Spin-off: American and British/Irish culture Q&A thread.

[Buzz Rules]

And to yours @Buzz Rules

London did a great job with the fireworks.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Brits, do you guys still make 12th night cakes during this time of year? We Americans used to make them pre-Civil War era but they seemed to culturally go out of style after that era.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Brits, do you guys still make 12th night cakes during this time of year? We Americans used to make them pre-Civil War era but they seemed to culturally go out of style after that era.

We don't personally do that - I actually wasn't aware that it was a thing! We do however scoff down our finger foods on the social nights of the New Year!

 

[Buzz Rules]

We don't personally do that - I actually wasn't aware that it was a thing! We do however scoff down our finger foods on the social nights of the New Year!

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I guess we did often make a figgy pudding if that helps? Out of favour now and people bake as they see fit. Me? My mum makes. a KILLER strawberry meringue But then again, I'm a sucker for anything with strawberries and cream in it!

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Interesting nugget... The name "Xavier" has long been subjective in its pronunciation over in the UK. However, in the King's English, it SHOULD be pronounced "Zs-aye-viear. The "X" is actually a soft "Z". Only in America is the name really pronounced "Ecs-aye-viear".

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

One more old English quirks... the word "Jail" is actually a modern rendition of the classical word, "Gaol". There is a minor pronunciation difference - Gaol is a softer sound, perhaps a little more Welsh? The UK has since then adopted the spelling "Jail" however.

The English word "Colour" and others with an additional "U" letter all additionally do have a slightly different pronunciation - Color is slightly sharper, more rounded, whereas Colour is longer and softer.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Happy Saint Patrick's Day everyone.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Any new questions for today?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Any new questions for today? Just an FYI on American slang. A buck equals one dollar like a quid equals one British pound.

 

[GoingSince1990]

Not a question, but as a UK-US dual citizen I found it mildly interesting that the 2024 UK general election was on July 4 (a day celebrated by fireworks in the US) and the 2024 US presidential election will be on November 5 (Guy Fawkes day, celebrated by fireworks in the UK).

 

[CdnCarrie]

Question for the Brits!

How much do you learn in school about the commonwealth countries like Canada and Australia?

Since we share a monarch and many of us fought for you in the WWs I would assume you would learn something.

Is it on the curriculum at all?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Question for the Brits!

How much do you learn in school about the commonwealth countries like Canada and Australia?

Since we share a monarch and many of us fought for you in the WWs I would assume you would learn something.

Is it on the curriculum at all?

According to Google, British students learn the history of Canada and Australia when studying significant parts of their former empire's history.