What are elements of British culture?

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joji

The British have been in an empirical frame of mind for so long that they truly believe their culture is their own - but it isn't it is just bits and pieces of other cultures that they have stolen over the centuries!!! ;)

AmberUK

Tea really is an English thing even though it is picked in Asia. And the "sunday dinner" originated in England even though you can now pick up a sunday dinner anywhere!

Other than that - British culture... Drunken larger louts? Old queenie?

Joan el guiri

There is no such thing as British culture.

English culture has been defined as 'when you bump into an English person, THEY say sorry!'

â™¥lois câ™¥ â˜ºâ™¥â™¥â™¥â˜º

the french called the British the god damm's haha because they always said that. they have always been a rough and tough crowd, i think it was because of the Norman influence, but beer,pubs and general hangingout was what they liked.

gypsy

Depends on the area of Britain, for instance in Scotalnd we eat Haggis in Wales they love ******* and mushy peas. Unfortunately the whole of British culture has deteriorated in recent years with binge drinking - hence the violence, bad diet - hence the obesity problem, many people carrying knives - another cause for the violence. The most singularly change in British culture is the awful " Ladette culture " - girls acting like the worst men society has to offer !!!!!!!!!!!

BobSpain

Hi,

the word 'culture' seems to mean different things to different people. Drinking particular drinks or eating certain foods are certainly part of any culture, but not 'culture' itself.

Tea drinking, though tea itself comes mainly from India and China, is very much a part of the English way of life and commenced in the 15th Century after its discovery (in India) by the English. They have adopted it and use grew through many years of colonial rule and continues to this day. (Incidentally 'Gin' is not eastern, but was first manufactured in Holland)

If you are looking for an ancient 'culture' drink that is English you are stuck with 'mead' (not drunk very much these days) or cider, which still is.

However I think 'culture' should encompass a wider scope than a few drinks or foods.

English culture is denoted by centuries of 'manners and breeding' which has ended with the English being amongst the most polite (and reserved) people on earth. Despite mordern abberrations (football/soccer hooligans and so on) English courtesy is recognised world wide.

As to the foods you mentioned...'Roast beef' it is true that beef is roasted everywhere, but the English have made it their 'national' dish, along with its accompaniments, 'Yorkshire pudding', english mustard (or horseradish sauce-both very hot) This I feel makes it a genuine part of English culture.

After all, if you think of Italy you think of pasta, don't you? Yet pasta was 'invented' by the Chinese and brought back to Europe by Marco Polo, so the argument that other peoples use pasta would mean that Italy didn't have pasta as part of its culture (and that would be silly)

If you want to know about England, how it lives, what is important to its people and what are considered traditional foods, etc. I suggest ou ask your secretary again...I feel she didn't really understand what you meant or wanted.

If you followed your argument that certain foods or drinks were 'eastern, Belgian or universal' then the United States would have NO culture whatsoever (except, perhaps, for bison meat and maize, etc) as EVERYTHING was brought in from Europe and elswhere during the great immigration phases that founded the United States. Yet I'm sure every American would be proud to display his 'culture'.

Hope that's not too contraversial or deep...just a few comments picking up on what you said,

Cheers,

BobSpain

Jim

The elements are Scottish culyure, English culture, Welsh culture and Northern Irish culture. These are all very different. There's not really a British culture.

RAY N

Telling 'yanks' what they would and should do!

basile

Beer, football,puddings, pubs and jaffa cakes lol

Adacadus

If you're talking food and drink, then tea (with milk) is a VERY English thing, fish and chips (where the fish is battered and deep fat fried), cider (I hear american 'cider' doesn't actually have any alcohol in it - wusses), roast dinners.

Otherwise: Stiff upper lips, a very reserved people are we (note my use of a pseudonym on Y!A). We also seem to have quite a large dictionary of mild-ish swearwords, which can be used amongst friends without fear of a batted eyelid, and which Y!A doesn't pick up on.

I'll leave it to the Welsh and Scottish to answer about their own countries.

Powerpuffgeezer

Lazy... Aggressive and depressed

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