The British Flag and Other Symbols

Lecture 2. BRITISH PEOPLE

1. Ethnic Identity.

2. The British Flag and other symbols

3. Social Class.

4. Stereotypes.

5. Conservatism.

6. Attitude to nature and animals.

Ethnic Identity

Previously as we talked of British people you’ve got to know that there’re 4 main nations in Britain: the English, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish. Though the long centuries of contact between these people has brought a limit to their significant differences, national loyalties can be strong among the people in Britain whose ancestors were not English. For people living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the way that ethnic identity expresses itself varies.

E.g. People in Scotland have constant reminders of their distinctiveness:

· Several important aspects of public life are organized separately and differently from the rest of Britain – education, law, and religion.

· The Scottish way of speaking English is very distinctive. A modern form of the dialect known as Scots is spoken in everyday life by most of the working classes in the lowlands.

· There’re many symbols of Scottishness which are well-known throughout Britain:

a) the kilt – a skirt with a tartan pattern worn by men,

b) the bagpipes (волынка) are regarded as distinctively Scottish musical instrument,

c) the prefix “Mac” or “Mc” in surnames ( e.g. MacCall, McDonald).

But a genuinely Scottish Gaelic sense of cultural identity is, in modern times, felt only by a few tens of thousands of people in some of western isles of Scotland. They speak Scottish Gaelic (which they call “Gallic”) as a first language.

The people of Wales don’t have many reminders of their Welshness. The organization of public life is identical to that in England. Nor are there as many well-known symbols of Welshness. However, there is one single highly important symbol of Welsh identity – the Welsh language. Everybody in Wales can speak English, but for 20 % of the population the mother tongue is Welsh. There are traditional Festivals of Welsh Poetry, which date to the medieval period. All children in Wales learn the language at school, there’re many local papers in Welsh, there is a Welsh television channel and nearly all public sign are written both in Welsh and English.

The question of identity in Northern Ireland is a much more complicated issue. Here ethnicity, family, politics and religion are all inter-related. Northern Ireland is a polarized society where people are divided into two groups. Those whose ancestors were from Lowland Scotland and England are Protestant and want Northern Ireland to remain in the UK, and those whose ancestors were native Irish are Catholic and want Northern Ireland to become part of the Irish Republic. So there are two communities, and their lives are entirely segregated. They live in different housing estates, listen to different radio and TV programmes, register with different doctors, read different newspapers, their children go to different schools. In this atmosphere marrying a member of the other community is traditionally regarded with horror. But the extremes of the attitudes are gradually softening.

Perhaps because of the long tradition of clear separation British people, although many of them feel proud to be British, are not normally actively patriotic. They often feel uncomfortable when in conversation with somebody from another country they’re associated with Britain or the British government. They are individualistic and don’t like to feel that they are personally representing the country. The modern British are not really chauvinistic. Open hostility to people from other countries is very rare. If there is any chauvinism at all, it is expressed through ignorance: most British people know remarkably little about Europe and who lives there. The popular image of Europe seems to be that it is something to do with the French. The British continue to be very bad about learning other people’s languages, but not because they refuse to do it, but because they’re lazy (they say themselves). These days there is a greater openness to foreign influences. However, along with this openness goes a sense of vulnerability, so that patriotism often takes a defensive form. For instance, there are worries about the loss of British identity in the European Union. This is perhaps why the British cling to certain distinctive ways of doing this, such as driving on the left and using different system of measurement.

The British Flag and Other Symbols

The British flag is called the “Union Jack.” It is really three flags on top of each other. The red cross on white, the St. George’s cross, is the English flag. St. George is the patron saint of England. He was a soldier famous for saving Princess Cleolinda from being eaten by a dragon. He wounded the dragon and took it back to the city of Silene on a lead like a dog. St. George’s Day is celebrated on April, 23. (St. George is also the patron saint of Germany, Portugal, and Greece)

The white X-cross on blue, the St. Andrew’s cross, is the Scottish flag. St. Andrew, a fisherman, was one of the 12 apostles who followed Jesus Christ. Paintings of St. Andrew often show him being killed on an X-shaped cross. St. Andrew’s Day is celebrated on November, 30. (He is the patron saint of both Scotland and Russia).

