Great Britain is a proud little island with a rich history. There are many things that make the British people unique, and some of their pastimes are definitely quirky. Here are five popular activities in Britain that may seem odd to outsiders:
- Eating Marmite
Marmite is a British food spread made from yeast extract. It’s very salty and acquired taste – you either love it or hate it! Some people like to eat it straight from the jar with a spoon (odd!?), while others prefer to add it to toast or sandwiches.
Other very british food habits include putting sugar on cereal, eating baked beans for breakfast and having tea with milk. Oh, and did someone mention fish and chips?
- Drinking Tea
Tea is a big part of British culture, and many people start their day with a cup of tea. In fact, the British consume over 165 million cups of tea every day! While black tea is the most popular type of tea in Britain, there are also many different flavors and variations available.
Did you know that the British’s love of tea actually started by accident? In the early 17th century, Britain was at war with Holland and there was a shortage of coffee. To make up for this, people started drinking tea instead and the habit stuck!
- Queuing
The British are known for their patience when it comes to waiting in line, they’re not quite as orderly as the Japanese but they’ll happily stand in a queue for hours. This can be attributed to the ‘stiff upper lip‘ attitude that many Brits have – they just get on with it! If you skip the queue, be prepared to get some dirty looks from those around you.
- Bingo Events
Whether it’s at a pub, an old folks home or for a charity, playing bingo is a popular pastime in Britain, particularly when no deposit is needed. It’s even been known for people to dress up in costumes for special bingo events, if you’ve never played the game before, don’t worry – it’s easy to pick up and basically involves matching numbers on your bingo card with those that are called out.
It is said that bingo originated in Italy in the 16th century, before making its way to France and then Britain. It became popular in working men’s clubs and churches in the 19th century as a form of entertainment and socialising.
- Collecting
The British are passionate about their collections, whether it’s stamps, coins, toys or art. In fact, there are many specialist shops and dealers around the country catering to collectors. There are also numerous collector clubs and societies that people can join. Car boot sales (an event where people sell items from the boot, or trunk, of their car) are also popular among collectors.
So there you have it – five quirky things that are popular in Britain. Why not try out one or two of them the next time you’re in the country? You might just find yourself getting hooked and turning into a true Brit!