Christmas In Britain And Usa

Winter Holiday Season

Christmas in Britain and the USA

The Origin of the Term Christmas and the Significance of the Feast

“Christmas” is a compound word, having its origin in the term “Christ’s Mass”. The word “Christ” takes rise from the Middle and Old English word “Christ”, which means the anointed one, the Lord’s Anointed. The term is borrowed from the Latin “Christus” and from the Greek “Christos”. The suffix “-mas” of the word Christmas stems from the Old English word “maesse”, meaning feast day or festival.

Christmas is one of the most popular Christian festivals, also known as the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. It celebrates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Although the exact date of Jesus’ birth is unknown, for more than three centuries it was a movable feast, and it was celebrated on January 6, the day of Epiphany. We all wonder where did the December date come from. Well, it began from the curiosity of Christian teachers and writers, who put under the question mark and also began to comment, not only on Jesus’ death and resurrection, but also upon His birth. There are comments mentioned some different dates during springtime, but within two hundred years, only two dates have been celebrated, and both during winter season. These are on December 25 or January 6, which are 12 days apart, and considered the 12 days of Christmas.

Some people believe that Pope Julius I was the one who fixed the date of Christmas on December 25, in the fourth century. “This date was first officially recognized on Roman calendars, by Pope Sylvester in 320 A.D., in order to coincide with the sun-god feast, Saturnalia”. In ancient cultures, people used to gather together in festivals, during the time of the Winter Solstice, on December 22nd. Christmas represents a curious combination of both Christian and the pagan traditions it replaced. Not a few of the secular customs are now being associated with Christmas. For example, decorating with mistletoe, holly and ivy, excessive eating and drinking, hanging lights in trees and exchanging gifts, can have their origins to early pagan festivals, like the Saturnalia and ancient Winter Solstice rites. The Christmas season begins on Christmas Eve and ends on Epiphany. The commercial season begins after Halloween.

The History behind Christmas Day

In the Roman Empire, ruled by Cesar Augustus, when Israel was governed by the King Herod, in the town of Nazareth was living a carpenter on his name Joseph, and a young virgin named Mary, who was later to become Joseph’s wife. One day, Mary told Joseph that she was visited by an angel who said to her that she is the chosen one to give birth of God’s son and will give him the name Jesus. One day, the King sent a notice for all the people to come back to their hometown to register for a new fee. Although Mary was pregnant and she was about to give birth, she and Joseph left Nazareth and get off to Bethlehem. The journey lasted several days and they could rest only at night.

When they arrived to Bethlehem it was night already, and all rest houses were occupied by travelers coming from all over the world for registration. Although, one of the landlords, seeing that Mary was about to give birth to the child, advised them to spend the night in one of the cavern dug into the nearby hills, where shepherds used to halt with cows and sheep. Mary and Joseph went to those hills and there they found a manger. Joseph cleaned it and made a bed of hay for Mary, and for the baby to come he cleaned a trough, put hay into it and made a crib. The next night, Mary gave birth to a child and called him Jesus, as the angel said to her.

On the night Jesus was born, a big star appeared on the sky above Bethlehem. It was so big that it could be visible from a great distance. The shepherds who tended the flocks of sheep in the field, was so scared that they wanted to run away, when suddenly an angel appeared before their eyes. But he told: “Don’t be afraid! I bring good news, which will be a great joy for all people: today, in the town of David, a Messiah was born, who is Christ, the Lord. You will recognize Him. You shall find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the sky was filled of angels, who were praising the Lord and saying: “Glory to God, in his highest places, peace on earth and among humans”. After the angels left, the shepherds get off to Bethlehem, they found baby Jesus and they worshiped him.

East of Jerusalem lived three kings: Casper – Tarsus King, Melchior – Saudi leader and Balthazar – the king of Ethiopia. When they saw the shining star above Bethlehem, each one of them went to it. People say that the Three Magi from the East, travelled for 12 days after Jesus was born, being guided by the shining star, and they arrived to Bethlehem in the 12-th night, also known as the night of Epiphany. When they found Jesus in the manger, the Three Magi worshiped him and gave him gifts: gold, incense and chrism. After a night spent in the manger, they went back to their country to announce the birth of Messiah. Nowadays, people all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on the 25-th of December, but in several countries the celebration begins before Christmas and ends on the 12-th night.

(Totpal Mircea)

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, also known as the Vigil of Christmas, represents the apogee of the advent season. Christmas Eve celebrations combine both religious and secular events. It is celebrated on the day before Christmas. Many Christmas traditions celebrated nowadays, have their roots in pre-Christian winter festivals. Among these is the importance of lighting candles and decorations made from evergreen bushes, symbolizing everlasting life and light. In west Cornwall, Christmas Eve was celebrated with a supper of giblet pie and a special hot pork cake. “Christmas Eve is traditionally the day for bringing holly and mistletoe into the house, as it was thought very unlucky to do so before. “(Coppin 32). On Christmas Eve night, children around the world anxiously await the arrival of Santa Claus. He climbs down the chimney and puts gifts under the Christmas tree, or fills the children’s stockings, that have been hung by the fireplace mantel. Before going to bed, children use to leave milk and cookies for Santa to find them when he leaves the presents.

The midnight church service is the main Christmas Eve tradition for many Christians. These services include sermons and special choirs, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  In Britain, as in most European countries, before going to church, people eat a large but without meat meal, because it is a feast day. On Christmas Eve, caroling – going from house to house and singing Christmas carols, is a very common tradition in Europe. Also, English bought this tradition to America, and it is very popular nowadays. This custom began in Europe in the Middle ages. Last-minute shopping is also another Christmas Eve tradition. Stores stay open until late, for those who wait until the last minute to buy their Christmas presents. Schools or education institutions are usually closed on Christmas Eve, as it is during the winter holiday.

Food and Drink Customs – Christmas Dinner

On Christmas, food is very important both for British and American people. In the UK, the main Christmas Meal is often eaten at lunch time or early afternoon, on Christmas Day, whilst in the USA, the main Christmas Meal is eaten at dinner time. Even if there are many cultural differences between Britain and the USA, Christmas is pretty much the same in both countries.

A traditional English Christmas dinner includes roast turkey or other poultry as goose, chicken, duck, served with stuffing or gravy and sometimes pig in blankets (tiny sausages wrapped in bacon), roast potatoes (sometimes mashed or boiled), vegetables, usually brussels sprouts or parsnips, cranberry sauce, or Christmas pies, which include meat, game, poultry and wild birds.

As for dessert, British people prefer the well-known Christmas Pudding, a rich and fruity pudding, which is doused in flaming brandy. It is said that it wards off evil spirits. Christmas pies or Yule cakes are also popular for dessert. In Yorkshire, Yule cakes were made of flour, yeast, raisins, currants, lemon peel and nutmeg. Christmas cake is a traditionally a rich fruit cake, covered in marzipan and icing, and often decorated with Christmas themed decorations.

In Derbyshire, the Christmas season began with the “drinking of a posset”. This was a popular winter beverage, consisting of hot milk, ale, eggs, treacle, ginger, nutmeg and other spices. It was a protection against colds, a cure for insomnia, and was even said to have cured a victim of the Eyam Plague after he narrowly escaped premature burial. Posset was served in specially designed pots, decorated and inscribed like loving-cups, with handles on both sides so that they could be passed easily among the family. It was eaten with one spoon passed from person to person. (Coppin 40)

Meantime, Americans reserve the particular food item for Thanks Giving, which is roast turkey, and for the Christmas dinner they usually opt for ham or roasted beef. Moreover, traditional Christmas desserts such as Christmas cake, Christmas pudding and mince pies are not particularly popular in the U.S. Thus, many British customs have been adopted in the USA. The American Christmas food includes beef, ham or pork, mashed potatoes, stuffing or “dressing”, squash, and roasted root vegetables are very common. Popular desserts include pumpkin pie, Christmas pudding, mince pies, fruit cake, marzipan, sweet potato pie. A well-known Christmas drink in the USA is the eggnog, a spiced egg-based drink often mixed with liquor, usually bourbon, rum or brandy. Americans love this drink.

Also, a very common Christmas dinner custom in the U.K. is represented by the Christmas Crackers. They aren’t commonly seen in the USA. A Christmas Cracker is a colored paper tube, twisted at both sides. A person pulls on each side of the cracker and when it breaks, the content will fall out. It traditionally contains a paper crown, a small gift and a joke written on a slip of paper. Christmas Crackers are very popular, and accompany the Christmas dinner. This custom is very loved by British people, especially by children.

Christmas Symbols

Christmas is the feast that is celebrated all over the world. Apart from traditions and customs, there are many symbols associated with this feast. In fact, these symbols have become so common that people worldwide know them. Here are the meanings of the most popular Christmas symbols.

The angel is one of the favorite Christmas symbols. People love to put angles in their Christmas tree, or on the Christmas table. They have different shapes, made of porcelain or glass; they can be metallic shiny angles, or even doll-esque angles with microchips inside them, that allow to sing music. Angels are meant to symbolize the connection between God and humans, but most important, they were the ones who announced among people the birth of Jesus Christ;

Nowadays, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a Christmas Tree and its association with family gatherings and giving presents. “It is full of ancient symbolism, evergreen is for survival, fire and light for the rebirth of the sun and everlasting life.” (Choppin 35) The Christmas tree first became popular in Alsace, Germany. “One Christmas Eve Martin Luther is said to have been so moved by the sight of the star-lit sky through some fir trees, that he cut a tiny tree, hurried home, and decorated it with small candles to recreate the experience for his children.” (Choppin 35) The custom was introduced in Britain by the Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband in the late eighteen in 1840;

Mistletoe can be traced back to the Druids, who believed it to have magic powers. They called it “All Heal”, as it could cure many diseases, warn bad luck, promote fertility and protect homes from thunder and lighting. They considered the trees on which it grew to be sacred, and birds, like the mistle thrush, who visit and feed on the pants to be messengers from the goods. Mistletoe was celebrated in Norse mythology by Frigga, the goddess of love and marriage; a kiss under the mistletoe symbolizing her protection over the couple kissing. The English adopted this tradition two hundred years ago, but many country parsons still won’t have it in decorations because of its association with the Druids;

(Choppin 33)

In Christianity, the ringing of a bell is sacred announcement to the presence of Christ. They are ancient symbols of protection, and ringing them have been considered to be a way to ward off negativity;

The Christmas Star represents the star of Bethlehem. A star appeared on the sky when Jesus Christ was born. The Three Magi from the East, travelled for 12 days after Jesus was born, being guided by the shining star, and they arrived to Bethlehem in the 12-th night;

The Poinsettia is a beautiful red, star shaped flower, favorite of United States. Some legends are associated with this flower, which make this flower even more divine. The legend comes from Mexico, where a poor little girl named Maria and her little brother Pablo, used to celebrate Christmas in their village. The two children were very kind hearted. They wished to distribute gifts in the manger scene set up. But they were heartbroken since they did not have enough money to buy gifts. So they picked up some weeds on their way, and presented them to their baby Jesus. Though they became an object of fun to every villager present, but to their astonishment, the green top leaves turned into bright red petals, and soon the manger was surrounded by beautiful star-like flowers and so we see them today; (Theholidayspot 3)

The image of Santa Claus comes from the famous St Nicholas. It is a mythical figure, who brings gifts to “good” children, on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus is depicted as a portly, jolly, white-bearded man, wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, a black leather belt and boots, and he carries a bag full of presents for children. He has a white and long beard, and he wears glasses. This image became popular in the United States and Canada, in the 19th century, due to the significant influence of the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas.

