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Guy Fawkes' Night, also
Bonfire Night
5th November
In the UK, a day when people light BONFIRES and let
off FIREWORKS. Traditionally this is done to remember
the time when Guy FAWKES failed in an attempt to
destroy the HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT with
GUNPOWDER in 1605.
Thanksgiving
the fourth Thursday in November
A national holiday in the US when people remember
how, in the 17th century, Native Americans helped
English people who had come to live in America by
showing them how to grow local crops. People
usually spend Thanksgiving with their families, and
have a special meal of TURKEY and PUMPKIN PIE.
They knock on people's doors, and people give them
sweets and small presents.
The Mexican Day of the Dead
2nd November
A festival in Mexico and parts of the US where there
are many Mexicans, when the spirits of dead people
are believed to come back to visit their families. The
families offer them gifts of food, flowers, and toys.
There is music and dancing, and children play with
toy SKELETONS.
Armistice Day
11th November
The day when people remember the end of WORLD
WAR I. In the US this is known as Veterans Day,
and people remember the men and women who
have fought in all the wars that the US has been
involved in. At 11 in the morning, (the eleventh hour
of the eleventh day of the eleventh month) people are
silent for two minutes to show respect for those who
died in the wars of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Election Day
The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
in even years (2004, 2006, 2008 etc) is the day in the
US when national elections are held. In some states
this is a public holiday.
Remembrance Sunday
the Sunday nearest to Armistice Day
In the UK, people wear red paper POPPIES in the
days leading up to Remembrance Sunday. Poppies
are especially SYMBOLIC because they grew in the
fields in Flanders where many British soldiers died in
World War I. On Remembrance Sunday there are
special ceremonies all over the UK. At the main
ceremony in London, the King or Queen lays a
WREATH at the CENOTAPH in Whitehall.
Christmas
Christmas Eve - 24th December
Christmas Day - 25th December
Boxing Day BrE - 26th December
Christmas is the most important FESTIVAL of the year.
It is the birthday of Jesus Christ, but is also
celebrated by people who are not Christians. People
have a holiday from school and work, give each other
presents, and decorate their homes. Children believe
that presents are brought to them by SANTA CLAUS
on the night of Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day
families have a special meal together.
The festivals and special days mentioned above are
all either Christian or non religious. Many British and
US citizens belong to other religions which have their
own special days.