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Blighty is commonly used as a term of endearment by the expatriate British community or those on holiday to refer to home. In Hobson-Jobson, an 1886 historical dictionary of Anglo-Indian words, Henry Yule and Arthur Coke Burnell explained that the word came to be used in British India for several things the British had brought into the country, such as the tomato and soda water.
Humanists UK is the most prominent organisation espousing irreligion in the United Kingdom. [33] [citation needed] The organisation reported recent polling suggesting that the population with no religion may have reached 34 million. [34] In 2023, research from the World Value Survey found that only 49% of Britons said they believed in God.
The Union Jack, in addition to being the flag of the United Kingdom, also serves as one of the most potent symbols of Britishness. [1]British national identity is a term referring to the sense of national identity, as embodied in the shared and characteristic culture, languages and traditions, [2] of the British people.
The precise origin is the subject of some debate, but it is known to have been used as early as 1743. Rudyard Kipling published the poem "Tommy" (part of the Barrack Room Ballads) in 1892 and in 1893 the music hall song "Private Tommy Atkins" was published with words by Henry Hamilton and music by S. Potter.
[109] [110] [136] This has been used to explain why first-, second- and third-generation immigrants are more likely to describe themselves as British, rather than English, because it is an "institutional, inclusive" identity, that can be acquired through naturalisation and British nationality law; [290] the vast majority of people in the United ...
The right to freedom of religion in the United Kingdom is provided for in all three constituent legal systems, by devolved, national, European, and international law and treaty. Four constituent nations compose the United Kingdom, resulting in an inconsistent religious character , and there is no state church for the whole kingdom.
England is the origin of the English language, the English legal system (which served as the basis for the common law systems of many other countries), association football, and the Anglican branch of Christianity; its parliamentary system of government has been widely adopted by other nations. [10]
It is the most watched horse race in the UK, attracting casual observers, and three-time winner Red Rum is the most successful racehorse in the event's history. [370] Red Rum is also the best-known racehorse in the country. [371] The 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone was the first race in the newly created Formula One World Championship. [372]