1.1.8. Christmas Customs and Traditions

Christmas Eve is traditionally the day for bringing holly and mistletoe into the house, as it was thought unlucky to do so before. It is called the “Evergreen custom”. People bring mistletoe into their houses, for good luck. It is said that it is lucky to kiss under the mistletoe. The Evergreen custom comes from the Egyptians, who used branches of palm to celebrate the winter solstice.

Holly is a male emblem, thought to bring fortune and fertility to the household, and protect against witches and the evil eye. In the west of England, girls used to decorate their beds with holly to ward off goblins.Because of its clinging properties, ivy is the female counterpart to holly, and it is seen as a symbol of unpredictability. It is the sacred plant of Bacchus and believed to protect against drunkeness. The Holly Boy and Ivy Girl are still remembered in some places at Christmas. (Coppin 32)

For people all over the world, especially Americans, it is a tradition to decorate their houses with small colored lights on Christmas. This custom is now popular also in the United Kingdom. On winter holiday season, British people love to decorate their houses, but also the streets and the shops are decorated with lights.

In Britain, all citizens must attend a Christian Church service on Christmas Day and they mustn’t use any kind of vehicle to get to the service. Although, many British people break this rule every year. Family feasts represent a popular tradition in both United States and the United Kingdom. People like to have dinner with their families on Christmas Day, open gifts from Santa Claus and eating their traditional meals. Children are very happy as they receive a lot of gifts. This has led to Christmas Day becoming an increasingly commercialized holiday, as many families spend a large amount of money on gifts and food.

Several Sunday schools, churches and communities in America organize special events on Christmas. These can include decorating the neighborhood, planning concerts or performances. A lot of plays and songs are the Christmas Day as a theme. Some groups of people arrange meals, shelter or charitable projects for poor homeless people. A survey shows that 27% of British people sit down and watch the Queen’s speech on Christmas Day.

In the United Kingdom, it is traditional to light a special “Yule Log” on Christmas Eve, and keep it burning through the 12th nights of Christmas, until The Twelfth Night. It played a leading role in Christmas Eve traditions.

Its pagan origins are from Northern Europe, where oak logs were lit in honor of the god Thor, and where Yule celebrations were to ensure the sun’s survival and the return of warmth and light. The log was dragged home in triumph from the woods. As soon the log was brought in, the Christmas Ale tapped, and served to the men who had brought it in. (Coppin 35).

In Cornwall, the Yule is known as “The Mock”, in Ireland as “bloc na Nodlag” or Christmas block, also in some parts of Ireland, people have a large candle, instead of the log, and it is only lit on New Year’s Eve and on Epiphany. Nowadays, this custom is no longer held, as many people have central heating and they no longer burn the log. A Chocolate Yule Log is now popular in the United Kingdom and also in the United States, as a Christmas dessert or pudding.

The custom of sending Christmas cards, started in the UK in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole. Nowadays, these cards include all sorts of pictures on them, jokes, winter pictures with Santa Claus, or even romantic scenes. People send Christmas cards on family or friends, to wish them all the best during holiday season. Also, charities often send their own Christmas cards, as a way of raising money on Christmas for people in need. Modern Christmas celebration focus on office Christmas parties, sending greeting cards, and nowadays, many people prefer to watch Christmas special television instead of going at church services. Several days before Christmas, British people and also Americans, wear Christmas themed jumpers, especially shop assistants.

1.1.9 Legends and Superstitions about Christmas

It is said that “a child born on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day, was likely to be good and beautiful, while a death in the parish during Christmas was thought to be a portent of many deaths during the coming year.” (Choppin 83) The Irish believe that at midnight on Christmas Eve, heaven gates are open, and those who die on that time, will arrive straight to heaven, without having to wait in purgatory.

In Worcestershire, it was thought to be very unlucky to sit down thirteen at the Christmas table, unless one person was pregnant. It is also said to be very unlucky to take fire out of the house at Christmas or New Year, and also working on the farm on these days was particularly unlucky. Another British superstition about Christmas, says that if it snows on Christmas, the Easter will be green. A mistletoe superstition says that you should never bring the mistletoe into the house before New Year’s Eve.

It’s unlucky to take down mistletoe used as a Christmas decoration. Therefore, the dead piece of twig is supposed to stay there until next Christmas when it is replaced. When the old piece was taken down, it then had to be burnt by an unmarried girl or else those who kissed beneath it would become enemies. (Superstitionsonline 2)

Stirring in the Christmas pudding it is said to bring good luck, and also the first person to open the door on Christmas will have good luck. The first person to hear the roster crow on Christmas Day is assured of good luck, and in Ireland, is due a cup of tea or whisky. A superstition about the Yule Log says that it should be lit by a piece of the log used on the previous Christmas, to ensure the continuity of good luck, and in this way, no evil spirit can then enter the house. Also, the remains of the Yule log are considered to be lucky. It is considered to be unlucky to sing Christmas carols ant time, other than during the winter holiday season.

It is said that the Christmas tree should never be thrown out doors, because it will attract evil spirits. Christmas trees should be burnt. Also, one may say that failing to decorate the Christmas tree will cause spring never come back, but evil spirits and bad luck will come instead. In Europe, it is bad luck to bring the tree into the house before Christmas Eve.

About the Christmas decorations, it should be entirely taken down before the Twelfth Night after Christmas, or it will bring bad luck.It is also said to bring bad luck to leave the dishes on the sink unwashed, to spin or to sew on Christmas Eve. A funny superstition says that if you eat nuts without honey, on Christmas day, your teeth will fall. If you don’t eat plum pudding during the holiday season, or if you refuse mince pie at Christmas dinner, one may say that you will have bad luck for a year.

Boxing Day in Britain and the USA

The History of “Boxing Day” and the Origin of the Term

The term “Boxing Day” comes from the boxes gifts that servants, tradespeople and others received from their masters, customers or employees, on the next day after Christmas, known as “Christmas box”. The term “Christmas-box” dates back to the 17th century. It means a present given at Christmas. In Great Britain, it was a custom for tradespeople to receive “Christmas boxes” containing in gifts or money, on the first day after Christmas, in this way to thank them for the good services throughout the year.

This holiday usually takes place on 26th of December, and it is celebrated in England, Australia, Canada, New Zeeland and other Commonwealth countries, but it is not celebrated in the USA. Boxing Day has its origins in England, in the middle of the nineteenth century, under Queen Victoria’s reign. Nowadays, in the UK, Boxing Day is classed as a Bank Holiday.

It is thought that this holiday has begun with the lords of England, who used to give Christmas gifts to their servants, wrapped in boxes, on the second day after Christmas. Although, many people also say that Boxing Day comes from the priests, who used to open the church’s charity boxes, on 26th of December, the day after Christmas, and give its contents to poor people.

1.2.2. How it is Celebrated Boxing Day

Unlike Americans, people all over the United Kingdom celebrate Boxing Day. Traditionally, most of them spend this day with family or friends, visiting them and exchanging small gifts or having a light meal.

In Ireland, for example, Boxing Day is also known as “St Stephen’s Day”, and it is famous for the “Wren Boys”. It is said that is unlucky to kill a wren, unless is Boxing Day. St Stephen was killed for believing in Jesus. In Ireland many years ago the Wren Boys would go out with blackened faces from burnt cork and would stone Wrens to death. They would then tie them to a pole decorated with holly and ribbons and carry their catch around the town knocking at doors and asking for money, food or a gift. In return for a donation the recipient received a feather from the Wren as a thank you. Nowadays, this is not happening anymore, and the Wren boys go around town wearing fancy dresses, and carrying a stuffed bird in a cage. They sing carols and collect money that they donate to charity.

One of the most common customs in the UK, on Boxing Day, is doing shopping, as there are sales. The malls are filled with people, buying reduced price Christmas gifts. Children like to go and spend the Christmas vouchers they received. Due to the popularity of Boxing Day sales, many stores are running now Boxing Weeks.  “In 2014 shoppers spent £3 billion in the Boxing Day Sales with online retailers having their biggest and busiest day with sales of £500 million.” (Denton 3)

If some people prefer relaxing on Boxing Day, visiting friends, or go shopping, there are others who prefer to get out and take part in sports activities. Football matches or horse racing are also some of the popular Boxing Day past times. Traditionally, these matches are played against local teams. The Boxing Day match is one of the most popular events in the sporting calendar.

Unusual Boxing Day Games and Customs

“Around 1883 there was an orange custom in Sussex, in which oranges were thrown or bowled along the high roads, and the one whose orange is hit by the orange of another forfeited it to the successful player.” (Choppin 97) At Newent, Gloucestershire, an annual cricket match was played on Boxing Day.

In Scotland, <sweetie scons> or <sweetie buns> were presented as gifts, and up to 1827 there was a “Stephening” custom at Drayton Beauchamp in Bucks when all the villagers used to go to the Rectory to eat bread and cheese and drink ale at the Rector’s expense!

(Coppin 97)

Fox hunting was a sport custom held in the past, for the upper classes. Wearing red coats, and with a lot of dogs, “no fox was safe on this day”. Although nowadays fox hunting has been banned in the UK, this sport still goes on, illegally.

Nowadays, another unusual Boxing Day custom, is a charity event, where people wearing fancy clothes swim in the sea; it is known as “The Boxing Day Dip” and it takes place at Seaburn beach, in Sunderland. It is a very popular event, which attracts over 1,000 participants and over 5,000 spectators. Participants are wear fancy dresses and they jump into the North Sea. A roaring bonfire is organized on the beach, and all participants receive a medal for their bravery.

New Year in Britain and the U.S.A

1.3.1 The History behind New Year. Customs and Traditions

The Roman emperor, Julius Caesar, was the one who established the date 1st of January, as New Year’s day, in the year 46 B.C.E.. The name of this month comes from the Roman God Janus, the god of gates and doors, who had two faces, one looking back and one looking forward. Caesar thought that the name of this God was suitable for the first month of the year. So, January 1st became consistently observed as the start of the New Year.

