In the English Football League there are 92 professional clubs. These are semi-professional, so most players

have other full-time jobs. Hundreds of thousands of people also play football in parks and playgrounds just for

fun.

The highlight of the English football year is the FA (Football Association) Cup Final each May.

Polo

Another equestrian sport is polo, brought to Britain from India in the 19th Century by army officers. It is the

fastest ball sport in the world.

Polo is played with four men on horses to a team. A ball is hit with a stick towards the goal, one at each end of

a 300 yard long by 160 yard wide field...

Netball

Netball is the largest female team sport in England. The sport is played almost exclusively by women and

girls, although male participation has increased in recent years.

Golf

Scotland is traditionally regarded as the home of golf. There are over 400 golf courses in Scotland alone.

The most important golf club in Scotland is in the seaside town of St. Andrews, near Dundee.

Fishing (Angling)

Angling is one of the most popular sports in the UK, with an estimated 3.3 million people participating in

the sport on a regular basis. Fishermen can be see sitting beside rivers and lakes.

Darts

Darts is a very popular pub game. The game of darts, as it is today, was invented in the north of England

in a town called Grimsby. However, the origins of the game date back to at least the Middle Ages.

35. What holidays do people in Britain have?

NEW YEAR IN ENGLAND

In England the New Year is not as widely or as enthusiastically observed as Christmas. Some people ignore

it completely and go to bed at the time as usual on New Year's Eve. Many others, however, do celebrate it in

one way or another, the type of celebration varying much according to the local custom, family tradition and

personal taste.

The most common type of celebration is a New Year party, either a family party or one arranged by a group

of young people. This usually begins at about eight o'clock and goes on until the early hours of the morning.

There is a lot of drinking, mainly beer, wine, gin and whisky; sometimes the hosts make a big bowl of punch

which consists of wine, spirits, fruits juice and water in varying proportions. There is usually a buffet supper of

cold meat, pies, sandwiches, savouries (a lovely dish of light food with a pleasant, served at the start or end of

a meal), cakes and biscuits. At midnight the wireless is turned on, so that everyone can hear the chimes of Big

Ben ( you know, it's the bell in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament) and on the hour a toast is drunk to

the New Year. Then the party goes on...

Trooping The Colour

The ceremony of «Trooping the Colour» takes place annually in London on the Official Birthday of the

Sovereign. It is notable for the colourful appearance and precise movements of the Foot Guards who perform

It, and for the part taken in it by the Queen herself.

The ceremony derives from two old military ceremonies: Trooping the Colour and Mounting the Queeir s

Guard. From earliest times Colours and Standards have been used to indicate the position of the commander in

battle and act as rallying point for the soldiers, and were honoured as symbols of the spirit of military units. It

was probably in the eighteenth century that it became customary in the British Army, before a battle, to salute

the Colours by beat of drum before carrying them along the ranks (this is what the expression «Trooping»

means) so that every soldier could see them and be able to recognise them later. It soon became usual

to troop the Colour daily at the most important parade or the day: for the Regiment of Foot Guards; who

traditionally have the honour of guarding the Sovereign, the most important was obviously the Mounting of the

Queen's Guard.

On the Sovereign's Birthday all the Regiments of Foot Guards took part in the Trooping, and, after daily

Trooping was discontinued early in Queen Victoria's reign, the full annual parade on the Sovereign's Birthday

continued and has done so to this day, except during the two world wars. Only one Colour, however, can be

trooped at a time, and the five Regiments (Grenadier Guards, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh) therefore

take their turn year by year in strict rotation.

The ceremony can be divided into the following phases: the arrival of the Queen at the Horse Guards Parade,

her inspection of the troops, the actual Trooping, the march past, and the Queen's return to Buckingham

Palace.

The Lord Mayor's Show.

