Elevenses facts for kids

Elevenses is a short break taken around 11:00 a.m. for a drink or snack. The name and details of this break can be different in various countries around the world. It's a time to refuel between breakfast and lunch!

What is Elevenses?

Elevenses is a popular tradition, especially in the United Kingdom. It's a small meal or snack enjoyed in the late morning. Think of it as a mini-break to recharge your energy. People often have tea or coffee with a biscuit or a small cake.

Elevenses Around the World

Many countries have their own version of a mid-morning snack. While the time and food might change, the idea is the same: a quick break to eat and drink.

Morning Tea in Australia and New Zealand

In Australia and New Zealand, this break is called "morning tea." It usually happens around 10:30 a.m. Many workplaces have morning teas to welcome new team members or celebrate special events like birthdays. Sometimes, the company provides food, but often, people bring food to share with everyone. Farmers and tradespeople in these countries might call this break "Smoko."

Belgian Tienuurtje

In Flemish (a language spoken in Belgium), a mid-morning snack is called a tienuurtje. This means "little 10 o'clock." It often includes cookies or fruit, along with fruit juice or chocolate milk. Many parents give their children a tienuurtje to eat during their school break. There's also a similar snack in the afternoon called a vieruurtje, or "little 4 o'clock."

Chile's La Once

In Chile, the snack called las once or la once (meaning 'eleven' in Spanish) is popular. However, it's usually eaten in the afternoon, sometimes even replacing dinner! About 80% of Chileans enjoy once. It's like a lighter version of a British afternoon tea.

Colombian Onces and Medias Nueves

In Colombia, people have a snack called onces around 5:00 p.m. It often includes hot chocolate or coffee with arepa, bread, or crackers. For a morning snack, usually between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., they have something similar called medias nueves.

Hungarian Tíz-órai

In Hungary, elevenses is known as Tíz-órai, which means "of the 10 o'clock." It's a light meal or snack taken between breakfast and lunch. In schools, the early lunch break is sometimes called a Tíz-órai break.

Polish Drugie Śniadanie

In Poland, people eat drugie śniadanie, which means "second breakfast," in the mid-morning. Unlike some heavier second breakfasts, Poles prefer lighter, sweet pastries or desserts with a hot drink. It's a bit like an American "coffee break."

Slovakian Desiata

In Slovakia, the desiata (meaning "tenth," from "tenth hour") is eaten around 10 a.m. It's usually a small snack, fruit, or a sandwich. This light meal helps keep stomachs from getting too full before lunch. School breaks around 10 a.m. are called desiatová prestávka, or "break for the tenth," giving students time to eat their desiata.

Spanish Almuerzo and Hamarretako

In Spain, a short meal break around 11:00 a.m. is common, especially for people doing hard physical work. This can be a hot drink with pastries, a sandwich, or even a piece of Spanish omelette. This meal is sometimes called almuerzo, though this word can also mean lunch. Lunch in Spain can be as late as 3:00 p.m., which makes a mid-morning snack very useful.

In the Basque Country, a mid-morning snack called hamarretako (meaning "10 o'clock snack") or hamaiketako ("11 o'clock snack") is popular. It often includes high-protein foods like eggs, bacon, or cured meat on bread.

Swedish Elvakaffe

In Sweden, it's common to drink coffee at 11:00 a.m., which is called elvakaffe (literally "coffee at eleven"). People often have a few biscuits or a light sandwich with their coffee.

Swiss Znüni

In Switzerland, the mid-morning snack is called a Znüni. This name means "(Meal) at nine." Even if the snack break happens at 10 a.m., especially in schools, the name Znüni stays the same.

United Kingdom's Elevenses

In the United Kingdom, elevenses is eaten at 11:00 a.m., just as the name suggests. It usually includes tea or coffee, often with a few biscuits. Sometimes, people might have cake or other snacks instead.

United States Coffee Break

In the United States, hourly workers often take a "coffee break" around 10:00 a.m. This is usually in a break room, and small snacks might be eaten too. Many school children also have a short "morning snack" break before lunch, typically between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.

Elevenses in Stories

Elevenses has appeared in many popular stories:

• Winnie-the-Pooh loved honey on bread with condensed milk for his elevenses.
• Paddington Bear often had elevenses at his friend Mr. Gruber's antique shop. Paddington would buy buns, and Mr. Gruber would make cocoa (hot chocolate).
• In J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, a big party was described as having food served "continuously from elevenses until six-thirty," showing how much food there was!

See also

In Spanish: Las once para niños