British celebrations

Spring Celebrations

17th of March is St Patrick's Day, commonly known as St Patty's Day. It is especially

celebrated by Irish communities all around the world, but everyone is invited to
party as it is a worldwide celebration. People wear green and decorate their houses,
places of work and schools with shamrocks and Irish flags to mark the occasion.
Many UK cities host official St Patrick's Day celebrations but those who celebrate
often choose spending the evening in a pubs drinking Guinness Irish beer.

Easter is a Christian holiday that falls on a different date between March 22 and April
25 every year. Good Week is the week right before Easter and Easter bank holidays
are Good Friday (the Friday before Easter Sunday) and Easter Monday. To mark this
celebration, people usually get together for a sit-down meal. Adults also prepare an
Easter Egg Hunt for children on Easter Sunday - they hide chocolate eggs in houses,
gardens or parks and children are to follow clues to find them. Children are told that
the eggs were hidden by the Easter Bunny and they put the found chocolate eggs in
colourful baskets that they carry. Another Easter tradition celebrated in the UK is
baking and eating hot cross buns which are small, sweet buns filled with raisins and
spices and each of them is decorated with a cross at the top, which symbolises the
Christian belief that Jesus died on the cross. Egg painting was particularly popular
before the chocolate eggs era but many children still enjoy this tradition. Eggs sym-
bolise new life and represent the rebirth of Jesus. Another Easter tradition in the UK
is Maypole Dancing, which takes place in villages across the UK. Dancers who take
part in the celebration hold on to colourful ribbons that are attached to a tall pole
and they dance around the pole in patterns while village bands play live music. This
tradition has been a big part of Easter celebrations in the UK for centuries as it dates
back to the pre-Christian era. Another Easter tradition in the UK are Easter Bonnets
parades where people wear hats of any size decorated with flowers, leaves, Easter
eggs and other Easter symbols.

Traditi

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Early May Bank Holiday takes place on the first Monday of May and is traditionally
celebrated with maypole dancing. It is a day off from school for children and a day off
from work for their parents, so the more typical celebration is to have a barbecue
with friends and family or to visit some touristy places. The next bank holiday is the
so-called Spring Bank Holiday or Late May bank holiday. It takes place on the last
Monday of May. It is a time when people relax at home, go on short trips or partici-
pate in barbecues, picnics or do sports with friends and family.

Summer Celebrations
Summer Solstice is on the 21st June and it marks the beginning of summer - the
longest day and the shortest night of the year. People celebrate it all over the UK in
various ways, yet the most famous celebration takes place in Stonehenge, which is
anancient monument made up of gigantic stones believed to have been constructed
around 3000 B.C. to 2000 B.C. and could have been an ancient burial ground. As the
monument is aligned towards the sunrise on the summer solstice, thousands of
people go there every year on this day to watch the sunrise.

Music Festivals - June to August. Many music festivals in the UK are held in the
summer and the largest, most famous and most iconic one is the Glastonbury
Festival. Over 210,000 fans came to see their favourite artists during Glastonbury in
2022. And Glastonbury is not only about music: dancing, comedy, theatre, cabaret,
circus and many others can be enjoyed at the festival too. Edinburgh Fringe Festival
is the world's biggest art festival, therefore great numbers of people from all around
the world come to see it. It is held in August and continues for over 3 weeks.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival is a place for fans of stand-up comedy, dancing, theatre, art
exhibitions, circus, literature and spoken word and much more. Another August
event is the Notting Hill Festival in London. It is held on the last Monday of August
and it is the biggest street festival in Europe. Anyone can join the carnival to enjoy
Caribbean food and music and observe the spirited, colourful parade moving through
the iconic streets of Notting Hill, London.

Autumn Celebrations

Halloween (short for All Hallows' Eve) is celebrated all over the world on 31st
October and originates from the UK. Halloween was influenced by Celtic harvest fes-
tivals. Nowadays, Halloween is all about trick-or-treating (children dress up as scary
characters and go from house to house in the evening in order to collect as many
sweets as possible), pumpkin carving (carved pumpkins are called Jack-o-Lanterns),
lighting bonfires, bobbing for apples (the task is to pull out apples from a bowl full of
water using teeth only - contestants cannot use their hands at all). Halloween is also
celebrated by adults, who throw costume parties or watch horror films.

Diwali is a major religious festival for Hindus, Jains and Sikhs (the last two religions
derive from Hinduism) and as Hindu community in the UK is quite large, it is cele-
brated across the whole country. Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness
so thousands of bright, decorative Diwali lights are lit during street parties and pa-
rades on Diwali night all over the UK. The country hosts the biggest Diwali celebra-
tions outside of India, during which traditional Indian food is served, there is also
tra- ditional music, dancing and fireworks as the big finale.

