Christmas in England is revered and celebrated throughout the country. This is a great celebration. And they celebrate it at the Christmas dinner, when the queen makes her traditional speech. This is truly a welcome and expected holiday for all residents of the country.
Christmas in England has its own traditions that have evolved over the centuries. At this time of the year, people perform the same actions. Before the festive dinner, they go to church. On Trafalgar Square, which is central, a huge Christmas tree is being established; it is the main tree for the whole of Great Britain.
We all associate the Christmas holiday with a certain sacrament, old postcards, flickering flame of candles, cozy houses buried in garlands, a fireplace on which cute boots for gifts are hung. If all this is about you, then you should celebrate Christmas in England. Britain is a Catholic country, so the celebration is usually held on December 25th. You will easily have time to return to the celebration of Orthodox Christmas at home: with carols, a goose with apples and so on. It is best to go to the UK with the whole family.
To feel what Christmas is in England, you need to plunge into the atmosphere of the traditions of the pedantic inhabitants of this country. Many associate this holiday with huge sales, which are held the day before. Not that a child, even an adult, will feel happy in this whirl of events. Be sure to visit the Pettikoat Lane market, these days it turns into a whole trading city with Turkish, Malay, Arab districts.
Preparing for Christmas and buying gifts usually ends closer to Christmas Eve. It was at this time that decent English rushed to church to attend evening prayers. Mass is held at Westminster Abbey - a solemn service. Residents of London are trying to come early to have time to take their place inside. However, there are also always a lot of people outside who listen to the service. After the Mass, they rush home to share a gala dinner with their families.
Christmas in England is tinsel on trees, sparkling garlands, and traditional colored check paper. Not only houses are transformed, but also the lawns in front of them; various statuettes of the Father of Christmas are installed on them. It is he who allegedly brings presents to children.
How is Christmas celebrated in England? Quiet, cozy, family-like. It is customary to give souvenirs to everyone without exception. There is always a baked turkey on the festive table. People toast for the health of all those present.
Children, as already mentioned, bring Father Christmas presents. To tell him what they want, you just need to write a letter and throw it in the fireplace. It gets to the addressee with the help of smoke. Children go to bed on Christmas Eve in the evening, but after parents tell them stories about Christmas and read prayers.
In order to appease Father Christmas, you need to put a glass of milk and a meat pie on the festive table. Otherwise, children in the morning may be left without gifts. They look for them in special socks and stockings as soon as they wake up the next day.
Then, close to lunch, close friends and relatives will come to the house, they vigorously discuss the joy of the meeting, exchange presents and congratulations. After that, the Christmas dinner begins. At first, it is customary to serve all kinds of snacks, then - the main dish - turkey in currant sauce, and at the very end - a Christmas cake. At three in the afternoon the speech delivered by the queen for her subjects is annually broadcast. The whole family traditionally plays board games and charades.
A wonderful, kind and warm holiday is Christmas in England. Traditions say that on the second day after it, it is customary to open special boxes intended for charitable purposes and distribute their contents to those in need.