Holidays in the U. K.

Holidays in the U. K.
In Great Britain there are public holidays that are called "bank holidays". The term "bank holiday" dates back to the 19th century. At that time all the banks were closed on these holidays. Now this term is no longer refered only to banks. Many other firms and offices are closed too. Among these are eight holidays: New Years Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, Late Summer (August) Bank Holiday.
New Years Eve (December 31st) is more special for Scottish people, who celebrate it with their families. They sit the Old Year out and the New Year in. At midnight Scottish people hold their hands in a large circle and sing the song "Auld lang syne" by Robert Burns. That is how they celebrate the coming of a new year. New Years Day is not such favourable in Britain than Christmas. But it does not mean that New Years Eve is not so popular throughout the country. People decorate their houses with bouquets of mistletoe. The most popular bank holiday is Christmas Day. Every year the people of Norway give the city of London a present. Its a big Christmas tree and it stands in the Trafalgar Square. Before Christmas, groups of singers go from house to house. They collect money for charities and sing carols, traditional Christmas songs. Many churches hold a service on the Sunday before Christmas. The fun starts the night before, on the 24th of December. Traditionally this is the day when people decorate their trees. Children hang stockings at their beds, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and fill them with toys and sweets. Christmas is a family holiday. It is celebrated on December 25th. Christmas symbolizes the birth of Jes