Christmas in UK

Christmas traditions in the UK

1. Letters to Father Christmas

In the USA children write letters and put them in the mailbox. In the UK children write letters to Father Christmas. Then they burn the letters or throw them into the fire. Burning letters sends them directly to the North Pole.

2. Hanging stockings

American children traditionally hang stocking around the fireplace for Santa to fill with presents. In the UK children hang stockings around the bed.

3. Treats for Father Christmas

In the UK people leave brandy and mince pie for Father Christmas.

American children traditionally leave milk and cookies for Santa.

4. Christmas crackers

A Christmas cracker is a decorated cardboard tube. When you grab it and pull apart it makes a cracking noise (there's a tiny explosive there). Inside the cracker there is usually a plastic toy, a paper crown/hat and a joke

5. Christmas hats

Inside the Christmas cracker there are colourful paper hats and all family members wear them.

6. Christmas dinner

Christmas dinner in the UK is a big feast. The main dish is usually a roast turkey surrounded by bacon-wrapped chipolatas (pork sausages). There are roast potatoes and veggies (traditionally brussels sprouts).

On the Christmas table in the UK, you can also find some roast potatoes or mashed potatoes, some gravy and bread sauce.

minced pies

A minced pie is a pastry filled with dried fruit and spices with some sugar on the top.

Chrismas pudding

It's a dense, boiled cake with dried fruit and spices. It's soaked in alcohol , aged for several months and then boiled again,soaked in alcohol again and then set on fire.

After Christmas meal, people usually watch TV (telly), some films or Chistmas TV specials.

7. Royal Christmas message

On Christmas day which is 25th December in the UK Her Majesty the Queen gives the speech to the nation on BBC. She usually addresses the events of the past year and gives some Christmas wishes.

8. Boxing Day

Boxing Day is on 26th December. It's a big shopping day. There are huge sales and some people get up very early wait and queue outside the stores.

9. Pantomime

Around Christmas every theatre in the country puts on pantomimes. these are plays for kids based on the fairy tales like Cinderella or Alladin. Celebrities star in them.

10. Taking down the Christmas tree

People in the UK believe that the Christmas tree and decorations should be taken down within 12 days after Christmas. Otherwise you will have bad luck for the rest of the year.

Thank You!