Interestingly, in other parts of the world, these seven stars are known not as a Dipper, but as some sort of a wagon.  In Ireland, for instance, it was recognized as "King David's Chariot," from one of that island's early kings; in France, it was the "Great Chariot."  Another popular name was Charles's Wain (a wain being a large open farm wagon).  And in the British Isles, these seven stars are known widely as "The Plough."

For most sky gazers, the Big Dipper (or Plough) is probably the most important group of stars in the sky.  For anyone in the latitude of New York (41 degrees North) or points northward, it never goes below the horizon.  It is one of the most recognizable patterns in the sky and thus one of the easiest for the novice to find. 

From

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20060512/sc_space/thebigdipperandthecross