English Culture Site
	Asha Sahni BellaOnline's English Culture Editor

Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday
November in England is a time of remembrance - through the wearing of poppies, attendance at, listening to or watching commemorative services and participation in two minutes' silence.

Arthur Tudor
Most people have heard of the legend of King Arthur and his knights of the round table. But how many know about Arthur Tudor, Henry VIII's brother and Heir Apparent, who SHOULD have acended to the throne in 1509?

Bonfire Night and Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes was a Catholic who nearly succeeded in blowing up the Protestant King James I. His exploits are celebrated every year with bonfires and fireworks. Find out more about a man who could have changed the course of English History had the Gunpowder Plot been successful.

Captain Scott - Explorer
Captain Robert Falcon Scott reached the South Pole in January 1912 - a bitter victory, for Norwegian Roald Amundsen has beaten him to his goal. Scott and his team did not survive their return journey, suffering from exhaustion, frostbite and starvation.

English Queens - Boudicca to Elizabeth I
England has had strong leadership from women, yet they have rearely had the chance to shine as male heirs have had precedence in the line of succession. Boudicca led her tribe after her husband died. Mary I succeeded her teenage brother on his death, thus opening the door for her younger sister.

Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton is world famous for her many books; but what was she really like?

Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel was an engineer, inventor and entrepeneur who transformed travel in England and beyond as he built bridges, railways and ships.

Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher, first female British Prime Minister, held office for over ten years. She was the longest serving Prime Minister in the twentieth century.

Mary Read
Mary Read was one of the most notorious pirates to sail the seven seas. Born in an age when females had no rights and were only allowed to have as much freedom as the father or husband permitted them; Mary Read showed a truly pioneer spirit.

Murder In The Cathedral
St Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, is remembered on 29 December – the day he was murdered by four of King Henry II’s men in Canterbury Cathedral.

Native English Animals
Were there ever wild, dangerous animals in England? The answer is yes. Here is what they were and where they are now.

Princess Diana - Queen of Hearts
Princess Diana's death caused an unprecedented outpouring of grief in England. A woman who did not always find life easy, mother of a future king, Diana had worked her way in to the nation's heart and soul.

Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria was Britain’s longest reigning monarch, ruling from 1837-1901. She gave her name to the people of her era – the Victorians.

St. George's Day
Have you heard of St George, England’s patron saint? Do you know the story of St George and the Dragon? St George’s Day is celebrated on April 23 – also said to be Shakespeare’s birth and death day.

The British Monarchy
All things pertaining to royalty

The origins of the English
Who were the first English people? When did they begin to populate England? It may interest you to know that the first peoples in England were not associated with being English! What is the difference? And who was the first King of the united English? These intriguing questions are answered here.

The Six Wives of Henry VIII - Anne Boleyn
Henry VIII divorced Catherine of Aragon and beheaded Anne Boleyn - his second wife. His third wife Jane Seymour died. Having already set precedents Henry divorced Anne of Cleeves and beheaded Kathryn Howard. He was survived by his sixth and final wife Katherine Parr.

The Six Wives of Henry VIII - Anne of Cleves
Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, had one of the shortest marriages in history and suffered an easy divorce which no doubt kept her head from the chopping block...

The Six Wives of Henry VIII - Catherine of Aragon
Henry VIII is best remembered for his numerous wives who between them were beheaded, divorced and died. The last bride, Kathryn Parr, was the only wife who survived her marriage with Henry. This article gives some tips for remembering the wives and looks at Henry’s first wife Catherine of Aragon.

The Six Wives of Henry VIII - Jane Seymour
Henry VIII divorced Caterhine of Aragon and beheaded Anne Boleyn. Eleven days after the execution of his second wife he married Jane Seymour.

Tudor Queens
This article briefly explores the reigns of the Tudor queens Mary and Elizabeth. Who were these rare women who held the power of a nation, of a kingdom, of an empire in their hands for half a century between them?

William Tyndale
William Tyndale, born in 1494 in Gloucestershire, could see the potential of printing in bringing accessible translations of the Bible to the common man. He was born 18 years after William Caxton revolutionised the availability of books by bringing the first printing press to England.