Holidays

Saint Patricks Day (17 March): Saint Patrick's Day was made an official
Christian feast day in the early seventeenth century and is observed by the
Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church
and Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival
of Christianity in Ireland, as well as celebrating the heritage and culture of
the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and
festivals and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.
Boxing Day (26 December): Boxing Day is traditionally the day following
Christmas Day, when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts, known as
a "Christmas box", from their bosses or employers.
Battle of the Boyne (12 J uly): The Twelfth (also called Orangemen's Day)
is an Ulster Protestant celebration held on 12 July each year. It originated
during the 18th century in Ulster, a province of Ireland that was heavily
colonised by Protestant settlers from Britain. It celebrates the Glorious
Revolution (1688) and victory of Protestant king William of Orange over
Catholic king James II at the Battle of the Boyne (1690), which helped
ensure Protestant supremacy in Ireland.
Battle of Stirling Bridge (2 Monday of September): The Battle of Stirling
Bridge was a battle of the First War of Scottish Independence. On 11
September 1297, the forces of Andrew de Moray and William Wallace
defeated the combined English forces of John de Warenne, 6th Earl of
Surrey, and Hugh de Cressingham near Stirling, on the River Forth.
May Day Bank (First Monday of May): May Day on May 1 is an ancient
Northern Hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a
traditional spring holiday in many cultures. May Day coincides with
International Workers' Day, and in many countries that celebrate the latter, it
may be referred to as "May Day". Dances, singing, and cake are usually
part of the celebrations that the day includes.

Traditions
o Drinking tea: Britain is a tea-drinking nation. Every day we drink 165 million
cups of the stuff and each year around 144 thousand tons of tea are
imported. Tea in Britain is traditionally brewed in a warmed china teapot,
adding one spoonful of tea per person and one for the pot. Most Britons like
their tea strong and dark, but with a lot of milk.
o Fish and chips: Fish and chips is the classic English take-away food and is
the traditional national food of England. It became popular in the 1860's
when railways began to bring fresh fish straight from the east coast to the
our cities over night.
o Guys fawkes night: Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day,
Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on
5 November, primarily in Great Britain. Its history begins with the events of 5
November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was
arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath the
House of Lords. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the
attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London, and months later the
introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual
public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.
o Bonfire night: Bonfire Night is an annual event dedicated to bonfires,
fireworks and celebrations. Different traditions celebrate Bonfire Night on
different days. Some of the most popular instances include England's Guy
Fawkes Night, which is also celebrated in some Commonwealth countries;
Northern Ireland's Eleventh Night, a precursor to The Twelfth; 23 June in the
Republic of Ireland, sometimes known as St John's Eve.
o Stirrup cup: A stirrup cup is a "parting cup" given to guests, especially
when they are leaving and have their feet in the stirrups. It is also the
traditional drink (usually port or sherry) served at the meet, prior to a
traditional foxhunt.