Almost all New Year’s customs and traditions are of pagan origin. In Scotland, the greatest of all annual festivals remains the welcoming of the New Year. It is often called “Hogomany”, a word that comes from the Anglo-Saxons – Haleg Monath, which means Holy Month. “The many customs include: “First Footing”, the “Hide of the Bag”, the Caise Calluinn, or Christmas Cheese and the New Year’s Blessing. Before the New Year can be welcomed, all the evil and bad luck of the old year must be banished or driven away.” (Coppin 113)

In England, New Year is celebrated from the New Year’s Eve on 31st of December, until the next day, the 1st of January. It is a tradition across England for people to set off fireworks on the stroke of midnight. On the other hand there are many various New Year’s traditions in America. In the U.S New Year is a declared public holiday, as in Britain it is declared Bank Holiday. Fireworks, parties, gifts and musical events are popular both in the U.K and in the U.S. People are eagerly and wait for the celebrations.

In the U.K, New York represents the main attraction on New Year and Christmas Day. The streets are crowded with fancy dressed people, who are prepared to welcome the first day of the year with great joy. The Times New Square in New York hosts several events and concerts by the television celebrity Dick Clark. American people love to stay home and watch the entire show on the television, with all their family and friends.

New Year’s American customs are very colorful and entertaining, especially for young people who love to have fun at dance parties, which is one of the major celebrations on this special day.

In England, as soon as the church bells ring twelve, at midnight, the fireworks are set off. As the New Year begins, the bell inside the Clock Tower, the chimes of Big Ben, are broadcast to mark the start of the New Year. People all over the place, hug and kiss one another, wishing the best for the coming year, drinking champagne or other sparkling wines and they start saying “Happy New Year! ”. This kissing at midnight custom, and wishing all the best, is also common in the U.S., as it is all over the world. In America, this custom came to existence from the masked ball, which symbolizes evil spirits. It is thought that when you kiss, this evil spirits fade away and purify the new beginning. Also, the tradition of sending gifts, New Year cards, cakes or flowers, it is very popular nowadays. Another British tradition on New Year is to open the back door of the house, as soon as the church bells ring twelve o’clock.

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. ( Lifestylexclusif Portals 2)

In Scotland and Wales, children wake up early in the morning, on New Year’s first day, and they visit their neighbors and sing New Year carols. Out of love and generosity, people give them sweets, cookies, coins, and this goes on till noon.

New Year Food and Drinks Customs

In the U.S, black-eyed beans are believed to be very lucky. It is an American custom on New Year to prepare special dinner with different cuisines to gather for the family feast. A special dish with rice, called Hoppin’ John , which is very popular, is consumed with black-eyed beans. It is thought that this particular dish brings prosperity and good luck in the new year. During the New Year’s party, people also eat cakes and drink champagne, which is considered to be benefic.

In the southern United States, cornbread is very popular on New Year, because its color is resembles that of gold, and to ensure extra luck, some people usually add corn kernels, which are emblematic of gold nuggets. No New Year’s celebration is complete without the very popular Champagne. This alcoholic beverage is famous all over the world, not only in the U.K or in the United States. In Scotland, people always eat on New Year’s Day steak pie with mashed potatoes, peas, carrots or other vegetables.

1.3.4 New Year’s Superstitions

In Northern English folklore, the first-food, which represents the first person to enter the house on New Year’s Day, is thought to be a bringer of good luck for the coming year. In the United States, it is very important for people to start the New Year with no debts. If you want to have luck in the coming year, you should pay all your debts before January the 1st . Also, it is thought that you shouldn’t spend money on the first day of the year, otherwise, you will have bad luck money. Kissing at midnight on New Year it is said to be very lucky. It is thought that the Midnight Kiss wards the evil spirits. Also, the New Year’s kiss is a symbol of the love and affection that will last all year.

In America, there are many food related superstitions. It is said to bring good luck to eat 12 grape beans, one for each month of the year. Also, eating pork on New Year’s Day is lucky, as pigs root forward when they eat, while chickens scratch backwards. It is good to eat lentils, as they resemble to coins.

When the clock strikes twelve, British people open the front door and make a wish, for a welcoming New Year and for happiness to come in the house. Also, there is very important for them the first guest entering the house in the first day of the year, because this shows how much happiness will be in the following year. If it is a man carrying gifts, there will be happiness, if the fist guest is a woman, they believe they will have no much luck that year.

In Ancient Britain, women used to carry acorns in their pockets to keep their beauty and youth. According to Richard Webster, in “The Encyclopedia of Superstitions”, it was believed that the oak tree provides longevity and wards off illness, owing to its long life.

The Feast of Epiphany in Britain and the U.S.A

The term “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word “epiphainein", which means “reveal”. The Feast of Epiphany is celebrated 12 days after Christmas, on the 6th of January and it is also known as “The Twelfth Night”, “The Twelfth Day” or “Old Christmas Day”. It means “showing forth” or “manifestation”. By Eastern Christians it is also called “Theophany” meaning the manifestation of God, or “Blessing of the Waters Day”.

As one of the oldest Christian celebrations, the feast of Epiphany celebrates the baptism of baby Jesus in the River Jordan, and a manifestation of his divinity when a dove descended to him and proclaimed him the Son of God, according to the Christian Orthodox

On the other hand, in the United States and Great Britain, on this holy day, besides celebrating the baptism of Jesus, the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches focus on the Adoration of the Magi – the Three Kings who visited infant Jesus when he was born, in Bethlehem. In honor of Jesus’s baptism, water is being blessed by the church and small bottles of holy water are given to Christians to take home. “In many American cities, the priest leads the congregation to a local river which he blesses.” – Dictionary, page 235. A central role in Catholic celebration is played by the blessing of lakes, rivers and seas.

The feast of Epiphany was also called “The Last day of Christmas”, and in Scotland it is still called “Uphalieday”, the ending of holy days, marking the end of the winter holiday season. “In Ireland the day is called “Women’s Christmas. Candles are lit for the last time , there is a Thanksgiving drink after the meal and it is believed that all water becomes wine between sunset on 5 January and sunrise on 6 January.” (Coppin 140)

Many years ago, in Britain, a feast was held on the Twelfth Night. There were large parties and feasting, the centerpiece of which was the Twelfth Cake.

“a tradition that goes back as far as the medieval court of Edward II. The cutting of the cake determined the election of the King and Queen of Twelfth Night. A bean and a pea were inserted in the cake before baking, and he would had a slice with the bean became King, and she who had a piece with the pea was elected Queen. The King and Queen could then order games and forfeits just like the old Lord of Mirsrule and the King of Saturnalia revels. (Coppin 141)

In Ireland, this day is called “Women’s Christmas”. It is the day when candles are for the last time lit and there is a Thanksgiving drink, after the dinner. Traditionally, the women take the day off and the men do the cooking and the housework. As it is becoming more popular, women use to get together on the Sunday nearest Epiphany, drink tea and eat cakes. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, Epiphany is a public holiday, so shops, business and government office are closed, but is not a public holiday in the rest of the United States and in Great Britain also. In Louisiana, United States, the feast of Epiphany marks the beginning of Mardi Gras season. During this time of the year, it is an American tradition to bake king cakes. The season between Epiphany and Mardi Gras is usually known as “King Cake Season”. On Epiphany, people also take down the Christmas decorations.

In other parts of the United States, although it is not a public holiday, people are involved in many activities. For example, they throw parties or get together and clean the houses as the winter holiday season is over and take down the Christmas decorations.

One of the most important symbols of Epiphany is the star, which guided the three wise men to Christ, in Bethlehem, when He was born. Also another Epiphany symbols are the gifts they give to Jesus on that special they: gold, incense and Mirrh. Also, paintings illustrating the baptism of Jesus have been made, and they represent another important symbol of the Feast of Epiphany. The liturgical color for the Epiphany is white, as many Orthodox churches consider Jesus’ baptism to be the first step towards crucifixion.

People say that it is very important to take down al Christmas decorations on Epiphany, as it marks the end of the Christmas season, because if not, bad luck will follow.

It was believed that if Old Christmas Day came during a waxing moon, a good year would follow, and if during a waning moon, a hard year. If the sun shine through the apple trees on that day it would be a good cider year. A popular saying from Devon, Child born upon Old Christmas Day is good, and wise, and fair, and gay. (Coppin 142).

It was also said that all evergreen in the house should be burnt outdoors, and this traditions also exists in the United States, where the decorations are being burnt in the parks. “An old saying from Cheshire runs: <Burn all the Christmas decorations in the shape of holly and ivy by Old Christmas Day, or your house will be haunted by evil spirits al the year>.” (Coppin 142).

Easter and Easter-related Holidays in Britain and the U.S.A

Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras in Britain and the U.S.A

The Etymology of the Word and the Significance of the Feast

Shrove Tuesday it is also known as ‘Fat Tuesday’ or ‘Mardi Gras’, the French term. It reflects the last day when Christians can eat meat or dairy products before the fasting period of Lent. In many parts of the world, this day is also known as ‘Pancake Day’. The term ‘Shrove Tuesday” draws its roots from the verb ‘to shrive’, which means to confess your sins in order to receive absolution. Its derivation also includes the Old English word ‘scrifan’ which means to assign, to impose penance. Shrove Tuesday is a day to prepare hearts for the Easter season. It is celebrated on the day before Ash Wednesday, 47 days before Easter. Over the centuries, the spiritual purpose of Shrove Tuesday has changed. It became a custom to eat richer foods, such as dairy, eggs, sugar and meat, and pancakes, which are made of eggs, milk and sugar became a pattern, as these meals are forbidden during the Lent.

Shrove Tuesday dates back from the Middle Ages. As contemporary times, food items like dairy products, meat or fish were restricted during the Lent period. To keep such food from being wasted, people used to have big feasts on Shrove Tuesday, and consume this food that they will no longer eat during the next forty days. The tradition of eating pancakes came in the English tradition as a way to use as much eggs and milk as possible before the Lent began.

Customs and Traditions on Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday has a variety of traditions, coming from different regions of Europe and America. In the United Kingdom, a very popular tradition on this day is serving pancakes, which is also the reason why this feast is called ‘Pancake day’. The annual Pancake Day Races take place, where contestants, usually women, are dressed in aprons and scarves and run on the trail flipping a pancake in a frying pan. The first woman who complete the course, serve the pancake to the bell ringer, kisses him and she is the winner. The most popular pancake race takes place at Olney, in Buckinghamshire. The same kind of race also takes place in the United States, in Liberal, Kansas.

In medieval times, all churches rang BELLS on SHROVE TUESDAY morning, in order to remind the parishioners to come to confession (‘shriving’) before LENT began. Confession went out with the Reformulation, but the pre-Lenten carnival atmosphere of the day continued, as did the custom of eating pancakes and, in many cases, the bellringing – eagerly awaited by apprentices and schoolchildren as a signal to begin their holiday. Now the holiday too has disappeared, but a dwindling number of churches keep up the ringing ‘to remind housewives to put their pancakes on the stove.

(Kightly 183)

In the United States, the fast of Mardi Gras arrived in the late seventeenth century, as a French Catholic tradition, when the French claimed the territory of ‘Luisiane’, which included what now are states of the U.S.A. as Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and part of eastern Texas. Years later, in 1723, the capital of Louisiana was moved to New Orleans. Because of the French colonies that conquer this part of the United States, Mardi Gras is nowadays a very popular and loved festival in New Orleans. The first Mardi Gras parade took place in New Orleans in 1837. Another popular tradition in New Orleans is called the throwing of beds.

