5 DRFEAIN IN BREF “With an ace of some 242,000 29, ki, Bran is Just der 4,000 kan trom the south coast 10 the extreme north of Stand fan est under 800 km across inthe wiest part. ‘The min areas of highland are in Scotland, Wales and Cum Inia Inthe centre of England there isa range of hills called the Ponalnes, whieh are also known as the "backbone of Eagle The highest mountains are in Scolland and Wales: Ben Nevis is [i348 in aud Snowdon is 1,085 m. The longest rivers are the ‘Severn (994 kin) and the River Thames (346 km) “The elimate fs generally mild and temperate. Prevaling winds ace toulewestely and the westher from day to day is maialy invlvenced by depressions moving westwards across the Atlante ‘The weather is abject to Wequent changes. In general, tere are fon enemes of temperature, wilh the temperature rarely above 32°C of low -10 °C. The eurveney ofthe county is pound, consists of 100 pence. ‘The anthem Is based on a 17th eettiry song. The Bish na tional anthem was established as such in 1745, making i the ‘oldest in the world “The lag ofthe United Kingdon, known as the Union Jack, i made up of three crosses. The uprigit red isthe cross of St George the patcon saint of England, The white diagonal cross (it the ars ging into the comers) isthe exoss of St Andrew, the patton sain af Scotland, The ved diagonal cross the cross Uist Patric, the patton sant of Holand. St Davi i the patron ‘nt of Wales. ‘ice 1857 the royl coabotarm has depicted shied with the three Engish hens, the Sots Hons and he fish harp, sur founded by the Ribbon of the Order ofthe Garter with its otto ‘Han sit qu mal y pense” (shame on him wio thinks evil of) ‘The shield Js supperted by an English on and the Scolish uni enn, stain ons ld with te emblems of England (he rose), Scotiond he thse) and Island (the shamrock; below this is fhe royal motto "Dien et mon drat" (Gol and yeh i oe NATIONAL EMBLEMS 4 ‘he Engh aagage devel - age developed fam AngloSaxor and is 3 Gepost ings Hove, ie ay pl, parte the Novant Hench ined te Tagish language od you can fad many words in English which yoda nd ay ish whieh are French in origin, onalers ll Ne Sclish nish rope sma Eola : oun ngage Wal. bt ee is hive aon ap seal ets, td pe are easily recognize Sees al reat aces hers English acentis general aeceped to be est car ‘iy understood, ands the accent usually taught to foreguers. National Embiems THE Rose The reise was the emblem ofthe Lancastians! te thal tthe Tei theo contending Hoses he Engh tone in he Wat he Moves 155148) Al ly Belen the Rass eel bythe marge a Hey Vi the Lae h Princess label, daughier of Edward 1, te ‘Yorkist. The red cose hes since IEG, Te ret roe bas sine become the national emblen of ome asin 50 Be Bpo tsar Se sree sc 44 Regn wo oper aa Ae a10 [BRITAIN IN BREE THE THISTLE ‘The thistle is the national emblem of Seolland. This i how seceding to 8 curls lend, that homely plant camo toe eho” Sen asa badge. in prelerence to any other. In very ancien mes the Norsemen? once landed somewhere ‘on the east coast of Seotland, withthe Intention of plundering tnd settling inthe eountry. The Scots aszembled with their arms fnd tok thei stations ehind the ever Tay, the laggest in Sea Tend, atthe only practicable Tord. Ae they aved late in the day, weaty and tied after along march, they pitched thelr eamp and rested, not expecting the enemy befoe the nextday “The Norsemen, however, were near, noticing that no guarés or sentinels proteied the camp, they crossed the iver Tay, i tending fo lake the Seots by surprise and slaughter therm in thee slegp. To this end, they tok oll their shoes sb a5 to make the Teast noe possible. But one ofthe Norsemen stepped on this tle The sudden and sharp pain he felt causa him to shrek. The alarm was given in the Seat’ camp. The Norsemen were put to fight, snd as an acknowledgement forthe timely and unexpected hep rom the thistle, the Seos took tas thelr national errbler THE LEEK Welshmen ah over the world celebrate St Davids Day by wearing ether leeks or dalfois, The link between the lek and 't David is the belle that he i supposed to have ved for several years om beead and wil leeks. "There a canelusve evidence that Welshmen wore leks on St David's Day In Shakespeare's time. In “Henry V" Fuel tells the King "IF your Majesty is remembered oft, the Welshmen dd good seeves Ina garden whore leaks did prov, wearing Tees in hel Monmouth? caps; which, your Majesty krows, to this hour is an honourable pledge of the service; and I 40 beleve your Majesty takes no seo to wear the ele upon Sant Tavy's day” hye ge gmspam ay cso MONARHY IN BRITAIN 4 The ae i ao asoced with St Sele tht i Towers on that day I ream race Leek as a Welsh emblem inthe present Thug eV mle in the ree ‘centy, bectse sone THE sHAMRocK Snr ieee ef 8 Sec ’ poplar nation TE i I when preaching the dct of he Teoty ote pun kit Pave wc he amas et iggy ee He ton een at rt ale he Srmaton of the ich ofthe sh Guard in O02 th custom fseting the natal embentathae ate 92 St Patrik’ Day Bega, An equal tenacious Sheree eat Pats Day is Weting the Shoo’ isha fo thr pao san, HE Sm eget of Monarchy in Britainw [BRITAIN IN BRIEF For sever centres the monarch personaly exercised se prs nce, elie Juki poet, but with the growl aoe east a the cours the dct exercise of these factions a eaeeely dearnsd. The [Tent seule between Crown Ferret ids in the supplement of 1688-1659, tothe estab aera imiled constitonal monarchy. Te monatch, bow Umer ined the centre of executive power througout mest of RA comry and appalnted and dismissed minster By the ao at eh entry withthe establishment of responsible gor ce of the modern pay system, the withdrawal of the Ser i eivepatcipaion in pos fad become comple ane governmett inte Uae Kingdom has owe mal le Response Soa are respon to Paament i that they canaol me tout the supporto 3 ajy tte Howse of Come Bee a thoy ae collectively responsible fr the aves they fe te reg and, threo, for any ation he of he may dere co deine retake y fesponible rites, a he sae rt Te foe fo peo te fantions of an part] bead ithe sate ROYAL STYLE AND TITLES “The Qupens tie in the United Kingom ts "Elizebth the secit® iiiacrace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Second, OY Noutern Ireland and of Her other Reams and Ter Baan Ne ffead of the Commonweakn, Defender of the Fatt ele le 6 SUCCESSION rules of descent provide that the sons ofthe Sovereign ate i nee eeson to the throne according to the senior, of et of Sto sono, the daugters in order of sonia. T Gomme — senrsymrcsee semi, eam amen cae Sa teas nn te Seeman Sti ec pr ce? Heo OM sige as an nr acre ween et MONARHY IN BRITAIN ACCESSION aul he seco ath. he autem sucenon i summoned up in the phrase “The King is dea ihe cl isis the proclamation forthe new Sovereign. The dra: ‘CORONATION the session" -Smoy hunted. uch tes a sine ty ‘i years items bony of ecg by the spre ofan ait rye des ee rting a cn inn ne ig nag ‘ite eat stay i Wecner Abeytin te pes test pub inrsts nthe Ue Kgaon the Pee Mitr i ining ese of the olper Com vepcesentatives of foreign states. Conmenweah counties aad FUNCTIONS OF THE MONARCH Soper Mapsco ane, eee Loo ceBRITAIN BRIEF u un any min ats rom re th patton ropes sles Prana nn er er sein ath 9 sored rom the Norma, ects, Governments proane hen she throne wih otis me Speech i ey Lard Chan nae 1 be eset ch hae ptsed ale lage in ot careers 2 mess aa entehmen tust es Hoses of Pea ey tol dele To Wath Hoses tha Sten ynd_ as such can, on «Sea wut fj” and ab sch cmon se i Hae ete pen oF oe eek cmes ue Elisha me " “As the “fountain of honour” the Queen onfare peraees, vette ett hc won. She ake govt iginoat snl On he apis demas Cove Tnent ministers, judges, members of diplomatic corps. 