stayed at home on Hallowe'en. But now it is a time for fun in Britain. Since that time many years have passed. Some traditions are gone and new traditions appeared.

There are always a lot of parties on 31 October. At these parties people wear masks and they dress as ghosts and witches, or as Dracula or Frankenstein's monster. In recent years children dressed in white sheets knock on doors and ask «Trick or Treat». If you give them something nice, a «Treat», they go away. And if you choose «Trick», they play on you, for example, they make a lot of noise or spill flour on your front doorstep.

On this day people cut horrible faces in potatoes or pumpkins. First they take out the middle of the vegetable. Then they cut holes for the eyes, nose and mouth. Finally they put a candle inside the vegetable, which shines through the holes. Also on this day people play different games, such as trying to eat an apple from a bucket of water without using their hands. (Read the rhyme about Hallowe`en in Appendix 1)


5.3 Guy Fawkes Night


5 November is Guy Fawkes' Day in Britain. It is the day when people all over the country build wood fires or bonfires in their gardens to burn the figure of Guy Fawkes. But who was Guy Fawkes and why do the British remember him on 5 November?

When Queen Elizabeth I took the throne of England she made some laws against the Roman Catholics. Guy Fawkes was one of a small group of Catholics who felt that the government was treating Roman Catholics unfairly.

Catholics had to practice their religion in secret. There were even fines for people who didn't attend the Protestant church on Sunday or on holy days. They hoped that King James I would change the laws. In 1605 he was on the throne. But he was a Protestant and became very unpopular with Roman Catholics. James I passed more laws against the Catholics. So the group of Catholics planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5 November of that year, when the king was going to open Parliament. Under the House of Lords they put thirty-six barrels of gunpowder, which were to be exploded by Guy Fawkes. He didn't succeed. The king's men found the bomb and took Guy Fawkes to the Tower of London and there they cut off his head.

Since that day the British traditionally celebrate 5 November as Guy Fawkes' Day. They make a dummy of Guy Fawkes from straw and old clothes. Then they burn it on bonfire, at the same time letting off fireworks. But before 5 November, children use their guys to make money. They stand in the street and shout «Penny for the guy». Then they spend the money on fireworks.


5.4 Remembrance Day


11 November is the time of the year when we wear a red poppy in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for us during wars. This day was known as Armistice Day, but it was renamed Remembrance Day after Second World War.

At 11am on 11 November 1918 the guns of the Western Fronts fell silent after more than four years continuous warfare. On this day they mark the signing of the Armistice and the end of First World War.

Remembrance Day is a special day set aside to remember all those men and women who were killed during the two World Wars and other conflicts. It is a tradition to wear red poppy on this day. People also leave small wooden crosses by the memorials in remembrance of a family member who died in war. It is also traditional to keep two minutes of silent.


5.5 St Andrew's Day


On 30 November Scottish people celebrate St Andrew's Day. It's a Scotland national day. The flag of Scotland is the Cross of St. Andrew, and it is widely displayed as a symbol of national identity.

Saint Andrew is a patron of Scotland. According to the legend, Andrew was Simon Peter's brother. After Jesus Christ's death the first missionaries - apostles have started to turn pagans into Christian belief. Andrew converted to Christianity the wife of one of the high-ranking Romans. And in furiousness he ordered to crucify Andrew. Andrew asked to crucify him on a diagonal, instead of vertically, because he thought that he is unworthy to die the same as Jesus Christ. After his death he was buried in Scotland. This place became a place of pilgrimage of all Christians that were occupy Scotland. In the time a place of a burial was named St Andrew's city, and it has turned to the religious center of Scotland.


III. Conclusion


In my essay I examined customs and traditions in Great Britain. I tried to discover why certain days of the year were established as holidays.

Most of the holidays are of religious origin but for the greater part of the population they have lost their religious meaning. Some of the holidays have historical roots while the others are connected with national traditions and customs. For some of the holidays it is impossible to define whether they appeared because of the historical events or they are full of religious meaning or national customs and traditions influence them. We can find different roots in them. (Read about the roots of the holidays in Appendix 5).

The most interesting for me was Hallowe'en. This holiday attracted my attention because of its incredible costumes and strange traditions. Also it was unusual for me to know that Christmas is more popular than New Year in Great Britain. They celebrate Christmas as the main holiday and some people can even ignore New Year. It was amazing because in Russia New Year is the main holiday.

Working on the essay was very interesting and cognitive. I think that I achieved all objectives which I determined.

I presented the information of the essay before the class using Power Point presentation.


