Christmas in the UK

Hi Everyone, Happy Holidays!

Our first seasonal blog post will be about Christmas in the UK. I know that Christmas Day has passed and now we’re into the 12 days of Christmas, but the Christmas spirit is still around!

Christmas Songs

Days before Christmas, everyone will start to look for their Christmas CDs and have them playing in their houses, or shops. Along with turning on the CDs, all decorations are put up.

Here are some Christmas songs that have become favourites and are always played to increase the festive mood:

• Little Drummer Boy

• Last Christmas

• White Christmas

• Mary’s Boy Child

• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Minced Pies

The Christmas pie dates back to the 13th century in England. Minced pies has evolved throughout the years and what we have today started during Queen Victoria’s era.

They are usually filled with either meat, suet or dried fruits and are eaten alone or with cream. Mulled wine, whisky mac, eggnog and a cup of tea are drinks that go well with them.

Christmas feasts are then usually followed by watching the annual speech by the Queen addressed to the nation at 3pm on Christmas Day.

Christmas Pudding

The Christmas pudding is a spiced boiled fruit pudding that can be served with brandy butter, brandy sauce or cream.

In the olden days, a decree from the Roman Catholic Church states that ‘the pudding should be made on the 25th Sunday after Trinity, and should be prepared with 13 ingredients to represent Christ and the 12 apostles, and that every family member stir in it in turn from east to west in honour of the Magi and their supposed journey direction.’ This leads to the Stir Up Sunday direction where are members of the family take turns to stir and make a wish.

Christmas Crackers

Christmas crackers are made up of 3 chambered card board tube wrapped in colourful papers. As the family sits in a circle, everyone crosses their hand, pulling one of their cracker-end and the cracker-end of the person beside. As everyone pulls the crackers, a bang sound is heard and out spills the middle tube content which are full of prizes, a paper crown for everybody, a paper with a joke and a small toy.

Boxing Day

It’s shopping day! Stores open early and queues starts since midnight in certain places as the post-Christmas sale starts on the 26th of December. People are ready to barge and knock into each other for the sake of getting the things they have aimed for.

Christmas in the UK is very festive and pretty. Each city will have a Christmas light switch on day, marking the start of lighting the city centre with colourful and bright lights, with Oxford Street in London being the most beautiful and popular destination to enjoy Christmas lights.

[credits: BBCAmerica]