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History and Culture of the UK

History​

The two-House system

The two-House system in English Parliament, consisting of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, has its roots in medieval England. Initially, the Magna Carta of 1215 established a council of barons to consult with the king, leading to the emergence of a bicameral system where the Lords represented the nobility and clergy, while the Commons represented the broader population. Over time, through power struggles and legislative reforms, the two Houses evolved into their current form, embodying the principles of checks and balances and separation of powers within the parliamentary framework.

Did Henry VIII start the protestants?

Henry VIII played a pivotal role in the Reformation in England, which resulted in the establishment of the Church of England separate from the Roman Catholic Church. But he did not actually "start" the Protestants. The Protestant Reformation began in Germany with Martin Luther's actions in 1517, when he published his "95 Theses" challenging the practices and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Habeas Corpus Act

The Habeas Corpus Act became law in 1679. This was a very important piece of legislation which remains relevant today. Habeas corpus is Latin for 'you must present the person in court'. The Act guaranteed that no one could be held prisoner unlawfully. Every prisoner has a right to court hearing.

Early Britain​

  • Bronze Age(2000 BC): Celebrate in stonehenge, lives in roundhouses and buried in tombs called [round barrows](round barrow).
  • Iron Age (700 BC - 1 BC): Defended sites called hill forts.
  • The Romans(55 BC): Julius Caesar tried to invade Britain, succeed in AD43 and remain until AD 410 because a retreat for protecting the other part of Roman Empire.
    • One of the tribal leaders who fought against the Romans was Boudicca, the queen of the Iceni in what is now eastern England.
    • Britain was invaded by tribes from northern Europe: the Jutes, the Angles and the Saxons after the Romans left in AD 410
  • Anglo-Saxons Kingdom
    • Anglo-Saxons under King Alfred the Great from northen Europe who defeated the Vikings and became the king of England after Roman
    • St Patrick from Ireland preached about Christaianity
    • The Viking(AD 789) started staying in east England and Scotland
  • The Norman Conquest(1066) - William the Conqueror from France invaded England and killed Harold(the saxon king of England). This invasion led to many changes in government, language and social structures in England
    • The Battle of Hastings is commemorated on this art The Bayeux Tapestry in France today.
    • Domesday Book which lists of all the towns and villages in England was written after the Norman Conquest.

Middle stage (AD 476-1485)​

Middle stage (AD 476-1485): Focus on what happened after the Norman Conquest

  • War at home and abroad
    • 1200 English ruled an area of Ireland known as the Pale near Dublin. Some lords in other parts of Ireland accepted the authority of the English King
    • 1284 King Edward I of England introduced the Statue of Rhuddlan which is a legal document integrating Welsh territory into the rule of the English crown. [Colonization]
    • 1314 the Scottish led by Robert the Bruce defeated the invaded of English Kings at Bannockburn.
    • 1337-1441 Hundred years war between Englishs kings and France. The most famous battle was Battle of Agincourt in 1415, King Henry V's vastly outnumbered Englished army defeated the French.
  • The Black Death(1348):
    • 1/3 of the population of England, Scotland and Wales died
    • Lots of people died in the Pale in Ireland => The area controlled by the English became smaller
    • Less need to grow cereal => Labour demanded higher wages => People left from country side => New social classes appeared (Landowner and the middle class)
  • The Wars of the Roses(1455): A civil war was begun to decide who should be the king of England between House of York and House of Lancaster. Henry Tudor won the war and became King Henry VII and united two families.
  • Language, Legal and political changes
    • After Norman Conquest, the king and his noblemen had spoken Norman French and the peasants had continued to speak Anglo-Saxon. 2 languages combined into one English language.
    • Common laws were developed in England. Codified laws were developed in Scotland.
    • 1215 King John was forced by his noblemen to agree the Magna Carta/大憲章 to protect the rights of the nobility and restrict the king's power(tax and laws)

The Tudors and Stuarts​

The Tudors were a family of partial Welsh descent, whereas the Stuarts were the Scottish Royal family.

