Bank Holidays in the UK
Public holidays in the UK are commonly referred to as bank holidays. As the UK is a country made up of four more or less independent regions, official holidays vary depending on whether you live in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.
There are eight bank holidays in England and Wales.
| Holidays | Time of the Year |
| New Year’s Day (substitute day) | 1 January (3 January, 2022) |
| Good Friday | 15 April, 2022 |
| Easter Monday | 18 April, 2022 |
| Early May | 2 May, 2022 |
| Spring Bank Holiday | 2 June, 2022 |
| Summer Bank Holiday | 29 August, 2022 |
| Christmas Day (substitute day) | 25 December (26 December 2022) |
| Boxing Day (substitute day) | 26 December (27 December 2022) |
When bank holidays fall on a weekend, the following Monday is usually a “substitute” holiday. For instance, 25 December 2022 is Sunday, so there will be a national substitute holiday for Christmas Day on Monday, 26 December 2022.
In Scotland, the summer bank holiday is earlier in August. Moreover, Scots celebrate St. Andrew’s Day on 30 November and 2 January is also a bank holiday, but Easter Monday is not. All in all, there are nine bank holidays in Scotland.
In Northern Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day on 17 March is a bank holiday, and so is Orangemen’s Day on 12 July in memory of the Battle of Boyne. There are a total of ten bank holidays in Northern Ireland, making it the region with the most holidays in the UK.
The UK does not have a national day, making it only one of two countries in the world without one (the other is Denmark). There’s an old joke about this, that the United Kingdom, once called “the empire on which the sun never sets”, doesn’t need its own national day because it’s indirectly responsible for so many other countries’ national independence days.
1. Substitute holidays ______.| A．are required to be set around New Year | B．can take up weekdays for more rests |
| C．are arranged based on cultural differences | D．can bring more chances to work home |
| A．Good Friday and Easter Monday. | B．Easter Monday and St. Andrew’s Day. |
| C．St. Andrew’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day. | D．St. Patrick’s Day and Orangemen’s Day. |
| A．Denmark shared its history with the UK. |
| B．The UK’s culture influenced many countries. |
| C．Many countries celebrated independence from the UK. |
| D．The UK helped many countries set their independence days. |
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【推荐1】New Year’s Food Around the World
Hoppin' John, American South
A major New Year's food tradition in the American South, Hoppin' John is a dish of pork-flavored field peas or black-eyed peas (symbolizing coins) and rice, frequently served with collards or other cooked greens (as they're the color of money) and cornbread (the color of gold). The dish is said to bring good luck in the new year.
Different folklore traces the history and the name of this meal, but the current dish has its roots in African and West Indian traditions and was most likely brought over by slaves to North America. A recipe for Hoppin' John appears as early as 1847 in Sarah Rutledge's "The Carolina Housewife" and has been reinterpreted over the centuries by home and professional chefs.
The dish reportedly got its name in Charleston, South Carolina, and it is a veritable staple of Lowcountry cooking.
Twelve grapes, Spain
The people of Spain traditionally watch a broadcast from Puerta del Sol in Madrid, where revelers gather in front of the square's clock tower to ring in the New Year.
Those out in the square and those watching at home partake in an unusual annual tradition: At the stroke of midnight, they eat one grape for every toll of the clock bell. Some even prep their grapes -- peeling and seeding them -- to make sure they will be as efficient as possible when midnight comes.
The custom began at the turn of the 20th century and was purportedly thought up by grape producers in the southern part of the country with a bumper crop. Since then, the tradition has spread to many Spanish-speaking nations.
Soba noodles, Japan
In Japanese households, families eat buckwheat soba noodles, or toshikoshi soba, at midnight on New Year's Eve to bid farewell to the year gone by and welcome the year to come. The tradition dates back to the 17th century, and the long noodles symbolize longevity and prosperity.
