Celebrations
Bonfire Night, Remembrance Day, Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas and Chinese New Year. Learn how we celebrate.
To find out more please access the resources below.
Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos) - November
Day of the Dead combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls' Day, a holiday that Spanish invaders brought to Mexico starting in the early 1500s.
The holiday, which is celebrated mostly in Mexico on November 1 and 2, is like a family reunion - except dead ancestors are the guests of honor. Day of the Dead is a joyful time that helps people remember the deceased and celebrate their memory.
The Disney film Coco is based on these traditions and celebrations.
First, people set up a candlelit altar in their homes so spirits can find their way back to their relatives. The altar also offers some of the favorite foods of the deceased—just in case they get hungry. Items that were important to the ancestors when they were alive, such as a favorite book or musical instrument, are placed on the altar as well.
Then it's off to the graveyard for a big party. Families bring a huge feast to eat while they clean tombstones, sing songs, and talk to their ancestors. Parents might even introduce a baby to a grandparent who died before the baby was born.
And don't forget the skeletons. During Day of the Dead, life-size papier-mâché skeletons and miniature plastic or clay skeletons are everywhere. Why? Mexicans honor their ancestors on Day of the Dead, but they're also reminding themselves that death is just a part of life. Hanging out with skeletons reminds people that one day they will be skeletons—but not for a very long time!
The skeletons are posed doing all sorts of wacky things, such as playing guitar, taking a bath, or making tortillas. Apparently people aren't the only ones who get to have fun on Day of the Dead!
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Kids Britannica - Day of the Dead |
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Newsround - Mexico's Day of the Dead in pictures |
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Coco Official trailer |
Bonfire Night - November
Guy Fawkes tried to blow up London’s Houses of Parliament in 1605 because he wanted to kill King James I. So in the United Kingdom people celebrate that night, 5 November, with bonfire parties, including huge bonfires in public parks, and firework displays.
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Bing - Super Loud Fireworks |
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Newsround - Bonfire Night: What is the story behind it? |
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BBC School Radio - Something to Think About - Bonfire Night |
Bonfire Night Colouring
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Bonfire night colouring | [pdf 361KB] |
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Bonfire night colouring 1 | [pdf 346KB] |
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November 5th Colouring | [pdf 240KB] |
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Rockets colouring | [pdf 442KB] |
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Fizz colouring | [pdf 265KB] |
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Boom colouring | [pdf 367KB] |
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Bang colouring | [pdf 284KB] |
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Whoosh colouring | [pdf 265KB] |
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Remembrance Day - Why do we wear poppies? - November
Remembrance Day, or Poppy Day, is held in Commonwealth countries to remember members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty, as well as all those who have been involved with and affected by war and conflict. Originally declared a special day in 1919 by King George V to remember the soldiers killed in the First World War, now we remember soldiers from all wars who have given their lives.
As the First World War was formally declared over "at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, we traditionally hold two minutes of silence throughout the Commonwealth on 11th November every year. In addition, the second Sunday of each November is known as Remembrance Sunday, and church services remember our fallen soldiers while the Queen, members of the Royal Family, politicians and old soldiers lay poppy wreaths at the Cenotaph in London (near the Houses of Parliament).
Leading up to Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday we buy small paper "poppies" or poppy badges to show that we are remembering the sacrifices of those who died, and also to raise money to support serving and ex-Service personnel and their families. People who have lost a loved one in service put small wooden crosses near war memorials around the country, and local branches of the Royal British Legion lay wreaths.
We have held a 2-minute silence at 11 o'clock on Remembrance Day (and at 11 o'clock on Remembrance Sunday) since 1919, when King George V asked the nation to stay silent so that "the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead".
Diwali - November
Diwali is a yearly festival celebrated by millions of people around the world. Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and other religions come together for five days in Autumn to take part in the ‘festival of light.’ Diwali is known as the ‘Festival of Light’ because millions of people light small oil lamps and place them in houses, gardens, roofs and more. These are called diyas and light the way for the Lakshmi - an Indian god - to enter people’s homes.
Hanukkah - December
Hanukkah (also known as Chanukah) is the Jewish Festival of Lights and lasts eight days. It usually falls in late November or December.
As part of the celebrations they lit an oil lamp which should have been kept burning all the time, even though they could only find enough oil to keep it burning for one night. But a miracle occurred, and the oil lamp stayed lit for eight days, which was the time it took to make new oil for the lamp. This was the Miracle of the Oil.
It was then declared that every year, Jews would remember the day with an eight-day Festival of Lights and celebrate the miracle of the oil by placing eight candles in a Menorah (a special candlestick) and lighting one candle for each evening of the celebration.
Christmas - December
Christmas is a Christian holy day that marks the birth of Jesus, who Christians believe to be the Son of God. Christmas is celebrated each year on 25th December.
