Questions for those living in Britain...?

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rikerlock

1. Work hours are normally 9-5, about 35-38 hours a week in all. Shop opening times vary depending on what type of shop, but generally say 8.30/9 to say 6.00, department stores perhaps till 8 on a few week days. Supermarkets usually open from 8 a.m till 10p.m. All shops are open saturdays same as any other day. Sundays the bigger shops are open but close a little earlier, maybe 4o'clock, the little shops are usually closed though convenience stores are everywhere like the quicki-mart and they are open 7 days a week early morning to late at night.

2. Christmas is the most important holiday, most people get together with family and do the usual Christmas things. Any other holidays (bank holidays) don't mean anything, or at least they must mean something but most people don't know why they are bank holidays, just that we get a day off on a Monday 4 times a year. Easter means very little except easter eggs and chocolate bunnies, and another day off.

3. People get married in churches (or whatever religious building your religion involves), though can be bit costly, others either get married in a registry office or a fair few go wherever they like, and the vicar comes out to take the service wherever that place is, if agreed. Average age of marriage is probably now between 26-35. It is acceptable not to get married, many people nowadays don't seem to be bothering, it is not frowned upon if you don't get married, though is a little if kids are involved. Depends on your age generally as to what your opinion would be. Divorce is commonplace, is not a big deal to most people. Couples often jump into marriage because of tax breaks etc and because they are stupid.

4. English is the main language, unless of course you are Welsh, perhaps then you'd speak Welsh as well though not many do anymore. The U.K as a whole everybody speaks English, just the accent/vocabulary varies, especially the Scottish. They speak English but unlike Sean Connery, the further North you go, you may not understand a word they say, as the accent is so unfamilair, even if you are English. Also something like 4/5% of the U.K population is made up of Asians/Eastern Europeans/Africans or wherever really. The big cities and some areas up North are rife with these communities, some of those people only speak their own language whatever that may be, or perhaps a few words only of English.

5. Christianity is the principle religion, they follow the rules and guidance of the Church of England. Irish many are Catholic. Most people don't go to church on Sundays, only a small crowd do and most of those are dying out of old age.

6. Shakespeare was a major writer, I can't think of another. I know nothing of art or artists, we have lots of art galleries but I couldn't name anybody.

7. Pop music is the most accepted by most people, all different tastes are catered for, i.e dance/rock/classical. We don't have a specific 'major' pop star or 'movie star' at this time, it changes from week to week , just depends on who and what the media wants to report about from day to day. The media takes a spread of celebrity/famous people and doesn't concentrate on a few individuals, unless there is a real story to tell like a scandal of some sort.

fox_squire

Is this for a project, or are you planning a visit, or just studying cultures in general? Well, here's my answer, though you may find me a bit too cynical...

1) 9:00 am to 5:00 pm usually, though some people work different shifts. But it's generally 8 hours long. All shops are open on Saturdays. Small shops are closed on Sundays. Noone is 'forced' to work weekends...they just get subtley reminded that if they don't, they may lose their job.

2) Christmas, New Year and Easter. Christmas is the biggest. You are required to decorate a tree, exchange gifts, eat a big turkey, pull crackers and bake Mince Pies. Easter requires you to exchange overpriced chocolate eggs. New Year's Eve requires you to get drunk, then wait till the stroke of midnight, and join alternate hands in a circle and sing Auld Lang Syne.

3) According to standard practice, marriage can take place from 16 upwards but usually occurs in the late 20's, and generally requires some sort of church, chapel or registry office; divorce is seen as an absolute last resort if you really can't make the marriage work. However, in modern times, marriage takes place whenever you feel like spending a shed-load of money, and can happen wherever you can think of to maximise the gimmicky novelty factor, and divorce is a daily passtime.

4) English is the main language. Some people can speak other languages like French and German, and Asian people know the Asian languages, but you won't get far without knowing English. Scotland, Wales and Ireland have their own languages, but they aren't used as much these days.

5) All of them, I think. England used to be mainly Christian, but now contains as many atheists, and as many Muslims, as Christians. There are also Sikhs, Jehova's Witnesses and a few Scientologists. The others are rare, but can still be found. As with all religions, the principal beliefs seem to be that as long as you go to your church and call your god the correct name, you can murder anyone else who doesn't, and you'll go to heaven.

6) J R R Tolkien, George Orwell, Charles Dickens, Jane Austin, William Shakespeare...those are the classic English writers (I don't know anything about art). We import a lot of books too, so you'll find literature and art from other countries over here.

7) That's difficult. Britain is divided into tribes. Some like music that is actually music (i.e. Rock), while others like some strange noise that can't possibly be classified as music (cRap - usually pronounced with a silent 'c'). Others like something that is actually music, but is completely computerised (rnb, dance, house etc). All other types of music exist, but are rare, and usually listened to behind closed doors. As for the most famous stars...I think that title still belongs to David Beckham and his wife...other English celebrities seem to be game show contenders who have no actual talent.

