United Kingdom of G.B. & N. Ireland : complete schedule of public and bank holidays, closure of banks and stock exchanges, school vacations, trade fairs, cultural and sporting events, festivals, carnivals, election during the next 3 months
Notting Hill Carnival
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Sunday August 28, 2022
Culture : Http://www.lnhc.org.uk/
Summer Bank Holiday
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Monday August 29, 2022
Secular holiday :
Southampton Boat Show
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Friday September 16, 2022
Tradeshows : Https://www.southamptonboatshow.com/ lasts 5 days - 2022 edition confirmed
Rosh Hashanah
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Monday September 26, 2022
cards/flowers : Jewish New Year NOT a public holiday
Deepavali/Dipabali
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Monday October 24, 2022
cards/flowers : The Light festival starts with festivities. The week celebrates 1.Dhanteras, 2.Kali Chaudas, 3.Deepavali, 4.Navu-Varsha (new year), 5.Bhai-beej. The Vai cast is mainly concerned. May last several days. NOT a public holiday
Daylight Saving Time
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Sunday October 30, 2022
Special Events : At 1:00 a.m. local times
Halloween
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Monday October 31, 2022
cards/flowers : Halloween originated from a Celtic festival called Samhain, which was celebrated 2,000 years ago and revolved around lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off spirits and fairies yes, Halloween began because people truly believed that it was a time when dead spirits would rise again, and walk among them. Back then, costumes acted as protection, not just an excuse to show off your Pinterest skills.
Not much is known about the ancient holiday since there are no written records, though per Encyclopedia Britannica, it was a time fraught with danger, charged with fear, and full of supernatural episodes.
2 minutes of silence
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Friday November 11, 2022
Special Events : Commemorates the day that World War One ended in 1918, when the armistice was signed in Compiègne, Northern France, at 5am. Six hours later, the fighting stopped, and to commemorate this there is a two minute silence at 11:00 am
Poppy Day
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Sunday November 13, 2022
Culture : Remembrance Day is also known as Poppy Day, because it is traditional to wear an artificial poppy. They are sold by the Royal British Legion, a charity dedicated to helping war veterans, although they do not have a fixed price - they rely on donations.
The poppies are worn because in World War One the Western Front contained in the soil thousands of poppy seeds, all lying dormant. They would have lain there for years more, but the battles being fought there churned up the soil so much that the poppies bloomed like never before. The most famous bloom of poppies in the war was in Ypres, a town in Flanders, Belgium, which was crucial to the Allied defence. There were three battles there, but it was the second, which was calamitous to the allies since it heralded the first use of the new chlorine gas the Germans were experimenting with, which brought forth the poppies in greatest abundance, and inspired the Canadian soldier, Major John McCrae, to write his most famous poem. This, in turn, inspired the British Legion to adopt the poppy as their emblem. BBC
Black Friday
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Friday November 25, 2022
Special Events : Day of sales and bargains
Christmas Day
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Sunday December 25, 2022
Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Years Day on Christmas Day.
Boxing Day
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Monday December 26, 2022
Secular holiday : Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated on the day following Christmas Day, when servants and tradesmen would traditionally receive gifts known as a Christmas box from their masters, employers or customers. Due to historical reasons, depending on the year, Boxing Day can be celebrated BEFORE Christmas
Christmas Day (forwarded to Tuesday)
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Tuesday December 27, 2022
Catholic or protestant : Due to historical reasons, Christmas this year is celebrated AFTER Boxing day
School holidays
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Sunday January 1, 2023
School holidays : Find all local calendars here: https://www.gov.uk/school-term-holiday-dates
New Year's Day
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Sunday January 1, 2023
Secular holiday : The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday
New Year's Day (moved forward to Monday)
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Monday January 2, 2023
Secular holiday :
Chinese New Year
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Monday January 23, 2023
cards/flowers : At New Year during the night, the Jade Emperor conveyed all animals. Only 12 showed up. To thank them, Buddha dedicated one symbolic year per visitor. Each new born would inherit the relevant animal's characteristics. NOT a public holiday
Valentine's Day
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Tuesday February 14, 2023
cards/flowers : Introduced by Pope Gelasus in 498, perhaps in response to a local Roman tradition of lovers writing their names on an urn in February
Shrove Tuesday
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Tuesday February 21, 2023
Culture : Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the shriving that English Christians were expected to do prior to receiving absolution immediately before Lent begins. Shrove Tuesday is the last day of shrovetide , somewhat analogous to the Carnival tradition that developed separately in countries of Latin Europe. [Wikipedia]
Ash Wednesday
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Wednesday February 22, 2023
Culture : The first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter.
According to the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke; Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, during which he endured temptation by Satan.
Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. [Wikipedia]