Interesting traditions of Britain. English traditions - UK culture

Each country has its own customs and traditions, giving it a special atmosphere and personality. England is no exception. This country has a rich history and ancient traditions, many of which have been preserved and observed to this day. Travelers planning to visit England will find it useful to learn about some of the customs and traditions that exist in this country. This will help tourists better understand the culture of the country and find common language with local residents.

All over the world, the British are considered reserved, polite and even prim and cold-blooded. Thanks to their excellent upbringing and manners, the British never show their emotions in public. However, this does not prevent them from being sociable, friendly people with a positive outlook on life.

Among huge variety Some of the most famous and interesting customs and traditions of England can be identified:

English tea party

Tea is perhaps the most popular drink among the British. The tradition of drinking tea from 16:00 to 18:00 appeared in England more than 300 years ago and is called “5 o’clock”. At this time, the British put aside other matters and drink tea with small sandwiches or sweets. In addition to enjoying a fragrant drink, a five-hour tea party for the British is a reason to spend time in the company of family or friends.

Guy Fawkes Night

Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night is one of the most spectacular customs in England. This holiday is held on November 5th. The British are gathering in large groups and burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes at the stake. This tradition dates back to the 17th century, when Guy Fawkes and like-minded people tried to blow up the English Parliament building. The attempt was unsuccessful, but the tradition of burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes became very popular with the British.

New Year and Christmas traditions in England

IN New Year, when the clock strikes 12 times, the British rush to open the doors in the house, the back door - so that he can leave old year, and the front one - to let in a new one. In Scotland local residents V New Year's Eve they set fire to barrels and roll them along the streets, thus burning the old year.

On Christmas night, the British light candles and decorate the windows of their houses with them. In some villages there are competitions for the best decoration of such a candle. In addition to candles, it is customary to decorate houses with branches of evergreens - ivy, holly and others. Traditional British dishes for Christmas include stuffed turkey, Christmas pudding and roast goose.

Crab Festival

Despite their restraint, the British are very fond of organizing various festivals and holidays. One of the most interesting is the crab festival, which takes place every September in the city of Ergemont. It got its name from the crab apple tree, and not from sea creatures. The holiday dates back to the 13th century, when a landowner presented apple trees as a gift to local residents. Part of the festival is an apple cart parade, during which participants throw apples at each other. In addition, various competitions are held during the festival - wrestling, talent shows, dog competitions, pole climbing, and antics competition.

Gardening

The British love to grow plants, flowers, and vegetables. They can talk for a long time about ways to care for green spaces, about new varieties and varieties. Many Englishmen have greens growing at home for eating, and flowers in a box outside the window. For those who live in country houses, as a rule, luxurious gardens and flower beds.

The British are very sensitive to the customs and traditions of their country and try to carefully observe them. Thanks to this, England has developed a unique, distinctive culture that attracts travelers from all over the world.

Hello, my dears!

Today I am sharing with you information about amazing traditions English. As you know, the traditions of England are interesting and unique. The British themselves are very proud of them. Let's talk about the main ones.

Any nation loves and appreciates when guests from other countries honor their traditions and customs. So, so that you know how to behave in a given situation, know how to show respect, and better understand the local residents, I suggest you read this article. In it you will find descriptions and names of British holidays also on English with translation.

Let's go...

Native traditions

It's hard to imagine Britain without annual horse racing. The most famous - Steeplechase and Martell Grand National.
Carnival Notting Hill is one of the largest in the world and is held annually in August for 2 days. This is a celebration of multiculture, which is visited by more than 1 million people.
A major national holiday is Guy Fawkes Night ( Guy Fawkes" Night). Every family prepares an effigy of Guy Fawkes and then triumphantly burns it at the stake. This is how they celebrate the discovery and prevention of a conspiracy against the king in the 17th century.
A generally accepted feature English families Keeping pets is considered. The British love animals very much.
Well, how can we not mention the tea ceremony? After all, it is not just an important custom, but a ritual, but a way of life for the British. From 4 to 6 pm they drink tea with something tasty, this time is called “ 5 o"clock". The British can easily put everything aside for the sake of drinking tea.

