English Culture: Currency, Weights & Measures, and Festivals PDF

English Culture British Currency o 1p (1 pence – a penny) It pictures the portcullis of Westminster Palace. [Issue Date – 15 February 1971) o 2p (a 2 pence piece can be referenced as tuppence or a tupenny) It pictures the Prince of Wales feathers....

English Culture British Currency o 1p (1 pence – a penny) It pictures the portcullis of Westminster Palace. [Issue Date – 15 February 1971) o 2p (a 2 pence piece can be referenced as tuppence or a tupenny) It pictures the Prince of Wales feathers. [Issue Date – 15 February 1971] o 5p This coin shows the symbol of Scotland, the thistle. On top of the thistle you can see the British crown. [Issue Date – Current and smaller version: June 1990 (Larger version introduced 1968, demonetised 1990)] o 10p It’s about the size of a US Quarter, shows a lion. For centuries, the lion was a proud symbol of Britain’s strength. The lion is wearing the crown of the British Monarch. [Issue Date – Current and smaller version: September 1992 (Larger version introduced in 1968, demonetised 1993)] o 20p It shows the Tudor Rose. A rose is the national flower of England. On top you can see the British Crown. [Issue Date – 9 June 1982] o 50p It shows the picture of Britannia and a lion. Both are symbols of Britain. [Issue Date – Current and smaller version introduced September 1997 (Larger version introduced October 1969, demonetised in 1998) o £1 (1 pound) There are many different pictures on the £1 coin to reflect the different countries of Britain: lions of England, a thistle for Scotland and leek for Wales. [Issue Date – 21 April 1983] o £2 (2 pound) The design of this coin represents technological development. The edge lettering features the quote “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” by Sir Isaac Newton. [First Issue Date – 15 June 1998] British Weights and Measures o Length Inch, foot, yard, rod, chain, furlong, mile o Weight Grain, dram, ounce, pound, stone, quarter, hundredweight, ton o Capacity Gill, pint, quart, gallon, bushel Royal Palaces and Castles Buckingham Palace Windsor Castle Balmoral Castle The Palace of Holyroodhouse Sandringham House Kensington Palace St. James Palace Clarence House Palace of Westminster Whitehall Palace Hampton Court Palace Tower of London Festivals, Traditions and Customs Epiphany/Twelfth Night/Day (5-6 January) Epiphany: Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ, celebrated 12 days after Christmas on January 6 th. It marks the end of Christmas. Twelfth Night: It’s a Christian festival marking the coming of Epiphany. Although the Church of England marks it on January 5, other Christian groups argue that it actually falls on January 6 because they start counting from the 26th. Twelfth Night Cake Twelfth Night Plays ✓ Mummers’ Plays 1 (pantomimes2) 1 Folk plays performed by troupes of amateur actors, traditionally all male. Known as mummers or guisers. 2 A popular traditional form of theatre (which involves lots of audience participation).  Twelfth Night Celebrations ✓ The Holly Man from the Thames ✓ Wassail The Yule Log ✓ It’s a specially selected log burnt on a hearth as a Christmas tradition. Plough Monday ✓ It’s a traditional start of the English agricultural year. It’s generally the first Monday after Twelfth Day (Epiphany), 6th January. Molly Dances ✓ Molly dancing is a form of English Morris dance. Traditionally done by out- of-work Ploughboys in midwinter, in the 19th century. Whittlesey Straw Bear Festival ✓ The festival of the Straw Bear is an old custom known only from a small area Burns’ Night (Scotland) (25th January) Burns’ Night is annually celebrated in Scotland on or around January 25. It commemorates the life of the bard (poet) Robert Burns, who was born on January 25. The day also celebrates Burns’ contribution to Scottish culture. May people and organizations hold a Burns Supper on Burns’ Night. Up-Helly-Aa (Scotland) (Last Tuesday of January) “Up Helly Aa” refers to any of a variety of fire festivals held annually in Scotland in the middle of winter to mark the end of the yule season. The Guiser Jarl ✓ It is the principal character in the celebration of Up Helly Aa. Which takes place on the last Tuesday of January. Each Guiser Jarl takes the name of a figure in Norse legend. The Jarl Squad ✓ It is made up of the Guiser Jarl’s supporters. It is the principal of many squads, and the participants are called guisers. The Galley ✓ Each year a replica of a Viking longship is built for Up Helly Aa. The Procession ✓ After nightfall, the longship is dragged through the streets of the town in a torchlight procession. The torchbearers are the members of all the squads, led by the Jarl Squad. Each squad chooses a theme and dresses  accordingly. The themes are very varied, some historical, some topical or satirical. The Circle Round the Gallery ✓ When all the torchbearers arrive at the final resting spot of the longship, they form a circle round it and sing the traditional Up Helly Aa song. Setting Fire to the Gallery ✓ After the singing of the Up Helly Aa song, the guisers throw their torches into the longship. The Burning Gallery ✓ Once the longship has burned and the flames die down, guisers sing the traditional song "The Norseman's Home" before going on to a night of partying. Valentine’s Day Also called Saint Valentine’s Day is celebrated annually on February 14. Originating as a Western Christian feast day honouring one or two early saints named Valentinus, Valentine's Day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world. Shrove Tuesday/Pancake day (between 3rd February and 9th March) It’s a day in February or March preceding Ash Wednesday which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes. This moveable feast is determined by Easter. Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football Game ✓ It is a medieval football game played annually on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday in the town of Ashbourne in England. Skipping Ash Wednesday/Lent (between 4th February and 10th March) It’s the day after Shrove Tuesday. Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer, fasting and repentance. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and falls on the first day of Lent3, the six weeks of penitence before Easter. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days 3 A religious observance in the Christian calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends six weeks later before Easter Sunday. of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities Mothering Sunday (4th Sunday in Lent) It’s a day on which people would visit their "mother" church, it has become an occasion for honouring the mothers of children and giving them presents. Refreshment Sunday/Mid-Lent Sunday ✓ Are Sundays within the two major fasts observed in Lent. On these days, the fast was allowed to be relaxed. Simnel Sunday ✓ The food item specially associated with Mothering Sunday is the Simnel cake. It’s a fruit cake with 2 layers of almond paste, one on top and one in the middle. Palm Sunday (last Sunday of Lent) It is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Palm Sunday includes the procession of the faithful carrying poems, representing the palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem. Palm crosses Pax cakes Maundy Thursday (Thursday before Easter) Also known as Holly Thursday, is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the fast washing (Maundy) and the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. The Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles The washing of feet Royal Maundy – Maundy Money ✓ Royal Maundy is a religious service in the Church of England held on Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday. At the service, the British monarch distributes small silver coins known as “Maundy Money”.  1p: a penny 2p: half-groat 3p: threepence 4p: groat Good Friday The Friday preceding Easter Sunday Commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. Arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus Christ Hot Cross Buns Ceremony: Widow’s Son Pub Holy Saturday It’s the last day o Holy week in which Christians prepare for Easter. It commemorates the day that Jesus’ body lay in the tomb. The Sabbath on which Jesus rested in the grave Easter Vigil ✓ Service held in traditional Christian churches as the first celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Easter Day/Easter Sunday Celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. Easter Egg hunt Egg jarping/Egg tapping Pace Egging Fool’s Day (1 April) Commemorated by playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes. May Day (1st May) It’s a traditional spring holiday and festival. Dances, singing and cakes are usually part of the festivities. Morris Dancing (folk dance) ✓ Border Morris ✓ Cotswold Morris ✓ Sword Dancing ✓ Garland Dancing Maypole Dancers Whitsunday – Pentecost It’s a Christian holiday which is celebrated on the 7th Sunday after Easter, it commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks. 10 days after Ascension, 50 days after Easter Sunday “Bread and Cheese Day” – St Briavels and Cheese Dole Gloucester cheese Rolling Well Dressing (May-September) Also known as well flowering, is a tradition practised in some parts of rural England (Derbyshire, Staffordshire, South Yorkshire, Cheshire) in which wells, springs and other water sources are decorated with designs created from flower petals. State Opening of Parliament (May) It’s an event which formally marks the beginning of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The State Opening is an elaborate ceremony showcasing British history, culture and contemporary politics to large crowds and television viewers. It takes place in the House of Lords chamber in front of both Houses of Parliament. Searching the cellars Crown, sword and cap The Queen’s journey The procession Black rod All assembled The speech Trooping the Colour (Second Saturday of June) It is a ceremony performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies. It is held in London annually on a Saturday in June and it is broadcast live by the BBC. Midsummer Day (24th June) It is the period of time centred upon the summer solstice. Swan Upping (3rd week July) Swan upping is an annual ceremony in England in which mute swans on the River Thames are rounded up, caught, ringed, and