BRITISH HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS

• CHAPTER 8

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 other’s company and hospitality

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

NATIVITYBirth of Jesus

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

WINTER SOLSTICE

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

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

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

MISTLETOE

HOME DECORATED

SPECIAL BRITISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

• Christmas Pantomime-Panto a comical musical play based on traditional children’s story, with main character the “principal boy” played by a young woman

• Queen’s Christmas message/past year & hopes

• Boxing Day-day after Christmas/old custom for servants-now sales, food etc. most people don’t know why

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.

CRUCIFIXION

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS

• Queen’s birthday• Known as “Trooping the Colour”• Second Saturday in June• Buckingham Palace in London• Like a National Day

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

Hogmanay

• Scotland• New Years Eve• First footing – first person to visit

home bring luck. Young, dark haired and handsome brings extra good luck-party

HALLOWEEN

• Halloween – Oct. 31• Great feast of Pagan Celts• Arrival of winter• Some believe can commune with

the dead• Mischief• Fortune-telling & masquerades

EISTEDDFOD

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

AS IT IS DISAPPEARING

MANY CELEBRATIONS AND HOLIDDAYS

• DIFFERENT CULTURES• DIFFERENT HISTORIES• SOME HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME• SOME ANCIENT PAGAN

TRADITIONS ADOPTED BY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

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

THE END

•THAT’S ALL