1% om et to pe sed sevcs (he Royal Navy the Amy inde Chill Psy she appowts fer, aa tor and he Rov A ee cach ot aglané she makes PP han oa nem eMC cae wat i to be ean Ps fence wats, dee Wat ee ogre rel sues ad gOETMENS, ar et cade terry. Tn ~ psy om mnt wo en Ep Gots te nse mmm ont tm 2 her oe atc ee ee amen TP ela eset seem ras eign sn a yc mes oes mes MONARHY IN BRITAIN [RELATIONS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND GOVERNMENT ‘An important function of the Soverelgn Is the appointment of 4 Prime Minister, Normally the appantment is automate since It ie-a convention ofthe easton thatthe sovereign must invite the leader of the pasty commanding a majonty Inthe House of Commons to form a goverment, Ino party has 4 malonty, ori the party having a mority has no recognized leader, the Queen has the Guy of electing 3 Prime Minister, In such eteumslances ‘she would be ented to consult anyone she wished ‘The. Queen's closest olfiial contals ae with the Prime ‘Minister Qh has an audience of the Queen on average once 4 Week, hen the Queen is in Landon) and, through him, with the Caine She alzo sees other ministers, generally in order 10 discuss the alas of their departments, and sees all the Cabinet papers, the Cabinet agenda in advance, and the minutes f the hestings ofthe Cabinet and of is ommitons. “The Queen is ulmately responsible fr dissolving Pariament, nd this 6 normaly dane at the rquest ofthe Pe Minster. ‘THE QUEEN'S PUBLIC FUNCTIONS ‘The Queen, as inkeitor of «continuous teadtlon going back 11 centuries, isthe personal symbol of the Slate and of national tunity, and provides a natural fous for papular loyalty and asp tions! Royal martiage and funerals are sill marked by ancient ‘ceremonial although to a lesser degree than informer days; and the birthday of Sovereign, formesy the occasion of many royal and public functions, is Tolay oficial celebrated early in June by ‘Trooping the Colour, when the Queen personally reviews the sm peer ae a el pena “oun mt poaron at16 [BRITAIN IN BRIE rade, The Queens too drawn up on the Horse Guards Paral Birthy aso celebrated es Coronet Da. : Hundreds of royal vhs to vros parts oe county fr ue funtons keep the sol Vary Mle touch With new Ueveloppet. Tesealten snl ws lasting tore than one Say a amy cee sound sen Ie pata o Sto va sy he Royal Aira Show o he pening ela new bigs or doce Thre ae azo royal im, var SM concert pevormatisen inal chery and iss fo school, nverstue, Hoops and lator. The Queen vss any in portant spots event. ae ty aan to Being hea of al 9 armed erie i Clental fsvera gents an crt Unied Kingdom and ober Cnmonweath cunts. “he ‘Queen holds about 14 Investitures a year at which she testows the svards confred on ivlans and members of te Semel toces She presents annually some 200 order, decre ine ond eda — ‘Oneal the most important duis the Soveregn perform to act s'a hol to the beads of Sate of Coronel and ole coutia when they vst the United Kingdom. When a Site vals inelved, gusts lay at Bueknghar Plas, Wid {or Cale or the Dla of Holyoedhosse™ Their entertainment includes banquets, receptions, oltn a special ballet or oer per isrmance and iss to places of partial intefesttreughout tie Sty Gh ony ser oan fea a ate ys fe United Kingdon, eter privately or or fle purpses, the tre ney ava erate or rceed bythe Queen ad olen if other members of the oye Tamly a8 Well eceptos of TUnctcos ave rogue ed fr oer distinguished ators om res cuslomary at Citas forthe Queen to speak on aio and Icvstn fos peopl the Commonwealth as tee hed on ope Pe” Ws Ce, Pao yond — onan [MONARHY IN BRITAIN ‘THE ROYAL YEAR Jn compiling the Quce's dary of engagements fr any one esr ber Pate Seca wl inanhy Lit anu a ‘hed dates arund wich te years programme wil be aang The New Yeu begins wth th Queeh andthe De of Ede in residence at Sansnghan, the Quse's private home a Nek whee the il wor vl rnin We tad'exing “he Ester beak preceded bya "Maundy" Servi! tone of the countrys ealhedraly is spent at Winsor Cane ‘The aces ‘hots acai tray tin "Apl celebrates het “lea Set dyin Su, wth the splendour of Trooping the Colour whe ows any housings of spectators fo Lotion, Ale th id, ney a the merbers a the royal an as the Gude a the balony of Buckingham Palas Yo watcha Iams eae Royal Air Foes, as great crowds gather a Itomt of he Bune td song the Ral The Glin, avay eld on a Sturcy, are allowed two days Iter by another store dpay ol pafeanty when a Winsor Casta serie Tor he Rags of he Gaver pe ceind. by a pend procession om the isle ial to St Georges Chapa, 5 “het came fives days of hore racing at the nearby race sourae at Ascot ~ Royal Aico ™ beloe July bnge a anal Ferlad of cesdece inthe Palace of Heyroothouse Eda ‘here, among uler engagement, the Queen tlds the hee cach sumer garden partes tere more ae eld nthe gardens at Buckingham Place val some 40,009 eae tna Selo CX the community attend eres cach yar ‘A summer break att Quer pate home in Sean, Basra Cat, Ts -usuly preceded by a ee th the Hepa Yacht stan, ands Tolowed bythe reguar satums soa ule— the Slate Opening of Paratent ante eens ashy JSS ety ce fae Se pana ‘oo: Bens Sea18 BRITAIN IN BRIEF Remembrance Weekend at the Royal Albert Hall and the Ceno {ph in Whitehall. “htay In Decomber is always set aside forthe Queen to cord het rac an Tlevision Christas broadcasts, the one occa a etch yeu when se speaks prsenally tothe Commonwealth wot saved to oer, ofc aceasins, when her speeches reflect ihe mews of her government “Around these ved dates go the official engagements — it~ -vestuses, mesings with Prime Ministers, Ambassadors and oll ‘Ue als around the United Kingdom, oficial Stte visits over. SHE and ours of Commonwealth countries, and time devoted to SSeoming and entertaining wing Heads of State, The Private seers ua has to allow tne many Rours each week — for {he Queen to deal with her regular and routine business, the Thang and varied Telters, papers and documents that land on her Tak wi elentless regula rom Iealy around the worl ‘ach private secretary knows too that te