Weekly family ration in different countries of the world (21 photos). What is good for a Russian: how Russian traditions in food are useful

For our ancestors, nothing was simpler than a steamed turnip; for our contemporaries, nothing is more difficult than it. The primordially Russian root crop has long become an outcast in its homeland. Our children do not know its taste, and we hardly remember. Turnips cannot be found on supermarket shelves, only enthusiasts plant them in summer cottages, and only nostalgic citizens ask in the markets. White cabbage, plums and dill are also not in favor: they seem too primitive to us, and we do not hesitate to exchange them for broccoli, nectarine and arugula. National dishes inspire not only boredom, but also fear. We don’t eat jelly because we are afraid of cholesterol, we don’t cook pancakes because they are too fatty, and we are simply embarrassed to savor lard, because the advocates of a healthy lifestyle will immediately poke a finger at us. But are Russian traditions really more harmful than others?

gastronomic geography

The food habits of any region are formed primarily by the climate. Our ancestors ate those plants and those living creatures that they could grow or catch in the vicinity. Recipes were born under the dictation of a cold winter: large-scale preparations of sauerkraut, pickled apples, jam, pickles, dried mushrooms and berries were saved from beriberi.

The basis of the Russian diet in the cellar era was cereals, vegetables and meat. Fish, despite the abundance of rivers, was more often consumed during fasting. In the autumn-winter period, fatty and meat food was in great honor: in the cold, it was necessary to warm up with additional calories. In summer, it was time for dairy products and fresh fruits. The digestive system adapted to the weather schedule, and this age-old mechanism still functions today, despite the fact that vegetables and fruits are already available all year round. But if earlier hard physical labor helped to maintain a figure, today extra pounds prevent us from throwing off laziness and the dampening benefits of civilization.

Our living conditions have improved dramatically over the past century. Surviving in winter is no longer a problem: warm cars and the subway take us to work, central heating and hot water are kept in our apartments. It is no longer necessary to consume fatty foods in the same amount, although some of us do this automatically. However, until global warming defeats the Russian winter, the cold will increase our appetites. At low temperatures, the body, as before, needs more energy, and not only for body movements, but also for the functioning of internal organs and the digestion process itself. The fat layer in the winter should grow, and fluctuations of 1-3 kilograms during the year are considered the norm. You need to throw off the ballast in the gym or, with the onset of spring, go to lift virgin soil.

Fasting is an integral part of the life of Orthodox Christians. Since the period of abstinence from fast food does not last long, it will not harm a healthy person. The main thing is not to forget about vegetable proteins, and eat fish on allowed days.

Own vs someone else's

Taste preferences are formed by more than one climate. The concept of "middle lane" is highly extensible, because it includes most of Europe. Take, for example, the Czech Republic, where it is customary to serve soups exclusively pureed, and order dumplings instead of the usual pasta, vegetables or potatoes as a side dish for meat. Unusual. For dessert, they will bring a cake, but you will have to wait a long time for tea: if you want to drink, if you please, there is a bottle of mineral water on the table. Not typical. In Germany, pork is eaten with beans. It will be hard! We get used not only to products grown in our area, but also to their bizarre combinations.

However, in the era of the world economy and wide transport corridors, we are captivated by international temptations. What is better: to eat familiar foods or overseas curiosities? After all, man is an omnivore, and if the Chinese eat grasshoppers, the French eat snails, and the Thais eat durian, why are we worse? There is no single answer to these questions. On the one hand, we digest our own cuisine better than someone else's. Our body has been adapting to traditional food for centuries. For familiar foods and dishes, a strictly measured amount of enzymes (protein substances that break down food) is produced, which have a certain activity. Everything is adjusted so that they are enough.

