Britain celebrates many holidays and festivals throughout the year. Some of the major events include Christmas, Easter, New Year's Day, and Bank Holidays. Traditional folklore includes Morris dancing and crop circles. The calendar year also includes sporting events like Wimbledon, horse races like the Grand National, and music/arts festivals. Many holidays, traditions and festivals center around food, family, religion, or community.

1. British Year : Holidays, Shows, Festivals Tiina Tikk 11 A

2. GENERAL INFORMATION England does not formally celebrate any of its significant heroes and dates 8 public holidays in the year : two at Christmas one for the New Year two at Easter three Bank Holidays

3. BRITISH FOLKLORE Traditional images like the Beefeaters at the Tower, the horse guards in Whitehall, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Old superstitions are nowadays losing their meaning. Miraculous crop circles , circular areas made up of complex patterns in fields of crops which become flat overnight, are becoming established as a new phenomenon in national folklore by ghosts believers

4. Morris dancing – old British tradition, the dancers (usually men of all ages) dress in white with little bells attached to their knees, and carry kerchiefs, horns or sticks. Fund-raising events C loseness, sense of community disap p ears Com m ercially - based customs emerge

5. Examples of crop circles Morris dancer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZjLATAUwao&feature=related

6. EVENTS IN THE BRITISH CALENDAR JANUARY New Year’s Day – day off for relaxing and making plans The Six Nations Rugby Tournament – England, Scotland, Wales, a joint Irish team, France and Italy take part in it FEBRUARY Cruft’s Dog Show – dog breeders from all over the world T he best animal for each type of dog and the best of all is chosen by judges Saint Valentine’s Day - on the 14th, valentine cards, red roses, chocolate Shrove Tuesday = Pancake Day – the last day before Lent Pancake races for women carrying a pancake in a frying pan and having to toss the pancake into the air, catching it again in the pan. Very thin, flat, round pancakes are eaten with lemon juice and sugar.

7. Pancake race

8. MARCH The Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race – since 1836, held on the Thames, the length is 7.2 km. The present score is 78 to 72 in favour of Cambridge The Cheltenham Gold Cup – a horse race at Cheltenham Shakespeare ’ s Plays performed by The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford-Upon-Avon form March to October St Patrick’s Day – 17 March Irish national holiday is celebrated by wearing green clothes, going to pubs and drinking Guinness http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuyVxVWLhgk Palm Sunday – the Sunday before Easter, palm leaves are spread on the ground

9. APRIL April Fool’s Day – 1 April, playing practical jokes on others M ust be done before midday, otherwise the joke is on you ! Easter – lasts for 4 days , from Good Friday to Easter Monday . O n the Friday small sweet rolls, toasted with butter and containing currants, with a cross on top representing the wooden cross Jesus died on, are eaten . On Easter Sunday Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Chocolate eggs are given to each other and an Easter Egg Hunt is a tradition among families with children. The London Marathon – attracts up to 30,000 competitors, about 25,000 usually finish it St George’s Day – 23 April, the English national day

10. MAY May Day – 1 May, used to be celebrated as the coming of spring with Morris men and children dancing around the Maypole – a symbol of fertility Mother’s Day – on the second Sunday in May The Football Association (FA) Cup Final – t wo English football clubs play to win the cup at Wembley Stadium in London The Chelsea Flower Show – GB’s most important flower and gardening show

11. JUNE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Golf-O0EBU4 Trooping The Colour – a parade with hundreds of soldiers (in colourful uniforms) to celebrate the Queen`s official birthday (21April) on the second Saturday in June Royal Ascot – biggest horse race meeting at Ascot ( 4 days) A ttended by the Queen and royalty . B eautiful hats are worn by aristocratic ladies . The Grand National (at Aintree) and The Derby (at Epsom) – horseracing events Father’s Day – the 3rd Sunday P eople give present and cards to their fathers

