HISTORY, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF GREAT BRITAIN
1. Great Britain like any country has a long history which reflects different stages of its historical development, numerous periods of its prosperity and decay.
2. Great Britain and Northern part of Ireland form the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
3. England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland were once separate kingdoms.
4. The United Kingdom appeared only in the 17th century after centuries of wars and struggle.
5. As a result of these wars North Ireland became the first colony of Great Britain.
6. The history of North Ireland has been and still is the history of hard struggle of the Irish people for national freedom.
7. From the early times the English monarchs were waging century wars of conquest on the Wales, the Scots and the Irish for the unification with these countries.
8. They were originally separate and independent kingdoms.
9. Wales was won by military force long ago.
10. Scotland after centuries of bloodshed conflicts was united to England dynastically and peacefully.
11. Ireland was both conquered and colonized with expropriation and colonization.
12. The complete political union - the United Kingdom of Great Britain - was at last archived in 1801.
13. By the 18th century England had become a great Sea Power, which opened potentialities of exploration and trade.
14. Later on the English love of exploration and trade developed into colonization and slave trade.
15. The British Empire was being built for three centuries.
16. But it collapsed in some 20 years after the Second World War.
17. All the colonies of Great Britain became free and independent states.
18. Great Britain is a cultural country.
19. It has original culture and arts.
20. Great Britain gave the world many brilliant names in literature and culture.
21. The literature of Great Britain is known for its rich and ancient traditions.
22. The names of Shakespeare, Swift, Byron, Dickens, Defoe, Walter Scott, Agatha Christie, Kipling, Robert Burns and many other names are dear to all those who love literature.
23. Their names are known in the whole world.
24. Great Britain like other countries has many different traditions and customs.
25. The English are a nation of stay-at-homes.
26. The Englishman says "My house is my castle".
27. The English people prefer small houses with a fire place.
28. The love of gardens is deep-rooted in the British people.
29. They like their gardens and speak about them with great pleasure.
30. The British like growing plants in a window box outside the kitchen or in the garden near the house.
31. They love flowers very much.
32. Britain is a nation of animal-lovers.
33. They have about 5 million dogs, almost as many cats, 3 million parrots and other cage birds, aquarium fish and 1 million exotic pets such as reptiles.
34. In Britain they have special shops selling food, clothes and other things for dogs.
35. In Britain pets can send Christmas cards to their friends, birthday cards.
36. There are special animal hotels at the airports.
37. The English people believe that they are the only nation on the earth that is really kind to its animals.
38. The English are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up.
39. All English people celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December.
40. It's the most beautiful time of the year — the time of love, joy, hopes.
41. Christmas Day is the birthday of Christ and it is a family holiday.
42. It is the time when all the family gets together round the Christmas tree decorated with toys and sweets.
43. Little children believe that when they are asleep Santa Claus comes with a big bag of toys.
44. They often hang up large stockings for the presents.
45. All families have Christmas dinners.
46. They eat traditional dishes - turkey, duck and pudding.
47. There is a pleasant custom to send cards and letters with the words: "Merry Christmas".
48. There are some traditions on New Year's Day.
49. One of them is the old First Footing.
50. The first man to come into the house is very important.
51. The Englishmen believe him to bring luck.
52. This man (not woman) must be healthy, young, pretty-looking.
53. He brings presents - bread, a piece of coal or coin.
54. These are only some of the traditions and customs existing in Great Britain.
55. There are so many traditions and customs in this country that it is impossible to mention all of them.