Bonfire Night. It is celebrated in the UK every year on the 5th November and it marks
the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, in which Guy Fawkes played the main role as
he attempted, unsuccessfully, to blow up the Westminster Palace when King James I
was there. People across the UK celebrate by lighting bonfires in towns, villages and
cities. Sometimes a doll of Guy Fawkes made of rags and old clothes is lit and burned
in the bonfires to commemorate the conspirator's treason
Remembrance Day is celebrated on the 11th November and it marks the end of
World War I and is now held to give citizens a chance to remember and pray for sol
diers who fought and lost their lives during World Wars I and II while protecting
diers ountry. To commemorate this day, people wear red poppies attached to their
jackets and coats, some decorate their cars with poppies from the beginning of
jackets ber. Poppies were chosen as the symbol of Remembrance Day as they grew
Nothe fields where battles had taken place. At 11 o'clock on Remembrance Day, a
two-minute period of silence is held in schools and places of work, church services
take places and people gather in front of memorials to decorate them with poppy
wreaths. Major National Service of Remembrance takes place on Remembrance
Sunday, which is the closest Sunday to 11th November. The service is attended by
the members of the Royal Family and His Majesty The King.

Winter Celebrations

Christmas Day (25th December) and Boxing Day (26th December) are greatly cele-
brated across the UK. Shops, markets and public places start the preparations
leading to Christmas a few weeks before. Christmas decorations are put up in the
streets and buildings while shops and markets start selling Christmas products, such
as tradition- al mince pies, which are sweet puff pastry with a spicy, fruity filling. On
Christmas itself people meet with their family and friends for a sitting meal, which
consists of roast turkey with roasted potatoes and vegetables with mince pies or
trifle". It is also an important day for children as it is when Christmas presents are
opened. Christmas Eve (24th December) is also celebrated in the UK but the 25th
December is the main event of Christmas celebrations. Boxing Day was originally a
holiday to give gifts of food and everyday items in boxes to poor people and servants,
who were allowed to go and visit their families after Christmas Day celebrations in
great houses and palaces ended.

Traditional Food

The first celebration of the year is New Year's Day celebrated on the 1st January. It is
a public holiday or bank holiday after New Year's Eve. The British also celebrate
Lunar New Year, which usually takes place in late January and early February. The
celebrations take place in many cities across the UK or wherever large Chinese com-
munities are. London's Lunar New Year's Eve celebration with food stalls, fireworks,
red lanterns and dragon parades is the biggest outside of Asia
► American Celebrations

and places of wo ty The King

Quite a few American celebrations are the same as the ones in the UK as these two
Countries share history. There are, however, many celebrations that are American
only.

Winter Celebrations
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Day celebrated on the Istin Wear's Eve. The Broshate Late January and eaty Fes UK
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Christmas in America is celebrated in various ways. It all starts with Christmas shop-
ping and colourful decorations set in public places, streets and houses. This holiday
is deeply commercialised, so people spend rather large sums of money on presents,
decorations and Christmas food. Children can meet Santa Claus, the symbol of
Christmas, in shopping malls, where Christmas concerts and theatrical productions
are also held. It is also time to support charities, there are people who organise meals
and shelter for homeless and jobless people in the Christmas season. People arrange
family gatherings, either brunches or dinners and prepare special Christmas food to
be enjoyed by friends and family. The meal usually consists of roast turkey or
Christmas ham, stuffing prepared from leftover bread, sausage and sage", mashed
potatoes, gravy (which is a rich, dark meat sauce), cranberry sauce, creamed spinach,
different types of casseroles. As for dessert, cookies, fruitcake, gingerbread houses
and eggnog are served. Other traditional Christmas foods that are served depending
on the region are tamales, roast goose with red cabbage, crawfish jambalaya, roast
pork and "seven fishes" seafood salad.

New Year's Eve. Americans across the whole country celebrate New Year's Eve in
their homes with their closest ones, at house parties or at elegant balls. One of the
most renowned New Year's Eve celebrations is the so-called Times Square Ball Drop
in New York, where thousands of people come to see a crystal ball slowly dropping
from the roof of One Times Square located in the most recognisable square in the
USA-the Times Square in New York. The drop starts at 11.59 and stops at midnight to
mark the beginning of the new year. Then people sing Auld Lang Syne, an old
Scottish folk tune with lyrics from Scottish poet Robert Burns and drink champagne.
Another custom is to kiss a loved one precisely at midnight. New Year's Day comes
with New Year resolutions" and the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena,
California with breathtaking flower parade floats, which are watched by millions of
Americans every year on the 1st January.

