30th November 2008 - by Benedict Smythe
Live Like the Old, Party Like the New
A very prominent part of the European Society, the United
Kingdom has always had an image of civility and propriety. A
well mannered people that to the eyes of many might seem to
lead a life that is dreary and unexciting. Nevertheless, a
closer look into the United Kingdom will quickly put these
thoughts away, for we must not forget that the UK is the land
of James Bond, Harry Potter and of course The BEATLES. In
addition, a simple exploration into some well loved holidays of
this “Old World” culture will show you a United Kingdom that
you may never have imagined. There are several known holidays
in the United Kingdom; nevertheless there are three that are
calling out to be recognized.
Was there ever a day that you wanted to burn a popular figure
in society, and have people celebrate as you do it? Well, take
a trip to the UK this November because this holiday was made
just for you. First up in the list is, Bonfire Night,
celebrated every fifth of November which commemorates the
failure of the Gunpowder plot by some Catholics against the
House of Parliament.
Guy Fawkes Night
One of the conspirators was Guy Fawkes and that is why others
call this night Guy Fawkes Night. On this occasion, towns and
villages all across the country celebrate by lighting fireworks
and building bonfires where they burn “Guys” while feasting on
toffee apples and baked potatoes. As every holiday progresses
with the modern times, the “guy” that is burnt no longer just
represents the Guy Fawkes of old but the more infamous names of
modern society such as Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. So
if you ever feel the need to take out some of your
frustrations, hop on to the next plane to the UK and join in on
the fun.
Notting Hill Carnival
Next stop is to streets of Notting Hill, London, where the
Notting Hill Carnival is held annually on August. The carnival
initially started of as an answer to help better racial
relations and was first held indoors. However, due to its
success, it was later moved to the streets and what began as a
simple idea to stop racial riots has now become a full blown
two day carnival that has a whopping one million attendees each
year.
The carnival is a great celebration of the multi cultural
diversity in London although it has a very strong Caribbean
flavor. Some of the more popular events held here are the steel
band competitions and the children’s day parades. So if its
street parties that tickle your fancy, then Notting Hill on
August, is the place to be.
St. Patrick’s Day
Last but not least, is the already famous St. Patrick’s Day
which is celebrated every 17th of March. Despite the fact that
it is now celebrated worldwide, nobody knows how to celebrate
St. Patrick’s Day better than the Irish themselves. In Ireland,
St. Patrick’s Day is now a five day festival which is full of
parades, feasting and of course lots of drinking.
Originally a religious holiday, it is now celebrated by non
Christians as well as an appreciation for the Irish culture. It
truly is a holiday where people can eat, drink and be merry. So
if you think you can drink like an Irishman, or even just want
to try and drink like one, pack all your green outfits and head
off to Ireland.
So the next time you think the people in the UK are dull or
uninteresting, think again and start planning your next holiday
season in the UK.
Article Source: http://www.articlesabroad.com
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