英国的节日
元旦新年 New Year's day -- 1月1日
情人节 Valentine’s Day -- 2月14日
圣戴维日 St David’s Day -- 3月1日
圣帕特里克日 St Patrick’s Day -- 3月17日
圣星期六 Holy Saturday -- 是Easter的前一天
复活节 Easter day -- 在3月21日到4月25日之间。
复活节次日 Easter Monday -- 是Easter的第二天。
耶稣受难日 Good Friday -- 复活节前的星期五,教堂举行仪式纪念耶稣受难。在英国这一天是公假,人们吃传统的热十字糕(hot cross buns)。
耶稣升天节 Ascension Day-- 是Easter第40天之后的星期四,也称为Holy Thursday。
圣灵降临日 Pentecost-- 是Easter后的第7个星期天,也称为White Sunday。 圣母玛丽亚日 Lady's Day -- 每年3月25日，又称 Annunciation Day （天时报细节）。
愚人节 April Fool’s Day， All Fools’ Day -- 4月1日
女王诞辰日 Queen's Birthday -- 每年4月21日，该节是庆祝女王诞辰。 莎士比亚纪念日 Shakespeare's Day -- 每年4月23日，该节是庆祝莎士比亚的生日。也称圣乔治日 St George’s Day 。
五月节 May Day -- 每年5月1日，该节是迎接春天的祭奠。
五朔节 Beltane -- 5月1日
英联邦纪念日 Commonwealth Day -- 每年5月1日，该节日出自于庆祝维多利亚女王的生日。
女王法定诞辰日Queen's Official Birthday -- 英国在6月10日或前一个星期六放假，以取代4月21日女王的生日。
薄煎饼日 Pancake Day -- 基督教会在基督受难日前40天的“封斋期”开始前的最后一天。
“母亲节” mother's day -- 5月第二个星期日
银行节--The bank is saved -- 5月的第一个星期一及最后一个星期一，8月的最后一个星期
阅兵日--Review troops every day -- 6月份的第二个星期六
仲夏夜 Midsummer’s Day -- 6月23日
万圣节前夕 Hallowe’en-- 10月31日
万圣节 Hallowmas，all saints' day -- 11月1日
盖伊‧福克斯日 Guy Fawkes’Day -- 11月5日
圣诞节前夜 Christmas Eve -- 12月24日
圣诞节 Christmas day --12月25日
节礼日--Boxing Day -- 12月26日
“神圣星期四” Maundy Thursday -- 每年耶稣受难日前的最后一个星期四，就是所谓的“最后晚餐”的一天。
国庆日--National Day -- 国王的正式生日
银行假日--Bank holiday
★国庆日 National Day
英国的国庆日期并不固定，而是以国王的正式生日为国庆日。
★银行假日 Bank holiday
英国还有8天的所谓“银行假日”，这是全国性的假日，并不仅限于银行。8天银行假日是一年中最受欢迎的节日，其原因正值孩子们放假，许多人设法乘机度一个较长的周末，去海边或乡村。
★圣戴维日 St David’s Day
每年3月1日是圣戴维日（ St David’s Day）。按照基督教传统，圣戴维是威尔士的所谓“主保圣人”，就是说，人们认为他特别照顾威尔士。这里所纪念的是公元第二世纪到威尔士传教的僧人戴维，并非《圣经》中的戴维王。
这一天是威尔士的重要节日，不少公司、办公室都放假。 在这一天以及这天的前后，在英国街头上会看到不少人衣襟上有一朵黄色的水仙花，这是因为威尔士的标记是黄水仙和韭葱。当然在衣襟上插一把韭葱不大好看吧！
★圣帕特里克日 St Patrick’s Day
3月17日是爱尔兰主保圣人圣帕特里克（St Patrick’s Day）的纪念日。Z这天是爱尔兰共和国、北爱尔兰的假日，而英国，乃至欧美其他地方的爱尔兰裔人都会热烈庆祝这个纪念他们传统中的主保圣人的日子。
圣帕特里克是公元第五世纪在英国西部或者苏格兰地区生活的一个人物。他在16岁的时候遭歹徒俘虏，卖到爱尔兰为奴隶。他后来逃脱，并且到欧洲地区接受教育，并成为传教士。在第五世纪初年，他回到爱尔兰开始传教工作，并且在短短10年内在这个岛屿不少地方兴建交通，成功鼓励人们信奉基督教。
传说中的圣帕特里克利用白花酢浆草（shamrock）有三片小叶的叶片来解释基督教中的天主是“三位一体”的概念，因此，时至今日，人们仍然以白花酢浆草的叶作为爱尔兰的标记。
在这一天，爱尔兰人聚居的地方可能会组织游行，以示纪念。个别酒馆中也以绿色的啤酒奉客，因为白花酢浆草的叶是鲜绿色的，而绿色也是爱尔兰的标记。 ★“母亲节” mother's day
英国的所谓“母亲节”与美国的完全不同。在美国，5月第二个星期日是“母亲节”，但是，英国的所谓“母亲节”是在基督教会的耶稣受难前的“封斋期”内的第四个星期日，称为Mothering Sunday。
据悉，按照古老的教会传统，这一天是信徒回到他们本来所属的教堂（mother church）的一天，因此，所谓“mother”，本意不是母亲，但是，到了大约17世纪中，人们开始把“mother”也包括了人们自己的母亲，后来就演变成现在的所谓“母亲节”。
在这一天，英国不少人仍然按照传统，准备一个称为“Simnel Cake”的蛋糕，带回家给自己的妈妈，或者送到教堂，与其他教友一起享用。
按照维多利亚女王时代留下的传统，这种用干果、果仁、香料、酒和鸡蛋制造的蛋糕上面有一层蛋白杏仁软糖，上面有11个用这种软糖造成的球，以纪念除了犹大以外的其他11位耶稣基督的门徒。按照《圣经》所载，犹大出卖耶稣，让他在犹太人手上受凌辱，最后钉死在十字架上。
★“神圣星期四” Maundy Thursday
这是每年耶稣受难日前的最后一个星期四，就是所谓的“最后晚餐”的一天，在英国称为Maundy Thursday。在这一天，罗马天主教内有教士、高级神职人员为信徒、初级教士濯足的仪式，仿效耶稣在这天为门徒濯足的做法。但是，这一天另外一个最为人所知的传统是英国君主在这一天向一些经过挑选的穷人或有需要的人发放金钱的做法。当然，现在在英国这个实行社会福利制度的国家，这样
做主要是为了象征意义。不过，英国君主仍然会向经过挑选的人发放银币，而这些银币虽然也是可流通货币，但是，已经成为收藏家渴求的珍品。
★复活节 Easter day
作为一个基督教国家，纪念耶稣受难后复活的复活节（Easter）当然在英国是一个重要的节日。按照西方基督教会的传统，通常这个日子是在3月21日到4月25日之间。这是因为复活节好像一些其他个别的教会日子一样都是按照阴历计算的。复活节确实是3月21日或以后的第一个月圆日之后的星期日。
除了教会的庆典之外，英国有不同的活动或风俗，标记这个日子，其中，“蛋”是经常出现的。对小孩子来说，当然是所谓的“复活蛋”。这些一般都是巧克力制造的。比较简单的，在超级市场也可以买到，但是，在英国，不少高档的餐厅、咖啡厅，都会在每年这个时候推出自己特制的“复活蛋”，有 黑巧克力制造的，有牛奶巧克力的，有白巧克力的，也有蛋白杏仁糖制造的。除了一般的蛋型设计外，也有不少是动物、鲜花、卡通人物等，款式繁多，就算是对吃“复活蛋”没有兴趣的也会在这个时候可以到这些餐厅、店铺外的橱窗一饱眼福。除了吃“复活蛋”以外，英国不少地方每年复活节左右都有有关“蛋”的活动，例如：英国的一些慈善组织和旅游机构都会在这个时候在一些著名的花园或大宅的园圃内举办寻“复活蛋”的活动。最有趣的莫如一些地方在山坡上举行的“滚蛋”比赛。参赛者自备生鸡蛋，到山顶上把鸡蛋“滚”到山下，大家都会各出奇谋，希望取胜。
★愚人节 April Fool’s Day， All Fools’ Day
每年的4月1日是愚人节（April Fool’s Day， All Fools’ Day）。这个节日的确实来源已经不大清楚，但是，有资料显示，在16世纪法国，一种类似的传统已经存在。无论如何，英国各地现在都有类似的习俗。
在这一天，人们可以尽情的愚弄周遭的人，但是，最终都是一些无伤大雅的玩意。只不过，如果你在这天看英国的报纸，或者听天台广播，听到或看到有什么特别的消息时，你得千万小心，以免受愚弄。
★圣乔治日 St George’s Day
按照基督教会的传统，4月23日是圣乔治的纪念日（St George’s Day）。如果大家在这一天前后到英格兰地区，你会看到教堂、酒馆，甚或汽车外都会挂上有一个红色十字的白色旗帜，这就是圣乔治旗。每逢例如英格兰足球队出赛，或者凯旋而归的时候，这面旗帜更大量出现在球场内外。
从大约14世纪开始，圣乔治成为了英格兰的守护“主保”圣人；在此之前，英格兰的守护圣人是爱德华（St Edward the Confessor）。据信圣乔治是罗马帝国时代生活在近东地区的一位基督徒。他因为成功杀死一条遗害当地人的毒龙而深受爱戴。现在，在英国不少地方都可以看到一位身穿盔甲的骑马武士屠龙的图案，这就是圣乔治。
★仲夏夜 Midsummer’s Day
虽然每年夏至，即每年日最长夜最短的日子是阳历6月21日，但是，英国庆祝仲夏夜（Midsummer’s Eve）都是在6月22日晚上。6月23日就是仲夏日（Midsummer’s Day）。根据英国的传说，人们会在这个晚上有奇异的经历，可能进入魔幻世界。可能就是因为这个原因，所以英国大文豪莎士比亚就写作了名剧《仲夏夜之梦》（A Midsummer Night’s Dream）。里面就有这样的一句：Why, this is very midsummer madness.