Martin Luther King Day is celebrated on the third Monday of January and it marks
and honours the life and achievements of Martin Luther King, who was a Civil Right
Movement leader who fought for equal rights for Black Americans, which earned him
a Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Another day that celebrates important people in
American history is commonly referred to as President's Day, but the formal name of
the federal holiday is Washington's Birthday. It is celebrated on the third Monday of
February and has been a holiday that celebrates the birthday of George Washington,
the first president of the US.
The time of Carnival is the time between Christmas celebrations and Lent. Lent is
The time of religious people traditionally give up many delicacies such as meat and
sugar, therefore Carnival is the time to enjoy them again. A major Carnival
celebration in the USA is Mardi Gras and it takes place in New Orleans. "Mardi Gras"
is French for "Fat Tuesday", which is the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of
Lent. Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans last for about two weeks and there are
parades every day with performers dressed up in special costumes, riding on richly
decorated floats Dances, balls and masked balls are also typical for Mardi Gras. It is a
festival extremely popular with tourists - it is estimated that over a million people
come to observe Mardi Gras celebrations every year.

Spring and Summer Celebrations

The earliest spring celebration in the USA is Easter. Just as in Europe, Easter falls on
a different day between 22nd March and 25th April every year. Easter is not a public
holiday in every state and so in some states it is upon the employer if workers get
some time off or not. Nonetheless, Easter is still an important celebration in the USA.
One of the most iconic Easter celebration in the USA is the Easter Egg Roll, where
eggs found during an Easter Egg Hunt are rolled down a hill to see which one will
end on the bottom first and win. A very famous Easter Egg Roll is the one that takes
place on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington D.C. It was hosted by
President Rutherford B. Hayes for the first time in 1878 and children with their
parents have been invited for the roll every Easter Monday since then. What is even
more ex- citing is that the President of the USA is also a referee! Another famous
Easter tradition is the New York Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue. As the parade is
associated with the Bonnet Festival, the participants are all wearing creatively
decorated Easter hats and bonnets in all shapes and sizes. Easter in the USA is also
about food and time spent with the closest ones. Traditionally served Easter dinner
consists of specially prepared Easter ham or Hot Cross Buns. There are also boiled
eggs, potatoes and vegetables. As for dessert, Simnel Cake made of dried fruit and
marzipan or Easter Biscuits are served. Christians also go to church at that special
time in the Christian calendar.

Memorial Day takes place on the fourth Monday of May and it is a day to remem- ber
and mourn men and women who fought in America's military services and died
while defending their country. The first celebrations started after the Civil War and it
became a federal holiday in 1971. Americans celebrate Memorial Day on parades
commemorating the fallen soldiers, by visiting memorials and cemeteries or by
spending this special day with friends and family, as this day also marks the begin-
ning of the summer season, unofficially.

Independence Day is celebrated on July 4 as the Declaration of Independence was

signed on 4th July 1776. It is a federal holiday, so Americans across the country
celebrate the day on barbecues and picnics in local parks and nature areas. There is
lots of barbecuing, typical American food like hot dogs, burgers, potato salad and
corn on cobs. Independence Day is a major holiday and it takes place during a school
break, therefore many people decide to take longer trips at that time to visit
entertainment centres, places of nature and historic sites. Washington D.C., the
capital city of the U.S. holds the main 4th July celebrations and many people visit the
city at the time. Americans participate in parades, events and concerts that are held
to mark the occasion and watch fireworks displays at night.

Autumn Celebrations

Labour Day is a celebration when people honour workers and their contribution to
the country and the nation. This day helps to raise awareness to struggles and diffi-
culties that workers have to face. It takes place on the first Monday of September and
it marks the beginning of school and the end of summer so Americans celebrate it by
taking part in parades, family picnics, barbecues and they gather together to watch
fireworks in the evening.

Columbus Day commemorates Christopher Columbus, who is traditionally treat- ed

as the first explorer to reach the New World - today's United States of America. The
land that he discovered in 1492 was what is now the coast of the Bahamas. Although
most schools and businesses, except for banks and government offices, are open,
Columbus Day is still celebrated in large cities, such as New York, San Francisco,
Chicago, Boston and Denver, with colourful parades, music and street food.

