Christmas in Great Britain

Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December.
It is the greatest holiday in Great Britain.
There are a lot of interesting traditions connected with Christmas in Great Britain. Some weeks before Christmas English people decorate their houses with holly and electric lights.

Holly (остролист) is an evergreen plant with sharp-pointed leaves and red berries. Many years ago people began to put holly in their homes during the dark cold winters.

Eve (December, 24) there is a bunch of mistletoe in every house. Mistletoe (омелла) is an evergreen plant with small leaves and small berries. Under this bunch boys kiss girls.

А robin (малиновка) as a Christmas bird. You can see it on almost every Christmas card.
People also buy and send Christmas cards to their friends usually containing the message “Merry Christmas”.

Carol-singers can be heard on the streets as they collect money. Then they give the money to poor and old people.

Most families usually have a Christmas tree in the front room. There is a shining star or an angle at the top of the Christmas tree.

On Christmas Eve children leave long socks called Christmas stockings at the end of their beds or by the chimney or hang them by the fireplace.

Crackers are a usual tradition at Christmas dinner. Two people pull a cracker, it makes a bang and a Christmas hat, a small toy and a piece of paper with a joke on it fall out of it!

Christmas turkey
English people celebrate Christmas Day with a big holiday dinner.
A turkey is a traditional Christmas bird.

People usually decorate Christmas pudding, they put holly on it. Traditionally a coin is placed into the pudding. It brings good luck to a person who finds it.

December, 26 is Boxing Day in Great Britain. People do not work on that day. People usually visit their relatives and friends.