List of British Holidays and CelebrationsBy Holiday Girl

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There are many kinds of celebrations in Britain - from royal to religious and from traditional to

more modern. This great country has been around for almost 1,000 years and has had

influences before that, all helping to make rich and vibrant celebrations that many enjoy every

year. 

New Year's Day - January 1

Celebrates the new year by having a first footer step over the threshold.

Twelfth Night - January 5

Celebrated the night before Epiphany, it is tradition to take down your Christmas tree to avoid

having bad luck.

Candlemas Day - February 2

This day marks the middle of the winter season - from the shortest day of the year to the

Spring Equinox. This day also celebrates the cleansing of Mary.

Valentine's Day - February 14

This day is celebrated with the giving of gifts, as well as writing verses of love in newspapers

and magazines for your special someone. 

St. David's Day (Wales) - March 1

St. David's day is to celebrate the man, Dewi Sant, who spread Christianity throughout Wales. 

St. Patrick's Day - March 17

Though this is an Irish holiday, the English will also celebrate with parades and parties. 

Pancake Day

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) - Day Before Lent - March/April

Many celebrate this day by eating pancakes, as the contain many ingredients that are

inappropriate for lent. 

Lent - March/April

The first day of lent is 40 days before Easter. Many people give up something they enjoy

during lent. 

Mothering Sunday - 4th Sunday of Lent - March/April

Mothering Sunday is a day where children generally honor their mothers by giving them a gift

and a card.  

Maundy Thursday - Thursday Before Easter - March/April

Remembered as the day Jesus had his last supper. 

Easter - March/April

Many people go to church on this sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. This day is

also celebrated by the giving of eggs.

April Fool's Day - April 1

Much like other countries with this holiday, it is a day where people play practical jokes on

each other. 

St. George's Day (England's National Day) - April 23

Celebrating with parades, some people celebrate St. George who is said to have defeated a

dragon.

May Day - May 1

This day is celebrated beautifully with may poles and flowers.

Trooping the Colour

Trooping the Colours - Sometime in June

Trooping the Colours is celebrated every year with the British Army and the regiments of the

Commonwealth performing a ceremony.

Wimbledon Tennis Tournament - Sometime in June

People attend the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament. 

Swan Upping - Third Week of July

Many celebrate this day by going to the River Thames and watching a procession of swans

and traditional boats. 

Notting Hill Carnival - Last Monday in August

On this day, there is a street festival that millions go to see and participate in every year. 

Harvest Festival - On or Near the Sunday of the Harvest Moon

A day to celebrate the growth of crops on the land.

Halloween - October 31

A day where people dress up, bob for apples and have bonfires.

Burning Guy Fawkes

Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Day) - November 5

This day is in celebration of the failed gunpowder attempt to blow up the house of Parliament in

1605. It is celebrated with fireworks at night. 

Remembrance Day - November 11

This day recognizes the end of WWI. Many people wear a poppy in their pocket in

remembrance. 

St. Andrew's Day - November 30

This is the celebrated national day of Scotland. 

Advent - December 1-24

On the first 24 days of December, Advent celebrates the coming of Jesus.

Christmas - December 25

This day is celebrated by friends and family by giving gifts and going to a special Sunday

service at church. 

Boxing Day - December 26

Traditionally, this is the day that servants were able to celebrate Christmas, as they were serving their masters the day before.

British Special Days January 2013

Holidays in the UK 

Facts and Sayings about January | Interactive Calendars

when is .... what date is .... what happens on ..... the date of ... whats on 20010 in the UK

HogmanayNew year celebrations in Scotland.

New Years Day info

1 Jan

New Years Day Bank Holiday / Public HolidayExtra day when New Years Days falls at a weekend.

1 Jan

The New Year's Day Parade London

More than 10,000 dancers, acrobats, cheerleaders, musicians and performers assemble in the heart of the city for a "celebration of nations." Starting as Big Ben strikes 12 Noon, the Parade takes the following route:Parliament Square, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Pall Mall, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus and then up to the junction of Berkeley Street on Piccadilly.

1 Jan

Bank Holiday (Scotland Only) 2 Jan

Handsel MondayThe first Monday of the new year, when handsels or presents were given to servants, children, etc. Now replaced by Boxing Day.

7 Jan

Twelfth Night (Christian) Christian observance of the close of Christmastide. Christmas decorations are taken down on 5th January (Twelfth Night)

5 Jan

Epiphany (Twelfth Day) (Christian Festival)The Epiphany honours the arrival of the Magi (three wise men) and the first public presentation of the Baby Jesus.