  • Henry VIII(1491-1547)
    • He continued his father's approaches which strengthening the central the administration of England and reduce the power of the nobles .
    • He established the Church of England to separate from the Roman Catholic Church for divorce his first wife. (He married 6 times)
    • His son, Edward VI was a strongly Protestant. He died at age of 15
    • Edward's half-sister Mary(aka. bloody Mary) became queen. Mary was a devout Catholic and persecuted Protestants. She died after a short reign.
  • Elizabeth I(1533-1603)
    • Mary's half-sister, Elizabeth I who was a Protestant became the queen. She tried to avoid serious religious conflict within England. In July 1588, the Spanish Armada set sail from Spain, with the mission of overthrowing the Queen Elizabeth I and restoring Catholic rule over England. The English won the invasion
    • Her cousin (Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland) fled to England to find her help because Mary's husband was murdered, but Elizabeth suspected Mary of wanting to take over the English Throne even Mary gave her throne to her Protestant son. Mary was sent to jail for 20 yrs and was eventually executed
    • Elizabeth period is remembered for the richness of its poetry and drama. especially the plays and poems of William Shakespeare.
    • The plantation of Ireland was an organized policy of colonizing Ireland with English settlers and attempting to impose English control, language, and culture, often resulting in the displacement of the native Irish population.
    • Elizabeth I never married, her heir was James VI of Scotland, becoming James I of England.

Civil War & The Glorious Restoration​

  • Civil War (1642-1651) and the rise of Parliament
    • The Battle of Naseby (1645) and the Battle of Marston Moor (1644) were decisive battles in the English Civil War, where Parliamentarian forces defeated the Royalists, significantly weakening King Charles I's military power.
    • The English Civil War began primarily due to political power struggles between the monarchy, especially under Charles I(James' son ), who asserted the divine right of kings (the idea that the king was directly appointed by God to rule), and Parliament, which sought more power and was influenced by Puritan - 清教徒 dissatisfaction with Charles's religious policies. Tensions escalated over issues such as taxation without parliamentary consent, disagreements on the role of the Church of England, and the autocratic tendencies of the monarchy, ultimately leading to armed conflict. Attachments: movie 1, movie 2
    • The country split into those who supported the king (the Cavaliers) and those who supported Parliament (the Roundheads)
    • The army of Parliament won the war and Charles I was executed in 1649. The Scots had not agreed to the execution of Charles I and declared his son Charles II to be King.
    • Charles II led a Scottish army into England and was defeated by Oliver Cromwell who is one of the generals of Parliament Army. Charles II hid in an oak tree on one occasion and exiled to Netherlands.
  • The Restoration of the monarchy (1660)
    • After the execution of Charles I, England became a republic known as the Commonwealth of England, and Oliver Cromwell became its Lord Protector which was effectively a monarchical position, albeit with a less hereditary and more constitutionally limited framework. Cromwell ruled until his death in 1658.
    • People wanted stability and parliament invited Charles II to come back in May 1660.
    • During Charles II’s reign, a great fire destroyed much of the city, including many churches and St Paul’s Cathedral.
    • Charles II had no legitimate children and died in 1685. His brother James became James II.
  • The Glorious Restoration (1688)
    • The Glorious Revolution was a pivotal event in British history where James II, a Catholic king, was overthrown by a group of Parliamentarians and replaced by his daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange, who were Protestants. Discontent with James II's perceived favoritism towards Catholicism and his attempts to create a more centralized, absolutist monarchy led to fears of a Catholic autocracy.

      • In 1688, William was invited by a coalition of influential Protestants and parliamentary leaders to invade England and proclaim himself king. The revolution was relatively peaceful and bloodless, as James's army defected or failed to put up resistance, leading to his exile in France. William became William III

      • This peaceful transfer of power established a constitutional monarchy(君主立憲制) and the principle of parliamentary sovereignty, shaping the future of democratic governance.