In New Orleans, but also in Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama, great parades take place on Mardi Gras. Many people dress up in eye-catching costumes and a spectacular ball is held. They walk on the streets, there are streets dancers and performers, colorful costumes, incredible floats. It is fun and excitement for all ages. People all over the world come in New Orleans on Mardi Gras to see the masquerade and streets dancing, and to take place at such an exciting parade.

The tradition of bead throwing starts with their original colors. The color of the beads was determined by the king of the first daytime Carnival in 1872. He wanted the colors to be royal colors – purple for justice, gold for power and green for faith. The idea was to toss the color to the person who exhibited the color’s meaning. The beads were originally made of glass, which, as you can imagine, weren’t the best for tossing around. It wasn’t until the beads were made of plastic that throwing them really became a staple of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. 

(International Business Times 2)

2.1.3 Symbols of Shrove Tuesday

This celebration is often characterized by various parades organized for the day, which are symbolized by masks, music and colorful floats, eye-catching costumes. Masks represent an integral part of the culture of Mardi Gras. Back in the past, wearing masks on this day meant for people a way to escape class constraints and social demands. Masks allow them to be whomever they want, at least for a few days. For example, in New Orleans, float riders are required by the law to wear a mask. Also the feast of Mardi Gras is represented by the colors green and gold, green means faith, and gold means power.

Pancakes represent one of the most important symbols of the feast of Shrove Tuesday. Both American people and British eat lots of pancakes on this day, as in the last day before Lent. Pancakes consist of milk, eggs and sugar, food items that are forbidden to be eaten during the Lent season. So, the tradition of eating pancakes became a way to use as much milk and eggs as possible, before the Lent began. Therefore, pancakes became a symbol of the feast of Shrove Tuesday.

Ash Wednesday in Britain and the U.S.A

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-days period of fasting and abstinence. It is celebrated between February 4 and March 10. For more than 14 centuries, the Lent period has been a time for penitence and self-examination in preparation for Easter. The name of this day also means ‘Day of Ashes’, and it is called so due to the fact that on this day, Christians go to the church and have their foreheads marked with ashes, in the shape of a cross. This name comes from “Dies Cinerum” in the Roman Missal. “Though the exact origin of the day is not clear, the custom of making the head with ashes on this Day is said to have originated during the papacy of Gregory the Great (590-604).” (The Holiday Spot 3)

In the Old Testament ashes were found to have used for two purposes: as a sign of humility and mortality; and as a sign of sorrow and repentance for sin. The Christian connotation for ashes in the liturgy of Ash Wednesday has also been taken from this Old Testament biblical custom. Receiving ashes on the head as a reminder of mortality and a sign of sorrow for sin was a practice of the Anglo-Saxon church in the 10th century. It was made universal throughout the Western church at the Synod of Beneveto in 1091.

(The Holiday Spot 3)

Initially, the use of ashes was seen as a matter of private devotion. Nevertheless, it became later a part of the official rite for reconciling public penitents. “In this context, ashes on the penitent served as a motive for fellow Christians to pray for the returning sinner and to feel sympathy for him.” (The Holiday Spot 3) Nowadays the use of ashes is the rite that marks the beginning of Lent, on Ash Wednesday. The ash usually comes from the palm branches that were burnt the previous year on Palm Sunday.

Although in the United States and in the United Kingdom it is not a national public holiday, most Christians attend special church services on Ash Wednesday. Priest put blessed ashes on people’s forehead, in the shape of a cross to remind them of mortality, forgiveness and sorrow for sins. Therefore the ash is the most important symbol of this day. It is used because it is also a symbol of death, as in the end, all human bodies turn intro ashes or dust. The ashes help Christians to remember that Lent is not only o period of abstinence and fasting, but also a period when people honor Jesus who died for our sins.

Palm Sunday in Britain and the USA

The Etymology and the Symbolism of Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is a Christian movable feast which is celebrated the Sunday before Easter. It marks the final week of Lent, the beginning of the Holy Week, and it symbolizes Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, days after he was crucified. Its name, ‘Palm Sunday’ comes from the custom of carrying palm branches, a symbol of victory and peace. In England, Palm Sunday was traditionally called “Olive Sunday” or “Branch Sunday”, as well as “Blossom Sunday”, “Willow Sunday”, or “Yew Sunday”.

During the Jewish PASSOVER celebration, Jesus rode into Jerusalem and was given a hero’s welcome by the people, who has heard of his miracles and regarded him as the leader who would deliver them from the domination of the Roman Empire. They carried palm branches, a traditional symbol of victory, and spread them in the streets before him, shouting “Hosanna, glory to God” (John 12:12,13). (Abbey 560)

Customs and Traditions on Palm Sunday

In the United Kingdom and also in the United States, people attend special services to commemorate Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem. For many Christians, this day represents a time to remember Jesus’ suffering before his death and resurrection. Traditionally, priests or ministers bless these palm branches, people take them home and hung them in their houses for good luck. They burn them in the next year, on Ash Wednesday. In some churches, palm branches are given to people in the shape of a cross. In the United States, people put the palm branches that have been blessed, behind religious pictures and statues in their homes, or in restaurants and stores. Some American churches use silk plant leaves or olive branches instead of palm branches, because in some areas in the United States, palm leaves can be difficult to find.

In many parts of the United States, besides attending to the service, programs of sacred music are performed. They are often held in churches and usually begin before Palm Sunday, and may continue during the entire Holly Week. In Lindsborg, Kansas, Bethany College’s Messiah Festival has been held during Holly Week for over 100 years. One of the most popular songs performed include Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St. John Passion or St. Matthew Passion, Beethoven’s Christ on the Mount of Olives or Haydn’s Seven Last Words.

In some parts of England, it was a tradition on Palm Sunday to visit fountains and to leave an offer for the fountain’s spirit. In some places, pins were dropped in the fountains, because it was thought that in this way, the spirit of the fountain will keep the water clean and fresh. In Welsh, Palm Sunday is called “Sul y Boldau”, and it is a custom for people in south Wales to decorate graves of beloved ones with flowers.

In St. Augustine, Florida, the Blessing of the Fishing and Shrimp Fleets takes place on Palm Sunday. Shrimp trawlers and other fishing boats, as well as many privately owned vessels, circle past the City Yacht Pier to receive the priest’s blessing.

(Abbey 562)

Symbols of Palm Sunday

The most important symbol of this day is the palm branch. Palm branches are widely recognized as a symbol of peace, victory and joy. When Jesus entered into Jerusalem, people placed palm branches on his path, to honor him, as they heard of his miracles. In ancient times, they were usually depicted on important buildings. “At the end of the Bible, people from every nation raise palm branches in honor of Jesus (Revelation 7:9).”

Until the present century, moreover, the branches which the Jerusalem crowd strewed in Christ’s path were only rarely symbolized in Britain by real (and necessarily imported) palm: instead, almost any kind of native greenery available in early springtime was pressed into service, though the favourite was the early-flowering willow (salix caprea) known as ‘English palm’.

(Kighltly 183)

Jesus came to Jerusalem riding a donkey. Therefore, the donkey became a symbol of Palm Sunday, representing the humble arriving in peace of Jesus. The symbolic colors of this day are white and red, representing the redemption in blood Jesus paid for the people.

Maundy Tuesday in Britain and the USA

Maundy Thursday is also called Holly Thursday, and it is the day preceding Good Friday, the last Thursday before Easter. On this day people commemorate the Last Supper, when Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples. Also, the night of Maundy Thursday was the night when Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane.

At the Last Supper on the first Maundy Thursday Christ washed the feet of His disciples, enjoining the thereafter to ‘wash one another’s feet’ in token of mutual love and humility: and later the same evening he pronounced: ‘A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you; (John 13. 4-15, 34). From the 13th century at least, English monarchs symbolically obeyed this commandment (Latin: mandatum, hence ‘Maundy’) by washing the feet of their poorest subjects on the day before GOOD FRIDAY; presenting them at the same time with gifts of food, clothes and money.

(Kightly 196)

Both in the United States and in the United Kingdom, Maundy Thursday is not a public holiday. In England, Maundy Thursday is also called Royal Thursday. The custom of washing feet by the Monarch was held until 1689. Also, food and clothes were given to the poor. Nowadays, the custom of giving gifts to the poor still exists. Also, “Queen follows a very traditional role of giving Maundy Money to a group of pensioners.” (Barrow 3) These coins are given in red and white purses, which contain money instead of clothing and food. This custom dates back to King Edward I.

In the United States, Maundy Thursday is also a time to donate money to the poor, as it is in the United Kingdom. Also, some American people prepare a meal for the poor, which can include bitter herbs or roasted lamb. In many churches, priests bless holy oil and wash the feet of 12 people during their service, to commemorate Jesus, and usually these services take place in the evening.

Good Friday in Britain and the USA

2.5.1 The Etymology and the History behind Good Friday

Good Friday is the day when Christians commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion. The term ‘good’ is interpreted as ‘holy’ or signifies “that the act of Crucifixion is central to the Christian view of salvation.” (Abbey 290) Even though some scholars think that the name of this great day comes from a corruption of ‘God’s Friday’, according to The Oxford English Dictionary, the term ‘good’ in the context of ‘Good Friday’ is “of a day or season observed as holy by the church”, in other words, the Friday in Holy Week. Good Friday represents the sacrifices and sufferings Jesus endured for us humans. This Holy Day is celebrated on the last Friday before Easter, and is also known as Black Friday, Sorrowful Friday or Great Friday, by Orthodox Christians. It is a legal holiday among Anglican and Catholic nations, in the United Kingdom, as well as in twelve American states.

Good Friday – ‘God’s Friday’ – when the Crucifixion of Christ is commemorated is the most solemn day in the Christian calendar. Churches are stripped bare of all adornment – except, in a few traditionalist places, for the yew of mourning; BELLS are silent, or toll as if for a funeral; and in pre-Reformation times a crucifix, consecrated ‘host’, or image of Christ was symbolically ‘buried’ in an ‘EASTER sepulchre’, and reverently ‘watched’ until its ‘resurrection’ on Easter Day.

2.5.2. Customs, Traditions and Superstitions on Good Friday

Until he died, Jesus hang on the cross for three hours, that is the reason why nowadays, in the United States and also in the United Kingdom, is held a three hours service based on the last seven words Jesus said on the cross. In many western Christian churches in the United States and it is called ‘Tre Ore’ from the Italian ‘three hours’. In England, this service begins at noon and it ends at 3 p.m. Also, in England this is a “day for distributing CHARITIES to the poor – especially in the form of BREAD AND BUN DOLES” (Kightly 124).

As it is a Bank Holiday in the United Kingdom, on Good Friday all schools and businesses are closed. Some British people take advantage of this day off and work around households or even go on a short vacation. Many Catholic people do not eat meat on Good Friday; they traditionally eat hot cross buns. “These are made of leavened dough, to which sugar, currants and spices have been added. The top of the bun is marked with a cross made of flour and water, or rice paper.” (Time and Date 4) Traditionally, there is no horse racing on Good Friday in the U.K. In the United States though, only in twelve states this is a public holiday, and these are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Dakota, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas and New Jersey.  

