Праздники в Британии

     Whereupon the Chief Warder and escort proceed through the archway towards the steps by the 13th century wall, where the Guard for the night is drawn up under an officer with drawn sword, The Chief Warder and escort halt at the foot of the steps.

     The Officer gives the command, Guard and Escort - present arms. The Chief Warder takes two paces forward, raises his Tudor bonnet high in the air and calls out God preserve Queen Elizabeth.

     The Whole Guard reply Amen, and as the parade ground clock chimes ten, the Drummer (bugler) sounds the Last Post.

     The Chief Warder takes the Keys to the house of the Resident Governor, and the Guard is dismissed.

 

 

 

 

 

     1.5 Trooping the Colour

 

 

     Trooping the Colour is a ceremony performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies. It has been a tradition of British infantry regiments since the 17th century, although the roots go back much earlier. On battlefields, a regiment's colours, or flags, were used as rallying points. Consequently, regiments would have their Ensigns slowly march with their colours between the soldiers' ranks to enable soldiers to recognize their regiments' colours.

     Since 1748 Trooping the Colour has also marked the official birthday of the British sovereign. It is held in London annually on a Saturday in June on Horse Guards Parade by St. James's Park, and coincides with the publication of the Birthday Honours List. Among the audience are the Royal Family, invited guests, ticketholders and the general public. The colourful ceremony, also known as "The Queen's Birthday Parade", is broadcast live by the BBC.

     The Trooping the Colour procession begins at about 10:00 a.m. The Queen travels down The Mall from Buckingham Palace in a royal procession with a sovereign's escort of Household Cavalry (mounted troops or horse guards). After receiving a royal salute, she inspects her troops of the Household Division, both foot guards and horse guards, and the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery. Each year, one of the foot-guards regiments is selected to troop its colour through the ranks of guards. Then the entire Household Division assembly conducts a march past the Queen, who receives a salute from the saluting base. Parading with its guns, the King's Troop takes precedence as the mounted troops perform a walk-march and trot-past.

     The music is provided by the massed bands of the foot guards and the mounted bands of the Household Cavalry, together with a Corps of Drums, and occasionally pipers, totaling approximately 400 musicians.

     Returning to Buckingham Palace, the Queen watches a further march-past from outside the gates. Following a 41-gun salute by the King's Troop in Green Park, she leads the Royal Family on to the palace balcony for a Royal Air Force fly-past.

     When it comes to pomp and pageantry, the Trooping the Colour is the most elaborate of London’s royal ceremonies. The Trooping the Colour ceremony is held to celebrate the official birthday of the British Sovereign. So, although Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21st, her birthday is officially celebrated in Britain in June each year, usually around the second Saturday. The annual Trooping the Colour combines pageantry, colour and music and is the high point of London’s ceremonial year.

 

 

 

 

     1.6 Engagement and the Ceremony of Wedding

 

 

     In Britain the custom of becoming engaged is still generally retained, though many young people dispense with it, and the number of such couples is increasing. As а rule, an engagement is announced as soon as а girl has accepted а proposal of marriage, but in some cases it is done а good time afterwards. Rules of etiquette dictate that the girl’s parents should be the first to hear the news; in practice, however, it is often the couple’s friends who are taken into confidence before either of the parents. If а man has not yet met his future in-laws he does so at the first opportunity, whereas his parents usually write them а friendly letter. It is then up to the girl’s mother to invite her daughter’s future in-laws, to а meal or drinks. Quite often, of course, the man has been а frequent visitor at the girl’s house long before the engagement, and their families are already well acquainted.

     When а girl accepts а proposal, the man generally gives her а ring in token of the betrothal. It is worn on the third finger of the left hand before marriage and together with the wedding ring after it. Engagement rings range from expensive diamond rings to rings with Victorian semi-precious stones costing only а few pounds.

     In most cases the engagement itself amounts only to announcements being made to the parents on both sides and to friends and relations, but some people arrange an engagement party, and among the better-off people it is customary to put an announcement in the newspaper.