Any new ingredients and their unusual combinations can lead the digestive system to a dead end. If, due to inexperience, she does not produce enough enzymes, the experiment will end in intestinal upset. That is why the average Russian stomach does not rejoice at a trip to Mexico or Thailand. In our area, there was no need for spices that prolong the shelf life of products in the heat, so spicy food is too tough for us. The Japanese custom of eating raw fish can also cause violent protest. Nutritionists do not advise to indulge in all gastronomic serious: it is better to listen to your body and not choke on sushi, because it is fashionable.

The products of our latitudes also have advantages. They are not inferior in nutritional value to exotic ones: they contain no less vitamins, nutrients and fiber. We are accustomed to their taste, and if we buy potatoes, zucchini or strawberries from Europe or Turkey, our varieties seem to us tastier. But, on the other hand, eating only the gifts of our region is not entirely correct. In Moscow, the Moscow region and many other regions of the country, there is a deficiency of many useful substances, such as iodine, which leads to thyroid diseases. Fruits and vegetables grown on other soils, as well as seafood, seaweed, algae, help us maintain a vitamin and mineral balance.

The most difficult thing for a person is adapting to new food, and not to a 50-degree frost or strange customs. When moving to another country, the digestive system always has the final say. If local food and water are not digested, it is better to return to your homeland.

Russian standard

Of course, not all Russian dishes are healthy. Some can only be eaten on major holidays as an exception, while others are best abandoned forever. However, it is better not to abolish the three drinking rituals invented by great-grandfathers. The tradition of eating soup at first stretches from the distant past.

Nutritionists confirm: stews contain extractive substances that help, without harm to the body, start the production of enzymes and hormones involved in the digestion process and prepare the gastrointestinal tract for taking large amounts of food. Snacks that are popular in all countries have a similar effect, but not all of them are useful. To stimulate the appetite, it is customary to eat radishes, pickled tomatoes, pickles or salted fish. The problem is that these products irritate the stomach lining and can cause gastritis, and the soup is completely harmless. Of the stews, it is worth giving preference to light or vegetarian ones, and you should refrain from fatty, rich ones.

The second custom, which, by the way, is inherent in all the national cuisines of the world, prescribes mixing different products in one sitting. In Russia, for many centuries, meat and fish have been eaten with potatoes and they certainly eat bread, and pies are stuffed with whatever comes to mind. And it is right. Our gastrointestinal tract and enzyme system are set up to digest mixed food. The body expects that at one time we will feed it with proteins, and carbohydrates, and fats, and the maximum amount of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that we need every day in certain doses. The replicated theory of separate nutrition, which came to us from the West, can greatly harm health. Chyme (food gruel) is absorbed into the blood only when it becomes close to it in composition. This means that, no matter what incomplete food we eat, our body will add all the most important missing substances (proteins, zinc, iron, vitamins, etc.) from its depots. If the strategic reserve is used up without good reason, the metabolism will be disturbed.

The ancient rite to end the meal with compote or tea is also a matter of criticism. After watching smart programs about a healthy lifestyle and having heard a lot of polar opinions, it is no longer clear whether it is possible to drink drinks after a meal at all? Experts explain: the liquid in the stomach does not linger, and immediately after consumption, it flows down a special chute (small curvature of the stomach) into the duodenum, in no way interfering with the process of splitting solid food. It is better to choose a drink slightly sweetened, for example, berry juice or dried fruit compote. We should get joy from every banquet, and glucose just stimulates the production of endorphins.

5 myths about "Russian" products

Aspic

Aspic of meat and fish is very useful, and for everyone, sick and healthy. Aspic contains chondroitin sulfates - substances necessary for building joints and ligaments. The only caveat: all the fat that forms during the cooking of the broth and, as it solidifies, on the surface of the jelly, must be removed.

Buckwheat

In Soviet times, this cereal was a scarce commodity: it was given out on coupons to people suffering from diabetes. The halo of prohibition and eliteness in the popular mind has turned buckwheat into a panacea for many diseases, although this is not so. Groats are rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, iron, but cereals, like all other classes of products, should be alternated.