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It is a holiday

during which people in North America and Canada give thanks for good harvest and
other blessings of the year. It is traditionally believed that the first Thanksgiving
happened in 1621 during a feast shared by English colonists that had recently
arrived in America on a ship called Mayflower (the Pilgrims) and native peoples of
the Wampanoag tribe. According to the legend, the Wampanoag people taught the
Pilgrims how to grow crops, such as corn and showed them how to hunt for var- ious
American animals. The first Thanksgiving was symbolic as it sealed a treaty.co
between Native Americans and the Pilgrims. Nowadays, it is a major public holiday
when people travel to be with their loved ones to dine together and watch parades,
especially the New York City Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with marching bands,
floats and giant balloons that float above the participants. The Thanksgiving feast
consists of roast turkey followed with stuffing (which is a side dish made of
breadcrumbs, herbs, fruit, sausage and onion), gravy (dark sauce), sweet potatoes,
cornbread, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. The traditional Thanksgiving
desserts are pies, pumpkin pie being the most common, but pecan, sweet pota- to pie
and apple pie are also eaten quite often. There are a few Thanksgiving tra- ditions
that are worth mentioning, such as when the president of the U.S. is gifted two live
turkeys which he then "pardons" during a ceremony at the White House. That means
that the two turkeys are given another chance - they will be spared and are sent to
live on a farm instead of being eaten. Another Thanksgiving tradition is breaking the
turkey's wishbone - two people hold the wishbone, they make a wish and pull. The
person that ends up with the bigger part of the bone can be sure that their wish will
be granted!
► Canadian Celebrations

Not only is Canada a part of the British Commonwealth, which makes it take over
some of the British celebrations, but it also borders the United States of America and
shares some holidays with it. New Year's Eve is celebrated similarly to the American
way. However, there is a very Canadian New Year's tradition, which is the polar bear
swim and involves swimming or just plunging into freezing waters for charity. This
tradition was popularised in Vancouver in the early 1900s and has survived until to-
day.

Easter is celebrated in a rather European manner - Good Friday and Easter Monday
are national holidays, there are Easter egg hunts, hot cross buns eaten on Good
Friday and children are entertained by egg painting.

Canadian Christmas is reminiscent of UK classics with a rich Christmas meal includ-

ing roast turkey, boiled or roast vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy with figgy
pudding, Christmas fruit cake and mince pies for dessert.

Other celebrations that did not originate in Canada are: Labour Day celebrated on
the first Monday of September, which is an American holiday and Remembrance Day
on the 11th November, which is celebrated for the same reason and in a similar way
to the UK.

Canadians, like Americans, celebrate Thanksgiving. However, Canadian Thanksgiving

is celebrated on the second Monday of October and its history is different to the
American one. The first Thanksgiving is traced back to 1578, when the English ex-
plorer Martin Frobisher arrived in the eastern part of Canada, a place that is now
called New Foundland. The first Thanksgiving celebration marked the safe journey
and arrival in the New World and the celebratory meal was simple - salted beef with
mushy peas. Overtime, Canadian Thanksgiving changed its meaning and became a
day which was all about expressing gratitude and giving thanks to God for crops and
harvest that provided food on people's plates. The holiday, however, did not have a
set date until 1957 when the Canadian government decided to officially celebrate
Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October each year. Canadian Thanksgiving is
not celebrated widely across the country and Thanksgiving dinner varies by prov-
ince, but roast turkey with mashed potatoes, vegetables, gravy, stuffing and sweet
potatoes remains the typical Thanksgiving meal. Canadians also celebrate sports on
Thanksgiving and there are also Thanksgiving parades and the most celebrated one

is the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Groundhog Day is also celebrated both in Canada and in the USA. It takes place on
the 2nd February and it is all about an animal, a groundhog102 and whether it
emerges from under the ground on that day and sees its shadow. If yes, it is going to
hide back into its burrow10 and winter will go on for another six weeks. If the
shadow does not appear, spring will come early that year. There are a few
groundhogs whose emergence from under the ground is observed by the media
and people each year, but the Canadian groundhog's name is Wiarton Willie and it
lives in Bruce County, Ontario.

As Canada is a part of the Commonwealth, it celebrates Queen Victoria, one of the

most famous British rulers of all time. Victoria Day is celebrated on the last Monday
before 25th May as Queen Victoria's birthday anniversary is on the 24th May. It was
first celebrated in 1845 to mark the Queen's supportive role in the development of
Canada and its autonomy. The most remarkable celebrations take place in Victoria, a
city in the province of British Columbia which was named after the British Queen. A
festive parade that marches through the city is organised and it is the biggest parade
among all the others taking place on that day across the country. Victoria Day also
marks the beginning of warmer days so friends and families start the barbecue and
picnic season and spend time doing outdoor activities and such.

Canada Day is celebrated on the 1st July to commemorate the anniversary of the
Constitution Act signed in 1867, which joined three territories into the single nation
of Canada. It is a summer holiday so Canadians celebrate this memorable day at
festivals and carnivals, parades, concerts and outdoor events. People wear Canadian
symbols on hats, T-shirts and flags, some paint their faces. Most cities and towns are
decorated properly for the occasion and many outdoor events finish with fireworks
shows in the evening.

