NAMA : FAHRIA ASUAD

NPM : 06211811044
CLASS : VI

1. British traditions and UK culture

What comes to mind when you think of British culture? Probably quite differing traditional
stereotypes. On the one hand, you might think of James Bond ordering a sophisticated Martini or
of stylish celebs attending Wimbledon. While on the other, you might think of the eccentric
capers of Mr. Bean. The UK is a multi-nation, multi-ethnic land of diversity and contrast. And
yet you’ll find it hard to meet a Brit who doesn’t love a good cup of tea with a nice chocolate
biscuit.
This blog post looks at some of the most characteristic customs shared by the British. I feel it
necessary to point out that I myself am from southern Ireland and am therefore not a Brit, even
though we share many quirks. I have, however, lived in the UK and now spend my days
surrounded by many wonderful Brits at British Council Barcelona. In the interests of objectivity
(and of course, to avoid controversy), I have consulted British friends and colleagues to ask them
what customs they would define as specifically British, for better or worse. Read on for their
eye-opening responses.
1. Awkward greetings
Our first respondent, Tamsin from Leicester, suggests that there are no strict rules for greeting
somebody in the UK, the only essential element is that it’s awkward. In a country like Spain, the
social rules for handshakes or giving two kisses are quite clear. In the UK, greetings can range
from a formal handshake to a hug to a nod of the head or perhaps just a simple “Hello”. Such
lack of guidance spells social disaster, as one person goes in for a hug while the other is offering
a reserved head nod. The result is embarrassment for everybody, and thus a typical British
interaction has begun! Try to minimise the awkwardness by at least having some greeting
expressions up your sleeve. Click here for some typical expressions in English.
2. Tea (and biscuits, obviously)
It’s not just a stereotype. When asked about quintessentially British customs, almost all
respondents to my question immediately mentioned drinking a nice cuppa. The word “cuppa”
(/ˈkʌpə/) is a common way to refer to a cup of tea, as when you pronounce the expression “cup
of tea”, it sounds more like “cuppa tea”. And it’s true that the humble cup of tea forms the basis
of many British social interactions. Most Brits drink tea for breakfast, more tea during work
breaks, tea before bed, tea when the neighbours visit, tea during a meeting, tea to help decide
how to solve a crisis … you get the idea. And let’s not forget the great British art of “dunking”:
this means dipping sugary biscuits into tea before eating them. In fact, one source of national
debate is which
3. Going to the pub
Like many other respondents, Simon from Essex says that the main British tradition for him is
going to the pub. Many people have their “local”, meaning the pub that they go to most regularly
and where they know the staff and the other customers. I remember working in an office in
London and how our entire team of about 50 people had the fun habit of going to the pub
together every Friday after work (sometimes on Thursdays too!). It’s not all about drinking
though. A trip to the pub can involve playing darts, watching sports on TV, eating some “pub
grub” (that’s the name for food served in a pub), or maybe even taking part in a challenging pub
quiz. If you’re in the mood for a fun night out, keep an eye out (or Google) for a typical British
pub quiz right here in Portugal.
4. Paying for drinks in rounds
Several respondents pointed out that if you decide to try out British pub culture, you need to be
aware of the other British tradition of buying drinks in rounds . This means that rather than
ordering your drink individually, it’s much more common to order (and pay) for the entire group.
Your fellow drinkers will return the favour when they buy your next drink, and the next after
that, depending on how many people are in the group. Just be careful: if you’re not as used to
alcohol as your colleagues, going out with a big group could lead to a pretty bad hangover the
following day! Or if you’ve had enough, you can feel free to go home. The people who owe you
drinks will (usually) remember to buy you one the next time you’re in the pub together. Click
here for more about British pub etiquette.
5. Saying sorry
Another custom which many respondents thought was particularly British was excessive
apologising . Jane from London suggests that in any situation that goes wrong, it is the
automatic reaction of most Brits to say sorry, regardless of whether they are at fault. Jane says
that if she’s getting off the tube and a man bumps into her while he rushes into the carriage, her
instinctive reaction is to exclaim “Oooh, sorry!”, even though she clearly hasn’t done anything
wrong. Things get even more bizarre than that. People in office corridors walk past each other
and whisper “sorry!” even when there is plenty of room for them both to pass; my ex-flatmate in
London once unthinkingly apologised to a dog which had run into her leg.
6. Identifying accent
A suggestion from various colleagues was the British custom of trying to place a person based on
their accent. Of course, this tendency exists in every country but it’s true that the UK seems to
have a particular wealth of distinguishable regional accents. So when one Londoner meets
another, it’s quite possible that they will automatically know which general part of the city the
other is from, just from accent. This phenomenon is not limited to big cities, with many rural
areas having their own distinct accents. This means that Brits often talk about accents to break
the ice in social gatherings, for example:
Jeff: So, would I be right in guessing that you’re from Cornwall, Harold?
Harold: Oh, close enough. I’m actually from Devon
7. Identifying class
In several responses to my question about British quirks, people mentioned the UK’s obsession
with class. One important factor in this sphere is, again, accent. For example, if somebody has
attended a public school (this is - confusingly - the name for an expensive private school in the
UK), they have a very recognisable accent. I have had many conversations with British friends,
along the lines of “Well, my grandparents were working class but they saved money to send one
of their kids to public school so that he’d get a posh accent and become a lawyer”. Often, a
person’s class is assumed by their accent or family connections rather than their actual bank
balance. The British tend to speak about class quite openly and even consider certain
supermarkets, newspapers, or social activities to be dictated by a person’s class. All of this
means that silently guessing a person’s class is one of Brits’ favourite hobbies.
8. Sunbathing, wherever, whenever
A final custom, suggested by Sandra from London, is the British tendency to sunbathe at any
sight of sun. Perhaps this is a biological necessity, a behaviour common to all people from sun-
deprived nations. Any sunny day in the UK with a temperature of over 18 degrees leads to mass
delirium. That means people unbuttoning their shirts, rolling up their trousers and stopping
everything to sit in the sun, whether they’re in a park, in a city square, at a bus stop, literally
anywhere outdoors. And who could blame them for making the most of the British sunshine?
Perhaps less healthy is when Brits do the same while on holiday in a hot country like Spain and
instead of a sun-kissed glow, end up with an unfortunate “gamba” red!

