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Date
Name
What? / Why?
1. January
New Year´s Day
Irish people see New Year in a pub. There are no fireworks like in Germany. In some Irish regions people organize the "New Year´s Swim". In the morning on New Year´s Day they go swimming in the cold Atlantic Ocean.
17. March
St. Patrick´s Day
It is a public festival in honour of St. Patrick. He is the nationalholy. He brought the Christian religion to Ireland. Parades take place in all towns in the country. The Irish people wear green clothes because this is the national colour. Everywhere you can see the shamrock, the national symbol.
9. April
Good Friday
The day is dedicated to Jesus´ death.
12. April
Easter Monday
In hornour of Jesus´ resurrection.
3. May, 7. June, 2. August, 25. October
Bank Holiday
It is a legal holiday. In 1933 President Roosevelt introduced this holiday to stop the "Money Panic". At the same time too many savers withdraw money from their accounts. For that reason the banks had to close.
31. October till 2. November
Halloween
It is celebrated to drive away the ghosts. In Derry, a region in Ireland, the people drive away the ghosts with fireworks. It has its origin in the Celtic festival Samhain.
6. December
Independence Day
On this day, the Irish got their independence from England in 1921.
25. and 26. December
Christmas
Irish people celebrate the day like Germans with a Christmas tree and go to church. But on Christmas Eve they meet each other in a pub. Santa Claus comes on his reindeersleigh to bring the gifts and collect whiskey and the sweets, that were made available for him.
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