English Autumn Holidays

First Day of Autumn.
This day is known as the autumnal equinox. On 22 or 23 September, the sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night are nearly equal in all parts of the world.

The Great River Race.

Next year's Race will be on Saturday 27 September 2014. The Great River Race, London's River Marathon, is a spectacular boat race up the River Thames that attracts over 300 crews from all over the globe and appeals to every level of competitor from those who enjoy fun, fancy dress and charity stunts, to serious sportsmen and women who like to win. A great fun day out for competitors and spectators alike.

The Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival
At St Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalgar Square. The 'Pearlies' were costermonger's (street seller of fruit (apples, etc.) and their distinctive costumes are said to have sprung from the arrival of a big cargo of pearl-buttons from Japan in the 1860's.

Trafalgar Day.
Britain and France had been at war with each other a long time. In 1802, both countries signed a truce but neither expected it to last and it didn't. In 1804 the war began again, and this time Napoleon (on the French side) intended to invade Britain. It was Nelson's job to stop him. On October 21, 1805, the both sides met. Admiral Nelson had a fleet of 27 ships The French and Spanish had an armada of 33 vessels. (The commander in charge of the armada at the time was Vice-Admiral Villeneuve.). The Battle of Trafalgar was fought off Cape Trafalgar on the Spanish coast. The battle was between the combined fleets of Spain and France, (led by Napoleon) and the Royal Navy (led by Nelson). The British cut the French and Spanish line of battle and destroyed or captured almost all their ships. But a French marksman spotted Nelson and shot him! When Nelson was shot, at the height of the Battle of Trafalgar, the whole of the country was plunged into mourning. Nelson was given a  grand State Funeral and is buried in a tomb in St Paul's Cathedral. Statues of Nelson were erected all over Britain,  the most famous being in Trafalgar Square in London. His flagship HMS Victory serves as a shrine to one of the country's rich naval history.