Potato

The popular love for the overseas tuber was due to the long shelf life. Today it is not worth neglecting it, but also abusing it. Potatoes have a lot of starch (fast carbohydrate), and therefore calories. You can use the root crop 1-2 times a week in boiled or baked form. Fried potatoes soaked in oil are solid fat: there are no useful components left in it.

Horseradish and mustard

Like other seasonings, these were invented in order to make dishes tastier. Horseradish and mustard increase appetite by stimulating the production of enzymes and hydrochloric acid in the stomach, so it is better for obese people to refuse them. In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, they are contraindicated.

Vodka

According to WHO estimates, 10 ml of absolute alcohol every other day is useful for everyone without exception. Any alcohol in such doses dilates blood vessels, increases appetite and activates metabolism. As for vodka, domestic nutritionists are allowed to use 50 ml each without harm to health. If you exceed the dose, acetaldehyde will be released - a substance that destroys all organs, and not one liver.

Food accompanies all important events in human life and is an integral part of our life. There are centuries-old traditions associated with food. In Russia, for example, special importance has always been attached to cordiality, hospitality and the ability to cook well. Let's remember the good old traditions and talk about the modern culture of eating in haste.

The modern eating routine is different from that practiced by our ancestors. In particular, pies were served first, then the main dishes (meat, poultry, fish) and at the end of the meal - soups, after which you could try dessert. Even if any of these dishes were missing, lunch could not be canceled under any circumstances, because the root of the word "lunch" indicates that this is the main meal of the day.

The dining table for a Russian person has also always been on a special account and was not perceived as an ordinary piece of furniture. Eating was supposed to take place in complete silence, because it was no coincidence that the proverb “When I eat, I am deaf and dumb” appeared. In our time, this rule has already been forgotten, like many traditions in the culture of food. One of the characteristic features of Russian cuisine was the use of forest products, especially nuts, berries and mushrooms. These traditions have been preserved in the villages to this day, but wild berries and mushrooms are present on the menu of residents of megacities only in the form of jam or pickles.

Meat in Russian cuisine was not considered a main dish until the 17th century - fish dishes were much more often prepared. This was also explained by the fact that there were many fasting days in the calendar, when it was forbidden to cook and eat meat dishes. Salted, dried and dried fish was one of the most favorite dishes, but gradually meat was included in the diet - hunted (game) or livestock meat (slaughter). The traditional alcoholic drink was and remains vodka, without which not a single festive table can do. Since ancient times, Russians have retained the tradition of drinking vodka not in small sips, but in one gulp, but the very attitude towards public drunkenness today is not as loyal as in the days of boyar Rus'. Previously, everyone was required to get drunk at a party (or at least pretend to be drunk) in order to respect the hosts, but today in a decent society this is considered a violation of all ethical and cultural norms of behavior. From time immemorial, kvass was considered the second most popular drink in Rus', which should have been present in every home, regardless of the social status of the owners. Kvass in the house was considered a sign of well-being, and going to the field or other hard work, the peasants invariably took a jug of kvass with them, as this drink quickly restored strength.

Borrowing dishes from other cultures and traditions was practiced as early as the 18th century, and to this day this process is ongoing. If we make a short digression into the past, then at first ground meat dishes (cutlets, casseroles, pates, rolls) and soups of European cuisine began to come into use. It was in the 18th century that it became fashionable to bring overseas chefs and include dishes unusual for a Russian person in the menu - mainly from German, French, English and Dutch cuisine. Over time, salads have acquired the status of independent dishes, and sandwiches with butter, cheese, sausage or ham have become almost universal for breakfast.

In our daily life, eating is of paramount importance, because not only our vital activity and health, but also our mood and inner self-awareness depend on nutrition. However, it is precisely today that the food culture comes to the fore, as there are many ways to replace a meal with a quick meal or eat unusual food, forgetting about the traditions that have been formed over the centuries.

