1.british-culture

BritishCulture(ABriefGlimpse)QuestionsforThought•CanyouthinkofanyexamplesofhowweareinfluencedbytheBritishCulture?•WhatdoyouknowabouttheBritishCulture?•AswediscussdifferentaspectsofBritishculture,canyouseeanysimilaritiesordifferenceswithourownculture?NationalIdentity•English(specificallyEngland)=/=British(generallyGreatBritain)•UnitedKingdom-England,Scotland,WalesandIreland•Britain=England,Scotland,andWales•NationalFlag=England(St.George)+Scotland(St.Andrew)+Ireland(St.Patrick)=++England•Land:–South:mostlylow-lyinglandwithhillsandagriculturalland–North:mostlycoveredinmoorlandandmountains.•Capital:London(alsooftheU.K.)–History:nearly2,000yearsbeginningwiththearrivaloftheRomanssoonaftertheirinvasionofBritaininAD43.Monarchy•Queen’sbirthday–21April1926:actualbirthday–Summerbirthdaysince1805:normallyheldonthesecondSaturdayinJune•TheBritishRoyalFamily’sSurname:Windsor–ChangedfromSaxe-Coburg-GothatoWindsorin1917–Reason:In1917,KingGeorgeVrenouncedalltheGermantitlesbelongingtohimandhisfamilyandadoptedthenameofhiscastle,Windsor,becauseofWWIandanti-Germansentiment•Duties:HeadofState(representative),HeadoftheArmedForces(declarewar),HeadoftheChurchofEngland(appointsbishopsandarchbishops),GovernmentDuties(signatureneeded),RepresentstheNation(attimesofsorrow),RoyalGardenParties,Visits(variousplaces)QueenElizabethII(1926)TheQueen'ssonsanddaughterCharlesPrinceofWalesAnnePrincessRoyalAndrewDukeofYorkEdwardEarlofWessexTheQueen'sGrandchildrenPrinceWilliamofWales(1982)PeterPhillips(1977)PrincessBeatriceofYork(1988)LadyLouiseWindsor(2003)PrinceHarryofWales(1984)ZaraPhillips(1981)PrincessEugenieofYork(1990)Festivals•MayDayCelebrations:MaypoleDancing–Origin:theRomanfestivalofFlora,goddessoffruitandflowers–Celebratethecomingofsummerafteralongwinter–AtimeforloveandromanceEtiquetteinEngland•Do:–Standinline–Takeoffyourhatwhenindoors–Coveryourmouthwhenyawningorcoughing–Shakehands–Driveontheleftsideoftheroad•Don’ts:–Greetpeoplewithakissunlessit’sfamilyorclosefriends–Talkloudlyinpublic–Stareatothers–AskpersonalandintimatequestionsTeaCustoms•AfternoonTea:–Servedat4intheafternoon–Tea,coffee,freshlybakedscones,teasandwiches,andassortedpastries–Thisbecamepopularaboutonehundredandfiftyyearsagowhenrichladiesinvitedtheirfriendstotheirhousesforanafternooncupoftea•HighTea:–Servedat6intheevening–Scones,cakes,bunsorteabreads,cheeseontoast,toastedcrumpets,coldmeatsandpicklesorpoachedeggsontoast–Britishworkingpopulationdidnothaveafternoontea,onlyamiddaymealandamealafterwork–a.k.adinnerorsupper(Source)Food•TraditionalEnglishBreakfast(FullEnglish)–eggs,bacon,sausages,friedbread,bakedbeansandmushrooms•TraditionalEnglishDinner–meatand2vegetableswithhotbrowngravy•SundayRoastDinner–roastmeat,twovegetablesandpotatoeswithaYorkshirepuddingLunch–dinner(themainmeal)Dinner–tea,supperSports•England’snationalsport:cricket–Mostpopularsport:soccer(football)•Rugby:thissportusedtobeplayedbytherichupperclassonly•Tennis:Wimbledon–Traditionally,visitorseatstrawberriesandcreamwhilewatchingthegame•Polo:broughttoBritainfromIndiainthe19thCenturybyarmyofficers•BoxingDayHunts:Traditionallyitisadayforfoxhunting–BoxingDayisthefollowingdayafterChristmasDay–18February2005:huntingwithdogsbecameacriminaloffenceSuperstitions•GoodLuck:–Luckytomeetablackcat–Luckytotouchwood–Luckytofindacloverplantwithfourleaves.–Arightwayuphorseshoeoverthedoorbringsgoodluck(likea“U”)–CatchfallingleavesinAutumnandyou'rehavegoodluck.•BadLuck:–Unluckytowalkunderneathaladder–Sevenyearsbadlucktobreakamirror–Unluckytoseeonemagpie,luckytoseetwo,etc.–Unluckytospillsalt.Ifyoudo,youmustthrowitoveryourshouldertocounteractthebadluck–Unluckytoopenanumbrellaindoors.–Thenumberthirteenisunlucky•FridaythethirteenthisadoubleunluckydaybecauseJesuswascrucifiedonaFriday.–Unluckytoputnewshoesonthetable–Unluckytopasssomeoneonthestairs