British Culture?

No I'm not having a poke this is serious - after watching 'Global Village' for many years, it would appear that most of Europe is still retaining it's own national cultural behaviors, past times and practices but I cannot find evidence in UK of this. I discussed it with a good friend in London and he pointed me to this sites

http://birminghamculture.org/

http://www.leeds-city-guide.com/culture

http://www.liverpool08.com/

http://www.luxuryscotland.co.uk/glas...cle/index.html

does this really represent true British culture - when I watch Global Village they go to the villages of France, Germany, and find and film the cultural practices of the people not huge buildings with art works, shopping malls and the like. For me any culture of a country should still be embedded in the people not their buildings.

As a kid and young adult in UK I was exposed and used the
British culture of seaside holidays - you had to fight to get a spot to pitch your tent anywhere in UK. The local towns were packed with their own British tourists and we hardly seen any overseas persons - it was the British on holiday - now the towns and villages are empty of holiday business - the British give their money to Europe not their own country - what a shame.

Re: British Culture?

You clearly haven't been watching the series that Ade Edmundson has been presenting which finished a couple of weeks ago. He was filmed travelling around Britain seeking out local foods such as Cornish pasties and local customs such as Morris dancing. There is still a wealth of "peoples" culture in this land if you care to seek it out.

Re: British Culture?

Sadley Alan most of these only ever come out for the cameras.
As a child in Cornwall there would be morris dancers in most popular beach resorts every week end and puppet shows. During the summer many young farmer shows, showing tourist local skills ending with BBQ and evening dance/disco. Local pasty makers selling saffron bread and other local goodies Over the years I have seen this dwiddle because of weather , lack of interest and council red tape over insurance and health and safety. Local crafts have been replaced by cheaper more modern Items... why have a nice wooden peg doll made by a local lady when you can have plastic ones from a factory... seems to be the way to go nowadays ....

Re: British Culture?

At least you've still got some! Here in Oz we are such a new country that there is very little in the way of local culture as we only go back 200 years. That's one of the reasons, as ex-poms we come to visit every year now we are retired.

I can understand that you feel a lot of it has gone compared with other parts of Europe but to us visiting the south coast towns such as Deal and Hastings is like going back in time - paper bags of shrimps and mussels still there. Even in inner London, we've watched Morris Dancers outside a pub in Bloomsbury. In Hastings last year we were delighted to see the Green Man parade and a clog dancing competition in Lancashire.

We'll be in my partner's hometown area near Durham this year so don't know what we'll come across there.

Re: British Culture?

I think we still have our culture, perhaps Morris dancing is more for tourism etc these days but essentially we are as we always were.

Re: British Culture?

I thought the British didn't have a culture? That's what we've been getting told (especially on forums) for more years than I can remember. You only have to mention 'The British (or in my case - English) way of life' to be hit with demands to demonstrate what make British culture different from any other - Britain has been invaded and conquered too many times to have retained any semblence of individuality, blah blah blah. Not surprising people probably just gave up on it.

Re: British Culture?

Well yes I see what you mean but ask anyone coming here for the first time and they do see differences to their own culture, so we must have something left.

Re: British Culture?

which is what exactly??

Re: British Culture?

and that is..............???

Re: British Culture?

If you can't see it then no helping you LOL

I think we have a lot of uniquenesses about us as a nation we English are even different to the Welsh and Scottish who we are joined with in the UK. All different and all wonderful.