The full English Breakfast （also known as the “fry-up”）： Some consider it a culinary masterpiece， while some laud it as the perfect， greasy hangover cure. The iconic morning plate of bacon， eggs， sausages， and baked beans is an integral part of British culture. You’ll find it on the menus of cafés， hotels， greasy spoons1， pubs， and restaurants.

全英式早餐俗称fry-up，有人视之为美味珍馐，也有人奉之为绝佳的油腻解酒良方。这道包含了培根、鸡蛋、香肠和焗豆的经典早餐是英国文化的重要组成部分。咖啡馆、酒店、廉价小餐馆、酒吧和餐厅的菜单上都有它的身影。

Such is the emblematic status of the traditional English breakfast that playwright William Somerset Maugham once famously said that “To eat well in England， you should eat breakfast three times a day.” This beloved morning meal has evolved over centuries since the Middle Ages. Here’s the history behind the meal， which is as rich as the food itself.

传统英式早餐备受推崇，剧作家威廉·萨默塞特·毛姆有句话说得妙：“想在英国吃好，早餐三顿吃饱。”自中世纪以来，这种深受人们喜爱的早餐经历了数百年的演变，其背后的历史就如同其菜品一样丰富，让我们一起来看看吧！

It started with the English gentry

起源：英国乡绅阶级

Back in the 1300s the gentry—a well-heeled social class of landowners—thought of themselves as guardians of the English countryside. They felt it their duty to uphold the culture and traditions established by their Anglo-Saxon forefathers. During the Middle Ages， daily meals often consisted of a mid-morning breakfast and dinner. The gentry were famous for their love of hearty breakfasts and Anglo-Saxon hospitality. They would convene around the tables of their lavish homes to feast on meats， vegetables and other produce grown on their land. Breakfasts gave lords of the manor the opportunity to showcase their wealth to visiting friends， family and fellow landowners. Guests would fill up after decadent parties， before journeying home or going out on a hunt.

早在14世纪，乡绅阶级（富有的地主阶级）自视为英格兰乡村的守护者，以传承盎格鲁-撒克逊先辈建立的文化和传统为己任。在中世纪，人们通常只吃两顿饭：上午的早餐和晚间的正餐。当时的乡绅以喜爱丰盛的早餐和秉承盎格鲁-撒克逊式的好客传统闻名。他们会在奢华的宅邸中围坐一桌，尽情享用自家土地上收获的肉类、蔬菜和其他农产品。早餐是庄园主向到访的亲朋好友以及其他地主展示财富的好时机。宾客们会在彻夜狂欢之后，吃上一顿丰盛的早餐，然后启程回家或外出打猎。

... Then evolved by the Victorians

发展：维多利亚时代

The 19th-century was an era of great change throughout the United Kingdom. Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne came at a time when the power of the gentry was in decline. They were soon replaced by affluent merchants and industrialists， many of whom were driving forces behind the Industrial Revolution. In a bid to improve their lives， this new social class took inspiration from the lifestyle of the gentry. One such custom was the English breakfast as an important social event. Just as the gentry had done， Victorians took pleasure in celebrating their riches with exuberant meals.

19世纪，英国社会发生了巨大的变化。