Festivals, traditions, holidays
United Kingdom
-British-conservative ( still traditional system of weights and measures, drive on the left, uniforms, democracy, monarchy-part of government ) -proud of isles-give them security ( English channel separates them from the “Continent”) -fond of pets, children, mania for tea
New Year’s Day- 1st January -people take shower in the fountains of Trafalgar Square -titles and decorations are conferred by the sovereign -New Year’s resolutions -celebrating -superstitions (eating lens or pork brings money and welfare, braking the glass means bad luck in the following years)
St. Valentine’s Day- 14th February -also called Lover’s day, Sweat-heart’s day -commemorates the Roman priest who gave aid and comfort to persecuted Christians before he was put to death -Valentines cards are sent by young people anonymously (or gifts, flowers-especially tulips) which might be serious or funny viz Friendship
St. David’s Day-1st March -patron saint of Wales, archbishop of Wales -called Dewi saint -during 6th century -he was from royal lineage: father (Sant)-prince, mother (Non)-daughter of a chieftain and probably related to the king Arthur -he was born in Non’s Chapel near today’s city of Saint Dewi -he was educated on a monastery, his teacher was a blind monk Paulinus
-he helped to spread Christianity:
made missionary travels throughout Wales, established several churches, founded monastery brotherhood- very strict, daily schedule- only to work and pray, get up early in the morning, maintain monastery, cultivate the land, bee-keeping (important) but they also helped to feed and clothe the poor ones -he is said to have drunk nothing else but water during his whole life, springs of water, reading Bible and saying a sermon in the water… -lived for more than a 100 years -“Do the little things…” Viz papiry
St. Patrick’s Day:17th March -the patron saint of Ireland -during 4/5. century -born in Wales -almost didn’t have a chance to become a bishop, as he didn’t have necessary scholarship -until he was 16 years old, he’s been a pagan -he was sold to slavery by marauders, who attacked his village => turned to God -later he escaped, moved to Gaul, where he studied on a monastery under st. Germain -he always wished to return to Ireland and there to convert the pagans to Christianity -instead of him Paladius was appointed as a bishop, but he later moved to Scotland and therefore he was able to take his place -many times he got into conflict with druids =>arrested but escaped each time -travelled throughout Ireland -he established monasteries, schools, churches -icon of the day is shamrock: Father, Son and the holy spirit = Trinity *raised people from death and drove all snakes from Ireland viz papiry
All Fools Day:1st April -custom of playing jokes and tricks on people, than shout out April Fool
Easter: April -feast of the Christian church -pre-christian tradition- intention to celebrate the spring equinox -Good Friday- Jesus crucifixion Easter Sunday- resurrection of Jesus -Easter eggs are being dyed and decorated, confectionery is given to children as a symbol of new life -celebrated on Sunday
St. George’s Day: 23rd of April -patron saint of Scotland -4th century -considered to be the man of great distinction -put to death by Roman Emperor -probably from Cppadocia, was raised in Palestine -rank of the tribune of the roman army -protested against the persecution of Christians => tortured, then beheaded, (refused to sacrifice to pagan gods), he convinced emperor’s wife by his activity, she turned to Christianity =>beheaded too -cult of exceptional bravery, defender of the poor, symbol of Christ. faith -St. G. and his white horse-> typical Christian soldier -stories- resemblance to tales of king Arthur, dragon…
Lybia- people sacrificed sheep to dragon, but soon they’ve run out of them => human sacrifices, but the beast still terrorized them. They decided to sacrifice the princes to buy off the dragon. St. George killed the dragon and sat the princess free. Dragon- represents the Satan, Princess- the Christian church
May Day: 1st May -political parties of the left hold processions and public meetings
Mother’s Day: 2nd Sunday in May -honours all mothers
Halloween: 31st October -Holy evening -more important in USA -connected with witches and ghosts -people go to parties, they dress up in strange costumes -Jack O’Lantern-made from pumpkin, cut face in the vegetable, put candles inside -playing various games -recent years- children wear white sheets, knock on the door and ask: trick or treat (if you give something, you’re nice and it means treat, so children go away, but if you don’t give anything, they play tricks on you) -Celts celebrated it as the last day of the year and the beginning of the winter -Christians celebrated it as the Eve of All Saints Day