人类学家说，在远古时代生活在英国的人会在夏至当日由巫师（Druids）举行仪
式，迎接这个特别的日子。英国一些石器时代遗留下来的巨石建筑据信与这种庆祝活动有关。位于伦敦西南面的著名的巨石阵（Stonehenge），以及附近的比较巨石阵更大的埃夫伯利（Avebury Stone Circle）据称就是例子。不少所谓的“新时代信仰”人士每年会长途跋涉，赶在夏至日破晓前齐集在巨石阵，举行庆祝活动。由于人数太多，英国警方需要出动，甚或实施限制进场措施，以维持秩序。虽然现场情况可能看似混乱，但是，不少人说，亲眼看到夏至日的太阳从巨石之间升起的景象，是毕生难忘的经验。
★万圣节 Hallowe’en,all saints' day
每年的10月31日是所谓的万圣节（Hallowe’en），其实这是11月1日基督教会传统中纪念所有圣人和殉道者的节日All Hallows 的前夕。人们相信，在这个晚上，已逝的人会从坟墓中走出来，巫婆和鬼怪也会到处出没。 在古代，人们都喜欢在这个晚上在红红火光陪伴下守夜。当然，时至今日，这种传统已经不复存在，取而代之的是一种来自大西洋彼岸的美国的习俗，就是让小孩子装扮成巫婆妖怪，四处到邻居家敲门，要求糖果金钱，这就是所谓的“trick or treat”，意思就是，如果你不给他们一些好吃的，或者给他们一点钱，他们就可能会戏弄你。
★盖伊‧福克斯日 Guy Fawkes’Day
盖伊‧福克斯日 - Guy Fawkes’ Day。这并不是什么圣人纪念日，所纪念的是1605年发生的一次阴谋。在当年，一伙以盖伊‧福克斯为首的人密谋在英国议会底下安置炸药，行刺信奉新教的占姆斯一世，试图恢复罗马天主教徒在英国宗教改革过程中失去的权力。但是，阴谋被揭露，密谋者判处死刑，而后来人们都在11月5日举行活动庆祝此事。活动包括观看烟火等。不过，包括英格兰南部东萨塞克斯郡（East Sussex）的刘易斯（Lewes）镇，人们保持了几百年来的传统，在这个晚上手持火把，上街游行，其中更有焚烧盖伊‧福克斯以及当年的罗马天主教教皇假人的环节。
★圣诞节 Christmas day
每年的12月25日是基督教会中的圣诞节（Christmas），是纪念耶稣基督诞生的日子。但是，一些学者认为，这个节日的根源是古代人类庆祝冬季结束，期待春天再度来临的日子。这种说法的根据是，每年白天最短，黑夜最长的日子- 冬至 – 就在12月21或者22日。
传统的圣诞期在12月25日开始，一直到翌年的1月6日的所谓“第12夜”（Twelfth Night）结束。在这段之间之中，不少英国人会张灯结彩，装饰家居，以示庆祝。现在不少英国人可能在12月初已经购置圣诞树等装饰，放在家中，但是，按照古老传统，装饰是圣诞前夕才放在家中的。不少读者可能认为圣诞树是英国的产物，但是，这个其实是欧洲大陆，特别是德国的传统，是19世纪维多利亚女皇的德国籍夫婿艾伯特亲王（Prince Albert）引入的。 圣诞节的另外一个传统是在室内悬挂槲寄生（Mistletoe）枝。这是一种在苹果树和一些其他数目上寄生的植物，在英国的远古时代被认为有异常的魔力。不过，英国人的传统就是，在槲寄生枝底下，一个男孩子可以亲吻一个女孩子。 或者是因为这个传统吧，英国有不少文学作品中提到槲寄生的，例如18世纪末年的著名诗人斯科特（Walter Scott）就在其作品《Marmion》中这样写道：
The damsel donned her kirtle sheen
The hall was decked with holly green
Forth to the woods did merry men go
To gather in the mistletoe.
按照传统，不少英国人都会在圣诞前夕到教堂出席崇拜或者其他宗教仪式，包括罗马天主教会在午夜举行的所谓“子夜弥撒”，以迎接圣诞节和纪念基督的诞生。
圣诞节的装饰会一直保留到翌年年初，但是，人们一般会在“第12夜”把装饰拆除，这是因为人们相信，装饰保留超过这个时间会带来厄运。
★元旦新年 New Year's day
元旦新年一般是圣诞节庆祝活动的延续。不少英国人会在圣诞节前开始一直放假到新年过后。
在伦敦，一个已经实行多年的做法是在除夕提供免费公共交通，方便人们迎接新的一年。在子夜将临之际，不少人会聚集在伦敦市中心泰晤士河河畔的议会大楼前等候“大笨钟”敲响1月1日零时零分的钟声。不少人会带备香槟酒，举杯迎接新年。
在苏格兰爱丁堡市的古老城堡下的公园中，人们也会聚集，庆祝新年的来临。在苏格兰，庆祝新年的活动称为Hogmanay，是苏格兰一个非常重要的庆祝活动。 ★情人节 Valentine’s Day
每年的2月14日是所谓的情人节（Valentine’s Day）。现在这个节日已经成为了年轻人热切期待的一天，让他们有机会可以同心上人共庆良辰。不过，这个日子其实本来是教会中的一个圣人的纪念日，纪念圣瓦伦丁（St Valentine）。这位圣人据信是一个公元3世纪的人物，他后来在罗马殉道。有传说说，他生前曾经极力协助一些有情人成眷属，因此他的纪念日被用作所谓的情人节。无论此说是真是假，不少英国人都会在这一天发情人卡给心上人，但是，英国的传统是，发卡人不得在卡上签名或者留下任何可以显示自己身份的印记，以免遭遇厄运。 ★薄煎饼日 Pancake Day
薄煎饼日（Pancake Day）的真正名字是忏悔礼拜二（Shrove Tuesday）。这一天其实是基督教会在基督受难日前40天的“封斋期”开始前的最后一天。封斋期内一些虔诚的教徒会定期“守斋”，纪念耶稣基督的死。为此，在古代，人们会在忏悔礼拜二把家中的“美味”食物清除或用罄。由于以前鸡蛋和糖、黄油都属于较为难得的“佳味”，因此，人们会利用这些原料制成薄煎饼享用，后来成为了英国的一个传统。
提到薄煎饼，其实也有不少这方面的吃的文化。一般的薄煎饼就是pancake，但是，如果制作精美一点，而且比较薄又大一点的就称为crêpe。吃薄煎饼的时候，有涂上普通糖浆的，比较讲究的也有涂上枫树糖浆的。不过，也有人喜欢洒柠檬汁和幼糖的。更为豪华的有先把crêpe放到热橙汁和白兰地酒中一会儿然后才品尝的。
元旦新年 New Year's day -- 1月1日
情人节 Valentine’s Day -- 2月14日
圣戴维日 St David’s Day -- 3月1日
圣帕特里克日 St Patrick’s Day -- 3月17日
圣星期六 Holy Saturday -- 是Easter的前一天
复活节 Easter day -- 在3月21日到4月25日之间。
复活节次日 Easter Monday -- 是Easter的第二天。
耶稣受难日 Good Friday -- 复活节前的星期五,教堂举行仪式纪念耶稣受难。在英国这一天是公假,人们吃传统的热十字糕(hot cross buns)。
耶稣升天节 Ascension Day-- 是Easter第40天之后的星期四,也称为Holy Thursday。
圣灵降临日 Pentecost-- 是Easter后的第7个星期天,也称为White Sunday。 圣母玛丽亚日 Lady's Day -- 每年3月25日，又称 Annunciation Day （天时报细节）。
愚人节 April Fool’s Day， All Fools’ Day -- 4月1日
女王诞辰日 Queen's Birthday -- 每年4月21日，该节是庆祝女王诞辰。 莎士比亚纪念日 Shakespeare's Day -- 每年4月23日，该节是庆祝莎士比亚的生日。也称圣乔治日 St George’s Day 。
五月节 May Day -- 每年5月1日，该节是迎接春天的祭奠。
五朔节 Beltane -- 5月1日
英联邦纪念日 Commonwealth Day -- 每年5月1日，该节日出自于庆祝维多利亚女王的生日。
女王法定诞辰日Queen's Official Birthday -- 英国在6月10日或前一个星期六放假，以取代4月21日女王的生日。
薄煎饼日 Pancake Day -- 基督教会在基督受难日前40天的“封斋期”开始前的最后一天。
“母亲节” mother's day -- 5月第二个星期日
银行节--The bank is saved -- 5月的第一个星期一及最后一个星期一，8月的最后一个星期
阅兵日--Review troops every day -- 6月份的第二个星期六
仲夏夜 Midsummer’s Day -- 6月23日
万圣节前夕 Hallowe’en-- 10月31日
万圣节 Hallowmas，all saints' day -- 11月1日
盖伊‧福克斯日 Guy Fawkes’Day -- 11月5日
圣诞节前夜 Christmas Eve -- 12月24日
圣诞节 Christmas day --12月25日
节礼日--Boxing Day -- 12月26日
“神圣星期四” Maundy Thursday -- 每年耶稣受难日前的最后一个星期四，就是所谓的“最后晚餐”的一天。
国庆日--National Day -- 国王的正式生日
银行假日--Bank holiday
★国庆日 National Day
英国的国庆日期并不固定，而是以国王的正式生日为国庆日。
★银行假日 Bank holiday
英国还有8天的所谓“银行假日”，这是全国性的假日，并不仅限于银行。8天银行假日是一年中最受欢迎的节日，其原因正值孩子们放假，许多人设法乘机度一个较长的周末，去海边或乡村。
The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic
Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to
To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.