Traditions and customs show the character of a people, reflect their history and culture. Despite the fact that the British are cold-blooded and reserved by nature, they love holidays. They also have a great sense of humor. Therefore, many of their holidays have no analogues in the whole world.

Unusual events

For example, very popular funny face making championship. The funniest and ugliest faces imaginable are made here, and celebrities also participate.
Or, the race for cheese - Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake. This event is gaining momentum every year. Despite the fact that it is very dangerous, because... participants run down the mountain as fast as they can after a rolling wheel of cheese, everyone more people come to watch and participate in it.
In the town of Whittlesey there still exists Straw Bear Festival, which is associated with the beginning of a new agricultural year and has pagan roots. Straw Bear Festival takes place in the first half of January. A man dressed in a straw suit that covers him from head to toe walks from house to house, accompanied by a trainer and performers, dances, performs magic tricks and receives rewards for this in the form of sweets and other foods and drinks.
Without surprise you will not perceive competitions in swimming in a swamp or catching worms.

About marriage in England

As for marriage traditions, in England until the 19th century, the decision to marry was made by the parents of young people. It often happened that the future newlyweds did not know each other. They could be engaged before the age of 7.

The state and church strongly supported these strict and conservative rules. It is not surprising that since the 17th century there were many unmarried women and unmarried men in England, and their numbers were constantly increasing.

The emergence of the first marriage agencies was a response to new trends. People who became intermediaries in this matter were called marriage brokers.

Did you know that many of the wedding traditions that exist today came to us from England? White dresses for the bride getting married for the first time, choosing the day and month of the wedding, identical outfits for the bridesmaids, the honeymoon and the “honeymoon” - all these are inventions of the British!

Now wedding traditions are in many ways similar to other civilized countries, but have their own distinctive features.

So, the day before the wedding ceremony, a rehearsal is organized. Most modern brides follow the custom that they should wear something blue color, new, old and borrowed. These things symbolize fidelity, happiness, wealth and prosperity.

Text about traditions in English

And now a short text in English on our topic:

All nations have their own customs and traditions.

British people are different from other nations. Englishmen are conservative people. They have cheerful and friendly character. They are easy-going. They love their country very much and are proud of their culture.

So, when citizens of different countries pay a visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (or the UK), they are shocked by a lot of customs and traditions in English life. They are weird to tourists but the English still keep up these old customs and traditions which connect past and present, ancient and modern life.

Some of the public holidays observed in Britain now are of religious origin. Besides public holidays there are many festivals. For example, Guy Fawkers Night or Bonfire Night, Fireworks Night, Notting hill carnival and others. These are working days, but people celebrate them.

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Today we will talk about the mysterious old lady of England. This country has always stood out on the world stage, and there are many reasons for this. Everyone who comes to London is amazed at how beautiful it is. The main advantages or even differences of this country lie in the little things: weather, architecture and mentality of the population. There are many more highlights in England, but these are the most important, since they set the overall atmosphere.

Foggy England

What are they? English traditions? In order to understand this issue, you should learn more about this beautiful country. England got its name in honor of the Anglo-Germanic tribe that settled in Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries AD. e. The first work dedicated to this territory was written by Tacitus.

Deserves special attention Anyone who is even a little familiar with this country knows for sure that it is full of traditions. For the British, traditions and conservatism, home and family are very important.

What are these English people like?

The traditions of English people can be anything, because every nation finds its own ways of self-expression. First, you need to figure out what kind of English people they are. These people are very polite. At the same time, politeness for them is not just a fad. Every person considers it his duty to be polite to others. A true Englishman will always say “thank you” and “please”. Most of all, a Slavic person may be surprised by the fact that the British will not jostle in the subway, “punch” their place in the queue, etc. They are also interesting feature is that they are accustomed to any life circumstances"save" face. In any, even the most tragic situation, an Englishman will always be restrained and taciturn.

Traditions of the English people: home

For these people, home means a place that belongs only to them. The proverb: “My home is my fortress” fits this description very well. The British are still homebodies. They prefer to stay at home, with their family, rather than go out somewhere. They also love to have get-togethers with their close friends, but only within the walls of the house. The end of the working day near the fire with a cup of tea is the best evening that a resident of this mysterious country can only imagine.

