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Holidays in English-speaking countries.

Guy Fawkes Night

The 5th of November is Guy Fawkes Night in Great Britain.

Remember, remember the 5th of November,

Gunpowder treason and plot.

I see  no reason why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

 On November 5th every year people all over Britain become pyromaniacs for the evening, lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks. This annual tradition is a way of remembering the events of November 5th 1605. For 400 years bonfires have burned on November 5th to mark the failed Gunpowder plot. Thirteen young men planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill all inside including the King. Why all that happened?

At that time religious teaching was dictated by the Church of England which would not tolerate Roman Catholicism. Therefore it was difficult for followers of the Catholic faith to worship freely in England. All members of the Gunpowder plot were Catholics and the plot was the response to the oppression they experienced.

Some English people were opposed to being under the rule of a Scot (King James I was Scottish and Protestant) so the Gunpowder Plot would have put an end to that.

A small group of people under the leadership of Robert Catesby planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament together with the King. So the plotters got hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder and stored them in a cellar under the Houses of Lords. The person who was going to set alight the barrels was an experienced soldier Guy Fawkes. The King found out about the plot and sent soldiers to capture Guy Fawkes in the early hours of November 5th. He was caught, tortured and executed. That was the end of the Gunpowder Plot. In the evening of that day people started to set alight bonfires to celebrate the King’s safety. Since then, November 5th has become known as Bonfire Night.

 Children make a dummy of Guy Fawkes which is called “the Guy”. Some children keep up an old tradition and walk in the streets carrying “ the Guy” and  beg  passers by for “a penny for the Guy”. The kids use the money to buy fireworks for the evening’s celebrations.

On the night itself “the Guy” is placed on top of the bonfire which is then set alight and fireworks displays fill the air.

Thanksgiving Day

Every fourth Thursday of November is Thanksgiving Day in America.

It is one of the most favourite holidays in the USA. People usually stay at home and have a big family dinner. This day has a very important meaning in the history of America. The first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by pilgrims in autumn 1621.

The pilgrims were 102 Englishmen who sailed on “Mayflower” ship from the port Plymouth to find the New World.

Before their arrival to America the country was inhabited by Native American Indians.

However, when they settled there life was quite difficult as there was nothing to eat and nowhere to live. The first winter was especially difficult and many people couldn’t survive without fresh food.

In spring native Indians came and taught pilgrims how to survive in America. Now they could hunt, fish and grow plants. In the autumn 1621 they had a wonderful harvest. To celebrate this occasion pilgrims decided to have Thanksgiving Day feast. It meant that they were very thankful for their food. During the holiday the tables were full of fresh food: corn, beans, turkey, venison, pumpkin. Their Indian friends were also invited to share the feast.

Nowadays Americans continue celebrating this holiday. They decorate their houses with autumn flowers, fruit, vegetables.They cook the same food as it was during the first Thanksgiving Day. The main dish is still turkey. The most popular dessert is a pumpkin pie.

As for Canada, people also celebrate Thanksgiving Day but it falls on every second Thursday of October.

 Besides family dinner, there are big parades in cities and towns.

 Christmas

The 25th of December is Christmas in English-speaking countries!

It’s a religious holiday and one of the most popular holidays in English –speaking countries. People celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. They get ready for this holiday beforehand. They buy presents, put the Christmas tree in the middle of the room and decorate it with bright shining balls and put a large shining star at the top of the Christmas tree. People use holly and mistletoe to decorate their houses. Holly is an evergreen plant with sharp leaves and red berries. Mistletoe is also an evergreen plant with small leaves and white berries. On Christmas Eve there is a bunch of mistletoe in every house. Besides, there are bells and candles to decorate  a house.

In the evening of the 24th December children hang their stockings on their beds or over the fireplace. They are big and beautifully decorated. Father Christmas or Santa Claus puts presents into them. He comes from the North Pole and brings presents for children. He comes into children’s houses through a chimney on Christmas Eve. In the morning of the 25th December children find their presents in their stockings or under the Christmas tree.

In the middle of the day people have Christmas dinner. They eat roast turkey, Christmas pudding and mince pies. Christmas pudding was made many years ago. Now it is the highlight of Christmas dinner. Traditionally a coin is placed into the pudding. It brings good luck to a person who finds it. Children often have Christmas  crackers. When you pull a cracker, it makes a bang and inside there is a Christmas hat, a small toy and a piece of paper with a joke on it. Christmas is a wonderful holiday!