English festivals Christmas tree, cards, and lights both inside and outside the home. Every year, Norway donates a giant Christmas tree for the British to raise in Trafalgar Square as a thank you for helping during the Second World War. Christmas carolers at Trafalgar Square in London sing around the tree on various evenings up until Christmas Eve and Christmas decorations are traditionally left up until the evening of January 5 (the night before Epiphany); it is considered bad luck to have Christmas decorations up after this date. In practice, many Christmas traditions, such as the playing of Christmas music, largely stop
1996 Trafalgar Square riots 1996 Trafalgar Square riots The 1996 Trafalgar Square riots in London occurred on 26 June 1996. After the England national football team were defeated by Germany in the knockout stage of UEFA Euro 1996 at Wembley Stadium, hooligans took over the Trafalgar Square in the West End of London. Up to 2,000 hooligans, many drunk, pelted police and civilians with bottles, smashed windows and shops and overturned cars. The Metropolitan Police deployed its public order unit in riot gear who were confronted by the hooligans. 66 people were injured and over 200 arrests were made. The events were a familiar