The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day,
according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman
In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.
According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)
Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as
英国节日
1. New Year\'s Day(元旦),每年1月1日庆祝新的一年开始。人们举办各种各
样的新年晚会,女王发表新年祝辞,各种教堂在除夕夜都做守岁礼拜。
2. St. Valentine\'s Day(情人节),每年2月14日,是3世纪殉教的圣徒圣华伦泰逝世纪念日。情人们在这一天互赠礼物,故称“情人节”。
3. St. Patrick\'s Day(圣帕特里克节),每年3月17日,是悼念爱尔兰的守护神圣帕特里克的节日。
4. Holy Saturday(圣星期六),是Easter的前一天。
5. Easter(复活节),一般在每年春分后月圆第一个星期天,约在3月21日左右。该节日是庆祝基督(Jesus Christ)的复活,过节时人们多吃复活节彩蛋(Easter eggs)。
6. Easter Monday(复活节次日),是Easter的第二天。
7. Good Friday(耶稣受难日),复活节前的星期五,教堂举行仪式纪念耶稣受难。在英国这一天是公假,人们吃传统的热十字糕(hot cross buns)。
8. Ascension Day(耶稣升天节),是Easter第40天之后的星期四,也称为Holy Thursday。
9. Pentecost(圣灵降临日),是Easter后的第7个星期天,也称为White Sunday。
10. April Fool\'s Day(愚人节),每年4月1日,该节日出自于庆祝“春分点”(vernal
equinox)的来临,在4月1日受到恶作剧愚弄的人称为“四月愚人”(April Fools)。
11. Queen’s Birthday(女王诞辰日),每年4月21日,该节日是庆祝女王的诞辰。
12. May Day(五月节),每年5月1日,该节日是迎接春天的祭典。
13. Commonwealth Day(英联邦纪念日),每年5月24日,该节日出自于庆祝维多利亚女王的生日。
14. Queen’s Official Birthday(女王法定诞辰日),英国在6月10日或前一个星期六放假,以取代4月21日女王的生日。
15. Michaelmas (米迦勒节),每年9月29日。
16. Hallowe’en (万圣节前夕),每年10月31日,孩子们化装成鬼尽情嬉笑、玩耍、吓唬别人。
17. All Saints’Day (万圣节,或众信徒日),每年11月1日,该节日是纪念殉教者之灵。
18. Guy Fakes Day (烟火节),时间为每年的11月5日,为纪念火药阴谋案(Gunpowder Plot)举行的群众性庆祝活动。现在此事件的历史意义已经淡忘,当晚的活动实际已变成篝火夜或烟火狂欢节。
19. Christmas Day (圣诞节),每年的12月25日,基督徒庆祝耶稣诞生的日子,是英国最大的节日。圣诞期间人们不仅能经常看到圣诞老人(Santa Claus或Father Christmas),而且还能吃到圣诞正餐(Christmas dinner)和圣诞布丁(Christmas Pudding),亲手装饰圣诞树,尽情欢度圣诞夜。
20. Childermas (婴儿殉教日),每年的12月28日, 纪念殉教幼儿的日子,也称Holy Innocents’Day。
Hallowe'en['hæləu'i:n] =Halloweenn. 万圣节前夕(10月31日夜晚)
Pantomimes 圣诞节上演的话剧
Look Behind You! 就在你身后!
In winter in Britain, many children and adults enjoy
going to the theatre to
watch a pantomime.
Pantomimes are a very old form of entertainment, but
the modern version is as
popular as ever.
Pantomimes today A special performance for originate from a type of the festive season
light, popular, comedy
play from 16th Century Italy. Some aspects of modern pantomime date from this time, for example having stock characters who appear in different stories.
Pantomimes started to be performed in England in the 17th Century, and it was here that the comedy developed into slapstick - a clownish, physical comedy characterised by people falling over or fighting in a silly way.
In the 19th Century, Grimaldi, a famous clown, introduced the tradition of audience participation, a very important aspect of modern pantomime. He established catch phrases, which the audience would respond to by shouting a known response.
There are two very well-known catch phrases in modern British pantomime. The first is that a character will pretend not to see his enemy and ask the audience where he is. The audience shout out ‘Look behind you!’ The second is where a character pretends to have an argument with the audience using phrases like ‘Oh yes I did’ and ‘Oh no you didn’t!’
Pantomimes are based on folk stories or fairy tales like Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk or Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. The performances often include songs or music.
There are two stock characters who feature in almost every pantomime. The first is the pantomime dame, an older woman such as an aunt, usually played by a man. She usually has an outrageous costume and a bawdy sense of humour.
In addition, there is often a male character played by a young woman, called the principal boy. This is
usually the hero of the story. The fact that actors are
playing roles of the wrong gender is part of the joke.
Often, celebrities from the world of TV or pop music
take leading roles in pantomimes, or ‘pantos’. You
will find a pantomime in almost every theatre in
Britain in wintertime„‘Oh yes you will!’
GLOSSARY 词汇表 (收听发音, 请单击英语单词)
pantomime character
(圣诞节上演的)话剧 角色
originate from based on
起源于„ 以„为基础, 基于
date from folk stories
起始于„ 民间故事
stock character fairy tales
固定角色 神话故事
slapstick pantomime dame
闹剧, 滑稽戏 话剧的女主角之一, 通常是
clownish 指年岁较大的那位
滑稽的 played by
physical comedy 由„来演
喜剧 (主要用肢体语言表达) bawdy
clown 淫猥的, 下流的
小丑 principal boy
audience participation 话剧的男主角
观众的参与 actors
catch phrases 演员
口头禅, 套话 celebrities
社会名流
英国节日
JANUARY
New Year’s Eve:
All over Britain on 31 December there are New Year celebrations. Most people see in the new year with friends and relations. At midnight on New Year’s Eve, everybody joins hands and sings Auld Lang Syne, a poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. In Scotland and the North of England, people go first footing. They call at friends’ houses, trying to be the first person through the door after midnight. To symbolize good luck, the visitor carries a piece of coal and a glass of water.
New Year’s Day:
On New Year’s Day (1st January) people make New Year’s resolutions. They decide to do something to improve their lives. For example, people decide to five up smoking or go to the gym once a week.
FEBRUARY
Crufts Dog Show:
Dag breeders from all over the world bring their valuable dogs to take part in Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham. There are prizes for most breeds and one for the best dog, who is given the title Crufts Supreme Champion. Saint Valentine’s Day:
Saint Valentine’s Day is 14th February. People send a Valentine’s card to someone they love, fancy, admire or secretly like. Usually you don’t sign your name. The person who receives the card has to guess who sent it.
MARCH
The Boat Race:
This rowing race between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge has been held on the River Thames in London almost every year since 1836. The length of the course is 4.5 miles.
Pancake Day:
Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the day before Lent starts. Lent is a Christian fast which lasts for 40 days before Easter. Pancake Day is traditionally a day of celebration, the last day that you can eat what you want until Easter. Pancakes are made of flour, eggs and milk; all things which should not be eaten during Lent. Nowadays people don’t fast, but some people give up sweets or smoking.
APRIL
April Fool’s Day:
April Fool’s Day is 1st April. You can play jokes on people, even on teachers. When they discover the joke, you say, “April Fool!”. You have to play the joke before 12 o’clock midday, otherwise the joke’s on you. Easter:
Schools close for two weeks at Easter. On Good Friday, people eat hot cross buns, which are small sweet rolls. They eat them toasted with butter. People give each other chocolate Easter eggs on Easter Sunday. The eggs are usually hollow and contain sweets.
The London Marathon:
This is one of the biggest marathons in the world. Each year about 30,000 people start the race and about 25,000 finish. Some people take part to raise money for charity, often wearing costumes. There is also a race for people in wheelchairs.
