England is a country of traditions. At its mention, cozy English houses, evening tea and, of course, the traditional royal family come to mind. Most English customs have a long history of several hundred years.
Eating traditions
The British approach to eating very thoroughly. They are not used to snacking on the go or eating junk food. From the Sherlock Holmes films, you can remember the traditional morning oatmeal. Also in England, it is customary to eat fried eggs with bacon and toast with jam for breakfast. Sometimes breakfast is followed by a second breakfast - lunch.
For lunch, the British eat meat and fish dishes with vegetables, but they practically do not eat side dishes that are familiar to Russians - rice and pasta. By lunchtime, all family members must dress in formal attire. Sunday lunch is a special occasion. A variety of dishes are prepared, and the table is covered with a festive tablecloth. Often, all relatives gather at a Sunday dinner.
At 5 pm, the family will enjoy a traditional tea party with cakes, sandwiches and snacks. For the sake of this custom, all put off their affairs. At the table, they not only drink tea, but also communicate, share news.
Communication traditions
The English have long been very restrained in communication, for this they are called stiff and even boring. The favorite topic of the British is changeable weather. If you meet an English friend, you will need to talk about the weather for at least a few minutes before moving on to the main topic. Otherwise, you will be considered impolite. Talking about the weather is filled and pauses arising in the conversation. The British are not accepted to be frank about their personal lives or scatter loud judgments. Therefore, in their conversation, platitudes and cliches are often used.
In addition, the people of England are extremely polite. They constantly use the words “thank you, ” “please, ” and “sorry.” However, in other manifestations of feelings they are very stingy. For example, almost never shake hands at a meeting. And if in a society there is a person whom you do not know, it is not indecent to contact him until they introduce you.
