HOGMANAY - SCOTLAND - 30th DECEMBER-1st JANUARY
There's nowhere better to be at New Year's Eve than Scotland's Capital. Edinburgh's Hogmanay brings Edinburgh's streets alive with non-stop entertainment and enjoyment.
Scottish rock giants Biffy Clyro headline the world famous street party at the concert in the gardens, beneath the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. The party's 100,000 revellers are guaranteed a night to remember with a torchlight procession, music and fireworks spectacular and the fantastic Keilidh.
Scottish rock giants Biffy Clyro headline the world famous street party at the concert in the gardens, beneath the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. The party's 100,000 revellers are guaranteed a night to remember with a torchlight procession, music and fireworks spectacular and the fantastic Keilidh.
28th DECEMBER - DAY OF THE INNOCENT SAINTS
This is one of the most popular and entertaining Christmas traditions in Spain. December 28 is the day when everyone is allowed to play practical jokes and when it is customary to buy joke articles in Christmas markets like the one in the Plaza Mayor square in Madrid.
This celebration appears to have its origins in an event narrated by the Bible concerning King Herod and the innocents, although over the centuries it has evolved to become a boisterous day in which even the media usually reports on some outrageous and completely invented news story.
One of the most widespread jokes on this day is to stick a figure cut out of white paper on someone's back (without them realising). The word in Spanish for this practical joke is an "inocentada". And, in the numerous Christmas markets (usually located in the large squares in the cities) you can find a whole range of joke articles (wigs, itching powder, false ink…).
Many areas in Spain also have other typical local celebrations on 28 December. Examples include the festivity of Los Locos (or "lunatics") in Jalance (in Valencia, the mayor of the lunatics governs the town for 24 hours); the festivity of the Holy Innocents in Nogalte (in Murcia, with popular dancing and bands of singers); the Danza de Los Locos, or "dance of the lunatics" in Fuente Carreteros (in Cordoba); the "Obispillo", or "little bishop" (celebrated in places such as Burgos, Palencia and Murcia, where a small boy is chosen to carry out the functions of the bishop for one day); and the "Festa dels Enfarinats" de Ibi (in Alicante, involving a "battle" fought with eggs, flour and firecrackers).
This celebration appears to have its origins in an event narrated by the Bible concerning King Herod and the innocents, although over the centuries it has evolved to become a boisterous day in which even the media usually reports on some outrageous and completely invented news story.
One of the most widespread jokes on this day is to stick a figure cut out of white paper on someone's back (without them realising). The word in Spanish for this practical joke is an "inocentada". And, in the numerous Christmas markets (usually located in the large squares in the cities) you can find a whole range of joke articles (wigs, itching powder, false ink…).
Many areas in Spain also have other typical local celebrations on 28 December. Examples include the festivity of Los Locos (or "lunatics") in Jalance (in Valencia, the mayor of the lunatics governs the town for 24 hours); the festivity of the Holy Innocents in Nogalte (in Murcia, with popular dancing and bands of singers); the Danza de Los Locos, or "dance of the lunatics" in Fuente Carreteros (in Cordoba); the "Obispillo", or "little bishop" (celebrated in places such as Burgos, Palencia and Murcia, where a small boy is chosen to carry out the functions of the bishop for one day); and the "Festa dels Enfarinats" de Ibi (in Alicante, involving a "battle" fought with eggs, flour and firecrackers).
HAPPY INNOCENT SAINTS DAY
BOXING DAY - 26th DECEMBER
Like Christmas Day, Boxing Day is a public holiday. This means is it typically a non working day in the whole of Britain.
Tradicionally, 26 December was the day to open the Christmas Box to share the contents to the poor.
WHAT HAPPENS ON BOXING DAY IN ENGLAND?
- Boxing Day hunts: tradicionally Boxing Day is a day for fox hunting.Horse riders dressed in red and white riding gear, accompanied by a number of dogs called foxhounds, chase de fox through the countryside in the hope of tiring it out.
- Family time:It is a day of watching sports and playing board games with the family.
- Shopping: In recent times,some shops have broken from tradition and started opening on Boxing Day to start the New Year sales.Hundreds of people spend Boxing Day morning in queues outside shops, waiting to be the first to dive for the sales racks as the doors opened.
CHRISTMAS DAY IN BRITAIN
Christmas presents are opened on Christmas Day.
Opening Christmas Stocking Presents
Christmas Day is the favourite day for children. They wake up very early in the morning to find their stockings have been filled by Father Christmas and excitedly unwarp the presents before going down to breakfast.
The Main Presents
Family presents are opened either late morning or during the afternoom.The family gather together to open the presents found under the Christmas tree.
Why do we give each other presents on Christmas Day?
The tradition of giving gifts is thought to be related to the gifts that the wise man (the Magi) brought to Jesus.
TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN BRITAIN
Church service
Many Christians will go to the church to sing carols and to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. More people attend the church on this day than any other day of the year. People put on their best clothes to go to church.
Christmas Dinner and Christmas Tea
The whole family sit down for Christmas Dinner at middday.
Christmas Crackers
The pulling of Christmas Crackers often accompanies food on Christmas Day.
CHRISTMAS PUDDING RACE
The 37th Great Christmas Pudding Race will take place on 2nd December 2017
The Great Christmas Pudding Race has been a London annual event since 1980 and is included in my Top 10 Things to Do in London at Christmas.
Teams of contestants wearing fancy dress have to run around Covent Garden piazza while trying to balance a Christmas pudding on a plate! Obstacles, such as balloons full of flour, are put in their way to make it even more fun to watch. It's a charity event to raise money for Cancer Research.
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