An integral part of the culture of any state is its holidays. Particularly indicative are the holidays of Great Britain, because in them the cultural features of all four territorial units - England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland - are intertwined and simultaneously pronounced.
State and national holidays of Great Britain
UK residents have eight public holidays, which are also non-working days: Christmas (December 25-26), New Year's Day (January 1), Good Friday, Easter, Early May holiday (first Monday in May), Spring state holiday Monday May) or the Spring Festival and Summer State Holiday (last Monday in August).
In view of the fact that the UK is a unitary state, the countries that make up it additionally celebrate their state holidays, which can be called national. So in Northern Ireland, state holidays (and, hence, weekends) are St. Patrick's Day, the patron saint of Ireland (March 17), and the anniversary of the Battle on the Boyne River (July 12). In Scotland, such a national holiday is St. Andrew's Day (November 30), for Wales - it's St. David's Day (March 1), and for England - St. George's Day (George), which is celebrated on April 23.
Among other national holidays in Great Britain, it is also worth noting Mother's Day (March 6) and the birthday of the now-living Queen Elizabeth II (April 21). Interestingly, the Queen's Birthday in the UK is celebrated twice a year - on the actual birthday and on the official birthday of the monarch, who falls on one of the Saturdays of June. This tradition was established by King Edward VII at the beginning of the last century. He was born in early November, but he always wanted to celebrate his birthday with a large crowd of people and with good weather. Well, as they say, then he is a king, to celebrate his birth when he pleases.
In addition, far beyond its borders, Great Britain is also known for its bright traditional festivals and festivals: for England it is Guy Fawkes Day (November 5), which is considered one of the most noisy holidays; grandiose scale is characterized by the traditional Scottish holiday of Hogmanai (December 31), when great fire shows are held in the streets of big and small cities, since fire is the main symbol of Hogmanaya (New Year for Scots).
Traditionally in Great Britain celebrate the Day of Remembrance (November 11, the end of the First World War). Annually (the last week of June and the first week of July) there is a tennis Wimbledon tournament, which has 120-year traditions and even secrets (for example, production and storage of special grass cover for courts). At the same time in the beginning of July there is a festival in honor of the Lady Godiva. August 5, the famous Edinburgh (Scotland) Arts Festival "Fridge" is held, and at the end of summer - no less famous beer festival in Peterborough.
National holidays of Great Britain
In addition to nationwide and national holidays, there are many people's holidays in Great Britain. First of all, it is, of course, All Saints Day (November 1), which is better known as Halloween. On the second day of the Catholic Christmas (December 26), St. Stephen's Day is celebrated. April 1 is a fun day of jokes and jokes, and at the end of April, the whiskey festival, which is loved by many, is held.
Interesting and unusual holidays in the UK
Fans of colorful events can visit the unusual sweep festival in Rochester (early May) or visit the Apple's Day in October and try to break the record (52 meters 51 centimeters, entered in the Guinness book of records) by cutting the longest strip of peel from this fruit.