Medicine has proven that eating rough and poor-quality food can cause diseases of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract (gastric ulcer and gastritis, diabetes), allergic reactions and the appearance of excess weight are not rare. According to the results of 14-year observations of English scientists, published in the British Medical Journal, fast food lovers are more likely to suffer from atherosclerosis and coronary disease.

Fast food does not contain anything useful. His goal is to quickly satisfy his hunger, and he does it very well, because it is high in calories and rich in cholesterol and fats - hence the “secret” of instant saturation with it. And in order for “fast food” to bring, in addition to satisfying hunger, pleasure, a large amount of food additives, spices, and various sauces are added to it without sparing. In general, there is nothing useful in such food. In addition to this, regular non-compliance with the temperature regime for storing finished products (pizzas, hamburgers, shawarma, hot dogs) and violation of the deadlines for their implementation - and a very terrible picture emerges.

The main difference between homemade food is that it is made with love. It is love that makes food really healthy, nutritious and right for our mind, body and soul. It is widely believed that mother's food is the best. Probably because we associate food from childhood with reliability and comfort when we grow up. Also, undoubtedly, cohesion is considered an important argument in favor of home cooking. In order for the family to be happy, all family members are simply required to gather at a common table at least once a day.

The word "Etiquette" is known in every country. But everywhere there are customs and features that have been formed over many centuries. And in each country they have acquired their own characteristic nuances inherent in culture, communication traditions and many other outlines.

Remember! The main rule in another country is to behave there like a guest, respect the hosts, be polite and delicate at the reception, as well as adequately represent your homeland.

England

A country that surprises with strict observance of traditions and rules. And it’s not for nothing that the concept of “Real Gentleman” was born here.

The rules of conduct at the table are very important for the British, so they must be carefully studied before going to visit.

It is not customary to address the neighbors at the table until you are introduced to each other.

It is impolite to whisper at the table, the conversation should be common for everyone. Also, you can’t put your hands on the table, it’s customary to keep them on your knees.
Knives and forks are not removed from the plate, as there are no special stands for them.

Do not transfer dining utensils from hand to hand. The English don't like it. Remember, fork in the left, knife in the right hand. And the ends of the devices are directed to the plate.

Mandatory observance of the dress code. At dinner, this is a tuxedo, and at an official reception, a tailcoat.

An invitation to a cup of tea in England is not accepted, the hosts may take this as a personal insult. After tea drinking, they are sent a small note with pleasant words of gratitude.

Germany

Punctuality, discipline, pedantry and frugality - these qualities characterize the Germans well. They clearly follow the instructions and rules, as well as the rules of etiquette at the table.

When talking, it is customary to call the title of a person.

If the reception takes place, for example, in a restaurant, then everyone present, even strangers, should be wished a bon appetit.

It is customary to keep your hands above the table, even if you do not eat.

Cutlery crossed on a plate indicates that the meal is not yet finished. And the knife and fork to the right of the plate signal that the dishes can be removed.

In Germany, it is not customary to start eating or drinking until everyone has received their meals.

A waiter in a restaurant is required to leave a tip, most often 10% of the total bill.

Since the Germans distinguish between business and family life, having received an invitation to visit means that you have entered the circle of trust.

Being late for a visit is indecent. For the Germans, respect for their time and daily routine is very important.

It is indecent to come to visit empty-handed. You can bring sweets or flowers. But when choosing alcohol, you need to be careful. The bottle of wine can be seen as a nod to the owner's small wine cellar.

All meals are held strictly according to the scheduled hours. Depending on what time you are invited, this will be a treat. Brought gifts, as a rule, are opened immediately.

The oldest person sits at the table first. And the owner of the house begins the meal.

France

The French are famous for their refined manners, elegance and sophistication. The same applies to the rules of etiquette. To receive an invitation to visit from a Frenchman is a manifestation of great respect and respect. They invite only close people to their house.

