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England
Special Calendar Days |
2010 |
2011 |
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The New Year's Day
Bank Holiday | Public Holiday
Extra day when New Years Days falls at a weekend. |
Jan 1 |
Jan 1 |
The New Year's Day Parade
London:
More than 10,000 dancers, acrobats cheerleaders, musicians and performers assemble in the heart of the city for a "celebration of nations." Starting as Big Ben strikes 12 Noon, the Parade takes the following route:
Parliament Square, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Pall Mall, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus and then up to the junction of Berkeley Street on Piccadilly. |
Jan 1 |
Jan 1 |
Handsel Monday
The first Monday of the New Year, when handsels or presents were given to servants, children, etc. Now replaced by Boxing Day. |
Jan 4 |
Jan |
Twelfth Night
Christmas decorations are taken down on 5th January [Twelfth Night]. |
Jan 5 |
Jan 5 |
Twelfth Night Celebrations
Twelfth Night is an annual seasonal celebration held on the Bankside by Shakespeare's Globe, in London. It is a celebration of the New Year, mixing ancient Midwinter seasonal customs with contemporary festivity.
www.thelionspart.co.uk |
Jan 3 |
Jan 2 |
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Epiphany |
Jan 6 |
Jan
6 |
| Plough Monday |
Jan 11 |
Jan 12 |
Straw Bear Festival
At Whittlesey, on the weekend following Plough Monday the first Monday after
Epiphany, a straw bear is paraded around the town attended by a host of dancers and musician from all over the country. The bear is a man covered from head to foot in a straw costume which weighs 30 kg!
." |
Jan 11 -15 |
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London International Mime Festival
The London International Mime Festival, founded in 1977, is the largest event of its kind in the world. Artists perform in a number of venues across the capital including the South Bank Centre, Royal Opera House and the ICA, attracting an annual audience of around 16,000 people. |
Jan 13 -31 |
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Brits Awards
UK Awards ceremony for British and international pop. |
Feb 16 |
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Jorvik Viking Festival York
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Feb 15 - 20 |
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Collop Monday
Named after the traditional dish of the day: collops of bacon served with eggs. |
Feb 15 |
Mar 7 |
Shrove Tuesday
Holy Face
of Jesus
Pancake Day (Christian) Christian carnival day on the eve of Ash
Wednesday, which begins Lent, a time of fasting and
devotions. Pancakes are often served.
Named after the traditional dish of the day: collops of bacon served with eggs.
The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race
The races start at 12:30pm at Dray Walk, the Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
(nearest Tube: Aldgate East or Shoreditch)
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Feb 15 |
Mar 8 |
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Ash Wednesday |
Feb 15 |
Mar 8 |
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St. David's Day
[Patron Saint of Wales]:
Many Welsh people wear a daffodil, the national emblem of Wales. |
Mar 1 |
Mar 1 |
St. Piran's Day
[A day for the Cornwalls]:
All over Cornwall celebrate on this day. |
Mar 5 |
Mar 5 |
Commonwealth Day:
People use the day to promote understanding about global issues, international
co-operation and the work of the modern Commonwealth. The Queen attends a special service in
Westminster Abbey. |
Mar 8 |
Mar 14 |
Crufts Dog Show -
Birmingham:
Over 20,000 top pedigree dogs compete to achieve the title of Best In Show, the most
prestigious award in the field. The event lasts for four days and since 1990 has been held at
Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre. |
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Mother's Day:
The English people think about their Mothers.
They give flowers and chocolates or organize a special day out for their mothers at this time, and send a special "Mother's Day" card. |
Mar
14 |
Apr 3 |
Simnel Sunday:
The fourth Sunday in Lent when Simnel cakes are eaten.'s Day: |
Mar
14 |
Apr 3 |
Spring Begins:
Around March 20 or 21, the sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night are nearly equal in all parts of the world.
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March 20 |
March 20 |
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Ideal Home Exhibition:
The annual event for those who are after inspirational ideas to decorate and furnish their homes |
March 20
- Apr 5 |
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Palm
Sunday
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March 28 |
Apr 17 |
| British Summer Time Begins
[daylight savings = clocks go forward 1 hour)] |
March 28 |
Apr 27 |
Cambridge Boat Race:
An annual university boat race on the Thames in London between Oxford University (the "Dark
Blues") and Cambridge University (the "Light Blues"). |
March 29 |
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Good Friday
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Apr 2 |
Apr 22 |
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Easter Sunday |
Apr 4 |
Apr 24 |
Easter Monday
(Bank Holiday / Public Holiday) |
Apr 5 |
Apr 25 |
Grand National:
A famous horse race
(a "steeplechase", which involves jumping over fences) at Aintree, near Liverpool. |
Apr 5 |
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Hop Monday:
A climbing plant with bitter cones used to flavour beer.