then released. Notting Hill Carnival (last Sunday and Monday of August) It is an annual event that has taken place in London on the streets of the Notting Hill area of Kensington, each August over two days. This event is a huge street festival which attracts a lot of people every year and looks to highlight Caribbean and black diasporic cultures. Halloween (31st October) It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed. “Trick or Treat?” Ghost tours, visiting “haunted houses” Bonfires Costume parties Carving jack-o-lanterns Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes’s Night (5th November) It is an annual commemoration that marks the anniversary of the discovery of a plot organised by Catholic conspirators to blow up the House of Parliament in London in 1605. Many people light bonfires and set off fireworks. The Lord Mayor’s Show (second Saturday of November) A new lord mayor is appointed every year and the public parade that takes place as his or her inauguration ceremony reflects that this was once one of the most prominent offices in England. The position of Lord Mayor has a role within the City and is entirely distinct from the position of Mayor of London. Remembrance Sunday or Poppy Day (Sunday nearest to 11th November) It commemorates the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. Christmas Crackers Plants (Ivy, Holly, Mistletoe, Poinsettias) New Year Calenning (Welsh tradition of New Year gift) Sing “Scotland – Hogmanay Auld Lang Syne” on New Year’s Eve Firework in London Ceremony of the Keys Tower of London The Ceremony of the Keys is an ancient ritual, held every evening at the Tower of London, when the main gates are locked for the night. At exactly 9.53 pm, the Chief Yeoman Warder carrying a candle lantern, leaves the Byward Tower and falls in with the Escort to the Keys, a military escort made up of armed members of the Tower of London Guard. The Warder passes his lantern to a soldier, and marches with his escort to the outer gate. The sentries on duty salute the Queen’s Keys as they pass. The legend of the ravens – the Tower of London The Ravens of the Tower of London is a group of at least six captive ravens which live at the Tower of London. Their presence is traditionally believed to protect The Crown and the tower; a superstition holds that "if the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it". Leisure Time Top destinations for British tourist 1. Spain 2. France 3. Italy 4. Portugal 5. United States 6. Greece 7. Netherlands 8. Ireland 9. Germany Leisure time activities Watching television Socializing Sports Hobbies Listening to the radio Listening to music Reading DIY (Do It Yourself) Gardening Going to the cinema Eating out Allotments Sports o Cricket (May-August) Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a 20-metre pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. Ball Bat Wickets (stumps + bails) Bowler Batters Fielders o Football (September-April) English invention (1863) No British team in international competitions: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland Football Hooliganism: is the term used to describe disorderly, violent or destructive behaviour perpetrated by spectators at association football events. o Rugby It is a contact team sport which originated in England. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its most common form, a game is between two teams of 15 players using an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field with H-shaped goalposts on each try line. Rugby Football Union – January 26, 1871 ✓ 20 players (changed in 1877 for 15)  ✓ Strictly amateur; no payment to players Northern Rugby Football Union – August 29, 1895 ✓ Rugby Football League (1922) ✓ Professional sport (mainly North of England) ✓ 13 players August 26, 1995 – removal of all restrictions on payments to Rugby Union. o Horse Racing Flat racing: run over distances on courses without obstacles. ✓ Level track at a predetermined distance (1km or +3km) ✓ Natural grass surface (turf) National Hunt racing: run over distances where horses usually jump either hurdles or fences (races known as steeplechases). ✓ Diverse fence and ditch obstacles ✓ The Grand National (Liverpool in April) ✓ Ascot Gold Cup (Royal Ascot) – 3rd week of June o Greyhound Racing It is an organized, competitive sport in which greyhounds are raced around a track. o Fox Hunting It is an activity involving the tracking, chase and, if caught, the killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds. And a group of unarmed followers led by a "master of foxhounds" ("master of hounds"), who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback. o Deer Stalking Stealthy pursuit of deer on foot with intention of killing the deer for meat, for sport, or to control the numbers. o Fishing (Angling) Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" (fish hook). The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. o Golf It is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible. o Tennis It is a racket sport that can be played individually against a single opponent (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles).  o Polo It is a horseback mounted team sport. The game is played by two opposing teams with the objective of scoring goals by hitting a small hard ball with a long-handled wooden mallet, and through the opposing team's goal. o Sailing/Canoeing o Bowls The objective is to roll biased balls so that they stop close to a smaller ball called a "jack" or "kitty". o Conkers It is a traditional children's game in Britain and Ireland played using the seeds of horse chestnut trees—the name 'conker' is also applied to the seed and to the tree itself. The game is played by two players, each with a conker threaded onto a piece of string: they take turns striking each other's conker until one breaks. British Music o Scotland Bagpipes o North of England Brass bands o Central and southern England Choirs singing old hymns (village church) o London Classical music (concert halls and opera houses); buskers on the streets; pop music o Wales Male voice choirs Music in the 1960s – what’s new? o Rock’n Roll A way of life o Music A reflection of the youth feelings o Production of songs with a social or political message  o Innovative use of technology Sound effects o Beat music or Merseybeat o Psychedelic music Hallucinogenic drugs Transition to hard rock and heavy metal (mid 60s) o Pop music Emphasis on meaning, oriented towards the albums market (around 1967) Pubs o Ploughman's Lunch It’s a cold meal which is based on bread, cheese, and onions, and usually accompanied by butter and some form of pickle. Additional items such as ham, green salad, hard boiled eggs and apple can be added. The meal is particularly associated with public houses and is often accompanied with beer. o Pub Games Chess Darts Dominoes Draughts Billiards Shove-ha-penny Card Games Food o British Meals Breakfast ✓ Between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Lunch (sometimes called dinner) ✓ Between 12:00 and 1:30 p.m. Dinner (sometimes called supper) ✓ Between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. o Breakfast Porridge 'Full English' or 'The Full English Fry-up' o Lunch Sunday roast dinner – meat and Yorkshire pudding o Dinner Pasta Curry o Afternoon Tea and High Tea Scones o Pies in England Steak and Kidney pie Pork pie Cornish pasty Stargazy pie Mince pie Toad-in-the-hole o Puddings and Cakes Bread and butter pudding Apple crumble Spotted dick Rhubarb crumble o Fish and Chips o Sauces Marmite Hp sauce Lea & Perrins sauce o Scotland Oatcakes Porridge Deer Partridge Pheasant Haggis Haggis with ‘neeps and tatties’ Deep-fried Mars bar o Wales Bara brith Welsh rarebit Laverbread Cawl  Griddle scones o Northern Ireland Boxty Colcannon Food for Festivals o Shrove Tuesday Pancakes o Halloween Baked potatoes o Guy Fawkes’ Night Bonfire toffee Toffee apples Parkin Lancashire hot pot o Christmas Turkey with chestnut stuffing Cranberry sauce Bread sauce Christmas pudding Drinks o Beer Draught beer ✓ Cask (-conditioned) beer ✓ Keg beer Types of beer ✓ Larger ✓ Bitter ✓ Stout ✓ Mild ✓ India Pale Ale Ethnic Mixture Battle of Hastings: Middle Ages; Vikings are raiding the whole of Europe in 900ish; After a raid in France, the king of France, Charles, gave the Vikings a piece of land in northern france – Normandy; In return, those Vikings protected the French from other Vikings; The Vikings turned to Christianity, learnt French and started families with the locals; England also had their fair share of Viking problems. In the 800’s, danish Vikings had conquered most of England, but the anglo-saxons eventually managed to kick them out – although they left behind a few Viking settlers; Aetheired the Unready became king and married the duke of normandy’s daughter, Emma of Normandy. They had Edward, Goda and Alfred; His advisors warned the king of the Viking settlers whom still roamed around and that they might band together and start a revolution; Before they could do anything, Atheired killed them first in a massacre now known as St Brice’s Day Massacre; The Danish king heard of this and launched an invasion; The Vikings conquered England once again; After a few shifts in power, the Vikings gained control over the whole territory; The king’s family had to go into exile in Normandy; Edward and Alfred, sons of Atheired, lived in Normandy for 30 years and then tried to return to England to try and retake the throne from the Vikings but they were betrayed by the Earl of Wessex whom blinded Alfred; Edward then escaped back to Normandy; After a few Viking kings came and went, one finally died without an heir, making Edward come back to England where he became king; Earl the Wessex gave Edward tons of gold and apologized for killing his brother; Edward married Earl’s daughter, Edith of Wessex; Earl passed away and his son, Harold Godwinson, now also named Earl, being Edward’s brother- in-law became his advisor; he was a brave warrior; he was almost like a co-king; Edward was on his death bed, meaning that Harold would become the king; But Edward had many friends in Normandy and, in fact, the Duke of Normandy, William the Bastard was granted the throne if something happened to Edward; So now we have 2 men fighting for the throne of England; But in fact, it turns out that one of the previous Norwegian kings had made an agreement with one