We have learned that people all over the world celebrate holidays with traditions, ceremonies, festivals, and special events.  Sometimes these holidays are similar to those we celebrate in the United States.  Other celebrations are very different from ours.  It would be fun to travel around the world and participate in these special days in faraway lands.  Let's visit the country of England and join in some of their holiday celebrations.

Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night)

Guy (Guido)  Fawkes and his gang of conspirators plot to kill the king

On the 5th of November, the English celebrate Guy Fawkes Night.  Guy Fawkes was not a hero, however.  In fact, Guy Fawkes is one of the most famous traitors is English history.  In the year 1605, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up King James and the Parliament building with barrels of gunpowder.  Thankfully, his plan was stopped when one of his helpers warned the king.

Today in England, people remember this famous night by lighting huge bonfires and fireworks displays.  Guy Fawkes Night also has another tradition.  Children make ugly dummies, called "guys," out of old clothes stuffed with newspaper.  They carry them through the streets and throw them in the bonfire!

Boxing Day

The English celebrate Boxing Day on December 26th, the day after Christmas.  Boxing Day is a day to spend with the family, "boxing" up old clothes and other items to give to needy people.  People also give money to their favorite charity on Boxing Day.  On this day, gifts are also given to people such as the delivery workers and shop clerks, who provide services throughout the year.

Many countries celebrate Boxing Day.  The tradition perhaps dates back hundreds of years.  It started when members of the church would leave boxes of gifts, food, and alms for the poor.

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday always occurs the day before Good Friday of the Easter holiday.  This is a religious holiday when Christians in many countries remember the Last Supper of Jesus.  In England, much like Boxing Day, Maundy Thursday is a time to help the poor. 

There is a special tradition that takes place on Maundy Thursday, in England.  The Queen of England attends a special ceremony at a certain church, somewhere in England.  During the ceremony, the Queen hands out coins called "Maundy money" that are made especially for the poor.  Food and clothing are also given to the poor in churches all over England on Maundy Thursday.

Armistice Day
(Remembrance Sunday)

Armistice Day always takes place on the Sunday closest to November 11th.  This holiday is much like our Veterans Day and Memorial Day, here in the United States.  On Armistice Day, the people of England honor those who have died in the world wars.

There are special traditions that happen on Armistice Day.  At 11:00 A.M. everybody joins together in two minutes of silence.  During this time, people think about those who have died fighting for their country of England.  In another tradition, the Queen leads a procession through the streets.  People also visit memorials to remember those who lost their lives in the wars.  Armistice Day is also called Remembrance Sunday.

Christmas

The people of England celebrate Christmas, just as we do in the United States. However, there are a few small differences.  For example, instead of receiving gifts from Santa Claus, the children are visited by Father Christmas.

Christmas in England is a special time for family, just as it is for us.  The English share many of the same traditions as we do.  They decorate their homes with holly and ivy, and hang mistletoes and stockings.  The traditional Christmas Day meal is roast turkey with plum pudding.  We must remember however, that the real reason we have Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  Children in England sometimes forget this as well!

The Trooping of the Colors
(The Queen's Birthday)

The Trooping of the Colors occurs on the second Saturday in June.   This is the day when the English celebrate the Queen's birthday.  There is a colorful parade where the Queen's soldiers march by on horseback to honor her.  The festival is watched on television by millions of people in England.

We would certainly have fun visiting England
and celebrating their holidays along with our English friends.

photographs used with permission from http://walking.about.com, http://www.pics4learning.com
and http://www.freefoto.com

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