Ин.яз ЛУР / Great Britain. Customs and traditions

One of the most interesting features of life in England which immediately strikes any visitor to this country is the cherishing and preserving of many traditions, sometimes very archaic as they may seem.

When one sees the guards at the Tower of London with their funny flat hats, their trousers bound at the knee, and the royal monogram on their breast, one feels carried back to the age of Queen Elisabeth I. And you should chance to see the Lord Mayor of London riding through the streets of the city with his black robe and gold chain, his medieval carriage, and all sheriffs, councilors and other members of his suite, you have a picture of living history.

A number of other ceremonies are of a similarly, formal character, such as the changing of the Guard in front of the Buckingham Palace, the Queen's receptions, the arrival of the Queen for the state opening of Parliament, the Woolsack in the House of Lords upon which Lord Chancellor sits as the Speaker of the House.

There are other custom of a similar peculiar character, such as the searching of the cellars underneath the Houses of Parliament by half a dozen "Beefeaters" before the opening of Parliament, in memory of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.

Very interesting is the ceremony of the Keys which is centuries did and takes place in the Tower of London every night at 10 p.m.

Five minutes before the hour the Chief Guard and escort of four Fudor dress uniform approach the gates. The century calls ont:

“Halt, who comes there?”

“The keys”.

“Whose keys?”

“Queen Elisabeth’s keys”.

“Advance Queen Elisabeth’s keys. All is well”.

All towers are locked and the keys are finally carried by the Chief Guard to the Queen’s House where they are secured for the night.

Now the only inhabitants of the Tower are ravens. There is a legend that the Tower will fall if it loses its raven. Therefore the birds with clipped wings are carefully guarded.

A new tradition has been born in England. Every year (in November) large numbers of ancient motor – cars drive from London to Brighton. One of these veteran cars look very funny. This run from London to Brighton is a colorful demonstration. People are dressed in the clothes of those times.