English customs and traditions

English traditions are probably world famous. And nearly everybody seems to have in their mind a picture of the traditional Englishman, engaging in most curious and quaint English customs and traditions almost every minute of the day. Of course, like every stereotypical image, it is not quite accurate, but it has the basis of truth.

English people are traditional in many ways. They do enjoy doing things that had been done for generations for no other reason than that they are traditional. If one looks around the country, one can find the most extraordinary traditions. Traditions can be divided into different classes: those connected with ceremonies and institutions; those connected with sport; those connected with entertainment; those connected with particular holidays and occasions; those connected with folklore and superstitions; and those with no particular connection.

Let us take the most imposing and spectacular traditions first – those connected with Parliament and the Government. Parliament is a very old institution and throughout its long history has greatly developed and changed and so naturally acquired traditions and habits of its own. The most splendid is the state opening of Parliament at the beginning of November when the Queen reads the speech prepared by the Prime Minister for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Queen will ride in a state coach pulled by horses from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. They initially go into Parliament through the Sovereign Entrance where she is received by the great officers of state, all wearing traditional clothes: the buckled shoes and tight trousers. She will then go into the Robing room where she puts on the crimson parliamentary robe and the imperial state crown; and she will walk in procession through the Royal Gallery at the Chamber to the House of Lords where all the lords also robbed await her. At the Queen’s command a man called the gentleman Usher of the Black Rod summons the House of Commons. This is a very strange procedure. Black Rod as he is called goes to the door of the House of Commons which is slammed in his face as soon as he reaches it. He then has to knock 3 times. He is challenged and replies that in the name of Her Majesty he summons the House of Commons. He himself is not allowed into the House of Commons, nor is the Queen. The tradition goes back to about 1640 when Charles the First had tried to arrest 5 members of Parliament. The House of Commons then follows Black Rod to the House of Lords, but they are not allowed right inside the Chamber. When they are assembled the Queen reads the speech…After that she returns to Buckingham Palace in the state coach.

Parliament preserves many other traditions which can be observed every day. Every day proceedings in the House of Commons begin with the procession by Mr. Speaker into the House of Commons and Lord Chancellor into the House of Lords. Visitors are admitted into both chambers in the galleries. But if at any time the member of the House wants the debate to be private he must call out: “I spy strangers!” and then the visitors must leave. At the end of the day the speakers leave the chair and the corridors echo with the cry “Who goes home?” And the light above Big Ben, the signal that Parliament is sitting, is extinguished.

Another custom carried out each day is the searching by the torch lights of the cellars under the House of Commons by men dressed in traditional clothes. This has been done ever since 1608 when a group of Catholics headed by a man called Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament with gun powder. Naturally, the search is more ceremonial nowadays than thorough. Guy Fawkes is still remembered every year over the country. On the fifth of November people lit fireworks. People can buy fireworks in shops and usually every family has a small collection. There are also public fireworks organized by each town. Since 1605 bonfires have been lit up and the stuffed model of Guy Fawkes has been burnt. Every little club or group will build their own fire. There is often hot competition who can build the biggest fire and burn the best Guy. Children especially enjoy this and they usually start collecting wood and building up bonfires several weeks before the Fifth.

Other public parades of a traditional nature are held in London. There is the Trooping the Colour on the Queen’s official birthday. On that day she dresses in uniform and rides side saddle on the horse inspecting all the troops. This ceremony blends two ancient military customs: Guard Mounting Honour and Lodging of Colours. It recalls the days when each regiment had its own colours clearly visible as rallying points in the confusion of the battle.

Then there is a Lord Mayor’s Show. The Lord Mayor of London is in fact the Mayor of the City of London, the oldest part of the town. His is more of an honorary office than a functional one. Every year the Lord Mayor changes and there is always a show when a new one is installed. The Lord Mayor dresses in splendid clothes and rides through the streets of London in an open carriage followed by flocks from all classes of people. Usually the Lord Mayor will choose the theme for his show: transport, space exploration, water, etc. All the streets where the procession will pass for the show are closed during the day, always a Saturday. The procession lasts for several hours. The Lord Mayor supports some good cause or charity during his year of office and money raised during the show starts off his collection.

Festivals and holidays are of course always a time when traditions flourish. And none is more traditional than Christmas. Decorations for Christmas start in shops and in homes about 3 weeks beforehand. These are either paper chains or pieces of holly with red berries on it or little stars and ornaments. Nearly every house has a Christmas tree with coloured lights hung on it. Round its foot presents are put in a heap. On the evening before Christmas, or Christmas eve, children hang up their stockings or socks at the end of their beds. Traditionally, Father Christmas is meant to come riding through the sky in the chariot pulled by reindeer and going down the chimney to fill the stockings with presents. In many families the children write little letters to Father Christmas. Their parents help them post off the chimney so as to know what the children want. On Christmas day children open their stockings as soon as the wake up. The most important part of the day is the Christmas lunch when by tradition people eat certain things – a roast turkey filled with stuffing, with vegetables, and Christmas pudding which is a thick pudding like a cake filled with carrots, raisins, etc. Inside the pudding there is always money which is slipped in while the pudding is being cooked. And people find sixpences and shillings in their slice of pudding. This is a very popular tradition, so hospitals are full on Christmas with people who have unintentionally swallowed their money. Before the pudding is eaten, brandy is usually poured over it and then set alight, and the pudding is brought in flaming. Christmas is a popular time for parties and merry-making. An old tradition is the hanging of a piece of mistletoe near the front door. Then two people of the opposite sex who meet under it have to kiss each other. This tradition probably dates back along way to the time of the Druids, to whom mistletoe was sacred.

Easter is another religious tradition. On Good Friday people eat so called hot cross buns – currant buns with little pastry crosses on them heated before eating. On Easter people always eat boiled eggs for breakfast which have been painted all different colours. Also, there is a tradition that at Easter hares appear and hide eggs made of chocolate in the garden and nearly every family will buy chocolate eggs and hide them for the children to find. Often, the eggs are large and hollow and have little presents inside of them. A tradition at Easter which is especially popular with women is that they or rather their husbands should buy for them a new hat known as an Easter bonnet.

April 1^st as in many countries is called April Fools’ Day or All Fools’ Day. By tradition people play practical jokes on each other. When a poor victim realizes he has been tricked, the joker calls out: “April Fool!” But it is only possible to do up to 12 o’clock midday.

Various traditions and superstitions are associated with good and bad luck. Many sorts of things are considered unlucky: walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror, after which one is supposed to have 7 years of bad luck, and especially the number 13. Indeed, this has become almost official. In a hotel you will not find room № 13, nor will you find house № 13 in a street. It is considered unlucky to give anyone anything sharp such as a needle or a knife unless it is paid for. People usually send back a penny if they receive knives as presents. If one upset salt at table one must throw a pinch of salt over one’s left shoulder or else it brings bad luck.

Various things are thought lucky: the number 7, seeing a black cat cross the street in front of one or finding a large tea leaf floating in one’s cup (it means a stranger is coming to visit one). If you want good luck in the future, for instance, at an exam, you cross your fingers; if you have had good luck and you do not want it to change for the future you touch wood when mentioning your previous good luck.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-29