Great Britain

St. Valentine's Day

14th February - it is a lovers´ day. On this day young people send Valentine cards to a person of the opposite sex, usually anonymously, and exchange gifts. The cards have funny, loving or serious contents.

Christmas

For most British families it is the most important festival of the year. Most families decorate their houses with fairy lights and bright coloured ornaments.

Christmas Eve

24th December - before English children go to bed they hang up Christmas stockings at the end of their beds and they believe that Santa Claus rides through the air on a sledge pulled by reindeer and comes down the chimney and fills up the stockings with presents and toys.

Christmas Day

25th December - in the morning children enjoy unwrapping presents and at midday Christmas lunch is a great occasion. It consists of roast turkey, potatoes, vegetables and Christmas pudding.

Boxing Day

26th December - it is still the custom to give a present of money to the tradesmen - the milkman, the postman, newspapers boys, etc. People usually go to a pantomime on that day. This is a show which is always based on a traditional fairy tale. People of all ages enjoy pantomime, especially children. Boxing Day is also the time to visit friends and relatives.