VE Day 75: How to Have a Stay At Home Street Party

Posted by Knight Frank Newcastle on 8th May 2020 -

The Early May bank holiday this year was moved to Friday 8 May to coincide with the 75th celebrations of VE Day, the day World War II officially came to an end in Europe.

While current restrictions mean neighbourhood celebrations and street parties have been cancelled, communities across the UK are rallying together to celebrate in their own way – with social distance at the forefront of plans. 

There are several events taking place throughout the day nationally, including a two minute silence to honour the fallen at 11am, while at 3pm there will be a toast to the heroes of WWII with the words “to those who gave so much, we thank you”. 

At 9pm, the Queen will address the nation – the exact same time that her father, King George VI, gave his radio address proclaiming the end of the war against Germany in 1945. 

At Knight Frank, we will be taking the day to reflect and remember the fallen, from our individual homes across the UK. As we live through another major historical event, it’s with a particular poignancy that we remember the bravery, resourcefulness and patience of those who experienced WWII, and above all, their hope. 

To celebrate this day, here are some ways that you can bring the street party into your home. 

Have a picnic 

Picnics can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors, but if you’ve got outdoor space – then luckily the weather forecast is looking good for Friday. Enjoy a picnic outdoors with the people you live with, and if you can co-ordinate your timings with your neighbours, you can even have a celebratory toast from afar. 

While some food has been difficult to find in supermarkets recently, those celebrating at the end of WWII had to make do with rationed goods. For your own picnic, think traditional British party food and drink – lemonade and ginger beer, sausage rolls, cakes, simple sandwiches such as jam, ham or cheese and scones with jam and cream.

Decorate your house

No street party is complete without bunting. It’s time to don the red, white and blue and give your house a patriotic redecoration for the day. There’s plenty of templates online to make your own – a great way to keep kids entertained. Paper chains also make a fun and easy alternative! 

Have a singalong 

During WWII, and the VE Day celebrations, singing was a major form of entertainment. With many live VE concerts that were due to take place cancelled or televised only, you can bring some of the live magic of music to your home, and perhaps even arrange a coordinated singalong with your neighbours. 

The power of music as an act of solidarity has been particularly relevant again over the past few weeks, with a resurgence in popularity of the WWII classic Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again after the Queen made reference to it in a speech, and sparking an NHS charity revival single. Some easy sing-a-longs include Lambeth Walk and White Cliffs of Dover – or if you don’t fancy singing, there’s plenty of VE Day playlists on Spotify to set the mood.   

Learn to Lindy Hop

This could potentially keep you entertained for hours and also doubles as your daily workout. The Lindy Hop is a swing dance that originated in New York in the 1920s and 1930s but became popular in the UK during wartime thanks to the American servicemen who were stationed here. 

A fusion of jazz, tap and Charleston – this uplifting 1940s’ dance craze may look complex, but the basics steps are simple and there are plenty of online tutorials – as well as some great tracks to dance to, from old to new.

Enjoy some family-friendly games

Games were a popular way of passing the time and keeping the family entertained during WWII. Why not try a few wartimes favourites out on Friday, from the active kind such as Hopscotch and skipping, to card and board games such as Monopoly, Scrabble and Checkers.  

Round off the day with fish and chips for dinner

During WWII, fish and chips remained popular as one of the only foods that weren’t rationed – so with plenty of takeaways reopened and offering delivery – why not finish off the day with a British classic.

For recipes, resources and more inspiration visit the government's VE Day website.

Are you looking for your new home? Contact us today, we’re always happy to help – from our place to yours.  

 

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