i. Social customs:

1. Time

- Britons are time conscious → punctuality → impolite to arrive a few mins late.

- Tips:

+ Dinner, lunch, appointments – exact time

+ Teas, receptions, cocktail parties – any time during hours specified

+ Public meetings – a few mins early

2. Invitations

- Written invitation with “RSVP” – respond to confirm whether attend or not.

- When invited, give a gift to the host. After the visit, send a thank-you note or telephone call.

3. Dress

- Casual dress → appropriate for most visits to people’s homes.

- Dress formally for formal events.

4. Introduction & greeting

- First meet:      + a handshake

+ avoid physical contact with strangers

+ keep minimum physical distance

5. Dining

- When invited to a dinner, if have any dietary restrictions, tell the host.

- Guests wait for everyone at the table to be served before beginning to eat.

6. Terms of endearment ( how people are addressed )

- May be called by many different “affectionate” name ( dear, dearie, love, chick, chuck, etc. )

- Older generations: expect to be called by their last names

- Young generations: first name used – or own first initial & surname on envelopes

7. Travel

- Give up seat to passenger less able than them when travelling on public transport.

- Transport is usually late.

- Carry umbrellas during ¾ of the year.

8. Births

- Baby shower: a celebration at which gifts are given for an unborn baby → celebrate pregnancy.

- When born, babies are dressed in typical blue & pink.

9. Conversation

- Begin with reference to the weather.

- Topics should be avoided: age, appearance or weight, money, sex, politics, religions, criticism, etc.

10. Tipping

- Restaurant or café, taxi: 10%

- Hairdresser’s, Hotel: a small tip ( 1,2 pound )

II. DO’S & DON’T  ( TABOOS )

DO’S

DON’T

- Stand in line

- Take hat off when go indoors

- Say “Excuse me”, “Please”, “Thank you”, “Sorry”

- Pay as you go

- Cover your mouth

- Smile

- Drive on the left side of the road

- Open doors for other people

- Have equal respect

- Don’t greet people with a kiss

- Don’t talking loudly in public

- Don’t stare at anyone in public

- Don’t ask a lady’s age

- Don’t pick nose in public

- Don’t use gestures such as backslapping & hugging

- Don’t burp in public

- Don’t pass wind in public

- Don’t speak with mouth full of food

- Don’t ask personal questions

- Don’t eat off a knife when having a meal

III. Eating manner

Things should do

Things should not do

  - Can’t eat a type of food/have special needs

→ tell the host before the party

- Wait until the host starts eating

- Chew and swallow the food before taking more

- Say thank you

- May eat with fingers in informal settings

- Break off rolls

- Putting money on the plate

- Finish eating: place your knife, fork together on the plate, with the prongs on the fork facing upward

- Lick or put your knife in your mouth

   - Start eating before everyone

- Chew with an opened mouth, talk with food in your mouth

- Put elbows on the table while eating

- Put too much food in your mouth