MAY
May Day:
In villages throughout Britain on 1st May you can see children dancing round the maypole and singing songs. It is a pagan festival to celebrate the end of winter and welcome summer.
FA (Football Association) Cup Final: 足球协会杯决赛
This is the biggest day in the football calendar. Two English football
clubs play to win the FA Cup. The match takes place at Wembley Stadium in London. Scotland has its own FA Cup Final, played at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Chelsea Flower Show:
This is Britain’s most important flower and garden show. Thousands of people come to see the prize flowers and specially built gardens. JUNE
Royal Ascot:
This is one of the biggest horse-race meetings in Britain. It is held at Ascot, in the south of England. The Queen drives there from Windsor Castle. Ascot lasts for four days.
Trooping the Colour:
This is the second Saturday in June and celebrates the Queen’s official birthday (her real birthday is 21st April). She watches a parade of hundreds of soldiers. There is lots of marching, military music and the soldiers are dressed in colourful uniforms.
JULY
Wimbledon:
This is one of the four great world tennis championships and the only one which is played on grass. It is held in the last week of June and the first week of July at Wimbledon in south-west London.
Henley Regatta:
This is the largest rowing competition in Britain. It is held at Henley-on-Thames, where the Thames runs in a straight line for over two kilometers and makes it an ideal place for rowing. The regatta, or boat racing competition, has been held there almost every year since 1839. Saint Swithin’s Day:
It is said that if it rains on Saint Swithin’s Day, 15th July, it will rain for 40 days afterwards.
AUGUST
Notting Hill Carnival:
The last weekend in August there is a big carnival at Notting Hill in west London. People who take part dress up in fabulous costumes. Steel bands play African and Caribbean dance music and people dance and blow whistles. It’s the biggest carnival outside Brazil.
The Proms:
This is a popular series of classical music concerts. The season lasts seven weeks and there are concerts every night. Most of the concerts are performed at the Royal Albert Hall, in London. A lot of people like to go to the Last Night of the Proms. The orchestra plays popular tunes. People sing along and wave flags.
SEPTEMBER
Blackpool Illuminations:
Every year 16 million visitors go to the holiday resort of Blackpool. When
summer ends there are still things to see. From 1st September to 1st November, the promenade has a special illuminated display at night. The theme of the display changes every year.
Harvest Festivals:
In the autumn, harvest festivals are held. This is a Christian festival and churches are decorated with fruit, vegetables and flowers that people bring. Traditionally, the festival was held to say thank you to God for a good harvest.
OCTOBER
International Motor Show:
Every second year, car manufactures from all over the world display their latest models at the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham.
Hallowe’en:
31st October is Hallowe’en. This pagan festival celebrates the return of the souls of the dead who come back to visit places where they used to live. In the evening there are lots of Hallowe’en parties, or fancy dress parties. People dress up as witches, ghosts, devils, cats, bats or anything scary. Houses are decorated with pumpkins with candles put inside. Some children follow the American custom called Trick or Treat. They knock at your house and ask, “Trick or treat?” If you give them some money or some sweets, they go away. Otherwise, they play a trick on you, like squirting water in you face.
NOVEMBER
London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally:
This is usually the first Sunday in November. Hundreds of veteran cars are driven from London to Brighton, on the south coast of England. Guy Fawkes’ Night (Bonfire Night):
Guy Fawkes is Britain’s most famous terrorist. On 5th November 1605, Guy Fawkes planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament and the King of England, James I. The plot was discovered and Guy Fawkes was hanged. Every year on 5th November, people celebrat by setting off fireworks. They also make models of Guy Fawkes and burn them on big bonfires.
DECEMBER
Pantomimes:
These are plays put on before Christmas, usually for children. They are based on fairy tales, such as Cinderella or Aladdin, and mix comedy, song and dance.
Christmas cards: 圣诞卡片
Most people send Christmas cards to their friends and relations. Some shops sell charity cards and the profits made from selling these cards go to good causes.
Christmas Day:
The most important day of the holidays is 25th December, or Christmas Day. Children wake up early to find a stocking full of small presents on their
bed. Other presents, opened when everyone is together, are arranged around the Christmas dinner includes roast turkey, roast potatoes and Brussels sprouts, followed by Christmas pudding.
Boxing Day: 节礼日
This is 26th December. It is usually spent in front of the TV recovering
from Christmas Day
盖伊·福克斯之夜 Guy Fawkes Night
在英格兰，每年都有一个分外热闹的夜晚：夜空中，烟花飞舞；大地上，篝火熊熊。人们在干什么呢？原来，他们在欢度“盖伊·福克斯之夜”。
人们把每年11月5日的夜晚称为“盖伊·福克斯之夜”或者“篝火之夜”。那天晚上，英国举国同庆。人们点燃篝火，把英国叛国者盖伊·福克斯的人物模型扔到火中付之一炬。除此之外，烟花表演也是那晚不可缺少的，许多地方政府会组织盛大的烟花表演。
庆祝“篝火之夜”的历史传统与1605年的一个企图炸毁议会、弑君的阴谋有关。1605年的一天，盖伊·福克斯携带大量火药潜入到伦敦议会大厦下面的一个房间里，企图炸毁议会。
他被迅速逮捕，然后受到审判，最终判了死刑。在随后几个月的时间里，与“火药阴谋”有牵连的另外一些人也相继落网，最终也被处决。
为什么福克斯及其同伙会策划这场阴谋呢？因为他们对国家的一项法令不满，因为法令“剥夺”了他们的宗教信仰。当时，这些人是天主教徒，而英国国王詹姆士一世和大多数英国人都是强烈反对天主教的新教徒。
阴谋被挫败了，国王安然无恙，叛国者落网了。人们燃起篝火，庆祝胜利。从此以后，英国就形成了庆祝“篝火之夜”的传统。
IN England one night a year comes alive as colourful fireworks explode in the night sky and smoke from giant bonfires floats across the land. All the noise and fires are made to remember the country's greatest traitor, named Guy Fawkes.
It is called Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night and is held on November
5. Across the country parties are held where people light big fires. Often they throw models of Guy Fawkes on to the fire. Fireworks are also an important part of the evening, with many local government holding big displays.
This tradition was started after an attempt was made to blow up Parliament and murder the king in 1605. Guy Fawkes was found in a room under the Houses of Parliament in London with a large amount of gunpowder. He was immediately arrested and later tried in court and killed. Over a period of months other people in the
Fawkes and his friends were very angry because of a law that said they could not follow their religion. They were Catholic at a time when the king, James I, and most people in England were Protestant and violently opposed to them.
On the night that people found out the king had been saved and the traitor caught, they lit fires in celebration. This has become a tradition
continued to this day.
Saint Patrick's Day
1.An urban district of southern Northern Ireland. Reputedly founded by Saint Patrick, it is the seat of both the Roman Catholic and Protestant primates of Ireland. Population,12, 700.
阿马北爱尔兰南部一市区。据说是由圣帕特里克创建，是爱尔兰罗马天主教和新教主教所在地。人口12，700
2.St Patrick′s Day-national day of Ireland.
圣徒帕特里克纪念日-爱尔兰国庆节。
3.Saint Louis圣路易
4.Saint John 圣约翰
5.Saint Helena 圣赫勒拿
6.Saint Pierre 圣皮埃尔7.Saint Paul 圣保罗
8.Saint Joan 《圣女贞德》
9.the Saint 侠圣
10.Saint Lucia 圣卢西亚
The life and death of Saint Swithin a Saxon bishop whose feast day on the 15th July is said to predict the weather.
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Saint Swithin (or Swithun)
St Swithin's day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain
St Swithun's day if thou be fair
For forty days 'twill rain na mair
Traditional rhyme
And if any church fell down, or was in decay, S. Swithin would anon amend it at his own cost. Or if any church were not hallowed, he would go thither afoot and hallow it. For he loved no pride, ne to ride on gay horses, ne to be praised ne flattered of the people...
The Golden Legend, a medieval book of saints' stories
Saint Swithin was a Saxon bishop. He was born in the kingdom of Wessex and educated in its capital, Winchester. He was famous for charitable gifts and building churches. His feast day is 15 July and his emblems are
rain drops and apples.
Winchester Cathedral
Swithin was chaplain to Egbert, the 802-839 king of Wessex. Egbert's son Ethelwulf, whom Swithin educated, made him bishop of Winchester in 852. Only one miracle is attributed to Swithin while he was alive. An old lady's eggs had been smashed by workmen building a church. Swithin picked the broken eggs up and, it is said, they miraculously became whole again. Swithin died on 2 July 862. According to tradition, he had asked to be buried humbly. His grave was just outside the west door of the Old Minster, so that people would walk across it and rain fall on it in accordance with Swithin's wishes.
On 15 July 971, though, Swithin's remains were dug up and moved to a shrine in the cathedral by Bishop Ethelwold. Miraculous cures were associated with the event, and Swithin's feast day is the date of the removal of his remains, not his death day.
However, the removal was also accompanied by ferocious and violent rain storms that lasted 40 days and 40 nights and are said to indicate the saint's displeasure at being moved. This is probably the origin of the legend that if it rains on Saint Swithin's feast day, the rain will continue for 40 more days.
Saint Swithin is still seen as the patron of Winchester Cathedral.
