- •Holidays in the uk
- •1. Major uk Bank holidays New Year’s Day
- •May Day
- •Boxing Day
- •2. Major uk religious holidays Christmas Day
- •Epiphany
- •Shrove Tuesday
- •Maundy Thursday
- •Good Friday
- •3. Major uk national holidays St George’s Day
- •St Andrew’s Day
- •Burns Night
- •St Patrick’s Day
- •St David’s Day
- •4. Uk special observances with historical background St Valentine’s Day
- •Mothering Sunday (Mother’s Day)
- •April Fools’ Day
- •Halloween
- •Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Night)
- •Remembrance Day
- •Queen’s Official Birthday
- •State Opening of Parliament
- •Glossary
- •Comprehension
- •Further Reading
Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Night)
“Remember, remember
The fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
We see no reason why
Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!”
In November 1605, the infamous gunpowder Plot took place in which some Catholics plotted to blow up the English Parliament and King James I, on the day set for the King to open Parliament. The plot was discovered and its participants, the most famous of whom was Guy Fawkes, were executed. The story is remembered every 5th of November.
The celebrations involve fireworks displays and the building of bonfires, traditionally on which "guys", or dummies, representing Guy Fawkes are burnt. Before the fifth, children use the dummies to beg for money with the chant "Penny for the guy". Since 1679 Lewes has been the setting of some of England's most extravagant 5 November celebrations, the Lewes Bonfire.
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is on the 11th of November. It is a special day set aside to remember all those men and women who were killed during the two World Wars and other conflicts. At one time the day was known as Armistice Day and was renamed Remembrance Day after the Second World War*. In the United Kingdom, although two minutes' silence is observed on November 11 itself, the main observance is on the second Sunday of November, Remembrance Sunday. Special services are held at war memorials and churches all over Britain. A national ceremony takes place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London. The Queen lays the first wreath at the Cenotaph. Wreaths are laid beside war memorials by companies, clubs and societies. People also leave small wooden crosses by the memorials in remembrance of a family member who died in war.
Remembrance Day is also known as Poppy Day, because it is traditional to wear an artificial poppy**. They are sold by the Royal British Legion, a charity dedicated to helping war veterans.
Queen’s Official Birthday
The official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II is celebrated on the first, second, or third Saturday in June, although it is rarely the third (the real birthday of the Queen is 21 of April). It is marked each year by a military parade and march-past, known as Trooping the Colour (Carrying of the Flag). The Trooping the Colour is a tradition going back to the days when the Colours (flag of the regiment) was trooped in front of soldiers to make sure everyone could recognise their flag in battle.
The Colours today are trooped in front of the Queen troops of the Household Division (Foot Guards and Household Cavalry). Among the audience are the Royal Family, invited guests, ticketholders, and the general public. The colourful ceremony, also known as "The Queen's Birthday Parade", is broadcast live by the BBC. The Queen travels down The Mall from Buckingham Palace in a Royal Procession. After receiving a Royal Salute, she inspects her troops of the Household Division, both Foot Guards and Horse Guards. Each year, one of the Foot Guards regiments is selected to troop their colour through the ranks of guards. Then the entire assembly of Household Division conducts a March Past around the Parade past the Queen, who receives their salute from the Saluting Base. On return to Buckingham Palace, the Queen watches a further march past. Following a gun salute in Green Park, she leads the Royal Family onto the palace balcony for a Royal Air Force flypast.