LET’S CELEBRATE!

Name: Răcăreanu Alexandra

Age: 14

Institution: Clubul Copiilor Filiași

Coordinator’s name: Stanciu Oana

Britain is a multicultural society, with many different ethnic and religious

groups represented in its population. As a result, there are many more festivals and
times of religious observance in the calendar than there used to be.

New Year’s Day is, of course, the first celebration of the year and it is
celebrated on January 1 each year, like in my country, too and it marks the start of
the new year in the Gregorian calendar. On New Year's Eve (December 31), just
before midnight, many people turn on a television to show pictures of one of the
four clocks on the Clock Tower on the Palace of Westminster, or Houses of
Parliament, in London counting down the last minutes of the old year. At midnight,
as the New Year begins, the chimes of Big Ben, the bell inside the Clock Tower,
are broadcast to mark the start of the New Year. Champagne is often served at this
point. Also, there are some Scottish traditions which have spread to other parts of
the United Kingdom. I know that in Scotland, the festival is called Hogmanay and
the Scots wear special customs that are supposed to bring good luck. At New Year
in the UK and other English-speaking countries, groups of people sometimes hold
hand and sing a song called Auld Lang Syne.

Chinese New Year is the first big street party of the year and can occur in
January or February, depending on the start of the Chinese calendar. Cities with a
large Chinese population, such as London, celebrate New Year, with big, noisy
street parties. Huge colourful dragons dance along the street and the fireworks are
deafening! Many schools who have some Chinese pupils encourage other children
to learn some Chinese words in order to wish their Chinese friends Happy New
Year!

The Notting Hill Carnival is the biggest street party in Europe and it
takes place at the end of the summer in Notting Hill, which is in West London. It is
a celebration of Caribbean culture, particularly the music and dance, but also the
customs and food. Traditional steel bands – musicians playing a series of
instruments made from iol drums – go through the streets on the back of lorries,
and there are magnificent floats carrying people in exotic Caribbean costumes. The
other great musical tradition of the Caribbean, reggae, is also represented, with
bands playing on stages throughout the area.

Ramadan occurs during the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and is
the month of fasting. It occurs a little earlier each year in the Western calendar as
Muslim use a lunar calendar, which is shorter than a solar calendar. Strict Muslims
do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset during this time.

Saint Valentine’s Day is famous in many parts of the world, but is not
celebrated on the same day everywhere. In the UK, it’s on 14th February. People
send anonymous cards to the people they love, or people that they would like to go
out with. The usual message is: Will you be my Valentine?

Lent is the period of 40 days before Easter in Christian calendar. Before

Lent starts, however, it is time for a big party. In other places, such as Rio de
Janeiro and Venice, there are magnificent, memorable and colourful carnival
celebrations. In Britain, we have Pancake Day. What happens? Everyone eats
pancakes!

Halloween is another internationally famous celebration and occurs on

31st October. It originated as the Celtic Festival of the Dead. The Christian Church
tried to suppress this pagan festival and re-named it All Hallows’ Eve, which is
where the current name is derived from. The most common symbol of Halloween
is a pumpkin. Children celebrate Halloween by havin g their faces painted and
going from door to door demanding sweets, or “treats”. If they don’t get
something, they are liable to play a practical joke on the people.