英国的节日
元旦新年 New Year's day -- 1月1日
情人节 Valentine’s Day -- 2月14日
圣戴维日 St David’s Day -- 3月1日
圣帕特里克日 St Patrick’s Day -- 3月17日
圣星期六 Holy Saturday -- 是Easter的前一天
复活节 Easter day -- 在3月21日到4月25日之间。
复活节次日 Easter Monday -- 是Easter的第二天。
耶稣受难日 Good Friday -- 复活节前的星期五,教堂举行仪式纪念耶稣受难。在英国这一天是公假,人们吃传统的热十字糕(hot cross buns)。
耶稣升天节 Ascension Day-- 是Easter第40天之后的星期四,也称为Holy Thursday。
圣灵降临日 Pentecost-- 是Easter后的第7个星期天,也称为White Sunday。 圣母玛丽亚日 Lady's Day -- 每年3月25日，又称 Annunciation Day （天时报细节）。
愚人节 April Fool’s Day， All Fools’ Day -- 4月1日
女王诞辰日 Queen's Birthday -- 每年4月21日，该节是庆祝女王诞辰。 莎士比亚纪念日 Shakespeare's Day -- 每年4月23日，该节是庆祝莎士比亚的生日。也称圣乔治日 St George’s Day 。
五月节 May Day -- 每年5月1日，该节是迎接春天的祭奠。
五朔节 Beltane -- 5月1日
英联邦纪念日 Commonwealth Day -- 每年5月1日，该节日出自于庆祝维多利亚女王的生日。
女王法定诞辰日Queen's Official Birthday -- 英国在6月10日或前一个星期六放假，以取代4月21日女王的生日。
薄煎饼日 Pancake Day -- 基督教会在基督受难日前40天的“封斋期”开始前的最后一天。
“母亲节” mother's day -- 5月第二个星期日
银行节--The bank is saved -- 5月的第一个星期一及最后一个星期一，8月的最后一个星期
阅兵日--Review troops every day -- 6月份的第二个星期六
仲夏夜 Midsummer’s Day -- 6月23日
万圣节前夕 Hallowe’en-- 10月31日
万圣节 Hallowmas，all saints' day -- 11月1日
盖伊‧福克斯日 Guy Fawkes’Day -- 11月5日
圣诞节前夜 Christmas Eve -- 12月24日
圣诞节 Christmas day --12月25日
节礼日--Boxing Day -- 12月26日
“神圣星期四” Maundy Thursday -- 每年耶稣受难日前的最后一个星期四，就是所谓的“最后晚餐”的一天。
国庆日--National Day -- 国王的正式生日
银行假日--Bank holiday
★国庆日 National Day
英国的国庆日期并不固定，而是以国王的正式生日为国庆日。
★银行假日 Bank holiday
英国还有8天的所谓“银行假日”，这是全国性的假日，并不仅限于银行。8天银行假日是一年中最受欢迎的节日，其原因正值孩子们放假，许多人设法乘机度一个较长的周末，去海边或乡村。
★圣戴维日 St David’s Day
每年3月1日是圣戴维日（ St David’s Day）。按照基督教传统，圣戴维是威尔士的所谓“主保圣人”，就是说，人们认为他特别照顾威尔士。这里所纪念的是公元第二世纪到威尔士传教的僧人戴维，并非《圣经》中的戴维王。
这一天是威尔士的重要节日，不少公司、办公室都放假。 在这一天以及这天的前后，在英国街头上会看到不少人衣襟上有一朵黄色的水仙花，这是因为威尔士的标记是黄水仙和韭葱。当然在衣襟上插一把韭葱不大好看吧！
★圣帕特里克日 St Patrick’s Day
3月17日是爱尔兰主保圣人圣帕特里克（St Patrick’s Day）的纪念日。Z这天是爱尔兰共和国、北爱尔兰的假日，而英国，乃至欧美其他地方的爱尔兰裔人都会热烈庆祝这个纪念他们传统中的主保圣人的日子。
圣帕特里克是公元第五世纪在英国西部或者苏格兰地区生活的一个人物。他在16岁的时候遭歹徒俘虏，卖到爱尔兰为奴隶。他后来逃脱，并且到欧洲地区接受教育，并成为传教士。在第五世纪初年，他回到爱尔兰开始传教工作，并且在短短10年内在这个岛屿不少地方兴建交通，成功鼓励人们信奉基督教。
传说中的圣帕特里克利用白花酢浆草（shamrock）有三片小叶的叶片来解释基督教中的天主是“三位一体”的概念，因此，时至今日，人们仍然以白花酢浆草的叶作为爱尔兰的标记。
在这一天，爱尔兰人聚居的地方可能会组织游行，以示纪念。个别酒馆中也以绿色的啤酒奉客，因为白花酢浆草的叶是鲜绿色的，而绿色也是爱尔兰的标记。 ★“母亲节” mother's day
英国的所谓“母亲节”与美国的完全不同。在美国，5月第二个星期日是“母亲节”，但是，英国的所谓“母亲节”是在基督教会的耶稣受难前的“封斋期”内的第四个星期日，称为Mothering Sunday。
据悉，按照古老的教会传统，这一天是信徒回到他们本来所属的教堂（mother church）的一天，因此，所谓“mother”，本意不是母亲，但是，到了大约17世纪中，人们开始把“mother”也包括了人们自己的母亲，后来就演变成现在的所谓“母亲节”。
在这一天，英国不少人仍然按照传统，准备一个称为“Simnel Cake”的蛋糕，带回家给自己的妈妈，或者送到教堂，与其他教友一起享用。
按照维多利亚女王时代留下的传统，这种用干果、果仁、香料、酒和鸡蛋制造的蛋糕上面有一层蛋白杏仁软糖，上面有11个用这种软糖造成的球，以纪念除了犹大以外的其他11位耶稣基督的门徒。按照《圣经》所载，犹大出卖耶稣，让他在犹太人手上受凌辱，最后钉死在十字架上。
★“神圣星期四” Maundy Thursday
这是每年耶稣受难日前的最后一个星期四，就是所谓的“最后晚餐”的一天，在英国称为Maundy Thursday。在这一天，罗马天主教内有教士、高级神职人员为信徒、初级教士濯足的仪式，仿效耶稣在这天为门徒濯足的做法。但是，这一天另外一个最为人所知的传统是英国君主在这一天向一些经过挑选的穷人或有需要的人发放金钱的做法。当然，现在在英国这个实行社会福利制度的国家，这样
做主要是为了象征意义。不过，英国君主仍然会向经过挑选的人发放银币，而这些银币虽然也是可流通货币，但是，已经成为收藏家渴求的珍品。
★复活节 Easter day
作为一个基督教国家，纪念耶稣受难后复活的复活节（Easter）当然在英国是一个重要的节日。按照西方基督教会的传统，通常这个日子是在3月21日到4月25日之间。这是因为复活节好像一些其他个别的教会日子一样都是按照阴历计算的。复活节确实是3月21日或以后的第一个月圆日之后的星期日。
除了教会的庆典之外，英国有不同的活动或风俗，标记这个日子，其中，“蛋”是经常出现的。对小孩子来说，当然是所谓的“复活蛋”。这些一般都是巧克力制造的。比较简单的，在超级市场也可以买到，但是，在英国，不少高档的餐厅、咖啡厅，都会在每年这个时候推出自己特制的“复活蛋”，有 黑巧克力制造的，有牛奶巧克力的，有白巧克力的，也有蛋白杏仁糖制造的。除了一般的蛋型设计外，也有不少是动物、鲜花、卡通人物等，款式繁多，就算是对吃“复活蛋”没有兴趣的也会在这个时候可以到这些餐厅、店铺外的橱窗一饱眼福。除了吃“复活蛋”以外，英国不少地方每年复活节左右都有有关“蛋”的活动，例如：英国的一些慈善组织和旅游机构都会在这个时候在一些著名的花园或大宅的园圃内举办寻“复活蛋”的活动。最有趣的莫如一些地方在山坡上举行的“滚蛋”比赛。参赛者自备生鸡蛋，到山顶上把鸡蛋“滚”到山下，大家都会各出奇谋，希望取胜。
★愚人节 April Fool’s Day， All Fools’ Day
每年的4月1日是愚人节（April Fool’s Day， All Fools’ Day）。这个节日的确实来源已经不大清楚，但是，有资料显示，在16世纪法国，一种类似的传统已经存在。无论如何，英国各地现在都有类似的习俗。
在这一天，人们可以尽情的愚弄周遭的人，但是，最终都是一些无伤大雅的玩意。只不过，如果你在这天看英国的报纸，或者听天台广播，听到或看到有什么特别的消息时，你得千万小心，以免受愚弄。
★圣乔治日 St George’s Day
按照基督教会的传统，4月23日是圣乔治的纪念日（St George’s Day）。如果大家在这一天前后到英格兰地区，你会看到教堂、酒馆，甚或汽车外都会挂上有一个红色十字的白色旗帜，这就是圣乔治旗。每逢例如英格兰足球队出赛，或者凯旋而归的时候，这面旗帜更大量出现在球场内外。
从大约14世纪开始，圣乔治成为了英格兰的守护“主保”圣人；在此之前，英格兰的守护圣人是爱德华（St Edward the Confessor）。据信圣乔治是罗马帝国时代生活在近东地区的一位基督徒。他因为成功杀死一条遗害当地人的毒龙而深受爱戴。现在，在英国不少地方都可以看到一位身穿盔甲的骑马武士屠龙的图案，这就是圣乔治。
★仲夏夜 Midsummer’s Day
虽然每年夏至，即每年日最长夜最短的日子是阳历6月21日，但是，英国庆祝仲夏夜（Midsummer’s Eve）都是在6月22日晚上。6月23日就是仲夏日（Midsummer’s Day）。根据英国的传说，人们会在这个晚上有奇异的经历，可能进入魔幻世界。可能就是因为这个原因，所以英国大文豪莎士比亚就写作了名剧《仲夏夜之梦》（A Midsummer Night’s Dream）。里面就有这样的一句：Why, this is very midsummer madness.
