what are you talking about ? are you really saying that you can’t think of anything that is ‘english’ or defines englishness just because we don’t have an anthem or national costume ?

i think you’re trying just a little too hard to be in denial.

Fair play.
Superiority complex.
Imperial hangover/decline.
Pubs.
Reserve.
Refusal to take oneself too seriously and derision of those that do.
Pride in home.

……and the world renowned British class system.

English culture lost a legend today.

John Barry RIP.

airtragic – nice

and I would love to agree and can up to a point.. things are changing fast though.. and I fear that within a couple more generations your memory will be lost.. and British culture will simply be no more than the flatteringly childish imitation of whatever the US culture was 8 months previously..

this is of course the worst case scenario… I’m sure that Britains great schools and universities will keep this trend in check..

And celebrates a birthday, Happy Birthday John.

Surely a significant part of English culure is the freedom, the freedom to choose whether something is English or British depending on how positively or negatively it affects the Great English nation. See above.

English national costume – Morris Dancers? Beefeaters?
English national anthem – Always thought it should be “Jerusalem”.

There is a lot of cynicism and self deprecation from the English, the Scots, Welsh, Cornish, Celtic (and I fully appreciate we’re mixing lots of cultures here) all seem to have a lot of pride. Indeed even many local English folk have pride in their hometowns/villages/locales, just look at Yorkshiremen, Geordies, Scousers, Brummies even the Cockneys have pride in their origins. The English as a whole though seem to be lacking in national pride though, maybe it’s because England is just too big?

English national costume – Morris Dancers? Beefeaters?

Or punk rockers, Mary Quant/ swinging London, bowler hat and umbrella………………..

AS Britain is a political construct and encompasses many different cultural strands then its really hard to define “British Culture” I think what airtragic lists is more about British attitudes or attribute

From Mary Quant and the Punks to the Scottish football fans,
From the male voice choir of Wales to differing folk music of the regions
The maritime tradition and the mountain climbers
The cultural melting pot of the big cities toe the Lake district hill farms

The immigrants over hundreds of years who have brought a bit of their culture with them. Where would we be without curry? Italian ice cream?

I do not believe there is one british culture – there are many interwoven strands

I thought Land of Hope and Glory was the English anthem

ernie_lynch – Member

HTH

Well if I’m honest, no, not really.

I think he means it has a certain je ne sais quoi.

Now that I have recovered from the “come up against Maori culture” opener, which I am going to assume is just badly worded….

Interesting question.

Using a working definition of “the behaviours and beliefs associated with a particular group” then there are lots of qualities that can be defined as British.

Justice and fair play
Liberalism
Stiff upper lip
Having milky tea in the afternoon
Cricket
Free press
Shakespeare
Moaning about the weather
Enjoying moaning about the weather
Quiet unspoken patriotism
Acceptance of other cultures

I am sure one could fine examples counter to all of these, this is more about impressions I think, culture is hard to define as it shifts.

hels, you forgot the houses made of small red bricks, the double decker buses, the weather 😉 and most of all (IMHO) this attitude you have to just accept things and not revolt/fight/protest.

I mentioned the weather twice juan !! What I forgot was the stoic enjoyment of queueing, except in the one place where it would be helpful, in the pub.

Can we do France now ??

Fraternite, Egalite, Liberte, Garlic.

this attitude you have to just accept things and not revolt/fight/protest.

It’s called lying back and thinking of good ol’Blighty**……….you wouldn’t understand.

** whilst you’re getting shafted.

most of all (IMHO) this attitude you have to just accept things and not revolt/fight/protest.

What ? Like the miners strike or the Poll tax riots or the ’81 riots or the recent student demonstrations ?

Like the miners strike or the Poll tax riots or the ’81 riots

Which was most unBritish 😐

The “enemy within”, as Maggie called them.

Which was most unBritish

Well as most of the actors were undoubtedly British, I guess the perception and the reality are slightly at odds, no ?

I thinkhope we may see more unBritishness over the next four years.

cuppa tea , mary poppins , fish n chips, cricket, winstone churchill

Well as most of the actors were undoubtedly British

Not being funny, and I’m not a racist, but…… them miners never really looked very British to me

…. not even when they posed for photos with British babies.

And the same goes for the poll tax protesters too

I have no idea why they blamed the Americans for the poll tax btw.

Scraprider -whisky ceilidhs jackie bird fish and chips fitba distrust of churchill

Thanks to the folk that answered the questions. I am honestly curious as to what people think on this, especially any non british as it is usaully easier looking in from the outside.

happy to help, but despite what they all say I really do believe britain/england is something very different from the rest of europe. I can’t really put my hand on it (even after reading the 101 british facts) but there is something.
Well I am too young for stuff that happened in 81 or before. And don’t get me started about student protest, that is no protest, it’s merely demonstrating 😉

juan “I really do believe britain/england is something very different ” Britain is not the same as England. One thing I do like about England ,Northern Ireland,Scotland and Wales is that their people(s) are in my opinion generally tolerant and diverse which adds to the quality of life

At the risk of being obvious and laughed at raucously: Morris dancing is maybe antiquated or possibly invented 20 years ago, but I spent a very happy Boxing Day first watching a bunch of fully grown, slightly pissed men, making fools of themselves and having a fine time doing it, and then drinking in the pub with them, singing along with a huge range of music from folk to political satire via rock’n’roll and spirituals.

Bunch of strangers enjoying themselves together in a pub. Felt like the best of culture to me, no idea how to label it though.

Bunch of strangers enjoying themselves together in a pub. Felt like the best of culture to me

seems like a damn fine thing to me 😀

Are most of you ashamed to be British? If so why?

you know you have that union jack on your flag….

british culture is a melting pot with both homegrown, imported and adapted culture, as has been alluded to here; fish and chips (polish import) curry, our self deprecation, bowler hats, BL cars. the north- south divide. socialising in pubs – outside family groups (this is very apparently different to some of out neighbours)

also british culture includes welsh scottish irish cultures but the are distinct from british culture which leaves english culture although that is closely linked to british culture. so you can see there is some confusion.

oh and rubbish coffee.