One of the most important rules is the ban on discussing money matters. This is considered rude. It is customary to talk about abstract topics.

Also, it is not customary to be late for lunch, you can stay for a maximum of 15 minutes.

They themselves are engaged in seating the guests, as a rule, the ladies are seated between two men. And they, according to etiquette, look after her all evening.

By the way, street shoes are not removed. Caring for the cleanliness of the floors, the problem of the hostess of the house.

In France, it is customary to keep your hands above the table. In their understanding, a person who hides his hands is hiding something.

Before a meal, the French offer a glass of champagne or wine as an aperitif.

French cuisine is the subject of their national pride, so they take any praise of dishes with a bang.

In France, it is customary to finish the meal completely. But if you want to salt or season food, this can be perceived as an insult.

There are a lot of cutlery on the table, and since the dishes are served in turn, the meal should be started by taking distant cutlery from the plate. Nearby remain for subsequent dishes.

It is the same with wine glasses, a certain alcoholic drink is served for each dish.

Interesting! Bread in France must be torn into small pieces and eaten, in no case bite into a large slice.

Cheese is served after the main course. According to the rules of French etiquette, it must be put on a plate, and only then on toast.

Dessert in France is served without tea and coffee.

At the very end of the meal, strong alcoholic drinks are offered, which indicates that it is time and honor to know and go home.

Japan

When meeting Japanese, it is customary to exchange business cards. Having studied the business card, the Japanese will determine your status in relation to his own and choose a course of action.

At the entrance to the house, it is customary to take off your shoes, and instead of shaking hands, bow low. It is impossible to be late for an appointment with the Japanese, this is extreme disrespect.

Before the start of the meal, a hot, damp oshibori towel is served. They wipe their hands and face.
Before you start eating, you must definitely say “Itadakimas”, this word means “bon appetit”.

Important! In Japan, you cannot sit cross-legged, which means that you are not interested in the thoughts and conversations of the interlocutor.

Passing food with chopsticks is not allowed, as well as sticking them vertically into food, these gestures are reminiscent of a funeral procession in Japan.

Chopsticks must be handled with care, do not wave them, do not point them at people. For the Japanese, how you handle chopsticks is an indicator of culture.

Surprisingly, loud champing in Japan is by no means a sign of bad manners, as they express their admiration and respect for the cook. Therefore, do not be surprised when you hear a sonorous champing, the louder it is, the better the dish.

By the way, the soup can be drunk directly from the plate without using a tablespoon.

Be careful with alcoholic drinks, empty glasses are filled immediately, so it’s better not to drink to the bottom.

At the end of the meal, you need to thank the owners of the house or the chef of the restaurant. Silently leaving the table is considered a rule of bad taste.

It is not customary to tip waiters in Japan.

And finally

Etiquette in Greece allows the host of the feast to stain the tablecloth so that the guests can feel cheerful and at ease.

In Eastern countries, you can not eat with your left hand, it is considered unclean. Dinner usually takes place on lush pillows on the floor, dishes are displayed right in front of the guests. If cutlery is not served, then the food must be eaten with your hands. And also you can not cross your legs, showing the soles of your shoes, it is considered offensive.

In Portugal, you can't ask for a salt shaker. Their chefs believe that they cook perfectly, there is no need to add salt or pepper anymore. Such a desire of the client will offend them very much.

In Ethiopia, they eat from the same plate. And food from a plate to another is shifted with the help of hands. To soil cutlery for this purpose is considered wasteful.

In the United States, when asked to serve salt, you need to give pepper to the person along with it, although he did not ask for it.

In Switzerland, they don't clink glasses at the table. They simply raise their glasses up without connecting them to each other.

Lunch in Spain does not require punctuality. In addition, the guests will not wait until the hostess puts the dish on the plates, they themselves will take the desired piece. And if you don't like the food, they will say so directly.

