Lecture VIII. British Customs and traditions

England’s National day is St. George’s Day (23 April). St. George is the patron saint of England. A story that first appeared in the 6^th century tells that St. George rescued a hapless maid by slaying a fearsome fire-breathing dragon! The saint’s name was shouted as a battle cry by English knights who fought beneath the red-cross banner of St. George during the Hundred Years War (1338-1453). Today the red cross of St. George still flies above every English parish church to mark the saint’s day.
2. Holidays of the UK
2.1. Christmas Day
The main important festival of the year is Christmas Day, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.It is probably the most exciting day of the year for most children. English children enjoy receiving presents which are traditionally put into the stocking, and have the pleasure of giving presents. Houses and public places are decorated with colored paper or holly. There is usually a Christmas tree in the corner of the front room. Christmas is usually time to be with family, to feast and merry. Many people go to church on Christmas Eve. People sendChristmas cards and wish each other “Merry/ Happy Christmas!” The traditional Christmas dinner includes a roasted turkey or a goose accompanied by potatoes,a Christmas pudding, peas and carrots. A coin or two will usually have been hidden inside the pudding, and a part of the fun is to see who finds it.An essential part of Christmas is carol singing or religious songs. No church or school is without its carol service.
2.2. Boxing Day
Boxing Day (26 December) is so-called because it takes its name from the oldest custom of giving workers an annual present in a Christmas box. Today it is the day to visit friends, go for a drive or a long walk or just sit around recovering from too much food. In the country there are usually Boxing Day Meets(hunts-fox-hunting).In the big cities and towns, tradition on that day demands a visit to the pantomime and indulging in more feasting, Boxing Day is a popular day for football matches and other sporting fixtures.


2.3. New Year
New YearEve is not a public holidayoften launched with a party called Hogmany in Scotland It is not so enthusiastically observed as Christmas in England. People celebrate the beginning of the New Year. The most common type of Celebration is a family party. At midnight everyone can hear the chimes of Big Ben and a toast is drunk to the New Year. The most famous celebrations are in London in Trafalgar Square where there is a big Christmas tree( an annual present from Norway). A big crowd is usually gathered and someone usually falls into the fountain. January 1^st is New Year’s Daywhen people make New Year’s resolutions to improve their lives