What does being British mean?
The British are perceived to be rather cold stanch people. However,in the past they tended to deal with emotions in a personal and dignified manner and not by public display (stiff upper lip type stuff) after all they survived two world wars as victors and the second all but destroyed the country. The British people are as varied in mannerism and amount of etiquette as any other people. The picture that has been displayed to the world is that of the Victorian era, and of the Royals. Personally I have found the British people I have met, to be charming and having a wonderful dry sense or humor. They have been kind, generous and not all that formal. The one area that there are some seemingly unbending traditions is afternoon tea, which of those who don’t know is an afternoon pick-me-up (snack) between lunch and supper. Of course formal teas have more “rules” and include more of a social element, but it is still a snack between meals.