of England’s Viking kings saying that when that when that Viking king died, the king of Norway would get the English throne; The then current king of Norway, Harald Hardrada, felt that he was entitled to the throne of England, so he would then invade England; Harold felt that he deserved the throne and would spread lies saying that Edward said that he should be the king and that no one else can be king; Harold crowned himself king the same day Edward was buried; In Normandy, William heard of the recent news about the new king of England and was furious – he demanded he would return the throne back to William; William immediately began gathering his army and prepared to invade England; The pope granted William’s proposal of murdering Harold; Harold, who expected an attack on the south of England grew tired of waiting for 2 whole months for the wind to calm down and would eventually leave the south coast unprotected of any possible attacks; Meanwhile, the king of Norway began his invasion and landed on the old Viking city of York and defeated an army lead by the Earls – the Earls surrendered; Harold once again gathered his army once again and now marched north, taking him just 4 days to reach York; Battle of Stanford Bridge – York, between the English and the Norwegians; Result – the king of Norway was killed and England won the battle; Brought the Viking era in England to an end; Then, William finally set sail with his army of 700 ships and 1400 men and landed on the south coast in Pevensey and set up camp in Hastings; Harold was still all the way in York and his exhausted army had to march all the way south just days after the battle with the Vikings; William burnt down a couple villages and Harold’s army met William’s on the 14th of October 1066; Battle of Hastings – Hastings, the English were in a hill, a good defensive position; The normans approached; the Normans were more prepared than the English, they had archers who would fire their arrows at the English front; as the norman infantry advanced, the English formed a wall and threw everything they had at the Normans; the Normans couldn’t break through the shield wall so they sent their cavalry up the hill but even they struggled to break through the shield wall; wave after wave of infantry and cavalry came but Harold knew that he only needed the Normans to exhaust themselves so he would win; Suddenly, the Normans thought that they had killed Harold and began backing up, it was at this moment that the English thought they had won and began charging the retrieving norman forces who then turned around and circled the English troops; in this chaotic fighting that followed, Harold was killed being said to have taken an arrow in the eye; Result – the Normans won; William became the king and no longer a bastard but a conqueror; William then had to go on a long campaign of shutting down rebellions around the kingdom and forced the people into submission; England went through a mass transformation under their new norman ruler: The English nobles were replaced with Normans; They built castles and grand cathedrals (tower of London, Winchester Cathedral); But one of the most interesting transformations occurred within in the language – the Normans brought their dialect of French to England that merged with Old English in ways that we still live with today. The Normans were obviously the ones in power, so words related to power like “government”, “judge”, “castle” and “crown” come from the Normans. Words that are considered more refined are usually the norman ones. If you ask an anglo-saxon what job he does, he might respond with some low-level trait, such as a “baker”, a “miller” or a “shoemaker”, but a norman has a skill trait like a “painter”, a “tailor”, a “merchant”. The anglo-saxons farmers working in the fields owned cattle, such as sheeps, pigs and cows, but once they were served in a norman table they became mutton, pork and beef, respectively. Written English changed too, since many anglo-saxons couldn’t write, the written language was romanticized – for example, the anglo-saxons used to write “Hwaenne”, “Hwaer” and “Hwaet” in Old English, but the Normans swapped the W and H around and these words became the words we know today “When”, “Where” and “What”. Britain – a mixed race society o Celts (500 BC) The iron age is the age of the “celt” in Britain. Over the 500 or so years leading up to the first Roman Invasion of Celtic culture established itself throughout the British Isles. Queen Boudicca (leader of the British Celtic Iceni tribe) o Romans (AD 43) The Roman conquest which started in AD43, illustrates the profound culture and political impact that small numbers of people can have. [AD43]: Romans invade, and Britain becomes part of the Roman Empire. : Boudicca leads the Iceni in result against the Romans. : Romans conquer Wales and the North. : Romans conquer Scotland. [401 – 410]: The Romans withdraw from Britain Anglo-Saxons migrants to set.  o Saxons (450) : Anglo-Saxons raid English shores and are beaten by the Romans. : Romans leave England and England shores are unprotected. [449 – 550]: Arrival of Jutes from Jutland, Angles from South of Denmark and Saxons from Germany. : Saxons, from Germany, settle in Kent. : Seven kingdoms are created across Britain. Also known as Heptarchy. Northumbria; Mercia; Essex; Wessex; Sussex; Kent; East anglia; : Northumbria becomes the Supreme Kingdom. : Mercia becomes the Supreme Kingdom and King Offa builds a Dyke along the Welsh Border. o Vikings (793) : First invasion by the Vikings. They raided monasteries on the coast. : First raids on Scotland and Ireland. : Wessex becomes the Supreme Kingdom. : Great Viking Army from Denmark invades England. : Danes capture York (which the Vikings called Jorvik). : King Alfred defeats the Vikings but allows them to settle in Eastern England (the Kingdoms of York and East Anglia). This area on England becomes known as Danelaw. [901 – 937]: Eastern England (Danelaw) is conquered by the English. : New Vikings Raids on England. : King Canute of Denmark captures the English Crown. : Edward the Confessor becomes King (A Saxon King). o Normans (1066) o Tudors (1485) o Victorians (1837) Days of the week Tiw – god of battle: Tuesday Woden – god of war: Wednesday Thunor or Thor – god of thunder: Thursday Frigg or Freya – goddess of love: Friday God of time: Saturday Sunne – the sun: Sunday Mona – the moon: Monday The Succession – the fight for the throne o 4 claimants to the English throne: Edgar the Atheling – closest blood claimant to Edward; a Saxon prince and nephew of Edward, a sickly fourteen-year-old boy.  Harold Godwinson – son of Earl Godwin, powerful noble in England, a leading Saxon Lord and the brother of Edward’s wife. William, Duke of Normandy – a distant cousin of Edward the Confessor. Harald Hardrada, Viking king of Norway – related to King Canute, the King of England from 1016-1032. Modern Ethnic Mixture in the UK 1. White Europeans (87.1%) 2. Black British or Afro-Caribbean (3.0%) 3. Indian (2.3%) 4. Multiracial (2.0%) 5. Paskistani (1.9%) 6. Banglaseshi (0.7%) 7. Chinese (0.1%) Other Groups (2.3%) Religion Religious freedom provided for in the constituent legal systems: England + Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Britain – a Roman Catholic country until 1534 o Prince Arthur of Wales Son of Henry VII; Heir to the throne; Henry VII arranged his marriage with Catherine of Aragon at just 3 years old; At 15, he marries Catherine, sealing the union between England and Spain; He died quickly after; o Henry VIII (1509 – 1547) (And the list of his wives) Son of Henry VII; Put aside as he was the youngest of two brothers – Arthur (Prince of Wales) and heir to the throne; 5 years later, Prince Henry is born and he is considered a spare and is put aside; As Arthur was in another palace being prepped to become king, Henry lived with his mother and two sisters at a different place; Henry learnt languages, sports, music instruments; Great scholars and tutors came to meet the young prodigy; Charming, very enlightened young boy, loved by everyone; As Arthur died, Henry VII was more preoccupied with the alliance with Spain rather than the death of his own son. Having Catherine of Aragon turn into a widow, Prince Henry quickly became the heir to the throne and his father arranged another marriage, but this time, it was between Prince Henry’s brother’s wife, Catherine and Henry himself; Prince Henry moved to the royal court; As Henry VII aged, he became quite suspicious of the nobility around him, to keep them in check, he began giving them huge fines; His tyranny grew larger and larger by the day and the nobility began to suffer; When Henry VII finally died in 1508, the people celebrated not only because of his death but because of Prince Henry’s rise to the throne; Prince Henry, now Henry VIII, rose to the throne at just 18 years old; He then finally married Catherine of Aragon and was deeply in love with her; He was widely supported; In his early reign, people would come and ask the king anything and he would simply give it to them; Henry’s council that he inherited from his father wasn’t happy with all the money he was just throwing around; They began controlling his spending; The council didn’t allow Henry VIII to go on an expansion to French territory; Henry wanted glory; Cardinal Wolsey knew that if he helped King Henry, there’ll likely be something in it for him; Wolsey began writing bills that simply didn’t require the council’s seals; Thus, Henry was back on top and for his efforts, Wolsey began to climb the ranks; The pope was at war with France and he needed some help; He offered Henry VIII some rewards if he helped him; Off he went to help the religious cause and invaded the north of France and took some cities; While at war in France, his wife Catherine (who was pregnant at the time) was leading some battles against Scotland in the north; Henry finally went home because he didn’t have anymore money to fund the wars; Catherine of Aragon had a girl, named Mary; This was Catherine’s fifth pregnancy that had not resulted in a male heir; Henry VIII blamed Catherine for the lack of male babies; He then signed a peace treaty with the King of France, Francis I; It was quickly disrespected; Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Catherine’s nephew, and Henry VIII wanted to make an alliance; Henry VIII arranged his daughter’s