Culture Lesson: UK Festivals

Here's a reading exercise to help you remember the names of some of the most celebrated holidays in the UK.

Match each holiday to its description below. Which is your favourite holiday? I absolutely love Christmas, especially in London when everyone becomes a bit happier, but I also really enjoy Pancake day!
Lesson by Caroline

How well do you know these days?

Valentine's day
Christmas
Easter
St Patrick's day
New Year’s Eve
Mother's day
May Day
Pancake Day

Match the description to the day:

• A. Also known as Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras, this is the day before the period of Easter fasting for Christians. It is therefore traditional to eat as much as you can on this day! In England, many children make pancakes with their families and in America there are huge street parties.
  
  Valentine's Day
  New Year's Eve
  Mother's Day
  May Day
  Christmas
  St. Patrick's Day
  Easter
  Pancake Day
  
  
• B. The birth day of Jesus Christ, whole cities are decorated with lights and carollers can be heard singing traditional songs. Santa Claus might make a visit too!
  
  Easter
  St. Patrick's Day
  Valentine's Day
  Christmas
  May Day
  Pancake Day
  New Year's Eve
  Mother's Day
  
  
• C. Not made up by greeting card companies, this holiday began in the middle ages! Remember to buy something special for your loved one and expect to see lots of hearts and roses.
  
  Easter
  Mother's Day
  St. Patrick's Day
  New Year's Eve
  May Day
  Valentine's Day
  Pancake Day
  Christmas
  
  
• D. A day to celebrate Irish culture! The streets turn green and in some cities, so do the rivers! Expect the streets to be full of drunken singing and to party into the early hours of the morning.
  
  Christmas
  Mother's Day
  Pancake Day
  New Year's Eve
  St. Patrick's Day
  Valentine's Day
  May Day
  Easter
  
  
• E. The night that welcomes in new starts and fresh beginnings. Big street parties with impressive firework displays are common all over the world.
  
  Mother's Day
  St. Patrick's Day
  Valentine's Day
  Pancake Day
  May Day
  Easter
  Christmas
  New Year's Eve
  
  
• F. Religiously, this is the period of time when Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Culturally, lots of children go on Easter egg hunts and people of all ages indulge in an obscene amount of chocolate!
  
  Easter
  Valentine's Day
  St. Patrick's Day
  Christmas
  Mother's Day
  Pancake Day
  New Year's Eve
  May Day
  
  
• G. A day to celebrate the woman who brought you into the world. In the UK it always takes place on a Sunday and children often bring their mums flowers and breakfast in bed.
  
  Valentine's Day
  Christmas
  Mother's Day
  New Year's Eve
  Easter
  May Day
  Pancake Day
  St. Patrick's Day
  
  
• H. The first day of the month that traditionally, welcomes in Spring. Schools are closed and many families visit farms to see the new baby animals. People often dance around a large pole (pictured), making intricate patterns with the ribbons attached to it.
  
  New Year's Eve
  Valentine's Day
  Pancake Day
  Mother's Day
  Christmas
  St. Patrick's Day
  Easter
  May Day