In the 16th century, during the reign of Henry VIII, England split from the Roman Catholic Church to form the Church of England (Anglican Church). Today, Anglicans and other Christians make up the majority of the population. The UK has two state churches, the Church of England and the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian Church), but freedom of religion is guaranteed. About 3 percent of the UK’s population is Muslim and 1 percent is Hindu. Northern Ireland is 44 percent Catholic. More than 20 percent of the population does not belong to any religion. Christian, Muslim, and Hindu are 3 major religions in the UK.
Just as you would never call a Texan a 'Yankee', you should be careful of using "England" to describe the UK or "English" to describe something or someone British, it is likely to cause offence particularly to those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Using the term "British" to describe something or someone from Northern Ireland is not recommended as it will cause offence to those with Irish nationalist views. When you're indicating the number "two" with your fingers (as in, "two pints, please"), it is advised to use your thumb and first finger, NOT your first and middle fingers. If that "V" gesture is used with nails facing the person you're talking to, it is construed as raising the middle finger would be elsewhere (the middle finger raise also being offensive in the UK). If you are going to use the "V" to indicate two, face the palm towards the person you're addressing.
Traditional foods vary depending on the region. English dishes include roast beef and Yorkshire pudding (a baked batter), fish and chips, and steak and kidney pie. Scots eat mince (ground meat), tatties (potatoes), stews, and fish and chips. In Wales, traditional foods include cawl (a soup) and bara brith (currant cake). In Northern Ireland, people typically eat potatoes, stew, seafood, meat pies, and various pastries. The UK also has a wide variety of European and ethnic foods. In fact, curry is one of the most popular foods in the country. Many in the UK enjoy fast food, but its popularity has declined somewhat because the government has strongly encouraged people to eat healthier food.
Kids in the UK go to school, do homework, help with household chores, and spend time with friends. Many children play sports and are big sports fans as well. They have favorite football (soccer) teams and wear jerseys and scarves with their team’s colors on them. Computer games are another popular pastime. Kids in the UK enjoy pop music from the United States as well as England and Europe. When they go on vacations with their families, many kids like to go someplace warm and dry, such as the Mediterranean coast.
People in the UK drive on the left side of the road, and a car’s steering wheel is on the right side of the car. Cars, buses, and trains are all common ways for people to get around in the UK. There also are subways in big cities like London (where the subway is called the Tube or the Underground). Taxis are also popular for getting around. They are called hackneys, or just hacks, and are usually black. London’s Heathrow Airport is the world’s busiest international airport. The Channel Tunnel (or Chunnel) connects England and France by rail under the waters of the English Channel.
Through its history, the United Kingdom has been a major exporter and source of musical innovation in the modern and contemporary eras, drawing its cultural basis from the history of the United Kingdom, from church music, from Western culture and from the ancient and traditional folk music and instrumentation of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. In the 20th century, influences from the music of the United States became most dominant in popular music. This led to the explosion of the British Invasion, while subsequent notable movements in British music include the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and Britpop. The United Kingdom has one of the world's largest music industries today, with many British musicians having had an impact on modern music.
These are some of the most popular jobs in the United Kingdom:
Data Communications Analysts: More and more organizations now stay in touch internally and externally with other sites via networked communications. Analysts are responsible for overseeing the installation and maintenance of such networks, which are now becoming critical to the economic and social infrastructure.
Marketing Officer: Once existing solely in the private sector, the marketing function is also now an intrinsic aspect of organizational life in the public and voluntary sector. The development of the Internet has served to add to the marketing role, meaning that marketing opportunities continue to grow.
Software Engineers: The IT job sector grows in size as technological advances continue to be made. Computerized systems are ever more present in every area of organizational activity. Software engineers, who design and develop new applications to meet specific needs, are in ever greater demand.
Medical Administrator: There is an increasing need for administrators and clerical staff in the healthcare sector, which continues to grow.
Community Nurse: The development of primary healthcare sees more nursing activities taking place in the local community than ever before. The openings for community nurses, who perform non-surgical tasks in the home or other local settings, are increasing year on year.
Advertising Agency Account Executive: The media sector is becoming ever more specialized and complex, with an increasing number of specialist publications, broadcast channels and online media. An increasing level of targeted marketing through advertising is seeing growth in the number of opportunities for advertising executives.
Customer Services Assistant: The growth of Customer Relationship Management has led to the establishment of many more customer service teams, who are dedicated to responding to customer queries and fulfilling services requested by the telephone or online.
Information Officer: Digital technology has enabled organizations to store more data more efficiently than in the past. Consequently, more personnel are needed who can offer specialist skills in operating database software and information networks, retrieving and disseminating information as necessary.
Administrator: Secretarial jobs may be decreasing as the personal computer changes the shape of office processes, yet administrative jobs are growing, largely due to the centralization of organizational systems.
Engineer: There is a growing demand for highly trained, skilled personnel who are able to meet the needs of the mechanical, electrical, electronic, automotive, biomedical and civil engineering sciences.
Data Communications Analysts: More and more organizations now stay in touch internally and externally with other sites via networked communications. Analysts are responsible for overseeing the installation and maintenance of such networks, which are now becoming critical to the economic and social infrastructure.
Marketing Officer: Once existing solely in the private sector, the marketing function is also now an intrinsic aspect of organizational life in the public and voluntary sector. The development of the Internet has served to add to the marketing role, meaning that marketing opportunities continue to grow.
Software Engineers: The IT job sector grows in size as technological advances continue to be made. Computerized systems are ever more present in every area of organizational activity. Software engineers, who design and develop new applications to meet specific needs, are in ever greater demand.
Medical Administrator: There is an increasing need for administrators and clerical staff in the healthcare sector, which continues to grow.
Community Nurse: The development of primary healthcare sees more nursing activities taking place in the local community than ever before. The openings for community nurses, who perform non-surgical tasks in the home or other local settings, are increasing year on year.
Advertising Agency Account Executive: The media sector is becoming ever more specialized and complex, with an increasing number of specialist publications, broadcast channels and online media. An increasing level of targeted marketing through advertising is seeing growth in the number of opportunities for advertising executives.
Customer Services Assistant: The growth of Customer Relationship Management has led to the establishment of many more customer service teams, who are dedicated to responding to customer queries and fulfilling services requested by the telephone or online.
Information Officer: Digital technology has enabled organizations to store more data more efficiently than in the past. Consequently, more personnel are needed who can offer specialist skills in operating database software and information networks, retrieving and disseminating information as necessary.
Administrator: Secretarial jobs may be decreasing as the personal computer changes the shape of office processes, yet administrative jobs are growing, largely due to the centralization of organizational systems.
Engineer: There is a growing demand for highly trained, skilled personnel who are able to meet the needs of the mechanical, electrical, electronic, automotive, biomedical and civil engineering sciences.
In the UK, kids start primary (elementary) school by age four or five, and they wear uniforms in every form (grade). The first year of school is called reception (kindergarten). At age 11, children move on to secondary (high) school. At age 16, students take a test called the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) to earn a sort of graduation diploma. If they want to go to university, they stay in school for two more years at a separate sixth form college and take another test, called A-levels, to get in. The school day generally starts at 9 a.m. and finishes at 3:30 p.m. In the primary forms (K-6), students learn many basic subjects, including math, English, social studies, spelling, art, and so on. The school year is split into three terms: September to Christmas, January to Easter, and Easter to July. Primary school teachers are addressed by their last name by both pupils (students) and parents. Secondary school teachers are addressed as "Miss" or "Sir." The principal of a school is called the headmaster or headmistress.