Tag: UK

A Brit in Italy: 5 Things we do in the UK that would be considered a sin in Italy

Italian and British culture are not exactly the same; let’s discover some of the most common differences with Beth !!!

  1. Cocktails with meals

Cocktail culture in the UK & USA is pretty famous all over the world, but we take it to an extent that every Italian would gasp in horror at. We drink pina coladas with steak, long island iced teas with carbonara, strawberry mojitos with hot-dogs… any combination you can think of, we probably do it! Coming to Italy, I’ve learnt that there are certain drinking rules, e.g., white wine with fish, beer with pizza, red wine with red meat. These were all new to me, but I promise I now abide by your ‘laws’!

 

  1. Going out with wet hair

The infamous colpo d’aria is spoken about every day around the country, but many don’t know that it’s just an old wives’ tale! Of course, if you are already sick and you expose yourself to the cold, it could make it worse. But there’s no evidence that suggests going outside with wet hair can produce a virus or bacteria… which is why in the UK, you’ll see many people outside with wet hair. Plus, it rains so often that you’re bound to end up soaking wet anyway!

 

  1. Walking barefoot everywhere

Although the UK is famous for its terrible weather, the country just doesn’t seem to be as dusty as Italy. It is extremely common for us to walk around the house with no shoes or socks on, especially as most of our rooms have carpets. Additionally, those who live in the countryside or who have gardens can walk around barefoot even outside! As a child I spent most of my time with no shoes on, but of course you shouldn’t expect to see people barefoot in public. I think we can all agree that those who take their shoes off on airplanes are the worst!

 

  1. Drinking coffee at all hours (including with dinner)

This one is no longer a shock to most Italians, but yes… we drink cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos, every coffee you can think of at all times of the day! Irish coffees (hot coffee with cream and whisky) are very popular after dinner, and it’s normal for us to have coffee with meals. This of course includes the full English breakfast, but I think you can let us off the hook for that one!

 

  1. Not saying hello/goodbye to everyone

When entering or leaving a party in the UK, we usually just say a sweeping hello/goodbye to the room, or to anyone who needs to know where we are. In Italy, however, I’ve learnt that it’s rude to leave someone out when greetings are involved. Hugs and kisses must be given to everyone! If you visit the UK, feel free to pull an Irish exit… we promise we won’t mind!

 

A Brit in Italy || Vocabulary

Put the following words to the correct definitions.

Cockney Rhyming Slang

When you visit London, you might overhear people talking like this and feel extremely confused. However, don’t despair! You haven’t lost your ability to understand the English language. Yes, we did teach you real English at Scrambled Eggs!

This is ‘Cockney rhyming slang’, an English dialect that originated in the capital city during the early 19thcentury. Although it is rarely used day-to-day in contemporary times but it remains a unique part of London’s history and culture.

The word ‘Cockney’ originated as a pejorative term for Londoners in the 14thcentury but nowadays generally refers to a native or long-time resident of the city. Traditionally this has been defined as someone who was born within earshot (three to six miles distance) of the bells at the St. Mary-le-Bow church in London’s East-End.

‘Cockney rhyming slang’ developed in the slums of London and was used by the poorest social classes as a flamboyant form of expression and to converse in code. It was also a useful mode of communication for criminals wanting to evade the law! It has since come to be viewed as a language of the people and a symbol of the city of London.

The dialect combines common words and cultural references into rhymes and non-sensical phrases to form a new vocabulary. Often the second word in a rhyme will sound like the word it intends to mean. Perhaps one of the most famous is ‘apples and pears’, which means ‘stairs’. Sometimes, a part of the phrase is used to convey meaning. For example, ‘butcher’s hook’, which means ‘look’ can be used as ‘have a butcher’s’, which means to inspect something.

So how does a listener understand what a speaker is saying? Well, you have to learn the definitions of Cockney phrases and rhymes by heart. With that in mind, ‘let’s have a butcher’s’ at some useful Cockney rhyming slang for your next trip to London.


