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> St Valentine's Day and Gretna Green Despite the unromantic reputation of the British, on this day every year about £7 million worth of flowers are delivered (orders from men outnumber those from women by forty to one), an extra 40 million chocolates are sold and greetings-card manufacturers collect £25 million. Every St Valentine's Day, thousands of people travel to a tiny village on Scotland's border with England. Many of them go to get married, and many more couples go through mock wedding ceremonies. The village is Gretna Green. Its romantic reputation began in 1754. In England in that year, marriage for people under the age of twenty-one without permission from parents was banned. In Scotland, however, this permission was not required, and Gretna Green was the first stop across the border. The laws that brought fame to Gretna Green no longer apply. But its reputation is secure. In this small place, at least one couple gets married, on average, every day of the year. Weddings for St Valentine's Day have to be booked three months in advance. > Shrove Tuesday This day is also known as Pancake Day. In past centuries, Lent was a time of fasting. Both meat and eggs were forbidden throughout the six weeks. The tradition was to eat up all your meat on the Monday before Lent, and all your eggs on the Tuesday — in pancakes. Now, the fasting has gone and only the eating remains. Two events are associated with Shrove Tuesday. One of them is the pancake tossing contest (how many pancakes can you throw into the air and catch within a certain time?). The other is the pancake race. Contestants have to run while continuously tossing a pancake. Anyone who drops his or her pancake is disqualified.

At the time, the failure of the gunpowder plot was celebrated as a victory for British Protestantism over rebel Catholicism. However, it has now lost its religious and patriotic connotations. In most parts of Britain, Catholic children celebrate it just as enthusiastically as Protestant children - or, for that matter, children brought up in any other religious faith. (As with Christmas, most of the customs associated with this day are mainly for the benefit of children.) Some children make a 'guy' out of old clothes stuffed with newspaper several weeks beforehand. They then place this somewhere on the street and ask passers-by for 'a penny for the guy'. What they are actually asking for is money to buy fireworks with. On Guy Fawkes' Night itself there are 'bonfire parties' throughout the country, at which the 'guy' is burnt. Some people cook food in the embers of the bonfire, especially chestnuts or potatoes. So many fireworks are set off that, by the end of the evening, the air in all British cities smells strongly of sulphur. Every year, accidents with fireworks injure or even kill several people. In an effort to make things safer, some local authorities arrange public firework displays. Finally, one other day should be mentioned. This is a different day for everybody - their birthday. Once again, it is most important for children, all of whom receive presents on this day from their parents, and often from other relatives as well. Adults may or may not receive presents, depending on the customs of their family and their circle of friends. Many will simply be wished 'Happy birthday' (not, by the way, 'Congratulations', unless it is a special birthday, such as a twenty-first). Some children and adults have a party, but not all. Moreover, nobody, including adults, is automatically expected to extend hospitality to other people on this day, and it is not expected that people should bring along cakes or anything to share with their colleagues at work, although some people do.

Other notable annual occasions 215

> Calendar of special occasions

New Year's Day* (1 January)

2 January is also a public holiday in

Scotland.

St Valentine's Day (14 February)

Shrove Tuesday (Forty-seven days before Easter)

St Patrick's Day (17 March) This is a public holiday in Northern

Ireland. Mother's Day (The fourth Sunday

in Lent)

£50 million worth of flowers are

bought for this day. Cards are also

sent.

April Fools' Day (1 April) It is traditional for people to play tricks or practical jokes on each other on this day. Children are the most enthusiastic about this custom, but even the BBC and serious newspapers sometimes have "joke" (i.e. not genuine) features on this day.

Good Friday*

The strange name in English for the day commemorating Christ's crucifixion.

Easter Monday* (The day after

Easter Sunday)

May Day* (The first Monday in May) In Britain this day is associated more with ancient folklore than with the workers. In some villages the custom of dancing round the maypole is acted out.

Spring Bank Holiday* (The last Monday in May)

There used to be a holiday on 'Whit Monday’ celebrating the Christian feast of Pentecost. Because this is seven weeks after Easter, the date varied. This fixed holiday has replaced it.

Father's Day (The third Sunday in

June)

This is probably just a commercial

invention - and not a very successful

one either. Millions of British fathers

don't even know they have a

special day.

Queen's Official Birthday (The second or third Saturday in June) It is 'official' because it is not her real one. Certain public ceremonies are performed on this day.