6 Jan

Twelfth Night Celebrations LondonTwelfth Night is an annual seasonal celebration held on the Bankside by Shakespeare's Globe, in London. It is a celebration of the New Year, mixing ancient Midwinter seasonal customs with contemporary festivitywww.thelionspart.co.uk

 

Chinese New YearThis is the first day in the Year of the dragon. Kung Hei Fat Choy means Happy New Year in Chinese language. Chinese New Year is popularly called theSpring Festival, and the festivities last for 15 days. It is also referred to as the lunar new year because it starts with the new moon on the first day of the new year and ends with the full moon 15 days later. 

10 FebSnake

Plough Monday Plough Monday traditionally marked the beginning of the new agricultural year.

7 Jan

Straw Bear FestivalAt Whittlesey, on the weekend following Plough Monday the first Monday after Twelfth Night, a straw bear is paraded around the town attended by a host of dancers and musician from all over the country. The bear is a man covered from head to foot in a straw costume which

weighs 30 kg!

 

London International Mime FestivalThe London International Mime Festival, founded in 1977, is the largest event of its kind in the world. Artists perform in a number of venues across the capital including the South Bank Centre, Royal Opera House and the ICA, attracting an annual audience of around 16,000 people.

 

Burn's Night The birthday of Scotland's most famous poet, Robert Burns (1759-1796), celebrated with great festivity by the Scots. Burns Suppers are traditional celebrations on this day.

25 Jan

St. Dwynwen's Day - Welsh patron saint of loversSt Dwynwen's day is celebrated in Wales and commemorates the patron saint of friendship and love.

25 Jan

St David's Day (Patron Saint of Wales)Celebrated in Wales in honour of Dewi Sant or St David, the patron saint of Wales. Many Welsh people wear a daffodil which is a national emblem of Wales.

1 Mar

St Piran's Day CornwallAll over Cornwall celebrations are staged for St Piran's Day.

5 Mar

Commonwealth DayPeople use the day to promote understanding about global issues, international co-operation and the work of the modern Commonwealth. Each year there is a different theme. The Queen will attend a special service in Westminster Abbey.

11 Mar

CruftsA famous annual British dog show which started in 1928. It is held at the NEC in Birmingham. The "Best in Show" award is presented on the final day (Sunday).

 

St Patrick's Day ( Patron Saint of Ireland)The church festival of St. Patrick, is regarded as national day in Northern Ireland.

17 Mar

Mothers Day / Mothering Sunday (3 weeks before Easter) A time for people living in the UK to think about their mothers. People often give flowers or chocolates or organise a special day out for their mothers at this time, and send a special "Mother's Day" card.

10 March

Simnel SundayThe fourth Sunday in Lent when

10 March

Simnel cakes are eaten.

Spring begins 'Vernal (or spring) equinox' and happens around 21 March.Around March 20 or 21, the sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night are nearly equal in all parts of the world.

20 Mar

British Summer Time Begins (daylight savings = clocks go forward 1 hour)

24 Mar

April Fool's DayA day of jokes and tricks. You have to play the joke before 12 o’clock midday, otherwise the joke is on you.

1 Apr

Palm Sunday ( Christian Festival)Christian celebration of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The day begins Holy Week. It is observed by worship celebrations and parades using palm branches.

24 Apr

Queen's Birthday (actual date and a private celebration) It is traditional for soldiers to fire cannons to celebrate royal birthdays or other national events. The Queen has an "official" birthday in June which is marked by the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

21 Apr

St George's Day (Patron Saint of England)

23 Apr

It is the church festival of St. George, regarded as England’s national day (although not an official bank holiday). On this day some patriotic English people wear a rose pinned to their jackets.

May DayTraditional English May Day celebrations include Morris dancing, crowning a May Queen and dancing around a Maypole.

1 May

Well Dressing - DerbyshireWells are dressed with large framed panels decorated with elaborate mosaic-like pictures made of flower petals, seeds, grasses, leaves,

tree bark, berries and moss.

May -Sept

Early May Bank Holiday (Bank Holiday / Public Holiday)

6 May

Rochester Sweeps Festival 4 - 6 May

The Rochester Sweeps festival celebrates the traditional May Day holiday that chimney sweeps used to enjoy.

Ascension Day (Christian Festival) Christian recognition of the departure of Jesus from earth after the resurrection.

 

Pentecost\ Whitsuntide (Christian Festival) Christian observation of the day when the God the Holy Spirit came to the disciples in the forms of tongues of fire and rushing wind. It is a traditional day for baptism and confirmation of new Christians.

19 May

Empire DayEstablished after the South African War, and held on Queen Victoria's birthday, 24 May, it was replaced byCommonwealth Day in 1958.

