 |
Do you remember R. Kipling’ famous expression: My home is my castle?
|
|
|
|
Do you remember R. Kipling’ famous expression: My home is my castle?
Is an Englishman's home really his castle? Though both the role and the look of the home are changing, an Englishman's home is as much his castle is it was 100 years ago. 82% of British families now prefer to live in their own houses and only 15% live in flats. Here are some typical houses owned by Britons: “Detached” houses, ones that stand on their own, are the most desirable. “Semi-detached” houses, consisting of two equal halves and there are also “terraced” ones, joined in a row of more than two.
| 
| 
|
| 
|
Some typical British homes are the smallest in Europe. All of us know the love of Britons for gardening. There are small gardens in front and behind their house
“
What should one know on coming to England? First – a typical English past. Even traditional English breakfast is a bit of a myth today. Many people prefer to have a bowl of cornflakes or a cup of coffee for breakfast. A lot of people unite two meals: breakfast and lunch together (s0-called “ brunch”). When British people go out for a meal, they very often go to their local Indian or Chinese, Italian or Turkish restaurant or buy a “takeaway” food. Very many still go to the pubs.
The word " pub" is short for " public house". Pubs are so popular in the UK that there are over 60, 000 pubs there (53, 000 in England and Wales, 5, 200 in Scotland and 1, 600 in Northern Ireland). Pubs are an important part of British life. People talk, eat, drink, meet their friends and relax there.
English Customs are reflected in popular British Holidays
Should ever be forgotten. 
Guy Fawkes Day - November the 5th. “Remember, remember the 5th of November Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason in that gunpowder treason”. This popular British rhyme is often spoken on Bonfire Night, in memory of the Gunpowder Plot. Guy Fawkes’ Day is also known as 'Bonfire Night' or 'Fireworks Night'. In 1605 on the 5th of November catholic Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators (60 in all) attempted to kill King James I and the Members of Parliament. This conspiracy arose as a reaction to the persecution of Catholics under the rule of King James, a Protestant. They hid 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament and were going to blow up the Houses of Parliament. But one of the plotters betrayed the conspiracy in a letter to his brother-in-law who told the government about the plotter’s plans. Fawkes was caught with a box of matches in his pocket. Some conspirators fled but many were killed or arrested. Nine members, including Fawkes, were hung and quartered in January 1606.
Parliament made the 5th November a day of public thanksgiving and ever since then the day has been celebrated with fireworks and bonfires. Today children still make stuffed figures with masks of Guy Fawkes. They call these figures guys and display them in the streets.
|
|
|
November 5 is also called the Ringing Da y because it is appointed for church bells to be rung for the whole day.
One of the largest events in the UK is the Bridgewater Carnival. The procession is held each year on the Thursday nearest to November 5. It is an illuminated procession that takes about two hours to pass with over 130 entries made by various local carnival clubs
|
|
|
