A year in the UK: Traditions, holidays and other occasions 2

Choose the correct words and expressions in bold in this text.

April
April 1st. This day is called April (1) Fools' / Twits' Day. Traditionally, people play jokes and tricks on each
other (but they are only allowed to do this until (2) midday / midnight). Newspapers and radio and
television programmes often have humorous 'joke' articles or features that are designed to trick people.

(3) Good / Black Friday is an important day in the Christian calendar (it usually takes place in April, but
sometimes happens in March). This commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. People in the UK observe
this day by eating hot cross (4) cakes / buns (= sweet bread with fruit and spices) for (5) breakfast / dinner.
Banks, post offices and many businesses are closed across the UK on this day.

Easter (6) Saturday / Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, although many people in the
UK treat it as a (7) secular / religious holiday. Chocolate Easter (8) eggs / crosses or chocolate rabbits and
chickens are often given to children. Families often get together and eat a traditional meal of roast
(9) turkey / lamb. The next day, Easter (10) Sunday / Monday, is a public holiday in England, Wales and
(11) Scotland / Northern Ireland, but not in (12) Scotland / Northern Ireland.

April 21st: This is the Queen's (13) birthday / Coronation day, although it is not a public holiday. The
Queen actually has two of these every year: in addition to the one in April, she has an official one in June!

April 23rd is St (14) George's / Swithin's Day. He is the patron saint of (15) Wales / England. People do
not celebrate this day, but many churches and some public buildings fly the national flag, which is (16)
white with a red cross / green with a white circle.

May
1st May (May Day) is not a holiday in the UK, but the first (17) Monday / Friday of the month is (so if that
day falls on May 1st, then May 1st is a holiday). Many towns and villages hold fairs and fetes where you can
see traditional events such as (18) Morris / Austin dancing, and (19) maybug / maypole dancing. The last
(20) Monday / Friday of May is also a public holiday (and is called the (21) Spring / Summer Bank Holiday).

June
June 21st is the first official day of summer, and is also the (22) warmest / longest day of the year. 24th
June is known as (23) Whitsun / Midsummer Day.
The third Sunday in June is (24) Father's Day / Grandparents' Day, which is similar to Mother's Day (see
March on the previous page), although it is not as widely observed.

July
July 12th in Northern Ireland is a public holiday and is known as the Battle of the (25) Boyne / Liffey or
Orangemen's Day. This was, and remains, very much a political and religious holiday with historical origins:
Orangemen are (26) protestants / Catholics who want Northern Ireland to remain a part of the United
Kingdom.

August
The first Monday of August is another public holiday in (27) Northern Ireland / Scotland, and the last
Monday of August is a public holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland / Scotland.

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