CHRISTMAS IN UK

Christmas is near and I think it´s important to know how it is celebrated in the UK. There are lots of sites where you can find information and I´ve used them in order to write this post to show you the most important aspects of Christmas in UK.

Everybody knows what we celebrate at Christmas, don´t you?. Christmas is when Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus.

During the weeks Christmas Day, British send cards, watch nativity plays and go to carol services. They also put up Christmas decorations in their homes and churches. In the Victorian period, Christmas started to become an important festivity. It was time for the family to be together, and a time to enjoy special foods, music, carols and games. But at this time there were also big differences between the social classes: there were the very rich and the very poor. This was brilliantly described by Charles Dickens in his Christmas Stories, especially in A Christmas Carol.

Christmas Eve (Christmas evening) is the day for decorating homes and churches. It marks the beginning of the period formally called Christmas-tide. This night is very exciting for young children as it is the time when Father Christmas comes. Children leave mince pies and brandy for him and carrots for his 9 reindeers (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner (or it may be Donder), Blitzen and of course ... Rudolf!, the most famous one because of his red nose). If they have been good Father Christmas will fill up the Stockings with presents.

People also go to a carol service that night. There are usually two carol services: Candle lit service where the congregation hold a candle while they sing Christmas carols and watch a nativity scene performed by children and the midnight Mass.

Christmas Day. People open the presents that day. Moreover, there are Church Services and people also prepare the Christmas dinner at mid-day and then Christmas tea.

Another tradition in the UK is the Queen´s Message in the afternoon (at 3 o´clock) not only in UK but also throughout the Commonwealth.

The pulling of Christmas crackers often accompanies food on this Day. They are an old tradition. Two people pull the cracker until it goes “bang” and opens. Inside there is a small present, a paper hat and a joke.

A traditional English Christmas Dinner includes roast turkey or goose, brussel sprouts, roast potatoes, cranberries sauce, rich nutty stuffing, tiny sausages wrapped in bacon and lashings of hot gravy. For dessert, there is Christmas Pudding. It is a brown pudding with raisins, nuts and cherries. Brandy is often poured over the pudding and then people set a light as it is carried to the table.For the rest of the Christmas people usually have Christmas Cakes and Yule Log as typical desserts.

At about 6 p.m, British have the Christmas Tea, which is enjoyed by family and friends not only because of the tea but also the games they play.

The Boxing Day. After Christmas Day they celebrate the boxing day, which is a public holiday. This name has two possible origins. Some say it has this name because in the past English masters gave their servants a box with small presents or money on 26^th December. Others say it was the day when the Christmas box from the church was open to share it with the poor. Although it is an old tradition, nowadays people continue giving money to regular visiting trades people such as the milkman, paper boy…or even to their employees.

This day is also the day of fox hunting as well.

Decorations. Most houses in Britain will have a Christmas tree under which they´ll place the presents. They are decorated in family with tinsel, lights and small ornaments which hang from the branches. An angel or a star is usually put at the top of the tree. Every year there is a very big Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square in London. It is a present from the people of Norway.

Many Christian homes also have a nativity scene. Other decorations are for example the holly, ivy, mistletoe, decorations made of coloured paper, candy canes, bells....

Red and green are the traditional colours of Christmas. Green represents the continuance of life through the winter and the Christian belief in eternal life through Jesus. Red symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed at His Crucifixion.

Pantomimes.  In Great Britain pantomimes are very popular. This wonderful Christmas entertainment is a form of comic theatre, with songs. The stories are usually famous fairy tales such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty…

The twelve days of Christmas. The twelve days of Christmas traditionally begin the day after Christmas Day and end with Twelfth Night. These days were traditionally filled with merry-making, dancing and feasting. They used to visit neighbours and share mince pie and Christmas food.

Twelfth Night is the time when Christmas decorations should be removed so as not to bring bad luck upon the home. The Twelfth Day (6^th January) is the last day of the Christmas season. In western churches it is known as the day when the wise men brought gifts to Christ child.

New year´s Eve or New year´s Day are not specially celebrated in the UK. New year´s eve is a night for parties, music, dance, fireworks…In London lots of people go to Trafalgar Square and wait for the famous bell Big Ben to strike midnight. This is the time of year when people make “New Year´s Resolutions”. During New year´s Day, families have a special lunch and spend a quiet day at home.

List of typical Christmas Food. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christmas_dishes#United_Kingdom_.26_Ireland. By clicking each dish you´ll have access to its description.

List of the most common Christmas Carols: http://ldsguy.tripod.com/Christmas.carols.html. By clicking the title you´ll have the lyrics.