willbe needed fo the chara aliviies which engage all the members ofthe royal Ten Whether asthe patton of an organization of as a dedeated, tie president, axis the Princess Royal in the case of Save the ‘hie Fund each “royal takes his or her volvement in a cae fy tn th uimestserausness, Diet Branca supports private rer of course, but through charitable functions tie, tm, pre Tstes or fundralsing daners ad, in contrast vists to the “tont Tne among the borces, to hungry, the sick and refugees for Chample, royel involvement clearly raises ublic awareness. Esch ‘rer of the royal family sess on time for this wok "Tae Private, Secretaries working for other members of the royal family ae. simiaiy engaged, elering always to the ‘Gkeews Petate Olfie to check the State and family occasions SuRST aay invelve them, but otherwise ensuring that for every Mn arabe of the roy ley each year, at home and abroad, iS one ofthe service and activity 05 eter isos rep un am me ne SOMABHY IN BETA ‘THE QUEEN'S PRESENTS, Eero tha to eave presents espcialy Christmas res ents: Is grat in to apen ters al somes te fan ops hen youtdetove white ra Wie st ince itr ne same som, you he fo i,“ you so mc sft what envy ated Ae aye gee ou ca pu the preset sy me we, ie fo someone ee tart une ne Evegne fo eed ees on eat “heat die ov cuanto days Chime dy. Lng ‘Buckingham Palace announced tht the Ques didnt accept git Fort font whos shat mow Soo ate i anode tenn Aman tog sn ar ow of hotdog ath tnd to) tense fee he mney ote when Ie Rng Gv beans tog Toya vis oe contres ar tem, to, hen te cuces tel wt naa ste Rofl tosh beat nee si cats ges sho, apa of rows nwereaa poce ons aver fg. spn ant fang power san Te heen sept fr fr hur Bart terran cee lege te,» pining, ae ‘eos a'wooter hey melo Sea Calta 6 bok bout Ba anda potgreph ofthe Present and ts we a "Wnt doce he Quen do with hess sets? Where can she puta ting den Ra Cada oa ts at om Oxend Br temple om Canna? Taree 0 ros Bing thay Banca the Quen Wert ae alo her poets Tends many of her presents To museums, especially the Museums especially the British “Vrs and guests want to ge ornamenal shacks, gl eye ts tf sha se ely ed one Jes uppy af dct gt bus, one years sul of ashing Hq, ne year’s supply of floor polish, ete, " aa Lies expensive when one of your houses has 600 rooms an the Queen ovne ve haul "fa BRUTAL IN BRIER British Parliament Js the ogi ody Inthe coun. Patan ea sits ef too toute te Howe of Lads tnd he Hause a Simin THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 10 eFfenbus of Paamest se pal or tr parame wore 7h — Ryne ae, censaoe scape ee Tle BRITISH PARUAMENT a Alter the Quees’s Speech MPs! go to the House of Com: ‘mons. There they carry ‘on the work of government partly by debates, in which all members take patt, and parly by commattes seelings which fewer members allen ‘The party that has won the general election makes up the ‘tajority tn the House of Commons. snd forms the Government The party withthe next largest sumer of members inthe House, sometimes a combination of ather parties, forms the cli Opposition’, and Leader of the Opposition is a cecognized postin the House of Commons ‘The members sit on two sides of the hall, one side for the governing party and the other for the opposition important memfers. inthe Houre. of Commons are the ‘Speaker andthe socal party whips The Speaker is the Charman of presiding olicer of the House of Commons. He is elected atthe begining of each new Pariameat to presie over the House and eafors the rule of ber. He eannot debate or vote with olher members unless the ‘voting is equa, in which case he votes wilh Government Party whips ate party organizers who receive spell slaies for their duties. They arrange each day programme in Palament ‘nd tell members when they must allend debates. ‘The silings usualy Begin at 10's. rm People who vist the Houses of Parliament may sit in the Strangers’ Gallery® ooking down lato the House of Commons and Usten tothe debates THe ental entrance hal is usualy bisy wilh people coming and go: ‘ng tose the buildings and oer waning oat ter Member of Parkanent There are G51 members in the House of Comions (most of them are profesional polticins, lawyers, ete.) I the number present In the House drops below AU, the House is “counted out’, sn Ue debate suspended. During many ol the debates, MPS come and go because they are ollen waned on business i lhe2 bee pats ofthe building, but during Important debates they remain in Ae faoues and the stings may go on ulate st right. tthe’ pst fe hundred yeurs, so many laws have been made by Parioment that fis inpossibe for anyone to know or even Pap then a, New laws may be propose in Paliament either by {he Government. or by private MPs, or by members of the House Ucn. "The proposed law is known 2s a bil” when itis first rout in and while ti being discussed. When it has Yee fr fully passed, the bl becomes an Act of Parliament ihe main stages othe bil's progress in each House are stl known as "eating although the Bl isn longer feaé loud ‘Mais 2 reminder of the days when printed copies were not gen Tily- avaliable, andthe two Flouses had, to be informed of the Contents of bl by actully hearing a clerk read it lout. Nowadays the fst reading is formally, Only the te of the bil is mentoned anid fs then printed in ful for members of {he House of Commons to cead and thnk about before the second Teasing, On the second rending, 2 dissension takes place. The Hiouseinay be unanimous in favour of the bi: on many occasions Tvs clear irom the debates what the wishes of the majority of Thembers are but at other times some members may shout Yes Tra others No, in which case a vote has fo be taken, A bell is Tg co tha all members may come and vote. The members leave Thee ences and. walk out into two lobbies. Ths they do by wring troup corridors behind the Speakers cha, those who eae on one ale, these who are Tagainat” on the other, AS iby Wak out they ae counted by four tlers — two for each Beg Beit may tke 10 or 15 minutes before the figures are tnnouneed “the largest number af votes "oe" or “against” decides i the ‘il pase or nots tthe Bll is defeated at this stage, it can do Petter But inthe pola climate of today it seems incom [eiable, that any Government Dil should be defeated, In fact Feng ese enough oppostion to the bl fo endanger is passage Wee Gdratoment would know about that opposition. It would i ther not bring the bil info the Neuse forthe second reading at or would make sure thatthe bil wuld pass BRITISH PARLIAMENT. Ea) Mle passing the second rating stge the i ust go to 2 comities lors detaled examination inte couse of Which there tay be mary popes or amendments, Te Comite ie made Styee Govemen sd Opto ments. The net siege filed the report stage the House has belore Ht the ew teat ol the bil incoporsting the committees amendments Ty Sec aoedetrema . he il ison