How To Celebrate VE Day At Home

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8 May 2020 marks 75 years since VE (Victory in Europe) Day when the Second World War came to an end in Europe.   When the long-awaited news was announced people of all ages came together to mark the moment.

This year we are being asked to celebrate at home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a day of it. We want Northwich to celebrate in style this Friday and so we’ve brought together everything you need for a swinging time including key timings on the day, recipe ideas, decoration tips, a 1940s playlist and retro dance moves.

We are also giving local people the chance to WIN a £50 Asda shopping voucher! All you have to do is share your home celebration photos with us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @baronsquay

VE Day Schedule 

You can start the celebrations whenever you want but here are some things that you might want to join in with:

  • 11am – A national two minute silence to pay tribute to heroes of the past and present.
  • 2.45pm – BBC One will broadcast Sir Winston Churchill’s famous victory speech 
  • 3pm –  Take part in ‘Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of WW2’ at 3pm by standing up and raising a glass or a mug of your choice and saying the following toast: “To those who gave so much, we thank you”
  • 9pm – HRH The Queen will address the nation at the same time her father gave his famous speech 75 years ago. After the monarch’s message you can join in a national singalong of We’ll Meet Again, made famous by Dame Vera Lynn – here’s the lyrics in case you need them! 

Bunting time

  • Decorate your windows, garden and living room with the decoration of the day, bunting!
  • For step-by-step instructions and a bunting template visit the Great British Bunting page. For more decoration ideas take a look here.

Serve afternoon tea

  • Popular in the 1940s, easy to make and everyone loves cake and sandwiches, right?
  • Make dainty finger sandwiches and display them on a doily or cake stand, if you have one. See Asda’s Coronation Chicken recipe here.
  • Scones are an afternoon tea classic, bake some ahead of time and just add blueberries, cream and strawberries on the day for that Union Jack flavour! See Asda’s easy scone recipe here.
  • You could always try a traditional treat, inspired by the rations of the time, such as this Eggless Fruitcake?

Host a virtual party

  • Do you live alone or perhaps you’re missing friends and family during lockdown? Well, VE Day 75 is the perfect time to organise a virtual party using Zoom, House Party, FaceTime or whatever video call app you prefer!
  • Make it more fun by asking everyone to dress up or wear red, white or blue clothing!
  • Prepare a WW2 trivia quiz that will engage people of all ages.
  • 1940’s Bingo, rather than using numbers, have 1940s films, icons or events to get everyone in the mood.

Music and dancing 

  • It wouldn’t be a party without music and dancing!  If your knowledge of 1940s music is a bit limited, don’t worry  there is a dedicated VE Day 75 website, where you can find a Spotify playlist for you to use, you’ll be swinging away with Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra and Doris Day, take a listen here. 
  • The ‘Lindy Hop’ is a swing dance that originated in New York in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It gained popularity in the UK in the 1940s thanks to the American servicemen stationed here during the Second World War. You can learn the key moves with this amazing Celebrate at Home toolkit from English Heritage.

Know your stuff

  • If you’re homeschooling then there are loads of great resources to teach the kids about WW2 and the significance of VE Day, including The Royal British Legion’s Teaching Remembrance, it covers a range of Remembrance topics, with resources designed for Key Stages 2-4. Find out more here.
  • But if you just want to quickly swot up on your history English Heritage has created a list of the top 9 facts you might not know about VE Day… take a look here. 

 

So, we hope that you have a great day however you choose to celebrate, don’t forget to tag us in your VE Day 75 photos on social media using #VEDay75Northwich for a chance to win a £50 Asda shopping voucher.

 

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