     In the book Etiquette the author writes that “as soon as congratulations and the first gaieties of announcement are over, а man should have а talk with the girl’s father about the date of their wedding, where they will live, how well off he is and his future plans and prospects”. Nowadays this is often not done, one of the reasons being that today the young people enjoy а greater degree of financial independence that they used to, to be able to decide these matters for themselves. However, in working class families, where the family ties are still strong and each member of the family is more economically dependent upon the rest, things are rather different. Quite often, particularly in the larger towns, the couple will have no option but to live after marriage with either the girl’s or the man’s people. Housing shortage in Britain is still acute, and the rents are very high. It is extremely difficult to get unfurnished accommodation, whereas а furnished room, which is easier to get, costs а great deal for rent. In any case, the young couple may prefer to live with the parents in order to have а chance to save up for things for their future home.

     But if the young people, particularly those of the higher-paid section of the population, often make their own decisions concerning the wedding and their future, the parents, particularly the girl’s, still play an important part in the ensuing activities.

     The period of engagement is usually short, three or four months, but this is entirely а matter of choice and circumstances.

     Choosing the right day for the wedding is the next thing to be considered. Now the most popular day is a Saturday as most people work during the week. As there are only four Saturdays in any month, summer weddings need to be booked a year in advance.

     In the past, however, choosing when to marry was a serious affair. Saturdays were considered unlucky, and so were Fridays, especially Friday the 13th. This famous old rhyme advises a wedding to happen in the first half of the week:           

Monday for wealth

Tuesday for health

Wednesday the best day of all

Thursday for losses

Friday for crosses

Saturday for no luck at all

    However, this is just the beginning of the serious business of wedding planning. Weddings are not cheap, so a careful budget needs to be set. An average wedding in Britain costs £10-12,000. To a large extent, the cost depends on how many guests are invited, which is normally around 150. Traditionally, the bride's family would pay most expenses, except for the drinks and the honeymoon which would be at the bridegroom's family's expense. Nowadays, things are more flexible and expenses are split according to the two families' incomes.

     Buying a suitable outfit for the groom is not difficult - he just needs a black suit and a flower buttonhole. However, dressing the bride is an altogether different matter. The answer is in this old rhyme, which is as relevant today as it was more than a hundred years ago:

Something old, something new

Something borrowed, something blue

And a silver sixpence in your shoe

     "Something old" is usually given to the bride by a happily married woman in the hope that her happy marriage will be passed on to the new bride. "Something new" symbolizes the newlyweds' happy and prosperous future. "Something borrowed" is often a valuable item lent by the bride's family which needs to be returned to ensure good luck. "Something blue" is normally a blue ribbon in the bride's hair to symbolize fidelity. The placing of a silver sixpence (an old English coin) or a penny in the bride's shoe is to ensure future wealth.

     As it is important for the bride and groom to look and feel great on the most important day of their life, they need some help. The bride chooses her sister or a close friend to be her chief bridesmaid. Originally, bridesmaids were young women dressed the same way as the bride to confuse evil spirits and protect the bride. The chief bridesmaid, or the Bridesmaid of Honour, helps the bride to choose her dress, get dressed on the day and assists with the actual wedding ceremony. If it is a church wedding, she follows the bride and her father up the aisle and holds the bride's bouquet during the ceremony. The groom also has a helper. The Best Man, who is normally the groom's best friend, plays an important part in any wedding. He helps the groom to get dressed, organizes the stag party and generally coordinates the whole event.

     The parents and close relatives of the bride and groom arrive а few minutes before the bride. The bridegroom and his best man should be in their places at least ten minutes before the service starts. The bridesmaids and pages wait in the church porch with whoever is to arrange the bride’s veil before she goes up the aisle.

     The bride, by tradition, arrives а couple of minutes late but this should not be exaggerated. She arrives with whoever is giving her away. The verger signals to the organist to start playing, and the bride moves up the aisle with her veil over her face (although many brides do not follow this custom). She goes in on her father’s right arm, and the bridesmaids follow her according to the plan at the rehearsal the day before. The bridesmaids and ushers go to their places in the front pews during the ceremony, except for the chief bridesmaid who usually stands behind the bride and holds her bouquet.

     After the ceremony the couple go into the vestry to sign the register with their parents, best man, bridesmaids and perhaps а close relation such as а grandmother. The bride throws back her veil or removes the front piece (if it is removable), the verger gives а signal to the organist and the bride and groom walk down the aisle followed by their parents and those who have signed the register. The bride’s mother walks down the aisle on the left arm of the bridegroom’s father and the bridegroom’s mother walks down on the left arm of the bride’s father (or whoever has given the bride away). Guests wait until the wedding procession has passed them before leaving to go on to the reception.

