Unique Traditions from UK

Boxing Day

This holiday, which is observed on Dec. 26, is a unique part of the Christmas season in Great Britain, as well as other Commonwealth nations. Boxing Day comes from a tradition that began in the Middle Ages more than 800 years ago. On this day, English churches would open their “alms box” and distribute its contents to needy members of the community. It was also a day for servants to celebrate the holidays with their families, having usually worked the day before. Today, Boxing Day is one of the twenty-two paid holidays received by most working Brits. Most people now spend Christmas Day with their family and reserve Boxing Day for exchanging gifts with friends. Although the government shuts down for the day, cinemas and theatres are open.

Queen’s Telegram

In the United States, if you make it to the ripe old age of 101 or 102, Willard Scott will wish you happy birthday on national television. In England, the queen herself will send her congratulations. This fairly new custom is known as “the Queen’s Telegram” and assures centenarians (people at least 100 years old) that they will receive a birthday telegram from the queen on their one-hundredth birthdays. The telegram is so longed for by some Brits that one 98-year-old woman was recently proved to have faked her age by two years just to receive the telegram.

High Tea

High tea was first enjoyed by the English working class during the 1700s. This tradition began as a practical attempt to hold off hunger pains between breakfast and supper, as eating just two daily meals was common at the time. It was called “high” tea because it was usually taken sitting on top of stools in a tea shop or standing at a counter or buffet table. Today, high tea has become a more elegant and popular tradition that is practiced in fine hotels and restaurants around the world.

Public Houses

Visiting a pub is one of Britain’s oldest forms of entertainment. The idea for the first public houses was brought to Britain thousands of years ago by the conquering Roman army. The first pubs served wine, but after the discovery of hops (啤酒花) in the 14th century, pubs began to serve mainly beer and ale (麥芽酒), as they do today.

British pubs operate between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. every day except Sunday, when they must close at 10:30 p.m.

The drinking age in Britain is eighteen, but fourteen-year-olds may enter a pub unaccompanied if they order a meal.

Unique Traditions from UK

Traditions

Time

Main Activities

Boxing Day

Observed on Dec. 26 during the  71   season

In the past, churches would open their “alms box”, with its contents  72  to needy people.

Today it is reserved to  73  gifts with friends.

Queen’s Telegram

74  by the Queen when one has his or her 100th birthday

People over 100 years old will receive a birthday telegram from the Queen herself on their birthday, enjoying the Queen’s  75  on them.

High Tea

Enjoyed and practiced between breakfast and supper

It  76  to be taken sitting in a tea shop, or standing at a counter. Today it’s becoming a tradition  77  in the hotels and restaurants worldwide.

Public Houses

Visited between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. every day  78  Sunday

At the  79  only wine was served, but today they mainly serve beer and ale, but people  80  than eighteen are not allowed to drink.

71. Christmas                                    76. used

72. distributed/delivered                      77. practiced/practised

73. exchange                                     78. except

74. Sent                                            79. beginning

75. congratulations                             80. younger

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