Many festivals and holidays in Britain are centuries old.

Every town, village and hamlet in Britain has its own traditions, some involving months of careful planning and preparations of costumes and choreography, others requiring simply a worrying desire to make a complete and utter fool of oneself.

1st-New Year's Day 5th-Twefth Night is when all Christmas Decorations should be removed so as not to bring bad luck upon the home. If decorations are not removed on Twelfth Night, they should stay up all year.

1st-Candlemas Day This ancient festival marks the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox. In olden times, many people used to say that the Christmas season lasted for forty days until the second day of February. 14th-Valentine's Day

1st-St David's Day (Wales National Day) Student s presentation 17th-St. Patrick's Day (Ireland's Special Day) Student s presentation

Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day (or Pancake Tuesday to some people) because it is the one day of the year when almost everyone eats a pancake. Lent is a Christian Festival. In the past it was a long, strict religious fast when people gave up all rich food. The day before Lent starts is known as Shrove Tuesday. Mothering Sunday Maundy Thursday also called Holy Thursday is the feast or holy day on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles Easter

1st- April Fool's Day

April begins with a day of fun and jokes - April Fool's Day. No one really knows when this custom began but it has been kept for hundreds of years. It is commonly believed that that April Fool came about because of the change of calendars. In 1582, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar called the Gregorian calendar which is the calendar we still use today. The new calendar was introduced because the old calendar, called the Julian calendar, was ahead by ten days because each year was a little too long. Gregory moved the new calendar forward by ten days. Britain didn't accept the new calendar until 1752. In the Julian calendar, the old calendar, New Year was celebrated from March 25th to April 1st. The first day of the Gregorian calendar is January 1st

23rd- St George's Day (England's National Day) Student s presentation

1st-May Day The first day of the month of May is known as May Day. It is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is said to be a time of love and romance. It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of different customs that are expressions of joy and hope after a long winter.

Trooping the Colours The official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II is marked each year by a military parade and march-past, known as Trooping the Colour (Carrying of the Flag) Wimbledon Tennis Tournament is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and is generally considered the most prestigious.It has been held at the All England Club in the London suburb of Wimbledon since 1877

Swan Upping Swans are counted and marked on a 70 mile, five day journey up the River Thames.

Notting Hill Carnival Student s presentation

Harvest Festival Harvest Festival is a celebration of the food grown on the land.

31st-Halloween Student s presentation

5th-Bonfire Night 11th-Remembrance Day It is a special day set aside to remember all those men and women who were killed during the two World Wars and other conflicts. At one time the day was known as Armistice Day and was renamed Remembrance Day after the Second World War. 30th-St Andrew's Day-student s presentation (Scotland's National Day)

Advent 25th-Christmas-student s presentation 26th- Boxing Day In Britain, Boxing Day is usually celebrated on the following day after Christmas Day, which is 26 December. However, strictly speaking, Boxing Day is the first weekday after Christmas Traditionally, 26 December was the day to open the Christmas Box to share the contents with the poor.