1. Festivals in Great Britain – immigrant communities:

• LAKSHMI DIWALI:

- the festival of India Community,

- the festival of light – light is really important during the festival,

- it takes place 5 days in autumn (between October and November) – it is calculated by the Lunar Hindu Calendar (different days every year),

- it is Hindu festival in honour of the Hindu goddess of property,

- people clean houses, buy candles to scare the goddess of misfortune,

- there are some fairy tales, legends for kids,

• RAMADAN:

- it is celebrated by Muslims,

- it is the month of peace,

- the idea of it is that during the day you don’t eat anything, you have a feast only at the end of the day (the strict fast is observed during the hours),

- it takes place in 9^th month of the Muslim Calendar,

- it commemorates the night when the prophet Muhammad received the first of the revelations from the angel Gabriel (on those revelations Koran is based),

- people send Ramadan cards to another ones,

- Mosque in London is very important place for Muslims,

- at the end of the Ramadan, everyone celebrates,

• SPRING FESTIVAL:

- Chinese New Year,

- it is based on Chinese Moonar Calendar - it begins in the first day of the first month in the Chinese Calendar and ends in 15^th day - the festival of lanterns,

- the red colour is used for all decorations as it is important colour for Chinese people,

- there is New Year Parade - there is a monster as legend says that in the past monster (dragon) was attacking people before New Year and the god helped people and took this monster away; people also wear special clothes mainly in red colour,

- Chinatown is the area where Chinese people live,

- Eve of Chinese New Year: preparations for this New Year is similar to our one as people clean houses, decorate them, etc.,

- children give gifts, usually in red envelopes with cash inside,

• NOTTING HILL FESTIVAL:

- the festival of West Indians (Afro-Carribean Jamaica),

- it began in 1960s because Indians were invited to England,

- it takes place in August (bank holiday),

- there is very big community in London – it looks like Carnival (extremely big festival – the biggest in Europe and the second biggest in the world),

- people celebrate the end of slavery,

- samba schools are there and this kind of dance is really important there,

- Nothing Hill is the part of London where different samba schools prepare for this carnival and costumes of those dancers are similar to those in Brazil (traditional, wonderful, colourful costumes),

- different bands perform.