Hello across the Channel!

[ChasonetteH]

This is about different culture/dining habits and repasts in the various areas of GB and other English speaking countries.
Would anyone be "thrilled" to assist me? I will be eternally grateful.;)

I was asked to be a voluntary substitute for the English teacher at an adult-class for conversational English.
I observed that the last time they learned about the different happenings during the day (e.g. get up, shower, breakfast, go to work and so on...).
The way it was set out appeared a bit boring.
My idea is to tickle their interest by talking about the different cultures and habits in connection with meals, festivities and so on.
For instance - how do people in different areas of GB and other English speaking countries call their meals (e.g. breakfast, brunch, elevenses, lunch, tea, supper, dinner etc....). At what time are they usually taken during the day/weekend etc.)
What are traditional meals for everyday, holidays etc.
I tought of continuing at the next lesson with the habits associated with Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, as they are not too far off - what are the traditional meals and customs relating to those festivities... .
OK, I stop...,thank you sooooo much!

[Twirls]

OK ... where I come from (a small farming village in North Yorkshire) we have:

Breakfast - usually around 8 a.m. but depends on work timing. Usually cooked (bacon or egg during the week) and cereal

Dinner - usually around 12 o' clock - this is often the main meal of the day

Tea - around 5.30 p.m. - a lighter meal than dinner

In between we have drinkings - about 10 a.m. and again about 3 p.m. Drinkings, I think, is a unique word to this part of Yorkshire (but I'd be delighted to be corrected). Morning drinkings usually consist of a drink (coffee / tea) and a sandwich and afternoon is usually a drink and a bun or a scone or similar.

Supper is often an apple and/or a bit of cheese (or similar) and a drink and had just before bed time.

[EEZABLADE32]

Hi what a wonderful idea.
Meals from day to night:-
Breakfast 0600 to 0900
Elevenses 1100
Brunch if first meal of the day
Dinner 1200 1400
Tea 1600 1800
Supper 2100 2200
Habits:-
halloween- turnips with candles in, witches costumes
Thanksgiving - no celebration in UK
Christmas - parties, family, drinks, pub, turkey, roat pork, Christmas pudding

[cathfromsaron]

don't forget fireworks on novemeber 5th!!!!

good ideas xx

[cathfromsaron]

*november

[Twirls]

... and parkin while you're standing round the bonfire as well

[Twirls]

what about Easter - one time in Brugges, I came down to breakfast to find a chocolate egg waiting for me - Yum! Not sure chocolate eggs have to be eaten for breakfast but they are traditional in the UK for Easter.

... and we have pancakes on Shrove Tuesday (aka pancake day)

[didoatwork]

our family have our main meal of the day in the evening - usually hot food. In summer it might be a salad and a pudding. In winter it might start with soup, main course and a pudding.
Breakfast is usually just cereal and/or toast. Occasionally porridge.
Midday for the workers is sandwiches and fruit.

[LoftyLottie]

Breakfast at our house is either cereal or toast - generally not eaten together and at any time between 7.30 and 10.30!

Lunch can take place at any time between 1.00 and 3.30pm and is just something light, like a sandwich with a salad or something on toast.

We always eat our main meal in the evening between 7.00 and 9.00pm and rarely have a sweet or a pudding.

No other meals, but, for me, at least, chocolate or cheese breaks as the need arises.

(Working husband and retired wife (me))

[LoftyLottie]

Oh, and not forgetting, cups of tea galore on and off from morning until bedtime - milk in his and black for me.

[boxtops]

Breakfast
Elevenses
Lunch
Tea in the evening is an informal meal
Having a sit down meal at the table is Dinner

[rsvp]

I live in the extreme SE of England.
Breakfast 6.30/7ish - porrige and fruit then coffee.
fruit snack about 10.30/11ish
lunch around 12.30 - something quite light, toasted sandwhich and salad or poached eggs on toast and usually yoghurt.
Have a snack at about 4.40ish, cheese and biscuits and fruit
then dinner about 6.30/7ish - steamed fish and veggies, stir fry that sort of thing followed by more fruit and yoghurt usually.
Lots of rooibos tea with honey and ginger throughout the day.
Often red wine in the evenings and cup of Ovaltine made with milk at bedtime.

[webbo3]

bonsoir Chassonette.

Ihave breakfast at about 7am normally Greek yogurt with fresh fruit and some honey.

Dinner is a roll at about 1pm.

Tea is at about 7pm and could be anything.

After tea a few pints of Guiness.


Dave.

[boxtops]

where do you live, rsvp? I thought I was in the extreme SE!

[rsvp]

not far from Rye

[boxtops]

Ha, I'm along the coast from you, in Dover :-)

[LoftyLottie]

Also call our main meal in the evening Dinner.

[rsvp]

well hello neighbour (boxtops) :-)))

[ChasonetteH]

Good Evening and thank you so much for all the helpful infos so far. Lots of healthy food there too...
Shrove Tuesday and Bonfire - what is the meaning behind that please?

[didoatwork]

Bonfire Night is celebrated on 5 Nov every year. It reminds us of the Gun Powder plot when a long time ago Guy Fawkes and his gang tried to blow up the House of Parliament. He was hung drawn & quartered. We celebrate with bonfires and fireworks and bonfire toffee.
Shrove Tuesday is before Easter (a religious festival) when everyone uses all the good food in the house before lent, 40 days of fasting before Easter. Someone will correct me if I am a bit wrong with the details.

[askyourgran]

Webbo please define roll for our neighbour across the channel. It is a regional word for a bread cake or bread roll or a bap. A roll in the hay is something else.