► Australian and New Zealand's Celebrations

Most holidays in Australia and New Zealand are the same as the ones in the UK and
in most countries across the world. New Year's Eve in Australia is celebrated with
one of the most expressive fireworks shows in the world. It takes place in Sydney
and there are two shows held currently, "Family Fireworks" start at 9.00 p.m. and
"Midnight Fireworks" at 12.00 a.m. Australian time. The fireworks are set off from
Port Jackson, near the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. An
additional attraction is the lighting show accompanying the fireworks held on the
Sydney Harbour Bridge. Easter, Christmas Day and Boxing Day celebrations are sim-
ilar to the ones in the UK.

A truly Australian celebration is Australia Day celebrated on the 26th January. It

marks the arrival of the First Fleet in Australia, carrying over 750 convicts, the ship's
crew and family members from Great Britain. They were the first settlers from
Europe and started Australia's colonisation. Although it is a cheerful celebration and
a day to reflect on what it means to be Australian and celebration of the positive
aspects of being a citizen of this country, there is a growing movement of people
claiming that this day should change its date and theme. It is because the arrival of
settlers had a tragic impact on the lives of the First Nations in Australia. Protests
against Australia Day have been a part of this holiday for some time and in response,
some Australian companies give their employees a choice whether they want to have
a day off on the 26th January or would like to take a day off on a different day.
Another purely Australian and New Zealand holiday is ANZAC Day, which takes place
on the 25th April. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army corps and the
day commemorates the anniversary of the landing of Australian

troops at Gallipoli in Turkey in 1915. ANZAC landed there to link with British troops
to block Turkish troops and their reinforcements. The battle became symbolic for the
Australian and New Zealand army as a legend of its military power. It is a celebration
of the Australian and New Zealand army.

The next Australian holiday is Labour Day. Its dates vary between states, so in some
it is celebrated on the first Monday of October or the second Monday of March in
others (such as Tasmania, which calls the celebration Eight Hours Day) and the last
date when Labour Day is celebrated is 1st of May. This holiday marks and celebrates
the hard work and achievements of all workers, especially the achievement of the
eight-hour day - it gave workers eight hours of work, eight for recreation, and eight
hours to rest. The day is celebrated with parades, picnics and parties. Labour Day in
Zealand takes place on the 25th October.

As Australia is a constitutional monarchy with the monarch of the UK acting as the

head of state, it celebrates the monarch's birthday. This year it will take place on
12th June for most states, though it is not King Charles III's real date of birth (it is
14th November 1948). The date changes every year and is not the same for each
Australian state. Most people spend the day with their families outdoors or at
sporting events.

Although Australia and New Zealand share most of their holidays, there is one cele-
bration that is New Zealand's only and it is Waitangi Day celebrated on 6th February.
It commemorates the signing of New Zealand's founding document, The Treaty of
Waitangi on February 6th 1840. Waitangi Day is celebrated during official services
and cultural displays with traditional dances and singing. There is also a
reenactment of signing the treaty, public concerts and festivals.

Groundhog Day

.► Food

What do people eat in the UK?

Breakfast. Traditional English breakfast is a dreamy combination of fried eggs, sau-

sages, bacon, fried bread, mushrooms, tomatoes and baked beans, which are small,
white beans in tomato sauce. In some areas of the UK black pudding or hash browns
(potato patties) are added to this traditional meal. A full English breakfast takes
quite a lot of time to prepare and therefore it is eaten mainly on special occasions, at
weekends or on holidays. Hot Scottish porridge made with oats and milk or
simplified versions of the traditional English breakfast are more day-to-day options.
Lunch. Lunch is eaten by working adults and school children and it really can be any-
thing. Typical options are jacket potatoes (large, roasted potatoes cut in half) with
cheese or tuna filling or a variety of sandwiches with meat, cheese, vegetables includ
ing the butter and chips version and, yes, that means the British eat put chips into
their sandwiches. Another easy option is the famous fish and chips - the chips are
rather thick, splashed with vinegar and the fish is usually battered codos. Fish and
chips is traditionally served with mushy peas which is exactly what it sounds, peas
smashed with a little bit of salt. This delicious dish can be easily purchased in a so-
called "chip- py". Another option are pies made of buttery dough with different kinds
of fillings such as minced meat, beans, vegetables, steak and cheese. It is worth
mentioning that pies are not the same as pasties, Cornish pasties to be exact. Pasties
have similar fillings but are shaped differently.

