The document discusses several public holidays celebrated in Great Britain including Christmas, New Year's Day, and Halloween. Christmas is a busy time spent preparing foods, decorating, and sending cards. On Christmas Eve children hang stockings and on Christmas morning the family opens presents and shares a feast. On New Year's Day, the tradition of the "first footing" involves the first visitor of the new year bringing good luck, preferably a dark-haired man. Halloween involves welcoming friendly spirits with soul cakes and children going door-to-door wearing costumes.

1. Holidays in Great Britain

2. Holidays in Great Britain
There are many holidays in Great Britain.
They are Christmas day, Boxing Day, New
Year's day, Easter, May Day, Spring bank
holiday and Summer bank holiday. Public
holidays in Great Britain are called bank
holidays because the banks as well as most
of the offices and shops are closed. The most
popular holiday is Xmas.

3. Christmas
In Great Britain the hustle and bustle of the season begins well
before Christmas and there is barely anytime for a break until
the Twelfth night. There is preparation going on of foods, the
sending of Christmas cards, the decorating of houses and
churches, and the readying of gifts keep everyone busy even the
youngest family members.
On Christmas Eve youngsters hang up their stockings on the ends of
the beds or by the chimney so that when Father Christmas comes
he can leave them something.
On Christmas morning the family traditionally opens their presents
and prepares for a big feast which typically is served just after
midday.

4. New Year In Britain
New Year in Britain is celebrated on January 1, the first day of the first month
as per the Gregorian Calendar. This day was officially declared as New
Year’s Day in 1752.
The First-Foot
A very old custom of “first footing” is still followed in Britain. “First foot” is
the first person to cross the threshold of a home on New Year’s Day and a
bringer of good fortune for the coming year. Preferably the male visitor
would be a young, handsome, dark-haired, healthy male. A blonde, a redhaired or a woman are not allowed to enter the house first as they are
supposed to bring bad luck. This is because a dark-haired man in ancient
times would have been regarded as a fellow Scotsman, and therefore to be
deemed safe, whereas a fair haired or red headed man could have been a
Viking and therefore potentially a dangerous enemy.

5. Halloween
In Great Britain everyone wants to welcome the friendly spirits so special
soul-cakes for them. When children in costumes called upon their
neighbors' homes on Hallowe'en they would be given soul-cakes too!
In some parts of Britain Hallowe'en in the past was known as Mischief Night.
It was a night for mischief making. People would take the doors off their
hinges on this night. The doors were also often thrown into ponds, or
taken a long way away.
In England it is said that elves road on the backs of the villagers' cats. The
cats had fun but the villagers did not and would lock their cats up so that
the elves could not catch them.
Children were told not to sit in the circles of yellow and white flowers were
fairies have danced as they may be stolen by the fairies. It was also bad
to sit under the hawthorn tree because the fairies loved to dance on
them and if they saw them their tempers would be prickled.
In England the black cat was considered to be good luck were as a white cat
was considered to be bad luck.
In England children make "punkies " out of large beets. They cut out a
design of their choice into the beet. Then they carry them through the
streets and sing the Punkie Night Song. They knock on doors and ask for
money.
In some parts of England turnip Lanterns are place on gateposts to protect
homes from the spirits.

6. Halloween
In Great Britain everyone wants to welcome the friendly spirits so special
soul-cakes for them. When children in costumes called upon their
neighbors' homes on Hallowe'en they would be given soul-cakes too!
In some parts of Britain Hallowe'en in the past was known as Mischief Night.
It was a night for mischief making. People would take the doors off their
hinges on this night. The doors were also often thrown into ponds, or
taken a long way away.
In England it is said that elves road on the backs of the villagers' cats. The
cats had fun but the villagers did not and would lock their cats up so that
the elves could not catch them.
Children were told not to sit in the circles of yellow and white flowers were
fairies have danced as they may be stolen by the fairies. It was also bad
to sit under the hawthorn tree because the fairies loved to dance on
them and if they saw them their tempers would be prickled.
In England the black cat was considered to be good luck were as a white cat
was considered to be bad luck.
In England children make "punkies " out of large beets. They cut out a
design of their choice into the beet. Then they carry them through the
streets and sing the Punkie Night Song. They knock on doors and ask for
money.
In some parts of England turnip Lanterns are place on gateposts to protect
homes from the spirits.