The local power of the City of London is headed by the Lord Mayor who is elected every year from among

the most prominent citizens. The splendid ceremony of election known as the Lord Mayor's Show dates back

more than six hundred years. It is always watched by many || thousands of people, who crowd the streets

of the City of London on the second Saturday of November to see and admire its interesting procession. The

ceremony begins at the Guildhall, the seat of the municipal government in the City of London. Starting from

the Guildhall at about 11.30 a.m., the newly-elected Lord Mayor travels in a gilded coach which dates from

the mid-eighteenth century. His body-guard is a company of Pikemen and Musketeers. The long, colourful

procession, made up of liveried footmen and coachmen, moves along the narrow streets of the City. At about

noon the Lord Mayor arrives at the Royal Court of Justice, where he takes the oath before the Lord Chief

Justice and Judges of the Queen's Bench to perform his duties faithfully. The bells of the City ring out as the

festive procession leaves the Court of Justice after the ceremony and heads for the Mansion House, the official

residence of the Lord Mayor. During the evening the traditional Banquet takes place at Guildhall. The Banquet

is attended by many of the most prominent people of the country, and is usually televised. The Prime Minister

delivers a political speech, and a toast is proposed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

April Fools' Day

Children throughout the English-speaking countries look forward to April 1st, April Fools' Day. By tradition it is

the day on whi jokes are played. The children might decide to wake their parent with the news that the house

is on fire, or that some other disaster has occurred. When they see the looks of alarm on victims' faces, they

shout, «April Fool!»

At school serious work is practically forgotten as the c try to pin notices on one another's backs. The notices

say things like «Kick Me», or «I'm a Fool». Teachers have to be particularly careful or they too might find

themselves walking around wit silly sign on their backs.

On this day of national good humour, the television service joins in the fun.

Once they told the story of a building that had been upside down by mistake. They showed an example of mo

architecture, which actually did look better when it was ti the other way. Many people must have been fooled,

and pe the architect himself was given food for thought.

Pancake Day

Pancake Day is the popular name for Shrove Tuesday — the day preceding the first day of Lent.

In medieval times the day was characterised by merrymaking and feasting, a relic of which is the eating of

pancakes. Whatever religious significance the day may have possessed in the olden days, it certainly has none

now.

The origin of the festival is rather obscure, as is the origin of the custom of pancake eating.

The most consistent form of celebration in the old days was all over town ball game or tug-of-war in which

everyone let rip before the traditional feast, tearing here and tearing there, struggling to get the ball or rope

into their part of the town. It seems that several dozen towns kept up these ball games until only a few years

ago. Today the only custom that is consistently observed throughout Britain is pancake eating, though here

and there other customs still seem to survive. Among the latter, Pancake races, the Pancake Greaze custom

are best known.

36. What are the Christmas traditions in Britain?

In Great Britain the hustle and bustle of the season begins well before Christmas and there is barely anytime

for a break until the Twelfth night. There is preparation going on of foods, the sending of Christmas cards, the

decorating of houses and churches, and the readying of gifts keep everyone busy even the youngest family

members.

On Christmas Eve youngsters hang up their stockings on the ends of the beds or by the chimney so that when

Father Christmas comes he can leave them something.

On Christmas morning the family traditionally opens their presents and prepares for a big feast which typically

is served just after midday. The table gleams with the best china and glassware, and at every place on the

table there is a cracker. The meal begins with a toast, followed by the popping of the crackers. After the meal

they sit down in front of the Television for the traditional Christmas speech of the British Monarch.

In the afternoon they exchange visits with neighbors other family members.

Some churches in Great Britain have a Christingle service on the fourth Sunday of Advent. This is a carol

service of Scandinavian origin at which every child received an orange and candle wrapped in a red ribbon. The

candle represents Jesus and the ribbon stands for the blood of Christ and the love of God embracing the world.

In Britain, children write their letters to Father Christmas and then throw them into the fireplace so they will

float up the chimney and fly to the North Pole. If the lists catch fire first, they have to rewrite them.

At Christmas dinner, a plum pudding is served with little treasures hidden inside that bring their finders good

luck. Britain was the first country to hang up mistletoe.

Why do we celebrate Christmas?

Every year in December we celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ. That is why we call this time of

year 'Christmas' - we celebrate the 'Mass', or church service, for Christ. © copyright of projectbritain.com

Where does the word Christmas come from?

The word Christmas (or Christ's Mass) comes from the Old English name 'Cristes Maesse' - Christ's Mass

- and is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The first recorded observance occurred in Rome in AD360,

but it wasn't until AD440 that the Christian Church fixed a celebration date of 25 December. © copyright of

projectbritain.com

How is Christmas Celebrated in Britain?