"It recommends that poles be erected in the spring as soon as the hops are above the ground." |
Apr 5 |
Apr
25 |
| The London
Marathon |
Apr 13 |
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| Primrose Day |
Apr 19 |
Apr 19 |
Queen's
Birthday:
It is traditional for soldiers to fire cannons to celebrate royal birthdays or other national
events.
[Actual date and a private celebration] |
Apr 21 |
Apr 21 |
St. George's
Day [Patron Saint of England]:
It is the church festival of St. George, regarded as England’s national
day, not an official bank holiday. On this day some will [patriotic] English people wear a
rose pinned to their jackets. |
Apr 23 |
Apr 23 |
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May Day... Lily of
the Valley is the symbol of May Day
Is is called May Lily and Our Lady's Tears. |
May 1 |
May 1 |
Well Dressing - Derbyshire
Wells are dressed with large framed panels decorated with elaborate mosaic-like pictures made of flower petals, seeds, grasses, leaves, tree bark, berries and moss. |
May - Sept |
May - Sept |
Early May Bank
Holiday:
(Bank
Holiday / Public Holiday) |
May 3 |
May 2 |
| Rochester Sweeps
Festival |
May 1- 3 |
April 30 - May 2 |
Ascension Day:
Jesus, the Son of God leaves earth after the resurrection. |
May 13 |
June 2 |
Pentecost:
God the Father put the Holy Spirit on the disciples in the forms of tongues. |
May 23 |
June 12 |
Spring Bank Holiday
(Bank
Holiday / Public Holiday) |
May 31 |
May 30 |
Cheese Rolling:
Cheese Rolling in Gloucestershire
starting at 12:00 PM Midday. |
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Oak Apple Day:
Royal Oak Day, 29 May, the birthday of Charles II (who is said to
have hidden in an oak tree after his defeat at Worcester) and the day he entered London at the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy. |
May 29 |
May 29 |
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Coronation Day:
Gun salute to mark the anniversary of the day when the Queen was crowned [in 1952]. A 41-gun
salute at 12 noon fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park, London. |
June 2 |
Jun 2 |
Derby Day:
Horse racing event at Epsom Downs Racecourse, ending
in "the Derby", one of the most famous flat races. |
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The Queen's Official
birthday
Trooping the Color: (Royal Tradition)
The Queen's official birthday
celebrations. |
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June 2 |
Royal Ascot
More than 300,000 people visit the Ascot racecourse during Royal Ascot week, making this
Europe's most popular race meeting. |
June 15 - 19 |
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Summer Begins:
The longest day of the year, when the Sun is at its most northern point in the sky. Due to Britain's northern location, the sun rises around 4:30 a.m. and doesn't set until 9:30 p.m. on this day. |
June 20 |
June 20 |
Wimbledon Tennis
Championships:
One of the four great world tennis championships
and the only one which is played on grass. |
June 21 - Jul 4 |
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| Midsummer's Day |
June 24 |
June 24 |
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Henley Royal Regatta:
The River Thames and the town of Henley on Thames are transformed into one large sporting and
social arena where the world's best rowers compete. |
June
30 - July 4 |
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St. Swithun's Day:
Also known as St. Swithin's Day; Saint Swithin was England’s Bishop
of Winchester.
... 40 days of bad weather will follow if it rains on this day!!! |
July 15 |
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Swan Upping:
The census of swans takes place annually during July on the River Thames in a ceremony known as Swan Upping. Swans are counted and marked on a 70 mile, five day journey up the River Thames.
The Swan Upping event commences on the third Monday at Sunbury and ending at Abingdon on the Friday.
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July 19 - 23 |
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Lammas Day:
The traditional harvest festival when the first bread was made from the new corn. |
Aug 1 |
Aug 1 |
Yorkshire Day:
Celebrates the historic English county of Yorkshire, the largest region in England. Also
anniversary of the Battle of Minden which was in 1759. |
Aug 1 |
Aug 1 |
| Reading Festival |
Aug 27 - 29 |
Aug 26 - 28 |
Glenn Miller Festival:
The largest swing, jazz and Jive music
festival in the UK, and is held at the historic RAF Twinwood Airfield where Glenn Miller (the WWII
American band-leader) took his last flight. |
Aug 28 - 30 |
Aug 27 - 29 |
Notting Hill Carnival
Around a million people take to the streets of Notting Hill in West London for the Notting Hill Carnival - Europe's biggest carnival.
Fabulous floats make a colorful circuit of the area
in Notting Hill.
Sound systems blast out music all day. |
Aug 29 - 30 |
Aug 28 - 29 |
Late Summer Bank Holiday
(Bank Holiday / Public Holiday) |
Aug 30 |
Aug 29 |
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Blackpool Illuminations
Blackpool...
