Christmas In

Great Britain

Christmas Eve It is the night when Father

of Christmas comes. Children hang up their

stockings for Father of Christmas to put some presents in.

One tradition is put out a plate of carrots for the reindeer, and mince pies and sherry for Father Christmas to help him on his way.

Children believe that the Father Christmas comes down the chimney to leave the presents under tree.

Christmas Day On Christmas morning the

family traditionally opens their presents.

They prepares a Christmas Dinner which typically is served just after midday.

After the meal they relax,watch Christmas Television and play board games.

After the meal they sit down in front of the Television for the traditional Christmas speech of the British Monarch.

Boxing Day It is traditionally a time to

give gifts to tradesmen, servants, friends and poor people.

They visit families and exchange presents with tchem.

It is often a day when football matches are played in the professional leagues.

They eat leftovers (food they didn't eat on Christmas Day)

They relax and playing games.

New Year's Eve Two of the most famous

fireworks displays are in London, along the River Thames, and in Edinburgh at the Hogmanay celebrations.

They have big parties all over the country to celebrate New Year.

The biggest party is in London.

In England a stranger coming through the door carrying a lump of coal will bring good luck.

Christmas Food

Christmas Pudding It is sometimes known as plum

pudding or just a "pud”.

Plum puddings are a very rich, dark pudding made with all sorts of dried fruits, nuts, spices, black treacle and lots sherry or brandy.

They are made well before Christmas as it takes time for the alcohol to soak into the dried fruit.

Christmas Cake Some people love it and some

people really don't like it! It's traditionally a rich fruit

cake covered with marzipan and icing - and often top with Christmas themed cake decorations like a spring of holly.

They should be made about six weeks before Christmas and are usually decorated with ribbons and images of Santa Claus or robins with holly.

Mince Pie Mince pies were often

known as Christmas pies.

Mince pies traditionally served during the Christmas season.

It is a mixture of dried fruit (raisins, sultanas, candied peel, etc.,) apples, spices, sugar and suet, often moistened with brandy or sherry, and baked in small pastry cases.

Images of Christmas

Christmas Crackers: Cracker is a small cardboard

tube covered in a brightly coloured twist of paper.

When the crackers are pulled - with a bang! - a colourful party hat, a toy or gift and a festive joke falls out! (for example: "Where do fish wash?" "In the river basin!")

The family will pull each other's crackers before the meal starts, this often involves crossing arms and pulling two crackers at once.

Christmas Cards: Christmas card is a greetin

card sent as part of the traditional celebration of Christmas.

The traditional greeting reads "wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year".

Objects associated with Christmas such are candles, holly, baubles, and Christmas trees.

Christmas Trees: Christmas trees are an

integral part of the Christmas decorations in most British households.

The decorating of the tree is usually a family occasion, with everyone helping.

Christmas trees were decorated with candles, sweets and in the top the is an angel or star.

In London, near the statue of Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square, a giant Christmas tree is set up and decorated with great ceremony each year.

Mistletoe: There are lots of legends

and traditions surrounding mistletoe.

It was believed that kissing under the mistletoe would lead to marriage.

Druids believed that mistletoe would bring good luck and health.

A good crop of mistletoe is a sign that there will be a good harvest in the following season.

The berries are poisonous.

The Holly and The Ivy Holly, has dark green spiky

leaves and red berries. Holly has ability to drive demons

away.

the magical powers of mistletoe and holly were taken quite seriously.

Ivy is used only to decorate the outside.

Ivy was banned from the inside of Christian homes.

The Nativity Play A Nativity play is a play,

usually performed at Christmas, which recounts the story of the birth of Jesus.

Many primary schools and Sunday schools in the UK put on a Nativity play.

The infant Jesus is sometimes represented by a doll, but sometimes played by a real baby.

Schoolchildren in costume act as the human and angel characters, and often as the animals and props.

Pantomime Pantomime is a type of

musical comedy stage production, designed for family entertainment.

It is a participatory form of theatre, in which the audience is expected to sing along with certain parts of the music and shout out phrases to the performers.

Pantomime includes songs, slapstick comedy and dancing.

Pantomime employs gender-crossing actors.

The Wishbone People have to hook their

little finger round an end each and pull it apart until it breaks.

While they are pulling, they are making a wish.

The person who gets the "bigger half" of the wishbone will have his or her wish "come true”.

You mustn't tell anyone what you wished for, or it won't come true.

Daniel Bednarczykkl.2e