Thursday, June 7, 2012

Religion and Weather in London



Religion
The most practiced religion in England is Christianity. After Christianity, religions with the most adherents are Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, Buddhism and Neo-Paganism. There are also so many organizations that promote atheism (people that do not believe God exists) and agnosticism.

Another religion that is important and was created in the country is pagan (Wicca), particularly Celtic and Roman polytheism. Many structures and monuments are religious in nature, such Stonehenge and the Angel of the North. To better understand religious history in England we have to address paganism and The Church of England.

Paganism encompasses a diverse community with some groups concentrating on specific traditions, practices or elements such as ecology, witchcraft, Celtic traditions or certain gods. Wiccans, Druids, Shamans, Sacred Ecologists, Odinists and Heathens all make up parts of the Pagan community. Ancient faith in England was influenced by the natural world and the threat posed by the elements. The inhabitants of Britain originally worshiped their ancestors, burying them in long barrows and performing rituals to influence the weather and the harvest. But when Britain's climate changed radically around 3,000 BC, the ancestor cult came to an end and Britons looked to nature itself to influence their fortune.
 
The Church of England is the official christian church in England. It considers itself within the tradition of Christianity and dates from the mission to England by St Augustine of Canterbury in AD 597. Initially prompted by a dispute over the annulment of the marriage of Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon,  the Church of England broke from the Roman Catholic Church in 1534.



Weather
England's weather remains the most frequent topic of conversation. So here are the facts:
Regional climates in the United Kingdom are influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and its northern latitude. North Ireland, Wales ans western parts of England and Scotland are generally the mildest, wettest and windiest regions of the UK. Eastern areas are drier, cooler, less windy and also experience the greatest daily and seasonal temperature variations. Northern areas are generally cooler, wetter and have a slight bigger temperature range than southern areas.
It's wise to remember London's weather is very fickle, plan a picnic on a bright, sunny morning and it could be raining by noon. So always be prepared, you never know what may happen.
Graph of average rainfall variation in London. Averages are between 1.5 to 2.5 inches per month.

Every time I went to London it rained and that was not fun! But the 2  last times I went, I decided to go in October, more towards the end of the month and voila! I got beautiful weather, spent about 10 days, and my daughter was able to show me so many great places in London that I have never been. We had a great time.
So try to go in October, the temperature is perfect because it is fall, not very cold and no rain. As you see on the graph, March and April are usually drier times as well.


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