Mary marriage to her own 22 year old cousin, Charles V; Charles and Henry launched a campaign to invade France; Henry and the English troops invaded the North of France once again but Charles’ troops were not to be found anywhere in 1522 and 1523; Charles V ravaged the French at the battle of Pavia in 1525 and gained the French throne; He denied the throne to Henry VIII and refused to marry Mary; Catherine had two jobs: give Henry an heir and maintain an alliance with Spain, she failed both; Henry began looking at other women in hopes of having an heir; He gained interest in Anne Boleyn; Anne wanted to be the queen; Henry ordered Wolsey to talk to the pope in secrecy about his desires of divorcing Catherine; He failed in the secrecy part and the whole of Europe, including Charles V knew about Henry’s plans; Henry was very unhappy at Wolsey; Henry argued that the pope had got it wrong at allowing him to marry his brother’s widow and divorce was the only solution; It took 2 years for the pope to make a decision, it was a no; Henry felt betrayed as he had defended the Holy Pope from the French and Lutheranism; Henry removed Wolsey from the court; He then removed the pope’s influence in England; He argued that the pope was stealing nationally owned churches so the people would support him; Those that didn’t, would meet an unsurprising fate; Henry assumed the role of Supreme Head of the English Church; Catherine of Aragon was finally gone and Henry finally married Anne Boleyn; Henry celebrated a lot; The celebrations were paid because monasteries were dissolved and the riches were placed into the royal bank; Many people weren’t happy because of this but luckily, Henry had a plan: behead everyone who didn’t agree with him; His descent into tyranny had begun; In 1536, he fell from his horse in an accident and it is said that the brain damage cause by the fall might’ve violently caused Henry to worsen his descent into tyranny; It is estimated that 57000 – 72000 people were killed during his reign; His own wife met this unfortunate fate because she wasn’t also able to give him the heir to his throne and because it is said that Anne had had an affair; On may 19th 1536, she was executed; On the next day, Henry was getting married once again, this time with Jane Seymour; Henry was now extremely unhealthy; Jane once asked him to reinstitute the monasteries as she was a catholic; He refused; In October 1537, Henry finally got what he had been waiting for; His wife Jane gave birth to a boy; Unfortunately, Jane died due to complications of labour a few days later; Henry mourned for 2 whole years; He then picked another wife; This time it was Anne of Cleves, whom his counsellor Thomas suggested; When Anne arrived in England, Henry was less than pleased; He considered Anne to be ugly in person and said that Thomas had committed treason and had him executed; This marriage only lasted 6 months; The very day after Thomas’ execution, Henry married his 6th wife;  This time it was Catherine Howard; Like Anne of Cleves, she didn’t last long; She is said to have had affairs; When Henry found out, he ordered her execution in 1542; Henry then married Catherine Parr in 1543; She is said to have been a good companion to Henry; Catherine stayed with him until the end; In 1544, Henry decided to invade France once again; The French had been supporting the Scots on their ongoing wars with the English and they also owed England some money; The French surrendered, the English celebrated the victory but in truth, this war almost bankrupted England, and a few years later, they ended up giving the territories conquered back to the French; In 1547, a 55 year old Henry would finally pass; His son Edward VI succeeded him but would die 5 years later; His daughter Mary, briefly took the throne and steered the country back to the pope; But then his second daughter, Elizabeth I, embraced her reformant ideas and gradually turned England into a protestant country; Henry’s desperation to marry Anne Boleyn and his feud with the pope, had changed the course of English history and religion forever; Unfortunately, neither of his children had heirs, and when Elizabeth I passed away, Henry’s lineage ended with the house of Stuart replacing the house of Tudor; Catherine of Aragon (1509 – 1533) Henry’s first wife; Gave birth to Mary; Also Prince Arthur’s (his brother) own wife; Divorced; Anne Boleyn (1533 – 1536) ✓ Gave birth to Elizabeth; ✓ The English Reformation ✓ The catholic church lost power in England as Henry had cut ties with the pope and had become the supreme leader of the English church, a protestant church ✓ Act of Succession 1536 (Second Succession Act) With multiple accounts of treason, Anne wasn’t also able to provide an heir to the English throne, so, Henry VIII had her executed Jane Seymour (1536 – 1537) ✓ 1540 – order of destruction of shrines to saints; monasteries dissolved, property transferred to the Crown; ✓ Died a few days later after the birth of Edward I; ✓ 2 years of mourning by Henry; Anne of Cleves – 1540; This marriage only lasted 6 months; Catfished Henry; Divorced;  Catherine Howard – 1540/1542] Said to have been 17 at the time of marriage (and Henry was 49); She was executed because she is said to have committed treason and affairs; Catherine Parr (1543 – 1547) ✓ Act of Succession 1543 (Third Succession Act) ✓ Catherine ordered Henry to bring back his daughters Elizabeth and Mary back to the line of succession behind their brother Edward; ✓ Stayed with Henry until his death; o Edward VI (1547 – 1553) – Edward Seymour, Lord Protector of the Realm o Jane Grey (10-19 July of 1553) o Mary I (1553 – 1558) o Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603) o James I (1603 – 1625) o Charles I (1625 – 1649) Hierarchy  Roman Catholic Church English hierarchy extinct from the 16th C. until 1850 1832 – Catholic Emancipation Act 1850 – Pope Pius IIX bull Universalis Ecclesiae Strong reaction against restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in England No single hierarchy for the Catholic Church in the UK Catholic Church in England and Wales ✓ 5 provinces (each headed by an archbishop) subdivided in 22 dioceses (each headed by a bishop) Catholic Church in Scotland ✓ 2 provinces subdivided into 6 dioceses (each headed by a bishop) and 2 archdioceses (each headed by an archbishop) Catholic Church in Ireland (Northern Ireland + Republic of Ireland) ✓ 4 provinces (each headed by an archbishop) subdivided into 26 dioceses (headed by 23 bishops) Islam/Muslim o Muslim beliefs Belief in Allah as the one and only God. Belief in angels. Belief in the holy books. Belief in the Prophets – Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Dawud (David), Isa (Jesus), Muhammad Belief in the Day of Judgement Belief in predestination Mosques (masjid in Arabic = place of prostration) o Five pillars of Islam Shahadah: declaration of faith – "I bear witness that there is no god, but God; I bear witness that Muhammad is the prophet of God." Salah/Salat: prayer – five times a day, washing themselves before prayer and facing in the direction of Mecca while praying. Zakat: giving a fixed proportion to charity – a percentage of their earnings to the less fortunate, regardless of their religion. Saum: fasting during the month of Ramadan. Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca Hinduism o No founder, no prophets o Belief in Brahman – the Ultimate Reality behind the universe and all gods o Belief in reincarnation o Belief in Karma – the cause of our particular destiny; reincarnation to a higher level through pure acts, knowledge and devotion o Hindu’s four life goals 1. Dharma - the code for leading one's life 2. Artha - the pursuit of material gain by lawful means. 3. Kama - sexual desire, pleasure and fulfilment, sensual gratification in marriage 4. Moksha - leading the soul towards salvation; unity of the individual soul with the universal soul of Brahman a) The path of knowledge b) The path of meditation c) The path of devotion d) The path of good works o Hindu Gods Brahma Vishnu Shiva o Murti (Image, statue or idol of a deity or person in Indian culture) Shri Indra - the Storm God Shiva (one of the principal deities in Hinduism. Known as “The Destroyed”) Mandir (Hindu Temple) The Holy Vedas (Hinduism Holy Book) Sikhism o Maharajah Duleep Singh (“great ruler”, “great king” or “high king”) o Golden Temple (Armritsar - India) o Founded by Guru Nanak (16th C.) + 9 Sikh gurus who followed him o Monotheistic religion o Place of worship – Gurdwara o Sikh scripture – book called the Guru Granth Sahib (10th Sikh Guru) o Sikh Beliefs God ✓ Only one God ✓ God without form or gender ✓ Direct access to God ✓ Everyone equal before God  ✓ Empty religious rituals and superstitions - no value Living in God and community – good deeds and meditation on God God and the cycle of life – cycle of birth, life, and rebirth (concept of Karma) The three duties – Pray, Work, Give ✓ Nam japna – keeping God in mind at all times ✓ Kirt Karna – earning an honest living ✓ Vand Chhakna – literally, sharing one's earnings with others The five vices – lust, covetousness and greed, attachment to things of this world, anger, pride o Khalsa (a community that considers Sikhism as its faith or a special group of initiated Sikh warriors) The Five Ks ✓ Kesh – uncut hair ✓ Kara – a steel bracelet ✓ Kanga – a wooden comb ✓ Kaccha (Kachh, Kachera) – cotton underwear ✓ Kirpan - steel sword Judaism o Founder: Hebrew leader, Abraham, in 2000 BC, in Israel o Monotheist religion o Place of worship - synagogue o Spiritual leaders – Rabbis o Jewish Holy Book – the Torah (five books revealed to Moses by God on Mount Sinai) Torah is the first part of the TaNaCH (collection of Jewish scripture) – acronym for the 3 parts of the Hebrew Bible: "T" is for Torah, "N" is for Nevi'im, and "CH" is for Ketuvim o Jewish holy day – Sabbath Challah (special bread) Challah covers (special cloth used to cover the two braided loaves (challah) set out on the table at the beginning of a Shabbat or Yom Tov meal) Kippah (a skull cap) Tefilin (small leather box with long leather straps) Tallit (a prayer shawl) o Ceremonies  Bar mitzvah (Son of the Commandments) – for 13-year-old boys Bat mitzvah (Daughter of the Commandments) – for 12-year-old girls o Kosher Food No mixing of dairy and meat No animal which has a split hoof, e.g. rabbit or hare, pig, horse, dog or cat Animals which chew its cud No shell fish Buddhism o Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) in the 4th or 5th C. B.C. in India. o No belief in a personal creator God o Symbols Wheel of life Lotus flower Images of Buddha o Buddhist Temples Pagodas Stupa o Puja – Buddhist worship o Belief in reincarnation – cycle broken by Enlightenment (Nirvana) o Importance of meditation to reach Nirvana o Buddhist sacred book – Tripitaka, written in an ancient Indian language (Pali) o The Three Jewels (3 central Buddhist beliefs) Belief in Buddha Dharma - The teaching of Buddha The Sangha - the Buddhist community (ordinary people, monks and nuns) o Buddha’s teaching Three Signs of Beings 1. Nothing in life is perfect (dukkha). 