Living and working in the UK: religion, customs and culture

Know about religion in the UK.

1.Religion

According to figures from 2009 Citizenship Survey, 70% of people identified themselves as Christian. Proportion of people identifying themselves as Muslim (4%), Hindu (2%), Sikh (1%), Jewish or Buddhist (both less than 0.5%), and 2% of people followed another religion. 21% no religion.

Christian churches and chapels, Islamic mosques, Hindu temples, Jewish synagogues, Sikh gurdwaras and Buddhist temples.

The law protects your right to follow any religion of your choice and to follow none. You are free to take part in festivals and celebrations associated with other religions, wear clothes (like a hijab) or other items (like a necklace with a crucifix) as part of your religion.

Assessment Criteria

• 1.1

  Identify the faiths most commonly practised in the UK.

• 1.2

  Identify key types of building associated with the most commonly practised religions.

• 1.3

  State the main things that the law says about following a religion in the UK.

Know about customs and traditions in the UK.

Festivals and traditions

Christmas Day, 25th December, celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a public holiday. Many Christians go to church on Christmas Eve (24th December) or on Christmas Day itself. It’s also celebrated by people who are not active Christians and some people from other religions join in all or some of the traditions associated with Christmas.

Advent - calendars.

Traditional Christmas food – turkey, Christmas pudding, mince pies.

Presents, cards, decorations, Christmas trees, carols and Christmas songs.

Father Christmas (also known as Santa Claus).

Many workplaces hold a Christmas party or teams from work go out for a meal or a drink together before Christmas.

Boxing Day is the day after Christmas Day and is a public holiday.

Easter is not on the same date each year but it always takes place in March or April. It marks the death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday and his rising from the dead on Easter Sunday. Both Good Friday and the following Monday, called Easter Monday, are public holidays.

Easter is also celebrated by people who are not religious. ‘Easter eggs’ are chocolate eggs often given as presents at Easter.

Other festivals and traditions:

New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, April Fool’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween, Bonfire Night, Remembrance Sunday.

Birthdays are also celebrated with presents, cards and parties, particularly for children.

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1

  Identify key festivals celebrated in the UK which are linked to Christianity.

• 2.2

  Give examples of ways in which people in the UK celebrate these Christian festivals.

• 2.3

  Identify other significant days in the UK calendar associated with celebrations or traditions.

• 2.4

  State what is meant by ‘bank holiday’.

Know about sport and leisure in the UK.

Sport and leisure

Cricket, rugby, football, golf, tennis, water sports, horse-racing.

Key events/competitions associated with different sports.

Local clubs, groups and facilities, where to watch and where to play, fan clubs, TCV coverage.

Details of an individual sports person: sport they are associated with, events and competitions they are/have engaged in, medals or records.

Common hobbies and pastimes: e.g. gardening, shopping, eating out, going to the cinema, watching TV, looking after pets.

Assessment Criteria

• 3.1

  Identify some of the most popular sports played or watched in the UK.

• 3.2

  Outline how people can get involved in one specific sport in the UK.

• 3.3

  Give details about a specific well-known UK sports person.

• 3.4

  Identify popular ways to spend leisure time in the UK, other than sports.

Know about arts and culture in the UK.

Music, theatre, art, architecture, literature, fashion, film.

Key individuals such as The Beatles, J K Rowling, Kate Moss; key outputs: such as particular albums, books, films or types of film (e.g. James Bond), T.V programmes or types of programme (e.g. soap operas).

Assessment Criteria

• 4.1

  Identify the main areas of arts and culture for which the UK is well-known.

• 4.2

  For a specific aspect of arts and culture, give examples of well-known people and/or achievements.

Know about places of interest in the UK.

National parks, museums, galleries, popular tourist attractions, places and buildings of historical interest.

Specific examples of different places of interest could relate to a relevant geographical area, e.g. in Liverpool: Albert Docks, The Cavern Club, Tate Liverpool, The Walker Art Gallery, Anfield – Liverpool FC’s football stadium or to a personal interest, e.g. walking: Lake District; Peak District; John O’Groats/Land’s End.

Assessment Criteria

• 5.1

  Identify different places in the UK which attract visitors.