BRITISH HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS

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BRITISH HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS

• CHAPTER 8

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Holidays and Customs and their origins
tell us what is important in a culture
Most holidays throughout the world provide
opportunities for families and friends to get
together to visit, eat, exchange good wishes and
enjoy each others company and hospitality
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RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

• Britain remains mainly a Christian nation,
  however many do not go to church to worship
• Many other religions
• Christian festivals are observed but adapted to
  fit needs of a secular society
• Non-Christians and Christians participate in
  activities for Christmas and Easter

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NATIVITYBirth of Jesus
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CHRISTMAS

• December 25
• Biggest and best loved holiday
• Schools, businesses, and offices close
• Celebration of birth of Jesus Christ-Christmas
  mass-worship service. Son of God to save the
  world from sin

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WINTER SOLSTICE

• Includes some Christmas traditions- decorating
  house, kissing/mistletoe

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CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
CHRISTMAS

• Exchange gifts and cards
• Holiday foods
• Decorating homes/workplace
• Christmas trees
• Christmas lights/ornaments

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MISTLETOE
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HOME DECORATED
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SPECIAL BRITISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

• Christmas Pantomime-Panto a comical musical play
  based on traditional childrens story, with main
  character the principal boy played by a young
  woman
• Queens Christmas message/past year hopes
• Boxing Day-day after Christmas/old custom for
  servants-now sales, food etc. most people dont
  know why

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EASTER

• FOR CHRISTIANS MOST IMPORTANT CHRISTIAN FESTIVAL
• COMMEMORATES THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF
  JESUS AND THE PROMISE THAT THOSE WHO BELIEVE WILL
  DIE BUT BE RESURRECTED TO LIVE WITH GOD IN HEAVEN
  FOREVER
• MANY ATTEND CHURCH FOR THIS HOPE
• MANY CELEBRATE THE SECULAR THINGS GIFTS, CANDY,
  EASTER BUNNY, ETC.

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CRUCIFIXION
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NATIONAL HOLIDAYS

• Queens birthday
• Known as Trooping the Colour
• Second Saturday in June
• Buckingham Palace in London
• Like a National Day

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SAINT PATRICKS DAY

• Northern Ireland
• Catholics
• Patron Saint of Ireland-St Patrick
• March 17
• SP lived 5th century btb one who brought
  Christianity to Ireland
• Tradition-drove out snakes or evil and used three
  leaf clover/shamrock to explain Christian Trinity
  (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to Pagans Irish

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Hogmanay

• Scotland
• New Years Eve
• First footing first person to visit home bring
  luck. Young, dark haired and handsome brings
  extra good luck-party

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HALLOWEEN

• Halloween Oct. 31
• Great feast of Pagan Celts
• Arrival of winter
• Some believe can commune with the dead
• Mischief
• Fortune-telling masquerades

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EISTEDDFOD

• WALES
• CELTIC WORD-MEANS GATHERING
• PEOPLE RECITE VERSES
• SING SONGS
• TO HELP CONTINUE WELSH LANGUAGE AS IT IS
  DISAPPEARING

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MANY CELEBRATIONS AND HOLIDDAYS

• DIFFERENT CULTURES
• DIFFERENT HISTORIES
• SOME HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME
• SOME ANCIENT PAGAN TRADITIONS ADOPTED BY
  CHRISTIAN CHURCH

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CONCLUSION

• YOU MIGHT SEE
• WELSH CELEBRATE BURNS NIGHT
• LONDONERS WATCH DRAGON DANCES AT CHINESE NEW YEAR
• MUSLIMS ENJOY CHOCOLATE EASTER EGGS
• CHRISTIAN SHOPPING ON BOXING DAY
• SUCH HOLIDAYS SHOW CULTURES CHANGE/INFLUENCE EA.
  OTHER
• OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE OF UK

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THE END

• THATS ALL