subject: The British Isles [print this page] The British Isles The British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands that are found in the northwest coast of Europe. The British Isles are compromised of the islands of Britain and Ireland and also some over 6,000 smaller islands. The United Kingdom and Ireland are the only two sovereign states that are located in the island. The Isle of Man and the Channel islands are two dependencies of the United Kingdom though the Channel Islands are not physically part of this group of islands.
Geographic Overview
Great Britain and Ireland are the largest of the group of the 136 permanently inhabited islands. Great Britain is found to the east with an approximate area of 83,698 square miles. Other large islands are Orkney, Shetland and Hebrides in the north, Channel Island found nears the Coast of France and the Isle of Man which is found between the Great Britain and Ireland. These groups of Islands are found at low attitudes with the southern part of the Great Britain and areas in Central Ireland being extremely low lying.
The Fens is the lowest point in the Island at -13 ft below sea level. The highest point in the Islands is the Ben Navis which is 4,409ft above sea level. Some areas in the Islands are mountainous e.g. the Scottish highlands, Wales and some parts of Ireland. The lakes found in this region are not large with the exception of Lough Neagh which covers 147 square miles and is found in Northern Ireland. Loch Lomond is the largest fresh water body covering 44 miles and is found in Great Britain. There are various rivers in the Island with river Severn being the longest with an approximate length of 220 miles and it is found in Great Britain.
Brief history and culture.
All the states in the Islands were headed by the British Monarch as the head of state until 1949 when the republic of Ireland act was enacted. The history of British Isles has been influenced by invaders and immigrants from the continental Europe. The development of Neolithic villages in the British Isles started around 4500 BC. The British Isles has various cultural and historic attractions e.g. the ancient standing stone. The British Isles do not have an official language that is defined by the constitution. However English which is spoken monolingually by more than 70% of the population is the main language and therefore it is the de facto official language.
The people of the British Isles have a strong sense of identity and nationalism. The culture is diverse due to the increased number of immigrants. The major religions in these Islands are Christian who compromise 71.6%, Muslims2.7% and others with 1.6%. The Christian denominations include the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and the Methodists.
The people from the Islands have embraced handshake as the common form of greeting. Other cultural etiquettes include introducing a younger person to an older person, introducing a person of lower status to that of higher status and if people are of same age and similar ranks, the protocol is introducing the one better known. The British Isles are also rich in other aspects of culture that include arts, literature theatre, music, cinema, broadcasting, visual art, architecture and performing arts. There are museums and art galleries that are well furnished.
Who were the first immigrants?
The Celts were the first people to settle in the British Isles. They lived in these Islands before the Roman invasion. The Celts settled here around 3200 BC. The Vikings came later around the 8th century while the Normans invaded the Isles and conquered England in 1066.
Their impacts on the development of the US cuisine
The US cuisine is a style of food preparation derived from USA. The first immigrants had an influence in the development of the US cuisine both in terms of its preparation and its popularity. The change in immigrant patterns and ethnic mix is what has affected the development of the US cuisine. The Celts brought with them important techniques that were crucial in influencing the development of US Cuisine. The simple sturdy food that is found in the North East is evidence enough that English origins have an influence on the development of US Cuisine. The oldest US cuisine is from the Southwest region and this is the region which had the greatest influence from the British Isles.
Food Habits patterns
The general dietary pattern of the British Isles has an energy content that is 50% above the physiological needs. But the main type of diet in these Islands remains British. This type of diet has increased life expectancy and lowered mortality from heart diseases. Though the main characteristic of the diet has remained British, it has become more pre packaged. The restaurants in these Islands are a common place for dining. They offer a wide variety of cuisine from all over the world among other types of foods. The restaurants also offer traditional British foods that are prepared using local ingredients. Roast beef is found in most menus and it is either served with pork sausages or Yorkshire pudding. Most meals are usually accompanied with English wines.
The people from the Isles have traditionally believed in four meals per day. However this has been influenced by factors like working adults and school going children which has led to changes in the food patterns. In recent times, these people are demanding for fine and fresh ingredients to prepare their meals or ask for meals made from the same in restaurants.
Typical Meals
British cookery can be said to nave been maligned in the past decade but has just improved drastically in restaurants and inns found in the countryside. The traditional breakfast consisted of bacon, eggs, sausages, fried bread, baked beans and mushrooms. However in recent times, the typical meals for the people in the British Isles include breakfast, lunch and dinner. A typical breakfast consists of a slice of toast, a bowl of cereals and orange juice and sometimes coupled with a cup of coffee. Porridge and boiled oats are common in winter. Due to working adults and school children, the most common lunch include a packed lunch that typically consists of a sandwich and either a piece of fruit, a packet of crisps and a drink. A typical traditional dinner compromised of meat and two vegetables. Nowadays, rice and pasta are common and favorite. At formal meals, toasts may be given.
Food Etiquette
The people of the islands have a unique food and dining etiquette unlike many European cultures because they enjoy entertaining visitors into their homes. When one is invited to dinner, the requirement is that you arrive on time if it is a restaurant and arrive 10-15 minutes later if the dinner invitation is at home. The table manners practiced are the continental ones whereby the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right. When one is invited to a dinner he or she is required to remain standing in case there is a particular seat that he or she will be shown to take.
While eating the people of the Isles do not rest their elbows on the table. If they have not finished eating, they cross the knife and the fork on the plate with the fork over the knife. To indicate that they have finished eating, they lay the knife and the fork parallel across the right side of the plate. While in a pub drinking, these people have a habit of paying for a round of drinks for everyone present in the table. When invited to a restaurant the person extending the invitation pays the bill and the person invited is not expected to argue about the check or about footing the bill. They expect that the guest will reciprocate the same sometimes later.
Conclusion
The British Isles are a group of Islands that have a rich history and a diverse culture. Though the Celts are believed to be the first immigrants into the Islands, currently evidence point out that there may be earlier inhabitants of these Islands. The Celts are a group of interrelated people who share a branch of Indo European languages and this indicates that they have a common origin.