A Constitutional monarchy - The Bill of Rights (1689)​

  • Constitutional monarchy begins, reducing unilateral monarch power; ministers gain influence.
    • Parliament controls taxation, justice, and royal succession; monarchs must be Protestant.
    • Parliaments must be elected every three years, later changed to seven and now every five years.
    • The monarch requires annual parliamentary approval for military funding.
  • Increased press freedom after 1695, ending the need for government licenses for newspapers.
  • Still not quite equal right system based on today's modern standard
    • Only men who owned property of a certain value could vote.
    • Pocket boroughs: some constituencies were controlled by a single wealthy family.
    • Rotten boroughs: constituencies without any voters.
  • Queen Anna, William and Mary's successor
    • Because Queen Anne had no surviving children, this uncertainty led to the Treaty of Union in Scotland was agreed in 1707, creating the Kingdom of Great Britain.
    • Queen Anne's death leads Parliament to appoint George I in 1714, Anne's nearest Protestant relative.
    • Sir Robert Walpole becomes the first Prime Minister under George I.
    • The rebellion in Scotland led by Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) (the grandson of James II) is because the clansmen from highland wanted to kick back on the throne in place of **George I’s son, George II. **.
    • The Battle of the Boyne, fought on July 1, 1690, near Drogheda, Ireland, was a decisive conflict where William III (William of Orange) defeated the forces of the deposed King James II.
  • The Act of Union in 1801 unites England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland and created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The Enlightenment(啟蒙時代) 1685-1815​

  • The Enlightenment fueled intellectual progress and innovation.
    • Adam Smith laid the foundations for modern economics with his work on free markets in "The Wealth of Nations."
    • David Hume made significant contributions to philosophy, especially empiricism and skepticism.
    • James Watt improved the steam engine, powering the Industrial Revolution and fundamentally changing British society and economy.
  • In 1815, the French Wars ended with the defeat of the Emperor Napoleon by the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo.

The industrial Revolution (1760-1840)​

  • Before the 18th century, agriculture was the biggest source of employment in Britain. There were many cottage industries, where people worked from home to produce goods such as cloth and lace.
  • The development of the Bessemer process for the mass production of steel => shipbuilding industry and the railways.
  • Due to the development of machinery and the use of steam power, agriculture and goods could be mechanised.
  • More Colonisation happened overseas due to trades including India, Canada, Australia and southern Africa.
  • Had conflict with France due to the expanding and trading in a similar way.

The slave trade​

  • in 1807, it became illegal to trade slaves in British ship or British port and in 1833 the Emancipation Act abolished the slavery throughout the British Empire.
  • After 1833, 2m Indian and Chinese workers were employed to replace the freed slaves. They worked ..
    • on sugar plantations in the Caribbean
    • in mines in South Africa
    • on railways in East Africa
    • in the army in Kenya

The American War of Independence​

  • By the 1760s, there were substantial wealthy British colonies in North America who wants to have religious freedom. They were well educated and interested in ideas of liberty.
  • The British government wanted to tax the colonies.
  • In 1766, there were 13 colonist declared their independence, stating that people had a right to establish their own governments.
  • The colonists eventually defeated the British army and Britain recognised the colonies' independence in 1783.

War with France​

  • The Battle of Trafalgar, fought on October 21, 1805, was a naval engagement between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of France and Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. Led by Admiral Nelson, the British fleet employed a bold tactic, breaking the enemy line and securing a decisive victory despite Nelson's death in the battle.
  • The battle effectively ended Napoleon's ambitions of invading Britain, establishing British naval supremacy for over a century and shaping the course of European history.
  • Nelson's Column in Trafallgar Square, London is a monument to him.

Vicotrian Age​

  • In 1837, Queen Victoria became queen of the UK at the age of 18 and reigned until 1901.
  • The British Empire grew to cover all of India, Australia and large parts of Africa.
  • The first modern technological conflict The crimean war (1853-1856) was a conflict primarily involving Russia on one side, and an alliance of the Britain, Turkey and France. It originated from a dispute over religious rights in the Holy Land and Russia's desire to expand its influence in the Black Sea region.
  • The right to vote
    • In 1832, the Reform Act had greatly increased the number of people with the right of vote, but the voting was based on ownership of property. This Act also abolished the old pocket and rotten boroughs.
    • In 1867, there was another Reform Act to create more urban seats in Parliament and reduced the amount of property that people needed to vote.
  • Acts of Parliament in 1870 and 1882 gave wives the right to keep their own earning and property, before that, those belonged to her husband automatically.
  • The Boer War of 1899 to 1902 took place in South Africa with settlers from the Netherlands called the Boers.
  • Export and import
    • In 19th, the UK produced more than half of the world's iron, coal and cotton cloth.
    • Government promote policies of free trade by abolishing a number of taxes on imported goods during the Victorian Age
Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-59) 布魯內爾

