British Holidays
What does the word Halloween mean? When is it celebrated?
All Hallows' or All Saints' Day; the 31st of October
What is the song called British people sing around the Christmas tree on New Year's Eve? Who is the author of this song?
Auld Lang Syne; Robert Burns - the Scottish national poet
What day is celebrated on the nearest Sunday to the 11th November? Give 2 names for it? What do they actually celebrate?
Remembrance Day or Poppy Day; they commemorate the soldiers who got killed in the I World War, 11th November was the last day of the war.
What holiday is observed on 5th November? Give 2 names for it. What does this holiday commemorate?
Guy Fawkes Day or Bonfire Night; It commemorates Gunpowder Plot when the plotters wanted to blow up the Houses of Parliament bacause they wanted to get rid of the Protestant King James I
What and where is the Cenotaph? What happens there and why?
It's a war memorial in London in Whitehall. There is an official ceremony of laying the wreaths of poppies attended by the royal family to conmemorate the dead of the 1st WW.
What is the 1st of May called? Name a village tradition.
Mayday, maypole dancing
When is Boxing Day? Where did it get its name from?
On the 26th December; it was the day when servants and regular tradesmen were given Christmas boxes or gifts
When is Burns' Night? Whose special day is it? What do they traditionally eat? What other traditional activites are there?
25th January, it is a Scottish holiday, they eat haggis and tatties and neeps; recite the poems of Robert Burns and play the bagpipes
What is first footing? Which UK nationality celebrates it? What should you take? Who are first footers?
It is a Scottish radition of visiting your friends after midnight on New Year's Eve; A piece of coal, salt, whisky and shortbread; they are the first visitors; it is especially lucky if a tall and dark man visits you first; it makes the coming year a happy one
When can you hear and see carol singing and nativity plays? What are they?
They are both Christmas performances; Carol singing is that of traditional Christmas songy, nn nativity plays children act out the stories of Christ's birth.
Whose special day of celebration is the 17th March? Why theirs?
The Irish, it is St Patrick's day - national saint, wearing green, marches
Name 3 main evergreen plants that the British decorate their houses with for Xmas? Translate them. One has a special tradition attached, what is it?
holly - magyal, krisztustövis ; mistletoe - fagyöngy and ivy - borostyán