British Bank Holiday Days And Other Special Occasions In The UK 2011

Like any Brit, give me any chance to celebrate and I'm all over it! Here is a list of this year's bank holidays and special occassions - so get planning and partying!

Bank Holidays are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Note - when a bank holiday date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a substitute bank holiday day is usually given, usually the following Monday. When this happens, I will put the substitute bank holiday day in brackets.

*New Year's Day; 1st January (3rd January) - A day for new beginnings and new plans - not just for nursing a hang over!

*2nd January(4th January) - Bank Holiday for Scots only - I'm slightly confused on the 2nd/4th January malarkey, and jealous we don't have it too!

Burns Night; 25th January - a celebration of the life and works of Scottish poet, Robert Burns, who was born on that day in 1759. A special supper of traditional Scottish food is served and accompanied with readings of poetry.

Holocaust Memorial Day; 27th January - A day to remember those who suffered in those awful times.

St. Valentine's Day; 14th February - A day to acknowledge and appreciate your loved ones, originally started as a religious festival honouring St. Valentine.

St David's Day; 1st March - St David is the patron saint of Wales. Celebrated with parties, festivals and wearing a symbol of a leek or a daffodil. (the wearing of leeks originates from when Welsh troops wore leeks on their uniform to distinguish themselves from the English enemy, and has developed over the years to the image of the daffodil).

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day); 8th March - A Christian celebration which marks the beginning of the season of fasting and prayer of Lent. Pancakes are traditionally eaten to use up ingredients that would otherwise go off during Lent.

Ash Wednesday; 9th March - This day marks the begnning of Lent, and always occurs 46 days before Easter.

*St Patrick's Day; 17th March - A bank holiday in Ireland only, as St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. It is, of course, celebrated in Ireland, but also celebrated all over the British Isles by parties, parades, drinking guiness and the wearing of green. In London and Birmingham the St Patrick's Day parades are especially spectacular.

 British Summertime Begins!!; 27th March - Clocks spring forward a hour.

April Fools Day; 1st April - A day to play practical jokes and hoaxes on friends and family. Make sure you do it before midday though, otherwise you'll be known as the fool!! 

Mothering Sunday; 3rd April - Traditionally a Christian festival where the Virgin Mary and one's 'mother church' is honoured. It is still a celebration of motherhood now, but the religious base is often forgotten by our secular society.

Palm Sunday; 17th April - The Sunday before Easter where Christians remember when Jesus entered into Jeruselum and the palm leaves which were laid down for him.

Maundy Thursday; 21st April - The day where Christians remember The Last Supper.

Queen Elizabeth's Birthday; 21st April.

*Good Friday; 22nd April - The commemoration of Jesus' Crucifixion (the passion of Christ).

St George's Day; 23rd April - The celebration of the patron saint of England, St George.

Easter Sunday; 24th April - Christian's celebrate Easter Sunday as the day Christ was ressurected. Special Church services are held and children are given chocolate Easter Eggs. The symbol of the egg is to link to new beginnings and life. Hot Cross Buns are also eaten - delicious fruity buns with the symbol of the cross.

*Easter Monday; 25th April - The day after Easter Sunday, and a bank holiday for all! Yay!

*Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton; A bank holiday for all so we can celebrate this much awaited Royal Wedding. I hope street parties are happening - excited!

*Early May Bank Holiday; 2nd May - May Day, the celebration of the beginning of Spring.

*Spring Bank Holiday; 30th May

Trooping The Colour; 14th June - The Queen's official birthday and celebration of the Commonwealth and British Army.

Fathers Day; 19th June - A day to show our Dad's just how much we appreciate and love them.

St Swithin's Day; 15th July - In English folklore, if it rains on this day it will rain for the next 40 days.

*Summer Bank Holiday; 29th August. (But for Scotland, 1st August)

British Summertime Ends; 30th October - Clocks fall back a hour.

Halloween; 31st October - A night of ghosties and goulies.

All Saints Day; 1st November - A Christian celebration to remember all the Saints.

Guy Fawkes Night/Bonfire Night; 5th November - ''Remember, remember the 5th of November, gun powder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder, treason, should ever be forgot''

Remembrance Day; 11th November - Remembrance Day, Poppy Day or Armistice Day is a day to remember everybody who died fighting for our freedom in WW1 and WW2. Poppies are traditionally worn around this time, as they were the flowers which grew on the battle fields after WW1 ended. Each year on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, the nation falls silent for two minutes to remember them.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

(For The Fallen, 1914, Laurence Binyon)

Remembrance Sunday; 13th November - The Sunday after the 11th, where Church services and remembrance ceremonies take place. There is a wreath layer ceremony in London where the Royal Family, Government, Veterans and Service Men and Women lay wreathes against the Cenotaph.

*St Andrews Day; 30th November - The day to celebrate the Patron Saint of Scotland. A bank holiday in Scotland only.

Christmas Eve; 24th December - the day before Christmas Day. Don't forget to leave out a mince pie for Santa!

*Christmas Day; 25th December (26th December) - the celebration of Christ's birth, and possibly, the best day in the year!(no need to explain really!!)

*Boxing Day; 26th December (27th December) - the day after Christmas Day, so called because it was traditionally a day where the rich would box up unwanted presents to give to the poor.

New Years Eve; 31st December - the day before New Years Day. Also known as Hogmanay in Scotland.

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