HOLIDAYS, FESTIVALS, CELEBRATIONS UNITED KINGDOM & USA MARTIN ČERNÍN

UK – NEW YEAR´S DAY JANUARY 1 FIRST BANK HOLIDAY IN THE YEAR START OF THE NEW YEAR IN THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR END OF THE CHRISTMAS BREAK BEFORE RETURN TO WORK NEW YEAR´S RESOLUTIONS ( STOP SMOKING, LOSING WEIGHT,...) SCOTLAND – THE SONG „AULD LANG SYNE“ FIRST FOOTING

UK – ST. VALENTINE´S DAY FEBRUARY 14 DAY OF LOVE ANONYMITY ROMANCE PERSON CARDS, RED ROSES, GIFTS (CHOCOLATES, FLOWERS)

UK – ST. DAVID´S DAY MARCH 1 PATRON OF WALES CELEBRATION OF ST DAVID´S LIFE AND THE WELSH CULTURE CHORAL RECITALS, WELSH LITERATURE READINGS

UK – ST. PATRICK´S DAY MARCH 17 BANK HOLIDAY IN NORTHERN IRELAND NO SPECIAL EVENTS, NORMAL SCHOOL OR WORK DAY CLOVERS, DRINKING IN IRISH PUBS

UK – EASTER FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE FIRST FULL MOON IN SPRING EASTER EGGS – LARGE HOLLOW CHOCOLATE EGGS FILLED WITH BONBONS/OTHER CANDY EGGS ARE COVERED IN DECORATIVE FOIL AND PACKAGED IN ELABORATE BOXES DECORATING, EXCHANGING OR SEARCHING FOR EGGS (FRESH/BOILED EGGS) EASTER BUNNY/RABBIT HIDES THE EGGS IN GARDEN/HOUSE FOR CHILDREN EASTER EGG HUNTS – WHO CAN COLLECT THE MOST EGGS

UK/USA – ALL FOOL´S DAY APRIL 1 PRACTICAL JOKES SPREADING HOAXES JOKES AND THEIR VICTIMS ARE CALLED „APRIL FOOLS“

UK – ST. GEORGE´S DAY APRIL 23 PATRON OF ENGLAND SOLDIER IN THE ROMAN ARMY WHO KILLED A DRAGON AND SAVED A PRINCESS FLAGS WITH THE IMAGE OF ST. GEORGE´S CROSS FEW PEOPLE WEAR A RED ROSE ON THEIR LAPEL HYMN „JERUSALEM“

UK – MOTHER´S DAY MAY 2ND SUNDAY MODERN CELEBRATION HONORING ONE´S OWN MOTHER TIME OF YEAR TO CELEBRATE AND BUY GIFTS OF CHOCOLATE OR FLOWERS FOR MOTHERS

UK – THE QUEEN´S OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY JUNE 2ND SATURDAY CELEBRATED IN ENGLAND, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZELAND, GIBRALTAR

UK – MIDSUMMER DAY JUNE 21 THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR CELEBRATED WITH FIRES

UK – HALLOWEEN OCTOBER 31 PARTIES WHERE GUESTS ARE OFTEN EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN A COSTUME OTHER PEOPLE GATHER TOGETHER TO WATCH HORROR FILMS AT HOME OR AT A CINEMA TRICK-OR-TREATING

UK – ALL SAINTS´ DAY NOVEMBER 1 CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS WHO DEDICATED OR SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES FOR CHRISTIANITY

UK – GUY FAWKES NIGHT/BONFIRE NIGHT NOVEMBER 5 PEOPLE LIGHT BONFIRES AND SET OFF FIREWORKS SMALL BONFIRES IN GARDENS / LARGE BONFIRES IN COMMUNAL SPACES SPOOKY OUTFITS TOFFEE APPLES, BONFIRE TOFFEE AND POTATOES BAKED IN THE ASHES OF THE FIRE GUY FAWKES – A CATHOLIC, ARRESTED, TORTURED AND EXECUTED FOR HIS PART IN THE PLOT TO BLOW UP THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