IV. A list of the literature
  1. Английский язык: еженедельное приложение к газете “Первое сентября» - Москва: Российский открытый университет, 1992
  2. Английский язык для детей: газета – Москва: Экслибрис», 1994
  3. Britain in Brief/ В.В.Ощепкова, И.И.Шустилова – Москва: Просвещение, 1993
  4. Holidays go round and round/ Caroll Kathelen, Novikova Marina – Москва: Химера, 1988
  5. Kolodyazhnaya L.N. This is Britain – Москва: Рольф, 2000
  6. CALEND.RU – календарь праздников [электронный ресурс] / Праздники Великобритании. – Электрон.дан. - 25.02.2009. - Режим доступа: ссылка скрыта
  7. Public holidays in the United Kingdom [электронный ресурс] / wikipedia.org –25.02.2009–Режимдоступа: dia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_the_UK
  8. Woodlands Junior School, UK [электронный ресурс] / British Life and Culture. - Электрон. дан. - 25.02.2009. - Режим доступа: ссылка скрыта



V. Appendix


1. Rhymes about the holidays


Christmas Is Coming ( 4 )


Christmas is coming!

The goose is getting fat.

Please put a penny

In the old man's hat.

If you have no penny,

A ha'penny will do.

If you have no ha'penny,

Then God bless you.


The Wassail Song ( 4 )


Here we come a`wassailing

Among the leaves so green.

Here we come a`wandering, so fair to be seen.

Love and joy your wassail, too!

May God send you a happy New Year!


Love and joy come to you, And to your wassail, too!

And God bless you and send you

A happy New Year!

(traditional)


It's Valentine's Day ( 4 )

It's Valentine's Day. And in the street

There's freezing rain, and slush, and sleet.

The wind is fierce. The skies are grey.

I don't think I'll go out today.

But here inside the weather's warm.

There is no trace of wind or storm.

And you just made the morning shine.

You said you'd be my Valentine.

(by Jack Prelutsky)


Down a Sunny Easter Meadow ( 2 )


Down a sunny Easter meadow

Went a rabbit running sprightly;

With him went his skippy shadow.

Tag, they played, and played it lightly.

All the robbins in the meadow

Called them as they jumped and scurried.

«Hurry, Bunny! Hurry, Shadow!

Easter's coming.» And they hurried.

(by Nancy Byrd Turner)


It's Hallowe'en (4 )


It's Hallowe'en! It's Hallowe'en!

The moon is full and bright

And we shall see what can't be seen

On any other night:

Skeletons and ghosts and ghouls,

Grinning goblins fighting duels,

Werewolves rising from their tombs,

Witches on their magic brooms.

In masks and gowns we haunt the street

And knock on doors for trick or treat.

Tonight we are the king and queen,

For oh tonight it's Hallowe'en!

(by Jack Prelutsky)


2. Christmas Wishes ( 1 )


It`s time to trim the Christmas Tree

And hang the mistletoe,

It`s time to wish much happiness

To people nice to know!


Wishing you a Christmas that is

Bright with promise,

Glad with hope and blessed with

Peace and joy!


Friends are close to our hearts,

Memories are more dear,

And wishes mean so very much

When Christmas is here!


This wish for you at Christmas time

Comes just to keep in touch

And to let you know though we`re apart

You`re thought of very much!


To let you know you are thought about

So often through the year, and to wish

You worlds of happiness

Now Christmas time is here!


At this very special time of the year

We`ve joined our hands to say,

“We wish you all the magic of

A Small World Holiday!”


May your home be filled with

happiness and laughter

this Christmas season!


3. Rhymes on Valentine cards ( 1 )


Although I know that friendship reaches

Far across the miles,

I`d still be glad to see one of

Your warm and friendly smiles.

And though I know

The times we`re shared

Will last within the heart,

I lust can`t keep from wishing that

We weren`t so far apart!


If you will be my valentine,

My charming little dear,

The sun can never help but shine

Throughout the coming year.

If you will be my valentine,

You`ll see in all your walks

Fresh lemon drops on every twig,

And peanuts on the stalks.

But if from you I never hear,

Nor even get a line,

I`ll ask some other nicer girl

To be my valentine.


I hope that Valentine`s Day,

Will bring you lots of fun!

He thinks you`re extra-specially nice,

And so does everyone!


Not only when it`s Valentine`s Day

But always all year through,

You`re thought about with words of love

And wished much gladness, too!


Happiness is never far behind

When thoughts of you come into mind!


4. Public holidays in the countries of the United Kingdom for 2008 ( 7 )



England and Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland

1 January - New Year`s Day







17 March - St Patrick`s Day

21 March - Good Friday

24 March - Easter Monday



24 March - Easter Monday

5 May - May Bank Holiday

26 May - Spring Bank Holiday







12 July - Bank Holiday




4 August - Summer Bank Holiday



25 August - Summer Bank Holiday



25 August - Summer Bank Holiday




1 December - Bank Holiday of St Andrew`s Day



25 December - Christmas Day

26 December - Boxing Day



5 . The roots of the holidays

Holidays
Religious roots
Historical roots
National roots

Christmas Day
*






Boxing Day
*






First Footing






*

New Year`s Day
*



*

Up – Helly – Aa



*



St Valentine`s Day
*
*



St David`s Day
*






St Patrick`s Day
*






Mother`s Day






*

April Fool`s Day



*



Easter
*






St George`s Day
*






May Day



*
*

Midsummer`s Day






*

Harvest Festival






*

Hallowe`en
*



*

Guy Fawkes Night



*



Remembrance Day



*



St Andrew`s Day
*