In another custom called mochitsuki, friends and family spend the day before New Year's pounding mochi rice cakes. Sweet, glutinous rice is washed, soaked, steamed and pounded into a smooth mass. Then guests take turns pinching off pieces to make into small buns that are later eaten for dessert.
1. Which city may you travel to if you want to taste fruits on New Year’s Eve?| A．Savannah |
| B．Rio de Janeiro |
| C．Madrid |
| D．Sapporo |
| A．They symbolize people’s hope for the upcoming year. |
| B．All of them are not eaten at midnight on New Year’s Eve. |
| C．They reflect the values of a nation to a certain degree. |
| D．They had their origin in the countryside. |
| A．Food and Health |
| B．Famous Cuisine |
| C．Global Culture |
| D．Delicacy Hunt |
【推荐2】St Patrick’s Day: All you need to know about your local parades
Thousands of people will crowd around cities, towns, and villages all over the country on Friday for the annual St Patrick’s Day festivities.
Cork
Cork City’s St Patrick’s Day parade will start at 1 pm, with the event also live-streamed from 12:45 pm for those unable to be there in person. Featuring Cork’s long-established bands and hundreds of sports and dance groups, the parade will also have a special multi-cultural focus, in the form of the migrant support group Together Razem.
Limerick
A huge turnout is expected in Limerick on Friday to watch the parade which kicks off at midday from O’Connell’s St. Serving as Grand Marshall is Limerick native and star of D’Unbelievables and the Oscar-nominated The Banshees of Inisherin, Jon Kenny, who is looking forward to his “starring role” in this year’s celebrations.
Waterford
Following the success of last year’s first-ever three-day festival, Waterford City is hoping to top the 2022 celebrations. The fun kicks off with live music in the Cultural Quarter on Thursday night. On Friday, the parade will set off from the Quays at 1 pm, led by Grand Marshall, boxing champion Kelyn Cassidy. The rest of the weekend will be filled with more music, workshops, and dancing, and there will be a fairground for the kids to enjoy.
Clare
Beginning at 11 am from Clare County Council’s headquarters, the parade in Ennis will celebrate the commitment of Clare’s sporting heroes to their local communities. The parade’s hosts are former president of Ennis Rugby (英式橄榄球) Club Jimmy O’Brien, Barefield athlete PJ Purcell, and great-grandniece of Kilnamona boxer Michael McTigue, Aisling Rynne.
1. Where are parents with kids most likely to go?| A．Cork. | B．Limerick. | C．Waterford. | D．Clare. |
| A．Play rugby games. | B．Enjoy live music. |
| C．Meet sports athletes. | D．Watch boxing matches. |
| A．To introduce local activities. | B．To present city legends. |
| C．To promote sports products. | D．To hire parade organizers. |
【推荐3】If you’re single this Valentine's Day, don't settle for another night of being alone. Single ladies and dudes can celebrate, too. Below, five holidays from around the world to celebrate instead of Valentine's Day this year.
Singles Awareness Day
In the U.S., we have “Singles Awareness Day”--a humorous anti-Valentine's Day celebrated on February 14 or 15, depending on your preference. On these days, singles toast their uncoupled status.
Ystävänpäivä or Friendship Day
Finland has a more ideal take on Valentine's Day: February 14 is considered Ystävänpäivä or “Friendship Day”, which is marketed as a celebration of friends. (We'd recommend adopting this holiday if you're looking for an occasion to hang out with your best friends.)
Black Day
April 14 in Korea is known as Black Day, a holiday where singles gather in local restaurants and drown their sorrows in cheap, but delicious bowls of jajangmyeon--- a Chinese-Korean noodle dish swimming in chunky black bean sauce, and topped with pork and veggies. The holiday has been popular over the last decade, and we can't say we're surprised. It's hard to be sad about being single when you're dipping into a bowl of something that delicious.
Single's Day
November II marks Singles' Day in China, an unofficial holiday that started in the 1990s as a protest Valentine's Day and that's now a day where singles buy stuff--a lot of stuff- for themselves. In 2013, China's biggest online shopping company took in more than $5.75 billion in online payments on Single's Day-two and a half times the total American retailers（零售商） netted on Cyber Monday the same year.