12. JULY Wimbledon – the venue of one of the four great world tennis championships , the only one played on soft courts (grass). Lasts for a fortnight (2 weeks) The British Motor-Racing Grand Prix – at Silverstone circuit British Open Golf Championship – in England or Scotland Henley Regatta – the largest rowing competition since 1839 at Henley-on-Thames Test Matches – five-day-long cricket matches between England and overseas teams throughout the summer Saint Swithin’s Day – 15 July, if it rains on that day, it is said to rain for 40 days The Welsh National Eisteddfod and International Eisteddfod – competitions for poets, choirs and dancers in Wales The Battle of The Boyne – celebrated by Protestants in Northern Ireland on the Monday nearest to 12 July King William the 3rd of England defeated James the 2nd in this battle in 1690 .

13. AUGUST The Proms – series of mainly classical music concerts (over 70 in all) in London every night for 7 weeks, initiated by Henry Wood in 1895. It has something for every taste and “pocket“. The Notting Hill Carnival – a n exotic street party with music, dancing, food, drink, costumes and competitions organised by London’s Caribbean community. The Edinburgh International Festival – of drama, music, poetry, lasts for 2 weeks

14. The Notting Hill Carnival http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBMyII8B6v0&feature=related

15. SEPTEMBER Harvest Festivals – Christian holidays when churches are decorated with fruit, vegetables and flowers to thank God for a good harvest The Blackpool Illuminations – the promenade (7 miles) has special illuminated displays at night T he most visited attraction in GB by locals. OCTOBER The International Motor Show – in Birmingham , the latest models of cars Hallowe’en – 31 Oct, a pagan festival which celebrates the return of the souls of the dead P eople dress up as witches, ghosts etc. Pumpkins!

16. Blackpool Illuminations Hallowe’en

17. NOVEMBER The London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally – veteran cars, built before 1905, are driven from the capital to Brighton. The performance, presentation matter , not speed! Guy Fawkes’ Night = Bonfire Night – 5 Nov marks the attempt of the Catholics, led by Guy Fawkes, to blow up the Houses of Parliament and King James the 1st in 1605. Nowadays celebrated by setting off fireworks and burning home-made figures of Guy Fawkes on big bonfires. Remembrance Day – Poppy Day, on the Sunday nearest to 11 Nov to commemorate the people killed in the 1st and 2nd World Wars. Many people wear red poppies . There is a 2 minute silence at 11.00.

18. DECEMBER Christmas (Xmas) - traditional and religious celebrations, a time of family reunion, good food and lots of relaxation. On Christmas Day children find their presents. A traditional Christmas dinner includes a roast turkey with potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, followed by Christmas pudding and cake. New Year’s Eve – many people gather in London ( Trafalgar Square or Piccadilly Circus ) or in Edinburgh to sing “ Auld Lang Syne ” , dance and have fun. After that people in Scotland and the north of England go “first footing”, they are expected to be tall dark men and bring good luck.

19. SOME ART FESTIVALS Cheltenham - Music Festival (June) and Literary Festival (Oct) Glyndebourne - Opera Festival, new works and traditional operas Three Choirs Festival - in every Aug, it presents choral and orchestral music Aldeburgh - Classical Music and Opera Festival established in 1948 Glastonbury Outdoor Music Festival –started in 1970 R ock, jazz, folk, ethnic music and circus, theatre events The Folk Festival in Cambridge – in July since 1964 The International Film Festival in Cambridge : premiering of new films The Rock Music Festival in Reading – indie and alternative music Womad (World of Music, Arts and Dance) - about 60 groups perform

20. SOME UNUSUAL FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS The World Gurning Championships – since 1266, competitors put their heads through a horse’s collar and make the most horrible faces Bognor Regis Birdman –begun in 1974 offers a great cash prize to anyone who can fly over 46 m out to sea from platform Minehead May Day – raises money for charity by hobby-horse dances etc. Cheese-Rolling – over 200 years old event C hasing a large round local cheese down a steep hill and catching it.

21. The World Gurning Championships Cheese-Rolling Bognor Regis Birdman