...es about 400,000. Numerous other religions are practised in England, and in many cities there are significant Muslim and Hindu communities. Society is secular, and religious education in schools no embraces a ide range of religions, not only Christianity.GREETINGS AND GESTURESMany English people ill simply say Hello, but a handshake is the formal ay of greeting and parting. On first meeting, Ho do you do or a less formal phrase is used. Among friends, omen are often kissed by men and omen lightly on one cheek. Handshakes are firm. The use of first names is idespread. Titles such as Mr and Mrs are being used less frequently, even hen children address adults.The English are in general a reserved people, ho do not approve of loud or highly demonstrative behaviour except in very informal gatherings. Personal space is respected, and people feel uncomfortable hen others stand too close to them during conversation. Touching is generally avoided. Manners are important, although standards are not as high among young people, ho account for nearly one-fifth of the population.LifestyleFAMILYEnglish families are small one or to children are the norm and often tightly knit. Feer people are getting married and those ho do are marrying later. omen are having feer children and are aiting longer to have them. In the past three decades, a substantial number of omen have begun orking outside the home. In recent years, the divorce rate has risen, as has the number of single-parent families.The standard of living is loer than in the United States and many of the countrys European Union EU partners, though the UK ranks in the top 20 countries in the orld in this respect. Since the early 1980s, the division beteen rich and poor has gron, but the middle class remains the largest section of society. Home onership is high about to-thirds of people on their on houses or flats.Although many couples choose to live together before or instead of marriage, the most idely preferred living arrangement is still based on marriage. Marriage is legal at the age of 16 but usually takes place hen people are in their mid to late 20s.DIET AND EATINGThe traditional English breakfast consists of any or all of the folloing bacon, sausages, grilled or fried tomatoes, mushrooms, eggs, fried bread, black pudding blood sausage, and kippers smoked herring. Hoever, feer people no eat a cooked breakfast on a regular basis, preferring various combinations of cereal, toast, juice or fruit, and tea or coffee. Since the 1960s, the British have become more adventurous in their diet and no eat a ide variety of food from around the orld. Many traditional foods such as beef and potatoes have given ay to seafood and pasta dishes. Fast food has also become more available, and hamburger restaurants no rival the traditional fish-and-chip shops in popularity. Numerous Chinese and Indian restaurants and pizza houses provide take-aay services, and many pubs public houses serve anything from snacks to full meals as ell as alcoholic beverages. Traditional English dishes include roast beef and Yorkshire pudding a baked batter and steak-and-kidney pie.The English generally eat three meals a day. The midday meal is usually referred to as lunch and the evening meal as dinner or, hen it is less formal, as supper. Northerners often call the meal they have in the early evening tea. The tradition of afternoon tea, that is taking tea, biscuits, and cakes at about 4 PM, is declining. Similarly, many people no longer have more than a light lunch or snack in the middle of the day. In restaurants, a aiter is summoned by either raising the hand or establishing eye contact.SOCIAL LIFEIt is customary to telephone before visiting the English guard their privacy and in general do not like to be taken by surprise. hen invited to a meal by friends, guests often bring a bottle of ine, chocolates, or floers. If invited by strangers, it is usual to take a bottle of ine or nothing at all. A thank-you note should be sent after a formal occasion. After an informal dinner ith friends, it is appreciated if one expresses thanks by telephone.RECREATIONintertime national sports are football soccer and Rugby Union. Rugby League, hich is played mainly in the north, sitched from a inter to a summer season in 1996. One of the most popular spectator sports is horse racing over jumps in the inter and on a flat track in the summer. The traditional summer sport is cricket. Modern lan tennis as first played in England, and the rules of modern boxing originated here. The English are avid alkers and also enjoy golf and fishing. Gardening is a favourite ay to relax and represents a huge industry gardening books can become best-sellers. Other sports that attract enthusiasts are sailing, roing, squash, snooker, and darts.The pub remains a popular place to socialize ith friends. Relaxing in the home, hoever, is still more popular. The British atch more television than the people of any other nation ith the exception of the US British programmes are generally of high quality. Videos are also popular, but many people equally enjoy seeing films at the cinema. All types of music and theatre are ell supported. The country also has a ealth of art galleries and museums.HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONSIn northern England, on Ne Years Day 1 January the old custom of first-footing, being the first to cross the threshold of a home in the early-morning hours, is sometimes practised. To bring the household luck, the first-footer must come laden ith breads, cakes, cheeses, and a lump of coal.Pancake Day, another name for Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash ednesday the start of Lent, as traditionally a day to make pancakes in order to use up all the butter and eggs that ould not be alloed during Lent. In an annual race held in Olney since 1945, omen run 380 metres 415 yards, each carrying a pan and a pancake that must be flipped three times.Mothering Sunday, traditionally the fourth Sunday in Lent, is a day to visit ones mother, bearing a cake or floers. On 1 April, April Fools tricks are played until noon.May Day 1 May used to be a time for dancing around the maypole and croning a May Queen no it is Englands Labour Day. On the second Saturday in June, Queen Elizabeth IIs birthday is celebrated. The queens birthday is actually in Aprilthe date discrepancy is perhaps due to the typically unpleasant April eather. Guy Fakes as caught trying to blo up the houses of Parliament on 4 November 1605. His failure is celebrated on Guy Fakes Night Bonfire Night on 5 November throughout the country ith fireorks and bonfires on hich effigies of Guy Fakes are burnt.On the second Sunday in November, Remembrance Day commemorates those ho died in orld ars I and II and later conflicts. Red paper poppies are sold by the British Legion to raise money for veterans.During Christmas dinner 25 December, the traditional cracker is laid beside each plate. Those seated next to each other pull the ends of each others crackers, hic...
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