To think most of what people call “British” is actually borrowed from other cultures?

[BlendedByEmpire]

From food to fashion to language, it seems like a lot of what’s considered traditionally British has roots elsewhere. Yet people still cling to the idea of a “pure” British culture. AIBU to think the whole concept is more mixed than most are willing to admit?

This is a highly suspect narrative pushed by many archaeology and history documentaries. Once, we learned about invasions by Romans, Saxons, Vikings and Normans. Now some (particularly the Saxons) of these events are presented as migrations instead. Well…they certainly involved people entering Britain from other countries, but the idea that the locals welcomed them, gave up their land to them and got along famously is a bit Disney.

Humans are a barbaric lot today so why would they be any different in the past?

I live in the countryside. I don’t dress wells or dance round maypoles. I would be amazed if any of those traditions are still carried on by country people without the encouragement/organization of “down from Lunnons”

I agree they are sometimes Victorian revivals rather than true survivals, but where I grew up there was regular maypole dancing by school children (great fun to watch), Mayday processions, well-dressings ( remnant of sacred spring worship), and beating the bounds.

People are being a bit argumentative on here and seem to be (deliberately?) missing the OP's point.
I think, OP, you mean the sort of swivel-eyed loon who goes on social media to huff and puff about 'Londonistan' and how they don't like seeing black people in the street because in their grandparents' day everyone was white. In their eyes there is a pure British tradition and culture, and it's narrow and homogeneous.
Clearly a lot of 'British' culture is shaped by its history, for better or worse.
I'm with you in believing that the UK's diversity and pluralism is what makes it as rich and exciting as it is.

Well English has borrowed from many other languages but there’s something called English.

I don’t think you’re onto much here, except that people visit other countries, discover new things there, which are subsequently absorbed into British culture.

I think we can all agree to that.

I do think Scots / Welsh / Northern Irish have various bits of unique culture. It’s not quintessentially British though.

I do think people say this when they mean English and I don’t know what else people expect? It was pretty much a colonised nation for a thousand years. They all l brought their influence romans, Vikings, Germanic tribes and then the Normans. The English language itself is a hodgepodge of Germanic and French. Waves of invasion displaced the older Celtic culture and so it’s just been a bit mixed ever since.