English descriptions of the most famous

There are many traditions in England, but we will look at the main ones. For example, English traditions related to the weather. We all know that the weather can change several times a day, especially in England. That is why the topic about her has become a traditional topic for conversation. By the way, when learning a language, the section “About the weather” occupies a significant place in the entire course.

Another example is English traditions related to communication. It is accepted that two people should be introduced by a third person who will introduce them to each other. In addition, it is considered indecent to touch upon financial or personal issues, so conversations are held about politics, weather and other abstract topics that will be convenient for both. One more important feature is the lack of categoricalness. A true Englishman will never impose his point of view on his interlocutor. When talking they use a lot introductory structures so as not to seem intrusive. Also, the British are always very reserved, even cold. At the same time, when communicating with such a person, you feel not only the distance, but also the respect that slips through every phrase, eye expression and facial expressions.

Also, during a conversation, the British love to joke. Subtle humor is their strong point. At the same time, many peoples recognize this sense of humor as quite specific. It is best to avoid humorous expressions unless you are sure they will be appreciated.

The next important tradition concerns the important holiday in the year - Christmas. The British decorate the house with the whole family, and this is followed by a delicious dinner. Only the English decorate their home a large number candles, which is why Christmas Eve is also called the “Night of Candles.”

Food

In English they sound not only beautiful, but also delicious. The topic of this section is dedicated specifically to the kitchen. The British have a special one - uncomplicated, nutritious and simple. It is on these three pillars that it is built. Of course, one cannot fail to mention the famous tea tradition. Tea drinking is held every day from 16 to 18 hours. They prepare very thoroughly for this small event, so the process turns into a little fairy tale. Dinner comes only after 6 pm, when all family members have worked up an appetite.

The second important component of the schedule is breakfast. The British consider it necessary, since this is the only way to get a boost of energy for the whole day. For breakfast they eat toast, porridge or bacon. In any case, the food turns out tasty and healthy - just what you need for a proper breakfast.

Family traditions

English family traditions begin with one important moment - spending time together. This is a mandatory item that all families follow. The main family tradition is related to relaxation on weekends. The whole family gets together to go to nature and have a lot of fun there. Such leisure is useful, active, and beneficial for relationships. By the weekend, wives try to redo all the important things to free up days for rest. If the trip is cancelled, then people garden, go shopping or just take care of their homes.

Young people spend their time a little differently. After relaxing together on Saturday night, they go to parties or dances where they have fun with their friends. Some also go to gyms, spend time with animals or active recreation.

(in English this phrase sounds like Family traditions) can open up to anyone who decides to learn this simple but universal language!

English unusual customs and traditions

Great Britain is a country with a large number of customs and traditions, many of which have a centuries-old history. English customs and traditions are known all over the world, because Great Britain is a country that has had a great influence on the traditions of many dependent and independent states today. When people think of Great Britain and the British, they first of all remember traditional English tea drinking, eating fish and chips, the indispensable addition of bowler hats to the ensemble of clothing, and much more. But there are also traditions in Great Britain that may seem not only extremely interesting, but even somewhat strange. It's about them we'll talk below.

10. Gurning

Egremont Crab Fair - one of the most unusual English fairs - got its name in honor of a special variety of sour apples. The tradition of holding the fair began in the distant past XIII century, when one of the local feudal lords distributed apples to commoners. It is still part of the fair, during which apples are simply thrown into the gathered crowd. However, the “apple” parade is far from the only entertainment at the fair, which includes a talent contest, a pipe smoking competition, and a slippery pole climbing competition. The main event of the fair every year is a very special competition in gurning - the “art” of making faces in front of the public.

Holders of a strange talent amaze those gathered with the most terrible and grotesque grimaces that are only capable of human face. The winners of the competition become celebrities for a few days - as a rule, the famous Egremont Crab Fair competition is covered by national media. The Egremont Crab Fair is held in Cumbria in September and attracts many tourists every year.

9. Running for the rolling cheese

Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake is a unique race for rolling cheese, held annually in the town of Cooper's Hill near the city of Gloucester, famous for its cheeses. Initially, only local residents took part in the unusual competition, but lately Participants even come to the event from other countries. The competition takes its name from the name of the hill on which it is held. Due to the steep and uneven descent of the hill, competitors, forced to run as fast as they can after the rolling cheese, often suffer injuries ranging from a sprained ankle to a broken ankle.