2. Everything in life is changing, all the time (anicca). 3. There is no soul (anatta) karma. Four Noble Truths 1. Dukkha – suffering exists. 2. Samudaya – there is a cause for suffering. 3. Nirodha – there is an end to suffering. 4. Magga – the Noble 8-fold Path leads to the end of suffering. Noble Eightfold Path 1. Right View 2. Right Intentions 3. Right Speech 4. Right Action  5. Right Livelihood 6. Right Effort 7. Right Concentration 8. Right Mindfulness o Path to Enlightenment (nirvana) through the practice and development of three qualities: 1. Wisdom (panna) 2. Morality (sila) 3. Meditation (samadhi) o 5 Precepts (morals) 1. Do not take the life of anything living. 2. Do not take anything not freely given. 3. Abstain from sexual misconduct and sensual overindulgence. 4. Refrain from untrue speech. 5. Do not consume alcohol or other drugs. Political System Parliamentary Democracy Constitutional Monarchy ✓ Monarch = head of state Queen- ceremonial role - 3 rights: to be consulted, to advise, to warn Parliament Genesis and Increasing powers o Anglo-Saxon times: Witans – great councils consulted by the king o 1215: Magna Carta o 1264: 1st parliament of nobles o 1341: Parliament of England - 2 Houses: upper house – nobility + clergy (House of Lords); lower house – knights + burgesses (House of Commons ) o 15th C./16thC. – supremacy of the monarch o 1642-9: Civil War; Charles I executed – tensions between Parliament and king; Upper House abolished o Commonwealth period with Oliver Cromwell o 1660: restoration of the monarchy and the House of Lords o 1688-9: Glorious Revolution; James II deposed o 1689: Bill of Rights – 1st legal step towards constitutional monarchy Authority of Parliament over the monarch Principle of freedom of speech in parliamentary debates, etc. o 1707: 1st Parliament of Great Britain  o 19th C. and 20th C. – several reform acts – right to vote to more ordinary people (“commons”) – men in 1867; women in 1928 o 1911 and 1949 bills – legislative primacy of the Commons over the Lords o British constitution – unwritten/uncodified Acts of Parliament (laws or statutes) Common Law – ways the laws have been interpreted in Law Courts Conventions (precedents) – way things have been done for centuries Treaties (some of which incorporated into law by Acts of Parliament) Works of authority – interpretations of aspects of the UK constitution, mostly by 19th C. or early 20th C. constitutionalists General Elections o 5 years after the previous (cf. Fixed-term Parliament Act 2011) o Since 1931 – on a Thursday (7.00 a.m. - 10.00 p.m.) o TV election specials – the swingometer o “the race to declare” Elections o 1 constituency = 1 MP (member of parliament); 650 constituencies in 2015 o Change of electoral map (nº of constituencies) at least every 15 years o No proportional representation o Simple majority basis - “first-past-the-post” system o Two-party system o 2010 – Conservatives – 306 MPs; coalition with Liberal Democrats o 2015 – no need for coalition; absolute majority =/> 326 MPs (Conservatives – 331) o 2017 – snap election – Conservatives - 317 seats (missing 9 for the absolute majority) – “confidence and supply agreement” with the Democratic Unionist Party Arguments for the System o Each constituency – 1 MP to represent it o Clear choice between 2 alternatives o Stable government for up to 5 years o Each party – wide range of attitudes o Each party’s programme – a compromise to avoid extremes Executive power o UK government  The Cabinet (ca.20 ministers with the title of “Secretary of State for…”) Meetings once a week – on Tuesdays morning - nº 10, Downing Street (Prime Minister’s official residence) Ministerial solidarity The Shadow Cabinet Houses of Parliament House of Commons ❖ Library ❖ Restaurants ❖ Hundreds of committee rooms ❖ Private or shared offices for MPs ❖ The “House” – debating chamber ✓ Just about 370 seats for the 650 MPs ❖ Meeting/sitting hours ✓ Mondays 2.30-10.30pm ✓ Tuesdays and Wednesdays 11.30am-7.30pm ✓ Thursdays 9.30am-5.30pm ✓ Sitting Fridays 9.30am-3pm ❖ Life of Parliament - sessions ❖ House of Lords - State Opening of Parliament by the Queen ✓ 'Address in Reply to Her Majesty's Gracious Speech’– 2.30 p.m. (Commons); 3.30 p.m. (Lords) ❖ Debate’s procedure ✓ Motion moved/proposed by an MP ✓ Debate ✓ Proposal of amendment ✓ Vote – in case of disagreement: division a) Vote in the ‘Aye lobby’ and ‘No lobby’ b) Ringing of bells for 8 minutes to summon MPs to the chamber ✓ Vote – division a) Whips – party managers b) Tied vote – Speaker’s casting vote c) Pairing system d) Division List (published in Hansard and the Parliament site) House of Lords ❖ No fixed numbers (790 seats – January 2019) ❖ In the past - mainly hereditary composition (about 2/3 of peers by heredity ±800) - Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, Baron  ❖ Since 1999 – 92 peers by succession/hereditary members (currently only 1 woman) ❖ Types of members ✓ Lords Spiritual – clergy of the Church of England a) 2 Archbishops, 24 bishops (leave the house on retirement) ✓ Lords Temporal a) Hereditary peers (92) b) Life peers – appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister; created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 c) The Lords of Appeal in Ordinary (more commonly known as Law Lords) – 12 since 1994 ❖ Powers – a revising chamber a) No power in matters of taxation and finance – direct from the House of Commons to the Queen b) Pass bills sent from the House of Commons c) Amend bills and send them back to the Commons for approval d) Delay bills for a limited time (reject once, but approve the 2nd time) e) Start its own bills and send them to the Commons for approval House of Parliament – making laws ❖ Bill – proposal for a new law; preparation of the text ❖ Passage through both Houses of Parliament, though usually submitted to the Commons first ❖ 1st reading ❖ 2nd reading ❖ Committee stage ❖ Report stage ❖ 3rd reading ❖ Consideration of amendments ❖ Royal Assent becoming a law (an Act of Parliament) o Scottish Parliament (Pàrlamaid na h-Alba) Edinburgh (Holyrood) 129 MSPs (Members of the Scottish Parliament) – mixed member proportional representation system - 73 elected through a “first past the post” system + 56 through a proportional representation system o National Assembly for Wales (Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru) Cardiff 60 AMs (Assembly Members) – 40 elected through plurality system + 20 through d'Hondt method of proportional representation o Northern Ireland Assembly (Tionól Thuaisceart Éireann) Belfast (Stormont) 108 MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly) – the D'Hondt method of proportional representation Political Parties o Conservative Party (since 1830) Right-wing direction Tories Party’s leader = director of party’s policies o Labour Party (since 1900’s) Socialist party of the working class Attempt to give real power to trade unions and ordinary members Annual conference – supreme policy-making body o Liberal Democratic Party Centre party After general election of 1987 – fusion Social Democratic Party + Liberal Party o Green Party (since 1980s) First MP in the 2010 General Election (maintained in 2015 and 2017) o Communist Party of Great Britain (1920) 60s and 70s – decline of the party 1977/1991 – break-up of the party after the dissolution of Soviet Union Democratic Left, New Politics Network, Unlock Democracy o (British) National Front (since 1967) o British National Party (1982)  FESTIVALS, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS Epiphany/Twelfth Night (5-6 January) Epiphany: Christian holiday primarily Twelfth Night: It’s a Christian festival marking the coming of commemorating the Magi’s visit to the Epiphany. The Church of England marks it on January 5. baby Jesus and the baptism of Jesus by It is the time to take down your tree and decorations and pack them John the Baptist. Christian feast day that away in the loft, cellar or garage for another year. celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ, celebrated 12 Twelfth Night is an annual seasonal celebration held on the Bankside days after Christmas on January 6th. It by Shakespeare's Globe, in London. It is a celebration of the New marks the end of Christmas. Year, mixing ancient Midwinter seasonal customs with contemporary festivity. Twelfth Cake The focal part of the Twelfth Night side table was the elaborately decorated Twelfth cake, essentially a rich fruit cake containing brandy, covered in a layer of rockhard royal icing, the top groaning under the weight of sugar figures and other intricate sculptures and piping. Inside each Twelfth cake a large, dried bean or pea would be baked; on the big day, those who discovered them would be proclaimed king or queen for the rest of the day. Twelfth Night Plays ✓ Mummers’ Plays 1 (pantomimes2) - Mummers' Plays are one of the oldest surviving features of the traditional English Christmas. The plays are based loosely on the legend of St. George and the dragon. The plays are intended to show the struggle between good and evil. During the Twelfth Night Celebrations in London, The Lions Part Mummers perform the traditional 'freestyle' Folk Combat Play of St. George. 1 Folk plays performed by troupes of amateur actors, traditionally all male. Known as mummers or guisers. 2 A popular traditional form of theatre (which involves lots of audience participation). Burns’s Night (25th January) Burns Night is a festival to celebrate Scotland's most famous poet Robert Burns. He was born on 25 January 1759 in a village called Alloway in Scotland. Therefore, Burns Night is celebrated on 25 January as it's his birthday. He died on 21 July 1796, aged 37. How is it celebrated? People who want to be traditional might even follow an official running order for their evening, with speeches, poems and music at specific times. Others might choose to have a quieter evening with some poetry reading. There may also be dancing, and traditional Scottish music played on bagpipes.  