Christmas in Great Britain

Christmas celebrated on 25th December is a big holiday for the British people. It is a religious holiday. On this day British people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Christmas Traditions

Christmas carols
Christmas carols are special songs which are sung during Christmas. The songs are about Jesus and the time when he was born. People go from house to house singing carols and collecting money for charity.

Christmas Trees
People put up a Christmas tree near the fireplace and decorate it with lights, baubles, chocolate figures and an angel on the top.

Every Christmas Britain is presented a large Christmas tree by Norway. It stands in all its glory at Trafalgar Square

Christmas Cards
They are sent before Christmas Day and people use them to decorate their houses. Some families send and receive over 100 cards.

Letters to Father Christmas
Children of Great Britain write letters to Father Christmas. They burn the letters in the fireplace so the ashes fly up the chimney and Father Christmas can read the smoke.

Advent calendars
An Advent calendar is a decorative piece of card with twenty-four small windows. Each day a window is opened to find a picture, a piece of chocolate, or a present.

Christmas stockings
Night time on Christmas Eve is a very exciting time for children. They hang stockings on the fireplace or at the foot of their beds for Father Christmas to fill.

On Christmas Eve he piles all of the toys into his sleigh and rides across the sky with his 9 reindeer.

Traditionally on Christmas Eve mince pies and sherry (or milk) are left out for Father Christmas and nowadays carrots are left for his reindeer

Christmas dinner
Christmas dinner consists traditionally of roast turkey, goose or chicken with potatoes.

People eat mince pies and Christmas pudding flaming with brandy. The pudding may contain coins or lucky charms for children. It is made with all sorts of dried fruits, nuts, spices

Christmas Crackers
They are used to decorate the table at dinner А cracker is a brightly colored paper tube, twisted at both ends, which contains a party hat, riddle and toy.

The paper crowns are made of tissue paper and unfold into an actual crown. Everyone is a king on Christmas!

Royal Christmas Message
The tradition of sending out a Christmas Message to the public began in 1932. Nowadays the Queen gives a speech on Christmas Day at 3pm in England.

Boxing Day
Boxing Day follows Christmas day and it is a bank holiday. Traditionally, it was the day to open the Christmas Box to share the contents with the poor. Nowadays schools gather gifts to be put in Christmas Boxes that are sent to poorer countries.

Boxing Day
The Symbols of Christmas

The Star
The Christmas star symbolizes the star of Bethlehem which guided the three kings to the baby Jesus.

Candy Canes
Candy Canes are traditionally striped in red and white colors. They symbolize the shepherd's hook used to bring the lambs back to their fold.

Christmas Wreath
As the Christmas wreath has no end, it symbolizes the eternal love of God

Christmas Candles
The candle is used as a popular Christmas decoration which brings light and warmth in cold winters

Christmas Bells
Christmas Bells mark the beginning of the holiday season.

Mistletoe
A kiss under the mistletoe could mean deep romance or lasting friendship and good will.