Living customs in Britain
Now the British pay more attention to the quality of life and pursue spiritual enjoyment. Dress very formally on important occasions, and usually pursue simple and comfortable clothes. The diet style is simple and pays attention to nutrition. The climate in Britain is mild and humid, and the British love sunshine. Usually I like to do housework by myself, love sports and go on vacation. In addition, British people like cultural activities very much, such as reading, writing articles, listening to concerts and watching plays. And they also like keeping pets.
Every aspect of British life
I. Numbers in life
In Britain, adults spend an average of 22 hours a week on full-time jobs or full-time education, and as much time on housework. However, the gender of housework is still the highest among women. But more and more women are taking part in this work. According to the latest statistics of the National Bureau of Statistics, the proportion of women participating in the work is 45%. In the non-manual labor sector, women account for half. In the service industry, women account for more than half, which is "half the sky"!
The consumption of British households increased from 1990 to 1997, an increase of 75% (including inflation rate). 1998 increased by 2.8% in the second quarter compared with 1997. Its consumption pattern has also undergone great changes. From 65438 to 0997, the consumption of durable goods for entertainment and education increased by 10%. Its expenditure content is to buy durable goods such as radios, televisions, telephones and computers. This part of the consumption is also used to rent video recorders and music tapes, buy cultural and sports supplies and invest in education. During the period of 1997, the cost of general commodities increased by 4.4%, but individual commodities such as food, alcohol and fuel all declined to varying degrees, with the highest decline rate being cigarettes.
It can be seen that the lifestyle of the British people now pays more attention to the quality of life, pursues spiritual enjoyment and gradually gets rid of bad habits, such as smoking and drinking.
Second, pursue a simple and comfortable life.
Suit is still the national dress of Britain, but although office workers wear suits and even on important occasions, men wear tuxedos and women wear low-cut evening dresses, many ordinary people like to wear casual clothes every day, which is simple and comfortable.
British people's eating habits are also relatively simple, focusing on nutrition. Breakfast is usually cereal with milk or a glass of juice, buttered toast, bacon or fried sausage and eggs. At noon, children have lunch at school, and adults buy a sandwich and a cup of coffee for lunch near their workplace. Only on weekends do British people have a big dinner. Usually the main course is meat, such as roast chicken, roast beef and grilled fish. There are many kinds of vegetables, such as cabbage, fresh peas, potatoes and carrots. Vegetables are generally not processed, put on a plate, poured with ready-made spices bought from the supermarket and eaten. There are always digestible desserts after the main course, such as boiled fruit, fruit pudding, cheese, ice cream and so on.
Third, parks and green spaces.
Britain has a mild and humid climate. It is suitable for the growth of all kinds of flowers and trees all year round. In the process of urban planning, the government has specially planned a large area of green space or park in almost every living area for people to rest or take a walk, and to provide space for children to play.
Because it is rainy and foggy in winter, the sunshine in summer is especially precious to the British. On sunny weekends, holidays, parks and beaches, there are sunbathers everywhere. More British people are fashionable and shine their skin.
Fourth, do it yourself.
British people like to repair their houses, make furniture, decorate their rooms and trim their gardens on weekends and holidays. Even making your own ceramic crafts is almost omnipotent. This is not only for economic reasons, but also as one of the leisure lifestyles to cultivate personal skills and cultivate personal sentiments. You can make your room more comfortable and personalized by doing it yourself.
Five, love sports
According to the latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics, during the period from 1996 to 1997, 72% of male citizens and 57% of female citizens participated in at least one sport within four weeks. The proportion of teenagers participating in extracurricular sports activities is high.
In many sports, cycling, football, snooker, tennis, swimming and roller skating are the common hobbies of many men and women. Walking two miles or more every day has always been a popular sport.
Sixth, colorful holidays.
It is essential for most British people to go on holiday every year, no matter how long it takes, whether at home or abroad. According to a survey by the British Tourism Agency, in 1996, 59 million British residents spent four or more nights during their holidays, which exceeded the total population of Britain, while in 1997, 70.8 million British residents spent more than one night away from home.
In addition to traveling, British people also have various entertainment and leisure programs on weekends, bank festivals, Easter and other holidays: cinemas, concert halls, opera houses and open-air concerts in summer with elegant environment, which have prepared various programs for people of different classes, ages and tastes. A large number of museums and places of interest provide people with the best leisure places.