Haggis is traditionally eaten on Burns Night, along with mashed turnips ("neeps") and potatoes ("tatties") One of the main ways that Burns Night is celebrated is with a very traditional meal. Haggis is a bit like spicy mince, made with bits of meat you might not normally eat, like sheep's intestines! It also has onion, stock and other things in it too. Whisky is the traditional drink. Symbols The Scottish flag is often displayed at Burns Night celebrations. It is known as the Saltire and consists of a rectangular blue background with thick white bars on the diagonals. The diagonals form a cross that represents Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. At Burns Night events, many men wear kilts and women may wear shawls, skirts or dresses made from their family tartan. A tartan was originally a woolen cloth with a distinctive pattern made by using colors of weft and warp when weaving. Particular patterns and combinations of colors were associated with different areas, clans and families. Tartan patterns are now printed on various materials. Up-Helly-Aa (Last Tuesday of January) The festival itself is relatively new – and grew from older Yuletide and New Year festivities when young men beat drums, blew horns, fired guns, shouted and caused mischief on Old Christmas Eve. “Up Helly Aa” refers to any of a variety of fire festivals held annually in Scotland in the middle of winter to mark the end of the yule season. The Guiser Jarl ✓ It is the principal character in the celebration of Up Helly Aa. Which takes place on the last Tuesday of January. Each Guiser Jarl takes the name of a figure in Norse legend. The Jarl Squad ✓ It is made up of the Guiser Jarl’s supporters. It is the principal of many squads, and the participants are called guisers.  The Galley ✓ Each year a replica of a Viking longship is built. The Procession ✓ After nightfall, the longship is dragged through the streets of the town in a torchlight procession. The torchbearers are the members of all the squads, led by the Jarl Squad. Each squad chooses a theme and dresses accordingly. The themes are very varied, some historical, some topical or satirical. The Circle Round the Gallery ✓ When all the torchbearers arrive at the final resting spot of the longship, they form a circle around it and sing the traditional Up Helly Aa song. Setting Fire to the Gallery ✓ After the singing of the Up Helly Aa song, the guisers throw their torches into the longship. The Burning Gallery ✓ Once the longship has burned and the flames die down, guisers sing the traditional song "The Norseman's Home" before going on to a night of partying.  Shrove Tuesday/Pancake day (between 3rd February and 9th March) It’s a day in February or March preceding Ash Wednesday which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes. This moveable feast is determined by Easter. Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football Game ✓ It is a medieval football game played annually on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday in the town of Ashbourne in England. Skipping the rope Pancake races – female contest Palm Sunday Palm Sunday is the sixth and last Sunday of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week. Holy Week is the week before Easter, commemorating events in the last days of Jesus' life. It begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Monday. What is Palm Sunday? The Sunday before Easter is known as Palm Sunday. It celebrates Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of Passover. The Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday because the crowds waved palm branches as they followed Jesus' procession into Jerusalem. What happens on Palm Sunday in England? On Palm Sunday, children are given crosses made from single palm leaves. Traditionally, many churches will have a procession in or around the church while people sing songs of praise and wave palm leaves. This is to help them imagine what Jesus' entry into Jerusalem might have been like. Pax Cakes In some English churches small buns called pax cakes (symbolic of peace and goodwill) are given to the congregation as they leave after a Palm Sunday service.  Ash Wednesday The Christian season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. The date of Ash Wednesday varies each year according to the date of Easter. It is always six-and-a-half weeks before Easter. What is Ash Wednesday? Ash Wednesday is a day of penitence to clean the soul before the Lent fast. Christians use ash as a symbol of being sorry for things they have done wrong and want to get rid of forever. Christians rubbed ashes on their foreheads because they wanted to show God that they were sorry for the wrong things they had done in the past year. What do the ashes symbolise? Using ashes to mark the cross on the believer's forehead symbolizes that through Christ's death and resurrection, all Christians can be free from sin. Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) Maundy Thursday - also called Holy Thursday is the day before Good Friday and is the feast or holy day on the Thursday before Easter that Christians remember and commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles, where during the meal, Jesus took bread and wine and shared them with his disciples. What happens in England on Maundy Thursday? In England, the custom of washing feet by the Monarch was carried out until 1689. Up until then the King or Queen would wash the feet of the poor on Maundy Thursday in Westminster Abbey. (You should, however, note that the feet were first washed by Yeoman of the Laundry before the monarch had to wash them and kiss them!). Food and clothing were also handed out to the poor. Nowadays, traditionally, the Queen/King gives Maundy money to a group of pensioners from local communities near the Cathedral where the service takes place.  Good Friday (Holy Friday) Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday (Easter Day). On Good Friday, Christians remember the day when Jesus was crucified on the cross. Good Friday today is still a public holiday in much of the UK. This means that many businesses are closed. Fasting - Some Christians fast (go without food) on Good Friday. This helps them remember the sacrifice Jesus made for them on the day of crucifixion. Procession - Some Christians take part in a procession of witnesses, carrying a cross through the streets and then into the church. Many Churches hold services lasting three hours. They may celebrate the Stations of the Cross, or take part in Passion plays and dramatic readings. Churches are not decorated on Good Friday. In some churches, pictures and statues are covered over. It is seen as a time of mourning. Traditional Food It is traditional to eat warm 'Hot Cross Buns' on Good Friday. Hot Cross Buns with their combination of spicy, sweet and fruity flavours have long been an Easter tradition. The pastry cross on top of the buns symbolizes and reminds Christians of the cross on which Jesus was killed. It is traditional to eat fish on Good Friday instead of meat. Easter Sunday (Easter Day) What happens on Easter Sunday today? Christians gather together on Easter Sunday for a Sunrise Service. This service takes place on a hillside so everyone can see the sunrise. Some Christians take part in an Easter vigil, lighting a new fire outside the church early on Sunday morning. The Paschal candle, decorated with studs to celebrate Christ's wounds, may be lit from the fire and carried into the church where it is used to light the candles of the worshippers. The Easter Eucharist is a particularly joyful service. It is a popular time for baptisms and the renewal of baptism vows.  Easter Presents Chocolate eggs are given to children. The eggs are either hollow or have a filling, and are usually covered with brightly colored silver paper. Around 80 million chocolate eggs are eaten each year in Britain. Easter Egg Hunt - Small chocolate eggs are hidden for the children to find on the traditional Easter Egg Hunt. In recent years this game has been linked to the Easter Bunny, which only arrived in England relatively recently. Easter cards arrived in Victorian England when a stationer added a greeting to a drawing of a rabbit. The cards proved popular. Special Food at Easter After the lean months of winter and the fast weeks of Lent, food at Easter was always a special treat. Boiled eggs are traditionally served at breakfast, and then Easter cards and gifts may be exchanged. Roast lamb, which is the main dish at Jewish Passover, is the traditional meat for the main meal on Easter Day. It is served with mint sauce and vegetables. The traditional Easter pudding is Custard tarts sprinkled with currants and flat Easter biscuits, which are sometimes called "Cakes", and are eaten on Easter Sunday. They contain spices, currants and sometimes grated lemon rind. Simnel cake is baked for tea, it is a rich fruitcake covered with a thick layer of almond paste (marzipan). A layer of marzipan is also traditionally baked into the middle of the cake. Eleven balls of marzipan are placed around the top to represent the eleven true disciples (excluding Judas). Fool’s Day (1 April) April Fools’ Day—celebrated on April 1 each year—has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, though its exact origins remain a mystery. April Fools’ Day traditions include playing hoaxes or practical jokes on others. History of April Fools’ Day April Fools’ Day spread throughout Britain during the 18th century. In Scotland, the tradition became a two-day event, starting with “hunting the gowk,” in which people were sent on phoney errands (gowk is a word for cuckoo bird, a symbol for fool) and followed by Tailie Day, which involved pranks played on people’s derrieres, such as pinning fake tails or “kick me” signs on them. April Fools’ Day Pranks In modern times, people have gone to great lengths to create elaborate April Fools’ Day hoaxes. Newspapers, radio and TV stations and websites have participated in the April 1 tradition of reporting outrageous fictional claims that have fooled their audiences.  