The United Kingdom is not just famous for its tourist places but is also known for its vibrant culture and ethos. Numerous festivals in the United Kingdom showcase the best aspects of these customs. From harvest to religious festivals and music to cultural celebrations, the country celebrates all holidays with utmost fanfare.
Let’s look over some of the UK's significant festivals to appreciate the nation's ethnicity and colours.
1. January
1st January - New Years’ Day: The beginning of the New Year and time to make new resolutions is celebrated with ultimate joy in the UK like in all other countries.
25th January - Burns Night (Scotland): This night is to remember the great Scottish poet Robert Burns. Great masterpieces of this poet are reminisced.
2. February
14th February – Valentine’s Day: A romantic day when individuals show immense love by sending cards and gifts to the person they adore.
Pancake Day: Also known as Shrove Tuesday, this day falls before Lent – the traditional Christian fasting period – begins. This day starts 40 days before Easter and ends on Easter Sunday. Nowadays, not many Christians fast, but many of them still use up their eggs, milk and sugar to make pancakes before fasting.
3. March
1st March – St David’s Day (Wales): This day is celebrated in Wales in the memory of Saint David and to honour her.
Mother’s Day: A day to show love towards mothers and all mother figures such as elder sisters, grandmothers, and mother-in-laws.
17th March – St. Patrick’s Day: This is the date of Ireland's patron saint, St. Patrick’s death. It was a religious feast day in the 17th century, and with time, this day has evolved into celebrating the Irish culture.
4. April
1st April – April Fools’ Day: Celebrated by practically playing jokes and hoaxes. The victims of the jokes are called April fools. However, pranks are said to be played before 12 noon, or else the one who makes the joke becomes that fool.
March or April – Easter: This day is celebrated in Christian countries to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ. People celebrate this day by visiting the church and giving Easter eggs, a symbol of new life related to Jesus coming back from the dead.
5. May
1st May – May Day: Traditional Spring holiday in many cultures in which spring festival is celebrated.
Well Dressing Festivals: It’s a summer tradition practiced in England where water sources are decorated with designs and petals.
6. June
Father’s Day: Just like Mother’s day, Father’s day is held on the 3rd Sunday of June in the UK. Individuals show their love and honour their fathers and father figures like brothers, grandfathers, and father-in-law.
The Queen’s Official Birthday: The Queen celebrates two birthdays in a year, one on 21st April and official one on 2nd June.
Glastonbury Festival: A 5-day music and performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset. The festival hosts theatre, comedy, circus, and other arts, along with some music.
7. July
Eid Al-Fitr: Religious holiday for Muslims celebrated worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan which is the fasting month.
8. August
Eisteddfod: One of Europe’s ancient and largest cultural festivals of music, poetry, and song.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival: The world’s largest art festival that takes place yearly in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, in August.
Manchester Pride: Yearly LGBT – lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans – event held over August Bank holiday weekend in Manchester city centre.
9. September
Blackpool Illuminations: Founded in 1879, it is an annual lights event which is held in each Autumn in the British seaside resort.
10. October
31st October – Halloween: People hold parties and dress up like skeletons, ghosts and other scary figures on this day.
October/November – Diwali: Observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, a 5-day festival with its main theme as the success of light and good over evil. Houses are decorated with lights and candles and people exchange gifts on this occasion.
11. November
5th November – Bonfire Night: This day is for the commemoration of the capture of Guy Fawkes. Bonfires and fireworks are lit and it is celebrated by burning effigy.
11th November – Remembrance Day: A nation’s day to remember and honour those people who sacrificed themselves to protect and secure freedom.
30th November – St. Andrew’s Day: A Scottish day observed on official bank holiday where people celebrate the patron saint of Scotland, Andrew the Apostle.
12. December
November/December – Hanukkah: A festival of lights celebrated by the Jewish community across UK.
25th December – Christmas Day: One of the oldest and most popular events celebrated among Christians for Jesus Christ’s birthday. People exchange gifts, prepare meals and decorate their houses.
26th December – Boxing Day: An important day for sporting events and stat of the post-Christmas sales.
31st December – New Year’s Eve: People celebrate this evening to begin the countdown of the last few hours and minutes of the old year and welcome the new one.
While many traditions and festivals are celebrated in the UK, the above are some of the oldest and most widely celebrated ones that you must get involved in while you stay in the UK.
