Festivals, celebrations and public holidays in the UK Tweet1
From street parties to traditional festivals, there are many events in the UK waiting for you to participate!
At?Bank During the holidays, most shops, businesses and institutions are closed, so it is also a legal holiday. Some of the events listed below are bank holidays, but not all? The dates of these holidays vary across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Please log on to the gov.uk website for the full list of bank holidays.
There are many other events throughout the year across the UK. You can log on to Visit Britain, Discover Northern Ireland or join the Love GREAT Britain Facebook page to collect them all. Please visit the Music page to find out about the various music festivals in the UK.
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January
February
March
April
May
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July
August
September
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November
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December
January
1st? New Year’s Day (New Year’s Day).
On New Year’s Day (December 31st) , the traditional way of celebrating is to welcome the arrival of midnight with friends or family, and to sing a folk song "Auld lang syne" written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. The party can even last into the day on New Year's Day! Many people make "New Year's Resolutions", promising to achieve a certain goal or break a bad habit in the coming year.
In Scotland, the New Year celebration is called Hogmanay. There are events and parties all over Scotland, but the biggest ones are in Edinburgh? In 2014, the city's New Year celebrations were a three-day festival of music, food and fireworks.
25th, Burns Night (Scotland)
Many Scots will hold special dinners on this night to commemorate Robert Burns, toast, drink and read his poetry. Men wear kilts, there may be bagpipe music, and Haggis (a traditional Scottish haggis) is almost always served, with turnips and potatoes on the side.
31st ? Chinese New Year ? (Chinese New Year)
Outside Asia, the world’s largest Chinese New Year celebration is in London. There will be a parade in Chinatown in the West End, including music, acrobatics, dance, gourmet meals and fireworks. There are also plenty of other events happening across the UK. There are street parties in many major cities including Manchester, Nottingham, Liverpool and Birmingham.
Chinese New Year celebrations in London? VisitBritain/Grant Pritchard
February
Valentine’s Day on the 14th? (Valentine?s Day)
The breath of love is everywhere in the air! Historically, this was the anniversary of the death of Saint Valentine, but now it has evolved into a day of romantic celebration. Many British people will go out to dinner with their loved ones and send them Valentine's cards, chocolates or flowers. If you are still single, you may also receive a card from an anonymous secret admirer!
March
1st, St David’s Day (St David’s Day) Day,? Wales)
St. David is a saint of Wales. March 1st every year is a big day to celebrate Welsh culture. Welsh people might wear a daffodil and eat cawl, a soup made with seasonal vegetables and lamb or bacon. There are celebrations across Wales, including a huge parade in Cardiff.
Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day on the 4th
Lent is a traditional Christian fasting time that lasts for 40 days sky. Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent, when families use up fatty foods such as eggs, milk and sugar. Today, although many people no longer follow this religious custom, they still cook and eat pancakes on this day.
Some towns in the UK will also hold a "pancake competition", in which contestants flip pancakes on a frying pan while rushing to the finish line. The most famous one is held in Olney (Olney, Buckinghamshire). It is said that the tradition of this game can be traced back to 1445!
17th? St Patrick's Day (St Patrick's Day,? North Ireland)
St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland and is now celebrated by Irish communities around the world. In the UK, cities that host St. Patrick's Day celebrations include Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and London, and of course Belfast. Many people will be out with friends, wearing green clothing or shamrocks, and drinking Guinness Irish Stout.
30th ? Mother’s Day ? (Mother?s Day)
Mother’s Day is a day to thank your mother for everything you have done for yourself over the past year. Many send their mother a card or gift, and take her out to eat or cook a live-in meal.
April
1st? April Fools Day
It is this one time every year when people can accept? even be encouraged? to play all kinds of tricks Tricks, pranks, jokes. Even newspapers, TV and radio programs usually broadcast fake news on this day. The traditional approach is to reveal the true nature of the joke with "April fool!" at the end, and stop playing pranks at noon.
18-21st? Easter (Easter)
Easter is a Christian festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. Usually on the first Sunday in March or April, the previous Friday (Good Friday) and the following Monday (Easter Mondy) are both bank holidays. People celebrate Easter in different ways, but many people give each other chocolate Easter eggs, eat hot cross cookies (cookies marked with a cross), and children decorate eggs or participate in Easter egg hunts .
23rd St George’s Day (St George’s Day, England)
Legend has it that St George was a Roman warrior who killed a dragon and saved the princess. . He is now a saint in England, and this day is England's national day. You might see a St. George's Cross (England's flag, a red cross on a white background) or a Morris Dance (a folk dance), but it's not a bank holiday and most people won't have special celebrations .