ready for its thd realing, Again it hc in th uf Conor al el Sigh aero ‘wording may be made; apart from these the bill must ceated ‘or rejected as it stands, i ann Tithe majority of MPs is ail for the Bi sil fo the bi, Lis sent to the Mouse of trl or dchesin, When the Lads agree te il taker tothe Quen forthe Royal Ase. The Queer sigs tn the Great, Seti Bed, The bil becomes an Aet of Parent and part of the Law of Land. “men Any bil reqs the rising an spending of mone 4 Money bil: Maney bile core only rm the House of Cam. ‘mons, and the Lords cannot delay them. om ‘THE HOUSE OF LoRDS 4 certain number of lish and: Scash peers. the Archishops of ren nd Yo cone i othe Esahd ach sesion, The Lord Chancellor i chi and asco lat et Seen cao Keer2 BRITAIN IN BRIER ‘est quorum needed to adopt 4 decision is the British House of Lows. A decisions held to be accepted If quorum of three Lords is preset Government Ate each generl lection the King or Queen lavites the leader ofthe majority party inthe House of Commons to become Prime Minster and form the Government, This minister has an sfc London House while he (or he) i in office i is at No 10. Downing Stet "The Prime. Minister selects the other Ministers whom he wishes to take charge ofthe ehiel government departments or to the aber goversment work Most of the Ministers are chosen From the House of Commons, but afew must be in the House of Lords so that government pans can be explained there ‘Most ministers ate in charge of departments which Keep ‘hem busy. The Prine Minster imself often takes charge of one of the departments. He is usually Fut Lord of the Treasury’, the Aepartment. which deals with the money callected and spent by the Government For all the Ministers the Prime Minister selects about 20 of his leading party members in the House of Commons to take the chie ofes in the Government and sit with him in the Cabinet, ‘The Cabinet is kind of “iner government” within the Gov: ceroment. Over the yeas the membership of the Cabinet has vor. fed in size Uelween 17 and 28 and includes the Lord President of the Counei?, the Lord Chanclor, the Seretary for Foreign and CCommonwesith Alla, et. "Pind Penge ltr Coal sopapseure er set ue GOVERNMENT 25 ‘The main feature of the British polical system is "Cabinet sigma nd dominates ie Hue af Compa Ses tat subjects shall be debated in the House, deal vee all ‘important legislation whe Hesse, ds and proposes tions of Ministers are usual tuniary, with polite eters e papers. ‘THE CIVIL SERVICE Ort Hala milion men and no snd women ae employed inthe terol Te eles do nt change ty nae bul sevens om any police) sei ne Zee ate erent grades inthe Gt Service. Sie eaten, Somposed ofthe lr and typists who deal wie Ines for thei senor o for mentees LOCAL GOVERNMENT Local a rs are managed by councils tha 'm her sie andthe powers they have te Massa the power they have fo gs vary a great del k of local government cour nae isis26 BRITAIN IN BRIEF POLITICAL PARTIES ‘The British politcal scene is dominated by a tworparty sys tem: one perty power, the ather io opposition. They are the Conservative! and the Latour Pate’ “hmong the ether parties one can mention the Liberal Party’ the Seottsh National Party, Plaid Cymru (the Welsh Nationalist Pry), the Nalonal Front and Democratic Left ELECTIONS. “The British people take part in the socalled general election and loca eletion. GENERAL eLEerION ‘By law there must be no sore than 5 years between general iets butte Prine Miner can ste te Hing ot Queen to AISslve Pasment fora new general election st any te earlier than tat The United Kingdom is divided int 650 areas elle consti encie Each enalvency guaranteed one representative inthe House of Conmons, A person may repesent a conailueney een ie does not lie there "MBS ave eecled by dest and secret allo. izes of 18 and over have the righ to wate. Ata genera lection person ‘tes forthe Labour eanddate or for he Conservative cade, Uior the caniate for some other party becuse of his prefer hc for one party rather han the ober ‘Abate te people support the Latour Party all the timer ana hind the Comets. ston Semen Gt ope om rt ape mat a sat COE CT ti etc pra earn He Rye wr RELIGIONS IN BRITAIN 2 Sot te Canaente Paty asc wth Sle in the teadtional basis of society, strong respect for the: Ren Fay whieh became en ang age, 8 Rol lection Briain ae ede Sa spl m constituency — the caddate with he most tes a ‘THE compostrion OF THE CABINET 1 Environment Secret Seretany Eduction and te for Energy, Secretary of State | he Duchy of Lancaster, Seeretty of ry of Sine for Scolund, Secrstay of Sclence, Secretary of Stat Transport, Chancellor of Slate for'‘Wales, Secret Site for Northern Ireland Religions in Britain There re numeous lpous ing tn athe he cur _roups in Great Britain practi. s seg tongs fee Somes paptrok SET ner spin tninetsan funnest eee acs separate ery snp ft ny 5 Led ny Sa — seangaesos BRITAIN IN BRIEF ‘THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND ‘The Church of England or the Anglean Church |s a Protes tant Church and the oll tate regon of England (although Imetsbership is not, of course, compulsory). The Queen is the Head of the Church of England and she, with the advice ofthe Prime Minster and others, appoints the senior members of the ‘ergy — the archbishops bishops and deans. Fhe Church is dvied ito two provinces — Canterbury and ‘York "cach wih ts own archbishop and the Archbishop of Can Xerbury isthe most senor oficial in the Church of England. The {feo provinces are divied infos numberof dioceses! ect with Hs own bishop. and the slaceses ate further split Into parishes. "There ae 19.250 parihes in England alone, and every pais has He own church, al except forthe very smallest with iis own priest or viene, The Chureh of England doesnot yet allow women fo become vicars ‘THE cHURCH OF ‘SCOTLAND ‘The Church of Seotland Is recognized asthe offal religion of Scolland is a Protestant chureh and is a Presbyeran® ot (gnietion. This means thet there no hierarchy of archbishops fd bishops, ‘The Church of Scotland is governed by ils ministries (parish priests) and elders (elected representatives), all of whom are Petelered to hold equal rank, Wornen a allowed to become triste in the Presbyleran church RELIGIONS 1N BRETAIN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC cHuRcH iat de een oa soy Rican Mate on ams but there are many pk {RE ears ay problems not ke of whch that ras ov ne cnncs al clos. These are cle the Fre Churn tered Enad los ol them alow wore to fecae ancien cont ie haces tee vara ter Christ unites such as Orthodox and Armenian Christians: bet the NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS There are large num Ter ae large numbers o Commonweal eens fn Bitala from such countries as india, Pakistan nd Bangladesh. Many live in big cis such as London in the oat tay Ue Pr Car — sae Fetes eon