The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern

Ireland

&

its customs and traditions

The British Isles The British Isles are located in Europeare located in Europe

The British Isles

Europe

There are two big islands There are two big islands in the British Isles in the British Isles

BritaBritainin

IrelandIreland

There are There are fourfour countries in the countries in the United Kingdom United Kingdom

Scotland

EnglandNorthern Ireland

Wales

Edinburgh

LondonBelfast

Cardiff

The Union Jack is a popular The Union Jack is a popular name name of the national flag in the of the national flag in the UKUK

The Queen Elizabeth II The Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the United is the head of the United

KingdomKingdom

LondonLondon is the capital of is the capital of EnglandEngland and and the United the United KingdomKingdom

BRITISH TRADITIONSand CUSTOMS

Every country has its own traditions and customs. In Britain traditions play a very important role in the life of people. The British are proud of their traditions and keep them carefully.

It is known that the English are stay-at-home people. “There is no place like home”, they say. When they don't work they like to spend their days off at home with their families.

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

Englishmen's homePeople all over the world know the saying: “The Englishmen’s home is his castle”. They like to live in small houses with a small garden. A typical feature of an English house is a fireplace, that's why many of them prefer the open fire to central heating.

The English are tea-drinkers. They have it many times a day. Some Englishmen have tea for breakfast, tea in lunch time, tea after dinner, tea at tea-time and tea with supper. Some English families have "high tea" or big tea and no supper. The Englishmen always drink tea out of cups, never out of glasses.

Tea-drinkers

They have also English and British traditions of sport, music and many royal occasions.

Coronation DayIt marks the

anniversary of the date when Elizabeth II

became the queen

Changing of the Guards

Changing of the Guards is a very beautiful tradition.Every morning tourists go to watch the ceremony at Buckingham Palace. At 11.30 the guard that stands in front of the palace change.

Pancake DayPancake Day is celebrated on Shrove

Tuesday in spring at the beginning of Lent. Lent is a period of 40 days before Easter. Pancake Day is traditionally a day of celebration, the last day that you can eat what you want until Easter. Pancake Day is a funny custom. It is famous for an unusual race with frying pans and pancakes.

On New Year's day all English schoolchildren make New Year resolutions. They make up lists of shortcomings which they intend to correct. The children,their mothers and fathers, and their friends laugh and have a good time when they read them. The children promise to keep them.

In the north, and in Scotland, particularly, the Year known as Hogmanay, is very well kept up. The ceremonies are similar, but they have an added called "first foot". This means opening your door to anyone who knocks it after midnight, and who will then enter the house, carrying a piece of coal or wood, or bread. The visitor is entertained with cakes and ale.

ChristmasChristmas The most popular holiday in Great BritainThe most popular holiday in Great Britain..

Christmas is a joyful religious holiday whenChristmas is a joyful religious holiday when

Christians celebrate the birth of Christians celebrate the birth of

Jesus Christ. It isJesus Christ. It is celebrated on the 25celebrated on the 25ththof of

December. The Christmas storyDecember. The Christmas story

comes from the Bible. comes from the Bible.

For people all over the world For people all over the world Christmas Christmas

is ais a season of giving and receiving season of giving and receiving presents.presents.

People go from house to house to singPeople go from house to house to sing

Christmas carols.Christmas carols.

Boxing Day

Boxing Day is traditionally a day following Christmas when wealthy people in the United Kingdom would give a box containing a gift to their servants.

Today, Boxing Day is better known as a bank or public holiday that occurs on December 26, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws.

Easter is a grand festival of Christians and is celebrated to honor the resurrection of Lord Jesus, the son of mother Mary. It is a festivity of happiness and joy, as it was in the Easter springtime when people had witnessed Jesus' return to life. Houses are decorated with beautiful lilies, candles are lit. Special dishes are prepared in the honor of Lord Jesus. Easter lamb is always on the table.

In Great Britain it is a holiday of love and friendship.

On that day the Englishmen send Valentine’s cards to people they love. Some people draw hearts, roses and Cupids with arrows on them. But almost all of Valentine cards say “Be my Valentine”.

The celebration of All Saints Day The celebration of All Saints Day or just Halloween takes place on or just Halloween takes place on October 31st.October 31st.

The most known customs is the tradition of dressing costume. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that

they would encounter ghosts if they left their houses. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people wore masks so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow

spirits. On Halloween, people placed bowls of food outside their homes to appease

the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter their home.

St. Andrew's Day

It is celebrated on 30 November.

The Scottish Parliament passed the St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland),which designated the Day as an official bank holiday.

St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland.