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The King's (or Queen's) official birthday parade originated from a 17th-century military ceremony called Trooping the Colour. This ceremony was meant for soldiers to recognise their regimental Colour, the flag of the regiment with Battle Honours. It wasn't until 1748 that Trooping the Colour was associated with the monarch's birthday. This was because King George II's birthday was in the winter, but he said that the weather in the summer would be better for celebrating it. It was decided that Trooping the Colour would mark the Sovereign's birthday and has been held on a Saturday in May or June every year since 1760, the accession year of George II's grandson, George III. The current king's birthday is the 14th of November.

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King Charles III as Prince of Wales during Trooping the Colour of 2022

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Trooping the Colour finds its origins in the military ceremony first held in 1681. This was meant for soldiers of a battalion to be able to recognise their Colours. The Colour was the so-called rallying point of the battle; it was protected by the Colour Party or the Escort to the Colour. If the Colour fell, the battalion was lost. So, every soldier had to recognise it and defend their Colour. During the ceremony, the Colour was trooped through the ranks so everyone got a good look at it. The ceremony still continues to this day, even though the Colour was last carried into battle in 1881.

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Halfway through the parade, all the members who take part march past the saluting base, where the monarch and other members of the Royal family sit. There are 6 guards companies who take part in this march past. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony was reduced to only 4 companies in 2021 and even to 1 company in 2020. It also took place at Windsor Castle instead of Horse Guards Parade. The 2021 Trooping the Colour was the last one Queen Elizabeth II attended, in 2022 her son took her place because she had health issues. 3 months later, she passed away.

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Upper left: Grenadier Guards, upper centre: Scots Guards, lower left: Irish Guards, lower centre: Coldstream Guards, right: Welsh Guards

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Trooping the Colour 2023 part 2

https://youtu.be/aoEQyhHPJx4?si=nTSua-Otq_qmnhtx

Trooping the Colour 2024 no commentary:

https://youtu.be/2Fh-t4vGvbM?si=c0p6EhhoKRR3aIbO

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BBC Trooping The Colour The Kings Birthday Parade 2023 part 2

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Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated the day after Christmas. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with the sport Boxing. It used to,actually refer to an European tradition which dates back to even the Middle Ages, being the tradition of giving money and other gifts to those in need, or in service positions (servants).

Nowadays in the 21st century Boxing Day is more considered a holiday which consists of shopping, feasts, sports and hunting.

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While the European tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, the origins of the name is unkown. There are multiple theories for the origins of the term, but none are definitive.

One theory says that the term refers to the alms box placed in Christian churches, which were used for collecting donations which would then be used for the poor. The tradition may have come from a custom in the late Roman / early Christian era, wherein alms boxes placed in churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen, which falls on the same day as Boxing Day. Because of this, it is customary in some localities to open the alms boxes and distribute the contents with the poor.

Others say it came from a time during Queen Victoria's reign when the rich used to box up gifts to give to the poor. On Boxing Day servants traditionally got a day off and received a special Christmas Box from their masters. On this day off, the servants would also go home, so they could give their families Christmas Boxes.

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What is Boxing Day? | National Geographic

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Boxing Day is often compared to Black Friday, a US phenomenon.

Popular group Blink-182 has a song called Boxing Day

If Boxing Day would fall on a sunday, it is always celebrated the next day, to ensure it falls on a weekday.

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A) What is The Colour?

1. Colour of the uniform of the regiment

2. Regimental flag with battle honours

3. Flag of the country (Wales, England, Scotland, Northern-Ireland)

4. Colour of the plume on the bearskin hats

B) Which king decided it should be his birthday?

1. George II

2. George III

3. Charles II

C) Why did he decide that?

1. Because he thought his birthday should be celebrated twice

2. He was sick during his actual birthday because of a cold and moved the date to the summer.

3. He found the winter to be too cold for his birthday celebration and moved the date to the summer

D) When is Boxing Day?

1. 24/12

2. 28/12

3. 26/12

E) What other holiday happens the same day?

1. Saint Stephens Day/ Feast of St. Stephen

2. Christman

3. Thanksgiving

F) True or false: Boxing Day is never celebrated in the weekend?.

1. True

2. False