UK Traditions and Costumes

Universal English Culture Tumblelog

http://universalenglishculture.tumblr.com/

Greetings

How to greet someone

Formal Greetings

Informal Greetings

How to Greet someone in Britain

The HandshakeA handshake is the most common form of greeting among the English and British people and is customary when you are introduced to somebody new.

The KissIt is only when you meet friends, whom you haven't seen for a long time, that you would kiss the cheek of the opposite sex. In Britain one kiss is generally enough.

Formal greetings

The usual formal greeting is a 'How do you do?' and a firm handshake, but with a lighter touch between men and women.

‘How do you do?’ is a greeting not a question and the correct response is to repeat ‘How do you do?' You say this when shaking hands with someone.

First person "How do you do?“Second person " How do you do?“

'How are you?' is a question and the most common and polite response is "I am fine thank you and you?"

First person "How are you?“Second person "I am fine thank you and you?"

Nice to meet you – Nice to meet you too. (Often said whilst shaking hands) Delighted to meet you– Delighted to meet you too.Pleased to meet you – Pleased to meet you too. .Glad to meet you - Glad to meet you tooGood Morning / Good Afternoon / Good Evening

Informal Greetings

Hi - Hi or hello Morning / Afternoon / Evening ( We drop

the word 'Good' in informal situations). How's you? - Fine thanks. You?

Thank you / thanks / cheers

We sometime say 'cheers' instead of thank you. You may hear 'cheers' said instead of 'good bye', what we are really saying is 'thanks and bye'.

Dos and Don’ts

Acceptable Behaviour in England

Which of the following social customs are similar or different to your country?

The English are said to be reserved in manners, dress and speech. They are famous for them politeness, self-discipline and especially for them sense of humour. Basic politeness (please, thank you, excuse me) is expected.

Do say "Excuse Me":If someone is blocking your way and you would like them to move, say excuse me and they will move out of your way.

Do Pay as you Go: Pay for drinks as you order them in pubs and other types of bars.

Do say "Please" and "Thank you":

It is very good manners to say "please" and "thank you". It is considered rude if you don't. You will notice in England that we say 'thank you' a lot.

Do cover your Mouth: When yawning or coughing always cover your mouth with your hand. Do Shake Hands:When you are first introduced to someone, shake their right hand with your own right hand. Do say sorry: If you accidentally bump into someone, say 'sorry'. They probably will too, even if it was your fault! This is a habit and can be seen as very amusing by an 'outsider'. Do Smile: A smiling face is a welcoming face.Do Drive on the left side of the road

Do not greet people with a kiss: We only kiss people who are close friends and relatives.

Avoid talking loudly in public It is impolite to stare at anyone

in public.Privacy is highly regarded. text taken from and copyright of projcetbritain.com

Do not ask a lady her ageIt is considered impolite to ask a lady her age

Do not pick your nose in public:

We are disgusted by this. If your nostrils need de-bugging, use a handkerchief.

Avoid doing gestures such as backslapping and hugging This is only done among close friends.

Do not spit. Spitting in the street is considered to be very bad mannered.

Do not burp in public You may feel better by burping loudly after eating or drinking, but other people will not! If you can not stop a burp from bursting out, then cover your mouth with your hand and say 'excuse me' afterwards.

Do not pass wind in public text taken from and copyright of projcetbritain.comNow how can we say this politely? Let's say that you want to pass wind. What do you do? Go somewhere private and let it out. If you accidentally pass wind in company say 'pardon me'.

Meals and Meal times

Some people have their biggest meal in the middle of the day and some have it in the evening, but most people today have a small mid-day meal - usually sandwiches, and perhaps some crisps and some fruit.

They have three main meals a day:Breakfast - between 7:00 and 9:00, Lunch - between 12:00 and 1:30 p.m. Dinner (or Supper) - The main meal. Eaten anytime between

6:30 and 8:00 p.m. (Evening meal)

Traditionally, and for some people still, the meals are called: Breakfast - between 7:00 and 9:00, Dinner (The main meal) - between 12:00 and 1:30 p.m. Tea - anywhere from 5:30 at night to 6:30 p.m. On Sundays the main meal of the day is often eaten at midday instead

of in the evening. This meal usually is a Roast Dinner consisting of a roast meat, yorkshire pudding and two or three kinds of vegetables.

Breakfast

The traditional English breakfast consists of eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, baked beans and mushrooms. Even though not many people will eat this for breakfast today, it is always served in hotels and guest houses around Britain.

The traditional English breakfast is called the 'Full English' and sometimes referred to as 'The Full English Fry-up'.

Lunch

Many children at school and adults at work will have a 'packed lunch'. This typically consists of a sandwich, a packet of crisps, a piece of fruit and a drink. The 'packed lunch' is kept in a plastic container.

Sandwiches are also known as a 'butty' or 'sarnie' in some parts of the UK.

What is a typical British Dinner like today?

The traditional meal is rarely eaten nowadays, apart from on Sundays. A recent survey found that most people in Britain eat curry! Rice or pasta dishes are now favoured as the 'British Dinner'.

Vegetables grown in England, like potatoes, carrots, peas, cabbages and onions, are still very popular.

Sunday Roast Dinner

Sunday lunch time is a typical time to eat the traditional Sunday Roast.

Traditionally it consists of roast meat, (cooked in the oven for about two hours), two different kinds of vegetables and potatoes with a Yorkshire pudding. The most common joints are beef, lamb or pork; chicken is also popular.

Beef is eaten with hot white horseradish sauce, pork with sweet apple sauce and lamb with green mint sauce. Gravy is poured over the meat.