2. American Culture: Traditions and Customs of the United States

American culture encompasses the customs and traditions of the United States. "Culture
encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music, what
we believe is right or wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet visitors, how we behave with
loved ones, and a million other things," said Cristina De Rossi, an anthropologist at Barnet and
Southgate College in London.
The United States is the third largest country in the world with a population of more than 325
million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A child is born every 8 seconds, and a person dies
every 12 seconds.
In addition to Native Americans who were already living on the continent, the population of the
United States was built on immigration from other countries. Despite recent moves to close the
U.S. borders to new immigrants and refugees, a new immigrant moves to the United States every
33 seconds, according to the Census Bureau.
Because of this, the United States is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world.
Nearly every region of the world has influenced American culture, most notably the English who
colonized the country beginning in the early 1600s. U.S. culture has also been shaped by the
cultures of Native Americans, Latin Americans, Africans and Asians.
The United States is sometimes described as a "melting pot" in which different cultures have
contributed their own distinct "flavors" to American culture. Just as cultures from around the
world have influenced American culture, today American culture influences the world. The term
Western culture often refers broadly to the cultures of the United States and Europe.
The way people "melt" in the United States differs. "Different groups of immigrants integrate in
different ways," De Rossi told Live Science. "For example, in the United States, Catholic
Spanish-speaking communities might keep their language and other cultural family traditions,
but are integrated in the urban community and have embraced the American way of life in many
other ways."
The Northeast, South, Midwest, Southeast and Western regions of the United States all have
distinct traditions and customs. Here is a brief overview of the culture of the United States.
Language
There is no official language of the United States, according to the U.S. government. While
almost every language in the world is spoken in the United States, the most frequently spoken
non-English languages are Spanish, Chinese, French and German. Ninety percent of the U.S.
population speaks and understands at least some English, and most official business is conducted
in English. Some states have official or preferred languages. For example, English and Hawaiian
are the official languages in Hawaii.
The Census Bureau estimates that more than 300 languages are spoken in the United States. The
bureau divides those languages into four categories: Spanish; other Indo-European languages,
which includes German, Yiddish, Swedish, French, Italian, Russian, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi,
Greek and several others; Asian and Pacific Island languages, including Chinese, Korean,
Japanese, Thai, Tamil and more; and "all other languages," which is a category for languages
that didn't fit into the first three categories, such as Hungarian, Arabic, Hebrew, languages of
Africa and languages of native people of North, Central and South America.
Religion
Nearly every known religion is practiced in the United States, which was founded on the basis of
religious freedom. About 71% of Americans identify themselves as Christians, according to
information gathered by the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan research group, in 2017. The
research also found that about 23% had no religious affiliation at all and around 6% of the
population is made up non-Christian religions.
The number of people who identify with no religion seems to be decreasing. According to the
Pew Research Center, this category is expected to drop from 16% in 2015 to 13% in 2060.
American style
Clothing styles vary by social status, region, occupation and climate. Jeans, sneakers, baseball
caps, cowboy hats and boots are some items of clothing that are closely associated with
Americans. Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and Victoria Secret are some well-known
American brands.
American fashion is widely influenced by celebrities and the media, and fashion sales equal
around $200 billion per year, according to a paper published by Harvard University in 2007.
More and more Americans are buying fashion, electronics and more online. According to the
Census Bureau, U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the first quarter of 2017 totaled around $98.1
billion.
American food
American cuisine was influenced by Europeans and Native Americans in its early history.
Today, there are a number of foods that are commonly identified as American, such as
hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, macaroni and cheese, and meat loaf. "As American as apple
pie" has come to mean something that is authentically American.
There are also styles of cooking and types of foods that are specific to a region. Southern-style
cooking is often called "American comfort food" and includes dishes such as fried chicken,
collard greens, black-eyed peas and corn bread. Tex-Mex, popular in Texas and the Southwest, is
a blend of Spanish and Mexican cooking styles and includes items such as chili and burritos, and
relies heavily on shredded cheese and beans.
Jerky, dried meats that are served as snacks, is also a food that was created in the United States,
according to NPR.
The arts
The United States is widely known around the world as a leader in mass media production,
including television and movies. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the United
States comprises one-third of the worldwide media and entertainment industry.
The television broadcasting industry took hold in the United States in the early 1950s, and
American television programs are now shown around the world. The United States also has a
vibrant movie industry, centered in Hollywood, California, and American movies are popular
worldwide. The U.S. film industry earned $31 billion in revenues in 2013, and is expected to
reach $771 billion by 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The United States' arts culture extends beyond movies and television shows, though. New York
is home to Broadway, and Americans have a rich theatrical history. American folk art is an
artistic style and is identified with quilts and other hand-crafted items. American music is very
diverse with many, many styles, including rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel, country and western,
bluegrass, rock 'n' roll and hip hop.
Sports
The United States is a sports-minded country, with millions of fans who follow football,
baseball, basketball and hockey, among other sports. Baseball, which was developed in colonial
America and became an organized sport in the mid-1800s, is known as America's favorite
pastime, although its popularity has been eclipsed by football for the past three decades,
according to the Harris Poll.
American holidays
Many holidays are celebrated only in the United States. Americans celebrate their independence
from Britain on July 4. Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday in May, honors those who
have died in military service. Labor Day, observed on the first Monday in September, celebrates
the country's workforce. Thanksgiving, another distinctive American holiday, falls on the fourth
Thursday in November and dates back to colonial times to celebrate the harvest. Presidents' Day,
marking the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, is a federal holiday that
occurs on the third Monday in February. The contributions of veterans are honored on Veterans'
Day, observed on Nov. 11. The contributions of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. are
remembered on the third Monday in January.

