Bowler hats, pointy umbrellas, Sunday roasts, cups of tea, football (NOT soccer!), quaint
houses in sleepy villages, the Royal Family…Brits, they’re more than just good old fish n chips!
Rain or shine, and let’s be honest, it’s mostly rain…the Brits are famous for their obsession
with the weather. It is almost always the first topic of conversation once the awkward daily
greetings are done. It’s either too cold or too hot, too wet, too windy, too foggy. They famously
take their holidays in the sunny Mediterranean only to a) complain about the heat, sweat and
sunburn and b) constantly check in on how the weather is back home; there’s no pleasing them!
It is a myth, though, that they always carry an umbrella with them. In reality,
it is usual for a household to own a cupboard full of umbrellas,
but often risk a trip out without one, as it’s annoying to carry or store! (A
cupboard full of shopping bags is also a very British tradition by the way).
Tea is considered the best drink of the day in Great Britain. Like coffee in the US,
it kick starts the morning for most people and it is not unusual to consume between 2 and 5
cups (or ‘cuppas’, as they’re affectionately known here) per day - in times of fatigue,
comfort, stress or celebration, you will hear the flick of the kettle go. In fact,
100 million cups of tea are drunk per day in the UK, that’s around 36 billion cups per year. And
don’t be surprised to see biscuits being dunked in the tea, that’s another very British custom.
With pubs and beer houses being such a huge part of British life,
it goes without saying that beer is the number one alcoholic drink of choice.
A perfectly poured pint of beer is the highlight of most working men’s weekends
(statistics show British women prefer wine or cocktails) and is usually enjoyed with
one of the following popular British dishes - roast beef, bangers & mash (that’s sausage and
mashed potato) or fish & chips. Gravy sauce is almost always offered with every dish!
Again, it is a myth that most households cook a Sunday roast every single weekend or
enjoy afternoon tea most days. Once in a while, maybe…but just like sushi in Japan, it happens
less than you would imagine. Turkey at Christmas though, that is completely non-negotiable!
Queuing is also a very British way of life. Despite their constant whining about being
stuck in line (whether it be in traffic or in person), the Brits are famous for waiting their
turn and are huge advocates for the ‘First come, first served’ motto. Just try pushing
in one of these lines though and you will quickly learn the wrath of your typical Brit!
To back this up, approximately 250,000 people and, at its longest, a queuing time of over 24hrs
to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II after her passing. Admittedly, a historical moment, but this
just goes to show how determined the population is when it’s something they care deeply about.
The Royal Family - a national treasure or a financial burden? Well, it depends who you ask,
but the monarchy is over 1000 years old and therefore, steeped in history. Around
50% of Brits are proud of the Royal Family and feel patriotic whenever they are mentioned or
displayed. Of course, that also means 50% are not so keen, and there is often talk of abolishing the
monarchy. For now, King Charles III plays his part and holds the flag high whilst he represents his
people. He is also a big tea lover apparently, so get that kettle on then, Camilla! Rule Britannia….