Traditions, customs, holidays

The United Kingdom is one of the world's most cosmopolitan and diverse countries. Each constituent part of the United Kingdom—England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland—maintains its own unique customs, traditions and festivals.

First of all, it concerns United Kingdom political system. In Great Britain there’s no written constitution, only customs, traditions and precedents. After the English Revolution GB became a constitutional monarchy headed by King (now Queen, Elizabeth the second). Traditionally the Queen acts only on the advice of her Ministers. She reigns but she doesn’t rule.

Englishmen have traditions not only in political, but in social life.

English people like to spend their free time in numerous pubs. They can have a glass of beer and talk about different things with their friends.

The English are traditional about their meals. They eat eggs and bacon with toasts for breakfast, pudding or apple pie for dessert. Every English family has five o’clock tea.

A typical feature of an English house is a fireplace, even when there’s central heating in the house. Englishmen pay much attention to their homes. They often say: “My house is my castle.” Traditionally English people fond of gardening and there is always a beautiful garden near every English house.

English people like domestic animals. Every family has a pet: a dog, a cat or a bird.

Historically, English daily life and customs were markedly different in urban and rural areas. Today, even though the English are among the world's most cosmopolitan and well-traveled people, ties to the rural past remain strong. Urbanites, for example, commonly retire to villages and country cottages, and even the smallest urban dwelling is likely to have a garden.

Another divide, though one that is fast disappearing, is the rigid class system that long made it difficult for nonaristocratic individuals to rise to positions of prominence in commerce, government, and education. Significant changes have accompanied the decline of the class system, which also had reinforced distinctions between town and country and between the less affluent north of England and the country's wealthy south.

Many holidays in England, such as Christmas, are celebrated throughout the world, though the traditional English Christmas is less a commercial event than an opportunity for singing and feasting. They also celebrate Easter, the oldest and the most important Christian holidays. Remembrance Day (November 11) honours British soldiers who died in World War I. Other remembrances are unique to England and are nearly inexplicable to outsiders. For example, Guy Fawkes Night (November 5) commemorates a Roman Catholic conspiracy to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605, and Saint George's Day (April 23) honours England's patron saint—though the holiday is barely celebrated at all in England, in marked contrast to the celebrations in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland for their respective patron saints: St Andrew's Day (Scotland's National Day), St David's Day (Wales National Day), St. Patrick's Day (Ireland's Special Day). There are also such holidays as Halloween (October 31), St.Valentine’s Day (February 14), April Fool’s Day – a day of fun and jokes (April 1).

The monarch's official birthday is also observed nationally and commemorated in the summer by a military parade called Trooping the Colour, which has been celebrated since the 18th century.

Vocabulary notes

affluent - приток (реки)

(to) commemorate - почтить память (в письменном обращении или каким-либо другим образом; отмечать, праздновать

cosmopolitan – космополит; космополитический

diverse - многообразный, различный, разнообразный, разный; разнотипный

dwelling - жилище, (жилой) дом, жилье; местожительство; проживание

feasting - празднование, торжество

fireplace – камин

precedent - предшествующий, предыдущий; превосходящий

(to) reinforce - укреплять, усиливать; повторять с новыми силами

remembrance - воспоминание, поминовение; память (Remembrance Day, Remembrance Sunday — день памяти погибших в первую и вторую мировые войны)

rural areas - сельский район

Trooping the Colour - вынос знамени, торжественный развод караулов с выносом знамени (проводится ежегодно в Лондоне на плац-параде конной гвардии (Horse Guards Parade) в официальный день рождения монарха. Навстречу монарху выносят знамя гвардейского полка, несёт караульную службу во дворце в текущем году)

urban area - городской район