Holidays

St. Valentine's Day is celebrated on the 14th February. It is a holiday of lovers. The people send Valentine's cards each other. Easter. The date is every year different. However, Easter comes on the first weekend after the full moon in spring (in April).

Easter is celebrated in the rest of Europe. It's an ancient symbol of spring and new life. Children get eggs and chocolate. The girls aren't beaten. In June (the second Saturday) Trooping the Colour takes place = Queen's official birthday celebration. The ceremony consists of music and marching (pochodování).

Halloween is a night of traditional fun and games in October. Children use light pumpkins and they look like ghosts. These pagan (pohanský) traditions mark (označují) the beginning of winter.

November 5th is Guy Fawkes Night = Bonfire Night (táborak) and it's only the time of the year that British have fireworks (ohňostroj). It takes its name from G. F. who was executed in the 17th century trying to blow up Parliament. The Guy is a symbol of bonfire night. He is made of straw and old clothes. The children take him in the street and ask people for many then they fire him. December 25th is very exciting for many British children because is Christmas. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. On 24th children hang a stocking (punčocha) at the end of the bed. It's a Christmas Eve.

In the morning - 25th - they usually find lot of presents from Father Christmas' Santa Claus. At noon they have their traditional Christmas dinner - roast turkey and Christmas pudding. People sing carols and songs during Christmas time and the New Year's Eve. There are many Christmas habits in G.B. The people decorate Christmas tree, buy mistletoe (jmeli), and hang it on the walls.

In London people go to the Trafalgar Square where there's a singing and dancing celebration. A high and huge tree stands there. English have family parties. The next day is called New Year's day and young people usually visit each other.