001 Calendar
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Great Britain, North Ireland & The Republic of Ireland Heritage, History, Traditions & Customs “The British Isles Historic Society Newsletter” A Year of Celebrations Traditions and Customs January 25th. Robbie Burn’s Day is a Burns supper in celebration of the life of the Countries of the British Isles. and poetry of the Scottish poet Robert Countries of the British Isles Burns. have Customs and Traditions that February 1st. St. Brigid's Day, are famous all over the world. also known as Imbolc, and marks the When people think of the British beginning of spring. Imbolc, also Isles, they often think of people known as the Feast of Brigid, drinking tea, eating fish and chips or haggis, a full celebrates the arrival of longer, warmer days and the Irish or English breakfast, bacon butty and wearing early signs of spring. bowler hats or kilts, but there is more to the British Isles than just those things. Annual Calendar March: Irish Heritage Month in Customs and Traditions are those which happen on Canada, to recognize the important specific days of the year. contributions that Irish have made to building Canada, and to Canadian society in general, and Here is an opportunity to share and celebrate should mark the importance of educating and re- their History, Heritage, Customs, Traditions with flecting upon Irish heritage and culture for future families, friends, and associates. generations by declaring the month of March as Irish January 6th. Little Christmas, also known as Heritage Month. Old Christmas, is one of the traditional names among March 1st. St. David’s Day, is the Irish Christians and Amish Christians for 6th. of feast day of Saint David, the patron January, which is also known more widely as the saint of Wales. Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated after the conclusion of the twelve days of Christmastide. March 5th. St. Piran’s Day and is the June 12th. Queen Elizabeth’s II, Patron Saint of Cornwall. Official Birthday the Sovereign's birthday March 8th. Commonwealth Day, was first officially marked in the Kingdom replacing the former Empire Day, is the of Great Britain in 1748, for King George annual celebration of the Commonwealth II. of Nations, often held on the second Monday in June 21st. Summer March. Solstice, also known as estival March 17th. St. Patrick’s Day, the solstice or midsummer, occurs Feast of Saint Patrick is a cultural and when one of the Earth’s Poles religious celebration celebrated by the has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. Since Irish. prehistory, the summer solstice has been seen as a significant time of year in many cultures, and has March 20, Vernal equinox The March equinox been marked by festivals and rituals. or northward equinox is the equinox on the Earth when the subsolar point appears to leave the July “Our History and Our Heritage” Discover Southern Hemisphere and cross the celestial the history of the people of the countries that make equator, heading northward as seen from Earth. up the British Isles: England, Scotland, Wales, North Ireland, Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland and April 6th. National Tartan Day, their contribution to Canada. Identify those immigrants, pioneers, farmers, April 21st. Elizabeth II (Actual) adventurers, investors, etc. Those that came from Birthday (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born the British Isles, that left their homeland for hopes of 21 April 1926) Queen of the United a brighter future. They took on and endured Kingdom. hardships and challenges to make Canada their new April 23rd. St. George’s Day is the home. feast day of Saint George as celebrated by Their names are on buildings, towns and cities, various Christian Churches and the English parks, roads, rivers, lakes, mountains and historic May 1st. May Day, “Beltane” sites and landmarks that make up the history of Traditional English May Day celebrations Canada. include Morris dancing, crowning a May Share with those that were born in Canada or Queen and dancing around a Maypole. immigrated to Canada the rich history given to us by May 24th. Victoria Day when our forefathers. Queen Victoria died in 1901, Canada's Share with those born in Canada or parliament officially named the immigrated here, the traditional foods, customs, and holiday Victoria Day. traditions of those that come from those countries that make up the British Isles. June 6th. D-Day, 1944, July 1st Canada Day Battle of Normandy July 5th. Tynwald Day (Manx: Laa Tinvaal) is the National Day of the Isle of Man, July 15th. St. Swithin's Day, St. December 31st. Swithun was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Hogmanay is the Scots Winchester and subsequently patron saint word for the last day of the of Winchester Cathedral. year