Download pdf - British culture, symbols and mind. British gastronomy and stereotypes

British symbols and culture!

• Why study the UK?

British symbols and culture!

• Which symbols come to your mind?

• What do you know about the UK?

British symbols!

BULLDOG

• The BULLDOG symbolises the very essence of Britishness.

• He is solid, reliable, loyal, very individual, VERY nice when you get to know him!

• He also bears a startling resemblance to Winston Churchill, Britain's great wartime leader.

John Bull

• The Americans have Uncle Sam, the British have JOHN BULL.

• He is a fictional character, used to personify the British nation.

Lion passant gardant

• The Lion is the emblem of England.

• It is actually a "lion passant gardant" - a walking lion, and was first used by the father of William the Conqueror.

• In heraldry (blason), the lion stands for "deathless courage" and the lion passant gardant for "resolution and prudence"

Lion rampant

• The Scots also have a lion as their heraldic emblem: theirs is a red lion rampant (standing on its hind legs, looking straight forward.)

BRITANNIA• BRITANNIA is the

personification of British nationalism.

• The Romans called their newly-conquered province Britannia.

• Britannia became a popular figure in 1707 when Scotland, Wales and England were finally united to form Great Britain.

• She was immortalised in 1740 when James Thompson wrote the words of the song "Rule Britannia". (music)

Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves: Britons never will be slaves.

"Rule Britannia"

• Britannia has featured on several British coins.

• At present it is on the 50p coin.

Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:Britons never will be slaves.

CRICKET

• There is no "British" national team, the team that competes with the other great cricketing nations (A…, S A, P…, I… and the W… I…) is England.

• Cricket is a leisurely (=quiet) game: Test matches (internationals) take up to five days, and three or two-day matches are usual at the higher levels of play.

• Even a village cricket match may take all day.

BOBBY

• The British BOBBY is called after the founder of the modern police force, Sir Robert Peel.

• British policemen are not routinely armed and there is considerable public support for it remaining that way.

• The British have a natural aversion to the everyday use of guns.

ENGLISH PUBLIC HOUSE• A good pub will have

"atmosphere" - a cheerful and friendly landlord (or landlady), helpful and chatty bar staff and "locals" willing to gossip with any visitor.

• A good beer is made from malted barley (orge) and flavoured with real hops (houblon) and is served at cellar (storage) temperature.

• Lagers are served chilled, but then no true Englishman would consider lager as real beer.

Beers

• Ale

• Lager

• Stout

Union Jack

• Flag of St George (England)

• superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland)...

• which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland).

British gastronomy!

Full English Breakfast

• What’s missing?

Yes, black pudding!

Fish and chips

Sausage and mash

Cornish pasties

Meat pies

Sunday Roast

Shepherd’s pie

Jelly and Marmite

British culture!

Queuing up!

• English people love to queue!

• And they hate queue jumpers!

Antiques and tradition

• They love antiques, traditions, arts and crafts and therefore flea markets, car boot sales and antique fairs!

Being embarrassed.

• They are afraid of being embarrassed.

• They avoid embarrassing situations as much as they can.

• « For those of us with a clumsy disposition and a constant fear of saying or doing the wrong thing – otherwise known as English people – embarrassment is a constant companion. »

British humour.

• Sarcasm and self-deprecation (autodénigrement)

Memory of the blitz!

British mind.

British mind.

• ‘keep a stiff upper lip’– Meaning: do your duty and show no emotion.

British mind.

• ‘Take it on the chin’– Meaning: being brave and accept defeat or

criticism

Stabbing rather than shooting!

Dos and don’ts

Dont’ say « no », but …•« I’m afraid it’s not possible ».•« I’m not sure it’s good idea »•Don’t stare at people in public

Do say:•Sorry, thank you, please, excuse me, are you in the queue?, indeed!?•Do smile

Stereotypes which are not true!

• False: it rains everyday in Britain.

• False: Pubs in Britain only serve warm beer.

• False: all Britons have bad teeth

Stereotypes which are true!

• True: Britons drink tea all day.

• True: Britons love to queue.


• True: Britons are obsessed

with the class system.


• True: Britons love to celebrate Royal occasions.