人类学家说，在远古时代生活在英国的人会在夏至当日由巫师（Druids）举行仪
式，迎接这个特别的日子。英国一些石器时代遗留下来的巨石建筑据信与这种庆祝活动有关。位于伦敦西南面的著名的巨石阵（Stonehenge），以及附近的比较巨石阵更大的埃夫伯利（Avebury Stone Circle）据称就是例子。不少所谓的“新时代信仰”人士每年会长途跋涉，赶在夏至日破晓前齐集在巨石阵，举行庆祝活动。由于人数太多，英国警方需要出动，甚或实施限制进场措施，以维持秩序。虽然现场情况可能看似混乱，但是，不少人说，亲眼看到夏至日的太阳从巨石之间升起的景象，是毕生难忘的经验。
★万圣节 Hallowe’en,all saints' day
每年的10月31日是所谓的万圣节（Hallowe’en），其实这是11月1日基督教会传统中纪念所有圣人和殉道者的节日All Hallows 的前夕。人们相信，在这个晚上，已逝的人会从坟墓中走出来，巫婆和鬼怪也会到处出没。 在古代，人们都喜欢在这个晚上在红红火光陪伴下守夜。当然，时至今日，这种传统已经不复存在，取而代之的是一种来自大西洋彼岸的美国的习俗，就是让小孩子装扮成巫婆妖怪，四处到邻居家敲门，要求糖果金钱，这就是所谓的“trick or treat”，意思就是，如果你不给他们一些好吃的，或者给他们一点钱，他们就可能会戏弄你。
★盖伊‧福克斯日 Guy Fawkes’Day
盖伊‧福克斯日 - Guy Fawkes’ Day。这并不是什么圣人纪念日，所纪念的是1605年发生的一次阴谋。在当年，一伙以盖伊‧福克斯为首的人密谋在英国议会底下安置炸药，行刺信奉新教的占姆斯一世，试图恢复罗马天主教徒在英国宗教改革过程中失去的权力。但是，阴谋被揭露，密谋者判处死刑，而后来人们都在11月5日举行活动庆祝此事。活动包括观看烟火等。不过，包括英格兰南部东萨塞克斯郡（East Sussex）的刘易斯（Lewes）镇，人们保持了几百年来的传统，在这个晚上手持火把，上街游行，其中更有焚烧盖伊‧福克斯以及当年的罗马天主教教皇假人的环节。
★圣诞节 Christmas day
每年的12月25日是基督教会中的圣诞节（Christmas），是纪念耶稣基督诞生的日子。但是，一些学者认为，这个节日的根源是古代人类庆祝冬季结束，期待春天再度来临的日子。这种说法的根据是，每年白天最短，黑夜最长的日子- 冬至 – 就在12月21或者22日。
传统的圣诞期在12月25日开始，一直到翌年的1月6日的所谓“第12夜”（Twelfth Night）结束。在这段之间之中，不少英国人会张灯结彩，装饰家居，以示庆祝。现在不少英国人可能在12月初已经购置圣诞树等装饰，放在家中，但是，按照古老传统，装饰是圣诞前夕才放在家中的。不少读者可能认为圣诞树是英国的产物，但是，这个其实是欧洲大陆，特别是德国的传统，是19世纪维多利亚女皇的德国籍夫婿艾伯特亲王（Prince Albert）引入的。 圣诞节的另外一个传统是在室内悬挂槲寄生（Mistletoe）枝。这是一种在苹果树和一些其他数目上寄生的植物，在英国的远古时代被认为有异常的魔力。不过，英国人的传统就是，在槲寄生枝底下，一个男孩子可以亲吻一个女孩子。 或者是因为这个传统吧，英国有不少文学作品中提到槲寄生的，例如18世纪末年的著名诗人斯科特（Walter Scott）就在其作品《Marmion》中这样写道：
The damsel donned her kirtle sheen
The hall was decked with holly green
Forth to the woods did merry men go
To gather in the mistletoe.
按照传统，不少英国人都会在圣诞前夕到教堂出席崇拜或者其他宗教仪式，包括罗马天主教会在午夜举行的所谓“子夜弥撒”，以迎接圣诞节和纪念基督的诞生。
圣诞节的装饰会一直保留到翌年年初，但是，人们一般会在“第12夜”把装饰拆除，这是因为人们相信，装饰保留超过这个时间会带来厄运。
★元旦新年 New Year's day
元旦新年一般是圣诞节庆祝活动的延续。不少英国人会在圣诞节前开始一直放假到新年过后。
在伦敦，一个已经实行多年的做法是在除夕提供免费公共交通，方便人们迎接新的一年。在子夜将临之际，不少人会聚集在伦敦市中心泰晤士河河畔的议会大楼前等候“大笨钟”敲响1月1日零时零分的钟声。不少人会带备香槟酒，举杯迎接新年。
在苏格兰爱丁堡市的古老城堡下的公园中，人们也会聚集，庆祝新年的来临。在苏格兰，庆祝新年的活动称为Hogmanay，是苏格兰一个非常重要的庆祝活动。 ★情人节 Valentine’s Day
每年的2月14日是所谓的情人节（Valentine’s Day）。现在这个节日已经成为了年轻人热切期待的一天，让他们有机会可以同心上人共庆良辰。不过，这个日子其实本来是教会中的一个圣人的纪念日，纪念圣瓦伦丁（St Valentine）。这位圣人据信是一个公元3世纪的人物，他后来在罗马殉道。有传说说，他生前曾经极力协助一些有情人成眷属，因此他的纪念日被用作所谓的情人节。无论此说是真是假，不少英国人都会在这一天发情人卡给心上人，但是，英国的传统是，发卡人不得在卡上签名或者留下任何可以显示自己身份的印记，以免遭遇厄运。 ★薄煎饼日 Pancake Day
薄煎饼日（Pancake Day）的真正名字是忏悔礼拜二（Shrove Tuesday）。这一天其实是基督教会在基督受难日前40天的“封斋期”开始前的最后一天。封斋期内一些虔诚的教徒会定期“守斋”，纪念耶稣基督的死。为此，在古代，人们会在忏悔礼拜二把家中的“美味”食物清除或用罄。由于以前鸡蛋和糖、黄油都属于较为难得的“佳味”，因此，人们会利用这些原料制成薄煎饼享用，后来成为了英国的一个传统。
提到薄煎饼，其实也有不少这方面的吃的文化。一般的薄煎饼就是pancake，但是，如果制作精美一点，而且比较薄又大一点的就称为crêpe。吃薄煎饼的时候，有涂上普通糖浆的，比较讲究的也有涂上枫树糖浆的。不过，也有人喜欢洒柠檬汁和幼糖的。更为豪华的有先把crêpe放到热橙汁和白兰地酒中一会儿然后才品尝的。
元旦新年 New Year's day -- 1月1日
情人节 Valentine’s Day -- 2月14日
圣戴维日 St David’s Day -- 3月1日
圣帕特里克日 St Patrick’s Day -- 3月17日
圣星期六 Holy Saturday -- 是Easter的前一天
复活节 Easter day -- 在3月21日到4月25日之间。
复活节次日 Easter Monday -- 是Easter的第二天。
耶稣受难日 Good Friday -- 复活节前的星期五,教堂举行仪式纪念耶稣受难。在英国这一天是公假,人们吃传统的热十字糕(hot cross buns)。
耶稣升天节 Ascension Day-- 是Easter第40天之后的星期四,也称为Holy Thursday。
圣灵降临日 Pentecost-- 是Easter后的第7个星期天,也称为White Sunday。 圣母玛丽亚日 Lady's Day -- 每年3月25日，又称 Annunciation Day （天时报细节）。
愚人节 April Fool’s Day， All Fools’ Day -- 4月1日
女王诞辰日 Queen's Birthday -- 每年4月21日，该节是庆祝女王诞辰。 莎士比亚纪念日 Shakespeare's Day -- 每年4月23日，该节是庆祝莎士比亚的生日。也称圣乔治日 St George’s Day 。
五月节 May Day -- 每年5月1日，该节是迎接春天的祭奠。
五朔节 Beltane -- 5月1日
英联邦纪念日 Commonwealth Day -- 每年5月1日，该节日出自于庆祝维多利亚女王的生日。
女王法定诞辰日Queen's Official Birthday -- 英国在6月10日或前一个星期六放假，以取代4月21日女王的生日。
薄煎饼日 Pancake Day -- 基督教会在基督受难日前40天的“封斋期”开始前的最后一天。
“母亲节” mother's day -- 5月第二个星期日
银行节--The bank is saved -- 5月的第一个星期一及最后一个星期一，8月的最后一个星期
阅兵日--Review troops every day -- 6月份的第二个星期六
仲夏夜 Midsummer’s Day -- 6月23日
万圣节前夕 Hallowe’en-- 10月31日
万圣节 Hallowmas，all saints' day -- 11月1日
盖伊‧福克斯日 Guy Fawkes’Day -- 11月5日
圣诞节前夜 Christmas Eve -- 12月24日
圣诞节 Christmas day --12月25日
节礼日--Boxing Day -- 12月26日
“神圣星期四” Maundy Thursday -- 每年耶稣受难日前的最后一个星期四，就是所谓的“最后晚餐”的一天。
国庆日--National Day -- 国王的正式生日
银行假日--Bank holiday
★国庆日 National Day
英国的国庆日期并不固定，而是以国王的正式生日为国庆日。
★银行假日 Bank holiday
英国还有8天的所谓“银行假日”，这是全国性的假日，并不仅限于银行。8天银行假日是一年中最受欢迎的节日，其原因正值孩子们放假，许多人设法乘机度一个较长的周末，去海边或乡村。
The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic
Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to
To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.