The Friday before EASTER has often been regarded as a day of ill omen by those in rural areas. In England, bread baked on GOOD FRIDAY was marked with a cross to keep the Devil away, and there was a superstition that hanging a “hot cross bun” in the house on this day would protect it from bad luck in the coming years. Sometimes Good Friday buns or cakes remained hanging on a rack or in a wire basket for years afterward, gathering dust and growing black with mold. A piece of Good Friday cake was thought to be especially good for ill cows.

(Abbey 291)

Another Good Friday superstition include the belief that good luck will come if you break a piece of crockery on this holy day, because it is said that “the sharp point would penetrate Judas Iscariot’s body.” A legend saying Judas was transformed into a squirrel drove to the custom of boys in rural areas of England, to hunt squirrels on Good Friday. Another custom linked to Judas is that, back in the days, people in Devonshire used to break pieces or pottery, believing that its sharp fragments would cut Judas’ flesh. Also in England it was believed that on Good Friday is the best possible day for plating in the garden, especially parsley and potatoes. “In parts of northern England and Wales, conversely, it was thought disastrously unlucky to disturb the soil in any way whatsoever, even by wearing shoes to walk to church.” (Kightly 125).

2.5.3. Good Friday Symbols

The cross is one of the most important symbols of Good Friday. “The cross on which Christ died has become a symbol for salvation and redemption through Christianity.” (NumeroSolution 3) It represents the symbol for the Passion of Jesus Chris, His suffering and sacrifices. The cross also symbolizes love, faith and hope.  Nowadays, many crosses bear the figure of Jesus. The hot cross bun is spiced sweet bread which contains currants or raisins, and has a white cross on the top. English people eat it usually on Good Friday morning, and they believe it brings good luck to hang a cross bun in the house.

The crown of thorns is an emblem of the Passion and the crucifixion of Christ. As described in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 15, verses 16-18, the soldiers into whose hands Jesus was delivered by Pontius Pilate dressed him in purple and placed a crown of thorns on his head. Then, saluting him with mock respect, they cried, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Christ is usually shown wearing the crown of thorns from this moment until he was taken down from the cross. (NumeroSolution 3)

Easter Sunday in Britain and the USA

The Etymology of the Term and the History behind Easter

The feast of Easter has always been linked to the Jewish Passover and it is the principal feast of the Christian year, despite the popularity of Christmas. On Easter Sunday is the day when Jesus Christ rose from the death. Easter has a greater religious significance than Christmas, as on Easter Jesus died, sacrificing Himself for our sins, and resurrected on the third day. As it is a movable holiday, many controversies existed over the centuries around its date. “Easter shall be celebrated on the Sunday after the full moon on or following the VERNAL EQUINOX” (Abbey 216) In the United Kingdom and also in the United States, Easter is celebrated between March 22 and April 25.

The English term ‘Easter’ has pagan origins, and draws its roots from a pagan festival who took place around the same time as Easter, celebrating the Saxon goddess of spring and fertility Eostra, also known as Ostara, “an obscure spring and dawn deity whose name is cognate with the East, (Germanic Ost) where de sun rises.” (Kightly 106)

Ostara seems to have been a divinity of the morning sun; the dawn. A sight easily adapted to the resurrection of the Christian Jesus, and incorporated into the morning Church services on that day. Ostara is also associated with maidens/goddesses of white showing themselves in the clefts of rocks and on mountains, suggestive of the angels who appeared at the tomb. In fact, many of the traditions now found in Christians celebrations were adopted from the pagan Eostre feast.

(Kistner Jr 13)

After Jesus died on Good Friday, in the same afternoon, His body was placed into a tomb. As it was a Sabbath day, and no one was supposed to work and even to prepare the body for a proper burial, according to Jewish customs, that task had to wait until Sunday. According to the Gospel of John, on Sunday morning, when Mary Magdalene came to the cave where the body of Jesus was, she found the tomb empty. In that moment, an angel appeared in front of her, and told her that Jesus had risen. Nowadays, the anniversary of Jesus rising from dead is a very important and joyful holiday celebrated by the Christians every year. They celebrate this feast “with special services, music, candlelight, flowers, and the ringing of church bells that had remained silent during LENT.” (Abbey 216)

Customs, Traditions and Easter Traditional Food

One of the most known traditions is the tradition of egg rolling, especially in England, from where it seems to draw its roots, from some activities surrounding the Easter-related plays, this time of the year. It may also be seen “as a symbol of rolling the rock away from the front of Christ’s tomb.” (Kistner Jr. 14) In the United Kingdom, people participate by rolling eggs downhill, and in some parts of the country, British people perform in the Pace Egg play, which is a traditional local event.

People all over the world dye eggs, or in the past, they used to wrap the eggs in onion skins so they would look gold-colored. Nowadays, people use food coloring to dye eggs in different colors. The most common color for the eggs on Easter is red, as it symbolizes Jesus’ blood and His resurrection. The tradition of dying eggs on Easter can be traced back to the early church of Mesopotamia. King Edward I of England also contributed to this tradition. In the thirteenth century, he “ordered 450 eggs to be colored and decorated with gold-leaf. They were presented as Easter gifts to the rest of the royal household.” (Mental Floss 4)

Easter eggs for eating may have evolved from the practice of not eating eggs during Lent; they had to be preserved during this time and were traditionally hard boiled and made available for dishes directly after Lent. (Kistner Jr. 14)

One of the many legends about the Easter eggs is about Mary Magdalene, mother of Jesus. It is said that while Jesus was crucified, His mother went to Him on Good Friday, carrying some eggs with her, in a basket. As she arrived on the mountain, she put the basket at His feet, and the blood of Jesus’ wounds dropped on the eggs, coloring them into red. Another legend says that three days after Jesus died; Mary went to visit His tomb, carrying a basket of eggs. When she arrived, she found the stone in front of the tomb rolled away and the tomb empty. In that moment, the eggs in her basket became red.

Attending church on Easter Sunday is a tradition both in the United States and Great Britain. One unusual tradition on Easter can be seen at Radley, near Oxford, Great Britain, where parishioners gather at church, join hands and make a human chain around it. Similar to this British tradition, in United States teenagers go to church and from a human cross just after dawn. Attending church services is a tradition both in the United States and Great Britain. In the past, Christians believed that on Easter morning, the Sun dances in honor of Jesus’ rebirth. Following this believe, was born the custom that Christian wake up before dawn to be witnesses at this phenomena and it may also be the reason why, through the United States, Easter services are held early in the morning, on sunrise.

At the Hollywood Bowl, a huge outdoor amphitheater in the Hollywood Hills, California, the Easter sunrise service is a spectacle on a scale that only Hollywood could produce. First held in 1921, the service is attended by about 30,000 people who spend the night in the stadium. About 50,000 calla lilies decorate the stage, where a huge choir and a symphony orchestra perform the Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah and traditional Easter hymns.

(BkFestHolWorld 59)

Another common tradition in America and Great Britain is that Easter represents for children a time for buying new spring clothes, decorate eggs and participate in Easter egg hunts, where eggs are hidden by the Easter bunny. The Easter egg hunt is a well-known tradition in America and Great Britain. It is a game where children have to find the hidden decorated eggs in various places, usually outdoors. The eggs can be hard-boiled decorated ones, real, artificial or made of chocolate candies. When the hunt is over, children get different gifts, depending of the number of eggs they have found.

On Easter, people eat the traditional roasted lamb, which is called the “Lamb of God” and also Easter eggs. These are one of the most popular dishes on Easter. In the United Kingdom, people eat lamb and colored hard-boiled eggs on Easter. Even if the Americans also eat lamb on Easter, the traditional food of this day is the ham.

Besides these dishes, no British Easter would be completed without hot cross buns. “In England breads or cakes flavoured with bitter tansy juice used to be popular Easter foods. Simnel cake has come to be regarded as an Easter specialty, although it was not always so. The most popular English Easter bread is the hot cross bun.” (Davidson 266-7) The cake called “Simnel” is a cake which contains fruits, and a flat layer of marzipan. It is decorated on top with 11 marzipan balls, which represents the 12 Jesus’ apostles, except Judas, the one who betrayed Him. British eat the Simnel cake with tea.

The Easter candies are also traditionally eaten in the United Kingdom, and also in the United States. People exchange decorated candies, jelly beans, chocolate or other sweets on Easer Sunday. This tradition flourished back in the nineteenth century, and it still exists today. During Easter season, children are the most happy, as shops are filled with all kinds of Easter-related sweets, from chocolate eggs to chocolate Easter bunnies.

The custom of giving candy and chocolate for Easter, meanwhile, first appeared in the Victorian age. New technology, developed by the famous Cadbury factory in England, allowed manufacturers to create hollow sculptures made of chocolate, instead of painstakingly applying layer after layer of chocolate to individual molds as they had before. These new processes meant that higher-quality candies were available for a cheaper price, and the market quickly boomed: by 1893 the Cadbury Company alone offered a whopping 19 different product lines for the Easter market.

(History 4)

Easter Symbols

One of the most known Easter symbols is the Easter bunny. In ancient times, it was the symbol of moon and new life. Some believers saw the rabbit as a symbol of Jesus’ coming out of the tomb, as it comes out of its underground home. The Easter rabbit came into the United States with German immigrants, and in this way the Americans adopted this symbol as an Easter icon.

According to an old German story, a poor woman hid some brightly colored eggs in her garden as Easter treats for children. While the children were searching, a hare hopped past. The children thought that the hare had left the eggs. So every Easter, German children would make nests of leaves and branches in their gardens for the hare. This custom was brought to the United States when the Germans came. The hare became a rabbit because there were more rabbits in the United States. Today, it is called the Easter bunny.

(Kiddy House 4)

Another familiar symbol is the Easter egg. Many Ancient cultures see the egg as a symbol of life. People all over the world dye eggs on Easter, especially red, representing Jesus’ blood. “In the fourth century, people presented eggs in church to be blessed and sprinkled with holy water.” (Kiddy House 4) The Christian Church adopted the custom of eggs as a symbol of Jesus’ resurrection, and the custom of dying eggs in the color of Jesus’s blood can be traced back to the early church in Mesopotamia. The egg rolling contest came to America from England, as a reminder of the stone that rolled away from Jesus’ tomb.

The symbol of the lamb is probably the most strongly Christian one, as it has no Pagan origins. It represents Jesus, “The Lamb of Lord”. The lamb is a young animal, born in springtime, as symbolizing life and youth. In biblical times, lambs were often offerings to God.

The lamb comes from the Jewish Passover, where each family killed a lamb as a sacrifice. When Christ became the Passover Lamb for everyone, the lamb became a symbol for His sacrifice. It is usual for the Pope to have roast lamb on Easter Sunday. Early Christians also saw the lamb as a symbol of Jesus and used it for Easter celebration. Many people serve lamb as part of the Easter feast.