International Quirkyalone Day
Another option for singles looking to get in on the celebratory action on February 14? International Quirkyalone Day, a “do-it-yourself celebration of romance, friendship, and independent spirit," according to the official site. The founder of the event swears her holiday is not an anti- Valentine's Day; instead, it's a celebration of all kinds of love: romantic, platonic, familial, and yes, self-love. "In other words, it's a day to do whatever you want, with whoever you want. We can get behind that and have a great time.
1. Which of the following holidays would you like to celebrate if you like delicious food?| A．Singles Awareness Day. | B．Ystävänpäivä. |
| C．Black Day. | D．Single’s Day. |
| A．Shopping online. | B．Whatever they like. |
| C．Hanging out with families. | D．Gathering in local restaurants. |
| A．Business | B．Opinion | C．Lifestyle | D．Culture |
【推荐1】South Korean Films
Beijing audience(观众) can view five new South Korean films, all with Chinese subtitles(中文字幕), until April 19 at the Tuixin Cinema on the Beijing National Library grounds.
Two other South Korean films completed their full runs(展出) at the Tuixin Cinema earlier this month.
Location: Tuixin Cinema, Beijing National Library, 39 Baishiqiao Road, Haidian District
Telephone: 86425566
My love, My Bride
April 15: 9: 00, 13: 00, 15: 30, 17: 30, 19: 30
Kim’s War
April 16: 9: 00, 13: 00, 18: 15
Because You Are a Woman
April 17: 13: 30, 18: 15
Marriage Story
April 18: 9: 00, 13: 30, 15: 30, 18: 15
Sopyonje
April 19: 9: 00, 13: 30, 15: 30, 17: 30, 19: 30
Leon’s Show
Hong Kong popstar...Leon Lai will give a personal performance at 7: 30pm from tomorrow through to September 21 at the Shanghai Gymnasium. The show is to celebrate the opening of the 93 Huangpu Tourism Festival.
Tickets: 60, 90, 120, 180 yuan RMB, available (有票) at 66 Jiangning Road.
Address: Shanghai Gymnasium, 1111 Caixi Road N.
Tel: 29189188, 29171145, 49384952, 29197113
Russian Concert
The Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra will put on some excellent Russian choral(合唱的) works at 7: 15pm on September 26 and 27 at the Shanghai Concert Hall. They will sing Russian folk songs and a Mass under a Russian conductor who is very famous for conducting chorus(歌唱队) and has given a successful choral concert in Beijing.
Tickets: 6, 8, 10, 12 yuan RMB, available at the hall’s ticket office.
Address: 523 Yan’an Road M. Shanghai
Tel: 32275694
Korean Songs
The Song and Dance Troupe of the Republic of Korea will give a Song and Dance show at 7: 30 pm tonight at the Shanghai Centre Theatre.
Tickets: 10, 20, 30 yuan RMB available at the theatre’s ticket office.
Address: 1376 Nanjing Road W. Shanghai
Tel: 29798663
1. The audience in _______ can watch the performance given by Leon Lai from tomorrow through to September.| A．Beijing | B．Korea | C．Shanghai | D．Hong Kong |
| A．Kim’s War; 29798663 | B．My love, My Bride; 32275694 |
| C．Because You Are a Woman; 29189188 | D．Marriage Story; 86425566 |
| A．Leon Lai, a Hong Kong pop star |
| B．The Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra |
| C．The Song and Dance Trupe of the Republic of Korea |
| D．A Russian Philharmonic Orchestra |
| A．1111 Caoxi Road N | B．1376 Nanjing Road W |
| C．523 Yan’an Road | D．66 Jiangning Road |
| A．We can see all the South Korean films in the morning. |
| B．Leon’s show is to celebrate a festival. |
| C．There are some famous pop singers in Russian concert. |
| D．We can enjoy the Korean songs at the Shanghai Concert Hall. |
【推荐2】Xi'an enjoys a reputations as a “Living History Museum” due to its rich, diverse collection of historical and cultural treasures. Apart from the Terracotta Warriors, there are also some other attractions in the city. Here are some of them.
