Faces People, Places, and World Culture for Kids and Children September 2015

THE UNITED KINGDOM is made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each of these countries has its own history and traditions. Here are five facts about the U.K. to get your started on your tour. 1. The flag of the United Kingdom is made up of symbols important to its members. Called the Union Flag or Union Jack, it combines England’s cross of St. George, a red cross on a white background; Scotland’s cross of St. Andrew, a diagonal white cross on a blue background; and Ireland’s diagonal red cross on a white background. 2. Toad-in-the-hole, bubble and squeak, Welsh rarebit . . . the foods of the United Kingdom have odd names! From fish and chips to haggis, the cuisine is just as varied as the people…

FAMOUS FOXES The Master sounds his horn and he and his hounds bound off on the hunt. Once the hounds pick up the scent, they trail it until the fox finds an underground den for protection or the hounds wear him out and overtake him for the kill. The chase requires great speed through thick undergrowth. A rider needs to be skilled in racing and jumping obstacles such as brooks, logs, and brush. His horse must be in excellent physical condition, as well. This description shows what an exciting sport foxhunting was in 19th century Great Britain. In fact, the fox has been a famous figure in British culture for centuries. Countless stories feature the cunning fox, such as Aesop’s “The Fox and the Crow,” in which the clever fox…

And why, if you call a native English speaker from Wales English, will he or she correct you faster — much faster, actually — than you can say Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll› llantysiliogogogoch, the name of a village on the Welsh island of Anglesey? The differences between the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and the British Isles can be confusing at first, but figuring them out makes it much easier to understand the relationships between people living in this fascinating part of the world. When you look at the map on page 4, you’ll see two islands. The large island, called Great Britain, has three countries on it: England, Scotland, and Wales. The small island has two countries: Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Together, these two islands are called the British Isles.…

Food in the United Kingdom can sound stodgy, especially when compared to the world-famous cuisine of France, the exotic dishes of India, or Southern soul food. Some dishes just sound strange, like “toad-in-the-hole.” Cakes are called puddings, puddings are custards, salad dressing is really “cream,” and chips are crisps! Yet the fare goes far beyond breakfast fry ups, high teas, and pub grub. From hand-held Cornish pasties to mouth-watering Irish stews, from Scotland’s ancient haggis to England’s newspaper-wrapped fish n’ chips, U.K. cuisine is delicious, sometimes odd, and yes, yummy! Scotland Scotland is known for many things — castles and clans, the Highlands and Loch Ness, and of course, parritch and haggis! Both porridge and haggis were inspired by the needs of roaming cattle drovers. Stirred with a special spoon…

Royal feasts during the Tudor era (1400s–1500s) were ostentatious affairs, often consisting of eight courses! Entrées were fashioned into towers of crowns and decorated with exotic feathers. Bowls overflowed with cheeses and fruit, including berries, damsons, apricots, and grapes. Thick slices of bread were used as plates, called trenchers. There was an appalling lack of vegetables and an over-abundance of ale. In fact, enough ale was consumed every year by Henry VIII’s court to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool! The royal kitchens served more than 1,200 oxen, 8,200 sheep, 2,300 deer, and 53 wild boar annually. Not to mention peacocks, cygnets, and other game! Heaps of seafood was enjoyed too, including porpoise, seal, and even whale! Dessert platters always followed, loaded with everything from marmalade pies and animal-shaped pastries, to…

Toad-in-the-hole for breakfast or maybe some black pudding…a hearty helping of tatties and neeps or maybe a steaming bowl of haggis….chips or crisps for a snack… decisions, decisions. No, you’re not going barmy, mate! You’re just glancing at a menu from the United Kingdom. Will you be full of beans at the end of this quiz because you’re brill, or cheesed off, and gormy because you haven’t a clue? There’s only one way to find out who takes the biscuit! 1. Haggis is made with: A) Ground beef and onions B) Sheep’s pluck (liver, heart, and lungs) C) Steak and potatoes D) Pork, garlic, and sheep’s brain Answer: B The pluck, along with oatmeal, onions, and spices, simmers for hours inside a sheep’s intestines. Today, it’s sometimes deep-fried or…