Date

Symbol

Description

Countries which celebrate it


01 March

St David's Day
To celebrate this day, people wear either a symbol of either a leek or a daffodil.  There are parades in the towns.  People usually eat Cawl.  Cawl is a stew made from meat and vegetables.


17 March

St Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick who is the most recognised patron saint of Ireland. People celebrate the day by wearing green, eating Irish food and/or green foods, and drinking Irish Stout such as Guinness.



February - March

Carnival
This takes places just before Lent.  People each frixuelos which are sweet pancakes.  People also eat Picatostes which is toast with egg, sugar, milk and cinnamon.


March  

Mothering Sunday
A day to celebrate motherhood.  Traditionally children give gifts to their mum’s and do all the cooking and cleaning.


March or April

Good Friday
It is traditional to eat warm "hot cross buns" - a combination of spicy, sweet and fruity flavours.  The pastry cross on top of the bun symbolises and reminds Christians of the cross that Jesus was killed on.

It is also traditional to eat fish on Good Friday instead of meat.


March or April

Good Friday
It is important not to eat any meat on this day (the Catholic Churst decided that you must eat fish and not meat).


March or April

Easter - Bollo de Pascua
God children give a palm or blessed olive branch to their god parents.  God parents give a chocolate egg or figure to their god children.  The figure could be on top of a cake.


March or April

Easter Sunday
Chocolate eggs are given to children.  The eggs are usually covered with brightly coloured silver paper.
  Some children also go on an Easter Egg Hunt. 
It is traditional to eat Simnel cake for tea. 
Simnel cake is a rich fruitcake covered with a thick layer of marzipan.
Easter Biscuits are also eaten.  They contain spices, currants and sometimes grated lemon rind.


March or April

Easter Sunday
On Easter Sunday, it is also a tradition to bake cakes in the shape of a lamb or rabbit and to offer it to family and friends who come to visit.
Easter Eggs are also eaten.  The Easter Eggs can be painted eggs of Chocolate Eggs