Orangemen's Day (12 July)

This is a public holiday in Northern Ireland only. In this way, the holiday associated with the Catholic part of the community (St Patrick's Day) is balanced by one associated with the other part, the Protestants (see chapter 4).

Summer Bank Holiday* (The last Monday in August)

Hallowe'en (31 October) This is the day before All Saints' Day in the Christian calendar, and is associated with the supernatural. Some people hold Hallowe'en parties, which are fancy-dress parties (people dress up as witches, ghosts etc.). However, this day is observed much more energetically in the USA than it is in Britain.

Guy Fawkes' Day (5 November)

Remembrance Sunday (Second

Sunday in November) This day commemorates the dead of both World Wars and of more recent conflicts. On and before this day, money is collected in the street on behalf of charities for ex-servicemen and women. The people who donate money are given paper poppies to pin to their clothes. No politician would be seen on this day without a poppy!

Christmas Eve (24 December) Christmas Day* (25 December)

Boxing Day* (26 December)

Explanations for the origin of this name vary. One is that it was the day on which landowners and householders would present their tenants and servants with gifts (in boxes), another is that it was the day on which the collecting boxes in churches were opened and the contents distributed to the poor.

New Year's Eve (31 December)

* Public holiday

216 23 Holidays and special occasions

QUESTIONS

1 Why, do you think, have the two traditional types of holiday (at seaside boarding houses and at holiday camps) in Britain become less popular in the last quarter of the twentieth century? Is the modern pattern of British holidaymaking the same as it is for people in your country?

2 What aspects of Christmas in Britain, and the customs associated with it, are different from those in your country?

3 In Britain, you are generally considered to be unfortunate if your birthday is in the last half of December. Why? What special days do you have in your country for individuals to celebrate which British people don't celebrate?

4 There is a science-fiction story in which beings from outer space fly over Britain one night and conclude that planet Earth is full of barbaric, cruel people. Which night was it? How did they form this impression?

SUGGESTIONS

• A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens (which features the famous character of the miserly Scrooge), paints a picture of the Victorian idea of Christmas, which is influential to this day.

Index

A (Advanced) level 137, 1 38 AA (Automobile Association) 162 academic life 13 2-3, 134, 136-40 accents of English 47—50 actors and acting 202,203 advertising on television 157-8 Africa 25-6 age, laws about:

age of majority 29

pubs 187

retiring 142,168

voting 29

agriculture 25, 144, 145 Aintree 193 Albion 10

alcohol 126, 127, 187-8 Aldeburgh festival, the 203 Alfred, King 17-18, 115 Alliance Party 73 allotments 61

alternative medicine 17 3 amateurism:

in the arts 202

in the legal profession 109 -10

in politics 85,93

in public life generally 64

in sport 191,197 ambulance service 172 American colonies 24,25,26 Ancient Britons 11 Andrew, St 10, 18 Angles 12, 16

Anglicanism 21-2,122-4,126 angling 197 Anglo 12

Anglo-Catholic 124 Anglo-Saxons 16—18 animals, love of 62 animals in sport 197—8 annual events 199, 215 anthem, national 122 anti-intellectualism 57—8 anti-semitism 128 apartments i 74—7 April Fools' Day 21 5

Archbishop of Canterbury 19, i22, 123, 125 archbishops 12 3 Archers, The 157 aristocracy 22,96, 177

see also class, names armed forces 115 Army, the 115 art 201,206 art galleries 206-7 Arthur, King 17 arts, the 201—7 Arts Council 201 arts festivals 201, 203 Ascot 193, 197,199 Asda 150

Ashdown, Paddy 73 Ashes, the 192 association football 195 athletics 198 attitudes 56-66

see also alcohol, clothing, education, food,

foreigners, hospitality, housing, law, monarchy, police, religion,sex, shops,sport,

transport, work

Attlee, Clement 85, 104 Augustine, St 17 Auld Lang Syne 212 Australia 25, 26, 81, 192 Australian football 200 Automobile Association 162

