Festival & Celebration Calendar
This is a calendar of celebrations and festivals around the world. Each celebration should ideally be celebrated at or very near the time of the actual celebration. This enables the children to have rich, meaningful experiences and learn purposefully. This gives the children an ideal opportunity to find out about the similarities and differences between cultures and communities. By celebrating every counties celebrations children will not only understand British Values but just as importantly other Countries Values. Where You Tube Videos have been suggested please note we do not create these videos and Early Years Staffroom take no responsibility for their content. Please check the videos for suitability.
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November 2022
Advent Starts
Advent is the period before Christmas. Start Sunday 27th November and end Saturday 24th of December - Christmas Eve
Find out more »December 2022
Hanukkah Festival of Lights 8 Days – Jewish Festival
Hanukkah - Jewish Festival Hanukkah or Chanukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. The word Hanukkah means rededication and commemorates the Jews' struggle for religious freedom. In the western calendar Hanukkah is celebrated in November or December. The Menorah is an eight-branched candelabrum which is lit from right to left during Hanukkah. Each night one candle is lit until all eight candles are alight. Regular daily prayers are said and blessings are recited. Traditional Hanukkah treats are potato pancakes and…
Find out more »Kwanzaa – African Heritage
Kwanzaa is a week long celebration held in the United States and other nations of the Western African diaspora in the Americas. African American culture is observed from December 26th to January 1st culminating in a feast and gift giving. Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga and first celebrated in 1966-67. There are seven core principles and each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the following principles: Unity, Self determination, Collective work and responsibility, Co-operativae…
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New Years Eve
New Years Eve New Year's Eve is celebrated on 31st December observed by users of the Gregorian calendar around the world who have been celebrating the start of each new year for at least four millennia. It is often observed with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the new year starts in each time zone. In Scotland, New Year's Eve is called Hogmanay. In England, Big Ben striking 12 signifies the start of New Year with hugs kisses and the…
Find out more »January 2023
Burns Night
A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns and is held on or near the poet's birthday 25th January. A piper generally greets guests although at less formal gatherings traditional Scottish music is played. Grace is said and the haggis is piped in. The host or a guest then recites the Address to a Haggis At the end of the poem a whisky toast will be proposed to the haggis and the…
Find out more »March 2023
St David’s Day
St David's Day is celebrated in Wales and by Welsh people throughout the world on 1st March. Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! means ‘Happy St David’s Day’ in Welsh. It was declared Wales' national day of celebration in the 18th Century and it is still celebrated throughout the country. According to legend, St David ordered Britons to wear leeks in their helmets so that they could recognise each other during battle with Saxon invaders. St David's Day celebrations normally involve singing…
Find out more »April 2023
Good Friday
Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The date varies from one year to the next. Some countries have laws prohibiting dancing and horse racing that are seen as not appropriate to the solemn nature of the day, Church services are held. Different countries have different traditions. Hot Cross Buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday in the Britain and Australia.
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