Traditions and Holidays of the UK

It may seem surprising but the British have fewer holidays than many other countries. Some of them are named Bank Holidays due to the fact that on those days banks are closed. The particular dates of the bank holidays are fixed annually.

New Year's Day is a bank holiday though many Britons do not celebrate New Year’s Eve. The Christmas tree is an annual gift from Norway. That Daypeople traditionally take a shower in the fountains in Trafalgar Square! In Scotland New Year is a occation for joyous celebration.

On February 14, St. Valentine's Day, many people send a card to the one they love or someone whom they have fallen in love with. People usually do not sign these cards and a lot of time is spent trying to guess who has sent them!

Easter

At Easter time, the British celebrate the idea of new birth by giving each other chocolate Easter eggs which are opened and eaten on Easter Sunday. On Good Friday bakers sell hot cross buns, which are toasted and eaten with butter. Easter Monday is a holiday and many people travel to the seaside for the day or go and watch one of the many sporting events, such as football or horse-racing.

May is here

As summer comes, Britain likes to celebrate the end of the harsh winter months on May, 1 welcoming the beginning of Summer, and optimistically look forward to the bright and productive months. At school children may dance traditional spring dances such as the Maypole, when they weave their brightly coloured scarves into a beautiful pattern around a long pole.