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was originally from Portsmouth. He built tunnels, bridges, railway lines and ships. 2 of his famous works

  • Great Western Railway
  • Clifton Suspension Bridge
Florence Nightingale (1821-1910) 南丁格爾

Florence Nightingale was born in Florence in Italy. In 1854, she went to Turkey and worked in military hospitals, treating soldiers who were fighting in the Crimean War. She and her fellow improved the conditions in the hospital and reduced the mortality rate.

Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928)

Emmeline was a prominent British suffragette(婦女參政論者) and political activist who played a leading role in the women's suffrage movement in the United Kingdom. She founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1903, advocating for women's right to vote through direct action and civil disobedience. Pankhurst and the WSPU led numerous campaigns, protests, and hunger strikes, contributing significantly to the eventual granting of voting rights to British women with the Representation of the People Act in 1918.

The 20th Century​

  • Salary for members of Parliament (MPs) was introduced for the first time, making it easier for more people to take part in public life.
  • In 1913, the British government promised 'Home Rule' for Ireland to let Ireland have its own parliament but still part of the UK.

World War I (1914-1918)​

Source: mapsontheweb

  • World War I erupted primarily due to a complex web of factors including militarism, nationalism, imperialism, and alliances. Tensions escalated after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary Empire (Composed by Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary) in 1914. The British Empire played a significant role in the war, being one of the major Allied powers. Britain's involvement stemmed from its alliances and obligations to Belgium and France, as well as its desire to maintain its imperial dominance and protect its overseas territories. British forces fought on multiple fronts, including the Western Front, the Middle East, and Africa, contributing to the eventual Allied victory at 11 am on 11th in November 1918.
  • The inter-war period
    • In 1916, an uprising (the Easter Rising) against the British in Dublin.
    • In 1921 a peace treaty was signed and in 1922 Ireland became two countries.
  • In 1929, the world entered the 'Great Depression'
  • The BBC started radio broadcasts in 1922 and began the world's first regular television service in 1936.

World War II (1939-1945)​

  • The British government tried to avoid another war. However, when Hitler invaded Poland in 1939, Britain and France declared war in order to stop his aggression.
  • Initially fought between the Axis powers (fascist German, Italy and the Empire of Japan) and the Allies (the UK, France, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Union of South Africa)
  • From the end of June 1940 until the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, Britain and the Empire stood almost alone against Nazi Germany.
  • The United States entered the war when the Japanese bombed its naval base at Pearl Harbour in December 1941.
  • D-Day, which occurred on June 6, 1944, was the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, during World War II. It marked the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation and was a turning point in the war, allowing the Allies to gain a foothold on the continent and ultimately leading to the defeat of Nazi Germany in May 1945.
  • The war against Japan ended in August 1945 when the US dropped its newly developed atom bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Winston Churchill 1874-1965

In May 1940 he became Prime Minister. He refused to surrender to the Nazis and was an inspirational leader to the British people in a time of great hardship. He lost the General Election in 1945 but returned as Prime Minister in 1951. Some of his famous speeches:

  • I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.
  • We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.
  • Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

