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