FESTIVALS AND HOLYDAYS IN BRITAIN All Year Round British Folklore, Legends and Superstitions Traditionally 24th September was the day on which harvesting began in medieval England. Harvest Festival - Harvest Festival is a celebration of the food grown on the land. - Harvest Festival reminds Christians of all the good things God gives them. Many festivals and holidays in Britain are centuries old. Every town, village and hamlet in Britain has its own traditions Calendar of British Holidays in the UK 2009 - 2010 January • 1st New Year's Day • 5th Twefth Night February 1st Candlemas Day 14th Valentine's Day March 1st St David's Day (Wales National Day) 17th St. Patrick's Day (Ireland's Special Day) March/April • Shrove Tuesday • Lent • Mothering Sunday • Maundy Thursday • Easter April • 1st April Fool's Day • 23rd St George's Day (England's National Day) May 1st May Day June Trooping the Colours Wimbledon Tennis Tournament July Swan Upping August Notting Hill Carnival September Harvest Festival October 31st Halloween November 5th Bonfire Night 11th Remembrance Day 30th St Andrew's Day (Scotland's National Day) December Advent 25th Christmas 26th Boxing Day Special Days Every Month Valentine's Day Who is St. Valentine? • There were many Christians names Valentine. According to the Catholic Encyclopaedia, at least three Saint Valentines are mentioned who are associated with 14 February. One is described as a priest at Rome, another as a Bishop of Interamna (now Terni in Italy) and the other lived and died in Africa. • The Valentine that most experts believe is the actual one remembered on St. Valentine's Day was a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. What happens on Valentines day in Britain? • Each year in Britain, we spend around £503m on cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts for Valentine's Day. Traditionally these were sent anonymously, but nowadays we often make it clear who is sending each 'Valentine'. Valentine's Day (Saint Valentine's Day) is an occasion celebrated on February 14. It is the traditional day on which people express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. Calendar of unusual Customs and Traditions in England, Scotland and Wales Mummers Play The Horn Dance Well Dressing Religious festivals Many religious festivals occur at different times each year. This is because most religious holidays or festivals are based on a fixed date, the phases of the moon, the timing of the equinoxes and solstices or a combination of the two. 6 January Hana Matsuri - the Flower Festival (Buddhist) Buddha Shakyamuni's birthday. Celebrated with a flower festival. Buddha was born on the eighth day of the fourth month of the traditional Chinese calendar, and although this date will vary on the international calendar, the Japanese have translated the date to 8 April. 8 April Epiphany (Christian) The twelfth day of Christmas, celebrates the visit of the wise men, or magi, to the baby Jesus.