UK – REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY NOVEMBER 11 PEOPLE STOP WORK TO OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT 11 AM (THE END OF BATTLE DURING WORLD WAR 1)

UK – CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24 LAST DAY TO PREPARATION FOR THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS SOME FAMILIES PUT UP THEIR CHRISTMAS TREE AND OTHER SEASONAL DECORATIONS THE FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS CHILDREN PREPARE SOCKS (OVERSIZED SOCK-SHAPED SACKS)

UK – CHRISTMAS DAY DECEMBER 25 PEOPLE DECORATE THEIR HOMES AND GARDENS CHRISTMAS TREES, SMALL COLORED FAIRY LIGHTS, MISTLETOE, DECORATIONS LIGHTS AND PINE TREES IN SHOPPING STREETS FATHER CHRISTMAS

UK – BOXING DAY DECEMBER 26 EMPLOYERS DISTRIBUTED MONEY, FOOD, CLOTH (MATERIAL) OR OTHER VALUABLE GOODS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES POST-CHRISTMAS SALES

UK – NEW YEAR´S EVE DECEMBER 31 BEFORE MIDNIGHT, PEOPLE TURN ON A RADIO OR TELEVISION TO SEE THE COUNTDOWN ALCOHOL, FIREWORKS, PARTIES „AULD LANG SYNE“

USA – NEW YEAR´S DAY JANUARY 1 FIREWORKS, PARTIES, SPECIAL EVENTS (OFTEN TELEVISED) NEW YEAR´S RESOLUTIONS

USA – MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY JANUARY 3RD MONDAY CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. INFLUENTIAL AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER CAMPAIGNS TO END RACIAL SEGREGATION ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND FOR RACIAL EQUALITY IN THE US „MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY SERVICE“ – HELPING OTHER PEOPLE

USA – ST. VALENTINE´S DAY FEBRUARY 14 FESTIVAL OF ROMANTIC LOVE CARDS, LETTERS, FLOWERS OR PRESENTS ROMANTIC MEAL IN A RESTAURANT/NIGHT IN A HOTEL

USA – PRESIDENT´S DAY FEBRUARY 3RD MONDAY THE DAY COMMEMORATES PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE USA POPULAR DAY FOR STORES TO START THEIR SALES

USA – ST. PATRICK´S DAY MARCH 17 WATER IS DYED GREEN IN PUBLIC PLACES (CHICAGO RIVER IN 2005) NOT A FEDERAL HOLIDAY SYMBOLS: ANYTHING GREEN; THE GREEN, ORANGE AND WHITE FLAG OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, BRANDS OF BEER ASSOCIATED WITH IRISH CULTURE

USA – EASTER FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE FIRST FULL MOON IN SPRING COMMEMORATES THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS „WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLL“ ARTISTS CREATED DECORATED EGGS THAT REPRESENT EACH STATE

UK/USA – ALL FOOL´S DAY APRIL 1 PRACTICAL JOKES SPREADING HOAXES JOKES AND THEIR VICTIMS ARE CALLED „APRIL FOOLS“

USA – MOTHER´S DAY MAY 2ND SUNDAY PEOPLE SEND CARDS OR GIFTS TO THEIR MOTHER FLOWERS, CHOCOLATE, CANDY, CLOTHING, JEWELRY AND TREATS MANY SCHOOLS HELP THEIR PUPILS TO PREPARE A HANDMADE CARD OR SMALL GIFT FOR THEIR MOTHERS

USA – MEMORIAL DAY MAY LAST MONDAY TRADITION TO FLY THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES AT HALF STAFF FROM DAWN UNTIL NOON MANY PEOPLE VISIT CEMETERIES AND MEMORIALS COMMEMORATES ALL MEN AND WOMEN, WHO HAVE DIED IN MILITARY SERVICE FOR THE UNITED STATES