Christmas is a truly magical season, bringing families and friends together to share the much loved customs

and traditions which have been around for centuries. Most people are on holiday in the UK and stay at

home with their family on Christmas day, the main day for Christmas celebrations in Britain. © copyright of

projectbritain.com

What day is the main Christmas celebration in Britain?

Christmas is celebrated on the 25th December, with a Christmas dinner at midday for the whole family. ©

copyright of projectbritain.com

How do the British prepare for Christmas?

During the weeks before Christmas Day, we send cards, watch nativity plays and go to carol services. We put

up Christmas decorations in our homes and churches.

You can read more about our Christmas customs and traditions by selecting a link on the left of this page.

37. What happens on Bonfire Night?

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day and Bonfire Night, is an annual commemoration observed

on or about 5 November, primarily in Great Britain. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605,

when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was caught guarding explosives placed beneath the

House of Lords and arrested. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life,

people lit bonfires around London, and months later the introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act

enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.

It’s interesting to mention, that preparations for Bonfire Night celebrations include making a dummy of Guy

Fawkes, which is called "the Guy". Some children even keep up an old tradition of walking in the streets,

carrying "the Guy" they have just made, and beg passersby for "a penny for the Guy." The kids use the money

to buy fireworks for the evening festivities.

On the night itself, Guy is placed on top of the bonfire, which is then set alight; and fireworks displays fill the

sky.

Bonfire Night is not only celebrated in Britain. The tradition crossed the oceans and established itself in the

British colonies during the centuries. It was actively celebrated in New England as "Pope Day" as late as the

18th century. Today, November 5th bonfires still light up in far out places like New Zealand and Newfoundland

in Canada.

38. Where do the celebrations of songs, poetry and literature take place? What are the most

famous festivals of drama, music and arts in Britain?

The celebrations of songs, poetry and literature take place in London, York, Brighton and Hove, Frome

(Sommerset, England), Glastonbury, Ilkley, Reading, Leeds, Salisbury, in Bath, etc.

Among the most famous festivals of arts, music and drama are:

1) The Brighton Festival is an annual arts festival which takes place in the city of Brighton and Hove in England

each May. It was founded in 1966, and is the largest multi-art form festival in England.

2) Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for several simultaneous arts and cultural festivals that take place

during August each year in Edinburgh, Scotland. These festivals are arranged by a number of formally

unrelated organizations, meaning there is no single event officially termed the Edinburgh Festival. The

Edinburgh Festival, which is the largest cultural event in the world, traces its roots to 1947 when the

Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) was established in a post-war effort to "provide a platform for the

flowering of the human spirit"

3) Norfolk & Norwich Festival is the international arts festival for the East of England bringing a programme

of world class music, theatre, circus, dance, visual arts, children’s events and free outdoor spectaculars to

Norwich and Norfolk for 16 days each May. The Festival also delivers a year round programme of community

engagement and creative learning across Norfolk including Creative Partnerships, England’s creative learning

schools’ programme in 49 Norfolk schools and Norfolk Open Studios, one of the UK’s largest open studios

schemes for visual artists.

4) The Ilkley Literature Festival is an annual event in the spa town of Ilkley and has become one of the UK's

top arts festivals. Attracting many important international literary figures, its two-week programme, starting at

the end of September, now features more than one hundred and eighty events which take place in a variety of

venues in Ilkley and surrounding towns and villages. The festival includes events for children and young people

and a festival fringe.

5) The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds

in England. It is the world's oldest popular music festival still in existence. It has had various musical phases

over the years, as detailed below. In the twin-site era, rock, alternative, indie, punk and metal have tended to

dominate.

6) Trooping the Colour is officially celebrated Sovereign’s Birthday. Although The Queen was born on 21 April,

it has long been the tradition to celebrate the Sovereign's birthday publicly on a day in the summer, when

good weather is more likely. Trooping the Colour is carried out by fully trained and operational troops from the

Household Division (Foot Guards and Household Cavalry) on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, watched by

members of the Royal Family, invited guests and members of the public.

7) The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury, is best

known for its contemporary music, but also features dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and many other

arts.

39. What do you know about British food?

British cuisine is the specific set of cooking traditions and practices associated with the United Kingdom.

