United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - one of the most important countries in Europe.Heir to the largest ever existed empires, it is the focus of the age-old cultural traditions.United Kingdom - the place where they were born and created many famous writers, artists and musicians.Throughout its history it has influenced the culture of the world and at the present stage of development is no less significant.
Stratification
British Culture is often wrongly associated with the English.However, the latter is only a part of the whole, though quite impressive.States unite England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.The peoples that make them different as the origins and traditions, history and culture because the UK - is a constant interaction and insight into each other's national characteristics.In addition, a significant mark on her left and the colonial past.Traces of the influence of the nations and territories of the former subordinate, well-being felt in the culture of the state today.Reverse is also true: Great Britain has had a significant impact on the formation and development of the language, some of the areas of art, as well as public institutions in Canada, Australia, South Africa, USA, New Zealand and Ireland.
Foundation
on the territory of modern Britain in ancient times lived tribes of the Celts.At the beginning of our era on the island came the Romans, followed by the invasion of Anglo-Saxons.All these people laid the foundation of modern culture of the state, provided its original layering.The descendants of the Celts considered the Scots and the people of Wales, and the Anglo-Saxons - English.Great influence on the emerging cultural traditions also provided the Normans and Vikings.
familiar throughout
British Culture and language are inextricably linked.As in any country, a group of nations, you can hear a different language.The official language - English.Its prevalence in the world, perhaps known to all.English being the international negotiations, communicate tourists.He studied all over the world as a second language.This almost ubiquity - the result of the past influence of the British Empire.
active in the UK are also used, and two Scottish Celtic languages, Welsh and Scottish Gaelic.The first well recognized in Europe, the other usually remain within the boundaries of the state.Scots and Gaelic - Scotland's national languages.Welsh has long been used in Wales.
Architecture
British Culture is largely reflected in the buildings of the ancient cities.Many tourists planning a trip to the United Kingdom with the purpose to admire the architecture of the island nation, feel the special atmosphere inherent in the Nordic countries.
I wonder how old buildings built in England and the time of the Roman conquest, preserved in Scotland and the modern architecture of cities.Britain holds a palette of styles.Here, strolling through the streets, you can study the patterns of classicism, Romanesque, Gothic and Anglo-Saxon areas.Famous architectural monuments of culture of Great Britain:
- Westminster Abbey - a magnificent example of late Gothic architecture.This is where the crown of the British monarch.
- Tower - fortress founded in the second century BC, the former once and prisons, and the zoo, and mint.Its walls remember William I and Richard the Lionheart.
- Trafalgar Square - one of the symbols of London.
- Big Ben - clock tower of Westminster Palace, leading the countdown to 1859.
- ruins of Glastonbury Abbey.
- ancient palace in Scotland.
- Buckingham Palace.
should be noted that such an abundance of architectural monuments should not try to cover in one trip - experience will be blurry.Britain deserves to come back to it more than once.
Grandeur Nature
United Kingdom - place not only man-made masterpieces.Here, a large number of attractions created by nature, and they are inextricably linked to cultural and historical life of the state.The famous White Cliffs of Dover has long been greeted travelers arriving from the continent by sea.Sung in many works, they gave the second name of England.The name "Albion" is formed from the Latin word for "white".
No less famous Beachy Head, towering at a hundred and sixty meters above the sea.Unfortunately, this beautiful chalk cliffs is notorious: it ranks third in the world in the number of suicides.
Literature
British Culture - this is a significant contribution to world poetry and prose.Works of English, Scottish and Irish authors have been translated into many languages and are, without exaggeration, in all libraries.
England gave the world Shakespeare.Although the opinions of scholars differ about his personality, his invaluable contribution to the literature.At various times, it is here that were born John Milton, Thomas Moore, Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson, Jane Austen, Lewis Carroll, the Brontë sisters, HG Wells, John Tolkien, Somerset Maugham and many others.Scotland - birthplace of Arthur Conan Doyle, and Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert Burns.Just listing these names shows the greatness of the UK's contribution to world literature.Many genres originated here, and some scenes captured the minds of millions of people around the world (the legend of King Arthur, the works of Shakespeare, Tolkien's worlds).
Music
culture and traditions of Great Britain are inconceivable without the "background music."In the state of the most popular different directions.On the streets you can hear rock, jazz, heavy metal, and national music of England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.Classic line developed in the UK by such composers as William Byrd, Henry Purcell, Edward Elgar, Gustav Holst, Arthur Sullivan, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten.
Britain - the birthplace of the famous Fab Four.The Beatles had a huge impact on pop music in the world.They are still the best-selling band of all time.The idol of many music fans of different countries have appeared here: Queen, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and so on.
Visual arts
British Culture - that numerous art galleries, considerable space devoted to works in which the authors, who were born and who worked here.Their names and work - an integral part of European art.William Turner, John Constable, Samuel Palmer, William Blake - the representatives of the Romantic movement in painting.No less famous landscape painter Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds portrait painters and Lucien Freud.On the territory of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland in recent times worked masters of various genres.All of them are presented at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
National features
monuments of nature and culture of Great Britain - not only what it is famous for.Residents of the country are attributed to the special qualities of creating the national character.However, in most cases, the characteristic mentality mean Englishmen, although its spread to all citizens of the United Kingdom.Scots, Irish and Welsh residents is not at all similar both to each other and to the main nation state.
So British - very polite people do not tolerate familiarity and discuss personal topics during, for example, the dinner.They are a little stiffness and tend to always respect tradition.Residents of England in the literature are often described as elegant, subtle sense of style, preferring the classics and a few conservative.However, such a portrait of a pretty conventional and corresponds to no one more collective image than any particular person.
UK: culture of the country, especially its art and national character - attracted many researchers.About England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales written many scientific works and works of art.However, none of them can compare to the impression of a trip to the United Kingdom.Charm of old streets and quiet suburb, speed and business centers of the lights, the beauty of nature and the secrets of the ancient ruins - all this is worth coming back to the UK.
