BRITISH CHRISTMAS

Hello! We are going to tell you how Christmas is in the UK.

1. HOW IS IT CELEBRATED?

Christmas is a magical season. It brings families and friends together and they share customs and traditions. Most people are on holiday in the UK and stay at home with their family on Christmas day.

The English Christmas celebrations include beautiful Christmas music and decorated Christmas trees. The word Christmas comes from the Old English name ”Cristes Maesse”.

During the weeks before Christmas Day, they send cards, they watch nativity plays and they go to carol services. The English gift giver is called Father Christmas. He wears a long red or green robe, and leaves presents in stockings on Christmas Eve.

2. CHRISTMAS EVENTS

The beginning of Advent is when the preparations for Christmas really beging: the festive menu is planned, gifts are choosen and wrapped, carol sungs, cards are written and posted and houses decorated. There are four Advent Sundays. ADVENT Advent is the time in which Christians wait for the arrival of the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem about two thousand years ago. Christmas preparations take place at the beginning of Advent. The menu is planned, gifts are bought and wrapped, carols are sung, cards are written and posted, and houses are decorated. There are four Sundays before Christmas in the Advent Calendar.

CHRISTMAS EVE Christmas Eve or Christmas-tide marks the beginning of the Christmas celebration. Christmas Eve night is a very exciting time for young children because Father Christmas comes. Since 1870, children have hung up Christmas stockings at the end of their beds or along the mantelpiece above the fireplace.

CHRISTMAS DAY Christmas day is on 25th December. Christmas presents are opened on this day. Many Christians will go to church to sing carols and to celebrate the birth of Jesus. A traditional feature of Christmas afternoon is the Queen’s Christmas Message.

BOXING DAY It is usually celebrated on 26th December. The 26th of December is called Boxing Day because traditionally, this day was the day to open the Christmas Box and share its contents with the poor. Boxing Day is also known as St. Stephen’s Day.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS Christmas Bank holidays are the twelve days of Christmas which are the last six days of the old year and the first six days of the New Year.

NEW YEAR’S EVE It is on 31st Decenber. At midnight everybody joins hands and sings Auld Lang Syne.

NEW YEAR’S DAY New Year’s Day is on 1st January. London’s New Year's Day Parade is a common part of the New Year’s celebration. More than 10,000 dancers, acrobats, cheerleaders, musicians and performers assemble in the heart of the city for a "celebration of nations."

EPIPHANY It is on 6th January. Epiphany day honours the arrival of the Magi (three wise men) and the first public presentation of Baby Jesus.

3. IMPORTANT MEALS

The traditional Christmas dinner is roast turkey, goose or chicken with stuffing and roast potatoes. This is followed by mince pies and Christmas pudding flaming with brandy, which must contain coins or other cheerful charms for children.

The pudding is usually prepared weeks before and is removed according to the custom of each family member and they make a wish at the same time. Later, on Christmas day, cake is served with a rich fruit cake, marzipan and icing sugar.

. A Christmas cracker often accompanies food on Christmas Day. It was invented by a baker in London in 1846. It is a biscuit in a tube of brightly coloured paper twisted at both ends that contains a party hat, toys and other trinkets.

4. CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

I live in the North Pole. We work 365 days a year to make children happy.

Here all the gifts are made by elves.

Every year, on 24th December, I go to every house and leave gifts there.

I always … … leave the gifts … … in the … … stockings.

I always go down the chimney. What if it is lit?

Children usually leave some biscuits and milk for me and a carrot for the reindeer. I love biscuits!

Well. this is all. Happy Christmas and a happy new year! Jorge Aguirregomezcorta Rosana Bautista Marta Roche Carlos Rozada