HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS
CHRISTMAS
• historically the feast of the winter solstice
• now the celebrating of the birth of Jesus Christ
Advent Epiphany
The Christmas season
Christmas Day Twelfth Night
Christmastide/Yuletide
ADVENT• begins 4 Sundays before Christmas
• it’s a period, when we wait for the birth of Jesus Christ
brightly coloured lights
ribbons, garlands small bells
candle Advent wreath
mistletoe
holly
ivy
CHRISTMAS EVE IN HUNGARY
• put up a
fir tree
decorate it
Christmas tree
by baby Jesus
• Christmas dinner:
fish soup fried fish poppy seed and nut roll gingerbread
CHRISTMAS EVE IN BRITAIN• the time for the annual office party
• shopping
• house decorating with evergreens to allow the wood spirits to shelter from the cold
• mistletoe in a central position or over the door
• children hang up their stockings around the fireplace
CHRISTMAS DAY• in Hungary people go to church in the morning and then they spend the day with their families
• in Britain people open their presents in the morning and then they have a Christmas dinner:
roast turkey Christmas puddingbrandy butter
Christmas cake mince pie Christmas crackers
BOXING DAY• it’s a time when tradespeople receive a Christmas Box to thank them for their services
• visiting families and friends
• football matches and other sport events
TWELFTH NIGHT EPIPHANY
• 5th January
• the British take down all the decorations
• 6th January
• we remember the Magi, who finally found the baby Jesus in the manger in Bethlehem
NEW YEAR’S EVE• the last day of the year
• at midnight in Hungary: - drinking champagne, - watching the fireworks, - singing the national anthem
• at midnight in Britain: - drinking a toast to the New Year, - linking arms to sing Auld Lang Syne
EASTER• celebrating the life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ
• movable feast: it’s on the first Sunday following the full moon after the spring equinox
Ash Wednesday Easter Eve
Lent (forty-day period)
Holy Week: - Palm Sunday - Maundy Thursday - Good Friday - Easter Eve - Easter Sunday
EASTER SUNDAY IN HUNGARY
• on Easter Sunday morning Hungarians eat:
ham, hard-boiled eggs cold pork in aspic
• morning Mass
• children search the house and garden for eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny
• lunch together
EASTER SUNDAY IN BRITAIN
• on Good Friday the British eat:
hot cross buns• on Easter Day they eat:
roast lamb simnel cake
EASTER MONDAY• in Hungary: also called ”Ducking Monday”
• sprinkling girls and women with perfume or water
• in Britain: egg rolling competitions
HOLIDAYS IN HUNGARYNational holidays:
• 15th March: the Revolution and War of Independence of 1848-49
• 20th August: the day of Saint Stephen
• 23rd October: the Revolution of 1956
HOLIDAYS IN HUNGARY
• 14th February – Valentine’s Day: we started celebrating after 1989
• 8th March – Women’s Day: men give flowers to women both at home and work
• 1st May – Labor Day: workers unions organize a celebration in many cities with speeches, acrobats, clowns, food and music
HOLIDAYS IN HUNGARY• 1st Sunday in May – Mother’s Day: mother receive flowers or little presents from their children
•1st November – All Saints’ Day: we remember our deceased loved ones by lightning candles at their graves in cemeteries
• 6th December – St Nicholas’ Day: Mikulás brings chocolate to the children
HOLIDAYS IN HUNGARY• birthdays
• wedding anniversaries
• graduation days
• new-born baby’s christening
• namedays
HOLIDAYS IN BRITAIN• 1st March – St. David’s Day: the national day of Wales
• 17th March – St. Patrick’s Day: the national day of Northernd Ireland
• 23rd April – St. George’s Day: the national day of England
• 1st May – May Day: people celebrate the coming of summer
• Last Monday in May – Spring Bank Holiday: Bank Holidays in England are also public holidays when banks and shops are closed
HOLIDAYS IN BRITAIN• Early June – The Queen’s Official Birthday: the Queen and other members of the Royal Family attend the Trooping the Colour ceremony on Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, in London
• 31st October – Halloween
• 5th November – Bonfire Night: it’s celebrated by burning on bonfires of figures of Guy Fawkes and by firework
• 11th November – Remembrance Day: a special day to remember all those men and women who were killed during the two World Wars and other conflicts
• 30th November – St. Andrew’s Day: the national day of Scotland
HOLIDAYS IN THE USA• Martin Luther King Jr. Day – 3rd Monday in January
• Washington’s Birthday or Presidant’s Day – 3rd Monday in February
• Memorial Day – Last Monday in May
• Independence Day – 4th July
HOLIDAYS IN THE USA• Labor Day – 1st Monday in September
• Columbus Day – 2nd Monday in October
• Veterans’ Day – 11th November
• Thanksgiving – Last Thursday in November