The seaside town of Blackpool is decorated with lights along 6 miles of the sea front. |
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The Great River Race
London
Over 200 different rowing boats race along the River Thames, from Ham House (Richmond) to Island Gardens (Isle of Dogs). |
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Heritage Open Days
England, Wales & Northern Ireland
Free entry is offered at many National Trust properties across the UK. |
Sept
9 - 12 |
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Last Night of the Proms
Famous classical music concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London. |
Sept 11 |
Sept 10 |
Great North Run
Gateshead/Newcastle
The world's largest half-marathon is run in Newcastle (north-east England). |
Sept
18 |
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First Day of Autumn |
Sept
23 |
Sept
23 |
| Harvest Festival |
Sept
- Oct |
Sept
- Oct |
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World Conker Championships
Northamptonshire/Newcastle |
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The Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival
St Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalgar Square. The 'Pearlies' were costermonger's (street seller of fruit (apples, etc.) and their distinctive costumes are said to have sprung from the arrival of a big cargo of pearl-buttons from Japan in the 1860's. |
Sept
- Oct |
Sept
- Oct |
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is a multinational, multi-sport event. Held every four years, it involves the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations |
Oct 2
- 14 |
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Apple Day |
Oct 21 |
Oct 21 |
Trafalgar Day
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Oct 21 |
Oct 21 |
Punky Night
Punky Night in Hinton St George, Somerset, local children join a procession through the village streets, swinging their homemade lanterns and going house to house, singing traditional ‘punky’ songs and sometimes getting a few pennies at the front door. |
Oct 28 |
Oct 27 |
British Summer Time Ends...
[daylight savings = clocks go back 1 hour] Greewich Mean Time Begins
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Oct 31 |
Oct 30 |
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All Saints Day |
Nov 1 |
Nov 1 |
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London to Brighton Veteran Car Run... London/Crawley/Brighton |
Nov 1 |
Nov 1 |
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All Souls Day |
Nov 2 |
Nov 2 |
Mischief Night
The 4 November is known as Mischief Night in some parts of the country. This was the night when all sorts of naughty things were done - the main idea being to put things in the wrong place. |
Nov 4 |
Nov 4 |
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Guy Fawkes Bonfire
Night |
Nov 5 |
Nov 5 |
Tar Barrels
Bonfire
Ottery St Mary (Devon) An old custom said to have originated in the 17th century. The annual event involves people racing through the streets of the town, carrying flaming wooden barrels of burning tar on their backs. |
Nov 5 |
Nov 5 |
| Lewes Bonfire Night... Lewes [East Sussex] |
Nov 5 |
Nov 5 |
Armistice Day:
2 minutes silence at 11 a.m.
killed during the two World Wars. |
Nov 11 |
Nov 11 |
Lord Mayor’s Show
Fireworks Display:
(2nd Saturday in November)
The first Lord Mayor's Show was held in 1215.
The show always goes on!!!
Only two times it didn't:
- Black Death in 1852.
- Funeral of the Duke of Wellington.
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Nov 13 |
Nov 12 |
Remembrance Sunday:
The Queen, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries lay wreaths and observe a
minute's silence (at 11am) at the Cenotaph to commemorate those who gave their lives for England
in both world wars. Later, the Bishop of London takes a short service of remembrance. |
Nov 14 |
Nov 13 |
The Prince of Wales's birthday:
Gun Salute
Hyde Park London |
Nov 14 |
Nov 14 |
Stir-up Sunday:
Means stirring the Christmas Pudding.
I think it is so nice family and
friends taking turns stirring the...English Christmas Pudding! |
Nov 21 |
Nov 21 |
Advent
Preparation for observing the birth of Jesus Christ, God the Father only Son. |
Nov 28 |
Nov 27 |
 BBC Children In Need
Across the UK
An annual event to raise money for British children's charities. |
Nov |
Nov |
The State Opening of
Parliament
[The first day of the new parliamentary session]
The Queen's Speech is delivered by the Queen from the Throne in the House of Lords. |
Nov |
Nov |
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Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park London
A Big Wheel and other rides, an ice rink and a Christmas market. |
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Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree
Lighting Ceremony, London
[Usually performed on the first Thursday in December]. |
Dec 2 |
Dec 1 |
Great Christmas Pudding Race, London
Teams dressed in fancy clothes race around an obstacle course in Covent Garden. |
Dec 4 |
Dec 3 |
| Royal Variety Performance, London
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| Carol
Singing in the Square, London
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Winter Solstice
Shortest Day of the year, when the Sun is at its most southern point. |
Dec 21 |
Dec 21 |
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Cambridge
At 3pm at King's College Chapel in Cambridge is a traditional carol service called "A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols". |
Dec 24 |
Dec 24 |
Christmas Eve
Vigil of Christmas |
Dec 24 |
Dec 24 |
Christmas Day
The Nativity of the Lord.
God the Father only Son.
A Bank and Public Holiday. |
Dec 25 |
Dec 25 |
Boxing Day:
A Bank Holiday only. |
Dec 26 |
Dec 26 |
| St Stephen's Day |
Dec 26 |
Dec 26 |
New Years Eve
At midnight everybody joins hands and sings Auld Lang Syne. |
Dec 31 |
Dec 31 |
