National Beliefs

To talk about national beliefs, first we have to define a countrys identity. From an external point
of view, what we first see are the symbols and emblems that represent those countries.
Symbols and emblems

The Union Flag is the national flag of the United Kingdom. Its red, white and blue colours are
the combination of the red cross of Saint George for England, the saltire of Saint Andrew for
Scotland, and the red saltire of Saint Patrick to represent Ireland. Wales has never been
represented on the Union Jack, with the Welsh flag incorporating the Red Dragon of Cadwaladr,
King of Gwynedd, along with the Tudor colours of green and white.

The patron saint of Ireland (St Patrick), England (St George), Wales (St David), and Scotland
(St Andrew), are celebrated annually; Saint David's Day on 1 March, Saint Patrick's Day on 17
March, St George's Day on 23 April, and St. Andrew's Day on 30 November.

Each of the four countries of the UK has a traditional floral emblem. The red rose is the national
flower of England, the national flower of Scotland is the thistle, of Northern Ireland is the flax
flower and the shamrock, and of Wales is the daffodil and leek.
The remembrance poppy has been used in Britain since 1921 to commemorate soldiers who
have died in war. In the weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday they are distributed by The
Royal British Legion in return for donations to their "Poppy Appeal", which supports all current
and former British military personnel.

Besides religion, they rely on Folklore, which is the body of expressive culture shared by a
particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or
group. These include oral traditions such as tales, proverbs and jokes.

Folklore
Common folkloric beings include pixies, giants, elves, bogeymen, trolls, goblins and dwarves.
Others date from after the Norman invasion of England, such as Robin Hood and his Merry Men
of Sherwood. During the High Middle Ages tales originated from Brythonic traditions, notably the
Arthurian legend.
The Loch Ness Monster is a cryptid that is reputed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish
Highlands. The legendary monster has been affectionately referred to by the nickname Nessie
since the 1950s. The Leprechaun figures large in Irish folklore.
Some folk figures are based on semi or actual historical people whose story has been passed
down centuries; Lady Godiva for instance was said to have ridden naked on horseback through
Coventry.
Many pirate stories date from the 16th century. It influenced pirate literature of Scottish novelists
Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island) and J. M. Barrie, who wrote Peter Pan.
Legendary figures from 19th century London whose tales have been romanticized include
Sweeney Todd, the murderous barber of Fleet Street, and serial killer Jack the Ripper. On 5
November, people in England make bonfires, set off fireworks and eat toffee apples in
commemoration of the foiling of Guy Fawkes' Gunpowder Plot, which became an annual event
after The Thanksgiving Act of 1606 was passed. Guy Fawkes mask is an emblem for anti-
establishment protest groups.
Halloween is a traditional and much celebrated holiday in Scotland and Ireland on the night of
31 October. The name Halloween is first attested in the 16th century as a Scottish shortening of
the fuller All-Hallows-Even, and according to some historians has its roots in the gaelic festival
Samhain, where the Gaels believed the border between this world and the otherworld became
thin, and the dead would revisit the mortal world.
Witchcraft has featured in the British Isles for millennia. The use of a crystal ball is attributed to
the druids to foretell the future. In medieval folklore King Arthur's magician, the wizard Merlin,
carried around a crystal ball for the same purpose. Contemporary witchcraft began in England in
the early 20th century via notable figures such as Aleister Crowley and the father of Wicca
Gerald Gardner.
Much of the folklore inspires many celebrations throughout the year expressed through
holidays, even though the word holiday comes from holy-day. Most holidays occur either just
before or just after a weekend. There are almost no semi-official holidays.
Special Days and Holidays

January February March April May June

New Years St. St. Patricks April Fools May Day. The Queens
Day Valentines Day. (17/3) Day Official
Day. Spring Bank Birthday.
Mothers Day Good Friday Holiday.
Shrove Easter Fathers Day
Tuesday. Sunday
Easter
Monday
July August September October November December

Orangemens Summer Halloween Guy Fawkes Christmas

Day (12/7) Bank Holiday (31/10) Night (5/11) Eve

Remembranc Christmas
e Sunday Night

St. Andrews Boxing Day

Day (30/11) (26/12)

New Years
Eve
 Habits

Holiday trips
Traditionally people take seaside holidays, staying at resorts, hotels or small bed and breakfast
houses. People like going on swims even though the water is not very clean.
Nowadays, this type of holidays is reserved to the elderly audience.
Younger people prefer going on holiday abroad. The most popular destinations are Spain and
France.