English holidays and traditions

Holidays of the UK Performed students 11-A class Silimonka Victoria and Khavikova Anna Checked by English teacher Badikova Oksana Alekseevna

Content 1. New Year, New Year's traditions…………………………………..3 2. Mother's Day………………………………………………………4 ………………………………………………………………………..5 3. Saint Patrick………………………………………………………..6 …………………………………………………………………….......7 4. Memorial Day……………………………………………………...8 ………………………………………………………………………..9 5.Queen Elizabeth II (June 13)………………………………………10 …………………………………………………………………….....11

In Great Britain, the celebration of the New Year is held on the night of December 31 to January 1. New Year is considered a less important holiday than Christmas. New Year  New Year's traditions  Since ancient times, customs have been preserved in the country, which are observed in every home today.  The first thing the owner does when the clock strikes twelve beats is opening the back door of the house. Thus, the old year is leaving, leaving behind all the troubles and problems. Next, you must open the front door to let in the new year.

Mother's Day in Great Britain Every year on the fourth Sunday of Great Lent in Great Britain Mother's Day is celebrated. Mother's Day Its roots go back to Victorian times, when children at a fairly early age worked away from home, and the money they earned was sent to the family budget. Then one day a year, children were allowed to spend at home with their parents. Usually they brought small gifts to mothers and grandmothers - bunches of flowers or fresh eggs.

The festive atmosphere of this day was given by a special cake, called the "mother cake"  simnel cake, decorated with 12 marzipan balls.  The tradition of 12 balls began in pre-Christian times, they symbolize the 12 signs of the zodiac.

Saint Patrick is one of the most revered saints in the whole world. The Western Church celebrates the day of his memory on March 17, in a number of Orthodox Churches his memory is honored on March 30 in a new style. St. Patrick, according to legend, brought Christianity to a pagan island and expelled all the snakes. In honor of St. Patrick, a parade is arranged with songs and dances, Irish beer flows like water. Saint Patrick Many legends are associated with the name of St. Patrick, for example, that with the help of three-leaf clover he explained the concept of the Holy Trinity to people. “Just as three leaves can grow from one stem, so God can be one in three persons,” this phrase of the saint has already become a textbook.

Today, St. Patrick's Day is a celebration of spring and joy, which is celebrated not only in Ireland, Great Britain, but also far beyond them. Patrick's Day) is a historic Irish holiday with British roots. In different cities of the world - in New York, Buenos Aires, Melbourne, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated.

Memorial Day Memorial Day was created to commemorate the fallen in the Great War (at that time the world could not even imagine that World War II would have to be survived). It is believed that the armistice agreement that ended World War I was signed on November 11, 1918, at 11:00. As they said, "And at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we will remember them. In London, to commemorate the first anniversary of the Armistice, a monument was created, the Cenotaphs on Whitehall Street. Cenotephic in Greek literally means Empty Grave. In 1919 it was made of wood. The degree of public enthusiasm for the new monument was so great that it was decided to make it a major war memorial. In 1920, the Cenotaph, designed by Edwin Lutyens, built of Portland stone, was discovered by King George. The inscription on it reads "Glory to the Fallen."

The first two-minute silence in Great Britain was held on November 11, 1919, when King George V asked the people to think about the fallen heroes during those moments. Silence begins at the time of the Big Ben clock at 11-00 and ends with artillery salute from guns located in neighboring parks. Although only BBC1 has the right to show the solemn ceremony, other television and radio channels also turn off the broadcast for these 2 minutes. Manufacturing, offices, shops and even public transport stop. The ceremony ends with a march of war veterans. The red poppy, a symbol of the Armistice Day, which the British wear in November, not only reminds of the fallen, but also serves as financial support for warriors affected by modern conflicts.

The queen was born on April 21, 1926, however, according to tradition, official events are held on the second Saturday of June. This tradition was established at the beginning of the twentieth century by the British king Edward the Seventh. He was born in late autumn, but he wanted to celebrate his birthday in the summer, in good weather, and with a large gathering of people. On this day, a ceremonial parade is held at the residence of the British kings at Whitehall. The main content of the ceremony - the removal of the banner or, as it is also called, the solemn divorce of the guard with the removal of the banner. Towards the monarch endure the banner of the Guards regiment, which is guard duty in Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth II (June 13)

For nearly half a century of the reign of Elizabeth II, the solemn parade was canceled only once - in 1955 due to the strike of railway workers