United Kingdom
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain.
It is a unitary state consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, which has their own tradition, but who are called British, forming British Nation!
Who are the British?
British people live in the UK. They are people who live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. British people can also either be English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish.
The British are said to be reserved in manners, dress and speech. They are famous for their politeness, self-discipline and especially for their sense of humour. British people have a strong sense of humour which sometimes can be hard for foreigners to understand.
Britain is a country of mixed cultures. London has the largest non-white population of any European city and over 250 languages are spoken there. Therefore not all British people are White or Christians.
Do's and Don'ts While in the UK
| Do | Don't |
| Stand in line | Greet people with a kiss |
| Take your hat off when you go indoors (men only) | Talk loudly in public |
| Say "Excuse Me" if you need someone to move | Ask a lady her age |
| Pay as you go when buying drinks at a bar | Pick your nose in public |
| Say "Please" and "Thank you" | Backslap or hug people you don't know |
| Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze | Spit, burp, or pass wind in public |
| Shake hands when greeting someone | Speak with your mouth full of food |
| Say sorry if you bump into someone | Eat off a knife during a meal |
| Drive on the left side of the road | Speak loudly in public |
| Open doors for other people | Throw garbage on the ground |
Interesting Facts
Women in Britain are entitled to equal respect and status as men (and indeed vice versa) in all areas of life and tend to have more independence and responsibility than in some other cultures. Women are usually independent and accustomed to entering public places unaccompanied. It is usual for women to go out and about on their own as well as with friends. Men and women mix freely.
You may be called by many different 'affectionate' names, according to which part of the Britain you are visiting. Do not be offended, this is quite normal. For example, you may be called dear, dearie, flower, love, chick, chuck, me duck, me duckie, mate, guv, son, ma'am, madam, miss, sir, or treacle, according to your sex, age and location.
When being entertained at someone's home it is nice to take a gift for the host and hostess. A bottle of wine, bunch of flowers or chocolates are all acceptable.
Sports
Sports play an important part in the life in Britain and is a popular leisure activity. Many of the world's famous sports began in Britain, including cricket, football, lawn tennis, golf and rugby.
England's national sport is cricket although to many people football (soccer) is seen as our national sport. Football is the most popular sport. Some of England's football teams are world famous, the most famous being Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Besides football, the British prefer polo, horse racing, netball, badminton, bowls, boxing, and darts.
Housing
Most people in England live in urban areas. Towns and cities are spreading into their surrounding environment to cope with the increase in population. Most houses in England are made of stone or brick from the local area where the houses are built. The colours of the stones and bricks vary across the country.
England has many types of homes. In the large cities, people often live in apartments, which are called flats. In most towns, there are streets of houses joined together in long rows. They are called terraced houses.
Food
British food has traditionally been based on beef, lamb, pork, chicken and fish and generally served with potatoes and one other vegetable. The most common and typical foods eaten in Britain include the sandwich, fish and chips, pies like the cornish pasty, trifle and roasts dinners. Some of our main dishes have strange names like Bubble & Squeak and Toad-in-the-Hole. You can also find a wide variety of foreign foods, particularly Indian, all over the country.
What is an English Breakfast?Eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, mushrooms, baked beans
Religion
Christianity, more specifically the Protestant sect, is the predominant religion in the UK. Islam is the second major religion. Sikhism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism are also prevalent.
Fashion
UK has its own historical dresses that are still preserved all over the country. But still to see a person dressed in traditional garments is rare, may be only at some place of historic interest, or for some holidays.
You will find every fashion style on earth in the urban areas, from goth to punk to classy.
Poplar Brands: Kali Arulpragasam, John Galliano , Betty Jackson , Burberry, Ronald Paterson, Bruce Oldfield, Elizabeth Emanuel, etc.