This day is also William Shakespeare’s birthday, and there will be many activities to commemorate this dramatic master. There's no better place to experience Shakespeare Day than in his birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, where a commemorative festival is held over the weekend. 2014 is Shakespeare's 450th birthday, so there are particularly grand commemorative activities.
St. George’s Day at Wrest Park? VisitBritain/Grant Pritchard
May
1st? May Day (Beltane)
This is a Celtic festival celebrating fire, celebrating fertility, and marking the beginning of summer. The festival originates from ancient Scotland, Ireland and the Cayman Islands. Modern versions of the celebration have become increasingly popular, with the largest ones taking place in Edinburgh, Thornborough in Yorkshire, and Butser Ancient Farm in Hampshire. ), burning the traditional 30-foot-tall Wicker Man at sunset.
5th and 26th? Bank holidays? (Bank holidays)
There are two Mondays in May when people don’t have to go to work or go to school. If you’re lucky, you can enjoy the spring outdoors. sunshine.
June
14th? The Queen’s Official Birthday (The Queen?s Official Birthday)
Although the Queen’s real birthday is April 21st, since Since 1748, British tradition has been to celebrate the birthday of the head of state in June. London will host a military parade called Trooping the Color, attended by members of the royal family.
15th ? Father’s Day ? (Father’s Day)
Father’s Day is a day to pay respect to fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers and father-in-law. Many Britons send a card or gift and also go out for a meal or have a drink together.
The 21st? Summer Solstice? (Summer Solstice)
Stonehenge, located in Wiltshire, England, is of great significance on this day. People come here from all over the country to celebrate the most daytime day of the year. The day with the shortest long and dark nights. Standing inside Stonehenge, the main axis, the ancient road leading to the stone pillars and the rising sun on the morning of the summer solstice are on the same line. You will see the sun rising on the stones like a ball. This landscape attracts many people. Pagans and sun-lovers.
Stonehenge? VisitBritain/Richard Allen
23rd-July 6th? Wimbledon Tennis Championships (Wimbledon Tennis Championships)
Wimbledon ( Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and a summer must-have for sports fans. The game has been held at the All England Tennis Club in London since 1877. It is famous for the white clothing of the contestants and the tradition of spectators eating strawberries and ice cream while watching the game.
July
29th? Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month-long Islamic month of Ramadan and is widely known as Muslim communities across the UK celebrate. Each community usually organizes its own events, but some city centers have bigger events, such as London and Birmingham.
The 20th Commonwealth Games (The 20th Commonwealth Games) from August 23rd to August 3rd
The 2014 Commonwealth Games (Commonwealth Games) is a comprehensive event similar to the Olympic Games The Sex Games, held every four years, will be held in Glasgow, Scotland. There will be 6,500 athletes from 70 countries competing in 17 events, ranging from swimming to weightlifting, as well as spectacular opening and closing ceremonies.
August
1-9th? Welsh Music and Poetry Festival (Eisteddfod)
The Welsh Music and Poetry Festival (National Eisteddfod) is the largest arts event in Wales , is also the oldest cultural festival in Europe. This is a great opportunity to listen to Welsh music and literature, while also enjoying dance and drama performances, buying books, crafts and more.
1-25th? Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The world’s largest arts festival, ?the Fringe? (?the Fringe?) attracts more than 40,000 performers will perform more than 2,500 performances in more than 250 venues. Audiences are welcome to participate in any form of performance, including drama, comedy, music and dance, and many students will come to Edinburgh to put on their own shows.
25th? Notting Hill Carnival? (Notting Hill Carnival)
Notting Hill Carnival (Notting Hill Carnival) is held in west London on a bank holiday weekend and is a European festival. The largest street festival. About 100 people come here to watch the colorful costumes and over-the-top dancers, listen to different types of music from salsa to reggaeton, and sample Caribbean cuisine from street food stalls. Bring your party spirit, cash and a lot of patience? The venue will be packed with people.
Notting Hill Carnival? VisitBritain/Jon Spaull
September
12th to 16th? London Fashion Week (London Fashion Week)
Along with Paris, Milan and New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week heralds the trend of the fashion industry. These are industry events, but you can also buy tickets to London Fashion Weekend and experience a fashion show. Fashion weeks are held twice a year, the first one is held in February.
October
23rd ? Diwali23rd ? Diwali
Diwali is a day of lights for Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities. Festival. Cities including Leicester (hosting the largest Diwali celebrations outside India), London and Nottingham feature glitzy street parties with traditional food, music and dance performances , and of course, lights, lanterns, candles and fireworks.
31st ? Halloween ? (Halloween)
The modern way of celebrating Halloween is based on the Christian All Hallows Eve tradition and the Celtic festival Samhain. Children will knock on doors asking neighbors for candy or carved pumpkins, while older students attend parties and Halloween events at bars or student unions. The most important thing is to dress up, and the more quirky and unique the better!
November
The whole month? Movember
If you notice something suddenly happening around you There are a lot more men with beards, you are very observant. Throughout November, charity campaign Movember invites men to grow beards to raise awareness of men's health.
5th? Bonfire Night (Bonfire Night)
Historically, this is an event to commemorate Guy Fawkes’s 1605 attempt to blow up Parliament and assassinate King James I. . This failed bombing became the content of a children's song: ?Remember, remember the 5th of November; gunpowder, treason and plot?. Now, not only are there bonfires, but in every city in the UK, from London to every village, setting off fireworks on this night has almost become a traditional repertoire.
Most cities have fireworks displays, but the best place is the medieval city of Lewes, East Sussex. Here, fireworks displays are accompanied by colorful parades, music, costumes and the traditional ceremony of burning Guy's scarecrow.
November 11th? Memorial Day? (Remembrance Day)
November 11th is celebrated every year to commemorate those who fought in World War I, World War II and other wars. A holiday to commemorate the fallen soldiers and civilians. The symbol of Remembrance Day is the poppy, and each year the Royal British Legion charity sells paper poppies to raise funds for veterans and their families. Traditionally, at 11 a.m., the public observes a two-minute silence.
St. Andrew’s Day (Scotland) on the 30th
St. Andrew’s Day (St Andrew’s Day) is a festival to commemorate its saint and is also Scotland's national day. There are many celebrations across Scotland, including traditional meals, poetry readings, bagpipe music and country dancing. This is a great opportunity to attend a ceilidh - a party featuring Gaelic folk music and dancing. Luckily, there's usually a "teacher" at the party to teach basic footwork!
December
London during Christmas? VisitBritain/Britain on View
17-24 Hanukkah? (Hanukkah)
Jewish communities across the UK will celebrate Hanukkah (also known as Dedication Day) on this day. This is the festival of light. The time is 2014 December 17-24. In London, the Menorah in Trafalgar Square is the largest celebration in Europe. The Mayor of London usually lights up the lights on the first day of Hanukkah, and during the event free donuts are distributed and there are live music performances.
25th ? Christmas (Christmas)
Most British people celebrate Christmas, even if they have no religious affiliation. There will be a Christmas tree, Christmas gifts, Christmas carols, mulled wine (warm spiced red wine), mince pies and, if it snows, snowballs and snowball fights! The traditional Christmas dinner is a whole turkey , served with roast potatoes, vegetables, sauce and Christmas pudding for dessert, but every family has its own special dish.
Throughout December, there are Christmas markets and festive tourist attractions everywhere? Pay attention to various advertisements in local magazines and on school campuses. Our recommendations include:
Winter Wonderland - Located in Hyde Park, London. As well as a traditional Christmas market, the huge venue also offers carnival rides, two circuses, an ice skating rink, ice and snow sculptures – and plenty of hot cider and mulled wine to keep you warm.
Hogwarts at Christmas - A winter version of the Harry Potter Parade will be held at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, near London. Admire the snowflakes falling on the prototype of Hogwarts Castle, and visit the Christmas dinner where everything is ready in the Great Hall.
Frankfurt Christmas Market in Birmingham? The largest German-style market outside Germany and Austria. German elements are everywhere: gl?hwein (hot drinks), wursts (sausages), pretzels (pretzels) and desserts. You can buy specially crafted gifts from local artists at the craft fair.
The Eden Project in Cornwall. Usually this site is used as an educational ecological park, but in December the Eden Project is transformed into a Christmas world: Christmas trees, choirs, elk, ice rink, and skating lessons for all ages.
Winter Light trail located in Waddensdon Manor, Buckinghamshire. In the gardens of this historic estate, acclaimed artist Bruce Munro displays his Christmas light installations.
Christmas Market in Belfast. If you're studying in Northern Ireland, you can find festive food, drink, crafts and Christmas decorations at this informative market outside Belfast City Hall.
Pantomimes? A traditional Christmas fairy tale that combines slapstick comedy and theater musicals, with silly costumes that keep the audience engaged. Fairy Tales is aimed at children, but adults also deserve a truly British experience.
26th? Boxing Day (Boxing Day)
The day after Christmas is Boxing Day, which is a bank holiday in the UK. The origin of the name of this holiday is said to come from the "Christmas boxes" that bosses used to give servants and businessmen with money or gifts on this day. Today there are no special customs for this holiday, but most people spend it with their families, going for walks, watching sports or "sweeping" leftovers from Christmas dinner.