St. Andrew’s Day

National Days in the United Kingdom

There are Four National Days.

• St. David’s Day

Wales’ National Day is St. David’s Day (1 March)

St. David is the patron saint of Wales. He was the founder and the first abbot-bishop (аббат-епископ) of Menevia. The celebration day is the 1^st of March. The first day of March was chosen in remembrance of the death of Saint David. Tradition holds that he died on that day in 589.

• The date was declared a national day of celebration within Wales in the 18th century.

• The day is commemorated by the wearing of daffodils or leeks by patriotic Welsh people. Both plants are traditionally regarded as the national emblems of Wales.

• The flag of Saint David often plays a central role in the celebrations and can be seen flying throughout Wales.

St. Patrick’s Day Northern Ireland ’s National Day is St. Patrick’s Day (17th March)

• It commemorates Saint Patrick, the most commonly recognized (общепризнанный) of the patron saints of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.

• It is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on the 17^th of March.

• It is an official holiday in Northern Ireland.

• The day is marked by the wearing of shamrocks, the national badge of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

• According to the legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish people.

St. George’s Day

England’s national day is St. George’s Day (23 April)

• St. George is the patron saint of England.

• It is celebrated on the 23^rd of April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in Anno Domini 303 (of Christian Era).

• The story tells that St. George rescued a hapless maid by slaying a fearsome fire-breathing dragon.

• St. George's Day is a national holiday in England from the early 15th century.

• In recent years the popularity of St George's Day increased.

• A tradition at this time is to wear a red rose in one's lapel (lə-pĕl′).

St. Andrew’s Day

Scotland’s National Day is St. Andrew’s Day (30 November)

• Saint Andrew, one of Christ’s twelve apostles (ə-pŏs′əl), is the patron saint of Scotland.

• The day is celebrated in November 30th in Scotland.

• It is an official national day.

• Saint Andrew is also the patron saint of Greece, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and the Ecumenical Patriarchate (pā′trē-är′kāt′) of Constantinople (kŏn′stăn-tə-nō′pəl) (Вселенский патриархат константинопольский).

Traditions of the nation, which are know as very important for them:

• Left-hand transportation.

• English breakfast is famous for its solidity.

• British value home and relatives.

• Popular sport games are golf, cricket, polo.

• British value pure English Language.

• The most important holidays are Christmas and Easter.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14