Colors of Leeds - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Leeds is one of the oldest British cities where people keep honoring their historical traditions. Locals are proud of their nationality, their way of life is strikingly different from that of most European countries. Like hundreds of years ago, they prefer measuring distance in miles, which is far from clear to European tourists. Pubs are among the favorite places of locals, some of them have been working in the city for hundreds of years. They are a kind of entertainment facilities for Leeds residents. In pubs, they gather to meet friends and relatives, while away the evening playing checkers or darts.

To many foreigners, the townspeople may seem rather prim and cold-hearted. The features of traditional manners are such that people are taught to handle their emotions, both positive and negative, from childhood. They can even use "not bad" to characterize their stormy admiration for any object or event. To observe the rules of local etiquette, one should refrain from expressing strong emotions in public, as such behavior can be regarded as a sign of bad manners.

Along with that, Leeds inhabitants have an excellent sense of humor, which is considered appropriate in literally all situations. The tradition of making fun of everything and everyone is another local trait that often confuses foreigners. The townspeople are very fond of traditional holidays and festivals. One of the favorite celebrations among locals is the Queen's Birthday. On this festive day, bright festivals and solemn processions are held in virtually all UK towns, and Leeds is no exception. A significant part of the festive program takes place on city streets and squares, where everyone can watch beautiful parades with the participation of bagpipers. They organize concerts and theatrical performances, hold interesting competitions and special entertainment activities for children. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Some of the city's most beautiful holiday programs are held annually on the occasion of Christmas, which is celebrated on December 25. Preparations for the holiday begins a few weeks before this date. The city is decorated with festive illumination and traditional fairs are held in the main squares. It is not customary to celebrate Christmas at home, all locals take to the streets to enjoy their favorite treats and meet loved ones. The townspeople have another good Christmas tradition - on the festive day, they always light up windows of their houses with burning candles. If you walk along the city streets on Christmas Eve, you'll see candles in each and every window.

Speaking about the culture of Leeds residents, it is worth noting their love for folk and classical music. Opera festivals are held in the city every year, and it's hardly possible to imagine any major holiday without folk music. For tourists, one of the main festive entertainments is bagpipe performances. Sometimes even special bagpipe masterclasses are held for foreign guests. This musical instrument is considered one of the most difficult to play in the world.

Despite traditional musical tastes, Leeds residents are not indifferent to modern music. Many of them are fans of jazz, so even on a normal day, one can often hear jazz bands performing in pubs and bars. Leeds Festival, one of the largest in the country, has been held here for many years. The festival is participated by famous rock and pop stars. The holiday takes place in the summer so all performances are held in the open air. Stages for musicians are equipped in the immediate vicinity of the city, amidst incredibly beautiful natural landscapes.

Many festival guests stay in campsites arranged next to the stage for the duration of the event. The main visitors are young people, however, the popular festival also attracts a sufficient number of older music fans. Such a large-scale music festival is necessarily accompanied by gastronomic entertainment. Representatives of different domains of modern culture take an active part in the event. Leeds would be a wonderful vacation spot for those who have always wanted to get acquainted with Yorkshire traditions. It is one of those cities where every tourist can feel like a typical local resident.