ons pte a a ovr piven ena, MM HN ee, man[BRITAIN IN BRIEF 0 i: et ec yo ey nn ots ixture of all Chrig- vrai aot al wane 2 tn anh he Netr ssw 2 «ean eh gad ere tie the sale i a sh fon reli rte he Sa gon, “Unaicla ee thre and In ae aes 6 Churches hve, Than bellevers (0 outnumber Chins possible for now-Chrstian Traditions and Customs. Holidays rato hat lings 10 the pat wh he te riflon has a sense of the comity of go tough Ns aneint ceremonies #8 “There Is no ote racity of the Bris istry. He loves to sv) es» Boe Ya» 8 sent aah apy € xpernero TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS. HOLIDAYS a1 sways performed them, with the conslousness that he is keeping faith with his ancestors, that he is maintlaing the: commenity they created. He does fot alten change his manner ol carying cut official acts, and if ever he does, the new method at once Becomes the triton Queen Elizabeth the Fist provided one ofthese examples of iseardng the ol and supplanting it withthe new. She wes ent ling wien the list of nominees for sheril! was brought to. he, ration decreed that she should take up her qull and make check In ink against the name of exch person whom it washer Pleasure to appoint. There was no pen handy, So Elizabeth the Fst, with one of er knlting needles, picked itl hae in the parchment beside each favoured name, That i the reason why today Queen Elzabeth the Second appeintssheils of England iy Pricking hoes inthe isting of ther names. Even the castal visitor to Landon ean view witout effort ‘many ofthe billant parades and spectacles in which the colour of ‘medieval times tas been preserved for ours. An if you ish you an also enter the visitor” galery of the House of Commons ay long as it existe If speaker steps across the line on the Toor ‘that marks the pont at which he would be within swort's length of his avertiserson the opposite side ofthe Chamber, the sesion 's automatically suspended Il rebellous member should seize the great mace, the symbol of authority that rests onthe tale before the Speake’ chair, and make of with i (iis happened at least once), no legal business can bo transacted unt the mace has been restored fo its pasion. You can alsa go into the House of Lords, where the gtr is more pronounced the eoyal scarlet tore in evidence, and wheze your own back wil begin to ache ‘Srmpathetically si the spectacle af the Lord Chancellor, so a ‘omlrtably seated on the eige of the enormous woolsack GARDENING ‘Much leisure tine is spent In individualistic pursuits, of Which the most popular i gardening. Most English people iove fardens, ther own above al and this is probably one feason why 1 Sher Aen aloes meres «rae smn teengate tte’ a maee BRITAIN IN BRIEF so many people prefer to live in houses rather than fats. Patiu- larly in suburbian areas Its possible to pass row aller row of tordinary small houses, each One with Tis neatly-kept.pateh of frase surrounded by 9 great valet of flowers and shrubs. Many People wo have no gardens oftheir own have patches of land o Fhllotments” Ia specially reserved areas—though group of alt ment gardens, wih ils mined collection of sheds for keeping the tons and the dull arrangement ofthe rectangular sections of Tana ually nota thing of beau. ‘although the tase of keaping garden is so essentially id vidual for any people garéeing f the foundation of social and Competitive relationships. Flovershows and vegetableshows, Srith prizes forthe Best exhibits, ae immensely popular, and to Ianygasdeners the process of growlag the plans seems more Inortent than the merely aestbetc pleasure of looking at the Towers or the prospect of eating the vegetables. In many paces & Competitive gardeners ambition is to row the biggest eabbages ‘or leeks or carrots, and the plain Tact that the ets of most Segstabes onthe table ae the laverse ratio (0 ther size seems ‘ten to be forgotten, WEDDING SUPERSTITIONS In England the wedding preparations, ceremony and feast have ll bevome fsded with ual practices To ward off evil and bess the marrage with fortune and fer “The choice of date Is important. May i tradtionlly unlucky for weiings and many moger couples mary between Easter tnd Tate May, the practice much eacouraged by tax rebate. The ton thatthe bede's parents should pay forthe wedding dates ack Irom twa. of tree centuries ago, when wealthy Tames ‘would pay an elge bachelor to take an unmarcied daughter ofl their hands in exchange for lage dowry. At most formal wed- tings brides stil get married in virginl white — many other ‘colours ate considered unlucky. ‘A bre wil also ensure that her wedding outht includes “something od, something new: something borrowed, something bie’, "Old maintains her ink with the past; "new" symbolizes the future; “borrowed” gives her a Une with the present; and “blue” symbolizes her purty [TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS. HOLIDAYS 3 Even a moe brid wil observe th “Ee Observe the taboos sbout wean bey des blr the crneny: Te goon mune ee at Ei the church. The veil should be put on for the fst eth aut he ch yon fe Sweep i paid to atlend the ceremony ahd kiss the Fale ne of hl th concrete ses are symbols of Tertlty, fu = bles the mariage withers es H8 com ne ol custom was for the bie and sometimes the {2 negate some obstacle at they let the chars Eee oui impede then mt tones sg had be pate, Fam, oF th FIREPLACES silat a window on a year they flames Jn the Mil Ages the keplaces in the halls of lage caste iy mood was burt, and ange logs were cated sd supported as'they burt, on metal bas ‘ay sill be see in ld inns nin ome of ‘seats Inside the fireplace, . laces len ad carved stone o woodwork Teaching to the ceing. There were: some ac side ofthe fepace Inthe I8thcenny rovided over the Teplace for 4 palaing os Such ide repos, them there ae even Elastane over the Treplace, tines clunne oe sere vat of Wien cou! res tecame com smal. Grates Were teat to ld[BRITAIN IN BRIEF a DANCING acing pope, and the numerous I and opulent lg po tame has ran gre cert aa td tup procedures al but the sper and mile case. Tey’ mong ‘o survive agai te competion of the mre Tele ar, ser dtm Tey we sly lacs dancing, with good floors and good bands, but often no tables: ei pool to ata when ty aero actnly ding, otro of has rund the wat yf td my By young wae fet pt, ii er goa wz fr re, ed, fet same Seto the sn oe, ing appt they go inthe young men smelines goin reins el but ten doe he gi tend to congregate ° fetes tte dance, an the young en smi A the Be Sing et eth dance» man cnn Kom the mas fra the some gif dance with fm agua hein her ry net he ty te, Ht of he er Solter the young man way olan vation eo to a enema evs fre a th atm ray bw sce thr Aer seer peared meting» Coupe may rend thence sen ogter migh fo Tong tie ey wl mat ony pile ples and ah iain Hen 112s gre meat Young pols ee hoa emanate, nd ind easy enough to meet each lhe HENRY Woop