Seven, hungry readers
There are about 5,000 libraries and reading rooms (including more than 300 professional libraries and academic libraries) on the land of 242,500 square kilometers in Britain. No matter day or night, the library is often packed. People who borrow books, consult materials, browse newspapers and write articles include students, the elderly, company employees and even workers. Many libraries and reading rooms offer them.
Eight, the world of "Card"
Modern British people can't live without cards: credit cards, charge cards, store shopping cards, car gas cards, security cards, telephone cards and so on. There are all kinds.
According to incomplete statistics, in 1997, Britain issued about 38 million credit cards and 37 million charge cards, and set up ATM machines (up to 23,200 by the end of 1997). Such amazing figures show that checks and cash are increasingly being replaced by "cards". 1In July, 1998, major banks in the UK announced that they would use new cards with more information, more functions and higher security from 1999, gradually replacing existing credit cards and debit cards.
In addition, supermarkets, department stores and specialty stores also issue "prize shopping cards", that is, when customers spend a certain amount, they can get different forms of rewards from merchants, such as providing free holiday tickets, giving away shopping vouchers, regularly mailing commodity advertisements and price reduction news. This kind of bonus promotion attracts residents: usually, residents hold "bonus shopping cards" to buy daily necessities and fashion clothes. Over time, this kind of shopping card has indeed brought some benefits to consumers.
Nine, a paradise for pets
British people like to keep one or more pets at home. According to the latest official statistics, half of British families have 7.2 million cats, 6.6 million dogs, 6.5438+0.4 million rabbits, 600,000 guinea pigs and 30 million ornamental fish.
X. Developed networks
In 2000, according to the International Benchmarking Research (2000) of the British Department of Trade and Industry, by the fourth quarter of 2000, the number of online SMEs in Britain had reached 6,543.8+700,000, an increase of 540% compared with 654.38+0,654.38+0,000 in 1999.
Today, there are more than 300 Internet service providers (ISPs) in Britain, the largest of which is Freeserver. Freeserver 1998 was founded by Dixons company, with * * * 1.3 million network users. At present, there are130,000 Internet users in Britain, accounting for 22% of the total population, far higher than other major European countries. From 65438 to 0999, among the major European countries, the annual growth rate of Internet was 280% in Britain, 220% in Denmark, 2 15% in France, 2 10% in the Netherlands, 200% in Germany and Norway, 185% in Spain and/in Sweden. British people often say that the British economy has become a network-oriented network economy. In fact, the Internet has already penetrated into all aspects of British economic life. Compared with major countries in Europe and America, the Internet access rate in Britain is 90% in middle schools and 68% in primary schools. By the end of 1999, the Internet access rate of adults in Britain was 45%, of which 20% surfed the Internet at work and 14% surfed the Internet at home. From 65438 to 0999, British consumers spent as much as $700 million on online shopping, reaching $800 million in 2000.
At present, the online rate of SMEs in European countries is 53%, while the online rate of SMEs in the UK is as high as 68%. Nowadays, the network connection rate of British companies has reached the world-class level: compared with 1999, the total number of online companies in Britain this year has reached 8 1%, with an annual growth rate of 63%.
In EU countries, IT products and services account for an average of 2.26% of GDP. However, British IT products and services account for 3.24% of its GDP.
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Living custom
Tourism and entertainment
Living custom
social welfare
Working in England
General situation of Britain
British national system
British traffic
Now the British pay more attention to the quality of life and pursue spiritual enjoyment. Dress very formally on important occasions, and usually pursue simple and comfortable clothes. The diet style is simple and pays attention to nutrition. The climate in Britain is mild and humid, and the British love sunshine very much. Usually I like to do housework by myself, love sports and go on vacation. In addition, British people like cultural activities very much, such as reading, writing articles, listening to concerts and watching plays. And they also like keeping pets.
First, the change of life.
In Britain, adults spend an average of 22 hours a week on full-time jobs or full-time education, and as much time on housework. However, among the people engaged in housework, women are still the highest sex, but more and more women are beginning to participate in this work. According to the latest statistics of the National Bureau of Statistics, the proportion of women participating in the work is 45%. In the non-manual labor sector, women account for half, while in the service industry, women account for more than half.
