Christmas in England
Christmas preparations start on 1 st December with Advent. Children have Advent calendars and each day they open a window to reveal a picture (or a chocolate) – in this way they count down the days until Christmas Day. Some families also have a candle and burn a little each evening until Christmas Day.
People, during December, put up Christmas trees (real or artificial) in their homes and decorate them with ornaments, tinsel and lights. Sometimes people also put lights outside their house.
Everyone sends Christmas cards to one another – friends send them to one another at school, family members exchange cards, and of course we send them to family and friends.
At school young children perform a Christmas play or nativity and they also have a Christmas party. There is usually a school Christmas Service at the local church and carols are sung. Sometimes people sing carols outside the houses and raise money for local charities. (carol singers) Mince Pies are very popular at Christmas time.
They are small pies filled with mincemeat – not meat at all but a filling of raisins, sultanas, apricots, glace cherries, citrus peel, nuts and spices. They are also Father Christmas’ favourite food so children often leave him a mince pie with a glass of sherry, and of course carrots for his reindeer.
Christmas Eve is a very exciting time for children. Some people go to midnight mass at the church. Children hang their Christmas stockings/bags at the end of their bed or by the fireplace before they go to bed, remembering to leave Father Christmas and his reindeer a little snack. They know Father Christmas
will only visit if they have been good.
Christmas Day Children wake up very early to see if Father Christmas has been. They excitedly unwrap their presents before going down for breakfast. Later in the morning or in the early afternoon everyone gathers together and opens their presents under the Christmas tree. Some people go to church and sing carols and celebrate the birth of Jesus. In the afternoon some people listen to the Queen’s speech on the radio or on television.
Christmas Dinner
Traditional Christmas dinner is served at midday or in the early afternoon and includes roast turkey or goose, roast potatoes, sprouts, carrots and other vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy and chipolatas wrapped in bacon (small sausages).
A Christmas cracker is placed next to each dinner plate. As the cracker is pulled, a party hat falls out together with a Christmas joke and a small toy.
Christmas pudding is then served. This is a very rich pudding with raisins, cherries and nuts and served with custard or cream.
Boxing Day The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day and is also a National Holiday. People spend time with their families.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!