AimsAims

If you watch this presentation you will If you watch this presentation you will be able to discuss these questions:be able to discuss these questions:

- Geographical position of the UKGeographical position of the UK- Countries and capitalsCountries and capitals- The political systemThe political system- London’s places of interestLondon’s places of interest- British traditions and holidaysBritish traditions and holidays

Geographical positionGeographical positionThe UK is the official name of The UK is the official name of

the state which is situated the state which is situated in the British Isles. Thus, in the British Isles. Thus, “Great Britain”, the main “Great Britain”, the main island, is often the same as island, is often the same as the UK. It consists of four the UK. It consists of four countries which are countries which are England, Scotland and England, Scotland and Wales (in Great Britain) Wales (in Great Britain) and Northern Ireland ( in and Northern Ireland ( in Ireland). The UK is Ireland). The UK is separated from the separated from the continent by the English continent by the English Channel and the Strait of Channel and the Strait of Dover.Dover.

Countries and capitalsCountries and capitals

- EnglandEngland is the largest part. London is its capital. is the largest part. London is its capital.- Scotland takes up one third of the territory of Scotland takes up one third of the territory of

Great Britain. Edinburgh has been the capital Great Britain. Edinburgh has been the capital since the 15since the 15thth century. century.

- Wales became part of England in 1536. The Wales became part of England in 1536. The capital of Wales ( or Cymry as they call capital of Wales ( or Cymry as they call themselves) is Cardiff.themselves) is Cardiff.

- Northern Ireland is the smallest part. It occupies Northern Ireland is the smallest part. It occupies the northeast of the island of Ireland, only one-the northeast of the island of Ireland, only one-sixth of its territory. Its capital city is Belfast. sixth of its territory. Its capital city is Belfast.

Political systemPolitical system The United Kingdom is a The United Kingdom is a

constitutional monarchy. This constitutional monarchy. This means that it has a monarch (a means that it has a monarch (a king or a queen) as its Head of king or a queen) as its Head of State. The monarch reigns with State. The monarch reigns with the support of Parliament. the support of Parliament. Parliament consists of two Parliament consists of two chambers known as the House chambers known as the House of Commons and the House of of Commons and the House of Lords. Parliament and the Lords. Parliament and the monarch have different roles in monarch have different roles in the government of the country, the government of the country, and they only meet together and they only meet together on symbolic occasions such as on symbolic occasions such as the coronation or the opening the coronation or the opening of Parliament. In reality, the of Parliament. In reality, the House of Commons is only one House of Commons is only one of the three which has true of the three which has true power.power.

ELIZABETH IIELIZABETH II

Born in Windsor on 21 Born in Windsor on 21 April1926April1926

Came to the throne in Came to the throne in 19521952

Was crowned in Was crowned in Westminster Abbey on 2 Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953June 1953

Has four children: Prince Has four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Prince Andrew, Prince Edward Edward

British ParliamentBritish Parliament

The House of Commons is The House of Commons is made up of 650 elected made up of 650 elected members (MPs)members (MPs)

It is here that new bills are It is here that new bills are introduced and debated.introduced and debated.

It is presided by the Speaker.It is presided by the Speaker.

The House of Lords has more The House of Lords has more than 1,ooo members (only 250 than 1,ooo members (only 250 take an active part in the work.take an active part in the work.

Members are not elected.Members are not elected.

They debate a bill after it has They debate a bill after it has been passed by the House of been passed by the House of Commons. Ganges may be Commons. Ganges may be recommended and agreement is recommended and agreement is reached by negotiationsreached by negotiations..

LondonLondon London is the capital of London is the capital of

England and the UK and it is England and the UK and it is one of the largest cities in the one of the largest cities in the world. world.

It is situated upon both banks It is situated upon both banks of the River Thames.of the River Thames.

The City extends over an area The City extends over an area of about 2.6 square kilometres of about 2.6 square kilometres is the heart of London. It is the is the heart of London. It is the financial centre of the UK with financial centre of the UK with many banks, offices and the many banks, offices and the Stock Exchange.Stock Exchange.

The West End with its historical The West End with its historical palaces and parks and the East palaces and parks and the East End with a famous port are the End with a famous port are the other parts of London.other parts of London.

CITY OF LONDONCITY OF LONDON

EnglandEngland

ScotlandScotland

WalesWales

Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland

British traditions and British traditions and holidaysholidays

ChristmasChristmas The 25The 25thth of December is of December is

Christmas DayChristmas Day Most families decorate Most families decorate

Christmas TreeChristmas Tree Children leave long socks or Children leave long socks or

stockings for presents, fruit stockings for presents, fruit and nutsand nuts

The Queen delivers her The Queen delivers her traditional Christmas speech to traditional Christmas speech to the IK and the Commonwealththe IK and the Commonwealth

2626thth December is also a public December is also a public holiday, Boxing Day, and this holiday, Boxing Day, and this is the time to visit friends.is the time to visit friends.

Easter Easter Although the Christian Although the Christian

religion gave the world religion gave the world Easter as we know today, Easter as we know today, the celebration owes its the celebration owes its name and many of its name and many of its customs and symbols to customs and symbols to a pagan festival called a pagan festival called Eostre. Eoster, the Anglo-Eostre. Eoster, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of Saxon goddess of springtime and sunrise.springtime and sunrise.

HalloweenHalloween Halloween means “holy Halloween means “holy

evening”, and takes place on evening”, and takes place on 31th October.31th October.

At parties people dress up in At parties people dress up in strange costumes and pretend strange costumes and pretend they are witches. they are witches.

They cut horrible faces in They cut horrible faces in vegetables and put a candle vegetables and put a candle insideinside

Children dressed in white Children dressed in white sheets knock on doors and ask sheets knock on doors and ask if you would like a “trick” or a if you would like a “trick” or a “treat”. If you give them “treat”. If you give them something nice they go away, something nice they go away, but if you don’t…but if you don’t…

Guy Fawkes’ nightGuy Fawkes’ night

This day the English traditionally

celebrated 5th November by burning

a dummy, made of straw and old clothes,

on a bonfire, at the same time letting off

fireworks.

EisteddfodsEisteddfods

The annual National Eisteddfod is certainly the most picturesque

and most moving ceremony in Wales.

Here the love of song and poetry of the

Welsh is organized to make a spectacle

unique in the world.