Dinner. The most traditional dinner option is the so-called Sunday roast and it is all
in the name. It is a dish eaten by families and friends on Sundays as it is meant to be
special. It consists of roast meat, usually turkey, chicken, pork, beef or ham, roast- ed
potatoes and vegetables, yorkshire pudding, gravy and other sauces to go with the
meat. Other traditional dinner options are shepherd's pie, a layered dish with ground
meat, potatoes, peas and other vegetables or bangers and mash, where bangers are
sausages and mash is mashed potatoes. There are a few more kinds of pie too: fish
pie, cottage pie, steak and kidney pie or cheese pie. In Scotland one of the most
famous and very traditional dinner dishes is haggis with neeps (turnips) and tatties
(potatoes). Haggis is made up of sheep's pluck - heart, liver and lungs and can be
compared to black pudding. Other ingredients that are used to prepare dinner in the
UK are lamb, fish, and seafood
Dessert, which is commonly referred to as "pudding", which one may find quite
confusing as some savoury dishes are called the same. Nonetheless, when it comes to
sweet puddings, there are quite a few traditional options in the UK. The citizens of
the UK certainly eat a lot of biscuits and cookies to enjoy with their tea and there are
also many kinds of cakes and pies, such as carrot cake, all sorts of sponge cakes
(Victoria sponge, banoffee pie) and delicious tarts, such as Bakewell tart. Many of
these desserts are served with custard 100% or toffee sauce. Some of the most popu-
lar and traditional recipes is bread and butter pudding which is essentially made
with ends of loaves or stale bread, butter, sugar, some spices and sultanas. Another
very popular, festive option is Christmas or figgy pudding made with a rich amount
of dried fruit, nuts, honey, ginger and other spices often infused with rum or brandy
to enhance the taste. The sticky toffee pudding is for fans of real sweetness. It is a
sponge consisting of dried fruit and it is served with warm toffee sauce and vanilla
ice cream. There are also fruity options such as Eton Mess, which is a very simple lay-
ered dessert with strawberries, meringue and strawberry jam. Another fruity dessert
is a classic trifle made up with summer fruits, raspberry jelly, custard and whipped
cream and it is traditionally served on Christmas along with the Christmas pudding
and mince pies, which are small pies made of buttery dough with crust with a filling
that consists of dried fruit and spices.

What do people eat in the USA?

Breakfast. North America is a large country, so the variety of food across the coun-
try is enormous. Breakfast, however, comes down to a few similar dishes that are
enjoyed in most parts of the country. Typically for breakfast Americans eat cereal
with milk or dishes containing eggs, such as scrambled eggs, sunny-side-up fried
eggs107 with bread and fruit. Other choices are pancakes, waffles, bagels with differ-
ent filling, toast, sausages and bacon. Muesli with yoghurt and fruit is also desirable
and an important addition is a glass of orange juice. Of course, traditional break- fast
choices vary across the country and depend on different regions. Some of the most
interesting breakfasts are breakfast burritos that are served in California or
Colorado, cinnamon buns in San Francisco, pork brains and eggs in Appalachia. A
traditional Hawaiian breakfast consists of two choices - Loco Moco, which is a ham-
burger patty 10 topped with rice, fried egg and gravy or Malasadas which is a sweet
tart coated with sugar with fruity or creamy fillings. Eggs Sardou is a dish served in
the so-called French Quarter in Louisiana and was invented by a French cook. The
dish is creamed spinach with artichoke109, hollandaise sauce and poached eggs".
The regions of North America are very diverse, with a mix of cultures and influences
from a variety of countries, hence the wide range of breakfast choices.

Lunch. Lunch in America is usually eaten at work or at school. American cuisine has
been influenced by the ethnic minorities that can be found there, so lunches can vary
from Indian currys through Italian pizzas and lasagnas to Eastern
sa and pierogis. A whole range of salads with toppings and sauces are the healthy
sarand, all sorts of sandwiches with different fillings, like pulled pork or steak, Italian
ham and different kinds of cheeses are also an option. The so-called Tex-Mex (Texam
Mexican) food with tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, chilli con carne and enchila
das are also available. Pizza roll, pasta or macaroni and cheese or pre-made soup are
the quick options. Lunch at school often offers dishes such as chicken with a side of
potatoes and fruit. Other options are pizza rolls, lasagna, hamburgers, macaroni and
cheese or chicken nuggets with a side of French fries. Additional portions of vege.
tables, such as broccoli, carrots, creamed spinach or green beans are served while
cookies, chocolate brownies and jello or fruit are the dessert options. Every child
gets a small carton of milk with their lunch.