Lunch in Italy can last up to 5 hours. Italians are very fond of long gatherings. And they usually eat the famous spaghetti with a fork, grated cheese must be served separately.

In China, the most famous ceremony is tea drinking. It is held in a separate room, everyone sits around a small table and drinks tea from special cups. Tea is brewed according to old recipes. During the ceremony, small talk is held.

In Georgia, it is not customary to drink wine slowly, only in one gulp and to the bottom.

In Thailand, the fork is used as an auxiliary element. It is only used to put food on a spoon.

For many nations, a meal is not just a way to satisfy hunger and provide the body with the energy necessary for life, but also a whole ritual, a beautiful act, akin to sacred. The traditions of such eating of food often go back to ancient times, when obtaining food was associated with significant difficulties and depended on weather conditions. In countries with a difficult climate, whose inhabitants knew firsthand what hunger is, food is treated with trepidation and should be revered. Hence the traditions of its serving and eating, which furnish this process in a festive and elegant way.

Let's talk about the most interesting of them.

The inhabitants of this country believe that the art of cooking was given to people by the gods. And the Indians have every reason to think so, because the cuisine of this people is bizarre and varied. It is based on unchanged rice, fruits and a large number of spices. Food is served here not on separate plates, but on a common dish. As a rule, this is a large round tray, symbolizing the sun, which gives life to all living things. Made of copper or stainless steel, it is often a real piece of handicraft art, one look at which can give aesthetic pleasure.

In the center of the tray there is always boiled rice, and on the edges are metal cups for each of the dishes served, prepared mainly from dried fruits, fruits and nuts. Meat is almost non-existent in India. But they eat a lot of cereals, milk and dairy products. There are also many strict vegetarians here who do not even eat milk and dairy products.

It is also interesting that no cutlery is used in India. There are no spoons, no forks, no sticks traditional for eastern peoples. Of course, modern Indians are gradually Europeanizing and acquiring appropriate cutlery for their homes, but in villages, only fingers are still used as such. Therefore, on the table near each person there is certainly a bowl of water so that they can be washed.

England

The word dinner in the strict sense is translated as lunch, but its time is completely unusual for us, because it comes at 19.00. The thing is that before dinner in England began at the appointed time, but during the eighteenth century the cherished hour shifted more and more towards evening. To reach it, the British first came up with their famous lunch, and then, not satisfied with it, Five o'clock Tea (a five-hour snack hour).

Of course, all these strictness and conventions seem a little strange to us, but the inhabitants of foggy Albion are known for their adherence to traditions, so for them the time of eating is sacred and unshakable.

Indonesia

One of the original Indonesian traditions is the tradition of serving a set meal (Raistafel), which originates during the colonial history of this country. In some ways, it resembles the Indian meal described above. In any case, it is also customary here to put an impressive portion of rice in the center of the table. Around it are already placed bowls with other numerous (sometimes up to several dozen) dishes.

The main feature of the Reistafel is the mixture of gastronomic traditions. An Indonesian lunch includes both national dishes (mixed vegetables, shrimp, sate skewers, egg roll, etc.) and European dishes (beef chops, fried potato slices and even pork, which, as you know, Muslims do not eat).

Japan

Japan is an amazing country. Extremely exotic and very attractive to Europeans. But it is a special happiness for them to get to a traditional Japanese meal, so carefully adjusted and ritualized to the smallest detail that it may well seem magical to people who are used to eating hastily and on the run.

In principle, this feeling is not far from the truth, because eating in Japan is really akin to a sacred ceremony. Everything is important here! Even the table setting, which involves the alternation of round and square dishes of different, but always dark, colors. Since rice is the basis of Japanese cuisine, just imagine how impressive it looks on a black plate.

The Japanese are very sensitive to the observance of the rules for serving dishes. Each is served on a separate plate. It is strictly forbidden to mix products! A Japanese meal is full of many different dishes, but they are all served in very small portions, so it is difficult to overeat.