USA – FATHER´S DAY JUNE 3RD SUNDAY OCCASION TO MARK AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTION THAT YOUR OWN FATHER HAS MADE TO YOUR LIFE CARDS OR GIFTS TO FATHERS SPORTS ITEMS, CLOTHING, ELECTRONIC GADGETS, OUTDOOR COOKING SUPPLIES AND TOOLS FOR HOUSEHOLD MAINTENANCE

USA – INDEPENDENCE DAY JULY 4 ANNIVERSARY OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN IN 1776 FAMILY CELEBRATIONS WITH PICNICS AND BARBECUES ACTIVITIES: WATERMELON OR HOTDOGS EATING, SPORTING EVENTS

USA – LABOR DAY SEPTEMBER FIRST MONDAY END OF THE SUMMER SEASON AND A LAST CHANCE TO MAKE TRIPS OR HOLD OUTDOOR EVENTS IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS, PEOPLE ORGANIZE FIREWORKS DISPLAYS, BARBECUES AND SPORTS EVENTS

USA – COLUMBUS DAY OCTOBER 2ND MONDAY REMEMBERS COLUMBUS´ ARRIVAL TO THE AMERICAS ON OCTOBER 12, 1492

USA – HALLOWEEN OCTOBER 31 COSTUME PARTIES AND TRICK-OR-TREATING CHILDREN DRESS UP IN FANCY COSTUMES AND VISIT OTHER HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SOME FAMILIES CARVE LANTERNS WITH „SCARY“ FACES OUT OF PUMPKINS HOMES AND GARDENS IN HALLOWEEN STYLE

USA – VETERAN´S DAY NOVEMBER 11 ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE ARMISTICE, WHICH ENDED THE WORLD WAR 1 VETERANS ARE THANKED FOR THEIR SERVICES TO THE UNITED STATES ON VETERANS DAY TWO MINUTES OF SILENCE AT 11 AM

USA – THANKSGIVING NOVEMBER 4TH THURSDAY DAY FOR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS TO GET TOGETHER FOR A SPECIAL MEAL TURKEY, STUFFING, POTATOES, CRANBERRY SAUCE, PUMPKIN PIE AND VEGETABLES TIME FOR MANY PEOPLE TO GIVE THANKS FOR WHAT THEY HAVE ORIGINS: THE HARVEST CELEBRATION THAT THE PILGRIMS HELD IN PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS IN THE SHIP MAYFLOWER THE FIRST TRUE THANKSGIVING WAS IN 1623, WHEN PEOPLE GAVE THANKS FOR RAIN THAT ENDED A DROUGHT.

USA – CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24 TIME FOR PEOPLE TO BUY PRESENTS AND VISIT FRIENDS OR RELATIVES NOT AN OFFICIAL FEDERAL HOLIDAY, MOST PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK MANY PEOPLE DECORATE THEIR HOMES AND DRIVEWAYS WITH SEASONAL DECORATIONS

USA – CHRISTMAS DAY DECEMBER 25 CELEBRATION OF JESUS CHRIST´S BIRTH CHRISTMAS PRESENTS SANTA CLAUS FROM NORTH POLE SLEIGH, REINDEER, CLIMBING DOWN THE CHIMNEY SMALL SNACK OF MINCE PIES AND MILK

USA – NEW YEAR´S EVE DECEMBER 31 LAST DAY OF THE YEAR BALL DROP – MADE OF CRYSTAL AND ELECTRIC LIGHTS, PLACED ON TOP OF A POLE ONE MINUTE BEFORE MIDNIGHT THE BALL IS LOWERED SLOWLY DOWN THE POLE EVENT IS SHOWN ON TELEVISION

HOLIDAYS, FESTIVALS, CELEBRATIONS THE END UNITED KINGDOM & USA MARTIN ČERNÍN