     The last part of the wedding is the reception. Traditionally, guests are offered a wedding cake. Originally, cakes were flat and round and contained fruit and nuts that symbolized fertility. Now wedding cakes have three tiers. The new shape is believed to have been inspired by the unusual spire of Saint Bride's Church in the City of London. The couple make the first cut together to symbolize their shared future. It is said that if unmarried guests place a piece of wedding cake under their pillow before sleeping, it will increase their chances of finding a partner.

 

 

In conclusion I’d like to say that there is no other nation that clings to the past with the tenacity of the British. The Briton has a sense of the continuity of history. He loves to go through his ancient ceremonies as he has always performed them with the consciousness that he is keeping faith with his ancestors, that he is maintaining the community they created. He does not often change his manner of carrying out official acts, and if ever he does, the new method at once becomes the tradition.

 

 

 

     2 TRADITIONAL HOLIDAYS

 

 

     2.1 New Year

 

 

     British celebrations of New Year are a defined and precise reflection of the customs, cultures, and traditions as followed and hold by British people. Even in the time of the modern world, when everything which one can think of has grown itself into an unimaginable world, festivals and the way they are celebrated are no exception. However, with the New Year celebrations in British, one can clearly draw a prominent exception in the list. It is not that British totally evade itself from accepting the changing times, and the changing way of celebrations. But, they do change, but at the same time ensuring that they remain intact with their own customs and traditions even in the changing circumstances. New Year celebrations are a clear reflection of that.

     British celebrate New Year on January 1, i.e. the first date of the first month of the Georgian calendar. British celebrations reflect high vigor, enthusiasm, pleasure, and delight; and at the same times give a glance of their rich customs and traditions. They reflect the British belief that one should initiate anything with positive hopes and beliefs of pleasurable coming time. Also, one should move ahead and over the past problems and difficulties of life, and should only remember them to learn few good lessons of life. With this as the crux of all, British celebrate their New Year. Off late, one have visible experience an addition of contemporary traditions to New Year celebrations in British, such as taking oath, making resolution, etc. British New Year celebrations are eminent all around the world, and common and royal people from all around the world put in efforts to be a part of it.

     New Year celebrations in British saw a lot of planning and preparation going in before the key day arrives. Traditionally, British New Year celebrations begins on New Year’s Eve, i.e. 31st December of the old year, and go on till the dawn of the New Year’s Day, i.e. January 1st of the New Year. Setting off fireworks is an important celebration tradition, which gained eminence in last few years. As soon as church bell rings twelve at the midnight, these fireworks are set off. Also, people all around the place, whether in houses, streets or parties, wish and hug one another while spreading and celebrating immense cheer and joy associated with New Year.

In England, there is a tradition of opening the back door of the house as soon as the church bell rings twelve. It is considered to be a reflection of one’s farewell to the old year. Then a dark haired moon, preferably young and good looking, is asked to enter through the front door with salt, coal, and bread in his possession. Doing so is traditionally believed to bring good luck, and also ensure abundance of food (bread), money (salt), and warm (coal) in the coming year. One should prefer to bring in a stranger. Also a blonde, a woman, or a red-haired are unwelcomed, as they are considered to be bring bad luck to the house. Apart from England, it is also rigorously followed in Scotland.

     In London crowds of people gather in Trafalgar square, and Piccadilly Circus as well as stand around to hear the chimes of London's Big Ben announces the arrival of the New Year. Everyone stands around with arms linked to sing Auld Lang Syne.

     The custom of exchanging gifts was transferred to Christmas it was originally done at New Year, when the Lord of the Manor was given samples of produce by his tenants and peasants, while he gave a valuable gift to the Queen or King. The Englishman gave their wives money to by pins for the coming year. This Tradition died, but, the expression "pin money" is still used to describe the money set aside for personal use, especially if given to a woman by her husband.

    On New Year's Day children from England and Great Britain rise early to make the rounds to their neighbors singing songs. They are given coins, mince pies, apples and other sweets for singing. This must be done by noon or the singer will be called fools.

    The Burning Bush is a nineteenth century custom carried into the early years of this century. In Radnorshire and Herefordshire farmhand would get up early before dawn on New Year's Day and carry a hawthorn bush to the field. They were burnt in straw on the wheat field. It was a symbol of good luck for the farmers. The bushes sometimes hung in the kitchen until the next year.

    In England girls would drop egg whites into water. They thought it would form the first letter of the name of the man they would marry.