(Kiddy House 4)

The Easter Lilies are white blossom flowers, symbolizing Jesus’ purity. Lilies appear on spring, and they also symbolize new life and the rebirth of Christ. An old legend says that when Mary Magdalene visited Jesus’s tomb, three days after His burial, she found the tomb empty, and there were bunches of majestic white lilies. The pure white petals of this flower also signify Mary’s pure body and her glowing heavenly light soul.

A mark of purity and grace throughout the ages, the regal white lily is a fitting symbol of the greater meaning of Easter. Gracing millions of homes and churches, the flowers embody joy, hope and life. Whether given as a gift or enjoyed in your own home, the Easter Lily, along with other Easter blooms, serves as a beautiful reminder that Easter is a time for rejoicing and celebrating.

(Apple Seeds 2)

The cross is another Christian symbol, representing the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He died on the cross, sacrificing Himself for our sins. It also symbolizes Jesus’ victory over death. “The cross has become a major symbol of God’s power to forgive sins and give new life to people.” (American Bible Society 3)

Legends and Superstitions

Back in the days, some people believed that the egg’s skins had to be crushed, after they eat eggs on Easter Sunday, so the witches could not use them for boats. Also, people thought that on Easter Sunday morning, the Sun dances in honor of Jesus’s resurrection. This belief may also be the reason why church services take place early in the morning, which are very common through the United States. People also say that if the wind blows on Easter Sunday, it will blow throughout the year. It is said that a child born on Easter Sunday will be lucky, and the ones born on Good Friday are doomed to be unlucky. The holy water from Easter it is said to be effective as a cure for many ills.

About the custom of wearing new clothes on Easter Sunday, it is said that “those who fail to wear at least one new item risk having their existing clothes soiled by birds or spat upon by passing dogs.” (Mikkelson 2) It is said that of you wash clothes on Easter Sunday, those clothes will never come clean.

It is said clothes washed on that day will never come clean, a reference to the legend that Christ cursed Good Friday washing after he was slapped in the face by a wet garment while being led to his crucifixion. Further superstitions are that one risks "washing away" a family member (causing the death of) or of finding one's laundered items spotted with blood. 

(Mikkelson 3)

3. Minor Religious Holidays

3.1. St. Valentine’s Day in Britain and the USA

3.1.1. The Etymology of the Term and the History behind Valentine’s Day

The name of the St. Valentine’s Day draws its roots from a Roman priest, on his name Valentine, who is believed to have been martyred on this day, around the year 270. Even if nowadays it is still a mystery how this priest became the patron saint of lovers, “one theory is that the Church used the day of St. Valentine’s martyrdom in an attempt to Christianize the old Roman LUPERCALIA, a pagan festival held around the middle of February.” (Abbey, 790) Also, the name Valentine comes from the Latin Valentinus, the name of two Italian priests, meaning strength and capacity.

Some historians trace the origin of the feast of Valentine’s Day to the ancient Roman Empire. Some people say that this feast was held on February 14th in honor of Juno, who was the Queen of Roman Gods and Goddesses. On the next day, February the 15th, a fertility festival, called ‘Feast of Lupercalia’ was held and it was celebrated in honor of the Gods Lupercus and Faunus, who were, besides the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, the Roman Gods of Agriculture.

There are many legends about St. Valentine. One of them says that the priest Valentine was killed because he tried to help “Christians escape from the Roman prison as they were being tortured and beaten there.” (St Valentine’s Day 3) Another legend says that along with the priest Marius, Valentine was secretly marrying couples. When this was discovered, Valentine was severally beaten, and convicted to death on February 14th, around the year 270. After his death, the priest Valentine was canonized.

By the Middle Ages, Valentine assumed the image of heroic and romantic figure amongst the masses in England and France. Later, when Christianity spread through Rome, the priests moved Lupercalia from February 15 to February 14. Around 498 AD, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine's Day to honor the martyr Valentinus and to end the pagan celebration. 

(St Valentine’s Day 3)

3.1.2. Customs and Traditions on St. Valentine’s Day

The feast of St. Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world, especially by couples and people with romantic feelings. This is the day when love is celebrated by exchanging cards, flowers and other gifts. One of the most popular costumes wide world is to go on romantic candlelight date with your partner. At these diners, many couples eat special meals with each other. Some of them opt for drink and food with some kind of a romantic feel, such as sea food, chocolate, exotic fruits, wine and champagne. Others may choose less also easily prepared dishes. The ones without a partner, start looking for one before this special day. This custom originated in England, from the popular belief that birds choose their partners on February 14th. This is the reason why, in some parts of Sussex Valentine’s Day is also known as “The Birds’ Wedding Day.” Another Valentine’s Day tradition is to go on balls or dance parties, organized by different clubs or restaurants. Also, there are organized balls and parties for the ones that do not have a partner, called ‘Valentine’s Day Single’s Party’. On this party, they dance, have fun and play different games with other friends who are also single.

Another Valentine’s Day custom is to exchange love notes, called ‘Valentines’, but which is less common in Britain than in other countries. Back in the days, people used to exchange handwritten notes, but from the nineteenth century, they were replaced by greeting cards. Valentine’s Day cards are given to siblings, parents, friends or dear ones, and even teachers, but especially to lovers. Nowadays, Valentine’s Day represents the biggest card-sending occasion, after Christmas. This kind of greeting cards can include popular pictures of Valentine’s Day symbols, such as hearts, red roses, little hearts and Cupid, the God of love. Couples also exchange gifts on Valentine’s Day, which is another tradition of this feast. Some of the most popular gifts that lovers exchange on this day are flowers, especially red roses which symbolize love, chocolates and teddy bears. In the United Kingdom, many Valentine’s Day gifts or cards are sent anonymously. Nowadays, jewelries are becoming more and more popular for women and it is also common for men to propose their girlfriend on this special day by giving her a beautiful diamond ring.

In the north of England another traditional ceremony is held every year on St Valentine’s Day, less celebrated but just as important to those involved: fifteen minutes before midnight the salmon net fishers of the River Tweed are blessed by the vicar of Norham in Northumberland. Both Scots and English fishermen attend, and join in this prayer:

Good Lord, lead us. Good Lord, speed us.

From all perils protect us;

In the darkness direct us.

Give us, good Lord, finest nights to land our fish,

Sound and big to fill our wish.

Keep our nets from shag and break.

For every man a goodly take, give us, Lord.

(Palmer 104)

In the United States, as in many other countries, there is a tradition to organize classroom parties in schools on this day. Children exchange gifts and Valentine’s Day cards, eat chocolates, dance and play many fun games. In the United Kingdom, British children sing special Valentine’s Day songs, and as a reward they receive chocolates and candies. In senior school, children also organize parties, where they dance and have fun with their friends. St. Valentine’s Day is not a public holiday in the United States neither in the United Kingdom. However, restaurants, hotels and shops are very busy in this particular day.

3.1.3. St Valentine’s Day Symbols

One of the most suggestive symbols of Valentine’s Day is the red heart. In the Bible, the human heart is characterized as the seat of all emotions and thoughts. According to this, to give a heart as a gift signifies to give everything to the person you love. The heart is the center of all feelings. Thus it became one of the most representative symbols of love, namely of the celebration of St Valentine’s Day. On this particular day, people give cards or romantic notes in shape of hearts, or with tiny pink or red hearts on them, to their beloved ones.

To ancient Romans, Cupid was the God of Love and many people around the world, especially Italians, believe in his powers. Nowadays, Cupid is one of the most important symbols of Valentine’s Day, as it is thought that his bow and arrows of love make people to fall in love. In Latin, his name means desire, from which he is the God of love, desire and attraction. Cupid was the son of Venus the Goddess of Love and the war God, Mars. Initially, Cupid wasn’t the happy little angel that we all know today. On the contrary, he was a dark god of love, who enjoyed matching ‘odd couple’ and see how they work out. Until one day, when he himself fell on his own trap and fell in love of a mortal. His mother, Venus, sent him to punish Psyche for her beauty, but instead, he was captivated by her and fell in love.

He arranged to have her brought to his mountain home to live with him, but he hid his identity from her, only visiting her at night. Their time together was so tender and full of gentle talk that Psyche fell in love with Cupid, without ever seeing him. Psyche’s jealous sisters were angered by her wealth and love, and convinced Psyche that her lover must be a monster to so hide himself. The sisters persuaded her to sneak up on him after he left her one evening, armed with a knife. He awoke and saw her there, and said sadly, "I inflict no other punishment on you than to leave you forever. Love cannot dwell with suspicion." Psyche realized how foolish she’d been, and decided the only way to be with Cupid again was to go talk to Venus and ask for her blessing. Venus was delighted at having Psyche kneeling down before her, and set forth many tasks for Psyche to perform to prove her worthiness. Each task was more than Psyche thought she could manage, but in each case a God stepped in to assist her. Finally Psyche and Cupid were allowed to be married. They were very happy together, and had a child, named Pleasure. 

(Romance Class 4)

Roses represent another Valentine’s Day symbol and one of the most popular gifts on this special day, when couples celebrate their love. They are the traditional choice for lovers. All around the world, on Valentine’s Day especially, men give to their ladies red roses, the symbol of love, in order to show their affection. Also, it is thought that the connection between roses and love comes from name of Eros, the God of love, as it has the same letters as in the word ‘rose’, but in a different order. Nevertheless, the color red is also associated with love and other strong emotions. A popular legend of Valentine’s Day says that back in the days, birds chose their partner on February 14th. Nowadays, due to this legend, doves and pigeons represent a symbol of Valentine’s Day. They symbolize purity, love and loyalty.

The hands of a lady have been a favorite decoration for Valentine’s Day for many years and are supposed to depict "femininity". To add to its beauty, the hand is often decorated with frilly cuff and a jeweled ring on the third finger. A lady's hands were a favorite decoration that depicted "femininity." Its beauty was enhanced by adding a frilly cuff and a jeweled ring on the third finger. Clasped hands are said to represent those of Queen Victoria and her consort, Prince Albert…the symbol of friendship between their respective countries of England and Germany.

(The Holiday Spot 3)

Love notes or Valentine cards are often referred to as ‘valentines’. They have become an important element of Valentine’s Day, and not only lovers exchange them, but also elementary age children, in the classrooms. There is also a legend about these ‘valentines’, as it is thought that St. Valentine himself was the first to write a love note to the one he loved, and he signed it ‘From your Valentine’. Nevertheless, the oldest known Valentine card was written by Charles, the Duke of Orleans, to his wife, while he was incarcerated in the Tower of London. This Valentine card still exist even today and it is displayed in the British Museum, among the royal papers. One of his Valentines reads as follows:

“Wilt thou be mine? dear Love, reply —
Sweetly consent or else deny
Whisper softly, none shall know,
Wilt thou be mine, Love? — aye or no?

“Spite of Fortune, we may be
Happy by one word from thee.
Life flies swiftly — ere it go
Wilt thou be mine, Love? — aye or no?”