The red X-cross on white, the St. Patrick’s cross, is the former flag of Ireland. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was born about 390 AD. He converted the Irish to Christianity and is supposed to have got rid of all snakes in Ireland. St. Patrick’s day is celebrated on March, 17.

The Welsh flag is not included into the “Union Jack”, probably because it’s of a different style. Its upper half is white, while its lower part is green, and the flag shows a red dragon. The Welsh patron saint is St. David. He started a number of monasteries in the country. Paintings of St. David normally show him with a dove on his shoulder. His relics are now in St. David’s Cathedral in Wales. St. David’s day is celebrated on March, 1.

British people like to have fun with their flag. They put it on biscuit tins, party hats and plastic bags. But unlike Americans, most British people don’t like to talk about or show patriotic feelings, which is considered embarrassing. You’ll see the Union jack on top of government offices in London, but not on shops or in people’s homes.

Speaking about other symbols, the symbol of England is the red rose, which is rooted in the 15^th century conflicts between two royal dynasties: the House of Lancaster and the House of York. Because the symbols of the two dynasties were the red (the Lancastrians) and the white (the Yorkists) roses, the conflicts had later been named the Wars of the Roses (1455-1485) by the 19^th century writer Walter Scott.

The Scottish symbol is the thistle (чертополох). There is a legend that tells about ancient times when Scandinavian invaders landed somewhere on the eastern coast of Scotland. The Scots gathered their armed forces behind the river Tay. Wishing to take the Scots by surprise, the enemy crossed the river and took off their boots to make the least possible noise while moving on land. But then one of the enemy men accidentally steeped on a thistle, which made him shriek with pain. This was enough of an alarm for the Scots to start the fight and defeat the invaders. So as an acknowledgement for the timely help, this plant was made the Scottish national symbol.

The Irish national symbol are the shamrock (трилистник) and red hand. There is a legend, which explains why there is a picture of a red hand on the Irish coat of arms (герб).

It happened 3 thousand years ago. Two Viking chieftains went with their men in two big boats to Ireland. The first chieftain’s name was Heremon O’Neill, the name of the other one is unknown. They decided that the first of them who would touch the Irish land would be the king of it. At last they were near the Irish coast. The two boats were going faster and faster. But Heremon O’Neill’s boat was slower than that of the other chieftain. When the boats were quite near the land, O’Neill quickly cut off his right hand and threw it over to the land. His hand touched the ground and he became the king of Ireland. That is why there is a picture of a hand on the coast of arms of Ireland.

The Welsh symbols are the leek (лук-порей). Once a year the Welsh people wear the leek symbol to celebrate the day of their patron saint. Another Welsh national symbol is the daffodil (нарцисс), as it is believed that this flower blooms on the 1^st of March, St. David’s Day. one more symbol is the red dragon on the Welsh flag.

There is also a British symbol, which is the royal arms. It is a personal symbol of the British king or queen, consisting of a lion and a unicorn holding a shield, on which other symbols represent England, Scotland and Ireland. The words ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense’ (‘shame on anyone who think badly of this’) - the motto of the Order of the Garter, are written on a belt round the shield. Underneath are the words ‘Dieu et mon droit’ (the personal motto of the king or queen). The lion, which is associated with England stands for bravely, while the unicorn, which symbolizes Scotland, means purity and nobleness.

Social Class

Britain has a deeply individualistic society. Nevertheless, it is described as a class-ridden one. Historians say that the class system has survived in Britain because of its flexibility. It has always been possible to buy or marry or even work your way up, so that your children (and their children) belong to a higher social class, than you do. As a result, the class system has never been swept away.

People in modern Britain are very conscious of class differences. They regard it as difficult to become friends with somebody from a different class. This feeling has little to do with conscious loyalty, and nothing to do with a positive belief in the class system itself. It results from the fact that the different classes have different sets of attitudes and daily habits. Typically, they tend to eat different food at different times of day and call the meals by different names:

Breakfastis usually a packeted “cereal” (e.g. cornflakes) and/or toast and marmalade. It isn’t usually a traditional British breakfast. The traditional British (English) breakfast is a “fry-up” (several items fried together, the most common of which are eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms and even bread), preceded by cereal with milk and followed by toasts, butter and marmalade all washed down with lots of tea. When the “fry-up” is omitted the breakfast is called “continental” (it is usually for working class people).

“Elevenses” is a cup of tea or coffee and some biscuits at around 11 a.m.

