The paper is supposed to provide a truly comprehensive annotated reference work giving information on national festivals and holidays, with descriptive entries covering religious, cultural, ethnic, historical, popular, and sports celebrations from Britain and America, with sections on calendar systems, and tables of state and national public holidays.
The range of festivals and secular holidays in the various countries of the world is now vast. In modern times the proliferation of national and local events has also resulted in scores of special group days, and even whimsical and bizarre observances, ranging from very unique celebration of All Saints Day both in Poland and Ireland, to the Rat’s Wedding Day in China. Nevertheless, this thesis focuses on the Anglo-Saxon festivals, traditions and holidays as celebrated in America and Britain.
The celebration of special days and seasons, both religious and secular, is universal. From primitive times onward, special rites and festivals marked the religious mysteries of existence – the miracle of birth, life, death, and rebirth in the environment and in individual human experience. Such celebrations fulfilled a deep-seated longing in the human psyche, evoking profound emotions associated with the changing pattern of the year, the expecting of spring, the joys of summer, the harvest, the decline of the year through fall to the rigors of winter, and the promise of a new spring coming. Inevitably such celebrations involved a measurement of time, so that seasonal festivals could take place at appropriate dates in the cycle of the year.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter One
The Historical Roots of Traditions and Festivals
1.1. The Meaning Behind the Words
1.2. A Dash of Folklore
1.3. What does the Calendar has to do with Customs and Traditions?
1.4. Religious Roots of Traditions
1.5. Secular Roots of Traditions
Chapter Two
The World of British Traditions
2.1. British Calendar’s Most Celebrated Days
2.2. Traditions Connected with Royalty
2.3. Traditional Food and Drink
Chapter Three
American Ways of Celebrating
3.1 Around the Year – Seasonal Traditions
3.2 Federal Public Holidays
3.3. Festivals, Folklore and Tradition
Conclusion
Objectives & Core Themes
This thesis examines the cultural significance of festivals, traditions, and holidays in Britain and America, aiming to provide a comprehensive reference work that illustrates how these customs shape national identity and uniqueness. It explores the interplay between historical roots, seasonal calendars, and modern celebration practices in both societies.
- Evolution of religious and secular holiday traditions
- Cultural identity and historical continuity in Britain and America
- The impact of calendars and seasonal rhythms on festive behavior
- Traditional food, sport, and royal ceremonies as pillars of British identity
- The "melting-pot" nature of American celebratory culture
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. The Meaning Behind the Words
A good start to gaining some understanding about the lives of people living in a given country is to look at their cherished customs and traditions. These illustrate not only what is important to the people living there, but also how they relax and have fun. However, one has to distinguish between at least two various forms of ‘relaxing’ – namely between custom and tradition. Festivals seem to stem out from the two previous.
1.1.1. Custom
It is described by the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English as “something that is done by people in a particular society because it is traditional” (Summers 386). The same word is explained by Merriam Webster Dictionary in the following way: a : a usage or practice common to many or to a particular place or class or habitual with an individual b : long-established practice considered as unwritten law c : repeated practice d : the whole body of usages, practices, or conventions that regulate social life (Merriam-Webster: digital).
And finally, Phillips, in Oxford Wordpower defines custom in a very similar way to the previous author as: “a way of behaving which a particular group or society has had for a long time” (Phillips 1998).
It seems therefore that the common denominator in all three versions of definition is a collective cherishing some day in a stipulated way. And that is truth – people of different cultures have their forms of presenting that some days mean more to them than the others.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides a universal overview of festive celebrations and outlines the scope of the thesis regarding Anglo-Saxon traditions in America and Britain.
Chapter One: Examines the historical, religious, and secular origins of traditions, emphasizing the human need to celebrate changes in time and the role of calendar systems.
Chapter Two: Analyzes the specific cultural landscape of Britain, covering royal traditions, sporting events, and traditional culinary customs.
Chapter Three: Explores the American "melting-pot" culture through its diverse seasonal holidays, patriotic celebrations, and unique folkloric traditions.
Conclusion: Summarizes the unique approaches both nations take toward festivity, highlighting the dynamic evolution of traditions in the modern era.
Keywords
Traditions, Festivals, Customs, Folklore, Calendar, British Culture, American Culture, Holidays, History, Identity, Religion, Secular, Mythology, Heritage, Celebrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary scope of this work?
This thesis provides an annotated reference work detailing national festivals and holidays, specifically focusing on the Anglo-Saxon cultural context within Britain and America.
What are the central themes of the research?
The research focuses on the historical evolution of celebrations, the influence of the calendar on human behavior, and how specific customs reflect the identity of British and American societies.
What is the core objective of this thesis?
The goal is to demonstrate that deeply rooted traditions shape a nation's identity and uniqueness while providing a valuable source of information for the reader.
Which methodology is applied in this research?
The author uses a comparative and analytical approach, drawing from referential books, magazines, online articles, and Internet resources to construct a descriptive portrait of both cultures.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The body covers the historical roots of traditions, British customs like royal ceremonies and pub culture, and American holidays ranging from patriotic events to regional folklore.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The most relevant keywords include Traditions, Festivals, Folklore, British Culture, American Culture, and National Identity.
How is the British calendar significant to the study?
The study highlights how calendar systems and the transition between lunar and solar reckoning influenced the timing and nature of traditional seasonal festivals in Britain.
What role does folklore play in the analysis?
Folklore is defined as a broad field that communicates cultural values and history, serving as a lens to understand modern sport events and popular rituals.
How does American culture differ in its celebratory approach?
The work characterizes American celebratory culture as a "melting pot," heavily influenced by a diverse influx of nationalities and historical interactions between European settlers and native populations.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Marta Zapała-Kraj (Autor:in), 2019, Anglo-Saxon festivals, traditions, and celebrations in America and Britain, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/591333