Cockney Rhyming Slang | Match

Match the Cockney phrases with their definitions.

So how did you score?

0-2 correct – ‘Please sir, can I take the test again?’

3-4 correct – ‘Pretty Polly’

5 correct – ‘Cor, blimey guv’nor!’

Cockney Rhyming Slang | True or False

Decide if the statement is true or false.

5 British Christmas Traditions

Alla fine anche quest’anno si avvicinano le feste, nonostante questo Dicembre sarà un Natale un po’ diverso, per le ragioni che tutti noi conosciamo. 
Per farci immergere però ancora di più nel clima natalizio che comincia a respirarsi già da qualche giorno, la nostra Beth ha deciso di scrivere un blog parlando delle tradizioni di Natale del suo paese, il Regno Unito. Noi ovviamente non ci siamo fatti sfuggire l’occasione, e abbiamo creato dei Quiz appositamente per questo suo articolo – che troverete in fondo alla pagina.

Non vi resta allora che cimentarvi nella lettura di questo blog!!

The Queen’s Speech

The Royal Address started back in 1932 with a radio broadcast by King George V. It has been read by Queen Elizabeth II since 1952, and is usually the most-watched TV event in Britain on Christmas day! The Queen usually speaks about all the events of the year as well as a message of hope for the new year. It is shown at around 3pm on BBC, and is broadcast to all Commonwealth countries around the world. The speech only lasts about 10 minutes, but is an important part of Christmas day for many households.

Leaving Food & Drink for Santa & Rudolph

The type of food can differ from region to region but, growing up in the North of England, we personally left out a small glass of Brandy & a mince pie for santa, and then a carrot for Rudolph the reindeer. Parents will usually take a bite out of each and drink the beverage to let the children believe Santa Claus visited the house on Christmas Eve. It’s usually the first thing they check! Although if Santa drank a glass of Brandy in every house he went to, I’m not sure he’d be able to do his job very well….

Pulling Crackers

Crackers are cardboard tubes filled with little treats, and are pulled at the start of the meal. Inside each one is a small strip of paper covered in a tiny amount of gunpowder, which makes the cracker go ‘bang’ when it’s pulled! They usually contain brightly coloured paper hats that are worn throughout the meal. Everyone looks ridiculous, which just adds to the joy of the day! Also included is a joke on a small piece of paper, and usually a small gift – for example a comb, a keyring, or a mirror. Although this depends on the quality of the cracker… If you’re willing to fork out for a luxury one, you could get some amazing gifts!

Boxing Day Sales

If you happen to work in retail, this particular day is an absolute nightmare for you. But, if you have the day off and love to shop for bargains, this is the perfect day! Boxing Day is the English name for the day after Christmas – the 26th of December. The sales start in the morning and last all day, and the discounts you can find rival those of Black Friday in America. There are also the ‘January Sales’ which are famous throughout the UK, but Boxing Day is your chance to get hold of the best things before they sell out, at ridiculous prices!

Pantomimes

Nothing gets us more in the Christmas spirit than watching men in drag re-enact some of the most famous fairy tales in the world! Although it’s not quite known why this is specifically a Christmas tradition, it’s most likely due to the fact that it’s a fun show for all ages, meaning that families can attend pantomimes all together during the school holidays. Pantomimes are always comedies, and there will usually be a villain who sneaks up on the main character. It is a tradition for the entire audience to shout ‘he’s behind you!’ every time this happens!

Allora ragazzi, com’è andata la lettura di questo articolo? Siete riusciti a capire tutto?
Se avete avuto qualche difficoltà, sicuramente gli esercizi qua sotto riusciranno a chiarirvi meglio le idee! Buon Natale e buone feste a tutti! 😉

5 British Christmas Traditions | Definition Match

Match the words to the correct definitions.

5 British Christmas Traditions | True or False

Indicate which sentences are true and which ones are false.

5 British Christmas Traditions | Fill in the Gap

Fill the empty spaces with the proper words.