Burns Night

Robert Burns is Scotland’s most well-known and best loved poet: even south of the Border, most people can quote the odd line of Burns’ poetry. He was born in Alloway, Ayrshire in south-west Scotland, on January 25^th 1759, and Burns’ Night is celebrated on or around his birthday.

The celebration of the day is Burns Supper. It may be formal or informal but it should always be entertaining. The only items which the informal suppers have in common are haggis, Scotch whisky and perhaps a poem or two. Formal dinners given by organisations such as the Freemasons or St Andrews Societies often do not allow ladies to be present. Those that do may occasionally end in a cé ilidh*. However, whether they are single sex or not, the formal suppers follow a standard format.

St Patrick’s Day

17 March, St. Patrick’s Day, is the national day of Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. It is also a bank holiday in Northern Ireland.

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Born in Britain, he was carried off by pirates and spent six years in slavery before escaping and training as a missionary. St Patrick is believed to have driven the snakes from Ireland. Once a pagan himself, St Patrick is one of Christianity’s most widely known figures. The modern secular holiday is based on the original Christian saint’s feast day also thought to be the date of the saint’s death.

In 1737, Irish immigrants to the United States began observing the holiday publicly in Boston and held the first St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City in 1766. Nowadays the New York Parade is a huge event attended by crowds not only of Irish origin. From the US the holiday has spread all over the world.

Today, the tradition continues with people from all walks and heritages by wearing green, eating Irish food, and attending parades. London, since 2002, has had an annual Saint Patrick's Day parade which takes place on weekends around the 17th, usually in Trafalgar Square. In 2008 the water in the Trafalgar Square fountains was dyed green. St Patrick’s Day is bursting with folklore: from the shamrock (Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish) to the leprechaun and to pinching those that are not wearing green.

St David’s Day

St David’s Day is celebrated in Wales on 1 March, in honour of St David (Dewi Sant), the patron saint of Wales. He was a Celtic monk, abbot and bishop, who lived in the sixth century. He spread the word of Christianity across Wales. The most famous story about Saint David tells how he was preaching to a huge crowd and the ground is said to have risen up, so that he was standing on a hill and everyone had a better chance of hearing him.

St David’s Day is commemorated by the wearing of daffodils or leeks. Both plants are traditionally regarded as national emblems. Every year parades are held in Wales to commemorate St David. The largest of these is held in Cardiff. Concerts are held in pubs, clubs, and other venues.

On St David’s Day, some children in Wales dress in their national costume, which consists of a tall black hat, white frilled cap and long dress. The national flag of Wales, depicting a fiery red dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) against a green and white background, is also flown. Cawl, a traditional Welsh stew, is frequently prepared and consumed on St. David's Day.