Traditions in countries where English is widely used vary by community, region, religion and family. These examples introduce useful vocabulary for discussing celebrations and remembrance. They are examples, not a description of what every person in a country does. The countries discussed are multilingual, and the traditions are not necessarily conducted in English.
The United Kingdom: A Blend of History and Pageantry
Two British military ceremonies have different purposes. Changing the Guard is a ceremonial handover between the soldiers on duty and their replacements. Trooping the Colour marks the British Sovereign’s official birthday. The guard change itself is not the birthday parade.
Guy Fawkes Night, also called Bonfire Night, falls on 5 November and recalls the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Some communities hold bonfires or fireworks displays. A national tradition does not mean that every household takes part.
Afternoon tea can include tea, sandwiches, scones and cakes. It is a particular type of meal or social occasion, rather than a daily routine followed by everyone in Britain. When discussing food traditions, ask what the occasion means to the person you are speaking with.
Canada: A Mosaic of Cultural Celebrations
Canada’s National Indigenous Peoples Day is observed on 21 June. It recognizes the histories, cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The former name was National Aboriginal Day. Use the current name when discussing the observance today, and do not treat distinct Indigenous peoples as one culture.
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival in Calgary, Alberta. Its programme includes sporting and cultural events. It is one regional example, not a summary of the traditions or values of all Canadians.
Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday of October. People who observe it may gather for a meal and express gratitude. Practices differ among families and communities; it should not be assumed that everyone celebrates it in the same way.
United States: A Melting Pot of Traditions
In the United States, Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. Some families gather for a meal and reflect on gratitude. Historical interpretations and present-day observances differ, including among Indigenous communities; a single holiday description cannot represent every perspective.
Independence Day on 4 July commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Parades, concerts and fireworks are common examples of public events. Individual participation and views vary.
Super Bowl Sunday centres on the National Football League’s championship game. Some viewers also follow the halftime performance and television advertisements, or watch with friends. It is a popular sporting occasion, not a custom shared by every American.
Australia: Celebrating Diversity and Heritage
Australia’s traditions reflect its indigenous heritage and British colonial past, alongside its multicultural present. Australia Day, observed on January 26th, commemorates the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson and the raising of the British flag at Sydney Cove. However, this day is also a point of contention, particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who view it as “Invasion Day.” This highlights the complex interplay of history and identity in Australian culture.
Anzac Day is observed on 25 April. It originated in remembrance of the 1915 Gallipoli landing and has a broader meaning today. The Australian War Memorial explains that remembrance extends beyond the First World War to later military and peacekeeping operations. Dawn services and marches are examples of commemorative activities.
The Melbourne Cup is a thoroughbred horse race associated with public events and a public holiday in parts of Victoria. The familiar slogan about a nation stopping is figurative: it does not mean that everyone participates or that the whole country has a public holiday.
The following examples from Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa illustrate further differences between a celebration, an oral tradition and a day of remembrance.
Ireland: A Rich Tapestry of Cultural Heritage
St Patrick’s Day falls on 17 March and is associated with Ireland’s patron saint. Religious observances, parades, music and other events can have different meanings for participants in Ireland and elsewhere. Avoid assuming that every Irish person celebrates it in the same way.
A seanchaí is a traditional storyteller, not the name of storytelling itself. Stories can pass on local histories, folklore and family memories. The RTÉ archive’s Irish Storytelling Project includes an example from the seanchaí Seán Ó hEinirí.
An Irish wake is a gathering associated with mourning someone who has died. It can provide an opportunity for family and friends to offer support and share memories. Practices differ, so follow the wishes of the family rather than assuming a fixed national approach to grief.
New Zealand: Māori Traditions and National Commemorations
Waitangi Day on 6 February commemorates the first signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Archives New Zealand notes that further signings took place around the country over several months. The day includes commemoration, discussion and differing perspectives on the treaty and its significance.
Haka is a Māori performance form with many purposes. It may welcome guests, honour people, express grief or convey a challenge; it is not only a war dance. Te Ara’s account of kapa haka explains that different forms suit different occasions. Rugby performances are one visible context, not the whole tradition.
Matariki is associated with the Māori New Year and the winter appearance of the Matariki star cluster. Remembrance, gathering and looking ahead are important themes. Traditions vary: Te Papa explains that some iwi give preference to Puanga. Do not describe one practice as universal to all Māori.
South Africa: A Rainbow of Cultural Practices
South Africa’s Day of Reconciliation is observed on 16 December. The South African government records its first celebration as a public holiday in 1995, with a focus on reconciliation and national unity. It does not mark a single date on which apartheid ended; that description confuses a later commemorative observance with a wider historical transition.
Ubuntu is often discussed as an ethical idea emphasizing humanity and relationships between people. It should not be used to assume that all South Africans hold identical beliefs or behave in the same way. Ask how a speaker understands a cultural term in context.
A braai is a barbecue and can also refer to the social gathering around it. Food and customs vary among hosts and communities. A useful conversation starter is: “What do you usually serve at a braai?” rather than a statement about what everyone eats.
Words for discussing traditions
- commemorate
- remember and honour a person or event, often through a ceremony
- observe
- mark a holiday or occasion through particular activities
- ceremony
- a formal event with customary actions
- heritage
- traditions, knowledge and other things passed on from the past
Check your understanding
- Which ceremony marks the British Sovereign’s official birthday: Changing the Guard or Trooping the Colour?
- What is the current name of Canada’s observance on 21 June?
- Is a seanchaí a storyteller or the name of a holiday?
- Why is “haka is only a war dance” incomplete?
- Does Day of Reconciliation mark a single date when apartheid ended?
- Rewrite this generalization more carefully: “All Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in the same way.”
See answers and explanations
- Trooping the Colour. Changing the Guard is a handover of guard duties.
- National Indigenous Peoples Day.
- A traditional storyteller.
- Haka has several purposes, including welcoming, honouring and mourning, as well as challenge.
- No. The public holiday was first celebrated in 1995 and focuses on reconciliation.
- One possible answer: Some Canadian families celebrate Thanksgiving, and their practices vary.
Practise describing one occasion using on with a date: “It is observed on 21 June.” Review the time and date preposition lesson for more examples.
Use specific language when discussing culture: “Some families…”, “In this community…” or “At the event I attended…”. Ask open questions and distinguish personal experience from a claim about an entire country. The examples above are a starting point for language practice, not a complete account of these societies.
