1. Done by Vika Kuznetsova 10 A form student secondary school N 198 Seversk

2. Public Holidays 1 January - New Year`s Day 21 March - Good Friday 5 May - May Bank Holiday 26 May - Spring Bank Holiday 25 August - Summer Bank Holiday 25 December - Christmas Day 26 December - Boxing Day

3. Christmas is on 25 December Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ It was first celebrated in 354 Christmas tree, holly, mistletoe are used to decorate the house Christmas cards, Santa Claus, Christmas stockings, Carol singing are associated with this holiday Christmas lunch includes turkey, pudding

4. Important festivals, anniversaries 14 February-St Valentine`s Day 1 April-April Fool`s Day 31 October-Hallowe`en

5. St valentine`s Day is celebrated on 14 February There are several theories about the origin of this holiday: from ancient Roman festival Lupercalia, in honour of two saints of the early Christian church, from a Norman word which means “lover”, from an old English belief that birds choose their mates on that day The symbols of the holiday are valentines, red hearts, Cupid

6. Special holidays in the countries of the UK 1 March-St David`s Day (Wales) 17 March-St Patrick`s Day (Northern Ireland) 23 April-St George`s Day (England) 1 December-St Andrew`s Day (Scotland)

7. St George`s Day England`s national day is celebrated on 23 April Englishmen hoist a flag of England (St George`s Cross) St George`s emblem (the flag of England) was adopted by Richard the Lion Heart in the 12 th century People in England arrange parades, carry red rores, prepare traditional English dishes (roast beef, Yorkshire pudding)

8. Holidays having religious roots 22 March – 25 April Easter 25 December - Christmas Day 26 December – Boxing Day

9. Easter (22 March – 25 April) Christian religious holiday which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion Easter eggs, Easter Bunny are the symbols of Easter

10. Holidays based on historical events 27 January – Up – Helly - Aa 1 April – April Fool`s Day 5 November – Guy Fawkes Night 11 November – Remembrance Day

11. Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated on 5 November Guy Fawkes with a group of men planned to blow up the Parliament Every year the English celebrate the fact the Parliament was not blown by Guy Fawkes Towns and villages light huge bonfires, burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes, cook jacket potatoes

12. Holidays growing from national customs and traditions 1 January - First Footing 22 March – Mother`s Day 1 May – May Day 24 June – Midsummer`s Day 23 September – Harvest Festival

13. May Day is celebrated on 1 May Ancient Celts celebrated Beltane as it represented the first day of summer The day is marked with village folk cavorting round the maypole, the selection of the May Queen and the Jack-in- the Green at the head of the dancing procession