Maypole Dancing

Dance around the maypole

The Maypole dance is a form of folk dance in Western Europe, in particular in Great Britain, Sweden, Galicia, Portugal, Germany, which has two distinctive traditional features. The most common version is to perform circle dances around a high pole, which is previously decorated with garlands, painted ribbons, flowers, flags, and other decorations. A less common version is one in which the dancers dance in a circle, each holding a colored ribbon that is tied to a small pole; ribbons are woven around the pole itself or around those who dance. Dancers may take special steps to unravel the ribbons.
Festival participants dance around this pillar to welcome spring.

Pearly King and Queen

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Mother of pearl king and queen

The Mother of Pearl King and Queen, also known as pearlies, is an organized charitable tradition of working class culture in London (Cockney). The tradition of wearing clothes decorated with mother-of-pearl buttons dates back to the nineteenth century. She is associated primarily with Henry Croft, an orphan janitor who raised money for charity. In 1911 the Pearl Society was formed in Finchley in North London. Every year on one Sunday in May, a colorful festival is held in London, where the “pearl kings and queens” demonstrate unusual costumes decorated with patterns of mother-of-pearl buttons.

Ascot Ladies Day

Lady's Day at Ascot

Ascot races are the famous English horse races held annually in the small town of Ascot. The Royal Ascot Hippodrome is located just a few kilometers from Windsor Castle, and therefore every year members of the royal family and other eminent guests come to the races, which have long gained the status of a social event. At Ascot Racecourse, racing takes place on a total of 25 days a year. The most prestigious races are the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth races.
The Royal Meeting is the most important. The third day of the June races becomes a day of competition and competition both for riders and fashion designers. The famous Ascot tradition is for ladies appearing at the royal hippodrome in the most original headdresses.
Since ladies must appear at this event in hats, and these hats can be any fancy, which designers successfully use. This particular day is called Lady's Day at Ascot, and the ladies really show themselves in all their glory.

Straw Bear Day

Straw Bear Day is an ancient English tradition celebrated on the seventh of January. The birthplace of this English tradition is considered to be the small Fanland region on the border of Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire. This day is traditionally considered the beginning of the agricultural year in England. A man or young guy puts on a straw suit that covers his body from head to toe. He goes from house to house and dances for the owners. As gratitude for dancing, he receives money, food or beer from people.

Worm Charming Championship

Worm Spell Championship

This unusual championship is a way to attract earthworms. Many people do this in order to prepare their bait for fishing. But there are also those who do it purely for sport. The village of Willaston, near Nantwich in Cheshire, is where the annual World Championships have been held on a grand scale since 1980. The competition was created by local resident Tom Shufflebotham, who "summoned" 511 worms from the ground in half an hour on July 5, 1980. The competition has its own rules, there are 18 of them in total. Here, for example, are some of them:
Each participant uses an area measuring three by three meters.
Any music can be used to attract worms.
You cannot use narcotic substances, and under no circumstances should you use various stimulants - including water.

Morris Dancing

Morris dance

Morris dancing is a form of folk dancing that usually has musical accompaniment. This dance is based on rhythmic steps and the performance of choreographic figures by groups of dancers. Various accessories such as swords and scarves can be used.
The English Morris dance is a kind of theatrical performance in which up to seven people (men) take part. During the dance, the actor-sons kill the actor-father, who is resurrected at the end.
The tradition originated in England back in the 14th century and still exists. Dancers wear special clothes - black breeches, white skirts, bells and shoes with wooden soles.
The British believe that dance brings happiness to both the dancers and the audience.

Guy Fawkes Night

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night and held annually on November 5th in the United Kingdom, is a tribute to the failure of the Gunpowder Plot orchestrated by Guy Fawkes. Fox, along with a group of like-minded people, tried to blow up the London Parliament in 1605 during the throne speech of the Protestant King James I of England. The purpose of the conspiracy was to kill the king and overthrow Protestant rule.

