Holidays in England

Holidays are a part of every culture. Knowing them, we can learn more about local people and their way of life. Traditional holidays may reflect not only the nation and its character, but also the history of the country. Same can be said about England. English people love celebrating holidays. Although officially the country has only six public holidays, there are many other symbolic days, which have been celebrated for ages. Six public holidays are: Christmas and Boxing Days, Good Friday and Easter, Spring and Late Summer Bank Holidays. Scottish people consider the New Year’s Day to be also a public holiday. Some of the holidays don’t have a fixed date, so the date is moveable and can be changed each year. Perhaps, Christmas, New Year and Boxing Day are the only holidays with fixed dates. Most English holidays are of religious significance, although they have gradually become simply the days for relaxing, enjoying delicious meals and staying in good mood. Apart from public holidays, people in England celebrate St Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, April Fool’s Day, Halloween, Pancake Day, Bonfire Night and many other interesting occasions.

The most common type of New Year and Christmas celebration in Britain is arranging a family party with lots of delicious food and drinks. Traditionally, everybody gets presents and postcards. People richly decorate every single building on the street, be it a house or a shop. At New Year night people turn on the TV or radio and listen to Big Ben chiming. After midnight people can continue partying at Trafalgar Square or Piccadilly Circus. Easter is another religious and important holiday in England. Even the word “easter” originates from the name of Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring Eostre. Easter festival each year honors the awakening of nature. Children, perhaps, more than others appreciate this holiday because of colored eggs and chocolate Easter bunnies. Christian people all over the world associate this day with the rising of the sun to the resurrection of Jesus. Spring and Late Summer Bank Holidays are official days off, so neither adults nor children have to go to work or school on these days. Families traditionally try to get away from the city and have a peaceful picnic somewhere at the seaside or countryside.

One of the most original English holidays is Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night. This is the annual celebration, which falls on November 5, in honor of Gunpowder Plot failure. In 1605 a group of conspirators led by Guy Fawkes attempted to destroy the Houses of Parliament. However, their plans were disclosed and they were punished. Today, the Bonfire Night is centered about numerous fireworks and bonfire lightings. Halloween or All Saint’s Eve is one of the most favourite holidays not only in England, but in all English-speaking countries. It is celebrated annually on the last day of October. Children usually dress up and go trick-or-treating on this day. Other than that, people can attend costume parties and various haunted attractions. One of the important days for English people is November 11 – Remembrance or Armistice Day. The holiday commemorates British soldiers, who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars.