British Traditions
Coordinator: May 2010
Candidate:
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Table Of Contents
• Rationale……………………………………………………………...3 • 1.Introduction……………………………………………….………...4 The meaning of traditions and superstitions for British people..4 • 2.Traditions – All Year Round British Folklore and Customs…….....5 Christmas in the UK………………………………..……….…9 ♦ A Christmas story…………………………………….……9 ♦ Chritmas nowadays……………………………....…….….11 • 3.Superstitions……………………………………….…………….....13 • 3.1.What do Superstitions mean to the Britih?.....................................13 • 3.2.A strong superstition…………………………………………..….13 • 3.3.Good luck or Bad luck?..................................................................14 • 3.4.Superstitions for everyone………………………………………..15 • 3.5.The story of the broken mirror, the black cat and lots of good luck……………………………………………..........................17 • 4.Conclusion……………………………………………………….....19 • 5.Bibliography………………………………………………………..20
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Rationale
Why did I choose to talk about British traditions and superstitions? Because I believe that they are a good way of discovering people and they help you understand their beliefs, behaviour and habits. With their help you can enter the British world and become a part of it even though figuratively speaking. Every nation has its own traditions and superstitions. So, the British couldn’t have been an exception. The British are one of the people whose superstitions and traditions are known worldwide and have become quite famous. Who hasn’t heard about the tradition of drinking tea, about all the traditions regarding the royal family, about Robin Hood or the Loch Ness monster, about King Arthur and his knights, about Christmas customs, about Halloween or about St. Valentine’s Day? The British are traditional people. They actually have customs for almost each day of the year and put a lot of soul into their organization and treat each of them with respect and seriousness. But, the British people are at the same time people who
Candidate:
1
Table Of Contents
• Rationale……………………………………………………………...3 • 1.Introduction……………………………………………….………...4 The meaning of traditions and superstitions for British people..4 • 2.Traditions – All Year Round British Folklore and Customs…….....5 Christmas in the UK………………………………..……….…9 ♦ A Christmas story…………………………………….……9 ♦ Chritmas nowadays……………………………....…….….11 • 3.Superstitions……………………………………….…………….....13 • 3.1.What do Superstitions mean to the Britih?.....................................13 • 3.2.A strong superstition…………………………………………..….13 • 3.3.Good luck or Bad luck?..................................................................14 • 3.4.Superstitions for everyone………………………………………..15 • 3.5.The story of the broken mirror, the black cat and lots of good luck……………………………………………..........................17 • 4.Conclusion……………………………………………………….....19 • 5.Bibliography………………………………………………………..20
2
Rationale
Why did I choose to talk about British traditions and superstitions? Because I believe that they are a good way of discovering people and they help you understand their beliefs, behaviour and habits. With their help you can enter the British world and become a part of it even though figuratively speaking. Every nation has its own traditions and superstitions. So, the British couldn’t have been an exception. The British are one of the people whose superstitions and traditions are known worldwide and have become quite famous. Who hasn’t heard about the tradition of drinking tea, about all the traditions regarding the royal family, about Robin Hood or the Loch Ness monster, about King Arthur and his knights, about Christmas customs, about Halloween or about St. Valentine’s Day? The British are traditional people. They actually have customs for almost each day of the year and put a lot of soul into their organization and treat each of them with respect and seriousness. But, the British people are at the same time people who
Bibliography: • LONGMAN Dictionary of Contemporary English • Roud, Steve, The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Great Britain and Ireland, 2004 Stephen Rabley, Customs and Traditions in Britain, Longman, 1996 Simpson, Jacqueline and Steve Roud, A Dictionary of English Folklore, 2000 • • • www.wikipedia.org 20