I think part of what being British is is that there is no certain definition.
Me and my family decided if there was a British moto it would be "Each to their own" - suggesting that as long as you're within certain boundaries you can be how you want to be or who you want to be and it wont matter if you aren't "Normal". Everyone can find somewhere they feel at home and are accepted.
Here are some more definitions both linking to my theory of there not being a specific one:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/966849.stm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/janetdaley/3555154/We-dont-need-to-define-Britishness.html
"
British national identity is becoming more and more like the weather: everybody talks about it but nobody can do anything about it. And come to think of it, it is especially like British weather: so tepid most of the time that it is difficult to describe."
http://thethunderdragon.co.uk/2008/08/britishness-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder.html
"
None of these are absolutely wrong, and none of it right. Really, the question “what is Britishness?” does not have an answer. For that answer relies almost entirely on where you are sitting. From where you look - depending on how your experiences in life have moulded you and your opinions - defines how you see and conceive the elusive and almost mythical concept of “Britishness"
I asked some people on Msn/Facebook on their opinion of being British and Britishness. Here's what I got:
Mark:
"Being British is hating the French"
Joe:
"i dont know how you would define that other than 'lives in/comes from britain"
Jamie McArthur:
"A country is made of individuals
to suggest there is anything connecting all those people together other than their environment is silly
So Britishness is just a collection of individuality and ever changing dynamic culture."
Coza:
"a person from Britain"
Emma:
"okay cant describe wat i wanna say
one thing tho is the weather.
britishness might be dying out"
Tanya (Argentinian Exchange):
britishness? it's living with the tipical british culture, like talking with a really brithish accent, or having tea, or knowing everything about the Kings and Queens and use umbrellas#
haha :)
Henni:
"knowing the national anthem?"
Sam Johnson:
"Britishness. is erm? Living in Britain? Having British Pastimes. Erm. Erm. Having British Heritage? Enjoying British culture?
I should put these on my blog to. Thanks for making me do my work Lily =)"
Matthew Charles:
"That said, Britishness is by default a subjective quality: there is no `standard` of Britishness we can use to decide what it is exactly."
Thom (My Brother):
"Looking stylishly pasty"
Matthew Springett:
"Tea Parties"