The plot itself was drawn up by Robert Catesby, but it was Fox who carried out the plan, and as a result was arrested a few hours before the planned explosion on a denunciation. Guy Fawkes Night is a celebration of the failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.

Swimming in the swamp

Great Britain is home to perhaps the most extravagant bog swimming competition. Competitors dive into the swamp wearing special underwater goggles, fins and a snorkel mask, covering a distance of approximately 36 meters in the swamp mud. The purpose of the competition is purely charitable - the organizers of the unusual swim raise funds for various charitable foundations, and divers not only from the UK, but also from other countries of the world participate in it.

4.8k (97 per week)

The traditions of Great Britain have been carried through centuries, and even in the modern world, the inhabitants of this country try to preserve them, distinguishing themselves from the whole world and Europe in particular. They so strictly and carefully adhere to their customs and honor traditions that one can even envy them.

British character

What do we know about the British? Prim, always polite, a little arrogant, with a great sense of humor. In many ways, we have developed these clichés from numerous films, but is our opinion so far from reality?
In the real modern world, the inhabitants of Great Britain are not much different from their ancestors. They are invariably polite, yet private, and can carry on a leisurely conversation for hours without saying a single word about anything personal. This shows their self-control. They will never bother their interlocutor, for which they may seem slightly arrogant. The subtle humor of the British is also known all over the world, and “black” humor is found most often in this nation.
Politeness for the British is not just an epithet, but a trait inherent in almost every one of them. The British always say “thank you” and “please” and try to “save face” in any situation. You are unlikely to see a British person making a row in a queue or pushing everyone aside on the subway, because they are mutually polite to each other. And even in the most tragic situations in their lives, the British try to be laconic and restrained. Someone will define this as the “coldness” of the nation, but this is just upbringing, absorbed with mother’s milk.

Traditions of communication

Continuing the theme of politeness of the British, it is worth touching on the traditions associated with communication. There is a rule in English society that two people must be introduced to each other by a third party. In conversations, it is not customary to ask about personal life or ask financial questions; the British talk about abstract topics - about politics, weather, etc.
The British also lack categoricality, that is, no one will impose their point of view on their interlocutor; for this purpose, in a conversation they use many introductory constructions so as not to seem intrusive.

Left-hand traffic

Since 1756, the UK has driven on the left, and although 70% of all countries in the world prefer to drive on the right, the British have not changed their habit. For many tourists and guests of the country, this is a kind of obstacle to driving on their own, but that’s how the British are - they do what they want and don’t look at what others say about it.

Number systems

We are all used to measuring distances in meters and kilometers, liquid in liters, but not residents of the UK. Like true conservatives, they talk about distances in miles, inches, yards, and liquids in pints. The British are not like everyone else, and even in such little things they know how to stand out.

Tea ritual

Many countries have their own tea drinking rituals, especially China, but in the UK the tradition has taken on a more comprehensive form.
The ritual of tea drinking appeared in the British Isles in the 17th century, and since that time the British have preferred to drink tea from exquisite varieties of Chinese tea in the morning and around 5 pm during lunch, and guests are offered at least 10 types of drink to choose from. The fact that foreigners treat tea drinking so casually irritates many residents of the country; for them it is a time of reflection, calm and leisurely conversation. The British love to drink tea with milk or cream, but they don’t like the familiar tea with lemon. As for the place of the tea ceremony, this is undoubtedly the living room, a table by the fireplace, covered with a white or blue tablecloth. The dishes for the ceremony should all be from one set.
What would tea be without some goodies? The British think the same way, which is why the tea drinking ritual includes cakes, cookies, toast and sandwiches.

Traditions in clothing

Speaking about traditions in clothing, one cannot identify it with all the inhabitants of the British Isles, but in some institutions that have a long history, people to this day wear items of clothing and costumes developed in past centuries. For example, in Oxford and Cambridge, students wear 17th-century robes, lawyers and judges wear 18th-century wigs to hear cases, and Tower palace guards still sport luxurious Tudor-era uniforms.

It is impossible not to mention the kilt - the national Scottish men's skirt, which is known throughout the world. Until now, some grooms choose a traditional outfit with a kilt for their wedding, personifying masculinity and the spirit of freedom.
The British also have another tradition - changing their outfit for dinner. Most civilized countries consider this tradition a relic, but not Great Britain.

