The British have few living folk traditions and are top
individualistic to have the same everyday habits as each other. However,
this does not mean that they like change. They may not behave in
traditional ways, but they like symbols of tradition and stability. For
example, there are some very untraditional attitudes and habits with
regard to the family in modern Britain. Nevertheless, politicians often
cite their enthusiasm for 'traditional family values' (both parents
married and living together, parents as the main source of authority for
children etc) as a way of winning support.
In general, the
British value continuity over modernity for its own sake. They do not
consider it especially smart to live in a new house and, in fact, there
is prestige in living in an obviously old one. They have a general
sentimental attachment to older, supposedly safer, times. Their
Christmas cards usually depict scenes from past centuries; they like
their pubs to look old; they were reluctant to change their system of
currency.
Moreover, a look at children's reading habits suggests
that this attitude is not going to change. Publishers try hard to make
their books for children up-to-date. But perhaps they needn't try so
hard. In 1992 the two most popular children's writers were noticeably
un-modern (they were both, in fact, dead). The most popular of all was
Roald Dahl, whose fantasy stories are set in a rather old-fashioned
world. The second most popular writer-was Enid Blyton, whose stories
take place in a comfortable white middle-class world before the 1960s.
They contain no references to other races or classes and mention nothing
more modern than a radio. In other words, they are mostly irrelevant to
modern life.
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