... 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, hich make a loud bang. Inside there is a tissuepaper hat and a trinket. Boxing Day 26 December, so called for small earthenare boxes that tradespeople and civil servants traditionally carried around to collect tips, is no simply a leisure day and a very busy day in the sporting calendar. Many offices, but not s ... Download