After 1945​

  • The welfare state: The country was exhausted economically and people elected a Labour government due to the welfare state promised by Clement Attlee who was the leader of Labour party. He was the Churchill's Deputy Prime Minister in the wartime. He was PM from 1945 to 1951 and led the Labour Party for 20 years.
    • In 1947, independence was granted to 9 countries, including India, Pakistan and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Other colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific achieved independence over the next 20 years.
    • In 1948 NHS has be established which guaranteed a minimum standard of health care for all.
    • Provide a bunch of benefits to provide social security to protect from the cradle to the grave.
    • The UK joined the new NATO.
    • During the 1950s, there was still a shortage of labour in the UK. There were lots of immigrant from West Indies, India and Pakistan to work and settle in Britain.
  • 1960s swinging sixties
    • 2 well-known pop music groups were The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
    • In the late 1960s, the government passed new laws to restrict immigration to Britain.
    • It was also a time when social laws were liberalised, for example in relation to divorce and to abortion in England, Wales and Scotland. The position of women in the workplace also improved.
  • 1970s
    • In the late 1970s, the post-war economic boom came to an end. Imports of goods were valued at more than the price paid for exports. Conflict between the trade unions and the government led to lots of strikes.
    • The UK was a full member of the EU since 1973 but left the EU on 2020.
  • 1979 to 1997
    • Margaret Thatcher became the first Prime Minister, led the Conservative government from 1979 to 1990.
    • She did the privatization of nationalised industries and imposed legal controls on trade union powers.
  • 1997 to 2010
Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013)

In 1975 she was elected as Leader of the Conservative Party and so became Leader of the Opposition. Following the Conservative victory in the General Election in 1979, Margaret Thatcher became the first woman Prime Minister of the UK.

She led the Conservative government from 1979 to 1990 and was the longest-serving Prime Minister of the 20th century

Culture​

Geography​

  • The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
  • Great Britain refers only to England, Wales and Scotland.

The Union Flag​

unionflagflags

Resource: aupairfect Blog

  • St. George is the patron saint of England, traditionally celebrated on April 23rd. He is most famously known for the legend of St. George and the Dragon, symbolizing courage and faith.

    • 諷刺的是，聖佐治生於現土耳其，從來沒到過英格蘭，即使有到過也大概會被「愛國分子」視為的「骯髒的」移民也。他之所以成為英格蘭的守護聖者，是十四世紀的事：時任國王喜歡聖佐治屠龍的故事所章顯的騎士精神而將他大加宣傳，所以英格蘭才有聖佐治日。 屠龍故事。聖佐治明明是個羅馬帝國時期的殉道者，不過他最為之稱道的「事跡」卻是一中世紀間，西方社會最著名的歷奇傳說。既是口傳的故事，版本甚多而且各有出入，但基本是：話說在北非利比亞某城附近，有條散發毒氣的惡龍，他住在城水源的湖裡，除了捕食居民外還在水裡下毒。為了安撫這條惡龍，當地居民每天都要向它放上兩隻肥羊作換取安寧。後來肥羊沒有了，居民只好用人以及小孩代替。直至某日抽籤，剛好抽中國王唯一的女兒。國王用千金買回女兒不果，只好送她入虎口。

      此時聖佐治恰好路過，聽聞此事憤怒異常，他身披代表正義的紅十字，騎士式的向惡龍突擊，手上的長槍一下直刺，把惡龍俘虜了。聖佐治把惡龍拉回城中，跟居民說，若果大家歸信基督，他便會把惡龍消滅。 惡龍之血留在地上形成了一個紅色的十字架。

  • St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, celebrated on November 30th. He was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus and is associated with the Saltire, the Scottish flag, which features a white saltire on a blue background.
  • St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, celebrated on March 17th. He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland and is often associated with the use of the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity.
  • St. David, was a leading figure and monk in the early Welsh Church who lived in this area in the sixth century.

Flower symbols​

Source:BRITISH FLOWER SYMBOLS | UK | The United Kingdom | BRITISH CULTURE

  • Northern Ireland - the shamrock
  • England - the rose
  • Wales - the daffodil
  • Scotland - the thistle

The House of Commons​

The House of Commons is the lower house of Parliament, consisting of Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected by the public in general elections. It is responsible for making and passing laws, scrutinizing the government, and representing the interests of the public.

The House of Lords​

The House of Lords, on the other hand, is the upper house of Parliament, made up of appointed members including life peers, hereditary peers, and bishops. Its main functions are to review and revise legislation proposed by the House of Commons, provide expertise and independent scrutiny, and act as a revising chamber.

