Lecture VIII. British Customs and traditions

2.4. Halloween
On October 31^stHalloween is celebrated. This pagan festival celebrates the return of the souls of the dead who come back to visit places where they used to live. It is marked by costume balls, or fancy dress parties in the evening. People dress up as witches, ghosts, devils, cats, bats, or something scary. It is popular among children who play trick-or- treating game, and observe another custom- making jack-o’- lanterns out of pumpkins.


2.5. Easter
Easter day is named after the Saxon goddess of spring, Easterwhose feast took place at the spring equinox. Easter is now the spring feast of the Christian church, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. It falls on a Sunday between 22 March and 25 April, according to the church calendar. Traditionally Easter eggs, dyed and decorated or made of chocolate, are given as presents symbolizing new life and the coming of spring.
Egg rolling competitions take place in northern UK on Easter Monday; hard-boiled eggs are rolled down a slope, with the winner being - according to local preference - the one which rolls the furthest, survives the most rolls, or is successfully aimed between two pegs! The best-publicized event takes place at Avenham Park in Preston, Lancashire. Easter parades are also part of the Easter tradition, with those taking part wearing Easter bonnets or hats, traditionally decorated with spring flowers and ribbons.


2.6. 'Bank' Holidays
Many public holidays in the United Kingdom are known as 'bank' holidays - so called because these are days on which banks are legally closed. Most fall on a Monday. In England and Wales there are six bank holidays: New Year's Day, Easter Monday, May Day (not necessarily 1 May) It is traditionally a celebration of spring.It is now often a time for political marches and meetings connected with the Labor Party. People choose the Queen of May. They erect maypoles around which people dance. The Spring Bank Holidayusually comes on a Monday at the end of August in England and Wales. It is an occasion for gig sport meetings- mainly all kinds of athletics. There are also horse race meetings all over the country; there are large fairs with swings, roundabouts, coconut shies, bingo and other games.Besides public holidays, there are other festivals, anniversaries and simply days, on which certain traditions are observed;St. Valentine’s Day, Pancake Day, Mother’s Day, April Fool’s Day, Harvest Festival , Halloween and others. These are ordinary working days, but people observe them in one way or another. On February 14^th people celebrate St.Valentine’s Day by sending hand-made gifts and Valentines to the one they love, fancy, admire or secretly like.