The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day,
according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman
In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.
According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)
Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as
英国节日
1. New Year\'s Day(元旦),每年1月1日庆祝新的一年开始。人们举办各种各
样的新年晚会,女王发表新年祝辞,各种教堂在除夕夜都做守岁礼拜。
2. St. Valentine\'s Day(情人节),每年2月14日,是3世纪殉教的圣徒圣华伦泰逝世纪念日。情人们在这一天互赠礼物,故称“情人节”。
3. St. Patrick\'s Day(圣帕特里克节),每年3月17日,是悼念爱尔兰的守护神圣帕特里克的节日。
4. Holy Saturday(圣星期六),是Easter的前一天。
5. Easter(复活节),一般在每年春分后月圆第一个星期天,约在3月21日左右。该节日是庆祝基督(Jesus Christ)的复活,过节时人们多吃复活节彩蛋(Easter eggs)。
6. Easter Monday(复活节次日),是Easter的第二天。
7. Good Friday(耶稣受难日),复活节前的星期五,教堂举行仪式纪念耶稣受难。在英国这一天是公假,人们吃传统的热十字糕(hot cross buns)。
8. Ascension Day(耶稣升天节),是Easter第40天之后的星期四,也称为Holy Thursday。
9. Pentecost(圣灵降临日),是Easter后的第7个星期天,也称为White Sunday。
10. April Fool\'s Day(愚人节),每年4月1日,该节日出自于庆祝“春分点”(vernal
equinox)的来临,在4月1日受到恶作剧愚弄的人称为“四月愚人”(April Fools)。
11. Queen’s Birthday(女王诞辰日),每年4月21日,该节日是庆祝女王的诞辰。
12. May Day(五月节),每年5月1日,该节日是迎接春天的祭典。
13. Commonwealth Day(英联邦纪念日),每年5月24日,该节日出自于庆祝维多利亚女王的生日。
14. Queen’s Official Birthday(女王法定诞辰日),英国在6月10日或前一个星期六放假,以取代4月21日女王的生日。
15. Michaelmas (米迦勒节),每年9月29日。
16. Hallowe’en (万圣节前夕),每年10月31日,孩子们化装成鬼尽情嬉笑、玩耍、吓唬别人。
17. All Saints’Day (万圣节,或众信徒日),每年11月1日,该节日是纪念殉教者之灵。
18. Guy Fakes Day (烟火节),时间为每年的11月5日,为纪念火药阴谋案(Gunpowder Plot)举行的群众性庆祝活动。现在此事件的历史意义已经淡忘,当晚的活动实际已变成篝火夜或烟火狂欢节。
19. Christmas Day (圣诞节),每年的12月25日,基督徒庆祝耶稣诞生的日子,是英国最大的节日。圣诞期间人们不仅能经常看到圣诞老人(Santa Claus或Father Christmas),而且还能吃到圣诞正餐(Christmas dinner)和圣诞布丁(Christmas Pudding),亲手装饰圣诞树,尽情欢度圣诞夜。
20. Childermas (婴儿殉教日),每年的12月28日, 纪念殉教幼儿的日子,也称Holy Innocents’Day。
Hallowe'en['hæləu'i:n] =Halloweenn. 万圣节前夕(10月31日夜晚)
Pantomimes 圣诞节上演的话剧
Look Behind You! 就在你身后!
In winter in Britain, many children and adults enjoy
going to the theatre to
watch a pantomime.
Pantomimes are a very old form of entertainment, but
the modern version is as
popular as ever.
Pantomimes today A special performance for originate from a type of the festive season
light, popular, comedy
play from 16th Century Italy. Some aspects of modern pantomime date from this time, for example having stock characters who appear in different stories.
Pantomimes started to be performed in England in the 17th Century, and it was here that the comedy developed into slapstick - a clownish, physical comedy characterised by people falling over or fighting in a silly way.
In the 19th Century, Grimaldi, a famous clown, introduced the tradition of audience participation, a very important aspect of modern pantomime. He established catch phrases, which the audience would respond to by shouting a known response.
There are two very well-known catch phrases in modern British pantomime. The first is that a character will pretend not to see his enemy and ask the audience where he is. The audience shout out ‘Look behind you!’ The second is where a character pretends to have an argument with the audience using phrases like ‘Oh yes I did’ and ‘Oh no you didn’t!’
Pantomimes are based on folk stories or fairy tales like Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk or Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. The performances often include songs or music.
There are two stock characters who feature in almost every pantomime. The first is the pantomime dame, an older woman such as an aunt, usually played by a man. She usually has an outrageous costume and a bawdy sense of humour.
In addition, there is often a male character played by a young woman, called the principal boy. This is
usually the hero of the story. The fact that actors are
playing roles of the wrong gender is part of the joke.
Often, celebrities from the world of TV or pop music
take leading roles in pantomimes, or ‘pantos’. You
will find a pantomime in almost every theatre in
Britain in wintertime„‘Oh yes you will!’
GLOSSARY 词汇表 (收听发音, 请单击英语单词)
pantomime character
(圣诞节上演的)话剧 角色
originate from based on
起源于„ 以„为基础, 基于
date from folk stories
起始于„ 民间故事
stock character fairy tales
固定角色 神话故事
slapstick pantomime dame
闹剧, 滑稽戏 话剧的女主角之一, 通常是
clownish 指年岁较大的那位
滑稽的 played by
physical comedy 由„来演
喜剧 (主要用肢体语言表达) bawdy
clown 淫猥的, 下流的
小丑 principal boy
audience participation 话剧的男主角
观众的参与 actors
catch phrases 演员
口头禅, 套话 celebrities
社会名流
英国节日
JANUARY
New Year’s Eve:
All over Britain on 31 December there are New Year celebrations. Most people see in the new year with friends and relations. At midnight on New Year’s Eve, everybody joins hands and sings Auld Lang Syne, a poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. In Scotland and the North of England, people go first footing. They call at friends’ houses, trying to be the first person through the door after midnight. To symbolize good luck, the visitor carries a piece of coal and a glass of water.
New Year’s Day:
On New Year’s Day (1st January) people make New Year’s resolutions. They decide to do something to improve their lives. For example, people decide to five up smoking or go to the gym once a week.
FEBRUARY
Crufts Dog Show:
Dag breeders from all over the world bring their valuable dogs to take part in Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham. There are prizes for most breeds and one for the best dog, who is given the title Crufts Supreme Champion. Saint Valentine’s Day:
Saint Valentine’s Day is 14th February. People send a Valentine’s card to someone they love, fancy, admire or secretly like. Usually you don’t sign your name. The person who receives the card has to guess who sent it.
MARCH
The Boat Race:
This rowing race between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge has been held on the River Thames in London almost every year since 1836. The length of the course is 4.5 miles.
Pancake Day:
Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the day before Lent starts. Lent is a Christian fast which lasts for 40 days before Easter. Pancake Day is traditionally a day of celebration, the last day that you can eat what you want until Easter. Pancakes are made of flour, eggs and milk; all things which should not be eaten during Lent. Nowadays people don’t fast, but some people give up sweets or smoking.
APRIL
April Fool’s Day:
April Fool’s Day is 1st April. You can play jokes on people, even on teachers. When they discover the joke, you say, “April Fool!”. You have to play the joke before 12 o’clock midday, otherwise the joke’s on you. Easter:
Schools close for two weeks at Easter. On Good Friday, people eat hot cross buns, which are small sweet rolls. They eat them toasted with butter. People give each other chocolate Easter eggs on Easter Sunday. The eggs are usually hollow and contain sweets.
The London Marathon:
This is one of the biggest marathons in the world. Each year about 30,000 people start the race and about 25,000 finish. Some people take part to raise money for charity, often wearing costumes. There is also a race for people in wheelchairs.