In recent years, great changes have taken place in the consumption pattern of British families. Residents' spending on entertainment and education is increasing. Its expenditure content is to buy durable goods such as radios, televisions, telephones and computers. At the same time, this part of consumption is also used to rent video recorders and music tapes, buy cultural and sports supplies and invest in education. In other words, the lifestyle of the British people now pays more attention to the quality of life, pursues spiritual enjoyment and gradually gets rid of bad habits, such as smoking and drinking.
Second, pursue a simple and comfortable life.
A suit can be called the national costume of Britain. However, although office workers wear suits, even on important occasions, men wear tuxedos and women wear low-cut evening dresses, many ordinary people like to wear casual clothes every day, which is simple and comfortable.
British people's eating habits are also relatively simple, focusing on nutrition. Breakfast is usually cereal with milk or a glass of juice, buttered toast, bacon or fried sausage and eggs. At noon, children have lunch at school, and adults buy a sandwich and a cup of coffee for lunch near their workplace. Only on weekends do British people have a big dinner. Usually the main course is meat, such as roast chicken, roast beef and grilled fish. There are many kinds of vegetables, such as cabbage, fresh peas, potatoes and carrots. Vegetables are generally not processed, put on a plate, poured with ready-made spices bought from the supermarket and eaten. There are always digestible desserts after the main course, such as boiled fruit, fruit pudding, cheese, ice cream and so on.
Third, parks and green spaces.
Britain has a mild and humid climate, which is suitable for the growth of all kinds of flowers and trees all year round. In the process of urban planning, the government has specially planned a large area of green space or park in almost every living area for people to rest or take a walk, and to provide space for children to play. Because it is rainy and foggy in winter, the sunshine in summer is especially precious to the British. On sunny weekends and holidays, parks and beaches are full of sunbathers, and it is a fashion for British people to tan and shine.
Fourth, do it yourself.
British people like to repair their houses, make furniture, decorate their rooms, trim their gardens, and even make their own ceramic crafts on weekends and holidays. They can do almost anything. This is not only for economic reasons, but also as one of the ways to cultivate personal skills, cultivate personal sentiment and relax. You can make your room more comfortable and personalized by doing it yourself.
Five, love sports
According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics, 72% of male citizens and 57% of female citizens have participated in at least one sport within four weeks. The proportion of teenagers participating in extracurricular sports activities is high. In many sports, cycling, playing football, playing tennis, swimming and roller skating are the common hobbies of many men and women, and walking two miles or more every day has always been a popular sport.
Sixth, colorful holidays.
It is essential for most British people to go on holiday every year, regardless of the length of time, whether at home or abroad. In addition to traveling, British people's entertainment and leisure programs on weekends, bank festivals, Easter and other holidays are more colorful. Elegant cinemas, concert halls, opera houses and summer open-air concerts have prepared various programs for people of different classes, ages and tastes. A large number of museums and places of interest provide people with the best leisure places.
Seven, hungry readers
There are about 5,000 libraries and reading rooms (including more than 300 professional libraries and academic libraries) on the land of 242,500 square kilometers in Britain. No matter day or night, the library is often packed. People who borrow books, consult materials, browse newspapers and write articles include students, the elderly, company employees and even workers.
Eight, the world of "Card"
Modern British people can't live without cards: credit cards, charge cards, store shopping cards, car gas cards, security doors, magnetic cards, telephone cards and so on.
Nine, developed network
Today, there are more than 300 Internet service providers in the UK, and there are130,000 Internet users in the UK, accounting for 22% of the total population, far higher than other major European countries. In 2003, among the major European countries, the annual growth rate of Internet was 280% in Britain, 220% in Denmark, 265,438+05% in France, 265,438+00% in the Netherlands, 200% in Germany and Norway, 65,438+085% in Spain and 65,438+in Sweden. British people often say that the British economy has become a network-oriented network economy. In fact, the Internet has already penetrated into all aspects of British economic life. Compared with the major countries in Europe and America, the Internet access rate in Britain is 90% in middle schools and 68% in primary schools. At present, the online rate of SMEs in European countries is 53%, while the online rate of SMEs in the UK is as high as 68%. Today, the network connection rate of British companies has reached the world-class level.
European countries-British etiquette
British clothing styles are highly respected by many people in the world. Although the British pay attention to clothes, they are very frugal. A suit usually takes ten or eight years to wear. An English man usually has two sets of dark clothes and two or three pairs of gray trousers. British clothing has been diversified and comfortable, and casual jackets and jeans are more popular.
