5 ways to celebrate VE Day during lockdown
This year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the momentous day when the WWII ended. On 8th May 1945 Prime Minister Winston Churchill made an announcement on the radio at 3pm that the war in Europe had come to an end.
Due to the Coronavirus lockdown hundreds of celebrations have been cancelled, so here are a few ideas of how to get involved with stay at home tea parties and activities;
1 – Bake Churchill’s favourite fruit cake
Celebrate with a tea party for your household to taste the food of the 1940’s. The National Trust have created a version of the fruit cake, inspired by Mrs Landemare’s original recipe which Churchill would have enjoyed. Check out the full recipe and more on the Trust’s website. If you do not like fruit cake, simply bake a very British Victoria Sponge – yummy!
2 – Anniversary Bunting
Get the kids involved with a mini history lesson while colouring in DIY bunting. Baker Ross have great printable bunting, NHS thank you posters and many more craft ideas! Once you have made your bunting you can share your bunting with the BBC Great British Bunting, post on social media using the hashtages #GreatBritishBunting, #VEDay75 and #BBCMakeaDifference.
3 – Get crafty
More crafting ideas for the kids, many provide great learning opportunities. Twinkl offer many ideas, including a WW2 Spitfire Glider activity paper craft. Creative Mojo are offering a free printable reminiscence activity book, packed with photos, colour your own 1940’s fashion outfits, create your own 1940’s café menu, colouring, wordsearches, comic strip, bunting and class 40’s song lyrics!
4 – Activities and Games
There are many different sites offering free activities, Twinkl provides a free VE Day resource pack and PlanBee have VE Day wordsearches If you can, step into your outside space to play traditional wartime games like tin can alley or marbles. Why not listen to a wartime compilation playlist, you can find them on Spotify.
5 – Charity
Donate to a veterans’ charity, such as The Royal British Legion.
On the day, join in the national stay at home street party by decorating your home with all the craft ideas above in red, white and blue!
Enjoy the 75th anniversary celebration schedule below;
11am
2 minutes silence on your doorstep
3pm
Churchill speech shown on BBC
4pm
Why not grab a blanket for tea and scones or coffee and cake in the garden
6pm
Dinner and raise your glass to celebrate
9pm
Nationwide sing-a-long to ‘We’ll meet again’ with Royal British Legion after the Queen’s address