Lunch is typically at 1 a.m. But it is often a bit earlier for schoolchildren and those who start work at 8 a.m.

For the urban working class “tea” is the evening meal, eaten as soon as people get home from work (at around 6 p.m.). For other classes, it means a cup of tea and a snack at around 4 p.m.

Supper is the usual word for the evening meal among most people who don’t call it “tea”.

Dinner is also sometimes used for the evening meal. It suggests something rather grander and eaten comparatively late (at 8p.m.). It is associated with formality, receiving (important) guests or going out. And it refers to the midday meal in schools.

Besides, different classes talk about different topics using different styles and accents of English, they enjoy different pastimes and sports, they have different values about what things in life are most important, and different ideas of the correct way to behave.

Traditionally there is a stereotyped view of the upper, middle and working classes. Of course, wealth is a part of the feature that divides people from class to class. But an even greater indication is the way people speak. The English grammar and vocabulary which is used in public speaking, radio and television news broadcasts, books and newspapers is known as “standard British English”. However, most working class people use lots of words and grammar forms, which are regarded as “non-standard”. But the clearest indication of a person’s class is often his/her accent. The most prestigious accent in Britain is known as “Received Pronunciation” or “RP”. It’s a combination of standard English spoken with an RP accent that is usually meant when people talk about “BBC English”, or “Oxford English”, or “ Queen’s English”. RP is not associated with any particular part of the country. The vast majority, however, speak with an accent which is geographically limited (e.g. Bromley accent [ai]→[ei] lady [ai]).

Stereotypes

The British, like the people of every country, tend to have certain characteristics, which are supposedly typical. However, many things that are often regarded as typically British derive from books, songs or plays which were written a long time ago, and which are no longer representative of modern life.

One example of this is the popular belief that Britain is a “land of tradition”. This is what any tourist book claims. The claim is based on what can be seen in public life. But a reputation for tradition can lead to its artificial preservation – or even re-introduction. A notable example is the taxi. This was introduced into the streets in 1994. It is an exact replica of London taxis of the 1930s (except that it has modern facilities) It is deliberately designed this way to appeal to tourists. The same can be said of London famous red buses (when in 1990s they were sold to different private companies, the government insisted that the buses should stay red)

However, in their private life, the British as individuals are less inclined to follow tradition. There are very few ancient customs that are followed by the majority of families on special occasions. The English language has fewer sayings and proverbs that are in everyday use than many other languages do. (The British are too individualistic for these things) In addition, it should be noted that the British are the most enthusiastic video-watching people in the world – the very opposite of a traditional pastime!

There’re many examples of supposedly typical British habits, which are simply not typical any more. E.g. what a vast majority of people has in the morning is continental breakfast. The image of the British as a nation of tea-drinkers is another stereotype, which is somewhat out-of-date. It is true that it is still prepared in certain way (strong and with milk), but more coffee than tea is now bought.

Conservatism

The British have few living folk traditions, but it doesn’t mean that they like change. They may not behave in traditional ways, but they like symbols of tradition and stability.

They don’t think it is especially smart to live in a new house; in fact, it is prestigious to live in an obviously old one. They have a general sentimental attachment to older, supposedly safer times.

They’re stubbornly conservative about anything which can show Britishness: e.g. driving on the left-hand-side of the road. In fact they are proud of being different. Developments at European Union level, which might cause a change in some everyday aspect of British life, are usually greeted with suspicion and hostility. (E.g. they don’t agree to change their double-decker buses to recommended European standard).

Another example is the system of measurement. The British government has been trying for years to promote the metric system and to get the British people use it. But it’s had a limited success. British manufacturers are obliged to give the weight of their products in kilos and grams. But everybody in Britain still shops in pounds and ounces. They continue to measure distances, amounts of liquid and themselves using scales of measurement that aren’t used anywhere else in Europe.

Units if Length

1 inch = 2.54 cm

12 inches = 1 foot = 30.48 cm

3 feet = 1 yard = 0.9144 m

22 yards = 1 chain = 20.12 m

1 mile = 1.609 km

6080 feet = 1 nautical mile = 1853 m

Units of Weight

1 grain = 64.8 mg; 1 dram – 1.772 g

16 drams = 1 ounce = 28.35 g

16 ounces = 1pound = 0.4536 kg

14 pounds = 1 stone = 6.350 kg