Etiquette and manners
In Britain, people stretch out the index finger and middle finger of their right hand in speeches or other occasions, with their palms facing outward, forming a V-shaped gesture to indicate victory; In Britain, if someone sneezes, others will say "bless you" to show good luck.
Meeting etiquette
In Britain, when a baby is born, parents and relatives usually name the baby according to the characteristics of the baby and the occupation of the father. Some prominent mothers will use their maiden name as their second name. In Britain, children only call their parents' brothers and sisters uncles. Old people in Britain pay attention to independence and don't like being called old. They don't need help when they walk.
dining etiquette
Guests and table manners
If you are invited to someone's house, you should test the tiger. For example, when should I arrive at my host's house? It is impolite to arrive early if it is not a serious business but a social gathering. The hostess is making preparations. If you arrive before she is fully prepared, it will make her feel embarrassed. It is better to arrive late 10 minutes. It's too late to be half an hour late. You need to apologize to the host. When should I leave? There are no rules, but it is impolite to sit too late in the host's house. If you are only invited to dinner and chat, you'd better leave between 10 and 1 or say goodbye after dinner1hour. If you are invited to stay for a few days or for the weekend, you should buy a bunch of flowers specially for your hostess before you leave, which will make her very happy. Besides, the day after you leave, you should write a thank-you letter to your host, and attach a small gift, such as a box of chocolates or some flowers.
There are many kinds of banquets in Britain, mainly tea parties and banquets. Tea parties include formal tea parties and informal tea parties. English people don't serve food at dinner parties, and they don't advise wine, but they all take it according to the interests of the guests. Generally speaking, it is polite to eat all the dishes you take. People who don't drink just put their hands into the cup when the waiter pours the wine. When saying goodbye, guests can shake hands or nod.
British people generally prefer cooking methods: stew, barbecue, frying and frying. There are unique ways to cook meat, seafood and game; But they have a special preference for beef, such as roast beef, which is not only served with seasonal vegetables and baked potatoes, but also with a little mustard sauce on the steak. In the use of condiments, I like cream and alcohol; As for spices, I like fresh spices, such as nutmeg and cinnamon.
The well-known names of English dishes are: steak kidney pie, English fried fish slices, chicken king Ala and so on. English people like hunting. During the hunting period only once a year, many restaurants or restaurants will provide wild game meals, such as venison, rabbits, pheasants, wild goats and so on. Usually, when cooking game, junipers or berries and wine are used to remove the flavor of the food itself.
English people are very particular about breakfast! English restaurants serve many kinds of food, including juice, fruit, eggs, meat, porridge, bread, jam and coffee. The popular HIGH TEA is also from Britain, and its famous Victorian style covers all kinds of snacks, muffins, tarts and sandwiches. Dinner is also the most important part of British daily life. They usually choose a later meal time, and they all talk while eating and drinking to promote the friendship between diners. It is conceivable that they belong to a very autonomous nation, and a dinner may take them several hours!
Scotch or gin are these well-known wines, and they all come from it. In Britain, many people like drinking, mainly because it is also a wine-producing country. British people spend more money on drinking than other expenses.
Wedding and funeral etiquette
The British marriage customs are rich and varied, and they all have their own traditional ways from proposing marriage to honeymoon. In York in the north of England, the way of proposing marriage is quite strange, which inherits the ancient folk tradition. When a girl is mature and needs to get married, she puts on tight clothes of different colors to send a signal to men. Different colors represent different things, just like traffic lights. Green means, "Come on! I am willing to fall in love and pursue boldly! " Yellow means: "There is an opportunity. If it suits me, there is still a chance of success. " Red means: "I don't want to fall in love at present, don't pursue me." Brave young people will pursue boldly according to each other's clothes and their own choices, and will never be labeled as misbehaving.
Once the two sides establish a love relationship, the man will give the woman an engagement ring and hold a ceremony. This custom is very popular all over Britain. Wedding or engagement rings are traditional customs of many nationalities. When an Englishman holds a wedding ceremony in a church, it is indispensable for the groom to wear a ring for the bride. People even think that a marriage without a ring is invalid. When the priest asked a couple if they would like to be each other's wives or husbands, and if they could respect each other and grow old together, the groom put a ring on the bride's ring finger. It symbolizes the husband's pure love for his wife, and the wife also expresses her acceptance and loyalty to this love.