24 May

Oak Apple Day (Pinch-Bum Day)Also known as Royal Oak Day, 29 May, the bithday of Charles II (who is said to hav hidden in an oak tree after his defeat at Worcester) and the day he entered London at the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy

Well Dressing - DerbyshireWells are dressed with large framed panels decorated with elaborate mosaic-like pictures made of flower petals, seeds, grasses, leaves, tree bark, berries

and moss.

May -Sept

Coronation Day: gun saluteGun salute to mark the anniversary of the day when the Queen was crowned (in 1953). A 41-gun salute at 12 noon fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park, London

2 Jun

Spring Bank Holiday(UK- Whit Monday) (Bank Holiday / Public Holiday)

27 May

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Bank HolidayAn extra bank holiday added on 5 June to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee 

 

The Queen's Official birthday (varies each year in June)

Trooping the Colour   (Royal Tradition)

The Queen's official birthday celebrations.

 

Royal AscotAscot Racecourse was founded by Queen Anne in 1711. Each day begins with the Royal Procession - the arrival of The Queen and the Royal party in horse-drawn landaus. The Royal Procession dates back to the 1820s and the reign of King George IV

 

Father's Day (3rd Sunday of June) 16 Jun

Summer Solstice (Northern Hemisphere)The longest day of the year, when the Sun is at its most northern point in the sky. Due to Britain's northern location, the sun rises around 4:30 a.m. and doesn't set until 9:30 p.m. on this day.

21 Jun

Wimbledon Tennis ChampionshipsOne of the four great world tennis championships and the only one which is played on grass.

24 June - 7 July

Midsummer's Day Jun 24

Henley Royal RegattaThe River Thames and the town of Henley on Thames are transformed into one large sporting and social arena where the world's best rowers compete. 

 

Well Dressing - DerbyshireWells are dressed with large framed panels decorated with elaborate mosaic-like pictures made of flower petals, seeds, grasses, leaves, tree bark, berries and moss.

May -Sept

Henley Royal RegattaThe River Thames and the town of Henley on Thames are transformed into one large sporting and social arena where the world's best rowers compete. 

 

Tynwald DayTynwald Day is the national holiday of the Isle of Man (Isle of Man: One of the British Isles in the Irish Sea).

5 July

Orange Men's Day (Northern Ireland)Protestant Irish march with drums and pipes to commemorate the Battle of Boyne, which occurred on Ireland’s east coast in 1690. In Northern Ireland, it is a bank holiday. Schools and many businesses and organizations are closed. Some sops may be closed. Public transport services may run on their regular or special holiday timetables

In 1690, William III of England defeated the exiled Catholic king James II at the Battle of the Boyne. James, who had been in France, had invaded Ireland with French troops. 

Men wear orange sashes and black suits and bowler hats. Orange Day marches also take place in Birmingham and Liverpool, and in some parts of Canada, for example."

This day is known as "Orangemen's Day", "Orange Day", "the Glorious Twelfth" or just "the Twelfth". The day falls on July 12. However, if July 12 is a Saturday or Sunday, the bank holiday falls on Monday, July 13 or 14.

12 July

Swan UppingThe census of swans takes place annually during July on the River Thames in a ceremony known as Swan Upping. Swans are counted and marked on a 70 mile, five day journey up the River Thames.

The Swan Upping event commences on the third Monday at Sunbury and ending at Abingdon on the

 

Friday.

St. Swithun's Day (Also known as St Swithin's Day) Saint Swithin was England’s Bishop of Winchester. 40 days of bad weather will follow if it rains on this day

15 July

London 2012 Olympic Games

Well Dressing - DerbyshireWells are dressed with large framed panels decorated with elaborate mosaic-like pictures made of flower petals, seeds, grasses, leaves, tree bark, berries and moss.

May -Sept

Lammas Day The traditional harvest festival when the first bread was made from the new corn.

1 Aug

Yorkshire Day Celebrates the historic English county of Yorkshire, the largest region in England. Also anniversary of the Battle of Minden which was in 1759.

1 Aug

Edinburgh Fringe Festival   The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world.

August

Edinburgh International Festival The Edinburgh International Festival presents a rich programme of classical music, theatre, opera and dance in six major theatres and concert halls and a number of smaller venues, over a three-week period in late summer each year.

Aug -Sept

Reading Festival August

The Glenn Miller FestivalTthe largest swing, jazz and Jive music festival in the UK, and is held at the historic RAF Twinwood Airfield where Glenn Miller (the WWII American band-leader) took his last flight. 

August

Notting Hill CarnivalAround a million people take to the streets of Notting Hill in West London for the Notting Hill Carnival - Europe's biggest carnival.

Fabulous floats make a colourful circuit of the area and sound systems blast out music all day.