(Celebrating Holidays 2478)

By the mid-18th century, however, costly valentine gifts were being replaced by elaborate versions of the written love messages customary since festival’s beginnings. Ideally, these should be poetic compositions by the sender in person: but as early as 1669 a published Valentine Writer was available to the unimaginative, who could also employ formulae like the modern:

Postie, postie, dinna fa’ [fail]

If Pam’s no’ in, gi’ it tae her Ma

Kincardineshire, 1960s

Wayne is ace

Wayne is cool

Wayne and Shaz will always rule.

York, 1983

(Kightly 226)

3.2. Halloween in Britain and the USA

3.2.1. The etymology of the Term and the History behind Halloween

Halloween is one of the oldest celebrations in the world. The term of this feast comes from the name of The All Saints Day celebration, which was also called All Hallows’ from the Middle English, who means All Saints’ Day. In the Celtic religion, on the night before this feast, there was held a traditional night of Samhain. The festival became to be known as All-hallows Eve, and eventually, Halloween. In the United Kingdom, Halloween is known by many names. For example, nuts have played an important role in the celebration of Halloween in the British Isles, form where the name ‘Nutcrack Night’ came. Other popular British names for this night are ‘Apple Night’, ‘Duck Apple Night’, ‘Thumb-the-door Night’, ‘Crab Apple Night’, in Wales it is referred to as ‘Apple and Candle Night’, while in the United States it is also known as ‘Trick or Treat Night’. In former times, in medieval Britain, on the last night of October when was the eve of Samhain festival, which means ‘Summer’s end’, Celtic peoples celebrated ‘Winter’s Eve’ and the beginning of the New Year. This particular night was thought to be some kind of a crack in time when dead came on earth and returned to their old haunts. This festival was held from 31 of October to November 1 in countries like Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. At the same time, other festivals were held in the British Isles, Wales and Cornwall. These festivals marked the beginning of winter, which was thought to be “the darker time of year when spirits, fairies, etc. could more easily cross into our material world.” (Kistner Jr. 20) After the introduction of Christianity, bonfires were set to remind witches of their punishment in hell.

Another belief is that Halloween draws its roots from the Catholic Church’s holy days of All Hallows’ Day and All Saints Day, which was held on the first two days of November. These celebration began on the night before, 31 of October , when “all the saints and praying for departed souls to reach heaven were done.” (Kistner Jr. 21) These were the reasons why, even nowadays, Halloween is associated with spirits, ghosts and witches. In Wales, people believed that “the devil went abroad in the shape of a pig, a horse or a dog, or in the guise of an old woman spinning or carding wool.” (Palmer 123)

During the nineteenth century, many immigrants populated America. These new immigrants were especially of Irish and they were the ones who brought into America the celebration of Halloween. Just like the Irish and English traditions, Americans began to celebrate Halloween, to dress up in costumes and slowly, this feast became more and more popular among the United States.

3.2.2. Customs and Traditions on Halloween

The Halloween festival is celebrated all over the world and there are many customs and traditions related with this celebration. One of the most popular wide world customs, especially in countries like America and the United Kingdom, is for people to wear costumes. “All over northern and western Britain, however, witches and supernatural beings are still remembered (and impersonated) by the bands of disguised children.” (Kightly 132) Even if in the past days, only children used to wear costumes, nowadays even adults dress up. It is thought that this tradition has European and also Celtic roots. In ancient times, people used to dress up in ugly costumes and set up a fire, in order to ward off evil spirits. People believed that on Halloween, ghost and other supernatural entities come back in the living world and haunt the neighborhood. In order to leave the house and not being recognized by these entities, people would wear spooky costumes, so that the evil spirits will live them alone and not harm them. Also, to prevent ghosts to enter the house, people would leave bowls of food outside their homes. If back in the days people would dress up as witches or ghosts, today Halloween costumes are quite varied. One of the simplest costumes is the ghost one. People simply put a white sheet over their heads and make a couple of holes for the eyes. Nevertheless, most people opt for vampire costumes, witches or some other horror movie characters. According to a study conducted in 2009, most grown-ups dress up on Halloween as witches, pirates, vampires, cats, fairies, nurses, ghosts or angels, and for children the most popular costumes are witches, Spider Man, pirates, pumpkins, Disney princesses, Star Wars characters, fairies or Batman. Some people like to disguise even their pets. There are many online websites where there are plenty Halloween costumes for our little companions.

One popular Irish custom on Halloween is both American and British children to disguise and go ‘trick or treating’ in their neighborhoods. “In other words, they ask for a treat (a contribution of money), in default which they will play a trick.” (Palmer 125) Especially popular for this tradition were fruits, nuts and apples. In these days, adults often give sweets and candies to the children who come trick or treating. If they refuse to supply a treat, the children would play a trick, like writing on doors with crayons, overturning garbage bins, spraying shaving cream on cars, soaping windows and so on.

This custom draws its roots from the farmers who travelled from house to house and asked for food for the village’s Halloween party, about hundreds of years ago. “In fact ‘trick or treat’ was probably exported to America from Britain in the first place, though the British revival of the last few years may well have been inspired from the other side of the Atlantic.” (Palmer 124) In November 1988, Norman Craig wrote in a letter to The Independent newspaper:

We celebrated Hellowe’en by dressing as witches and ghosts and going from door to door with turnip lanterns to frighten the adults. The terrified adults would give us sweets, money, and applecake with sixpence backed in it, to make us go away. Sounds a bit like ‘trick or treat’ to me. So, much as I like to blame the US for destroying much of the fabric of our society, in this case we should be thanking them for resurrecting a traditional British pastime.

(Palmer 124)

This custom may also have origins in the tradition of performing ‘souling’ plays and singing ‘souling’ songs. This used to take place on Halloween, All Saints’ celebrated on 1st November and All Souls’ on 2nd November, especially in Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire, when men and boys used to go from door to door and sing ‘souling’ plays and songs. “Their purpose was to gather contributions of cakes, beer, apples, money, and even left-over food. Some cakes were specially baked, and called ‘soul’ cakes.” (Palmer 125) A ‘soul’ song sounded as it follows:

A soul, a soul, a soul cake.

Please, good missus, a soul cake,

One for Peter, one for Paul,

One for him who made us all.

(Palmer 125)

Bobbing for apples represents the children’s favorite Halloween custom, where apples are flooded into the water and the children, usually blindfolded, have to caught as many as they can with their mouth, without using their hands. This custom may draw its roots from the Roman festival of the dead, who was also celebrated in October. It was held in honor of the Roman goddess, Pomona, the goddess of trees and fruits. This may be one of the reasons why nowadays, apples are being associated with Halloween.

Houses in the neighborhood are decorated with jack-o’-lanterns, witches or scarecrows. People light candles into the jack-o’-lanterns and put them outside their houses in order to ward off the evil spirits and to prevent them from entering their homes. They also think that on Halloween the most fun part is to get scarred. This is one of the reasons why many families stay at home and watch horror movies, or visit haunted houses on Halloween night. Also, many charitable organizations throw themed parties and gather money who is given to people in need. Children also organize parties after trick-or-treating where they are awarded for the best costume play fun games like bobbing for apples.

The custom of gathering around a bonfires dates from Celtic times. It was a very important tradition for them, as it was thought that the fire will scare away the evil spirits that are wondering on earth on Halloween’s night. They also believed that the light has a special power over the darkness. Today, a glimpse of this Celtic custom still remained, as children enjoy gathering around big bonfires and tell scary stories, by shining a torch under their chin, to look scary and frighten their friends. Halloween is the favorite holiday for American children.

HALLOWEEN is a spooky and macabre celebration in New Orleans, La., when costumes revelers parade up and down Bourbon Street and actors dressed as legendary characters are on the streets to narrate their grisly histories. The sheriff’s Haunted House in City Park is a standard feature, and a Ghost Train rolls through the park while costumed police officers jump out of bushes to spook their riders. The Voodoo Museum usually offers a special Halloween ritual in which people may see voodoo rites. Walking tours take visitors to such haunts as Le Pretre House, where a Turkish sultan and his five wives were murdered one night in 1792; it is said that their ghost still have noisy parties.

(Abbey 315)

3.2.3. Traditional Halloween Food

In the United States and the British Isles, traditional Halloween foods are mostly based on folk beliefs or superstitions. In Ireland, one of the most known foods on Halloween is known as colcannon. It is a dish which consists in mashed potatoes, chopped onions and parsnips. There are mixed in a coin, a small china doll, a ring and a thimble. People say that “the one who finds the ring will be married within a year, the one who finds the doll will have children, the one who finds the coin will be wealthy and the one who finds the thimble will never marry.” (Abbey 315) Also, another popular dish, based on the same belief, is called Barmbrack. It is a cake, with a ring inside of it, and it is said that the one who finds the ring will be the first to marry. Besides the ring in this cake, there is also a nut. The person who finds the nut it is said that he or she will marry a widow or a widower, but “if the kernel of the nut is shriveled, the finder will never marry.” (Abbey 315)

In the United States, as pumpkin is one of Halloween’s symbols, American usually use it as a part of the traditional food. They serve pumpkin pies or sweet pumpkin. Some people also save the pumpkin’s seeds, they dry them, roast and add salt and serve them as a snack. Candies in the shape of kernels or pumpkins are also popular in the United States and Britain. People eat them on Halloween to commemorate the harvest season. One of the most popular are candy corns, which were firstly produced by a Candy Company in Philadelphia, United States. Candy corns are made of a mixture of sugar, fondant, vanilla flavor, corn syrup and marshmallow cream. This mixture is heated and poured into shaped molds. Candy corns are also linked to the harvest season.

3.2.4. Halloween Legends and Superstitions

Many legends and superstitions are made upon the celebration of Halloween. In Ireland, there is a superstition related to putting nuts on the hot fire, and naming them after lovers. “If one of the nuts cracked or jumped, the lover would be unfaithful; if it began to burn it meant that he was interested.” (Abbey 315) If a girl named a nut after herself, and it bun with the other named after her liver, it meant that they will marry. In Scotland there is another similar superstition linked to death and marriage. On Halloween, every member of the family puts a stone in the fire and draws a circle around it. “When the fire went out, the ashes were raked over the stones. If one of the stones were found out of place the next morning, it means that the person to whom it belonged would die within a year.” (Abbey 316) Another popular superstition about marriage was in Scotland, known as “Dipping the shift”. “If someone dipped a shirt-sleeve in a south-running stream and hung it up by the fire to dry, the apparition of the person’s future mate would come in to turn the sleeve.” (Abbey 316)

There are many strange and spooky superstitions and myths related to Halloween. A very strange and macabre thing used to happen during the 90’s on Halloween night. It was very common for people to hang themselves, but no one reported it because they believed it was part of the decorations. People say that if you see a spider on this day it means that the spirit of a loved one is watching over you. It is said that if no one speaks during Halloween dinner, the spirits will visit the house. In the past, women believed that if they put Rosemary under their pillow, will dream about their future husband. They also thought that if a single woman would stay in form of the mirror in the darkness, she would see her future suppose. But if she will see a skull in the mirror, it meant that she will die before getting married. On Halloween there are also superstitions about good luck. It is said that a person will be lucky if dreams of a white cat, or hears a cat sneeze. Also a robin flying inside your house or if you sneeze three times before breakfast are signs of good luck.

