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British customs and traditions
Britain is full of culture and traditions which have been around for hundreds of years. British customs and traditions are famous all over the world.
1- Reserved manners
British are famous for their politeness, self-discipline and especially for their sense of humour. Basic politeness (please, thank you, excuse me) is expected.
Remember:
- British don’t say « hello » with a kiss. They just kiss family members or close friends ;
- they don’t talk loudly in public ;
- they do not ask a lady her age ;
- they do not ask personal or intimate questions…
2- Sports fans
England’s national sport is cricket but football is the most popular sport. Some of England’s football teams are world famous, like Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
The world’s most famous tennis tournament is Wimbledon. It started at a small club in south London in the nineteenth century. Millions of people watch the Championships on TV live.
Scotland is traditionally regarded as the home of golf. There are over 400 golf courses in Scotland alone.
Horseracing, the sport of Kings is a very popular sport with meetings being held every day throughout the year.
Table tennis was invented in England in 1880. It began with Cambridge University students using cigar boxes and champagne corks.
3- Superstitious people
GOOD LUCK when you meet a black cat, touch wood, find a clover plant with four leaves, catch falling leaves in Autumn, cut your hair when the moon is waxing, put money in the pocket of new clothes.
On the first day of the month it is lucky to say « white rabbits, white rabbits white rabbits, » before uttering your first word of the day.
BAD LUCK when you walk underneath a ladder, break a mirror, spill salt, open an umbrella inside a house, put new shoes on the table or pass someone on the stairs.
OTHER SUPERSTITIONS:
- When finished eating a boiled egg, push the spoon through the bottom of the empty shell to let the devil out ;
- if you drop a table knife expect a male visitor, if you drop a fork a female visitor ;
- It is said to be bad luck if you see bats flying and hear their cries ;
- white rabbits are said to be really witches ;
- meeting two or three ravens together is considered really bad.
(adapted from http://projectbritain.com/)
4- Traditional people
British people have always shown a great attachment to traditions from their past as you will see in this video. They manage to combine tradition and modernity.