PROMENADE CONCERTS “Laties and gentlemen — the Proms!” mongst musclvers Ia Bin. — and, indeed, in very san ones ~ hep ao ay a Sepear Te rte otion a greens, a ‘Wee in the middle of the Henry Wood Promenade Cor certs the roms TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS. HOLIDAYS 45 London musiciovers are particulary fortunate, for those who are able obtain tickets can sltend the concerts th person Every night at 7 o'clock (Sunday excepted) avast uence asvembiee atthe Royal Albert Hal ses forthe playing and singing of the National Anthem. A few rminutes later, when sets have, been ‘esumed the ist work ofthe evening begins, But even if seats are not to be obained, the important parts af the concerts can be heard —~ and are heard == by's very Pret ‘umber of people because the BBC" brondasts certain pace) works everynight throughout the season. The audience recon by ‘this means is estimated to total several mills in Beles alone, and that total is probably equaled by the aumber af leer ers abroad, ‘The reason why such a great audience i altractd is that the Proms present every year 8 large repertoire of laslal works lndr the best conductors and with the best aris A seorea roves an anthology af masterpieces, The Proms stared in 1805 when Sir Henry Wood formed the Queen's Hall Orchestra, The purpose of the venture was te pre vide classical music to as many people who eared to come At y Brice ail could afford to pay, those of lesser means being charged ‘comparatively ile — one shilling’ — to enter the Promend, ‘where standing wa the rule ‘The coming ofthe lst war ended two Proms’ traditions. The first was that in 1999 it was no longer posible to perform: to London audiences — the whole organization was tvscusted to Batol. The second was that the Proms couldnt retura tthe ‘Queen's Hall siter the war was over — the: Queen's Fal hed Become a casualty ofthe arsalis (in 1941), end was gutted, ‘THE DERBY {The annual race for the "Derby" al Epsom racecourse in Sur rey fs perhaps the most famous single event in the whole worl ‘The day is almost a public holiday. Ite Derby Day (i tales lace * BC (Bris Bracing Caeatn)6 BRITAIN IN BRIEF tn the lst week in June) and, alended by an amy of bookmak: so record ther bel, of gipsies realy to tell thei fortunes, and Sideshow propieors to provide amusement during the hous of waiting, thousands Nock to the couse, many of thea apparently not at all worried about whether or ot they see the rate that the excuse for all he excltement. OF those who stay sway the inajoiy, even of those who do not gembie labiualy, wil do se na stall way on Derby Day. Every office clu, shop ‘and fotory wil run its Dechy sweepstake which you enter inthe bope that you will draw the name ofthe winning Horse eul af Tet end ‘hus win all the money contributed by the various campetitas, ‘THE FISH AND ciiP sHoP. A special Bish institution isthe fish and chip shop, where it is possible to buy over the counter pace of fred fst an pola: toes. You can eat fish and chips inthe street as you walk along o¢ {ake it home, i you live near by, and eat on the plate, Most ish and chip shops clase before 11pm, staying open ate enough to Serve people as they come out of cinemasy which Usually fish sound 10.15 pin. Snack bars and espresso collee bars have great success among young people below the gee for gong to pubs WHATIS A pune There are vistors who come to England and leave thinking that they have never been inside @ pub. They dont realize that the words pub or “public house” are Fare includ inthe Ue af the place. So how do you know Wwhelher 4 buldng fs pub and what dovs a pub ofr the visitor? “The first thing to lok sa large sign ether hanging over the sitet or placed on a pole ouside the builing. ‘This sg may have a name ike "The Kinge Arms", "The Black Rabbit oe “Tay Duke of Kendal” or an appropriate picture, Many. pubs here ‘ames linked to royalty, popular heroes sports or great occsions ‘There isa pub called “The Concorde” ater the mew anes froma TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS. HoUDAYS a Panty te words Free House can be seen si ‘the ub. This doesn't mean the fen a ao he brewery ay. ssa ed Hes The services ub oe ey serve free ood and drinks aloes From one particular tied tos brewer The solo exretnin “coe tnd bul stony serie lnformalon that highly nage SOP Tengen 1 haves egg nab nce ey tail ub ce “The ‘Cck: cag te a a + SESS Meee star a aay nt ate ane the exape Became own Used Tor any lng ang a ‘Theve are several other verslong of gare ad sed ta de ighly exaggerated or untrue, ts sid ty unlikely story of this phase ‘THE GAME OF Darers ub there isa dartboard, and on {ame of darts being ployed Thin presumably developed front raged for military reasons during of something lite the moder, ry description of tournament eet by hand, instead of ues stiled inthe "Mayflower te In the bar of every Englsh ‘ost evenings you wil in the is traditional ag Sari 2p, pec em Aas us ont a Seem38 [BRITAIN IN BRIEF ‘Amerie 1620 in search of grater freedom, played dats dulag thar voyage “Te dr doard bas numbered sections, a the score depends an the sacton In which the dart ands. The dats re sal abut ive ines ong and have aael pont, metal body. ad thee freA et he fs ae nd each ae ro than In ture Bepert player usualy have thelr own private st of dat, But pubs alas provid ae fr ocenoalpevormers Sie tater for the Inia; bu you mst hve 8 god eye and Sleay hand nt aways easy np PUBLIC HOLIDAYS England and Wale. Most pile holays inthe Unted Xengiom ae als tenes “Buk Hobday” ut on any tins top stay pe, “Theo olay te: New Yes Day (lanuay ta), Good Fe day, Easter Montay, ay Day iat Monday Ma), Spng Sank Fn Cast Bony fo May), August Bo aay Cae amiay in Aug), Cues Day (Desember 250), Boxing Day (December 28). Séolland: The Scots do nt stu celebrate Good Fay or Boxing ay in the ater they concent iste on Hog many; tne veron of New Years Eve and New Years Da. ‘The sven more of fesve scasion than Christmas, Tt ini hldaye can sp be mare vara than sth a he border with Spring asd Autumn Halgsye placing some othe Tac Inte srk Rlsy tn England, Scot an sn» number sor eta claing the they of ir nana pst wih Burne supers en January 25h, and thir nto sat on St ‘adres bay, November 20 Northern Wieland. Noster Ilda several sions teats fs owns aly, St Paes Dy in Cathe com seaman habs mats 8 re nen pat sat pe a Cr ung Day — sme panrmci masnen op sme Pann EiceirtCeal ms senor weet onus pen apap, Ron) TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS. HOLIDAYS 39 ‘munities (March 17th) and Orange Day, In Protestant commun tes, celebrating the Bate ofthe Boyne uly 12th FASTER [At Ester the British celebrate the ide of the new birth by ‘gving each other chocolate Easter ages, which are opened and faten'on Easter Sunday. On Goad Pilay bakes soll hot cose buns, which are toasted and eaten with butter. Easter