The custom of wearing a ring can be traced back to ancient Egypt and China. It is not only a symbol, but also an ornament. At first, the wedding ring was not set with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. The pure circle symbolizes the reunion of two people who are bound together by marriage. In some ethnic groups, it symbolizes a kind of magic, wishing couples happiness and longevity. At the same time, the giver expressed his trust in the receiver, and the receiver expressed his loyalty to the giver.
The gold ring symbolizes the innocence of love, and the silver ring symbolizes tenderness. British people, like western countries, have engagement rings made of gold, without any precious stones, and wedding rings should also be decorated. As for the quality of the ring, it varies according to personal economic conditions. The engagement ring and the wedding ring can be worn on the same ring finger, or the wedding ring can be used instead of the engagement ring.
In Britain in the/kloc-6th century, family patterns or proverbs were often engraved on the inside of wedding rings, such as "God made me someone's wife". The ring of the bishop's wife was engraved with a hand, a heart, a bishop's crown and a skeleton, with the inscription: "I gave you the first three, and the fourth made me detached." Today, most rings are inscribed with only the initials of the bride and groom.
British people wear dresses when they get married; The bride is wearing a white shirt, a white skirt, a white wreath, a white veil and a white bouquet. In short, the British advocate white, which symbolizes pure love and good luck. The custom of wearing a veil can be traced back to BC 10 century, and women in the two river basins wear veils. In ancient Greece, when holding a wedding, not only the bride should wear a veil of linen or wool, but also the couple should wear a corolla. In Roman times, people of different religious beliefs had to wear veils of different colors to show their differences. After the Middle Ages, a crown decorated with pearls appeared among the court nobles. Later, it developed into white yarn, and its scale expanded day by day, spreading all over Europe.
At the wedding ceremony, the bride in white gauze dress and veil took her father's arm, accompanied by female guests, and walked into the church in the wedding March. The groom in a dress, accompanied by a male guest, stood in front of the altar waiting for the bride. When someone in an English family dies, there is often a small notice in the newspaper. After seeing the notice, relatives and friends all went to the funeral to show respect for the deceased and greetings to their families.
Once married, people should congratulate the bride and groom when they walk out of the church. This kind of congratulations is not kissing, hugging or shaking hands, but throwing colorful confetti at them. The custom of scattering paper scraps originated from scattering wheat grains. 149 1 year, King henry vii of England and his queen traveled to Bristol. On the trip, I was seen by a baker's wife, so she sprinkled wheat grains at them from the window and shouted, "Welcome, Your Majesty! I wish you happiness and longevity. " This became a well-known story. By the 6th century, this custom had been widely spread. People scatter wheat grains on the bride and groom, and sometimes dye them in various colors. Wheat grain symbolizes a bumper harvest and a rich life, and also congratulates the newlyweds on their happiness and longevity, and their children and grandchildren are full.
For young people all over Britain, honeymoon is also an important part of marriage. They use their savings to travel, and the trip after marriage is called honeymoon. This used to be an ancient custom. When you get married, you must drink a special drink made of honey, which symbolizes family happiness, sweet love and happy life. This drink takes 30 days from marriage, so the first month of marriage is called honeymoon.
In Britain, we attach great importance to our wedding anniversary, which is celebrated every year with different titles. The first year is a paper wedding, the second year is a cotton wedding, the third year is a leather wedding, the fourth year is an easy wedding, the fifth year is a wood wedding, the sixth year is an iron wedding, the seventh year is a copper wedding, the eighth year is a ceramic wedding, the ninth year is a willow wedding, the tenth year is a tin wedding, and then a steel wedding, a round-hearted wedding, a lace wedding, an ivory wedding and a crystal wedding. Starting from the 15th year, there is a title every five years, followed by enamel wedding, silver wedding (the 25th year is the grand ceremony), pearl wedding, coral wedding wedding, ruby wedding, sapphire wedding, golden wedding (the second grand ceremony in 50 years), jade wedding and diamond wedding. This last one is the third largest celebration, but few people can celebrate it.
business etiquette
When doing business in Britain, you should avoid July and August. During this period, business people have more vacations, so it is not appropriate to carry out business activities at Christmas and Easter. In Britain, in order to avoid bribery, too heavy gifts are not allowed. In a business meeting, please come at the appointed time, not early or late. British business people are very serious and will not easily move their feelings and attitudes. They talk big and brag about themselves, which is a sign of lack of education.
