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England

England is one of the four countries which make up the United Kingdom. To
the west of England is Wales and to the north is Scotland. All three countries are on
the island of Great Britain and are part of the UK.
About 54.8 million people live in England (2015 estimate). The capital city
of England is London, which is also the biggest city in the country. Other large cities
in England are Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, and Leeds.
The English flag is white, with a red cross. This cross is the cross of Saint
George, who is the patron saint of England. Some other symbols used for England
are a red rose and three lions.
England is the largest part of the island of Great Britain, and also the largest
constituent country of the United Kingdom. Scotland and Wales are also part of
Great Britain (and the UK), Scotland to the north and Wales to the west. To the east
and south, and part of the west, England is bordered by sea. France is to the south,
separated by the English Channel. The Channel Tunnel, under the English Channel,
connects England to northern France (and the rest of mainland Europe). Ireland is a
large island to the west, divided into Northern Ireland which is part of the United
Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland.
London is the largest city and the capital. Other large cities are Birmingham,
Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Bristol, Nottingham and Liverpool. The longest river
in England is the River Severn. Other large rivers are the Thames (which runs
through London), the Trent and the Humber.
England was named after a Germanic tribe called the "Angles", who settled
in Central, Northern, and Eastern England in the 5th century. A related tribe called
the "Saxons" settled in the south of England. That is why that period of English
history is called "Anglo-Saxon". For the majority of this time, England did not exist
as a united country. The Anglo-Saxons lived in many small kingdoms, which slowly
united. The later countries of England and Wales were formed from the earlier
Roman Britain.
For many centuries the religion of England was Roman Catholicism. The
bishops (church leaders) of England and all their churches obeyed the pope and the
church in Rome, Italy. During the Protestant Reformation many of the bishops did
not agree with this.
The English language is a West Germanic language spoken in many
countries around the world. With around 380 million native speakers, it is the second
most spoken language in the world, as a native language. As many as a billion
people speak it as a second language. English is an influence on, and has been
influenced by many different languages.
The Department for Education is the government department responsible for
issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including education. State-run
and state-funded schools are attended by approximately 93% of English
schoolchildren. Of these, a minority are faith schools (primarily Church of England
or Roman Catholic schools). Children who are between the ages of 3 and 5 attend
nursery or an Early Years Foundation Stage reception unit within a primary school.
Children between the ages of 5 and 11 attend primary school, and secondary school
is attended by those aged between 11 and 16. Students may then opt to continue into
further education for two years. Further education colleges (particularly sixth form
colleges) often form part of a secondary school site.
English folklore developed over many centuries. Some of the characters and
stories are present across England, but most belong to specific regions. Common
folkloric beings include pixies, giants, elves, bogeymen, trolls, goblins and dwarves.
The culture of England is defined by the idiosyncratic cultural norms of
England and the English people. However, since Anglo-Saxon times, England has
had its own unique culture, apart from Welsh, Scottish or Irish culture.
English architecture begins with the architecture of the Anglo-Saxons. At
least fifty surviving English churches are of Anglo-Saxon origin, although in some
cases the Anglo-Saxon part is small and much-altered. All except one timber church
are built of stone or brick, and in some cases show evidence of reused Roman work.
In early modern times there was an influence from Renaissance architecture
until by the 18th century Gothic forms of architecture had been abandoned and
various classical styles were adopted. During the Victorian period Neo-Gothic
architecture was preferred for many types of buildings but this did not continue into
the 20th century.
Other buildings such as cathedrals and parish churches are associated with a
sense of traditional Englishness, as is often the palatial 'stately home'.
English art was dominated by imported artists throughout much of the
Renaissance, but in the 18th century a native tradition became much admired. It is
considered to be typified by landscape painting, such as the work of J.M.W. Turner
and John Constable. Portraitists like Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds are
also significant.
Since the early modern era, the food of England has historically been
characterised by its simplicity of approach, honesty of flavour, and a reliance on the
high quality of natural produce. This has resulted in a traditional cuisine which
tended to avoid strong flavours, such as garlic, and also complex sauces which were
commonly associated with Roman Catholic Continental political affiliations.
Traditional meals have ancient origins, such as bread and cheese, roasted and stewed
meats, meat and game pies, and freshwater and saltwater fish. The 14th-century
English cookbook, the Forme of Cury, contains recipes for these, and dates from the
royal court of Richard II.
Modern English cuisine is difficult to differentiate from British cuisine as a
whole. However, there are some forms of cuisine considered distinctively English.
The full English breakfast is a variant of the traditional British fried breakfast. The
normal ingredients of a traditional full English breakfast are bacon, eggs, fried or
grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, fried bread or toast, and sausage, usually served
with a cup of coffee or tea.
All of Great Britain has a oceanic climate. Even though it is only 360 miles
(600 km) long, England has many kinds of weather. There can be a temperature
difference of 5-10c between the north and the south (the north is generally colder),
and there is often snow in the north before there is in the south. There is more rain in
the north because there are more mountains. The North Atlantic current of the Gulf
Stream brings moist, warm air to the country and lots of rain.

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