Ancient City Wall
Xi'an City Wall was built in the 14th century in the Ming Dynasty as a military defense system. Now it is one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. The wall is now a landmark, dividing the city into inner and outer areas.
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda （塔）
Situated in an ancient temple, the pagoda built with layers of bricks was built in the Tang Dynasty. It is traditional Chinese architecture. One of the main functions of the pagoda was to store Buddhist scriptures（经文） and figurines brought to China from India by the famous monk and traveler Xuan Zang, who stayed here for 19 years translating Buddhist scriptures.
Shaanxi History Museum
The Shaanxi History Museum, built in 1991，is home to over 370,000 precious relics unearthed in Shaanxi over the years, The museum consists of three main sections. Its collections range from bronze ware（器血）to pottery ware, gold and silver ware and mural paintings from the Tang Dynasty tombs.
The Muslim Quarter
One of the highlights is its local snacks when you tour Xian. The best food destination is the Muslim Quarter，which has a history of several hundred years. Consisting of a number of food streets, the area has become a famous attraction in the city for its rich and authentic Muslim cultural atmosphere.
1. In which place can you know more about Buddhism?| A．Ancient City Wall. |
| B．Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. |
| C．Shaanxi History Museum. |
| D．The Muslim Quarter. |
| A．Great some bronze wares. |
| B．Eat diverse delicious snacks. |
| C．Visit some watchtowers. |
| D．Translate Buddhist scriptures. |
| A．The Shaanxi History Museum has exhibits made of gold. |
| B．Xuan Zang died in the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. |
| C．The Xi'an City Wallis the oldest Chinese city wall. |
| D．The Muslim Quarter has a history of 100 years. |
【推荐3】There are a lot of structures worth visiting across the world, and here are four of them.
Marina Bay Sands
Architect: Moshe Safdie, “The Modernist”
Location: Singapore
The Marina Bay Sands was built like a pile of playing cards. As one of the most expensive hotels in the world, it has the world’s longest rooftop swimming pool, designed as an endless pool and decorated with palm trees 57 floors above the ground. The whole structure cost 8 billion Singaporean dollars.
Sydney Opera House
Architect: Jørn Utzon, “The additive architect”
Location: Sydney, Australia
Architect Jørn Utzon won the Opera House international design competition after explaining that his design looked like a ship sails on the water. By the time it was opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1973, over 10,000 workers had been involved in its construction. The Concert Hall is always kept at 22.5 degrees Celsius when there is a performance, to keep instruments in perfect condition.
30 St Mary Axe
Architect: Norman Foster, “Hero of high-tech”
Location: London, the UK
The structure was built at the beginning of the 21st century and looks like a spaceship. Londoners think differently, having named it “The Gherkin” because it looks like a giant cucumber. It’s made up of 7,429 sheets of glass. The tower is scientifically designed so that the wind actually wraps around it, reducing its impact.
Stonehenge
Architect: Aliens?
Location: Salisbury, the UK
Stonehenge is over 5,000 years old, making it a Neolithic (新石器时代的) construction. Some of the giant stones were transported over 150 miles, but scientists and historians are still not really sure how. The purpose of Stonehenge is still being debated, but it appears to have been an early burial ground.
1. What can you enjoy in Marina Bay Sands?| A．An early burial ground. | B．An extraordinary pool. |
| C．A cucumber-like glass tower. | D．Famous opera performances. |
| A．To Singapore. | B．To London. |
| C．To Sydney. | D．To Salisbury. |
| A．Stonehenge. | B．30 St Mary Axe. |
| C．Marina Bay Sands. | D．Sydney Opera House. |
