新英美概况（第二版） 课件 Chapter Two The People and Their Culture

PARTONETheUnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIrelandPARTONETheUnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIrelandChapterOneTheCountryChapterTwoThePeopleandTheirCultureChapterThreeABriefHistoryoftheUnitedKingdomChapterFourMonarchy,Government,PoliticalPartiesandElectionsChapterFiveLaw,PoliceandMilitaryChapterSixEconomyThePeopleand

TheirCultureChapterTwoChapterTwoThePeopleandTheirCulture1.Population2.EthnicGroups3.Literacy4.Language5.Holidays6.Education7.Sports8.MassMedia1.Population1.Population1.1TotalPopulationandPopulationTrend1.2MainReasonsfortheCurrentPopulationGrowth1.3PopulationDistribution1.4OtherRelatedInformationaboutthePopulationoftheUnitedKingdom1.PopulationTheUnitedKingdomhasthefourthlargestpopulationinEurope(afterRussia,GermanyandFrance),thefifthlargestintheCommonwealth(followingIndia,Pakistan,BangladeshandNigeria),andthe21stlargestintheworld①.1.1TotalPopulationandPopulationTrendThetotalpopulationoftheUnitedKingdom,accordingtothemid-year2022estimatebythecountry’sOfficeforNationalStatistics(ONS),was67.6million(female34,491,000/male33,105,000),anincreaseof6.8%sincemid-2011.AllfourpartsoftheUKsawpopulationincreasesintheperiodbetweenmid-2011andmid-2022.ThehighestpercentageincreasewasinEnglandwherethepopulationincreasedby4million,ariseof7.5%betweenmid-2011andmid-2022.NorthernIrelandsawthenexthighestpercentageincreaseof5.3%,followedbyScotlandat2.8%andWalesat2.2%.1.1TotalPopulationandPopulationTrendTheONSNationalPopulationProjectionsindicatedthat,ifrecenttrendscontinue,overthe15yearsbetweenmid-2021andmid-2036,theUKpopulationisprojectedtogrowby6.6millionpeople;thisincludes541,000morebirthsthandeaths,andnetinternationalmigrationof6.1millionpeople.TheUKpopulationisprojectedtoreach70millionbymid-2026;thisgrowthisfasterthaninthe2020-basedprojectionsreleasedinJanuary2023withtheprojectedincreasemainlyresultingfrominternationalmigration.1.2MainReasonsfortheCurrentPopulationGrowth1.2.1IncreaseinBirthsandDecreaseinDeaths

1.2.2IncreaseinNetInternationalMigrationtotheUK

1.2.3IncreaseinLifeExpectancy

1.2MainReasonsfortheCurrentPopulationGrowthThecurrentpopulationgrowthismainlyduetotheincreaseinbirthsanddecreaseindeaths,totheincreaseinnetinternationalmigrationtotheUK,andtotheincreaseinlifeexpectancy.1.2.1IncreaseinBirthsandDecreaseinDeaths1.2MainReasonsfortheCurrentPopulationGrowthChangesinthenumberofbirthshavebeenamaindriverofnaturalpopulationchangeoverthepastdecade.In2024,thebirthratewasaround10.8per1,000peoplewhilethedeathratewasabout9.2per1,000people,meaningthattheUKhadaverysmallrateofnaturalincrease.Thefertilityratewas1.6livebirthsperwoman.Thecurrentinfantmortalityrateisroughlyaround4.0deathsper1,000livebirths.1.2.1IncreaseinBirthsandDecreaseinDeaths1.2MainReasonsfortheCurrentPopulationGrowthThedecreaseinthenumberofdeathsismainlyduetomedicaladvancesinthetreatmentofmanyillnessesanddiseases,illustratedbythereductioninage-standardizedmortalityratesformanycausesofdeath.1.2.2IncreaseinNetInternationalMigrationtotheUK1.2MainReasonsfortheCurrentPopulationGrowthIncontrastwithsomeotherEuropeancountries,internationalmigrationisanothermainreasonforBritain’sincreasingpopulation.InadditiontoincreasesinmigrationofbothEuropeanandnon-EuropeancitizensintotheUK,citizensoftheEuropeanUnion(especiallythosefromthenewEUmemberstatesinEasternEurope),whohavetherighttoliveandworkinanymemberstate,movedintotheUnitedKingdom,andoneinsiximmigrantswerefromEasternEuropeancountries,andtherewerealsolargernumberscomingfromsomeofthe1.2.2IncreaseinNetInternationalMigrationtotheUK1.2MainReasonsfortheCurrentPopulationGrowthCommonwealthcountries.Officialfiguresshowedthatin2022,long-termimmigrationintotheUKwasanestimated1.2million.Theincreaseinlong-termimmigrationsince2021wasdrivenbynon-EUnationals(includingthosearrivingfromUkraine),accountingforanestimated80%oftotalimmigration.Thelatestofficialfiguresshowthatthenetmigrationrateis2.9migrantsper1,000people(2024estimate).1.2.3IncreaseinLifeExpectancy1.2MainReasonsfortheCurrentPopulationGrowthTherisingoflifeexpectancyhascontributedtotheincreaseoftheUKpopulation.Withongoingadvancesintechnology,continualimprovementsinhealthcare,livingandworkingconditions,andreductionsinmortalityatolderages,peopleintheUKarelivinglongeronaveragethantheymighthaveinyearsgoneby.TheUnitedKingdomhasalargeelderlypopulation.Accordingtothe2021Census②results,therewereover15.5millionpeopleaged60orover,makingup23%oftheUKpopulation.Thenumberof“older”oldpeopleisalsorising.1.2.3IncreaseinLifeExpectancy1.2MainReasonsfortheCurrentPopulationGrowthThenumberofpeopleaged80andoverwasmorethan3.2million,andalmost600,000oftheseareaged90orover.Theelderlyarethefastest-growingsegmentoftheBritishpopulation.Overtime,thiswillputadditionalstrainsonthecountry’ssocialsecurityandmedicalsystems.TheUnitedKingdomhasoneofthehighestlifeexpectanciesintheworld.AccordingtotheUKOfficeforNationalStatistics’2022estimates,thelifeexpectancyofthetotalpopulationoftheUKwas78.6yearsformalesand82.6yearsforfemales.1.2.3IncreaseinLifeExpectancy1.2MainReasonsfortheCurrentPopulationGrowthItisnowforecastthatlifeexpectancyby2031willriseto81yearsformenand84.9yearsforwomen,andthatthenumberofpeopleaged100oroverwillrisesteeplytoreachover626,000by2080.1.3PopulationDistributionThepopulationisunequallydistributedoverthefourpartsoftheUK.Accordingtothemid-2022populationestimatesfromtheOfficeforNationalStatistics,Englandaccountsforabout84.3%(57,106,000)ofthetotalpopulation,Scotlandroughly8.2%(5,448,000),Walesaround4.7%(3,132,000),andNorthernIrelandabout2.8%(1,910,000).Eighty-fourpercentofthetotalpopulationoftheUKlivedincities,townsandotherurbanizedareasin2022.Theannualrateofurbanizationchangeisestimatedtobearound0.8%between2020and2025.ThetenmostpopulousurbancitiesintheUKare1.3PopulationDistributionLondon,Manchester,Birmingham,Leeds,Glasgow,Liverpool,Southampton,Newcastle,Nottingham,andSheffield(2022estimate).Comparedwithmanyothercountries,Britainisheavilypopulated.Accordingtothemid-2022populationestimatesfromtheOfficeforNationalStatistics,theaveragenumberofpeoplepersquarekilometerintheUKwas279,oneofthehighestinEurope.England(438)hassignificantlygreaterdensitythanWales(151),Scotland(70),andNorthernIreland(141).AlmostathirdofthepopulationlivesinsoutheastEngland,with8.91.3PopulationDistributionmillioninthecapitalcity,London,whosepopulationdensity③was5,640inhabitantspersquarekilometerinmid-2022.1.4OtherRelatedInformationaboutthePopulationoftheUnitedKingdomSexratio(2024estimate):Atbirth,thesexratiois1.05malesperfemale.Amongindividualsaged0–14years,theratioremains1.05malesperfemale.Forthoseaged15–64years,theratiois1.02malesperfemale.Amongindividualsaged65yearsandolder,theratiodecreasesto0.85malesperfemale.Forthetotalpopulation,thesexratiois0.99malesperfemale.1.4OtherRelatedInformationaboutthePopulationoftheUnitedKingdomAgestructure(2024estimate):Thenumberofchildren(aged0to14years)is16.7%(male5,872,937/female5,592,665);thepopulationaged15to64yearsis63.9%(male22,062,643/female21,702,401);thenumberofpeopleaged65yearsandoveris19.3%(male6,069,865/female7,158,544).TheONSsuggestedthattheUKpopulationwillcontinuetoage,withthenumberofpeopleaged85andoverdoublingfrom1.6millioninmid-2018to3.2millioninmid-2041.ThemedianageintheUKin2023was40.6years(male39.6years,female41.7years),1.1yearshigherthaninmid-2011.1.4OtherRelatedInformationaboutthePopulationoftheUnitedKingdomEmployment:EstimatesfromtheONS’LabourForceSurveyshowedthatthenumberofpeopleaged16andoverinemploymentwas33million,andtheemploymentrate(theproportionofthepopulationaged16-64inwork)was74.3%betweenFebruaryandApril2024,belowestimatesofayearago,anddecreasedinthelatestquarter.Unemployment:EstimatesfromtheONS’LabourForceSurveyshowthat1.49millionpeopleaged16andoverwereunemployed(peoplenotinworkbutseekingandavailabletowork),withtheunemploymentrateforthoseaged16andoverstandingat4.4%betweenFebruaryandApril2024.1.PopulationAccordingtothemid-year2023estimatesfromtheUnitedNations,theUKranks21stinpopulationintheworld,afterIndia,China,UnitedStates,Indonesia,Pakistan,Brazil,Nigeria,Bangladesh,Russia,Mexico,Ethiopia,Japan,thePhilippines,Egypt,Congo,Vietnam,Iran,Türkiye,Germany,andThailand.NotesThe2021Censusisthe23rdofficialcensusoftheUnitedKingdom,andalsothefirstcensusinthecountrytoincludetheoptionofcompletingthecensusdocumentationonline(acrosstheUKbetween15%and19%ofcensusformsweresubmittedonline).Beginningin1801,theyhavebeenrecordedevery10yearssincethen.Notes1.PopulationPopulationdensityisameasurementofpopulationperunitofarea,usuallytranscribedas“persquarekilometer”or“persquaremile”.BasedonestimatesproducedbytheUnitedNations(UN),thepopulationdensityofEarthasof2022isroughly57peoplepersquarekilometer.ThemostdenselypopulatedcontinentisAsiawith150peoplepersquarekilometer.Europerankssecond,at34peoplepersquarekilometer.NextcomesAfricaandthenSouthAmerica.AustraliaandNorthAmericaarethecontinentswiththelowestpopulationdensity,at20peoplepersquarekilometer.Notes1.Population2.EthnicGroups2.EthnicGroupsTheUnitedKingdom,despitebeingmostlymadeupofWhiteBritishandIrishcitizens,hasanimpressiveamountofethnicdiversity.SubstantialimmigrationfromAfrica,theCaribbeanandSouthAsiasincethe1950sandmigrationfromEUmemberstatesinCentralandEasternEuropesince2004haveledtoanincreaseinthenumberofpeoplefromdifferentethnicbackgrounds.2.EthnicGroupsAccordingtothe2021Census,BritainisstillapredominantlyWhitesociety,with83percentofitspopulationfromtheWhitemajority(White+WhiteOther①),ofwhichtheEnglishmakeup83.6percentofthepopulation,followedbytheScotsat8.6percent,theWelshat4.9percent,andNorthernIrishat2.9percent.BritishAsiansconstituteasignificantandgrowingminorityofthepeoplelivingintheUK,withapopulationof5.76millionor8.6percentofthepopulationidentifyingasAsianorAsianBritishinthe2021Census.2.EthnicGroupsAround3.7percentoftheUnitedKingdom’spopulationin2021wereBlackBritishpeople,amulti-ethnicgroupofeitherAfricanorAfro-Caribbeandescent.BritishMixedorMultipleethnicgroups,whoseparentsareoftwoormoreracesorethnicbackgrounds,numberedjustunder1.8millioninthe2021Censusor2.7percentofthetotalUKpopulation.Andothergroupsmakeuptheremainderoftheminorityethnictotal,at2percent.ThetermWhiteOther,orOtherWhite,isaclassificationofethnicityintheUnitedKingdom,usedinthedocumentsofthe2021Census,todescribepeoplewhoidentifythemselvesaswhitepersonsbutnotoftheEnglish,Welsh,Scottish,orIrishethnicgroups.Forexample,thiscategoryincludesthePolishorRomanipeople.Notes2.EthnicGroupsWhatarethechiefreasonsforthecurrentpopulationgrowthintheUK?HowistheBritishpopulationdistributed?Howistheemployment/unemploymentsituationintheUK?IsitacceptabletodescribethecontemporaryBritishsocietyas“multi-ethnic”or“multinational”?Andwhy?Questions2.EthnicGroups3.Literacy3.LiteracyTheUnitedKingdomhasanearlyperfectnationalliteracyrateof99%atage15andabove.TheUnitedKingdom’shighliteracyrateisattributabletouniversalpubliceducation.Educationismandatoryandparentsareobligedtohavetheirchildreneducatedfromtheagesof5to16.StudentscancontinueeducationfreeofchargeintheformofA-Levels(shortforAdvancedLevel),vocationaltrainingorapprenticeshiptoage18.4.Language4.LanguageTheUnitedKingdomdoesnothaveanofficiallanguagebylawbutthepredominantlanguageisEnglish,whichisspokenbyapproximately98%ofthepopulation,overtheageofthree.EnglishisanIndo-EuropeanlanguagebelongingtotheWestGermanicbranch.ThislanguageisdescendedfromOldEnglishinAnglo-SaxonEnglandfromthemiddleofthefifthcenturyADtoabout1100.OldEnglishdevelopedintoMiddleEnglishfromabout1100.EarlyModernEnglishperiodstartedfromtheendoftheMiddleEnglishperiod(thelatterhalfofthe15thcentury)to1650,andlateModernEnglishfrom1650tothe

4.Languagemoderntimes.TheexpansionoftheBritishEmpireduringthe18th,19th,andearly20thcenturiesandtheinfluenceoftheUnitedStatessincethemid-20thcenturyhavespreadEnglishacrosstheglobe,andtheEnglishlanguagehasbecomea“worldlanguage”ofthemodernera.DialectsandaccentsofEnglishvaryamongthefourregionsoftheUnitedKingdom,England,Wales,ScotlandandNorthernIreland,andalsowithintheregionsthemselves.ThemajordivisionsarenormallyclassifiedasEnglishEnglish,WelshEnglish,andScottishEnglish.ThedialectofEnglishspokenin

4.LanguageNorthernIreland①showsinfluencefromScottishEnglish.Thevariousdialectsalsodifferinthewordsthattheyhaveborrowedfromotherlanguages.BesidesEnglish,therearealsofourCelticlanguagesinuseintheUnitedKingdom:Welsh(thesecondmostspokenlanguageintheUK,andinDecember2010,itwasmadeanofficiallanguageinWales),IrishGaelic(generallyjustreferredtoasIrish),ScottishGaelicandCornish(alsoarecognizedminoritylanguageoftheUK).

4.LanguageItiscompulsoryforpupilstostudyasecondlanguageuptotheageof14inEngland.FrenchandGermanarethetwomostcommonlytaughtsecondlanguagesinEnglandandScotland.AllpupilsinWalesaretaughtWelshasasecondlanguageuptoage16,oraretaughtinWelshasafirstlanguage.ThemanyethnicminoritieswithinthecountryandcommunitiesmigratingtotheUKinrecentdecadesalsospeaktheirownlanguages,forexample,Arabic,Chinese,French,German,Greek,Hindi,Italian,Persian,Polish,Portuguese,Romanian,Spanish,Turkish,etc.

