Christmas in the U.K. and around the world.

                         Christmas around the world - Top 5

         

Christmas in the UK by Alastair Hobbs.

Christmas is undoubtably the biggest celebration of the calendar year in the UK. During the month of December many children have advent calenders in which they open a door each day showing a Christmas scene or providing them with a chocolate! Almost every British family has a real Christmas tree in their house, and many people decorate their living rooms and put up Christmas cards.

Christmas Eve is the name given to the 24th of December. On this day, the final preparations are made for the Christmas lunch on the 25th, and in the evening the children hang up their stockings (large, long socks) in the hope that Father Christmas will fill them with all sorts of presents.

                                                    

Christmas Day is the 25th of December and is the most important day of the Christmas period. All the family come together to enjoy a Christmas meal at lunchtime - usually around 1 or 2 pm - which includes turkey, roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy (a delicious warm meaty sauce to pour over the food!) The Queen then appears at 3pm on television to give a 10 minute speech to the nation and then the presents are opened and more food is consumed!      

Boxing Day is the name given to the 26th of December and this is also a national holiday. Then it´s the countdown to the New Year, with New Year´s Eve (31st of December) and New Year´s Day (1st of January). However, the 6th of January is a normal day in the UK, there are no "Reyes magos" and everyone is back at work or school.

Remembrance Day in Britain

NOVEMBER

Remembrance Wreath | The Last Post | Two minute Silence November is the time of the year when we wear a red poppy in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for us during wars. www.britishlegion.org.uk The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month marks the signing of the Armistice, on 11th November 1918, to signal the end of World War One. At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years continuous warfare. What is Remembrance Day? Remembrance Day is on 11 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. Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday in November, which is usually the Sunday nearest to 11 November. Special services are held at war memorials and churches all over Britain. A war memorial in Sevenoaks Kent A national ceremony takes place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London. The Queen lays the first wreath at the Cenotaph. Wreaths are layed 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. Why is the poppy a symbol of remembrance? Click here for information on World War 2     Why a poppy? Poppy Song Remembrance Poems

Harvest Festival

Harvest Festival

SEPTEMBER

This is the time of year when all the crops have been harvested. What is a Harvest Festival? Harvest Festival is a celebration of the food grown on the land. Thanksgiving ceremonies and celebrations for a successful harvest are both worldwide and very ancient. In Britain, we have given thanks for successful harvests since pagan times. We celebrate this day by singing, praying and decorating our churches with baskets of fruit and food in a festival known as 'Harvest Festival', usually during the month of September. Harvest Festival reminds Christians of all the good things God gives them. This makes them want to share with others who are not so fortunate. In schools and in Churches, people bring food from home to a Harvest Festival Service. After the service, the food that has been put on display is usually made into parcels and given to people in need. When is Harvest Festival? Harvest festivals are traditionally held on or near the Sunday of the Harvest Moon. Unlike the USA and Canada, the UK does not have a national holiday for Harvest Festival.

ST Patrick's Day

             This video is about the history of St Patricks and explains some Irish customs and traditions.

Guy Fawkes

Guy Fawkes’ Night (Bonfire Night): Guy Fawkes is Britain’s most famous terrorist. On 5 November 1605, Guy Fawkes planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament and the King of England, James I. The plot was discovered and Guy Fawkes was hanged. Every year on 5 November, people celebrate by setting off fireworks. They also make models of Guy Fawkes

 and burn them on big bonfires.