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So many countries, so many customs, as English proverb says. The combination of the words tradition and custom means a usual manner of doing something, of conduct passed on from generation to generation. Some British customs and traditions are famous all over the world. From Scotland to Cornwall, Britain is full of them. A lot of them have very long history. Some are funny and some are strange. But they're all interesting.

The full English breakfast.The tradition of having a substantial breakfast meal has existed since the 18th century. The full English breakfast became very popular after the World War I, in those days it was served at the hotels and restaurants all over the country. The full breakfast usually consists of sausages, bacon and eggs, served with toasts, fried or grilled tomatoes, baked beans and fried mushrooms. It is often eaten with a light dessert and a cup of tea, coffee or fruit juice.

Afternoon tea. One of the most well-known English traditions is afternoon tea – light refreshments, including tea, traditionally served around 5 p. m. English people often drink tea with milk; they may or may not add sugar. Tea is usually taken along with sandwiches, crumpets, scones, cakes, jam and marmalade. Traditional tea treats also include puddings, muffins and biscuits.

Pancake Day. Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday is held in February or March. It is the day, preceding the first day of the 40 days long Lent. It has been celebrated in Britain for centuries. People traditionally eat a lot of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. On Pancake Day children go from house to house asking for a pancake. “Pancake races” are held all over the Britain. Contestants have to race with frying pans flipping pancakes in the air.

The Guy Fawkes Night is a traditional celebration which is held on 5^th November. All over the country people build bonfires in their gardens. On top of each bonfire is a guy. That's a figure of Guy Fawkes. People make guys with straw, old clothes and newspapers. On November 5^th 1605, Guy Fawkes tried to kill King James I. He and a group of his friends put a bomb under the Houses of Parliament in London. But the King's men found the bomb and they found Guy Fawkes, too. They took him to the Tower of London and there the King's men cut off his head.

Christmas.Every year the people of Norway give the city of London a present… It's a big Christmas tree and it stands in Trafalgar Square. In 1846 the first Christmas cards began in Britain. Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, brought this German tradition (he was German) to Britain. He and the Queen had a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1841. A few years after, nearly every house in Britain had one. Traditionally people decorate their trees on Christmas Eve - that's December 24th. They take down the decorations twelve days later, on Twelfth Night (January 5th). British children get their presents from the socks that hang near their beds. Santa Clause climbs down the chimney and leaves lots of presents. In Britain the most important meal on December 25th is Christmas dinner. A twentieth-century British Christmas dinner is roast turkey with carrots, potatoes, peas, Brussels sprouts and gravy. There are sausages and bacon too. Then, after the turkey, there's Christmas pudding.

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