May Day (1st May) It is the time of year when warmer weather begins, and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is said to be a time of love and romance. It’s a traditional spring holiday and festival. Dances, singing and cakes are usually part of the festivities. It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of different customs that are expressions of joy and hope after a long winter. Decorating Houses May Day began early in the morning. People would go out before sunrise to gather flowers and greenery to decorate their houses and villages with the belief that the vegetation spirits would bring good fortune. Washing in the early morning dew Girls would make a special point of washing their faces in the dew of the early morning. They believed this made them very beautiful for the following year. Traditional English May Day celebrations include: May Queen - The highlight of the day was the crowning of the May Queen, the human replica of Flora. By tradition, she took no part in the games or dancing but sat like a queen in a flower-decked chair to watch her 'subjects'. Maypole Dancing – Maypoles were once common all over England and were kept from one year to the next. Schools would practice skipping around the pole for weeks before the final show on the village greens. The end results would be either a beautiful plaited pattern of ribbons around the pole or a tangled cat's cradle. Morris dancing - It is a traditional English form of folk dancing, performed by groups of men or women. The dancing is very lively and accompanied by an accordion player, a melodeon or fiddle player (Cotswolds) or a noisy band with a drum (Border Morris or Northwest sides) There are usually six or eight dancers arranged in two lines or a circle facing each other. May Day Bank Holiday The month of May has many traditions and celebrations. For the convenience of the general public, many May Day activities have now been moved to the new May Day holiday on the first Monday of the month. This Monday is a bank holiday, a day off school and work. The weekend is known as bank holiday weekend because it comes with the extra day holiday on Monday.  Whitsunday – Pentecost Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit in the form of flames to the followers of Jesus. Jesus had told them to wait until the Spirit came to them. Ten days after ascension, 50 days after the resurrection, the Spirit came. Pentecost is recognized as the birth of the Christian Church. Whit Sunday is a favorite day for baptism. It is thought that because people are often baptized dressed in white, Whit Sunday was probably originally known as 'White Sunday'. Customs and Traditions Whit Walks Christians in some towns and cities have traditionally taken part in Whit Walks. Whitsun was the time for walks and processions. The traditional "Procession of Witness" has long been celebrated throughout the North West. Bread and Cheese Throwing In Gloucestershire, Whit Sunday is often referred to as 'Bread and Cheese Day'. In St Braivels, Gloucestershire, following evensong on Whit Monday, basketfuls of bread and cheese are thrown from a wall near the old castle, to be scrambled for in a lane below. The locals of St Braivels have been hurling bread and cheese since the 13th century when the custom began probably as a payment for the villagers' right to cut timber from a nearby wood. Cheese Rolling Gloucester cheese Rolling - Randwick, Gloucestershire, England: After rolling three double Gloucester cheeses around the church, one is cut up and shared amongst bystanders and the other two are rolled down a steep hill. Stilton Cheese Rolling - Stilton, Cambridgeshire: Teams of four, in bizarre costumes, roll stilton cheese along a 50-yard course. They must not kick or throw the cheeses. The prize is a whole Stilton Cheese, which weighs about 16 pounds, and bottles of port—the traditional accompaniment.  State Opening of Parliament (May) What is it? A ceremony which marks the official start of the parliamentary year. It is the only regular occasion when the three constituent parts of Parliament – the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons – meet. It usually takes place on the first day of a new parliamentary session or shortly after a general election. Why are the cellars of the Palace of Westminster searched? Because of the Gunpowder plot of 1605, when an attempt was made by the Catholics to blow up the Protestant King James I and the Parliament. – Guy Fawkes. Where does the King depart from? The King leaves Buckingham Palace to Westminster. The imperial crown and regalia travel in front of the King’s carriage. What happens in the Robing Room? Upon the King’s shoulders is placed a long crimson velvet Robe of State. What stands between the House of Lords and the House of Commons? The Royal Gallery. What do members of the House of Lords wear? They wear appropriate ceremonial robes. Judges of the High Court of Justice wear their wigs. Who is the Black Rod? He/she is an official of the House of Lords who summons the House of Common to follow him/her and listen to the King’s speech. What happens when the Black Rod summons the House of Commons? And why? The door is shut and he/she has to knock three times to be admitted, as a reminder of the Common’s independence from the Monarchy. During the ceremony, a member of the House of Commons is held hostage at Buckingham Palace to ensure the monarch’s safe return. Who writes the speech? The government writes the speech, setting out the key policies and legislation for the coming year.  Trooping the Color (Second Saturday of June) The official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II is marked each year by a military parade and march-past, known as Trooping the Color (Carrying of the Flag). The official name is “the Queen’s Birthday Parade”. Each June, the Queen and other members of the Royal Family attend the Trooping the Color ceremony on Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall in London. The Queen attends the ceremony to take the salute from thousands of guardsmen who parade the Color (their regiment's flag). It is only the Foot Guards of the Household Division that take part in the Queen’s Birthday Parade, with the exception of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, (based in St. John’s Wood). The Kings Troop, parade round with the Household Cavalry after the Foot Guards have trooped the Color in slow and quick time. The Sovereign's Official Birthday The Queen's birthday parade is the biggest royal event of the year. The Trooping the Color is a tradition going back to the days when the Colors (regimental flag of the regiment) was trooped in front of soldiers to make sure everyone could recognize their flag in battle. The Colors today are trooped in front of the Queen troops of the Household Division. Parade Route The parade route goes from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horseguards Parade, Whitehall and back again. It is a ceremony performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies. It is held in London annually on a Saturday in June and it is broadcast live by the BBC. Midsummer Day (24th June) It is the period of time centered upon the summer solstice. This day marks the midpoint of the growing season. The night before Midsummer Day is called Midsummer Eve (June 23), on or near the shortest night of the year! Celebrations for Midsummer typically begin on Midsummer Eve. Dancing, feasting, bonfires, and general merrymaking are hallmarks of the night! In Britain, folks surround the ancient Stonehenge monument and dance and play drums to mark the Sun’s solstice peek—and peaking appearance—between slivers of rock.  Swan Upping The Swan Upping event takes place in July each year, commencing on the third Monday at Sunbury and ending at Abingdon on the Friday, on the River Thames. Swans are counted and marked on a 70-mile, five-day journey up the River Thames. The swans on the River Thames are Mute Swans (Cygnus color). The Swan Uppers catch and check the health of the swans and their cygnets through five counties, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, to Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The ceremony of Swan Upping dates from the 12th Century when the ownership of all unmarked mute swans on certain stretches of the river Thames and its surrounding tributaries was claimed by the Crown to ensure an ample supply of meat for royal banquets and feasts. Swans used to be a luxury food. Today, Swan Uppers are concerned about conservation rather than the kitchen. The swans face a variety of perils such as being shot, attacked by dogs, or getting caught up in fishing tackle. The Swan Upping ceremony developed as how the Crown, the Vintners and the Dyers identified their swans. They record the number of birds on the River and mark the new cygnets (baby swans) to show who owns them. Swans are no longer eaten but the practice of counting and marking the swans on the River Thames still takes place in the third week of July every year. Swan Uppers row up the Thames in traditional skiffs A pageant of six traditional rowing skiffs (a small light boat propelled by oars) - each flying a swan-emblazoned royal pennant - take the five-day journey up the River Thames. The 19 crewmen represent the Queen's, Vintners, and Dyers, Companies. Notting Hill Carnival The Notting Hill Carnival is a huge multicultural arts festival. It is the second largest carnival in the world after Rio de Janeiro, and about two million people attend it every year. The carnival is on August Bank Holiday weekend, which is always the last weekend of August. The main carnival days are Sunday and Monday – Sunday is a day for children and families.  