Dinner. "What's for dinner?" is a very common yet important question asked by
millions of American children every day. The answer is usually a kind of meat with a
side of potatoes or rice and vegetables, but let's take a closer look at a typical
American dinner. The main course often consists of meat, such as fried or grilled
chicken, steak (Americans really love it), pork chops that can be compared to the
European schnitzels¹¹2. Another commonly prepared option is a meatloaf, which is a
mix of ground beef and fried vegetables, such as carrots, celery and onion, with an
addition of egg baked together to form a tasty dish in a shape of a bread loaf.
Sometimes baked or grilled fish is served as a source of protein. There are usually
two side dishes served with the meat or fish and they are either potatoes prepared in
various ways - mashed or baked, boiled rice, macaroni and cheese, beans, corn on the
cob, a side salad or coleslaw, which is mayonnaise-based salad made shred- ded
cabbage and carrots, and bread rolls. If vegetables are served, they are usu- ally
grilled or boiled broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, zucchinis or beans. Other dinner
options are burgers served with French fries, different sorts of pastas, either
vegetarian or for meat lovers, meat and vegetable stews or stir-fry vegetables.
Traditional dishes that are associated with North America are tasty "comfort foods"
and here are some of them. Clam chowder is a rich soup prepared with shellfish,
potatoes, pork and heavy cream. This famous, hearty soup was invented in Boston
and is proudly served there as New England clam chowder. The next equally fa-
mous American dinner dish is deep-dish pizza. As the name suggests, this pizza is
baked in a deep dish which makes the crust rise impressively high. It is prepared
with large amounts of cheese and tomato sauce and it is sometimes called a pie. It
originates from Chicago but can nowadays be eaten in most cities in the USA.
Americans also appreciate barbecue, especially in spring or summer months. As
America is home to various ethnic minorities, dinner does not have to mean strict- ly
American food. The most popular cuisines from all around the world in America are
Chinese and Mexican with Italian, Thai, Indian and Japanese cuisines following.
Mexican food is especially famous in Los Angeles, where food trucks with Mexican
food and "taquerias", which are Mexican restaurants specialising in tacos, can be
seen on every corner. Taco is one of the most well-known Mexican dishes and is
consists of a hand-sized piece of corn or wheat tortilla with a topping, such as
meat, cheese and lettuce. While tacos are snack sized, burritos are equally famous,
yet bigger. The filling is seasoned ground meat and beans with lettuce, tomatoes,
sour cream, cheese and a chilli sauce wrapped in a tortilla.

Dessert. American desserts can satisfy almost every palate¹15 and are comforting.
Most of them are easy and cheap to prepare and are commonly known in many
countries around the world. One of the most popular American desserts is, as it turns
out, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Its texture and warm, spicy fla- vour
reminds of long winter evenings. It is believed that carrot cake originated in Europe
and might date back to the middle ages when carrots were used instead of sugar,
which was expensive and tricky to find. The next American delicacy for any sweet
tooth is a milkshake that can be made at home or bought in a diner116 as a treat
along with a hamburger. Milkshakes are traditionally made from milk, ice cream,
fruit (in case of a strawberry milkshake) and syrup, such as chocolate or va- nilla. To
make it even more delicious it can be topped with whipped cream. S'mores are next
on the list, there even is a National S'mores Day in the USA. It is a simple dessert to
prepare as you only need a toasted marshmallow (that is why they are often eaten at
bonfires or barbecues) with chocolate and these two ingredients are put between
graham crackers. Other popular American desserts are cheesecakes and pies which
come in various flavours. The most popular kind of pie is apple, but cherry, pecan
and pumpkin are also well known. Different kinds of cupcakes and fudge are also
extremely popular, especially as party food. Those three are baked, bought and eaten
by millions of Americans each year and are said to be the most popular sweet treats
in the USA. One dessert that cannot be forgotten is a choc- olate brownie. According
to the National Brownie Committee, Americans eat not less than 1.45 billion
brownies each year. This, however, cannot beat the number of chocolate chip cookies
(National Chocolate Chip Cookies Day is on 4th August) eaten every year in the USA
as it is 7 billion. This can easily answer the question of the most popular dessert in
North America.
idea of bannock was prepared by the First Nations of Canada and European settlers
learned how to make it from them. This quick and easy to make bread has been ens
joyed across the country for centuries, yet nothing says "Canada" louder than maple
joyed. This golden delicacy's production takes place mostly in Canada - 80% of the
world's maple syrup is produced there. The syrup is produced from Canada's nation
al tree, which is the sugar maple. It has a rich, caramel aftertaste and so it can be
added not only to sweet dishes, such as porridge, cakes or pancakes but also salads,
marinades or meat. The next Canadian "classic" are Nanaimo bars, which are named
after a city in British Columbia. They make a lovely dessert combined with a graham
cracker and custard topped with chocolate. As they are quite sweet, they go well with
coffee or strong black tea. When it comes to snacks, ketchup chips (or crisps in
British English) are extremely popular, especially since the 1970s when Canadians
started eating chips on a daily basis. Ketchup chips are not only eaten as a snack but
can also be used to sprinkle on savoury dishes. One of the most famous Canadian
sandwich meats is the Montreal smoked meat which is spiced up with garlic and oth-
er spices, it is then smoked and steamed, ready to be cut. It is supposed to be deli-
cious on rye bread and mustard and will enhance¹17 the flavour of your salad, tacos
and other appetisers. Seafood is an important ingredient of Canadian cuisine and
lobster is the most wanted seafood dish. Canadians eat lobster boiled, part by part or
as a sandwich filling and although it is associated with luxury, lobster dishes do not
have to be extremely expensive. A Canadian alternative to doner kebab was in-
vented in Nova Scotia and it is made with spiced ground beef, tomatoes, onions and a
sweet and sour condensed milk sauce. Donair, as that is how it is called, is usually
served on a pita that usually soaks up the sauce which makes it a pretty messy, but
comforting meal. A snack that was firstly made in Quebec in the 1950s was so tasty
that it became famous all over the world. The dish is called poutine and it consists of
French fries, cheese sauce and gravy. The original poutine from Quebec is just fries,
cheese sauce and gravy, but there are endless combinations of this simple dish. Its
simple form earned its fame and success.