That's it? Nothing about politics, history, food, TV and film, youth passtimes etc?

Rotifer

1. Britain has the longest working hours and fewest holidays in Europe apparently, but a 35 hour week is considered normal. Most shops open at weekends, with fewer hours opening on a Sunday e.g. 11-4pm.

2. Most things only close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day. Unless you work for the council, banks, post office or schools where you seem to only work 2/3rds of the year.

3. Britain has so much legislation making it acceptable to remain unmarried that it is vastly cheaper to remain so. Most people are not bothered about people being unmarried with children. They often get married in their late 20s or early 30s then get divorced. No-one really cares now. Unmarried couples/single mothers are not scandalous anymore.

4. The national language of Britain is standard English. This is rhotic English (where the letter R is pronounced where it appears and not put in where it shouldn't be) according to my dictionary, not the non-rhotic English spoken by those in the South East of England who pronounce "law and order" as "lore and ordah". Gaelic is spoken by about 60,000 out of 5 million Scots, and Welsh by maybe 200,000 out of 2 million. And obviously more recent minority languages such as Urdu, Polish etc. Apart from some recent immigrants, everyone can speak English. If travelling to Scotland you can ensure an intelligible reply by avoiding anyone wearing a baseball cap/sportswear.

5. Most people are not really religious, few people go to church, but most people are Christian in the sense that Jews are Jews or Muslims are Muslims - in other words they are Christian in culture, observing Christmas, Easter without having real beliefs. Freedom to free speech and criticise other nationalities/religions is very important here though. Frequently councils are reported as "bending over backwards to appease other religions" such as renaming Christmas as Winterval, ordering staff not to eat at their desks so as not to offend Muslim colleagues during Ramadan. This angers people, however most people understand it is not ethnic minorities who are making these demands, but daft white people.

6/7. Don't know, any old rubbish seems to be accepted. In art and music, it seems as if you can only be accepted as cutting edge if you shock people with your awfulness. Most people seem mainly interested in soap operas and awful reality TV like Big Brother.

If I seem negative, it is only because our standards of education have plummeted.
My name is Fay Fife

greenorlagh

You are asking way too much. Your questions are good but I feel you would be better placed by separating each one.

Languages for example:

The principle language is English though there are areas in Scotland where Scottish Gaelic is spoken, Wales where Welsh is spoken, Northern Ireland where Irish Gaelic is spoken, as is Ulster-Scot. Polish is becoming widely spoken as is Urdu and Cantonese.

1. i am a convenience food store manager my store is open 7am to 11pm 7 days a week but stores over 3000ft can only open 6 hours on a sunday
2.easter and christmas. easter= sunday hour rules for shops all stores over 3000ft are required to close
most stores close christmas day although not required for small convenience stores it is becoming more common for them to stay open. new years day and boxing day usually have sunday hour requirement
3. i was married in a registry office or other choices are church or a licenced building for example my friend was married in Branston hall which is a large hotel, a registrar is then hired. not sure on the average age but between 16 and death is when you can get married. i was 20. divorce is common place with 1 in 3 marriages ending in divorce including mine and im now 23.
4. the main spoken language is english but there are several communities popping up over the country. all my staff are from sri lanka and regularly speak amongst themselves
5. i think the english main religion is christianity. i have catholic and protestant family members. catholics have a lot more strict religion. but England is multi cultural and there is accomodation for most religions including muslim and buddaism
6. the main writer that always comes to mind is shakespear but more modern is j k rowling author of the harry potter series. im not sure on artists off the top of my head
7. this is my weakest answer as im not really into music but films again is harry potter. all the actor and actresses are english. 2 more famous from other films are sean connery and catherine zeta jones

hope i helped my name is Donna

Dragoner

"You're only supposed to blow off the doors" - Michael Caine, "The Itaian Job".

Toooo many questions, all posing as one.

1 - Hours of work here in UK to a max of 48 hours by law, after which an employer must seek permission [agreement] from the employee if further hours are deemed necessary etc. Unions will probably agree, especially when a big order is on hand and has got to be got out but only with the usual extra pay at time and a half per hour after normal 48 hours and of course double hourly rate on a Sunday and/or Bank Holiday [Public Holiday].

2 - The important holidays here in UK are called Bank Holiday. These are public holidays and most people get the day off work. These Bank Holidays all fall on a Monday, so a Bank Holiday Weekend is very special here in UK. The next Public Holidays here in UK are, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

3 - The majority of Brits get married in a Registry Office - it's cheap, simple and quick and legal. Church weddings are very expensive and on average work out at about Â£20,000 here in UK. Because of this a lot of people either go for the cheap option described at first above and then go off to a private party afterwards and then off on honeymoon somewhere hot - the West Indies is favourite.

4 - There are three [3] official languages in UK. The oldest official language is WELSH, modern Welsh dates from the 6th century AD. The second oldest official language is CORNISH. The majority official language is ENGLISH.
At a UK.gov website, the visitor is offered the choice of ENGLISH or WELSH. Cornwall has yet to receive OFFICIAL status by ACT of PARLIAMENT but it's coming.
There are two major non-official languages in UK and they are, in first of order Gealic [Irish] and Gealic [Scottish].