3.2.5. Halloween Symbols and Their Meaning

There are many spooky symbols of Halloween, but the most representative is the Jack-o’-lantern. In the United States, United Kingdom and all over the world, people decorate their houses with carved pumpkins, with a candle in it. This custom comes from an Irish folk tale, and has Pagan origins. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to the United States, the home of pumpkins, and eventually it became a symbol of Halloween celebration.

The jack-o’-lantern, according to the Irish, was the invention of a man named Jack who was too greedy to get into heaven and couldn’t get into hell because he had tricked the devil. The devil threw him a lighted coal from hell instead, and Jack stuck it in the turnip he was eating. According to the legend, he used it to light his way as de wandered the earth looking for a final resting place.

(Abbey 316)

Firstly, Irish people referred to him as Stingy Jack or ‘Jack of the Lantern’ and then he eventually became ‘Jack O’Lantern’. Due to this legend, Irish and Scottish people started to make their own jack-o’-lanterns by carving scary faces into potatoes and putting them outside their homes, in order to frighten away evil spirits and Stingy Jack.

Witches also represent a symbol of Halloween. It was thought that on this particular night of Halloween, witches have the greatest powers. Nowadays, most people disguise themselves as witches and wonder on the streets in order to scary away evil spirits. The image of a witch riding a broomstick across the sky, in a full moon night is one of the most popular symbols of Halloween. The witch costume is very common for little girls and even for grown women.

Spiders also represent a Halloween symbol. When talking about decorating homes in a spooky way, spiders and their scary webs cannot be forgotten. They are thought to be supernatural creatures, particularly due to their ability to wave webs, which have been associated with time passing, fate and progress. People use them to decorate their homes on Halloween to create a spooky resemblance, to appear like an abandoned and haunted house.

The symbolic colors of Halloween are orange and black. These colors are the representation of the time of year. Orange symbolizes autumn, when trees change their leaves from green to orange, and also the ripe vegetables which are ready for picking, especially pumpkins. Black symbolizes the darkness of winter days which are yet to come. These two colors also draw its roots from the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the transition between light and dark.

Bats are another symbol of Halloween, as they are seen as dark creatures of the night. These animals are also part of home decorations on Halloween. They represent the end of the light season and the darkness that is yet to come during winter season. Bats were also common in the Samhain festivals, and they eventually become a symbol of Halloween celebrations. In the past it was thought that these night creatures have a connection with vampires, as vampires could turn into bats and feed on blood. Besides of this, witch hunters believed that also witches could turn into bats or into black cats, which are also seen as a symbol of Halloween. According to a Celtic legend, cats were reincarnated in human souls and they were able to see the future. Back in the days, people believed that single women were witches, as most of them had cats, form where the connection between the two. During 1600’s many cultures held bonfires and threw cats into the fire. “King Louis XIV forbade the practice, but the French villages kept doing it for more than a hundred years after the practice was abolished. Thus is the superstitious power of the cat.” (Downing)

3.3. Thanksgiving Day in Britain and the USA

3.3.1. The etymology of the term and the History behind Thanksgiving

The term ‘Thanksgiving’ means ‘the giving of thanks’. The celebration of Thanksgiving dates back from 1630’s. It draws its origins from the time when Puritans were persecuted in England, because they had established their first church. Thanksgiving was first celebrated in the United States in “October 1621 by Plymouth Colony Pilgrims in appreciation of assistance from members of the Massasoit tribe and the celebration of the first harvest.” (Online Etymology Dictionary) In October 1621, William Bradford established a day when people give thanks to God. A big meal was held and the governor invited Massasoit, the Chief of Native Americans, to thank him in this way for teaching the colonists how to hunt, fish, and grow food. The Native Americas are in fact American Indians, but the name ‘native’ comes from the fact that they were the first people who lived on this land. For this celebration the Pilgrims went hunting and returned with turkey and other animals. The women prepared dishes such as squash, corn, cranberries and pumpkins. The feast lasted for three days and many traditions from back then are still held today when Americans celebrate Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is celebrated today on the last Thursday of November, and it is a day of giving thanks, when people are grateful to God for everything they have. For Americans, Thanksgiving is special a day for family reunions and traditions, “most of which center around the preparation of an elaborate meal.” (Abbey 752)

The first stable colony at Jamestown (the Pilgrims) was established in 1621. It was a several day long celebration (Days of Thanksgiving) in 1621 that people in the United States tend to think of as the ‘first Thanksgiving’ when the Pilgrims gave thanks for a successful harvest, but it wasn’t an annual affair until the 1660’s, forty years later. Then, on November 26, 1789, President George Washington proclaimed the first nation-wide observation of the day to “acknowledge the favors of Almighty God. (Kistner Jr 23)

3.3.2. Thanksgiving Dinner; Customs and Traditions on Thanksgiving

Due to the fact that Thanksgiving is an American holiday, it is not celebrated in the United Kingdom. As American people are very religious, this celebration is very important for them and many customs and traditions are related to it. Thanksgiving is a day for family and friends, when people gather together and serve a very elaborate meal. Thanksgiving dinner is actually the principal tradition of this celebration. Before the meal starts, people on the table gather their hands and pray to God, by thanking him for the food and for everything they had. Women start preparing the traditional food for this feast several days before Thanksgiving Day. Traditional Thanksgiving food comes back from the Native Americans, who were the first to introduce these ingredients, such as corn and white potatoes, one of the most important crops in the world, along with sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkins, tomatoes and so on. Together with these vegetables, the turkey represents the main course of a Thanksgiving dinner, from where this celebration is sometimes called ‘Turkey Day’. Also, a turkey related tradition on Thanksgiving dinner is to make a wish, by taking out the forked bone from a turkey. This custom started back in Rome, and it was brought to America by English. A survey conducted by the National Turkey Federation shows that about 91% Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day. There is a ceremony called The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, which is held every year at the White House, before Thanksgiving. “Since 1989, the president has granted one lucky turkey as a ‘presidential pardon’, sparing the bird from being slaughtered for Thanksgiving dinner.” (Eilers)

Besides the turkey, Americans consider that a Thanksgiving dinner would be incomplete without a dressing, like cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes and gravy. Other popular dishes include sweet potatoes and squash, usually served with marshmallows. On the West Coast, fresh salads are also very common. In the Southern parts of New England biscuits, bread rolls and cornbread are frequently served. As for dessert, most popular are pumpkin pies and other various kinds of it, like apple pies, sweet potato pies, mincemeat pies or pecan pies. When talking about beverages, these can vary usually depending on people’s tastes. Cocktails or spirits are often served before the meal. At the dinner table usually there is apple cider or wine.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the most popular in the United States. It dates back in the 1924 and it lasts for about 3 hours. This event takes place every year in New York City and in broadcast all over the United States. Streets are decorated with large balloons, and many special guests, like singers, actors and other Broadway members participate at this parade. Many other parades are held around the United States and some of them also mark the begging of Christmas shopping season.

In Plymouth, Massachusetts Thanksgiving Day is known as Pilgrim Thanksgiving Day. Thousands of visitors come annually to watch the procession from Plymouth Rock to the First Parish Church, where the congregations sing the first psalms which were sung by Pilgrims more than three and a half centuries ago. “Each marcher represents one of the men, women and children who survived the 1620 trip from England aboard Mayflower to form the settlement known as Plimoth Plantation.” (Abbey)

The modern-day Plimoth Plantation is a living-history village that recreates Pilgrim life in 1627. Costumed actors and historians carry out many of the same activities performed by the original Pilgrims, such as sheep-shearing, building houses, planting crops, weeding gardens, and cooking. Each November Plimoth offers a variety of programs as well as period dining that features original Thanksgiving foods.

(Abbey)

As Americans are wide world known for their interest in football, Thanksgiving gatherings are perfect for them to watch some. Most of them prefer to watch it with friends from home or in stadiums or, some of them prefer to play a match of football with their friends. These sport activities usually happen before the feast, which is an early dinner. Thanksgiving Day also represents a great time for people to plan trips or visit family and friends, as it is a day off work at most business places. During this celebration travels are the most expensive and it is the busiest time of the year to fly. Being known as a celebration when people are grateful to God, and when they are kinder one with each other, Thanksgiving is the perfect moment for Americans to share, and to help people in need by donating money to charities.

3.3.3. Thanksgiving Day Symbols

Since the turkey represents the centerpiece of a Thanksgiving dinner, it is also one of the most important symbols of this celebration, even if people say that is no proof that turkey was eaten on the first Thanksgiving Day. It is said that the turkey was more available for colonist that the goose, as they turned the harvest celebration into a holiday. For Native Americans who were the first to introduce Thanksgiving Day, the turkey represented a symbol of fertility. This bird derived its English name from the sound ‘turk turk’ that he makes when scared.

The cornucopia, also known as the ‘horn of plenty’ is another important symbol of the harvest festival; whereas it is a horn shaped container filled with plenty of the harvest fruits. Originally it is a Greek symbol of the harvest, which found its way into Thanksgiving symbols through the American Native celebrations. The traditional cornucopia was initially “a curved goat’s horn filled to brim with fruits and grains. According to a Greek legend, Amalthea (a goat) broke one of her horns and offered it to Greek God Zeus as a sign of reverence.” (The Holiday Spot 3)

The corn is one of the most popular symbols of Thanksgiving. Some Americans believe that white and blue corn is sacred. It is said that the Native Americans had been growing corn long before Pilgrims came in their country. They were the ones who taught Pilgrims how to grow corn and saved them from starving during the winter season. At long last, the corn became an important part of the first Thanksgiving Dinner, and this tradition is still popular today. People also use corncobs to decorate their tables or harvest wreaths, which are also very commonly given as a gift item among American people. Con represents a popular symbol as it reminds people of the importance of the harvest festival.

Black hats, Pilgrims and Indians also represent a symbol of Thanksgiving, since the Native Americans were the first to celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States. These symbolize the appreciation and friendship people show for their close ones during Thanksgiving.

Another Thanksgiving symbol is the pumpkin, which is also a part of the Thanksgiving dinner, coming from the Native Americans. Historians say that the pumpkin is one of the most important symbols of the harvest festival, and for about four thousand years it is the American-favorite vegetable, form where its strong association with Thanksgiving celebration. Back in the past it was considered as a symbol of man’s power and life giving sun.

Autumn leaves are commonly seen as decorations during Thanksgiving, symbolizing the harvest season, fall and autumn.

Cranberries originally came from Pilgrims and were known as crane berry. They represent a symbol of Thanksgiving dinner. Because their bitterness, Pilgrims found a way to make them sweeter, by mixing them with maple sauce. Since then a Thanksgiving dinner could not be complete without cranberry sauce.