Holidays, Festivals and Celebrations in the USA and UK

January 1 The speech of the queen for the Commonwealth of Nations

Saint Valentine‘s Day February 14 Saint Valentine- the priest who used to wed people despite the fact that it was forbidden. He died around a year 269 as a martyr. Celebrating- sending cards, flowers and gifts, going out with our love ones

Easter The first Sunday after the first fullmoon in spring Celebration of Jesus Christ coming back to life ( Jesus Christ‘s resurrection from the dead) Week before christmas = Holy week- Mardi Gras, Maundy Thursady, Good Friday Origin in Pagan Festival

Easter The way of celebrating: going to church activities for children decorating the house colouring eggs Symbols : baby animals spring flowers- Tulips, Daffodils eggs candies, chocolate trees, flowers that start to blossom

St. Patrick‘s Day March 17 Saint Patrick- the patron saint of Ireland - he is said to have brought Christianity to Ireland Stories- Driving snakes from the Ireland - Being carried off by the pirates and spending six years in slavery

St. Patrick‘s Day Symbols: drinking Guiness( national Irish dark beer) wearing green,colouring rivers,beers,.. shamrocks The way of celebrating: parades,..

Queen's Official Birthday There is a selected day on which the birthday of the monarch of the Commonwealth of Nations is officially celebrated. Around the end of May or the start of June The first birthady of the sovereign was officially marked in the UK in 1748.

Queen's Official Birthday The Queen's Official Birthday is now celebrated on the first or the second Saturday in June. The way of celebrating: Not a day off, but it is a National Day of the UK -Trooping the colour

Halloween October 31 The way of celebrating: trick or treat decorating houses,.. costume party Symbols: scary figures,jack-o-lantern, pumpkins, bats, spiders,black cats, candies,

Guy Fawkes Day= Bonfire Night November 5 The celebration of the discovery of a plot organised by the Catholics to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London in 1605. It also celebrates the fact that the King James I survived the plot. Guy Fawkes was guarding the explosives druring the plot and he was punished for that.

Guy Fawkes Day The way of celebrating: Bonfires,parades, fireworks

Remembrance Day November 11 During this festival people wear a red poppy in memory of those who sacrifised their lifes for us during wars.

Christmas December 25 The celebration of Jesus Christ‘s birth Although many aspects of this holiday have pagan origins

Christmas The way of celebrating: finding gifts in a stocking and under the christmas tree - decorating houses, garden, streets, supermarkets, roofs - singing Christmas carols - Christmas dinner - lightening candels,lights - kissing under the mistletoe bushes

Christmas Symbols: Father Christmas berries and leaves from holy trees Christmas tree candles, small lights mistletoe bushes, holy trees, pine trees presents, stocking robin the red breast

New Year‘s Eve Big celebrations, parties Midnight firework Family reunions- playing games - watching TV

Special celebrations in the USA

May 1 After the national convention, which was held in Chicago in 1886, eight hours shall constitute a legal day's labor. That day more than 300,000 workers across the US walked off their jobs. This day is supposed to be an International Worker's Day

May 1 Nowadays this day is for most people a day of romance and love. The way of celebrating in UK: Morris dancing -crowning a May Queen - Maypole

The Independance Day July 4 Federal holiday in the USA Celebration of the acceptance of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 The way of celebrating: fireworks,carnivals, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, Decorations: the colours of the American flag

Thanksgiving The fourth Thursday of November The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest. The feast lasted 3 days and there were 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims together.

Thanksgiving The way of celebrating nowadays: - Family reunion and Feasting - Parades - Football Games Food: Turkey Cranberry sauce Pumpkin pie Corns

Veteran‘s Day November 11 This day honors people who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, also known as veterans.