There are many holidays and events in the UK  for you to get involved with. Some of these fall on specific dates whilst others fall at some point in a certain month. Here are some of the celebrations which you probably haven’t heard about before.

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FEBRUARY – SHROVE TUESDAY OR ‘PANCAKE DAY’

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   Shrove Tuesday, more commonly known as Pancake Day, falls the day before Lent begins.  Lent is the traditional Christian period of fasting which begins 40 days before Easter and ends on Easter Sunday. Nowadays, not many Christians fast, instead preferring to give something up for Lent such as chocolate. Because fasting meant that lots of food would spoil during this period, traditionally people would use up their eggs, milk and sugar by making pancakes.  Nowadays, even if people are not fasting, many people still make and eat pancakes on this day. Some people enjoy sweet topping such as sugar and lemon or Nutella. Other people prefer savoury pancakes.

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JUNE – THE QUEEN’S OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY

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   The Queen’s real birthday is on the 21st of April however it has been a tradition since 1748 for the state to celebrate the king or queen’s birthday in June.  This is because in June there is more likely to be nicer weather, so the Queen can celebrate her birthday with civilians in a more comfortable climate.  A military parade known as Trooping the Colour is held in London and is attended by the Royal Family.

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5TH NOVEMBER – BONFIRE NIGHT

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   In Britain, Bonfire Night is associated with the tradition of celebrating Guy Fawkes’ failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5th November 1605. It is an annual event dedicated to bonfires, fireworks and celebrations. Different traditions celebrate Bonfire Night on different days. Some of the most popular instances include Great Britain’s Guy Fawkes Night, which is also celebrated in some Commonwealth countries. Throughout the UK there are various bonfires and firework displays.

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1TH NOVEMBER – REMEMBRANCE DAY

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   Every year in the UK on 11th November we honour members of the armed forces who lost their lives in battle. In the weeks leading up to 11th November , The Royal British Legion charity sell paper poppy flowers to raise funds for veterans and their families (the poppy is a symbol of Remembrance Day). It is customary to observe a two-minute silence at 11am.

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