Travel etiquette
When traveling to Britain, you should pay attention to the fact that all local vehicles drive on the left side of the road. British people abide by discipline, even if several people get on the bus, they will consciously queue up to get on the bus. When you take a taxi in the UK, you usually tip about 10%, and hotels that include tips in the service bill don't have to pay extra tips. Stay in the host's house for a few days and give some tips to the servants who provide services as appropriate.
British traffic
British railways and highways crisscross and extend in all directions.
railway
Britain's intercity railway traffic is second to none in the world, except in the rural hinterland, which is less than a few miles to the railway station anywhere. Because British railways are developed, small and densely populated, you may be surprised at the speed from one end of Britain to the other. Teenagers can buy a one-year general bus pass, so they can enjoy preferential treatment on the basis of standard fare.
coach
Britain's highways extend in all directions, and it is relatively cheaper to take a long-distance bus than a train, but the travel time is generally longer. The British National Automobile Company issues student tickets. /kloc-Teenagers aged 0/6 to 25 can enjoy a one-year discount on the basis of adult bus fares.
Flying plane
In Britain, flying is generally only suitable for long-distance travel. Flying from London to Bristol or Birmingham is not cheap, but if you want to travel from London to Glasgow or Edinburgh, you can consider flying. If you want to enjoy the discount, you must show your foreign student ID card. The application form can be obtained from the Student Union or the Student Travel Office.
Travel to Europe
Britain is the gateway to the European continent. In Britain, no matter where you are, all parts of Europe are close at hand. British exports to the European continent abound, and there are the following modes of transportation to choose from.
Wheeled boat
There are steamboats, hovercraft and hydrofoils in almost every port on the south coast, sailing to French ports (Dunkirk in Belgium in the east and Roskov in Brittany in the west), Belgian ports and Dutch ports. It's a long voyage from England to Scandinavian countries, and you need to take a boat from northern England and Scotland.
train
The newly-built English Channel Tunnel enables the train to reach Paris or Brussels directly from Waterloo Station. The whole journey only takes three and a half hours.
go shopping
Most shops in Britain are open from Tuesday to Saturday and closed on Sunday. There are two habits in shopping in Britain: one is not to bargain in the store, but to sell as much as you bid; Second, customers consciously queue up and don't like people cutting in line. Many shops charge for spare shopping bags. Most supermarkets provide baskets for customers to use in their stores. After paying, they put their purchases in their shopping bags. If you forget to return the basket to the store or leave without paying, it may be regarded as theft, and the store may even call the police. If you want to buy expensive ones, you can refer to the shopping magazines in the shopping malls, which contain comparisons of different manufacturers, product prices and quality. When shopping in Super Festival, don't worry about any fraud in quality and price. After payment, the cashier will print out a detailed receipt, including the name of the mall, the name of the manager on duty that day, the name of the salesperson, the type of purchase, quantity, price, payment method, change, address and telephone number of the mall. If you find any problems, you can find a shopping mall to solve them.
Entry-exit carrying
You can carry 200 cigarettes and 1 foreign wine duty-free, and the amount of foreign currency you carry in and out of the country cannot exceed the amount at the time of entry.
Main Taboo-Three Taboos
You can't improvise. British people have the habit of queuing. You can see them queuing up one after another to get on buses, trains or buy newspapers. Poisonous gas is disgusting.
You can't ask a lady's age. British people don't like to talk about men's wages and women's ages, or even how much their furniture is worth. You shouldn't ask. If you ask a lady's age, it's also inappropriate, because she thinks it's her own secret and everyone wants to stay young forever. There is no better compliment than saying "you look so young" to a middle-aged woman. There is no doubt that every lady's hairstyle, makeup and clothes are designed to make herself look more beautiful and younger, but if her dress makes people feel too deliberate, then others will accuse her of being "tacky" in a critical tone.
You can't bargain when shopping in Britain. The most taboo is bargaining. The British don't like bargaining and think it's a shame. If you buy a valuable work of art or a large number of goods, you need to negotiate a full price with the seller carefully. The British seldom bargain. If they think the price of the goods is right, they will buy them, and if the price is not right, they will leave.
The British think 13 and Friday are unlucky, especially when they meet on 13. Many people prefer to stay at home at this time. In Britain, it is forbidden to talk about men's salary, women's age, political orientation and so on. They don't want to shake hands with each other, or light a cigarette or even three people.