    Apart from parties and meals, another important part of New Year celebrations in UK is the biggest New Year parade. The parade starts at noon walking down the streets via Whitehall, Pall Mall and finishing in Berkley square. Musicians, dancers, acrobats, march, drums and other entertainers do a splendid job to make the event most distinguished one. Everyone present at the Berkley is openly invited to join the carnival and enjoy the festive occasion.

 

 

 

 

 

     2.2 St. Valentine’s Day

 

 

     Valentine's Day is a romantic day observed on February 14th. This day is celebrated with gaiety, enthusiasm and charm in Britain. Just as in many other countries, people in Britain express love for their beloved on this day by presenting them flowers, cards, chocolates and other special gifts. Different regions of the country have their specific traditions to celebrate Valentine's Day but one uniform custom is the singing of special songs by children. These children are rewarded with gifts of candy, fruit or money. In some regions delectable Valentine buns are baked with caraway seeds, plums or raisins.

     The history of Valentine’s Day is shrouded in mystery. St. Valentine’s Day contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. There are many legends about Saint Valentine and the origins of the holiday.

     One legend says that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those married, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. And Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death, which probably occurred around 270 A.D.

     According to another legend, Valentine actually sent the first ‘valentine’ greeting himself. While in prison, Valentine fell in love with a young girl, his jailor’s daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed ‘From your Valentine,’ an expression that is still in use today. Legends usually says that Valentine was a sympathetic, heroic, and romantic person. In the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

     But there is a version that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine’s day in the middle of February in an effort to ‘christianize’ celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of fertility, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

     In the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big jar. The city’s bachelors would then each choose a name out of the jar and would then be a partner of chosen woman for the duration of the festival. Sometimes the pairing of the people lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.

     Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day around 498 A.D. The Roman ‘lottery’ system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed.

Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending simple gifts such as flowers.

     In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology.

     Customs associated with Valentine's Day had their origin in the popular belief held by people in Great Britain and France during 14th and 15th century that birds begin to mate on February 14, halfway through the month of February. Lovers, therefore found St Valentine's Day an appropriate time to send love letters and gifts to beloved. Romantic image of the festival was further established by English and French poets and litterateurs who drew parallel between mating of birds and St Valentine's Day. In the Paston Letters, Dame Elizabeth Brews writes thus about a match she hopes to make for her daughter (spelling modernize), addressing the favored suitor:

     And, cousin mine, upon Monday is Saint Valentine's Day and every bird chooses himself a mate, and if it like you to come on Thursday night, and make provision that you may abide till then, I trust to God that ye shall speak to my husband and I shall pray that we may bring the matter to a conclusion.

     Unmarried girls in Britain and Italy used to wake up before sunrise on Valentine's Day. They believed that the first man they see on Valentine's Day or someone who looks like him would marry them within a year. Girls, therefore, used to wake up early to stand by their window and wait for the man to pass. William Shakespeare, the famous English playwright, mentions this belief in Hamlet (1603). Ophelia, a woman in the play, sings:

Good morrow! 'Tis St. Valentine's Day

All in the morning betime,

And I a maid at your window,

 To be your valentine!

     Another popular belief held by people of Great Britain made women pin four bay leaves to the corners of their pillow and eat eggs with salt replacing the removed yokes on Valentine's Day eve. Unmarried girls to dream of their future husband followed the custom. Unmarried ladies also used to write their lover's names on paper and put them on clay balls that they would drop into the water. It was believed that whichever paper came up first, that man would be their future husband.

     Nowadays Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many countries of the world on February 14. It is a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as “valentines”).

     Modern Valentine’s Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Winged and mischievous little angel called Cupid is one of the very famous Valentine's Day Symbols. According to Roman mythology, Cupid was the son of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Cupid was known to cause people to fall in love by shooting them with his magical arrows. But Cupid didn't just cause others to fall in love - he himself fell deeply in love. As legend has it, Cupid fell in love with a mortal maiden named Psyche. Cupid married Psyche, but Venus, jealous of Psyche's beauty, forbade her daughter-in-law to look at Cupid. Psyche, of course, couldn't resist temptation and sneaked a peek at her handsome husband. As punishment, Venus demanded that she perform three hard tasks, the last of which caused Psyche's death. Cupid brought Psyche back to life and the gods, moved by their love, granted Pysche immortality. Cupid thus represents the heart and Psyche the (struggles of the) human soul.