Monday 4 holiday and many people travel tothe seaside forthe day ogo and wateh one of the many sporting events fotball or horse. acing. Fxgroling is s talensl Easter pastime which sil flour shes in Northern England, Scolland, Ulster, the lle of Man, and Switzerland. It takes place on Easter Sunday or Monday, snd Consists of rling coloured, har-olled eggs town 4 slope unt they are cracked and broken aller which they ar eaten by thelr bwners. In some ditt, ths Is competitive gsm, the wie being a payer whose egg remains longest undermageds bu tore 'sualy, the fun consists simply ofthe rolling and ating, Ths 1 tvidetiy the older frm of the custom, since egeraling does not pear to have been erginaly game Yo be lost er wor AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY On Bank Holiday the towns folk usually lock ito the coun ley and to the coast. Ifthe weather Is Tine many families take @ pieniedunch ot tex with them and enjoy thir meal in the open Seaside towns near London, such as Southend, ate invaded by, thousands of tippers who come in ears and cosches, (ai, me, tor cycles and bieycles, Great amusement parks like Southend Kursaa” do a roaring trade with thelr scenic ralaye, shooting tallies, watershoots, Cazy Houses, Hunted Houses ano a Beams fr ts ps Se (150), ec ety wpefal BRITAIN IN BRIEF Teppers wil wear comic paper hats with slogans such as: "Kis ‘Me Quick” and they will eat and drink the wetdest mistre of ull you can imagine, sea food like cockles mussels, whelke, shrimps ani tried ish ani chips, candy fogs, beer, lea, soll inks, everything you ean imagine Bink Holiday is also an occasion for big sports meetings at places like the White City Stadium, manly al kinds of stein There are also horse race meetings allover the county, al most traditional af all there are large Tair ‘with evings, roundabouts, aconut shies, a Punch and July Show, hoopiat all and ever) kind of sideshow including ia recent years Bingo, These fas a pitehed on open spaces af common land, andthe most Tams of tem isthe huge one on Hampstead Hestit nese London, Ii st Hampstead Heath you will see the Peatly Kings an’ Queens those Cackney”cosers(Sret traders), who wear sults oF frocks with thousands of tiny part buttons sitebed all over ther, asa over ther caps and hate ‘They hold horse and cart parades in which prizes are given forthe smartest turn out. Many Londoners il ws Whipsnade Zou. There is also much boating setiviy onthe Thames, regnlas at Henley" and on other cvers andthe English siete blag what IR it iavaiably rane, resent set ge “Eien nanan muoooe vom nora er Rte e HADITIONS AND CUSTOMS. HOLIDAYS a ‘curistmas 1 you ty to each a tran on the 24th of December you ay ave lyin ding» sel Ts the day whee ay Blea tavling Home fo be wh thet hie aye Day, December th For most Bilish amie es et lapocant fetal of the you, X conbley the Chreion Nona he birth of Chit, wt the talon feito eee There are a lot of rations connected with Chistes perhaps the mast important one is the ving of presents Fae ‘embers weap up their gts and leave them atthe bolton ern Shristmas tree to be found on Christmas morning’ Calton eee flong sock or stocking athe end afer bed on Cisne ee December 24th, hoping that Father Christmas will cea rene tee at BOXING Day ‘Ths is the day when one vis ends, goes fora ong walk ot EBGGEE sound eecoveing tm too much lod — everyting tee S cold In the county there ace usualy Borag Day Masks se maple pnacretonGoyiane¢ mama, speensce reAD BRITAIN IN BRIEF hunting). In the big ees and towns tradition on that day demands st tothe pantomime, where ance again one is entertained by the story of Cinderela, Puss im Boots or whoever it may be — the story being protracted and elaborated into as many spectacular ‘seems athe producer thinks. one ean ake ata siting HOGMANAY At midnight on December Sist throughout Great Briain people celebrate the coming ofthe New Year by holding hands in Sarge cele an singing "For Auld Lang Syne. This ine means “in memory of pest times” and the words were writen hy Scot land's most famous peet Robert Burns. He wrote much of hs pootry inthe Seots dialect of English. New Yea"'s Eve is a more Important festival im Scotland, than itis in England, and it ever Jus a Specal name Its not clear where the word “hogmanay comes from, but I Is connected withthe provision of food and ‘eink fr al visitor to your home on December 3ist. In aditon, ‘many people believe that you will have good luk for coming year IW the first person to enter your house alter midnight ts a “tall ark stranger’. Iti also thought lucky ifthe person brings = piece of coal and some white bread! Most Seote take part In 8 eldh (Gaelic! for "dae") on New Year's Eve and there is much ‘ancing and singing unt the easly hours of the morning. ‘Mast of the old New Year customs take place in Scotland, begining ‘ith "Testfooing™ In which the fist person to enter the house In the New Year must be entertained with food and rink. Bu he, on Ns part, must ake fod drink and fue into the house, to ensure that thee shall never be lack a ther during the coming yea. ‘But this 6 a custom that must never be cated out by woman, because i ie believed that if woman frst sete foot In the house, bad luck wil folow throughout a year! The same cus tom is erred out in part ofthe North of England 1 fal Lang ye — mane ae Pots ee, ap ey seit sw TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS. HOLIDAYS: 43 “Another Seotsh eustom is to burn juniper in the house on New Year's Day inorder to protect the limes from harms Besides public holidays there ae other festival, anniversa- Hes celebrations and simply days on which certain lesions are sbserved, but unless they fallen 2 Sunday they ‘ve. tedng sid a they are ordinary FEBRUARY 14TH sents? i of Chsinas a New Yar soe, he’s 3 eling of anthelimax. The rest of January is dreary and cold. But Solo atacne on egy sed nyo tain AD 70 eal taper tao ary = te patron saint of lovers, " rena nea les «sng bl lon hs dy Bes zt it wrote" Valen Doh eB Soupes do join” And Shakespeare carried on the tradition when ‘Theseus says in “A Midsummer Nights Drea St Valentine | past: Begin these Swooi-bie but to couple now? ont amiusans malin ta St Valentine's Day Clete. tons ae a continuation of a Raman festival of Pen! and uno! ‘There used to be a custom In England (and probaly in other ¢ouniries) on St Valetin's Day, mentioned by Chace, Shake speare and Pepys: the names of young unmaried men sod gis ‘ere mined up and drawn oat by chance, The person of the op, pee nour rman ri rn * Si" ngonoratnns oese S“ BRAVA IN BRIER Posite sex whose name came put aller yours was your chosen FYaletine” Tor the ye. Just aver a century ago i became faslonabe to send prety laceeiged cards Eater, ludicrous and sometimes vulgar cartoons ‘were sent to lends and strangers on thi ay. Tour own lime, oo, the Valentine tation has undergone & sort of revival in Briain, Thee seems to be na liit to the vate ty of cade on tle for this celebration. They are happy of sad, Fotantic of humorous, serious or ridieslous. The card manulac {turers realising they're on to a good thing, cate for al tates — including. the ‘vulgar. You can" pay anything trom 0p to. 10 pounds, depending on the depth of yout love and the depth of Sour pocket I you really want to ge rid of some money you ean Always use the St Valentine's Day Greetings Telegram — a ser Jee put on specially for February 14th by the Post Office, Tor really lovesick ‘Of al the Valentine cards on the market the humorous varie ‘ly seem to be the most popular, bat some of them are so cruel You would have to be quite heartless to send them, even to your ‘worst enemy. Anonymity Is of couse, part ofthe trl of send: Ing Valentine cards — you must not say who you are. The person ‘ecelving H must be let to wonder. You can send cars to anyone Yyou tke, o, fr that mater, even people you do ike, There are ards specially printed to My Wile, My Hustand, Mother, Father, Sweetheart, and, would you telive ity Grandmother and Grane ther. At Teast iis good {o know that in this troubled worl love is Mil ving and spreading @ lle happiness, especialy in dreary February PANCAKE DAY ‘Ash Wednesiay’ Is the day in February when the Christan resid of Lent begins. This rles tothe tine when Chvist went Inte the desert and fasted for 40 days. Although not many people actualy give up eating during ths period, on Pancake Tuesiay’, "ok Many — mm sap a TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS. HOUDAYS 45 the day blore Ash Wednesday thy eat los of pancakes. These are made fom Mout, lle and eggs, and fred in 2 ot pan ST DAVID’ DAY (On the Ist of March each year one can see people walking sound London with lesks pinned to thelr coats. A lek Is the ‘atonal emblem of Wales, The many Welsh people who live in London ~ or in other ees ostaite Wales ~ like (o show ther slseity on thei national day ‘The day is actualy called Sunt David's Day, aller a sixth century abbot who Became patron sant of Wales. Davids the earst English equivalent to the sin’ ame, Da “The saint wat known (aditonally at "the Waterman", which perhaps means that he and his monks were testotalers, A testo fale i someone who drinks na kind of aleaal, but i does not ‘mean that he drinks only tea, as many people seem fo think. Tn spite ofthe leeks mentioned earier, Sant David's emblem J not tha, but a dove, No one, no even the Welsh, can explain ‘why they took lek to syebolze thee country, Wu perhaps it was Just as Well Aer al, they cat pin + dove to thei coat REMEMBRANCE DAY (PopPY DAY) Remembrance Day is observed throughout Britsin incom: ‘memoration of The millon ‘or more Bish solders, sors and Siemen who lost ther lives during the two Warls Wars. On that ay special services ace held inthe churches and wreaths are lad at war memorials throughout the cauntry and al London's Ceno faph, where great number of people gather to observe the (wor minute slenee and fo perform he annual Remembrence Day ceremony. The sllnce begins at the Trl sirke of Dig. Ben ‘booming’ 11 glock, and is broken only by the cash of distant ale and pechaps by the murmur of passing jt. When the twormiaute lence is ever, members ol the Royal Fay of thei representatives and political leaders come forward to lay wreaths alte foot ofthe Cenolaph. Then comes the march past the me torial of exservicemen and women, followed by an endless line“ BRITAIN IN BRIE of onlinary eiizens who have come here with thele personal ‘wreaths and thee sad mernoies. ‘On that day atilicial poppies, a symbol of mourning, ae tra titionally sold inthe streets everywhere, and people wear therm in ‘heir buttonholes, The money eolected inthis wa I Tater used to hip the men who had been crippled during the war and thelr dependants HALLOWE'EN Hallowe'en means “holy evening” and takes place on October ist. Although it 2 much more Important festival in the USA, than in Beilin, is celebrated by many people In the United Kingdom, Is partealary connected with witches and ghosts. 'AL parties people dress up in strange costumes and pretend they are witches. They cut horrible laces in potatoes and other vegetables and put 2 cane inside, which shines through the eyes. People play diferent games such as trying to eat an apple from a bucket of water without using ther hands In recent years chien dressed in white sheets knock on doors at Hallowe'en and ask if you would tke a “eck” or “teat 1Wyou give them romething nie, a "eat". they go away. How: ever, ihyou doa', they play a "Uick" on you, such as making a Jot of noise or sping Nour on your ont doorstep. (GUY FAWKES NIGHT. In 1605 King James Las on the throne. As a Protestant, he sas very unpopular with Reman Catoles Some of them planned To blow up the Houses of Parliament ‘on the Sth November of that Year, when the King was going to open Parlament. Under the Fosse of Lords they had sted 26 barrels of gun powder, which were to be exploded by a man cilled Guy Fawkes. However, ane ofthe plotters spoke about these plans and Fawkes was. dlcov fred aeested and later hanged. Since tha day the Betsh trad tionally celebrate Sth of November by burning s dummy, made of straw and ol clothes, on 2 bone, whist at the same time le ting off reworks, BRITAIN TODAY a ‘This dummy eal & “guy” (ike Guy Fawhes) and cilsen ‘an often be sen inthe pavements before Sth of November say ing "Penny for the guy. If they collect enough money they ean buy some reworks, Britain Today ECONOMY From 1981 to 1989 the British economy experienced ght years of susained growth at an annual average rate over 3% However, subsequently Battin and other msjr industrialized nations wore severely aflected. by recession. In Britain growth Slowed {o 06% in. 1990, and in 1001 grass domestic product (GDP) fell by 2.8%. GDP fall in 1992.53 whole by 0.4%, but it rose slightly in the second half"of the year, The recovery sSeengttened during the frst part of 1953; with GDP inthe sec: nd quarter being 2% higher than a year eater; the European Commission expetted Britain to he the fastest growing ofall ma jor European economies in 1993 and 1994, Recent indications that the recovery is under my include: ‘an increase in manulactaring output 8 steady upward trend in rll sales: Increases in new car rgitetions; recoed levels of experts Increased business and consumer confidence; and signs of greater activity i the housing marke ‘The Government's policy Is to easure sustainable economic growth through fow inition and sound public Finances. The Gov: fenment’s economie poliey Is set ia the context of» mediame-lerm Tinancil strategy, which 's revived each year. Within this stat gy, monetary and aca policies are designed t0 delet inflation, Shortterm interest rates ceman the essential inseument of ‘monetary poly.