4.LanguageEnglishisspokenasafirstlanguagebyalmosteveryoneinNorthernIreland,thoughtheIrishlanguageisthenativelanguageofthewholeislandofIreland.NotesWhatarethethreemainstagesinthehistoryofthedevelopmentoftheEnglishlanguage?WhatlanguagesareinuseintheUnitedKingdombesidesEnglish?Questions4.Language5.Holidays5.Holidays5.1ReligiousFestivals5.2NationalHolidays5.HolidaysInBritain,peoplecelebratedifferentreligiousholidaysandnationalholidays,suchasLent,Easter,Christmas,andNewYear’sDay.5.1ReligiousFestivals5.1.1Christmas5.1.2Easter5.1.3Halloween5.1ReligiousFestivalsLent,EasterandChristmasarethemainreligiousfestivalsinBritain.MostpeoplecelebrateChristmasandEaster,andschoolchildrenhaveonetotwoweeksoffschoolduringthesefestivals.Somefestivals,likeChristmasDay,arecelebratedonthesamedateeveryyear,whileothersmovearoundwithinarangeofdates.Fortwomillennia,peoplearoundtheworldhavebeenobservingChristmasDaywithtraditionsandpractices.ChristianscelebrateChristmasDayastheanniversaryofthebirthofJesusChrist,aspiritualleaderwhoseteachingsformthebasisoftheirreligion.InBritain,ChristmasDay,December25,isbothasecularandareligiousholiday,andmanyfamiliesattendamidnightserviceonChristmasEveoronChristmasmorning.Christmasisbothasacredreligiousholidayandaworldwideculturalandcommercialphenomenon.5.1.1Christmas5.1ReligiousFestivalsPopularcustomsincludeexchanginggifts,decoratingChristmastrees,attendingchurch,sharingmealswithfamilyandfriendsand,ofcourse,waitingforFatherChristmas(SantaClaus),toarrive.OnChristmasDay,apublicholidayintheUnitedKingdom,nearlythewholepopulationhasthedayofftobewiththeirfamilyandfriends,sotheycangatherroundforatraditionalChristmasdinner.5.1.1Christmas5.1ReligiousFestivalsActivitiesonChristmasDayalsoincludelisteningtotheKing’sChristmasmessage(ortheQueen’sChristmasmessageinaqueen’sreign)carriedonradioandtelevision.Themessagetypicallyreflectsontopicssuchastheyear’sevents,thestateoftheroyalfamily,andthemessuchasunity.Themessageaveragesoversevenmillionviewers,andisoftenoneofthemost-watchedprogramsofthedayonChristmas.AttendanceataChristmasDaychurchservicehasbecomelesspopularinmoderntimes,withfewerthanthreemillionnowattendingaChristmasDayChurchofEnglandservice.5.1.1Christmas5.1ReligiousFestivalsEasterisaChristianholydaywhenChristiansrememberthedeathofChristandhisresurrectiontolife.ItisprobablynamedaftertheSaxongoddessofspring,Ēostre,whosefeasttookplaceatthespringequinox(春分).NowEasteristhespringfeastoftheChristianchurch.EasterDayoccursonthefirstSundayafterthefullmoonfollowingthespringequinox,anditusuallyfallsonaSundaybetweenMarch22andApril25,accordingtothechurchcalendar.5.1.2Easter5.1ReligiousFestivalsTheRomansbelievedthat“Alllifecomesfromanegg.”Christiansconsidereggstobe“theseedoflife”,soeggsaresymbolsoftheresurrectionofChrist.Traditionally,Eastereggs,dyedanddecoratedormadeofchocolate,aregivenaspresentssymbolizingnewlifeandthecomingofspring.InthenorthofEngland,Scotland,andNorthernIreland,thetraditionsofrollingdecoratedeggsdownsteephillsandpaceeggingarestilladheredto.TheEasterBunnyisarabbitspirit.Longagohewascalledthe“EasterHare”,andthecustomofanEasteregghuntbeganbecausechildrenbelievedthathareslaideggsinthegrass.5.1.2Easter5.1ReligiousFestivalsInBritain,likeintheUnitedStates,HalloweeniscelebratedonOctober31.Onthisday,childrendressup,gotrick-or-treatingandcarvepumpkins.AlthoughthispracticeiscommonlyassociatedwiththeUnitedStates,thecustomoriginatedinEnglandasMischiefNightwhenchildrendaredone“lawlessnight”ofunpunishedpranks.5.1.3Halloween5.1ReligiousFestivalsActually,Halloweenwithitswitches,ghostsandgoblinsbeganasanancientfestivalfortheCelts.Theylivedalmost2,000yearsagoinGreatBritainandIreland.ThisreligiousfestivalderivesfromtheCelticOldYear’sNight—itwassaidthatallwitchesandspiritswalkedtheearthonthisnight.5.1.3Halloween5.1ReligiousFestivalsThroughoutBritain,thehouseholdfestivitiesincludedritualsandgamesintendedtoforetellone’sfuture,especiallyregardingdeathandmarriage.Applesandnutswereoftenusedintheserituals.Specialbonfireswerelitandtherewereritualsinvolvingthem.Insomeplaces,torcheslitfromthebonfirewerecarriedaroundhomesandfieldstoprotectthem.InScotland,thesebonfiresandgameswerebannedbythechurcheldersinsomeparishes(教区).InWales,bonfireswerelitto“preventthesoulsofthedeadfromfallingtoearth”.5.1.3Halloween5.1ReligiousFestivals5.2NationalHolidays5.2.1NewYear’sDay5.2.2RemembranceDay5.2.3BoxingDayIntheUnitedKingdom,theNewYear’sDayisoneofthetwonationalholidaysBritishpeoplecelebratewarmlyeveryyear(theotherbeingChristmasDay).Therearemanycelebrationsacrossthecountry.InEngland,theLondonParadeisthebiggestNewYear’sDaystreeteventofitskind.Itattractsaroundamillionspectatorsalongthethree-kilometer-longroute.ThousandsgatheralongthebanksoftheRiverThamestowatchthefireworksaroundtheLondonEye.TheNewYearofficiallystartswhenBigBenstrikes12.5.2.1NewYear’sDay5.2NationalHolidaysInScotland,therearemanyuniquecustomsassociatedwiththeNewYear.TheseformtheScottishcelebrationofHogmanay—theScottishnameforNewYear’sEve.ThestreetpartyonPrincesStreetinEdinburghisafamousexample.InWales,Calennig(aWelshwordmeaning“NewYearcelebration/gift”,althoughitliterallytranslatesto“thefirstdayofthemonth”)iscelebrated,withcelebrationsattractingthousandsofpeopletothecapital,Cardiff,whichholdsthecelebrationsattheCardiffCivicCentertowelcometheNewYear,including5.2.1NewYear’sDay5.2NationalHolidaysfreelivemusic,fairgroundrides,amidnightfireworksdisplayandanopportunitytoice-skateintothenewyearatCardiff’sWinterWonderland.InNorthernIreland,NewYear’sEveisprimarilycelebratedthroughprivategatherings,astherehavebeennoofficialciviceventsincitieslikeBelfastsince2008.Thisabsenceofpublicfestivitieshasledresidentstoorganizetheirowncelebrations,ofteninvolvingfamilyandfriends.5.2.1NewYear’sDay5.2NationalHolidaysManyindividualschoosetodineoutatlocalrestaurantsorattendeventshostedbyhotelsandbars.Additionally,variouscommunitygroupsandorganizationshosteventstomarktheoccasion.5.2.1NewYear’sDay5.2NationalHolidaysRemembranceDayisonNovember11.ItisaspecialdaysetasidetorememberallthosemenandwomenwhowerekilledduringthetwoWorldWarsandotherconflicts.AtonetimethedaywasknownasArmisticeDayandwasrenamedRemembranceDayaftertheSecondWorldWar.RemembranceDayisobservedinCommonwealthmemberstatessincetheendoftheFirstWorldWar,anditisalsoobservedinmanyothercountries.Wreath-layingceremoniesareobservedonthedayacrosstheUKat11amonNovember11,withtwominutesofsilence.Thefirsttwo-minutesilencewasheldinLondonon5.2.2RemembranceDay5.2NationalHolidaysonNovember11,1919.IntheUK,themainobservanceisRemembranceSunday,heldonthesecondSundayinNovember,whichisusuallytheSundaynearesttoNovember11.SpecialservicesareheldatwarmemorialsandchurchesalloverBritain.AnationalceremonytakesplaceattheCenotaph,awarmemorialmonumentinWhitehall,London.TheKingorQueenlaysthefirstwreathattheCenotaph.Wreathsarelaidbesidewarmemorialsbycompanies,clubsandsocieties.Peoplealsoleavesmallwoodencrossesbythememorialsinremembranceofafamilymemberwhodiedinwar.5.2.2RemembranceDay5.2NationalHolidaysBoxingDayisapublicholidaycelebratedthedayafterChristmasDay.ItoriginatedintheUnitedKingdomandiscelebratedinanumberofcountriesthatpreviouslyformedpartoftheBritishEmpire.BoxingDayisonDecember26,orthefirstorsecondweekdayafterChristmasDay,dependingonnationalorregionaltradition.Traditionally,itwasadaywhenemployersdistributedmoney,food,clothorothervaluablegoodstotheiremployees.Inmoderntimes,intheUK,Australia,CanadaandNewZealand,itisthestartofthepost-Christmassales(muchlikeBlackFridayintheUS).5.2.3BoxingDay5.2NationalHolidaysBoxingDayisalsoanimportantdayforsportsevents.Itistraditionalforthetop-tierfootballleaguesinEngland,Scotland,andNorthernIrelandandthelowerones,aswellastherugbyleagues,toholdafullprogramofmatchesonBoxingDay.5.2.3BoxingDay5.2NationalHolidays5.2NationalHolidaysWhoiscommemoratedonBritishRemembranceDay?OnBoxingday,whatsportsactivitiesareheldtoday?Questions6.Education6.Education6.1PrimaryandSecondaryEducation6.2FurtherEducation6.3HigherEducation6.EducationTherearetwoparallelschoolsystemsintheUK:thestatesystem,whereeducationinstateschoolsfromprimaryschooltohighschoolisprovidedfree,andtheindependentsystem,whereparentsnormallypayfees.Morethan90%ofthestudentsintheUKattendpublicly-fundedstateschools.EducationintheUnitedKingdomisadevolvedmatterwitheachofthecountriesoftheUnitedKingdomhavingseparatesystemsunderseparategovernments:TheUKgovernmentisresponsibleforEngland;whilsttheScottishgovernment,theWelshgovernmentandtheNorthernIrelandexecutiveare6.EducationresponsibleforScotland,WalesandNorthernIrelandrespectively.Despitetheseparatesystems,thefourcountriesallhavefivestagesofeducation:earlyyears,primary,secondary,furthereducationandhighereducation.Thelawstatesthatfull-timeeducationiscompulsoryforallchildrenbetweentheagesof5(4inNorthernIreland)and16,thecompulsoryschoolage(CSA).InEngland,compulsoryeducationortraininghasbeenextendedto18forthosebornonorafterSeptember1,1997.Thisfull-timeeducationdoesnotneedtobeataschoolandsomeparentschoosetohomeeducate.6.EducationEducationdepartmentsinEngland,ScotlandandWalesfundschoolsthroughaLocalEducationAuthority(orEducationAuthorityinScotland).InNorthernIreland,schoolsarelargelyfinancedfrompublicfundsthroughEducationAuthority.TheUKintroducedaNationalCurriculumin1992.Stateschoolsarerequiredtoadheretoituntilstudentsreachage16;independentschoolsarenotobligedtoadheretotheNationalCurriculum.NationalCurriculumappliesinEngland,WalesandNorthernIreland,whileinScotlandeachschooldecideswhatsubjectstoteach.NationalCurriculumcoresubjectsare:6.EducationEnglish,mathematics,science,designandtechnology,informationalandcommunicationstechnology,history,geography,modernforeignlanguages,music,artanddesign,physicaleducation,andcitizenship.Inadditiontothesecoresubjects,thereareanumberofothercompuls