Tea, black taxi cabs, Queen Elizabeth

2. What are the world famous traditions that bump you first when remembering English rural life?

Afternoon tea One of the most well-known English traditions is afternoon tea – light refreshments, including tea, traditionally served around 5 p. m. English people often drink tea with milk; they may or may not add sugar. Tea is usually taken along with sandwiches, crumpets, scones, cakes, jam and marmalade. Traditional tea treats also include puddings, muffins and biscuits.

Pancake Day Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday is held in February or March. It is the day, preceding the first day of the 40 days long Lent. It has been celebrated in Britain for centuries. People traditionally eat a lot of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. On Pancake Day children go from house to house asking for a pancake. “Pancake races” are held all over the Britain. Contestants have to race with frying pans flipping pancakes in the air.

3. Do the words Stonehenge, Hadrian Wall, Tartan, Snowdonia seem familiar to you?

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England

Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification in the Roman province of Britannia

Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours.

Snowdonia is a mountainous region in north west Wales and a national park.

 

4. Do you know the glorious history of Union Jack?

The first step taken in the creation of the flag of Great Britain was on 12th April 1606. When King James VI of Scotland became king of England (King James I) it was decided that the union of the two realms under one king should be represented symbolically by a new flag. Originally It consisted in the red cross of England superimposed on the white cross of Scotland on the blue background of the Scottish flag as in this illustration:

Thus we have the first flag of the union called, in fact, the "Union Flag".

What was meant to be a symbol of unity actually became a symbol of international controversy. The English resented the fact that the white background of their cross had disappeared and that the new flag had the blue Scottish background. On the other hand the Scottish resented the fact that the English red cross was superimposed on the Scottish white cross!! The old adage says you cannot please everyone but this first version of the Union Flag seemed to please no-one!!

Apparently there was an unofficial "Scottish version" that attempted to rectify the sense of injustice that the Scottish felt at this innovatory flag. A distinct reference was made to this version when the King visited Dumfries in 1618.

The controversy was destined to last!! There is conflict in the best of families!!

However, the flag was usually restricted to use at sea until the two kingdoms of Scotland and England were united in 1707. It was most probably from this use at sea that it got the name "Jack" ("Union Jack"). It was usually flown at the bow end of the ship, from the jack staff.

An attempt was made to modify the flag under Oliver Cromwell. A harp was placed in the centre, representing Ireland. However, the original design was restored along with the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

The flag continued to be used in its original form until Jan. 1, 1801. At that time, with the union of Ireland and Great Britain, it became necessary to represent Ireland in the Union Flag and so the cross of St. Patrick was include thus creating the flag as we now have it. When the southern part of Ireland gained its independence in 1921 and became the Irish Free State no alteration was made to the Union Jack.

The name "Union Jack" became official when it was approved in Parliament in 1908. It was stated that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag".

 

5. Can you remember some expressions or set-phrases of either mythological or biblical origin?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

A labour of love

A leopard cannot change its spots

 

6. Can you name any persona or object that can stand for the symbol of England?

Big Ben

7. Try to find at least 5 connotative items for England and match them with the same words in Russian. Do the latter have the same meaning for Russia? Test other languages: German, French etc;

· dog connotes shamelessness or an ugly face.

· A dove implies peace or gentility.

· Home suggests family, comfort and security.

· Pushy refers to someone loud-mouthed and irritating.

· Mom and Dad when used in place of mother and father connote loving parents.

 

8. Compare Russian and English literature by finding the aphorisms of the famous writers. Try to find out whether we use the same aphorisms from English literature or we have our own meaning and author?

Every English poet should master the rules of grammar before he attempts to bend or break them.

Robert Graves

Дивишься драгоценности нашего языка: что ни звук, то и подарок: все зернисто, крупно, как сам жемчуг, и, право, иное названье еще драгоценней самой вещи. - Н. Гоголь