Main Dishes

Fish and Chips

Fish and ChipsFish (cod, haddock, huss, plaice) deep fried in flour batter with chips (fried potatoes) dressed in malt vinegar. This is

England's traditional take-away food or as US would say "to go". Fish and chips are not normally home cooked but bought at a fish and chip shop ("chippie" ) to eat on premises or as a

"take away"

Shepherd's pie

Ingredients• 50g/2oz dripping• 2 large onions, finely chopped• 2 tbsp olive oil• 900g/2lb minced lamb • 2 tbsp plain flour• 4 bay leaves • 4 sprigs fresh thyme• 2 tsp anchovy essence• 2 small tins chopped tomatoes• 4 tsp Worcestershire sauce • 450ml/16fl oz chicken, beef or lamb stock • salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the mash • 700g/1½lb potatoes • 55ml/2fl oz milk• 75g/3oz butter • 1 free-range egg yolk

Preparation method

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. In a large non-stick casserole dish heat the dripping. Add

the onion and cook for five minutes. Meanwhile, in a large frying pan, heat a little olive oil and

fry the mince, stirring, until browned all over. While the meat is frying, break up any lumps with the back of the spoon.

Stir the onions and add the flour (this helps to thicken the juices) and stir. Mix well and add the bay leaves, thyme and the anchovy essence and stir.

To the onion mix add the chopped tomatoes, stock (keep a little aside, for putting into the mince pan to de-glaze the pan) and Worcestershire sauce.

Add the cooked mince and then pour the stock mixture into empty mince pan, scraping off any bits of mince left in the pan. Pour the remaining stock into the pan containing the sauce mixture.

Bring the mixture to the boil, adding a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper and let it simmer for about 45 minutes.

For the mash, boil the potatoes, then drain them in a sieve and place into a clean bowl. Add the milk, butter and egg yolk, and mash together. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Pour the meat into an ovenproof dish and spread the mash on top, smooth over and mark with a spatula.

Put the dish into the oven and cook until the surface is bubbling and golden-brown.

UK Holidays

Facts and Costumes

New Year’s Day- 1st January

People take shower in the fountains of Trafalgar Square

Titles and decorations are conferred by the sovereign

New Year’s resolutionsCelebratingSuperstitions (eating lens or pork brings

money and welfare, braking the glass means bad luck in the following years)

St. Valentine’s Day 14th February

Also called Lover’s day, Sweat heart’s day

Commemorates the Roman priest who gave aid and comfort to persecuted Christians before he was put to death

Valentines cards are sent by young people anonymously (or gifts, flowers especially tulips) which might be serious or funny

St. David’s Day 1st March

patron saint of Wales, archbishop of Wales called Dewi saint during 6th century he was from royal lineage: father (Sant) prince,

mother (Non) daughter of a chieftain and probably related to the king Arthur

He was born in Non’s Chapel near today’s city of Saint Dewi

He was educated on a monastery, his teacher was a blind monk Paulinus

He helped to spread Christianity:

St. Patrick’s Day:17th March

Travelled throughout Ireland He established monasteries, schools,

churches Icon of the day is shamrock: Father, Son

and the holy spirit = Trinity

All Fools Day:1st April

Custom of playing jokes and tricks on people, than shout out April Fool

Easter: April

Feast of the Christian church Pre christian tradition intention to

celebrate the spring equinox Good Friday Jesus crucifixionEaster Sunday resurrection of Jesus Easter eggs are being dyed and

decorated, confectionery is given to children as a symbol of new life

celebrated on Sunday

St. George’s Day: 23rd of April

Saint Patron of Scotland

May Day: 1st May

Political parties of the left hold processions and public meetings

Mother’s Day: 2nd Sunday in May

Honours all mothers

Halloween: 31st October

Holy evening connected with witches and ghosts people go to parties, they dress up in strange costumes Jack O’Lantern made from pumpkin, cut face in the vegetable, put

candles inside playing various games recent years children wear white sheets, knock on the door and

ask: trick or treat (if you give something, you’re nice and it means treat, so children go

away, but if you don’t give anything, they play tricks on you) Celts celebrated it as the last day of the year and the beginning of

the winter Christians celebrated it as the Eve of All Saints Day

Guy Fawkes Day: 5th November King James was unpopular with the Roman Catholics they decided to blow the parliament on the day James

was about to open it they stored the gun powder, which was to be exploded

by the Guy Fawkes but someone spoke about it before it happened and Guy

was arrested and hanged for the rebellion today burning of the dummy (dummy = Guy), in the

evening firework show children on the streets ask: “penny for the Guy”, they

collect money for the fireworks

Remembrance Day: 11th November

ceremony in the White hall in London 2 minutes of silence for those killed in the

2 world wars

St. Andrews day: 29th November

the patron saint of Scotland Jesus ‘s original disciple On that day: music, dancing, drinking,

eating… Thistle emblem of ScotlandAt night Vikings X Scottish (sleeping):

Viking stepped on a thistle yelled with pain => woke up the Scottish so they were able to fight

Sports:

Rugby

Rugby originated from Rugby school in Warwickshire. It is similar to football, but played with an oval ball. Players can carry the ball and tackle each other. The best rugby teams compete in the Super League final each September.

For many years Rugby was only played by the rich upper classes, but now it is popular all over the country. There are two different types of rugby - Rugby League, played mainly in the north of England, and Rugby Union, played in the rest of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, together with France and Italy, play in an annual tournament called the Six Nations.

American Football derived from the british game of Rugby also Baseball derived from the old English game of Rounders.

“Rugby is a beastly game played by gentlemen. Soccer is a gentleman’s game played by beasts. Football is a beastly game played by beasts.”