I believe it is customary in good society to take some slight refreshment at five o'clock. Oscar Wilde
Everyone who learns English has heard at least once something about a tradition of "5 o'clock tea". The English really love tea and it's one of their most important traditions. Families usually gather together at about 5 o'clock to drink tea, to eat some sandwiches and to discuss some news. The tradition of drinking tea was popularized in England during the 1660s by King Charles II and his wife, but the famous "afternoon tea" appeared only 2 centuries later.
Afternoon tea appeared thanks to Anna, the maid of honor of Queen Victoria, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in 1840.
The Duchess would often became hungry at about 4-5 o'clock in the afternoon and couldn't wait long for dinner (that was usually at 8 pm). So, she would ask for a cup of tea and some bread with butter. Later it became her custom and she started to invite her friends to join her. Then it turned into a fashionable social event among the upper-class society and women started to gather together, wearing beautiful dresses.
Nowadays, the afternoon tea tradition is still alive, even though for some people it's just a time to have a mug of tea with a snack, meanwhile for the others it is still an event which gathers families or friends together.
Vocabulary
it is customary - это обычное дело, так принято
refreshment - 1) отдых; 2) освежающий напиток
to gather - собираться
the tradition was popularized - традиция распространилась
2 centuries later - два века спустя
a maid of honor - фрейлина
a duchess - герцогиня
a custom - обычай, традиция
it turned into... - это превратилось в...
fashionable social event - модное светское мероприятие
the upper-class society - общество высшего сословия
a mug of tea - кружка чая
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