25 -26 Aug

Late Summer Bank Holiday. (Bank Holiday / Public Holiday)(last Monday in August, early August in Scotland)

26 Aug

 

Start of New School Year in England and Wales

Sept Sept

Blackpool Illuminations, BlackpoolThe seaside town of Blackpool is decorated with lights along 6 miles of the sea front.

   

Heritage Open Days, England,    

Wales & Northern IrelandFree entry is offered at many National Trust properties across the UK.

Last Night of the PromsFamous classical music concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

   

First Day of Autumn

This day is known as the autumnal equinox.

On 22 or 23 September, the sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night are nearly equal in all parts of the world.

23 Sept 23 Sept

The Great River Race, LondonOver 200 different rowing boats race along the River Thames, from Ham House (Richmond) to Island Gardens (Isle of Dogs).

   

Harvest Festival

Sept/Oct Sept/Oct

World Conker Championships, Northamptonshire

Follow this link to find out more about this traditional game

 

The Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalgar Square. The 'Pearlies' were costermonger's (street seller of fruit (apples, etc.) and their distinctive costumes are said to have sprung from the arrival of a big cargo of pearl-buttons from Japan in the 1860's.

Sept/Oct

Trafalgar Day   21 Oct

October Plenty, LondonA harvest celebration held annually in Southwark.Plenty mixes ancient seasonal customs and theatre with contemporary festivity.

Oct

Punky NightOn Punky Night in Hinton St George, Somerset, local children join a procession through the village streets, swinging their homemade lanterns and going house to house, singing traditional ‘punky’ songs and sometimes getting a few pennies at the front door.

Oct

British Summer Time Ends (daylight savings = clocks go back 1 hour)Greewich Mean Time Begins

27 Oct

Hallowe'en Night 31 Oct

All Saints Day (Christian)Christian day for honouring saints, known and unknown.

1 Nov

All Souls Day (Christian)Christian day of prayers of intercession for the dead.

2 Nov

Mischief NightThe 4 November is known as Mischief Night in some parts of the country. This was the night when all sorts of naughty things were done - the main idea being to put things in the wrong place.

4 Nov

Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night)

400th anniversary of the Gun Powder Plot was in 2005

5 Nov

Tar Barrels, Ottery St Mary (Devon) An old custom said to have originated in the 17th century. The annual event involves people racing through the streets of the town, carrying flaming wooden barrels of burning tar on their backs.

5 Nov

Lewes Bonfire Night, Lewes (East Sussex) 5 Nov

Remembrance Sunday 10 Nov

The Queen, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries lay wreaths and observe a minute's silence (at 11am) at the Cenotaph to commemorate those who gave their lives for their country in both world wars.

Afterwards, the Bishop of London takes a short service of remembrance.

Armistice Day2 minutes silence at 11 a.m.

11 Nov

Lord Mayor’s Show & Fireworks Display (2nd Saturday in November)

The first Lord Mayor's Show was held in 1215 and since its conception only major events such as the Black Death - and in 1852, the funeral of the Duke of Wellington - have stopped the show.

9 Nov

The Prince of Wales's birthday: gun salute, Hyde Park London

14 Nov

The State Opening of Parliament   (the first day of the new parliamentary session) The Queen's Speech is delivered by the Queen from the Throne in the House of Lords. (date)

Nov

BBC Children In Need, across the UKAn annual event to raise money for British children's charities.

 

Stir-up SundayThe last Sunday of the Christian Church Year. A traditional day to make the Christmas pudding

 

24 Nov

St Andrew's Day (Patron Saint of Scotland)It is the church festival of the St. Andrew, regarded as Scotland’s national Day (although it is not an official bank holiday).

30 No

Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park LondonA Big Wheel and other rides, an ice rink and a Christmas market

 

Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, London[usually performed on the first Thursday in December]

Dec

Advent Sunday - Start of AdventChristian time of preparation for observing the birth of Jesus Christ.

1 Dec

Great Christmas Pudding Race, LondonTeams dressed in fancy clothes race around an obstacle course in Covent Garden.

5 DecTBC

Royal Variety Performance, London  

Carol singing in the Square, London  

Winter SolsticeShortest Day of the year, when the Sun is at its most southern point

21 Dec

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, CambridgeAt 3pm at King's College Chapel in Cambridge is a traditional carol service called "A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols"

24 Dec

Christmas EveChristmas Eve is not a public holiday in the UK. Public transport services may finish earlier than usual.

24 Dec

Christmas Day (Christian Festival)(Bank Holiday / Public Holiday) 

Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Observed by prayers, exchanging of gifts, and family parties.

25 Dec

Boxing Day (Bank Holiday) 26 Dec

St Stephen's Day 26 Dec

Hogmanay (Scotland) 31 Dec

New Years EveAt midnight everybody joins hands and sings Auld Lang Syne.

31 Dec