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School Learning Zone - Christmas |
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NGK Christmas Around The World Primary Resource | [pdf 7MB] |
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Chinese New Year - January
Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. It is the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. In Chinese tradition, each year is named after one of 12 animals, which feature in the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
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CBeebies - The Story of Nian |
| Watch the story of Nian and learn why people wear red, light firecrackers and bang drums to celebrate Chinese New Year. | |
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Bitesize - Exploring Chinese New Year |
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CBBC - Which zodiac animal are you? |
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Learner English Kids - My favourite day - Chinese New Year |
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CBeebies Radio - Chinese New Year |
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BBC School Radio - Let's Move - Getting Ready - Chinese New year |
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BBC School Radio - Let's Move - Join the Parade |
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CBeebies - Let's Celebrate - Chinese New Year |
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CBeebies - Go Jetters - Ubercorn's Chinese New Year Funky Facts |
Valentine's Day - February
Valentine's Day, or St Valentine's Day, is celebrated every year on 14th February. It's the day when people show their affection for another person or people by sending cards, flowers or chocolates with messages of love.
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Newsround - What is Valentine's Day and how did it start? |
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Cbeebies - Valentine's Day Craft |
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CBBC Valentine's Day Celebrations |
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CBeebies - CoComeLon Valentine's Day |
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CBeebies - Timmy Time: Valentine's Day Timmy the Postman |
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CBBC - Operation Ouch: Valentine's Day |
| Learn about your feelings with Operation Ouch Health Tips. | |
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CBBC Quiz - Stanleys anti-Valentine's Quiz |
| Stanley hates all the romance and "love in the air" rubbish so he's decided to try to ruin it for everyone else! Can you click on the images to spot Stanley before it's too late? | |
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Newsround - Valentine's Day Quiz |
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Newsround - Who invented Valentine's Day? |
Shrove Tuesday/ Pancake Day - February
Pancake Day is also known as Shrove Tuesday!
It is also known as lots of different names across the world. In Germany they call it ‘Fastnacht’ which means ‘eve of the fast’. They call it Sprengidagur in Iceland which means ‘bursting day’!
Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday is actually a Christian Festival.
It always falls on the Tuesday before the beginning of Lent.
During Lent, some people give up things like chocolate and sweets.
Pancake Day marks the last day they can eat these things before Lent starts.
Did you know that although Pancake Day is on a Tuesday each year, it falls on different dates. It is always exactly 47 days before Easter!
Mother's Day - March
Mother's Day in the UK has its origins in the 16th century custom of 'Mothering Sunday', which fell on the fourth Sunday of Lent. That's three Sundays before Easter, and the tie-in with the church calendar is why it's always a bit confusing trying to work out when it is each year.
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Newsround - Mother's Day: When is it celebrated and where did it come from? |
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CBeebies - My CBeebies Special Day – Mother's Day |
| It’s the time of the year to say a big thank you to mums everywhere – it's Mother's Day! | |
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CBBC - Make your mother's day |
| Mother’s Day is about celebrating our mums and everything they do for us. Maybe you have someone else who cares for you that you would like to celebrate too! Here are six easy ways to show that special person in your life how much they mean to you. | |
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Activity Village - Mother's Day Crafts |
Eid and Ramadan - April
Eid al-Fitr, also known as just Eid, is a Muslim holiday which marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. Celebrations continue for one, two or three days, and people wish each other Eid Mubarak (Blessed Eid) or Eid Said (Happy Eid). Celebrations vary by country but include gatherings to view the new moon, decorating homes inside and out, family visits, eating special sweet foods, neighbourhood fairs, visits to amusement parks, wearing new clothes and giving and receiving gifts.
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BBC School Radio - Ramadan and Eid |
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Learn English Kids - The Ramadan lantern story |
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Newsround - What is Ramadan? |
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BBC Teach - Ramadan and Eid |
| The video is presented by 11 year old Sara - a young Muslim. She explains what Ramadan is - a month of fasting that all Muslims have to observe if they are old enough and physically able. She describes fasting as one of the 5 Pillars of Islam and intended to remind Muslims of those people who are less fortunate than themselves. | |
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Newsround - What's it like fasting during Ramadan? |
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BBC Teach - Ramadan and Eid ul Fitr |
| The video is a story narrated by a young girl called Halima. She tells us about the first day of Ramadan - her favourite time of year. | |
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Cbeebies - Let's Celebrate - Eid |
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Cbeebies - SONG: What is Eid al-Adha? |
Easter - April
Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar. It celebrates Jesus rising from the dead, three days after he was executed. The date of Easter Sunday varies from year to year. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon, on or after 21 March.
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School Learning Zone - Easter |
Father's Day - June
Father's Day in the UK is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. It's a day to celebrate and appreciate fathers and father figures, like grandfathers, stepdads, and carers
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Why do we celebrate Father’s Day? |
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Newsround - Father's Day: What does your dad mean to you? |
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Newsround - It's Father's Day but where did it come from? |