Public holydays in Great Britain
There are only six public holidays a year in Great
Britain, that is days on which people need not go in to work. They
are: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Spring
Bank Holiday and Late Summer Bank Holiday.
In Scotland, the New Years Day is also a public
holiday. Most of these holidays are of religious origin, though it
would be right to say that for the greater part of the population
they have long lost their religious significance and simply days on
which people relax, eat, drink and make merry.
All the public holidays, except Christmas Day and
Boxing Day observed on December 25th and 26th respectively, are
movable, that is they do not fall on the same day each year. Good
Friday and Easter Monday depend on Easter Sunday which falls on the
first Sunday after a full moon on or after March 21st. The Spring
Bank Holiday falls on the last Monday of May or on the first Monday
of June, while the Late Summer Bank Holiday comes on the last
Monday in August or on the first Monday in September, depending on
which of the Mondays is nearer to June 1st and September 1st
respectively.
Besides public holidays, there are other holidays,
anniversaries and simply days, for example Pancake Day and Bonfire
Night, on which certain traditions are observed, but unless they
fall on a Sunday, they are ordinary working days.
NEW YEAR IN ENGLAND
In England the New Year is not as widely or as
enthusiastically observed as Christmas. Some people ignore it
completely and go to bed at the time as usual on New Years Eve.
Many others, however, do celebrate it in one way or another, the
type of celebration varying much according to the local custom,
family tradition and personal taste.
The most common type of celebration is a New Year
party, either a family party or one arranged by a group of young
people. This usually begins at about eight oclock and goes on until
the early hours of the morning. There is a lot of drinking, mainly
beer, wine, gin and whisky; sometimes the hosts make a big bowl of
punch which consists of wine, spirits, fruits juice and water in
varying proportions. There is usually a buffet supper of cold meat,
pies, sandwiches, savouries (a lovely dish of light food with a
pleasant, served at the start or end of a meal), cakes and
biscuits. At midnight the wireless is turned on, so that everyone
can hear the chimes of Big Ben ( you know, its the bell in the
clock tower of the Houses of Parliament) and on the hour a toast is
drunk to the New Year. Then the party goes on...
Another popular way of celebrating the New Year is
to go to a New Years dance. Most hotels and dance halls hold a
special dance on New Years Eve. The hall is decorated, there are
several different bands the atmosphere is very gay.
The most famous celebration is in London round the
statue of Eros in Piccadilly Circus where crowds gather and sing
and welcome New Year. In Trafalgar there is also a big crowd and
someone usually falls into the fountain.
January 1st, New Years Day, is not a public
holiday, unfortunately for those who like to celebrate most of the
night. Some people send New Year card and give presents but this is
not a widespread custom. This is the traditional time for making
"New Year resolutions", for example, to give up smoking, or to do
morning exercises and etc. However, these are generally more talked
about than put into practice.
THE NIGHT OF HOGMANAY
Nowhere else in Britain is the arrival of the New
Year celebrated so wholeheartedly as in Scotland.
Throughout Scotland, the preparations for greeting
the New Year start with a minor "spring-cleaning". Brass and silver
must be glittering and fresh linen must be put on the beds. No
routine work may be left unfinished; stockings must be darned,
tears mended, clocks wound up, musical instruments turned, and
pictures hung straight. In addition, all outstanding bills are
paid, overdue letters written and borrowed books returned. At
least, that is the idea!
Most important of all, there must be plenty of
good things to eat. Innumerable homes "reek of a celestial grocery"
- plum puddings and currant buns, spices and cordials, apples and
lemons, tangerines and toffee. In mansion and farmhouse, in
suburban villa and city tenement, the table is spread with festive
fare. Essential to Hogmanay are "cakes and kebbuck" (oatcakes and
cheese), shortbread and either black bun or currant loaf. These are
flanked with bottles of wine and the "mountain dew" that is the
poetic name of whisky.
In the cities and burghs, the New Year receives a
communal welcome, the traditional gathering-place being the Mercat
Cross, the hub and symbol of the old burgh life. In Edinburgh,
however, the crowd has slid a few yards down the hill from the
Mercat Cross to the Tron Kirk - being lured thither, no doubt, by
the four-faced clock in the tower. As the night advances, Princes
Street, the main street in Edinburgh, becomes as thronged as it
normally is at noon, and there is growing excitement in the air.
Towards midnight, all steps turn to the Tron Kirk, where a lively,
swaying crowd awaits "the Chapplin othe Twal" (the striking of the
12 oclock). As the hand of the clock in the tower approach the
hour, a hush falls on the waiting throng, the atmosphere grows
tense, and then suddenly there comes a roar from a myriad throats.
The bells peal forth, the sirens scream - the New Year is
born!
Many families prefer to bring in the New Year at
home, with music or dancing, cards or talk. As the evening
advances, the fire is piled high - for the brighter the fire, the
bitter the luck. The members of the household seat themselves round
the hearth, and when the hands of the clock approach the hour, the
head of the house rises, goes to the main door, opens it wide, and
holds it thus until the last stroke of midnight has died away. Then
he shuts it quietly and returns to the family circle. He has let
the Old Year out and the New Year in. Now greetings and small gifts
are exchanged, glasses are filled - and already the First-Footers
are at the door.
The First-Footer, on crossing the threshold,
greets the family with "A Gude New Year to ane and a!" (Sc. A good
New Year to one and all!) or simply "A Happy New Year!", and pours
out a glass from the flask he carries. This must be drunk to the
dregs by the head of the house, who, in turn, pours out a glass for
each of his visitors. The glass handed to the First-Footer himself
must also be drunk to the dregs. A popular toast is:
"Your good health!"
The First-Footer must take something to eat as
well as to drink, and after an exchange of greetings they go off
again on their rounds.
TAR - BARREL BURNING
The custom of men welcoming in the New Year by
carrying pans of blazing tar on their heads is still kept up at
Allendale, Northumberland, on New Years Eve. Each of the
"carriers", in fancy costume, balances on his head the end of a
barrel (or "kit") filled with inflammable material. The procession
is timed to reach the unlit bonfire shortly before midnight, then
each man in turn tosses his flaming "headgear" on to the bonfire,
setting it ablaze. On the stroke of twelve, all join hands and
dance around the fire, singing Auld Lang Syne (Sc. The days of long
ago). The song by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), Scotlands national
poet.
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to min?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
Chorus - For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
Well talk a cup okindness yet
For auld lang syne.
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through
the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a
mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with
care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be
there;
The children were nestled all snug in their
beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their
heads;
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winters nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a
clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the
matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should
appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny
reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and
quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they
came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by
name;
"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and
Vixen!
On, Comet! On Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the
wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane
fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the
sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they
flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas
too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a
bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his
foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and
soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his
pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how
merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a
cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a
bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the
snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his
teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a
wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of
jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old
elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of
myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his
work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a
jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a
whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a
thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of
sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a
good-night."
flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and
the glory of the Lord shone round about
them; and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for,
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David
a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find
the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a
manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace,
good will toward men.