Guy Fawkes Day: 5th November -King James was unpopular with the Roman Catholics -they decided to blow the parliament on the day James was about to open it -they stored the gun powder, which was to be exploded by the Guy Fawkes -but someone spoke about it before it happened and Guy was arrested and hanged for the rebellion -today burning of the dummy (dummy = Guy), in the evening firework show -children on the streets ask: “penny for the Guy”, they collect money for the fireworks
Remembrance Day: 11th November -ceremony in the White hall in London -2 minutes of silence for those killed in the 2 world wars
St. Andrews day: 39th November -the patron saint of Scotland -Jesus ‘s original disciple -follower of John the baptist ->of Jesus -made converts to the Christian religion -refused to worship the emperor as a god X Roman authorities => he was crucified in Greece -buried there -1. version: Emperor-he wanted to move the bones to Constantinopol, but the monk St. Regulus had a dream with an angel, who ordered him to take the bones to the end of the Earth =Scotland a chapel was built to house the bones, today it is a cathedral -2. version: Acca the bishop bought them and brought to Scotland -today the bones disappeared
-on that day: music, dancing, drinking, eating… -thistle emblem of Scotland At night Vikings X Scottish (sleeping): Viking stepped on a thistle yelled with pain => woke up the Scottish so they were able to fight
Christmas: 24th December
-derived from the words Christ’s Mass- the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ -Christian celebration, but also a combination of pagan and Christian festivities -Christmas trees were symbols of the eternal life in pre-Christian times in Northern Europe as they were evergreens, trees that remain throughout the year -Mistletoe- Christmas decoration, symbol of love and reconciliation licenses you to kiss whoever you like underneath it (origin of this custom comes from the Norse myth of Balder and Loki: Balder, the sun god, was immune to all things accept mistletoe. He was consequently killed by an arrow of a mistletoe, made by god of evil Loki. But Balder was brought back to life and mistletoe was told never to harm him again) -lighting candles at Christmas- pre-Christian roots Jewish feast Hanukkah – candles were lit Roman festival Saturnalia – fire, food and light were celebrated (to keep out or to forget the darkness of deepest winter -Holly- Christmas decoration, Christian associations In Norwegian, Swedish and Danish- known as Christ’s thorns, legend- Christ wore crown of holly thorns before his death holly X holy -giving presents and gifts – Roman saturnalia, good luck gifts were given: fruit, pastry or gold on New Year’s Day In Britain presents are given on Christmas Day (25th December), Feast of St Stephen is known as Boxing Day (26th December)- priests of Middle Ages opened alms boxes to give to the poor , later it was a custom to give to the servants and public workers to be given the boxes -first Christmas card designed an English artist , William Egley in 1842 he sent it to 100 of his friends
- Christmas food before 16th century- boar’s head, followed by a roast peacock
- Christmas trees are decorated by coloured ornaments , the room with holly and ivy a spring of mistletoe over the door
USA
-not conservative: time’s money, not so reserved not many national holidays- each state has a right to decide its own holidays -most of the holidays – Federal public holidays -many ethnic groups => their own customs and traditions -differ especially about holidays connected with religious feasts- Easter, Christmas
USA and Britain celebrate also christening, birthday and namesday
Martin Luther King’s Day: 3rd Monday in January -black leader and civil rights campaigner. He demanded racial equality. As and advocate of nonviolence he was awarded the Nobel prize in 1964. He was assassinated.
Easter- April -not a national holiday
- dyed eggs, sweets
Memorial Day: 4th Monday in May -honours all Americans killed in past wars and all the dead -flowers and flags are placed on graves -beginning of the summer season
Independence Day: 4th July -each state its own ceremony, parade -concerts and fireworks in the evening -commemorates Declaration of Independence 1776 and establishing USA
Columbus Day: 12th October -anniversary of discovery of the USA by Ch. Columbus 1492
Halloween: 31th October
Thanksgiving: 4th Thursday in November -1621 1st celebration – pilgrim settlers of Plymouth Colony on their first harvest
- story about Mayflower, puritans, no food, help of Indians => Thanks to them, invitation, corn, turkey, deer…
Christmas: 24th December -not a national holiday (British, Christianity) -invite friends…