and is synonymous with the celebration of the Sep 22nd. Autumnal equinox day New Year in the Scottish manner. New Year is known and night of equal length, marking the as Hogmanay in Scotland and, shortly after midnight, start of autumn. neighbours visit each other’s houses to pass on their October 31 to November 1st. Samhain, best wishes to one another. First foots in the home Mumming and guising were part of the Harvest often bring a gift of coal for the fire, or shortbread. It Festivals. Samhain is believed to have Celtic is also considered particularly luck if a tall, dark and pagan origins and there is evidence it has been an handsome man is the first to enter a home once the important date since ancient times. new year has been rung in. November 5th. Guy Fawkes Wales on New Years: Calennig [kaˈlɛnɪɡ] is Night, Bonfire night, The fireworks are a Welsh word meaning "New Year celebration/gift", a reminder of the gunpowder Guy although it literally translates to "the first day of the Fawkes hid in the cellar of Parliament. The month". The tradition of giving gifts and money traditional cake eaten on bonfire night is Parkin on New Year's Day is an ancient custom that survives Cake, a sticky cake containing a mix of oatmeal, even in modern-day Wales, though nowadays it is ginger, treacle, and syrup. Other foods include customary to give bread and cheese. sausages cooked over the flames and marshmallows The Dragon Flag of Wales (Y toasted in the fire. Ddraig Goch, meaning 'the red November 30th. St. Andrew’s Day dragon') consists of a red dragon is the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle passant on a green and white field. ... The red celebrated by the Scottish. dragon was then included as a supporter of the December 21st. Winter Tudor royal arms to signify their Welsh descent. It Solstice, the winter solstice was officially recognised as the Welsh national flag in hiemal solstice or hibernal 1959. solstice, also known as midwinter, The Union Jack, or Union December 25th. Christmas Day, Flag, is the de facto national flag of a proper full English Dinner with all the United Kingdom. Though no the trimmings. Wassailing has been law has been passed officially associated with Christmas and New making the Union Jack the national flag of the Year as far back as the 1400s. United Kingdom, it has effectively become the na- tional flag through precedent. December 26th. Boxing Day, It originated in the United The Union Flag (commonly, the Union Jack) is Kingdom and is celebrated in a the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great number of countries that Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) and Northern previously formed part of the Ireland. Historically, the flag has been used British Empire. throughout the former British Empire. It still retains an official or semi- official status in many Great Britain: refers to the whole of England, Commonwealth Realms. The current design (which Scotland, and Wales in combination, but not is used as the national Flag of the United Kingdom) Northern Ireland; it includes islands, such as the Isle dates from the Union of Ireland and Great Britain in of Wight, ... 1801. United Kingdom: made up of Great Britain The national flag of Ireland, (England, Scotland, Wales) and Northern Ireland. frequently referred to in Ireland as Using the term “being British” may be used, relating 'the tricolour' and elsewhere as the to Great Britain or the United Kingdom, or to its Irish tricolour, is the national flag and ensign of the people or language. Republic of Ireland. The flag itself is a vertical Republic of Ireland: “Eire” tricolour of green, white and orange. Historically, from 1801, following the Acts The Royal Standard of of Union, until 1921 the whole island of Scotland, also known as The Ireland was a country within the UK. ... Banner of the King of Scots or Southern Ireland became the Irish Free more commonly the Lion Rampant State and left the United Kingdom in 1922, left the of Scotland, is the Scottish Royal Banner of Commonwealth of Nations in 1949 and is now Arms. Used historically by the King of Scots, the known as the Republic of Ireland or simply Ireland. Royal Standard of Scotland differs from Scotland's North Ireland forms part of the United Kingdom. national flag, the Saltire, in that its correct use is Being Irish can refer to both the Republic of Ireland restricted by an Act of the Parliament of Scotland to and North Ireland. only a few Great Officers of State who officially represent The Sovereign in Scotland. However, a 1934 Royal Warrant for George V's silver jubilee which authorised waving of hand-held versions continues to be relied upon by fans at sports events and other public occasions. It is also used in an official capacity at Royal residences in Scotland when the Sovereign is not present.