How did the carnival begin? In the 1950s, many Caribbean immigrants to the UK went to live in the Notting Hill area of London. They experienced a lot of hardship during their first years in Britain and often had poor housing and badly paid jobs, and were victims of racial prejudice. They missed the traditions and culture of their native countries, so they started organizing their own social events, such as dances, where they could meet and socialize freely. What happens at the Notting Hill Carnival? There are five disciplines of carnival. Mas comes from the word ‘masquerade’, and is about the costumes people wear, and Steel-band is the traditional music of the Caribbean. Calypso is a political, social and satirical commentary with music, and Soca is the traditional music of carnival, which is a fusion of soul and calypso. On the Friday before the carnival, the Calypso Monarch is chosen in the London Calypso Tent. The Calypso Monarch is the best calypso singer. Children's parade Sunday is the day of the children’s parade. The parade starts at 9am and marks the beginning of the carnival parades. It is perfect for all those who want to enjoy the street party in a less busy environment. Sunday is also the day when the costume prizes are awarded. Main parade The main parade takes place on bank holiday Monday, starting at 9.30am and finishing at 8.30pm. Expect to see flamboyant costumes decorated with feathers, sequins and tassels, stunningly ornate floats and hundreds of food stalls selling delicious cuisine from around the world. Also, get ready to dance to the sunny and uplifting tunes of the many sound systems filling the streets with Caribbean music. Music - There are about 40 Sound systems, where you can hear not only traditional carnival music but also more contemporary sounds, everything from reggae, hip hop, jazz, swing, and blues to drum ‘n’ bass. Food - During the carnival weekend there are more than 300 stalls lining the streets, with the majority selling delicious authentic Caribbean food. Caribbean cuisine has many influences including French, Spanish, Dutch, British and African.  Halloween On October 31st, we celebrate Halloween, thought to be the one night of the year when ghosts, witches, and fairies are especially active. Why do we celebrate Halloween? What we do know for sure is that Halloween is on the eve of a major Catholic festival, All Saints (1st November) and the eve of the pagan Celtic festival known as Samhain. Currently, it is widely thought that Halloween originated as a pagan Celtic festival of the dead related to the Irish and Scottish Samhain, but there is no evidence that it related to the dead in pre-Christian times. Halloween Customs In parts of the north of England Halloween was known as Nut-crack Night. Nuts were put on the fire and, according to their behavior in the flames, forecast faithfulness in sweethearts and the success or failure of marriages. Halloween was also sometimes called Snap Apple Night, in England. A game called snap apple was played where apples were suspended on a long piece of string. Contestants had to try a bite the apple without using their hands. Many places in England combined Halloween with Mischief Night (celebrated on 4 November), when boys played all kinds of practical jokes on their neighbors. They changed shop signs, took gates off their hinges, whitewashed doors, and tied door latches. The current use of pumpkins (Carving Jack-o.Lanterns) is a relatively modern innovation imported from the United States, and also the “trick-or-treat” tradition. Bonfire Night - 5th November In November 1605, the infamous Gunpowder Plot took place in which some Catholics plotted to blow up the English Parliament and King James l, on the day set for the king to open Parliament. The story is remembered each 5th of November when 'Guys' are burned in a celebration known as "Bonfire Night".  Why did Guy Fawkes want to kill King James I and the king’s leaders? When Queen Elizabeth I took the throne of England she made some laws against the Roman Catholics. Guy Fawkes was one of a small group of Catholics who felt that the government was treating Roman Catholics unfairly. They hoped that King James I would change the laws, but he didn't. Catholics had to practice their religion in secret. There were even fines for people who didn't attend the Protestant church on Sundays or holy days. James l passed more laws against the Catholics when he became king. What happened - the Gunpowder Plot The plot was simple - the next time Parliament was opened by King James l; they would blow up everyone there with gunpowder. The men bought a house next door to the parliament building. The house had a cellar which went under the parliament building. They planned to put gunpowder under the house and blow up parliament and the king. Guy Fawkes was given the job to keep watch over the barrels of gunpowder and to light the fuse. On the morning of 5th November, soldiers discovered Guy hidden in the cellar and arrested him. The trail of gunpowder at his feet would never be lit. Guy Fawkes was taken to the Tower of London and was tortured and questioned about the other plotters. Celebration - celebration of his survival, King James ordered that the people of England should have a great bonfire on the night of 5th November. The event is still commemorated annually in England on 5th November by fireworks and burning ‘guys’ (effigies) on bonfires and reading Guy Fawkes's poem. Food - As well as burning effigy of Guy Fawkes, the bonfires are used to cook potatoes wrapped in foil and to heat up soup for the crowds that come to watch the fireworks. The traditional cake eaten on bonfire night is Parkin Cake, a sticky cake containing a mix of oatmeal, ginger, treacle, and syrup. Other foods include sausages cooked over the flames and marshmallows toasted in the fire. The Lord Mayor’s Show (second Saturday of November) A new lord mayor is appointed every year and the public parade that takes place as his or her inauguration ceremony reflects that this was once one of the most prominent offices in England. The position of Lord Mayor has a role within the City and is entirely distinct from the position of Mayor of London.  LEISURE TIME Leisure time activities Watching television Reading Socializing DIY (Do It Yourself) Sports Gardening Hobbies Going to the cinema Listening to the radio Eating out Listening to music Allotments Sports (BALLS) o Cricket (May-August) is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a 20-metre pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. Ball Bat Wickets (stumps + bails) Bowler Batters Fielders o Football (September-April) English invention (1863) No British team in international competitions: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland Football Hooliganism: is the term used to describe disorderly, violent or destructive behavior perpetrated by spectators at association football events. o Rugby It is a contact team sport which originated in England. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its most common form, a game is between two teams of 15 players using an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field with H-shaped goalposts on each try line. Rugby Football Union – January 26, 1871 ✓ 20 players (changed in 1877 to 15) ✓ Strictly amateur; no payment to players Northern Rugby Football Union – August 29, 1895 ✓ Rugby Football League (1922) ✓ Professional sport (mainly North of England) ✓ 13 players August 26, 1995 – removal of all restrictions on payments to Rugby Union. o Golf It is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible. o Tennis It is a racket sport that can be played individually against a single opponent (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). o Bowls The objective is to roll biased balls so that they stop close to a smaller ball called a "jack" or "kitty". Sports (ANIMALS) o Horse Racing Flat racing: run over distances on courses without obstacles. ✓ Level track at a predetermined distance (1km or +3km) ✓ Natural grass surface (turf) National Hunt racing: run over distances where horses usually jump either hurdles or fences (races known as steeplechases). ✓ Diverse fence and ditch obstacles ✓ The Grand National (Liverpool in April) ✓ Ascot Gold Cup (Royal Ascot) – 3rd week of June  o Greyhound Racing It is an organized, competitive sport in which greyhounds are raced around a track. o Fox Hunting It is an activity involving the tracking, chasing and, if caught, the killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds. And a group of unarmed followers led by a "master of foxhounds" ("master of hounds"), who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback. o Fishing (Angling) Angling is a method of fishing using an "angle" (fish hook). The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. o Polo It is a horseback-mounted team sport. The game is played by two opposing teams to score goals by hitting a small hard ball with a long-handled wooden mallet, and through the opposing team's goal. British Music o Scotland o North of England Brass bands Bagpipes o Central and Southern England o London Choirs singing old hymns (village church) Classical music (concert halls and opera houses); buskers on the streets; pop music o Wales Male voice choirs  Music in the 1960s – what’s new? o Rock’n Roll A way of life o Music A reflection of the youth's feelings o Production of songs with a social or political message o Innovative use of technology Sound effects o Beat music or Merseybeat o Psychedelic music Hallucinogenic drugs Transition to hard rock and heavy metal (mid- 60s) o Pop music Emphasis on meaning, oriented towards the albums market (around 1967) PUBS o Ploughman's Lunch It’s a cold meal which is based on bread, cheese, and onions, and is usually accompanied by butter and some form of pickle. Additional items such as ham, green salad, hard-boiled eggs and apples can be added. The meal is particularly associated with public houses and is often accompanied by beer. Food for Festivals Drinks  THE POLITICAL SYSTEM Parliamentary Democracy Constitutional Monarchy ✓ Monarch = head of state Parliament Genesis and Increasing Powers o Anglo-Saxon times: Witans – great councils consulted by the king o 1215: Magna Carta o 1264: 1st parliament of nobles o 1341: Parliament of England - 2 Houses: upper house – nobility + clergy (House of Lords); lower house – knights + burgesses (House of Commons) o 15th C./16thC. – supremacy of the monarch o 1642-9: Civil War; Charles I executed – tensions between Parliament and king; Upper House abolished Commonwealth period with Oliver Cromwell o 1660: restoration of the monarchy and the House of Lords o 1688-9: Glorious Revolution; James II deposed o 1689: Bill of Rights – 1st legal step towards constitutional monarchy Authority of Parliament over the monarch Principle of freedom of speech in parliamentary debates, etc. o 1707: 1st Parliament of Great Britain o 19th C. and 20th C. – several reform acts – right to vote to more ordinary people (“commons”) – men in 1867; women in 1928 o 1911 and 1949 bills –