Bach Choir 202

Bach flower remedies 17 3

backbenchers 94

bagpipes 11

ballet 204

bank holidays 208,210,215

Bank of England, the 12. 147

Banks147

Baptists 127

bar 188

Barbardo's 170

barristers 111

Battle of:

theBoyne 23

Clontarf 18

Culloden 24

Hastings 18

Trafalgar 25 BBC 1 158, 159 BBC2 158,161 BBC, the 156-7

see also television BBC English 50 BBC World Service 157 beach, the 209 Beano, the 59 Beatles, the 204, 205 Becket, Thomas 19 bed and breakfasts 182, 2o8 bedsits 176 beer 187, 188 Belfast 34, 40, 53 benefits system 168—9 betting 198-200 Beveridge, William 168 bicycles 16 3 Bill, The 107 Bill of Rights, The 23 bills, parliamentary 95 bingo 198,2oo birds 33, 62 Birmingham 34, 37 Birmingham Six, the 107 birthdays 214 bishops 122, 123, 125 bitter 187

Black Country, the 37 Black Death, the 20 Black Rod 97 Blackpool 209 Blair, Tony 7 3 Blind Date 65 Biyton, Enid 59

BMA (British Medical Association) 17 3 BNP (British National Party) 73 board games 192 boarding houses 182,208 Boat Race, the 192,199 boating holidays 167 bobbies 25, 106 bonfire night 213-14 Bonnie Prince Charlie 24

Booker Prize, the 205

bookmakers 198

books 88,205-6

Boothroyd, Betty 91

boroughs 87, 89

Boudicca (Boadicea), Queen 16

bowler hats 56, 147

boxing 193, 198

Boxing Day 215

Boyne, the Battle of 23

Bradford 34, 38, 203

Brands Hatch 193

breakfast 56-7, i86

Bristol 34, 37

Britannia 10, 16

British Airways167

British Isles, the 8,9

British Library, the 205

British Medical Association 17 3

British Museum, the 205, 207

British National Party 73

Britons 11

broadcasting: see radio, television

broadsheets 152

Bronte, Emily 38

Brook, Peter 203

Buckingham Palace 56, 79, 81

Buddhism 128,129

budget, the 24

building societies 180

BUPA 171

bureaucracy 170

Burns, Robert 43

buses 56,164,165

business 143-50

Butlins 209

by-elections 104

CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) 170

cabinet, the 82—5

cafes 184, 186-7, i88

Calcutta Cup, the 192

Caledonia 11

calendar of special days 215

Callaghan, James 85

Calvinism 21, 126,212

Cambria 11

Canada 26

Canterbury 17

Canterbury Tales, The 19

Cambridge 34, 138, 139, 163,203

candidates for Parliament 100

canvassing 101

capital punishment 29,94, 109

cardboard city 182

Cardiff 34, 40

Cardiff Arms Park 19 3

Carey, Dr George 124

Caribbean, the 27,45,58

carol singers 212

Carry On films 66

cars 35, 162-3

casinos 198

Catholicism:

in British history 21-2,122,213-14

today 123, i25

see also Northern Ireland cats 62, 192 Cavaliers 22, 23

218 Index

CBE (Commander of the British Empire) 79

CBI (Confederation of British Industry) 143

Celtic football team 39

Celtic fringe, the 103

Celts 11, 15—17

censorship 76

ceremonies 79—80

chain stores 148-9, 150

Chancellor of the Exchequer 82,84

Channel 4 158,161

Channel Islands, the 9

Channel ports 165

Channel tunnel, the 29, 60-1,116, 166

characteristics of British people I I

see also attitudes, identity Charing Cross 161, charismatic Christianity 128 charity:

charitable organisations 64, 170, l82

charity shops 149

and social life 64 Charles I 22, 97 Charles, Prince 78,80,81 Chaucer, Geoffrey 19 Cheltenham 193 chemists 170 Chequers 84 chips 185

Christian Scientism 128 Christianity, origin of in Britain 17—18 Christie, Agatha 203,205 Christie's 206 Christmas 211—l3

cards 59, 211

carols 212

dinner 186,212

pudding 21 2

stockings 2l2

trees 21 2 chunnel, the 166 Church of England 20, 22, 122 Church of Scotland 23, 126 Churchill, Winston 69,85,104 CID (Criminal Investigation

