What is Englishness

[Eamonn]

Following up on recent discussions about Portuguese pubs, it made me wonder what is truely identifiable as English ?

Other countries have national costume - I can't think of anything that could be considered 'English costume' except for possibly Morris Dancers, Pearly Kings/Queens, Beefeaters - but these don't really fit into the *national* category (IMO).

And what about food, Spanish have paella, Italy has pizza or pasta, Germany has sausages - what food is immediately identifiable as English? I discount roast beef, since the Romans introduced that into the country, so it's really Italian! Could it be our English dish is fish and chips? Or possible steak and kidney pie?

England is such a mixed group now (and I'm not implying there's anything wrong with that!) and it seems difficult to define 'Englishness'.

Any suggestions?

[BDG]

Today it could probably summed up by the country's desire to drown Swiss referee's:lol:

[baylissboy]

Or the fact that we ALLWAYS lose in a penalty shootout!!!:lol:

[MarkyMark76]

Obese alcoholics.

Do people (foreigners) differentiate between Englishness and britishness....?

[Athelstan]

For the answer to the question posed - "What is Englishness" - may I suggest that those really keen to know would be amply rewarded by reading Peter Ackroyd's book "Albion - The Origins of the English Imagination" published by Chatto & Windus ISBN 1 85619 7212. It's 449 pages of inspirational research that demonstrates what is indeed quintessentially English.

As for the swiss ref - I'm on the case folks and if you hear of a messy accident involving a yellow ST4s - please come and rescue me!!!!

[Steve M]

Marky - she's still there, wonder how long for?

[baylissboy]

What do you mean? She's only riding a rollercoaster,isn't she??:lol:

[TP]

I keep finding myself being distracted by that 'roller coaster riding' girl!

[MarkyMark76]

Indeed, what do you mean?

[mike916]

sends my eyes funny
:bouncy::bouncy::bouncy::bouncy::bouncy:

[Steve M]

I'm still missing the one from Murraymint!:sing:

[dickieducati]

can we get back to this rollercoaster please :D

meant to say a while back how good i thought it was.

got an avatar of when it finishes ? ;)

sorry back to the thread.

[brownrigby]

ENGLISHNESS................................... DISTRACTION by the looks of it!

[kwikbitch]

ENGLISHNESS? No such thing!

If you were really to define it in one word since the Romans it would be ...HOOLIGANISM!

All great nations wouldn't have got anywhere without it!

:P

[Ian]

Englishness?

Island mentality, territorial; get a tiny back garden and first thing we do is slap up a 6' fence around it. This is my land and your not coming in.

And a unique view of forgetting what a mixed race of people we are and claiming that others can't join the party as thre as been some sort of un-written cut off date. Oh and with the Germanic Saxe-Coburgs as our Royal family.

[kwikbitch]

Ian...!:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
So funny...What about the "Keep our pound" campaign?
The one that originates as the Roman "Libre pounde"...

[phillc]

I'd say Englishness is getting your shirt off at the merest hint of sunshine, even if it is still only 20 Deg. C. !! And then of course burning yourself to a crisp (although that can also be easily done on Corfu, Minorca, Rhodes etc etc). :cool:



[Edited on 25-6-2004 by phillc]

[Athelstan]

Guys n Gals - love the latter postings - but if you want a real take on the subject and a sarcastic smile throw in, then go on - read the book I mentioned in my earlier post. You will really enjoy it, and afterwards you will be forever looking in the mirror wondering "am I really like that"