Historically, British cuisine means "unfussy dishes made with quality local ingredients, matched with simple

sauces to accentuate flavour, rather than disguise it."[1] However, British cuisine has absorbed the cultural

influence of those that have settled in Britain, producing hybrid dishes, such as the Anglo-Indian chicken tikka

masala, which the BBC has called "Britain's true national dish".

It’s interesting to mention that various foodstuffs were introduced to Britain during the history.

Prehistory: bread. Oats, wheat, rabbit

Roman era: apple, celery, asparagus, marrow, onion, rosemary, cucumber, wine

Since 5th till 15th centuries: kipper, rye bread, peach, orange, carrot

During 15th – 20th centuries: turkey, sugar, lemon, tea, banana, coffee, chocolate, ice cream, potato, peach,

curry, sandwich, tomato, fish and chips, etc.

British dishes include fish and chips, the Sunday roast, steak and kidney pie, and bangers and mash. British

cuisine has several national and regional varieties, including English, Scottish and Welsh cuisine, which each

have developed their own regional or local dishes, many of which are geographically indicated foods such as

Cornish pasties, the Yorkshire pudding, Arbroath Smokie, and Welsh cakes.

40. What are the most popular tourist destinations in Britain?

To start with, The United Kingdom is the world's 6th biggest tourist destination, with 24.8 million visiting in

2003.

Among most visited sites in England are: Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Roman

Baths, Canterbury Cathedral, Stonehenge, Leeds Castle, Hampton Court Palace.

1) Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle

on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. There you can see Imperial State Crown,

collection of Coronation Regalia, the ravens, the Prisoners Exhibition and the Chapel Royal of St, John the

Evangelist, where the original amours worn by Henry VIII are held.

2) St Paul’s Cathedral - St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral dedicated to Paul the Apostle. It sits at the

top of the highest point in the City of London, and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The present building

dates from the 17th century and was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The cathedral is one of London's most

famous and most recognisable sights. At 365 feet (111m) high, it was the tallest building in London from 1710

to 1962, and its dome is also among the highest in the world. In terms of area, St Paul's is the second largest

church building in the United Kingdom after Liverpool Cathedral.

3) Westminster Abbey is a large, mainly Gothic church, in Westminster, London, England (United Kingdom),

located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for

English, later British and later still (and currently) monarchs of the Commonwealth realms.

4) Roman Baths is a site of historical interest in the English city of Bath. The Baths are a major tourist

attraction and, together with the Grand Pump Room, receive more than one million visitors a year. It was

featured on the 2005 TV program Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of the West Country. Visitors

can see the Baths and Museum but cannot enter the water. An audio guide is available in several languages.

5) Canterbury Cathedral - in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in

England and forms part of a World Heritage Site. It is the cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury, leader

of the Church of England and symbolic leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Its formal title is the

Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ at Canterbury.

6) Stonehenge - a prehistoric stone monument situated in Wiltshire, southern England and built about 3500 BC

7) Hampton Court Palace - is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater

London. It was originally built for Cardinal Wolsey, a favourite of King Henry VIII, circa 1514; in 1529, as

Wolsey fell from favour, the palace was passed to the King, who enlarged it.

In Northern Ireland: Belfast (the capital of the Northern Ireland), Armagh city - ecclesiastical capital of all

Ireland with its St Patrick’s Cathedral

In Scotland: Edinburgh, which is a part of UNESCO World Heritage. There you can see Edinburgh Castle,

Edinburgh Zoo, Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Royal Mile. In Glasgow (the second largest tourist destination

in Scotland) you can visit the Burrell Collection, Glasgow Cathedral, the Glasgow Science Centre.

In Wales: Cardiff is the capital and largest city. The city has three major performing arts venues, the Wales

Millennium Centre, St David's Hall and New Theatre. Other tourist attractions include Cardiff Castle, Millennium

Stadium, SWALEC Stadium, National Museum Cardiff, Museum of Welsh Life, Llandaff Cathedral, Castell Coch,

St. David's and in Cardiff Bay, Techniquest, Cardiff International Pool, Cardiff International White Water, the

Senedd and the Pierhead Building.

Swansea is the second-largest city. Attractions here include the National Waterfront Museum, Dylan Thomas

Centre, Plantasia, Oystermouth Castle, Mumbles Pier and the beach and promenade along Swansea Bay.

THE END