The only reason anybody from England / Ireland / Scotland / Wales like these holidays / saints days is to get out into the pub and have a few pints and get arsy about the neighbours!!!
Heah! Off to have a cider! (Don't like Guinness, sorry!) 
(PS: When I lived in South Africa it was no different, must be something in the beer...I mean water!) 
-Jacques
Poly-pushing on a '96 SGI O2