British and American holidays, festivals, traditions

Each state has other attitude to traditions and holidays. It come out of different character and temperament of each state.

The British are conservatives. They still use their traditional system weights and measures, they drive on the left and they wear traditional school uniforms at some schools. It is important that Britain is the oldest democracy in the world and monarchy is an inseparable part of their government. British are famous for their politeness and dry humour.

The Americans are often called “a nation of immigrants.” They are now proud to be Americans, but they are also proud of their ethnic backgrounds. All nationalities and ethnic groups contributed to American culture. The Americans are not reserved as many British people are. They value progress, success and prosperity. The Americans have a fondness for grandiosity.

I think that Czechs attitude to tradition is impassive. Especially in the cities. In the country, the traditions are held and handed over from generation to generation. Some tradition differs a little in Bohemia and in Moravia.

Spring

Spring feast of the Christian Church are Easter. Good Friday celebrates Jesus´ crucifixion while Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus. In Britain Eastern eggs, dyed and decorated symbolizing new life and are given as a present. In America some families organize an egg hunt – children look for eggs which the adults hid somewhere in the house or garden. Eastern are very different in Czech Republic. Children go to rattle with rattles five times per day from Thursday to Saturday. In Eastern Monday boys have plaits willow cane and they whip girls. Boys must to say a rhyme and girls give them dyed eggs.

All Fools´ Day is celebrated in England and Czech Republic. It is named after the habit of practical jokes on the people and then you can shout:”April Fool!”

April 23^rd is celebrated St. George, the patron saint of England.

1^st May is May Day in Britain. Political parties left hold procession and public meeting. In Czech Republic, 1^st May is Labor Day and 8^th May we celebrate end of Second World War.

At 2^nd Sunday in May people celebrate Mother´s Day, which honours all mother. This feast is held in England, United States and also in Czech Republic.

At 4^th Monday in May Americans has Memorial Day. It honours Americans killed in wars and most recently all the dead. Flowers and flags are placed on the graves.

On Saturday after June 9 British celebrate The Queen´s Official Birthday. There are various ceremonies associated with it, such as the ceremony of Trooping the Colour at the Horse Guards Parade in London.

Summer

During the summer, British don´t celebrate any feast. Americans celebrate only Independence Day at 4^th July. This Day celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Each city has own ceremony and parades, band concerts etc.

In the Czech Republic there are two banks holiday at the beginning of July. 5^th July is Day of Cyril and Method and 6^th July we commemorate Burn to death of Jan Hus.

Autumn

In 11^th November British celebrate Remembrance Day and Americans celebrate Veteran´s Day. British feast honours people killed in the two wars and Amrican feast honours the veterans of all wars.

Very popular is Halloween in 31^st October. Halloween is celebrated in Northern England and Scotland and also in USA and Canada. Halloween is at the Eve of All Saint´ Day when the Christian Church honours the memory of death. People cut horrible faces in pumpkins and put a candle inside. Children celebrated it by dressing up in Halloween costumes with masks over their faces. They go to their friends and neighbours´ houses and people give them sweets, fruit or money.

4^th Sunday in November is Thanksgiving Day which is celebrated in the USA and Canada. It was first celebrated by Pilgrim Fathers in 1621 on their first harvest. Now it is a occasion for the whole family to be together. It is celebrated by a traditional dinner whose main course is roast turkey.

In the Czech Republic are two important bank holidays in autumn. 28^th October we commemorate Origins of Czechoslovakia in 1918 and 17^th November we celebrate Days, when students fought against totalitarian regime.

Winter

The most famous winter holiday are Christmas. Unlike the continentals, the British have no traditional celebration on Christmas Eve. December 24 is reserved for office party and many people spent this day by shopping. Children believe that Santa Claus or Father Christmas who rides through the air on a sledge drawn by reindeer and comes down the chimney and fills up the stocking with present and toys. So on the Christmas Eve they hang up the stockings at the end of their bed. December 25 is Christmas day. In the morning children unwrap their presents. The dinner on Christmas Day is the “most important“ meal of the year. The British usually have roast turkey and roast potatoes followed by Christmas pudding (also called plum pudding). December 26 is called Boxing Day from the habit in earlier times when people gave their servants small sums of many which they collected in their Christmas boxes.

In the USA Christmas isn´t national holiday but many Americans are Christians so almost all shops are closed and people have a rest on Christmas Day. Christmas in the USA is not a family holiday. Families invite friend to join them at Christmas dinner and often give parties at Christmas time.

In the both USA and Britain Christmas trees are decorated by electric coloured lights. And Americans also decorate their houses with garlands and wreaths.

In our country preparations for Christmas begin four weeks before 24 December. This time is called Advent. Many people make Advent’s wreath with four candles. One of candles is lighted on in every advent’s Sunday. During the preparation for Christmas there should be a nice, friendly atmosphere. The most important day of Christmas is Christmas Eve. A lot of people haven’t to eat any meat all day, because according to customer, in the evening they will see the Golden pig. They prepare the dinner and the tree is decorated with chocolate, sweets, decorations and candles or electric lights. The children believe that Christ Child brings the presents and he puts them under the tree. Around six o’clock in the evening a lot of families have Christmas dinner. It is the most important meal of the year. They usually have fried carp with potatoes salad. Some people give some scales from carp in the purse and they believe according to the custom that they will have much money in New Year. After the dinner the family go to the room, where the tree stands. 25^th December people often go visiting their relatives and friends.

One week after Christmas people celebrate the New Year’s Eve. People stay up till midnight to see how the old year out and drink a toast to the New Year.