MAY
May Day:
In villages throughout Britain on 1st May you can see children dancing round the maypole and singing songs. It is a pagan festival to celebrate the end of winter and welcome summer.
FA (Football Association) Cup Final: 足球协会杯决赛
This is the biggest day in the football calendar. Two English football
clubs play to win the FA Cup. The match takes place at Wembley Stadium in London. Scotland has its own FA Cup Final, played at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Chelsea Flower Show:
This is Britain’s most important flower and garden show. Thousands of people come to see the prize flowers and specially built gardens. JUNE
Royal Ascot:
This is one of the biggest horse-race meetings in Britain. It is held at Ascot, in the south of England. The Queen drives there from Windsor Castle. Ascot lasts for four days.
Trooping the Colour:
This is the second Saturday in June and celebrates the Queen’s official birthday (her real birthday is 21st April). She watches a parade of hundreds of soldiers. There is lots of marching, military music and the soldiers are dressed in colourful uniforms.
JULY
Wimbledon:
This is one of the four great world tennis championships and the only one which is played on grass. It is held in the last week of June and the first week of July at Wimbledon in south-west London.
Henley Regatta:
This is the largest rowing competition in Britain. It is held at Henley-on-Thames, where the Thames runs in a straight line for over two kilometers and makes it an ideal place for rowing. The regatta, or boat racing competition, has been held there almost every year since 1839. Saint Swithin’s Day:
It is said that if it rains on Saint Swithin’s Day, 15th July, it will rain for 40 days afterwards.
AUGUST
Notting Hill Carnival:
The last weekend in August there is a big carnival at Notting Hill in west London. People who take part dress up in fabulous costumes. Steel bands play African and Caribbean dance music and people dance and blow whistles. It’s the biggest carnival outside Brazil.
The Proms:
This is a popular series of classical music concerts. The season lasts seven weeks and there are concerts every night. Most of the concerts are performed at the Royal Albert Hall, in London. A lot of people like to go to the Last Night of the Proms. The orchestra plays popular tunes. People sing along and wave flags.
SEPTEMBER
Blackpool Illuminations:
Every year 16 million visitors go to the holiday resort of Blackpool. When
summer ends there are still things to see. From 1st September to 1st November, the promenade has a special illuminated display at night. The theme of the display changes every year.
Harvest Festivals:
In the autumn, harvest festivals are held. This is a Christian festival and churches are decorated with fruit, vegetables and flowers that people bring. Traditionally, the festival was held to say thank you to God for a good harvest.
OCTOBER
International Motor Show:
Every second year, car manufactures from all over the world display their latest models at the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham.
Hallowe’en:
31st October is Hallowe’en. This pagan festival celebrates the return of the souls of the dead who come back to visit places where they used to live. In the evening there are lots of Hallowe’en parties, or fancy dress parties. People dress up as witches, ghosts, devils, cats, bats or anything scary. Houses are decorated with pumpkins with candles put inside. Some children follow the American custom called Trick or Treat. They knock at your house and ask, “Trick or treat?” If you give them some money or some sweets, they go away. Otherwise, they play a trick on you, like squirting water in you face.
NOVEMBER
London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally:
This is usually the first Sunday in November. Hundreds of veteran cars are driven from London to Brighton, on the south coast of England. Guy Fawkes’ Night (Bonfire Night):
Guy Fawkes is Britain’s most famous terrorist. On 5th November 1605, Guy Fawkes planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament and the King of England, James I. The plot was discovered and Guy Fawkes was hanged. Every year on 5th November, people celebrat by setting off fireworks. They also make models of Guy Fawkes and burn them on big bonfires.
DECEMBER
Pantomimes:
These are plays put on before Christmas, usually for children. They are based on fairy tales, such as Cinderella or Aladdin, and mix comedy, song and dance.
Christmas cards: 圣诞卡片
Most people send Christmas cards to their friends and relations. Some shops sell charity cards and the profits made from selling these cards go to good causes.
Christmas Day:
The most important day of the holidays is 25th December, or Christmas Day. Children wake up early to find a stocking full of small presents on their
bed. Other presents, opened when everyone is together, are arranged around the Christmas dinner includes roast turkey, roast potatoes and Brussels sprouts, followed by Christmas pudding.
Boxing Day: 节礼日
This is 26th December. It is usually spent in front of the TV recovering
from Christmas Day
盖伊·福克斯之夜 Guy Fawkes Night
在英格兰，每年都有一个分外热闹的夜晚：夜空中，烟花飞舞；大地上，篝火熊熊。人们在干什么呢？原来，他们在欢度“盖伊·福克斯之夜”。
人们把每年11月5日的夜晚称为“盖伊·福克斯之夜”或者“篝火之夜”。那天晚上，英国举国同庆。人们点燃篝火，把英国叛国者盖伊·福克斯的人物模型扔到火中付之一炬。除此之外，烟花表演也是那晚不可缺少的，许多地方政府会组织盛大的烟花表演。
庆祝“篝火之夜”的历史传统与1605年的一个企图炸毁议会、弑君的阴谋有关。1605年的一天，盖伊·福克斯携带大量火药潜入到伦敦议会大厦下面的一个房间里，企图炸毁议会。
他被迅速逮捕，然后受到审判，最终判了死刑。在随后几个月的时间里，与“火药阴谋”有牵连的另外一些人也相继落网，最终也被处决。
为什么福克斯及其同伙会策划这场阴谋呢？因为他们对国家的一项法令不满，因为法令“剥夺”了他们的宗教信仰。当时，这些人是天主教徒，而英国国王詹姆士一世和大多数英国人都是强烈反对天主教的新教徒。
阴谋被挫败了，国王安然无恙，叛国者落网了。人们燃起篝火，庆祝胜利。从此以后，英国就形成了庆祝“篝火之夜”的传统。
IN England one night a year comes alive as colourful fireworks explode in the night sky and smoke from giant bonfires floats across the land. All the noise and fires are made to remember the country's greatest traitor, named Guy Fawkes.
It is called Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night and is held on November
5. Across the country parties are held where people light big fires. Often they throw models of Guy Fawkes on to the fire. Fireworks are also an important part of the evening, with many local government holding big displays.
This tradition was started after an attempt was made to blow up Parliament and murder the king in 1605. Guy Fawkes was found in a room under the Houses of Parliament in London with a large amount of gunpowder. He was immediately arrested and later tried in court and killed. Over a period of months other people in the
Fawkes and his friends were very angry because of a law that said they could not follow their religion. They were Catholic at a time when the king, James I, and most people in England were Protestant and violently opposed to them.
On the night that people found out the king had been saved and the traitor caught, they lit fires in celebration. This has become a tradition
continued to this day.
Saint Patrick's Day
1.An urban district of southern Northern Ireland. Reputedly founded by Saint Patrick, it is the seat of both the Roman Catholic and Protestant primates of Ireland. Population,12, 700.
阿马北爱尔兰南部一市区。据说是由圣帕特里克创建，是爱尔兰罗马天主教和新教主教所在地。人口12，700
2.St Patrick′s Day-national day of Ireland.
圣徒帕特里克纪念日-爱尔兰国庆节。
3.Saint Louis圣路易
4.Saint John 圣约翰
5.Saint Helena 圣赫勒拿
6.Saint Pierre 圣皮埃尔7.Saint Paul 圣保罗
8.Saint Joan 《圣女贞德》
9.the Saint 侠圣
10.Saint Lucia 圣卢西亚
The life and death of Saint Swithin a Saxon bishop whose feast day on the 15th July is said to predict the weather.
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Saint Swithin (or Swithun)
St Swithin's day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain
St Swithun's day if thou be fair
For forty days 'twill rain na mair
Traditional rhyme
And if any church fell down, or was in decay, S. Swithin would anon amend it at his own cost. Or if any church were not hallowed, he would go thither afoot and hallow it. For he loved no pride, ne to ride on gay horses, ne to be praised ne flattered of the people...
The Golden Legend, a medieval book of saints' stories
Saint Swithin was a Saxon bishop. He was born in the kingdom of Wessex and educated in its capital, Winchester. He was famous for charitable gifts and building churches. His feast day is 15 July and his emblems are
rain drops and apples.
Winchester Cathedral
Swithin was chaplain to Egbert, the 802-839 king of Wessex. Egbert's son Ethelwulf, whom Swithin educated, made him bishop of Winchester in 852. Only one miracle is attributed to Swithin while he was alive. An old lady's eggs had been smashed by workmen building a church. Swithin picked the broken eggs up and, it is said, they miraculously became whole again. Swithin died on 2 July 862. According to tradition, he had asked to be buried humbly. His grave was just outside the west door of the Old Minster, so that people would walk across it and rain fall on it in accordance with Swithin's wishes.
On 15 July 971, though, Swithin's remains were dug up and moved to a shrine in the cathedral by Bishop Ethelwold. Miraculous cures were associated with the event, and Swithin's feast day is the date of the removal of his remains, not his death day.
However, the removal was also accompanied by ferocious and violent rain storms that lasted 40 days and 40 nights and are said to indicate the saint's displeasure at being moved. This is probably the origin of the legend that if it rains on Saint Swithin's feast day, the rain will continue for 40 more days.
Saint Swithin is still seen as the patron of Winchester Cathedral.