Christmas in Britain
CHRISTMAS
Christmas is the most popular family holiday in Britain. Long before Christmas people start doing their Christmas shopping. They buy Christmas cards, Christms presents and food. They also send Christmas greeting cards. Weeks before Christmas we can see lots of decorations in the main shopping streets in cities. The shops often have special decorations in the windows. People usually complete all preparations for Christmas on 24 December.
On Christmas Eve childen decorate Christmas tree and mothers do lot of cooking. In the evening some people go to church. Children hang up old stocking at the head of their beds. They believe that Santa Claus visits each children's house and leaves wonderful presents.
The 25 December is the most important day of Christmas. Early in the morning children open their presents. At midday the whole family gathers at the Christmas table. Some people eat goose or duck but most pople eat turkey and the butchers windows are full of turkey's before Christmas. Christmas dinner traditionally consist of roast turkey, mince pies and rich Christmas pudding. The pudding contain delicacies, dried fruit and spices. Everyone eats one's full. On 25 December the Queen delivers annual oration on television.
The 26 December is a bank holiday. On this day people give presents or money to paperboys or dustman. People visit their fiends. The 26 December is the last Christmas celebration. The Christmas season continues until the twelfth day after Christmas.
Christmas is a time of joy and happiness. People forget sadness and try to show kindness to everyone. The warmth and friendship of Christmas help us to forget the darkness and cold of winter.
COIN IN PUDDING
The most exciting moment at the Christmas dinner is finding out who the lucky person is whose portion of the pudding contains the coin. Children treasure this custom even if the coin is of no value.
The coin in the pudding is attributed to the festivities held in the last days of the Christmas period, Twelfth Night. This is done in memory of the three kings who are said to have arrived in Bethlehem, a mock 'king' would be chosen for the day only.
There were several names given for this day also such as the 'King of Misrule' where everyhting was reversed made topsy turvy, another name for this "king for a day" was "King of the Bean", which was based on the method by which he or she is chosen.
A bean was mixed into the cake and baked for the occasion. When the cake was broken up and its pieces distributed among the company, whoever found the hidden bean was supposed to be crowned the 'King of the Bean'. This ancient ritual may be the origin of the modern coin in the pudding.
Another ritual was that belonging to the pagan celebration of Saturnalia where the person who found the coin was killed.
Christmas Symbols
Snow
Bells
The Nativity Scene
Holly
Kissing Under the Mistletoe
Christmas Decorations
Old Stocking
Christmas Food
The Star
Candles
Christmas Tree
Baubles and Apples
Christmas Gifts
Carols
Rosemary
Christmas Rose
Christmas Colors
Christmas Cards
Father Christmas