There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries. They are: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holidays and Summer Bank Holidays. Public holidays in Britain are called Bank Holidays because the banks as well as most of the offices and shops are closed. The most popular holiday is Christmas. It's a big Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square. Central streets are beautiful decorated "Before Christmas", groups of singers go from house to house. They called money for charity and sing traditional Christmas songs (cards). Many churches held a card service on the Sunday before Christmas. The fun starts the night before on the 24th of December. Traditionally this is the day when children hang stockings at the end of their beds, hoping that Father Christmas will come down through the chemmey during the night and fill them with toys and sweets. Christmas is family holiday. Relatives usually med for the big Christmas dinner of Christmas pudding. Everyone gives and resends presents. The 27th of December Pyxing Day is an extra-holiday after Christmas Day. This is the time to visit friends, relatives and give them presents.
New Year's Day is less popular in Britain than Christmas. But in Scotland Hagmanay is the biggest festival of the year.
Besides public holidays there are special festivals in Great Britain. One of them takes place on the 5th of November. On that day, in 1605 Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I. He didn't succeed. The King's men were found the bomb, took Guy Fawkes to the Tower and cut off his head. Since that day the British celebrate the 5th of November. They burn a dummy, made of straw and old clothes, on a bonfire and let off fireworks. This dummy is called a "guy". The children can often be seen in the streets before the 5th of November saying "Penny for the Guy". There are also smaller local festival in Britain.

  
February, 14          St. Valentine's Day
March                 Mother's Day
April                 Easter
June                  Father's Day
October, 31           Halloween

Holidays in USA

Last Monday in May    Memorial Day
July, 4               Independence Day
October, 11           Veteran's Day
The 4th Thursday      Thanksgiving Day