England first became established as a country in the year 927 and since then has created a history of diverse customs and traditions. Although some English traditions are similar to those of other countries, they also have some unique customs and historical traditions that are purely English.

Manners

England is known to be a very polite country and some things that may be acceptable in other countries are not acceptable in England. In public, you should always wait in line and avoid pushing other people. It’s also important to remember to drive on the left side of the road. If you agreed to meet someone at a certain time, don’t be late and don’t decide not to go without informing them. If you say you will do something, it is impolite to back out at the last minute. If you’re introduced to someone for the first time, shake their hand and smile. It is also nice to bring flowers or some sort of gift. Though many people have the perception that the English hug and kiss everyone, they often only do this to people they know personally.

At meal time, don’t eat with your mouth full. You should also cover your mouth if you yawn, cough, or sneeze.  If you are sitting down for a meal, don’t begin eating until everyone is ready to eat. It is rude to burp, spit, or talk loudly in public places.Men are expected to take their hats off when they are inside.Remember to use polite phrases such as “excuse me,” “please,” and “thank you.”

Traditions

England also has some unique traditions.There are many traditions in England that involve nature and the outdoors. In April, there are several Cuckoo Fairs, where an individual releases a Cuckoo to signal the beginning of warm weather. A few months later in June, people travel to Stonehenge, where there are giant stones placed. This is a historical site that took thousands of years to build and is important to English culture. People go there on the longest day of the year to watch the sun rise.

Swan Upping takes place in July. People travel down the Thames River to count swans and gather information for a swan census. Swan Upping takes about five days to complete.It is also a tradition to decorate wells during the summer months. This is a craft made out of mosaic tiles that people then place on wells. The decorations are made from moss, flowers, tree bark and other natural materials.

Holiday Customs

On Christmas, families gather together and present gifts to one another.  They also have a tradition of making Christmas pudding, a rich desert that is enjoyed after Christmas dinner. In November, there is a day called Stir-up Sunday, where family members take turns stirring the pudding and make a wish. This pudding is made with 13 ingredients to represent the 13 disciples of Jesus. The pudding is stirred east to west to signify the journey of the wise men.This is a pudding made with ingredients such as fruit, nuts, beef and flour, but there are many variations.There was also a tradition to hide a coin inside the pudding and whoever found the coin would have good luck.

The day after Christmas in England is known as Boxing Day, where people give gifts to individuals who work for them or have provided service to them. On New Year’s Eve, people go to parties with dancing and fireworks. They also gather around the clock, Big Ben, to hold hands and sing “Auld Lang Syne.”

Easter is a holiday that is important to English citizens. Religious individuals celebrate by going to church services, known as Sunrise Services, where they gather on a hill to watch the sun rise. The English sometimes give gifts to one another. This tradition originally began with decorated bird eggs, but later these were replaced with traditional chocolate eggs. They also have a feast of lamb, boiled eggs, custard, biscuits and Simnel Cake, which is a fruit cake with 11 marzipan balls that represent the apostles who betrayed Jesus.

All Saints Day and All Souls Day take place on November 1st and 2nd, respectively. All Saints Day is a celebration of the catholic saints. All Souls Day is a day to remember those who have died. There was a time when people kept their lights on at night and set out food because it was thought that the ghosts of loved ones returned that night. Remembrance Day is in November as well, and this is a holiday to remember those who died in war. It is also known as Poppy Day because people wear poppies to honor lost loved ones. They lay out red wreaths at memorials and have a two minute silence at 11 am, to mark when World War I officially ended.

England has a rich history of traditions and historical customs. They value their culture, manners and history. If you are planning to visit this country, take this into consideration. England is a unique country that has changed and transformed over the past 1,000 years, but there are still century-old customs that remain today.