V Social behaviour in the UK and the USA
Everyday Etiquette: Great Britain
In general the British prefer to be introduced to strangers, if at all possible wait for a third party introduction when meeting someone new. Great Britain (especially England) is a non touching culture. Strong eye contact is not overly common among strangers and casual acquaintances, Eye contact is used when one really wants to make a point, when speaking with close friends, and when interest in a topic wants to be stressed.
When departing be sure to shake everyone's hand, a general group wave as is often done in the United States is not looked on favorably.
Bad Topics of Discussion
Politics, religion, and sex. Also the common American question "what do you do?" is considered rude and too personal.
Queuing is a never ending occurrence in the UK. No matter how long the line is always go to the back and wait, and stay in line no matter how long it takes.
Invitations
“Drop in anytime” and “come see me soon” are idioms often used in social settings but seldom meant to be taken literally. It is wise to telephone before visiting someone at home. If you receive a written invitation to an event that says “RSVP”, you should respond to let the person who sent the invitation know whether or not you plan to attend. If your invitation says, "Regrets only," you only need to tell your host if you do not plan to attend. If you are unsure how to dress, call the host and ask, "What should I wear?".
Many student parties are "BYOB" (bring you own beverage). You will make enemies rapidly if you go to parties and drink other people's beverages. If a party is BYOB , then you should BYOB!
Although it is not necessarily expected that you give a gift to your host, it is considered polite to do so, especially if you have been invited for a meal. Flowers, chocolate, or a small gift are all appropriate. A thank-you note or telephone call after the visit is also considered polite and is an appropriate means to express your appreciation for the invitation.
SOME AMERICAN CUSTOMS SOCIAL EVENTS AND PARTIES
Some parties are "pot luck" or "covered dish" affairs. The idea is that everybody brings something. Sometimes the person giving the party will assign various types of food (breads, beverages, pasta, dessert) to different people to assure a variety. If you are invited to a wedding, a "bridal shower" or a "baby shower," you will be expected to bring a substantial gift.
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SOME DIFFERENT CUSTOMS in the USA
People point with their index finger.
Respect for someone is shown by looking her in the face.
Relaxed postures are very common; do not think your listener is inattentive because she is relaxed.
People are uncomfortable with silence.
Americans get very excited about the issue of smoking, and it is not a good idea to get Americans too excited about any particular issue.
v English idioms
Proverbs and Sayings
Between the devil and the deep sea:
Every cloud has a silver lining
One man's meat is another man's poison
The grass is always greener on the other side
The best things in life are free
Don't cross your bridges before you come to them
That's the last straw!
Where there's a will there's a way
"I'll sleep on it."
A stumble may prevent a fall.
Boys will be boys
Don't put all your eggs in one basket
Every dog has its day
You cannot have a cake and eat it too.
When the cat's away, the mice will play!
A Blessing In Disguise
A Piece of Cake
A Taste Of Your Own Medicine
Add Fuel To The Fire
All Greek to me
All In The Same Boat
Barking Up The Wrong Tree
Blood Is Thicker Than Water
Text 2 Festivals
On New Year's Eve, people traditionally take a shower in the fountains in Trafalgar Square! The Christmas tree is an annual gift from Norway
I'm in love!
On 14th February, St Valentine's Day, many people send a card to the one they love or someone whom they have fallen in love with. People usually do not sign these cards and a lot of time is spent trying to guess who has sent them!
Pancake Day
Ash Wednesday is the day in February when the Christian period of Lent begins. This refers to the time when Christ went into the desert and fasted for forty days. Although not many people actually give up eating during this period, on Pancake Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, they eat lots of pancakes. These are made from flour, milk and eggs, and fried in a hot pan.
Some towns also hold pancake races on that day. People run through the streets holding a frying pan and throwing the pancake in the air. Of course if they drop the pancake they lose the race!
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Easter eggs
At Easter time, the British celebrate the idea of new birth by giving each other chocolate Easter eggs which are opened and eaten on Easter Sunday. On Good Friday bakers sell hot cross buns, which are toasted and eaten with butter. Easter Monday is a holiday and many people travel to the seaside for the day or go and watch one of the many sporting events, such as football or horse-racing.
May is here
As summer comes, Britain likes to celebrate the end of the winter. In England on 1st May, Morris men may be seen in country areas celebrating traditional dances, waving their white handkerchiefs to drive away the evil spirits and welcome in the new ones. At school and in smaller village communities children may dance traditional spring dances such as the Maypole, when they weave their brightly coloured scarves into a beautiful pattern around a long pole.
Ghosts and witches
Halloween means «holy evening», and takes place on 31st October. Although it is a much more important festival in the United States than Britain, it is celebrated by many people in the UK. It is particularly connected with witches and ghosts.
At parties people dress up in strange costumes and pretend they are witches. They cut horrible faces in potatoes and other vegetables and put a candle inside, which shines through the eyes. People may play difficult games such as trying to eat an apple from a bucket of water without using their hands.
In recent years children dressed in white sheets knock on doors at Halloween and ask if you would like a «trick» or «treat». If you give them something nice, a «treat», they go away. However, if you don't they play a «trick» on you, such as making a lot of noise or spilling flour on your front doorstep!
Guy Fawkes Night
In 1605 King James I was on the throne. As a Protestant, he was very unpopular with Roman Catholics. Some of them planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5th November of that year, when the King was going to open Parliament. Under the House of Lords they had stored thirty-six barrels of gun powder, which were to be exploded by a man called Guy Fawkes. However one of the plotters spoke about these plans and Fawkes was discovered, arrested and later hanged. Since that day the British traditionally celebrate 5th November by burning a dummy, made of straw and old clothes, on a bonfire, whilst at the same time letting off fireworks.
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This dummy is called a «guy» (like Guy Fawkes) and children can often be seen on the pavements before 5th November saying, «Penny for the guy». If they collect enough money they can buy some fireworks.
Christmas
If you try to catch a train on 24th December you may have difficulty in finding a seat. This is the day when many people are travelling home to be with their families on Christmas Day, 25th December. For most British families, this is the most important festival of the year, it combines the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ with the traditional festivities of winter.
On the Sunday before Christmas many churches hold a carol service where special hymns are sung. Sometimes carol-singers can be heard on the streets as they collect money for charity. Most families decorate their houses with brightly-coloured paper or holly, and they usually have a Christmas tree in the corner of the front room, glittering with coloured lights and decorations.
There are a lot of traditions connected with Christmas but perhaps the most important one is the giving of presents. Family members wrap up their gifts and leave them at the bottom of the Christmas tree to be found on Christmas morning. Children leave a long sock or stocking at the end of their bed on Christmas Eve, 24th December, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and bring them small presents, fruit and nuts. They are usually not disappointed! At some time on Christmas Day the family will sit down to a big turkey dinner followed by Christmas pudding. They will probably pull a cracker with another member of the family. It will make a loud crack and a coloured hat, small toy and joke will fall out!
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Later in the afternoon they may watch the Queen on television as she delivers her traditional Christmas message to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. If they have room for even more food they may enjoy a piece of Christmas cake or eat a hot mince pie. 26th December is also a public holiday, Boxing Day, and this is the time to visit friends and relatives or be a spectator at one of the many sporting events.
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