UK: A Culture of Celebrations and Gifting
June 23rd, 2018
Culture of UK
UK has its own unique and distinct culture. Culturally it’s very rich with its own set of traditions and beliefs. As a nation it is quite remarkable in the fields of music, art, literature, architecture, theatre, cinema, science and technology etc. Being Indians we can understand it better, since India has been ruled by the Britishers for a period of more than 100 years. The greatest achievement of UK lies in the fact that the whole World knows the language English, and it is the language most spoken and officially used all over the World.
Celebrations in UK
Although Christmas is their main festival, other festivals include New Year’s Day St Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween etc. The people of UK are very religious and superstitious as well. Traditions form the core of the people’s lives in Britain. Celebrations are marked by parties which include friends and relatives along with cakes, cookies, pancakes, puddings which are considered as auspicious for these occasions. Cakes come in different flavors for different festivals though. Easter is a very important festival for them, since they believe that Christ has come back from dead during this time and is marked by the exchange of eggs among friends and relatives. Egg symbolizes new life. Owing to the number of festivals in UK, public holidays are in large numbers in offices.
Gifts in UK
Apart from having a rich cultural heritage, UK also has a standardized gifting pattern reserved for colleagues, friends, relatives etc. Champagne is considered as respectful as a gift. Though gifting of other liquors are also done, but that depends on the type of relation we share with the other party. Any celebration is always backed by having drinks together, be it a birthday party at a pub, or festivals or office launch parties etc. In UK gift hampers are also very commonly used. Infact the whole concept of gift hampers, which is now very common in India has been taken from UK itself. Food hampers such as snacks, chocolate, cakes, are widely used as gifts. Fruit hampers are also very much in place. Now a days, as per customer preferences, customized hampers are also available such as tea hampers, drinks hamper, ready to cook hampers, coffee hampers, soup hampers etc.
CELEBRATIONS AND GIFTS
British celebrations along with their royal customs and traditions are famous all over the World, which has its mention even in history. When we think of celebrations in Britain, the first thing which comes to our mind are: – a royally decorated auditorium with white and grey flowers, a well arranged buffet alongside, a separate area where packed and decorated gift items are placed, neatly arranged chairs , guests dressed in the most elegant fashion, and so in. Gift hampers in UK are present in every celebration. Even the bride holds a basket of flower during the wedding which is considered auspicious. In birthday parties, small such hampers are arranged to present to people or guests as return gift. UK in spite of being a democratic country, still follows the monarch and their ways of life considering it as benchmark in their lives.