The cabinet (內閣)​

The Prime Minister appoints about 20 senior MPs to become ministers in charge of departments. They include:

  • Chancellor of the Exchequer - responsible for the economy
  • Home Secretary - responsible for crime, policing and immigration
  • Foreign Secretary - responsible for managing relationships with foreign countries
  • Other ministers (called 'Secretaries of Stat 內閣大臣e') responsible for subjects such as education, health and defence.
Shadow cabinet 影子內閣

In the UK Parliament, the Shadow Cabinet is a group of senior opposition party members who hold portfolios mirroring those of the government's Cabinet ministers. The Shadow Cabinet's role is to scrutinize the government's policies, propose alternative policies, and prepare to take over ministerial roles if their party wins the next general election.

County/Shire 郡

最初使用「Shire」一詞作為行政區劃名稱的是居住在英格蘭中部及南部的盎格魯-薩克遜人。

In the UK, a county is an administrative division of land that is larger than a city or town but smaller than a region or country. Counties have historically been used for various administrative purposes, including local government, law enforcement, and geographic delineation. They may contain multiple cities, towns, villages, and rural areas, and they often have their own councils responsible for local governance. Counties in the UK can be further divided into districts or boroughs, and they may be part of a larger region or ceremonial county for administrative or ceremonial purposes.

County(郡) vs District(區) County councils are responsible for functions such as transport, social care and education. District councils are responsible for matters including housing, planning and waste collection.

The Speaker​

In the UK Parliament, the Speaker of the House of Commons is an impartial figure responsible for presiding over debates and ensuring that parliamentary rules and procedures are followed. The Speaker is elected by Members of Parliament (MPs) and is expected to remain neutral and impartial, setting aside any party affiliations upon taking office. The Speaker also represents the House of Commons to the monarch, the Lords, and other authorities, and has administrative duties related to the functioning of the House.

The laws​

Laws can be divided into criminal law and civil law:

  • Criminal law relates to crimes, which are usually investigated by the police or another authority such as a council, and which are punished by the courts. some examples of criminal laws are: Carrying a weapon, drugs, racial crime, smoking in the public places and drinking in public.
  • Civil law is used to settle disputes between individuals or groups. Some examples of civil laws are: housing law, consumer rights, employment law and debt.

The values and principles​

Following the fundamental principles are responsibilities and freedoms which are shared by all those living in the UK and which we expect all residents to respect. The fundamental principles of British life include:

  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty
  • Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
  • Participation in community life

The religion in the UK​

Majority of the people identified themselves as Christian. Much smaller proportions identified themselves as Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Jewish or Buddhist. There are religious buildings all over the UK including Islamic mosques, Hindu temples, Jewish synagogues, Sikh gurdwaras and Buddhist temples.

In England, there is a constitutional link between Church and state.

  • The church of England [called the Anglican Church（聖公會） in other countries]
  • Episcopal Church in Scotland and the United State

Some religious festivals

  • Diwali normally falls in October or November and lasts for 5 days and is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs.
  • Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, is a major Sikh festival celebrated annually on April 13 or 14. It marks the Sikh New Year and commemorates the formation of Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
  • Hannukah is in November or December and is celebrated for eight days to remember the Jews' struggle for religious freedom.
  • Muslims
    • Eid al-Fitr celebrate the end of Ramadan, when Muslims have fasted for a month. They thank Allah for giving them the strength to complete the fast.
    • Eid ul-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is an important Islamic holiday commemorating the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. It is celebrated with prayers, feasting, and the sacrifice of animals, with the meat distributed among family, friends, and the needy.
Other festivals
  • Bonfire Night: 5 November. The origin of this celebration was an event in 1605, when a group of Catholics led by Guy Fawkes failed in their plan to kill the Protestant king with a bomb in the houses of Parliament.
  • Remembrance Day, 11 November, commemorates those who died fighting for the UK and its allies. Originally it commemorated the dead of the First World War, which ended on 11 November 1918. People wear poopies. At 11.00 am there is two-minute silence and wreaths are laid at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.
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