5 - The principle religions of Britain are : - Christianity, Judeism, Islam, Hinduism and all other recognised organised religions. (The unofficial majority religion of the British people is Wicca - Pagan). England has an official State Relgion of Anglican - The Church of England. Otherwise UK is a secular state with no official religion.

6 - The most famous English writer is William Shakespeare who still has one thousand productions of his plays going on stage around the Globe every single day of the year. My own fave artist/painter/poet is WILLIAM BLAKE a Cockney Londoner of the late 18th century and early 19th century.

7 - Music of all kinds playes a major part in the lives of the British people. The world's biggest televised musical event each year are the BBC Proms - a mix of classical and pop with a world-wide fan base - be there or be square.

In my youth in the 1950s the music most craved was anything American and anything Rock and Roll. Not much has changed really, except my age.

The world's number one Blues Band, the Rolling Stones, now called the Wrinklies, who are just a bunch of penioners like me really, are still very popular and have a massive fan base ranging from teens to upper sixties plus - me!

Major movie stars [British] include Michael Caine and just about everyone else you've ever seen in the movies who you probably thought were American but who actually aint. It starts with Charlie Chaplin and just goes on and on. Not forgetting Hanibal Lecter who is right now putting out invitations to Christmas Dinner. Guess who's on the menu? Why the guest list, who else!

MrsO

1)not sure about workin hours coz im a student still. i would say ALL stores opened on saturdays....and not all on sundays.

2) hmmmm holidays....
well, we have bank holidays, like we dont go to work or nefin.
ummm...we have easter holidays, again no school lol.
ummm....christmas we dont go 2 school 4 like 2 weeks =D woop

3)people can get married in church or in some other registered place lol. my mum got married wen she was 17 and still with my dad lol but thats not average!! um...its getin later and later coz peple are havin careers n stuf first...like late twenties early 30s i think,....not sure. yes you can not get married if u get wahat i mean.....and people get divorced all the time!!! lol

4) English...in sum parts of wales they speak welsh.

5)umm....im from the south west, gloucestershire....i have a funny accent lol

6) um....i dont know lol sorry

7)um i duno i hate most of the cr@p we hear....
im not really in2 it so i wudnt know sory lol

names Clara =D

Ferrari Babe Â¸.â€¢*Â´`*â™¥ â™¥*Â´`*â€¢.Â¸

1) 9.00am - 5.30 pm, yes, depends on the store.
2) Important holidays are Easter and Christmas. Shops are open limited hours at Easter and closed on Christmas/Boxing Day.
3) Church/Register Office/anywhere licenced to hold weddings. Not sure about average marriage age. Yes, it's acceptable not to be married. Divorce is commonplace and accepted, except by the Catholic church.
4) English. Many, many other nationalities and languages spoken here.
5) England is a Christian country.Not sure about basic doctrines of Christianity since I choose to be Humanist.
6) Constable, Shakespeare and many others.
7) Many different types of music is popular here.

Sorry too bored to continue.

Dee L

1) most offices are open between 9-5 Monday to Friday, although shops also open Saturday between 9-5 and for a maximum of 6 hours if they open on a Sunday.
They have to close on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day by law.
2)Bank holidays are: May day (1st Monday in May) Whitsun (last monday in May) Good Friday, Easter Monday,Christmas Day, Boxing Day (or nearest two working days) 1st and last monday in August. We get the day off work for these unless we are in a job which requires us to work ie hospital/airport workers.
3) People get married in church and or using a registrar. Any one undertaking a religious service which is not Church of England (or affiliated) needs to be married by a registrar in a civil ceremony. Catholics, Hindu's, Sikh's etc all need to have a registrar present for the marriage to be legal, and often two services are performed one for the legal marriage and another for the religious marriage. Last I heard average age was approximately 27. It is perfectly acceptable not to get married and same sex partners can register for legal recognition under the civil partnerships legislation.
Divorce is not frowned upon by most.
4) English is still the official language - but many languages are spoken - one local school has children speaking 84 different languages.
5) We are still a Christian country although we have Jewish, Hindu,Sikh and Muslim places of worship locally to where I live. This link may explain more as itis a complex question .http://www.religioustolerance.org/uk_rel.htm
6)Damien Hurst, Tracey Emin, John Constable, link for artistshttp://www.britisharts.co.uk/n-r.htm
writers include Shakespeare, Bronte,Austen, Dickens link :http://www.choosebritish.co.uk/british-writers.html
7)Popular music seems to be a mix of pop styles, r&b,rap,house,garage and classical is particularly popular with a rise in religious based music.....Major pop star seems to be Amy Winehouse (for all the wrong reasons it seems) and probably any movie star you could name depending on the latest release - George Clooney, Jude Law, Brad Pitt,Sienna Miller, etc

Hope this helps...

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