3. People, Culture, Traditions and Customs in australia

Read on as there’s much more to getting by in Australia than knowing how to cope with spiders,
understanding traffic rules and being mad about vegemite.
Language
While English is the official language of Australia, more than 300 languages are spoken
throughout the country. This includes Mandarin, Italian, Arabic and Greek. You might also hear
Aboriginal influences through words like boomerang and kangaroo.
Australians have their own unique slang and phrases. If you want to sound like an Aussie, get
familiar with words like g’day (hello), ‘bloke’ (man) and barbie (barbeque). You may also come
across some odd phrases and rhyming slang, where one part of a phrase is removed and replaced
with a word that rhymes. For instance, “Captain Cook” means to have a look and “Bag of fruit”
means a suit.
Sports
Sport is a huge part of the Australian way of life and a national fixation! Cricket, Australian
Rules Football (AFL), Rugby League, Rugby Union, soccer, swimming, basketball and horse
racing are among the most popular and enjoy a high level of participation at the grounds or via
broadcast.
Nearly every Australian suburb and town boast top-class sporting facilities to provide an
opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to be physically active and strengthen social
connections. Weekends are usually spent having a backyard ‘barbie’, playing cricket or Aussie
Rules Footy with family and friends, where a cold beer is often a must.
Australia has a rich history of hosting major international sports events and world
championships. There’s never a shortage of events on the sporting calendar with AFL,
Melbourne Cup, Australian Tennis Open, Formula One Grand Prix and the Sydney to Hobart
Yacht Race to keep sports fans happy.

Etiquette
Aussies tend to be casual and relaxed and are not very big on formal greetings. When meeting
for the first time, generally Australians shake hands, smile and introduce themselves with their
first names. They love their laid-back lifestyle and take their time with family and friends very
seriously. Picnics, family barbeques, parties, a day at the beach and gatherings at the park are all
essential to the Australian way of life.
Giving and exchanging gifts with family, friends, neighbours and workmates on birthdays and
Christmas is common. If you have been invited to someone’s home for a meal, it is polite to
bring a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates for the hosts. Please be punctual as it is impolite if
you are late by more than 15 minutes. If your delay is unavoidable, contact and inform your host
ahead of time.
Weather
Australia has a generally temperate climate where most of the country receives more than 3,000
hours of sunshine a year. There are four seasons across most of the country and a wet and dry
season in the tropical north. Mild winters and warm to hot summers are what attract most people
to Australia especially those hoping to escape scorching heat, high humidity, dreary winters and
unhealthy air quality.