Family traditions

Residents of the United Kingdom highly respect family traditions, especially weekend getaways. The whole family goes out into nature or stays at home and spends time together. This leisure time is extremely useful, positive and favorable for all family members. Housewives try to redo all household chores before the weekend in order to free up these 2 days for their beloved household members. Even young people try to follow this tradition, at least being with their families during the day, and then going to a club or party in the evening.
If you can’t spend time on vacation, the British garden, manage their homes, or go shopping.

Sports traditions

The tradition of playing cricket in Great Britain dates back to the 16th century, and this sport is still a national sport. Also traditional and annual is the confrontation between Cambridge and Oxford universities in rowing on the River Thames. Each university provides teams of 8 people who row four and a quarter miles down the river every Easter Sunday.
Another traditional sport that does not lack a purely English sense of humor is the rolling cheese race. Every year in the town of Coopers Hill, famous for the production of delicious cheeses, this race is held. And if previously only the nearest villages participated, today participants from many countries come to the competition. The essence of the competition is to roll the cheese down a steep slope and try to catch it. And since the slope is very steep, participants can get injured from sprains to fractures, but what fun it was!

Crows in the Tower

A tradition that has not been broken since the 17th century concerns the keeping of crows in the Tower of London. An entire dynasty of Black Crows is raised on the territory of the fortress. The first individual appeared here in the 17th century, when King Charles II issued a decree according to which there should always be at least 6 adult crows in the Tower. These birds are constantly taken care of; even a special position was approved called Ravensmaster, i.e., raven keeper.
Today, the Tower is still inhabited by ravens (in 2017 - 9 ravens), which were named after the Scandinavian and Celtic gods. The oldest bird in the Tower was a raven named Jim Crow, who lived for 44 years.
There is a belief that the moment the crows leave the fortress, the end of the monarchy in Great Britain will come, so just in case the birds' wings are clipped.

Royal traditions

The royal family honors all traditions like no other in the country, especially Queen Elizabeth II. Usually they concern the form of various ceremonies. For example, official visits, the opening of parliament in October or November, receptions in the royal garden, various awards 20 times a year.

Holiday Traditions

Christmas

Christmas in Great Britain is one of the most revered and family holidays. There must be traditional dishes on the table - stuffed turkey (in England, Scotland), roast goose (in Ireland and Wales) and plum pudding - a cake with steamed dried fruits, which is doused with cognac and set on fire before serving.

To this day, the tradition of decorating the house for Christmas with branches of evergreens (ivy, holly) has been preserved in order to ward off winter gloom and remind us that spring is coming. Also, from films, we have long learned about such a British tradition as kissing under a sprig of mistletoe. This tradition is still alive and makes a man and a woman kiss when they meet in the doorway over which this plant is hung.
Christmas Eve in the United Kingdom is also called "Night of Candles" because traditionally the whole family decorates the house with candles and all these lights are lit on the festive evening.

New Year

New Year in England is celebrated on a smaller scale than in our country: housewives do not set rich tables, almost all the gifts have already been given for Christmas, and it is not necessary to celebrate it with your family. And yet, apple pie on the New Year's table is considered an unchangeable tradition in England.
But the people of Scotland love celebrating the New Year, even more than Christmas. Here, all the residents of the country do general cleaning and try to finish all their work in the old year, right down to darning socks.
An unchanging tradition for the New Year in the UK is the opening of doors with the chiming of chimes. The owner opens the front door with the first ringing of the clock and holds it there until the clock rings 12 times. It is believed that at this time all problems and troubles go away with the old year, and the whole house is cleansed.

Easter

In the UK, both adults and children love to celebrate. As a rule, Easter eggs in this country are given a week before the main holiday, that is, on Palm Sunday. Moreover, these are not just boiled chicken eggs, but chocolate ones with the obligatory surprise inside, for example, sweets, a souvenir or caramel.
It has become a tradition to wear only new clothes for Easter, thereby symbolizing the arrival of real spring and the end of the cold weather. On Monday after Easter, it is customary to distribute sweets and toys to children on the street.

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