Typical and traditional Australian food

Australian food was influenced by British cuisine. For example, traditional Australian
breakfast is basically the full English breakfast and some sources claim that roast
lamb rules as Australia's national dish - lamb is massively popular in the UK as well.
However, it still remains one of a kind and Vegemite is a proof of its originality.
Vegemite is a brown paste made of vegetables, yeast118 extract and spices and the
most popular way to eat it is on toast with butter but it can be an addition to any
savoury sandwich. Vegemite is the essence of Australian cuisine and it is said that
only a few foreigners can endure119 its strong, salty taste. Still, it remains extremely
popular among Australians. It might be due to its historical value as it was invent- ed
in the 1920s when Marmite (which was a similar sandwich spread) could not be
exported to Australia from Europe as a result of World War I. There is another
Australian and New Zealander dish that has a connection with World War I and it is
called anzac biscuits. ANZAC stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army
Corps and those biscuits gained the name during WWI when the wives of the fight-
ing soldiers baked and sent those easy to make and mould-resistant biscuits to their
husbands, who fought at war. The recipe is inexpensive and simple, which made
those biscuits quite popular.

Fairy bread is especially popular among children; it is the perfect party food, soft and
sweet. The recipe is quite simple, one has to spread some butter on a slice of bread
and sprinkle it with colourful sprinkles which are called "hundreds and thousands"
in Australia and New Zealand. This colourful dish is often served at children's
parties. There is another dessert that is nearly as popular as the fairy bread and it is
tim tams, Australia's favourite chocolate biscuits. There is a particular way to eat
them - one is supposed to bite off the opposite ends of the biscuit and use it as a
straw to sip cof- fee, tea, milk or chocolate.

Another British influence on Australian cuisine are meat pies which are served in
big- ger and smaller shops, supermarkets, bakeries and special pie shops. The pies
are stuffed with minced meat, vegetables, mushrooms and gravy, but vegetarian and
vegan options, such as cauliflower and cheese pies, can also be found easily.

One of the most popular pub foods is a chicken schnitzel topped with tomato sauce
and melted cheese and it is called chicken parmigiana or more commonly - chicken
parm. Pubs and diners often offer "parma nights", where one can eat a chicken parm
with a drink for a reasonable price. The chicken is often served with French fries and
some vegetables.

Pavlova, a meringue and fruit based cake that is sold all around the world and has a
completely non-Australian name, originated in either Australia or New Zealand at
the start of 20th century. It was apparently named after the Russian ballerina Anna
Pavlova and gained fame thanks to its simplicity and sweetness balanced by the
sourness of the fruit which, along with the whipped cream, form the centre of this
dessert. This cake can be found in any Australian cake shop or bakery, one can also
find it pre-made in the frozen section of most Australian supermarket chains. It is
really popular at social gatherings such as parties and barbecues.

If you would like to try an Australian snack straight from the Outback go with the
witchetty grub, which is a large, white, wood-eating larva of a moth. Eating larvae
sounds unappealing but they are supposed to be high in proteins and very nutri-
tional. Witchetty grubs were eaten by the Australian indigenous community for
centuries. Those who have tried them claim they taste like chicken.

Another Australian meal is barbecue meat. Australian weather enables barbecues

most of the year and they are not only done in private gardens, but also in public
places, such as beaches or parks where public barbecues are provided by local
councils. A typical Aussie barbecue consists of sausages, burgers, steak, seafood,
bread, fresh vegetables and sauces and it is not surprising to eat kangaroo meat at
these kinds of events. Kangaroo meat is particularly high in protein and very low in
fat, which makes it a very healthy alternative for pork or beef. It can be prepared in
many ways and steaks, burgers and sausages are the most typical products made of
kangaroo meat