An indispensable part of the Japanese dinner, in addition to, of course, rice is soup, which is usually served in two forms. In addition, guests are also offered at least five different snacks. And no "nails of the program." The main dish of the Japanese does not exist, as they consider each of those eaten a small culinary masterpiece.

According to the inhabitants of the country of the Rising Sun, food should bring pleasure. And we absolutely agree with them on this!

There are many peoples and cultures in the world, but you definitely won’t confuse the English with anyone! Although they are considered to be cold-blooded, reserved and prim, in fact, they are friendly, accommodating and very fond of sports. An interesting combination, isn't it? So let's learn more about the customs and traditions of the English, because when studying English, it is important to understand how these people live and breathe.

The British - who are they, what are they?

The British are naturally polite and never get tired of saying “Please” and “Thank you”. They are disciplined and will not talk loudly in the street. They don't push around to get a seat on the bus or train and queue up at the bus stop. The British do not shake hands when meeting. They try not to show emotions in public even in tragic circumstances. They do not lose their temper and remain optimistic in difficult situations.

The British are a nation of homebodies. They say: “My house is my fortress” and do not like neighbors to interfere in their lives. The British prefer small single-family houses. The fireplace is the heart of the English home. While residents of other countries go to cafes or cocktail bars in the evenings, the British prefer to gather in the living room and sit by the fire, discussing the events of the past day. In many houses, you can still find fireplaces today, sometimes with columns on the sides and an upper shelf where there is a clock, a mirror or family photos.

The British love gardening and love to talk about it. They can discuss how to grow cucumbers or talk about their unique flower garden, so different from the rest. Sometimes the British grow plants in a box outside the kitchen window or in the back garden. They are very fond of flowers.

Also, the British are very fond of animals. There are about five million dogs in the entire population, about the same number of cats, three million parrots, other birds and aquarium fish - as well as a million exotic animals, such as reptiles. In Britain, there are special shops that sell food, clothing and other items for dogs. There are dog groomers, gyms and cemeteries. In Britain, on behalf of animals, Christmas cards and birthday greetings are sent. Owners can buy expensive collars, woolen coats, lace dresses, pajamas, and so on for animals. There are special hotels for pets at airports. The British believe that they are the only nation that cares so much about animals.

On weekends, those who live in large cities like to go out into nature. Every Englishman loves to spend time in a country house with a garden and rose bushes by the porch - in the fresh air, away from the hustle and bustle, in peace and quiet.

Those who stay at home try to do all the things that they did not have time to do in a week. Someone goes shopping on Saturday morning, someone does the housework - laundry and cleaning. Someone attends sporting events or goes in for sports themselves.

Saturday night is a good time for parties, dancing, going to the cinema or theater.

On Sunday after breakfast, the English work in the garden, walk the dog, visit the pub. On Sundays, it is customary to invite friends and relatives for tea.

British food traditions

There are also some traditions regarding food. English cuisine is solid, simple and nutritious. The British prefer a hearty breakfast. It may consist of oatmeal, bacon and eggs, fried fish, toast with jam, tea or coffee. They prefer cold toast. As a rule, breakfast is the same from day to day.

Tea is an integral part of British life, like potatoes or bread. There is even a saying: "Seven cups of tea will help you wake up, nine cups will help you fall asleep."

The daily meal is called lunch. On weekdays, meat stew, fried fish, chops, liver, sausages, and vegetables can be served. Rice and pasta are rarely eaten by the British. Dessert is apple pie or hot milk pudding. Sunday lunch is a special occasion. It is served with beef or lamb tenderloin with vegetables, and then a large pudding with custard. From 4 to 6 pm - tea time, which is called "5 o "clock". At this time, they drink tea with cakes or small sandwiches. In a sense, this is a whole ritual. For the sake of tea drinking, all other affairs are postponed.