Department) 106 cider 187

cinema 203—4, 205 city, the 36, 147 Citizens Advice Bureau1170 civil liberties 28,70-2,76,108 Civil List, the 81 Civil Service, the 84-6 Civil War, the 22 class, social:

and the arts 201

basic characteristics of 48-50

and drinking habits 187

and eating habits 185,186,187

andeducation 130—1,134,138

and housing 179, 180—1

and language 18—19,48—50

and money 48, 146

and names 47

in Northern Ireland 52—3

origins of 18— 19

and pubs 188

and religion 123—4,128

and sport 191—3,195—7

and work 141—2 classical music 203,204 climate 31 —3 Clontarf, the Battle of 18

cloth cap 26

clothing 62—3, 148 CND (Campaign for Nuclear

Disarmament) 115 coach services 165 coal 38,40 coastline 3 3 Cockney 36,47,48 coffee 185, 188 coins 10, 21, 148 colleges 137, i39

colonies of Great Britain 113-14, 205 comics 155 common, the 25 common law 19 Commons, the House of:

design and layout of 90—3, 94

history of 20, 22, 24

MPs 72,93,99

and the party system 74, 94, 98-9 Commonwealth, the 114, 115 communications: see media, transport commuters 37, 162 competition, love of 102,191—2 comprehensive schools 134 Confederation of British Industry 143 Congregationalists 127 conservatism 59

about the countryside 61

about food 117, 185

about money 148

see also habits, multiculturalism Conservative Party 7 3

election results 98, 102, 104—5

government of the i98os 88,145, 181

origin of 29

and religion 123 constitution, the 71-2, 75-6 constituencies 99—100, 102 Consumers' Association, the 64 convention: see conservatism, customs, habits cooking 1 84, 185 corner shop, the 149 Coronation Street 159.160 cosiness 179 Costco 149 Cornwall 17,47 councils, local 86—9 council housing 180—2 Council Tax, the 88 councillors in local government 86 counties 87, 89, 194 country seats 25,177 countryside, love of the 28, 35, 6o—1

see also cricket, housing courts of law 77,109—12 Covent Garden 204 crafts 202

cricket 191,192,I93—4, 199 crime 107—9 Crimean War, the 172 Cromwell, Oliver 22 croquet 192 Crown, the 77 crown courts 110, 1ll crown dependencies 9 cuisine 184, 185 Culloden, the Battle of 24 cults 129 culture 201

Cup Final, the 193, 199 currency 148

customs: see habits, tradition cycling 163, 198 Cyprus 114

daffodil 10 Dahl ,Roald 59 Dai 11

Daily Express, the 152, 153

Daily Mail, the152,153,166

Daily Mirror, the152,153,154

Daily Record, the 151, 152

Daily Telegraph, the 152, 153

Danes, the, in history 17—18

darts 189, 192

David, St10

death duties 177

death penalty 29,94,109

decimalization 29

defence, national 115

degrees 137

democracy 69—72

Democratic Unionists 73

dental treatment 171

department stores149,150

Derby, the 199

detective fiction 112, 205

Diana, Princess 78, 8o, 81

Dickens, Charles 28,35,205,216

diplomas: see qualifications

Dissenters 23, 126

divorce 46

Dixon of Dock Green 106,107

doctors 170—2

dogs 62, 192,197

dole, the 168

Domesday Book, the 18

double-barrelled names 47

double-decker buses 59-60,164

Douglas-Home, Alee 85

Dover 10, 34,165

Downing Street 68,84

Doyle, Roddy 200

Dragon of Cadwallader 10

Drake, Sir Francis 21, 117

drinking habits 187—9

drinks 187

driving habits 59,163

Druids 15, 128

Duke of Edinburgh, the 78

Duke of Windsor, the 80

Duke of York, the 78

EastAnglia37 East End, the 36,48 EostEnders 159, 16o Easter 213

Easter Rising, the 27,119 eating out 184, 186-7, 188 Economist,The155 economy,the141-50 ecumenicalism127 Eden,Anthony85,104 Edinburgh12,34,39 EdinburghFestival203 education 130-40

and the arts 201

attitudes towards 130-4

exams 136-7

further education 136—8

government departments 132,134

higher education 13 7-9

history of 26, 28, 130-1

national curriculum 133-?, 140

primary education 130,135

public and private 130

recent developments in 13 3—5

and religion 125,129

secondary education 130,133—4, 136

sex education 65—6

and social class 130-1, 134, 138

and sport 133,191,198

teaching methods135-6,139

training 134, 135, 136-7

universities 137-9 Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson 78, 80 Eire 8

see also Ireland Eisteddfods 19,203 Eldorado 159, 161 elections 98-105

arrangements for 79,99—101

candidates for Parliament in 100

and electoral system 98-9, 105