Traditional Ceremonies

London, more than any other city in England, has preserved its old ceremonies and traditions.

One of the most impressive and popular ceremonies is Changing the Guard, Which takes place at Buckingham Palace every day, including Sunday, at 11.30.

The colourful spectacle of Mounting the Guardat the Horse Guards, in Whitehall, always attracts London sightseers. It can be seen at 11 a.m. every weekday and at 10 a.m. on Sundays. The guard is provided by a detachment of the Household Cavalry and involves units of the Royal Horse Guards, known as “the Blues”, and the Life Guards, sometimes referred to as “ the Tins”. The Life Guards wear scarlet uniforms and white metal helmets with white horsehair plumes and have white sheepskin saddles. The Royal Horse Guards wear deep blue uniforms and white metal helmets with red horsehair plumes and have black sheepskin saddles.

The actual ceremony depends on whether or not the Queen is in residence in London. If she is, there is more to see. On these occasions the ceremony is performed by the “long guard” ( the guard is commanded by an officer in charge of 16 troopers, a corporal of horse, a corporal major, and a trumpeter/ who is on a grey horse/ A standard is carried). When the Queen is away, there is no officer in command and no standard. The ceremony lasts for 15 minutes, and ends with old guard returning to its barracks.

Another beautiful and interesting ceremony is the Ceremony of Keys. Every night at 9.53 p.m. the Chief Warder of the Beefeaters of the Tower of London lights a candle lantern and then makes his way towards the Bloody Tower. In the Archway his Escorts await his arrival. The Chief Warder carries the keys. They all move to the West Gate, which C.W. locks, then the Middle and Byward Towers are locked. The party then return to the Bloody Tower Archway, where they are halted by the challenge of the sentry. “Halt!” he commands. “Who goes there?” The Chief Warder answers, “the keys”. The sentry demands, “Whose Keys?”

“Queen Elizabeth’s keys”, replies the Chief Ward.” Advance, Queen Elizabeth’s keys; all’s well,” commands the sentry. Having received permission to proceed through the Archway, the party then form up facing the Main Guard of the Tower. The order is given by the officer-in-charge to “Present Arms”. The Chief Ward doffs his Tudor-style bonnet and cries; “God preserve Queen Elizabeth.” “Amen”. Answer the Guard and Escort.

During the month of June another ceremony takes place. In June a day is set aside as Queen’s official birthday. (This is usually the 2^nd Saturday in June) On this day there takes place the magnificent spectacle of Trooping the colour, which begins at about 11.15 a.m. (unless it rains). During the ceremony the Queen rides side-saddle on a highly trained horse. The colours of one of the five regiments of Foot Guards are trooped before the Sovereign, while she is inspecting them. For 20 minutes the whole parade stands rigidly to attention while being inspected by the Queen. Then comes the Trooping ceremony itself, at which the Queen takes the Salute. The ceremony ends with the Queen returning to Buckingham Palace at the heard of her Guards.

Another ceremony is Swan-Upping (маркировка лебедей). I t dates back to the 13^th century when swans were first introduced into Britain (probably from Cyprus). The legend conveys that when the English king was returning home from one of his crusades (the wars between Christians and Muslims in the Middle East), he decided to make a stop and to have a rest on Cyprus. While his knights were having a rest, the king fell in love with the Cyprus Princess and wanted her to go to Britain with him. But the princess refused. The king gave her time to think and change her mind, while he was waiting for her answer on board his ship. At the appointed time the princess'’ servants brought two white swans to the ship. The princess sent the following answer: “ If you love me, you’ll stay here, and we’ll be happy like those two swans. If you decided to leave, take the swans, and they will be the symbol of our love.” Even at that time kings didn’t exchange/sacrifice their kingdoms for a female look, and so the king ,though sad, took the birds and sailed back to Britain. From that time all swans were proclaimed royal birds. Once a year, usually in the second half of July, the ceremony of swan-upping and marking is performed. The job is big, as usually several hundred birds are to be marked, and it may take a week more to complete.

In Britain the custom of becoming engaged is still generally retained, though many young people ignore it. As a rule, an engagement is announced as soon as a girl has accepted a proposal of marriage. Rules of etiquette dictate that the girl’s parents should be the first to hear the news; in practice, however it is often the couple’s friends who are taken into confidence before either of the parents. When a girl accepts a proposal, the man generally gives her a ring in token of the betrothal. It is worn on the 3d finger of the left hand before marriage and together with wedding ring after it. (Engagement rings range from expensive diamond rings to rings with Victorian semi-precious stones costing only a few pounds).

In most cases the engagement itself amounts only to announcements being made to the parents on both sides and to friends and relations, but some people arrange an engagement party, and among the better-off people it is customary to put an announcement in the newspapers.

As soon as the engagement took place a man should have a talk with the Girl’s father about the date of their wedding, where they will live, how well off he is and his future plans and prospects. Nowadays this is often not done, because young people enjoy a greater financial independence than they used to. However, in working class families things are rather different. (Practically, quite often the couple will have no option, but to live after marriage with either of the parents). Housing shortage in Britain is still acute, and the rents are very high. The period of engagement is usually shirt, 3 or 4 months, but this entirely a matter of choice and circumstances.

In England and Wales there are 4 forms of marriage: by banns (в церкви), by ordinary licence, by special licence and by register.

Marriage by Banns is the form mostly usually adopted. Banns must be called for 3 consecutive Sundays in the parish churches of both the future bride and the groom (unless they both live in the same parish). Then within 3 months of the banns being published the marriage in church must take place.

Marriage by Ordinary Licence is a convenient alternative. It can take place after 15 days in the parish church after the application. The licence is granted without previous notice and is available as soon as it is issued, but the marriage must take place in a church named on the licence.

Marriage by Special Licence can be obtained only for special reasons such as suddenly being sent abroad. It is never granted lightly. Application must be made in person by one of the parties at the Faculty Office. The marriage then can take place at any time and in any place, celebrated by the rites of the church.

Marriage by a Register can be celebrated without any religious ceremony, at a register office after 7 days preceding the notice. The certificate is issued 21 days after the notice has been given.

In Scotland, people over 16 don’t require their parents’ consent in order to marry. Weddings may take place in churches or private houses and there is no forbidden time.

Superstitions associated with the marriage ceremony. Most customs connected with wedding ceremony go back thousands of years. The bride, wearing a white dress, symbolizes the sacred colour of the Greeks for whom marriage was “mystery”. Blue (for “true”) and white (for “purity”) are considered to be lucky colours for a wedding.

Throwing rice or some grain(a symbol of the harvest) has always been usual at weddings.

The origin of the wedding ring can be traced back to a time when people making a bargain passed their hands through a natural stone ring, or a hole in a rock, which was sacred.

As for good and bad luck, the groom shouldn’t see the bride on the wedding day until he meets her at the altar. Pearls shouldn’t be given by the groom or worn on wedding day; opals are also supposed to be unlucky. The wedding ring should not be tried before the ceremony. It’s unlucky to meet a pig on your way to church..

A small spider on the bride’s wedding dress means money. If there is a cat in the house, the bride must feed it personally on her wedding day. It is lucky to hear a robin singing, or see a flight of birds as you go to church.

On the other hand, the bride may feel that what with one thing and another, if she has chosen the right man, it wouldn’t matter much if she got married in green, on Friday, May the 13^th, wearing a necklace of pearls and opals.

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 1909