Mistletoe, fruitcake, turkey: with festive decorations, the British celebrate the season of love just as generously as with a well-laden holiday table. Basically, Christmas in Britain doesn't differ all that much from the customs here. Over the Christmas holidays, people in the United Kingdom treat themselves to three days of comfort - with the family, of course.
How Christmas is celebrated in Britain
The gift-giving takes place, as in the United States and some other countries, not on Christmas Eve but on the morning of December 25. The evening before, though, young and old hang up their red stockings for small gifts and sweets, preferably over the fireplace, of course. During the night, Santa Claus - or 'Father Christmas,' as he's affectionately called in England - fills them. The bigger presents wait under the tree, naturally. Almost all Britons spend the afternoon of Christmas Day in front of the TV. There's a good reason for that: year after year, the monarch's Christmas message is broadcast on television. And the typically British cup of tea and a slice of tasty cake can't be missing.
The second day of Christmas is the so-called 'Boxing Day.' This day is all about gratitude, and many people use it to express their appreciation not only to friends and relatives. Whether it's the mail carrier who delivers the Christmas cards, the hardworking crews from the garbage collection, or teachers, coworkers, and neighbors. In the spirit of charity, those in need are remembered too - whether in London and England, in Ireland, Scotland, or the rest of the Commonwealth.
Merry Christmas in English: 'Merry Christmas'
Christmas in England - the differences at a glance
Santa Claus is called Father Christmas.
The gift-giving takes place on the morning of December 25.
Traditional dishes are plum pudding, fruitcake, and turkey.
Kissing under the mistletoe is a popular custom.
On Christmas Day, the monarch's TV message is broadcast.
The second day of Christmas is 'Boxing Day,' for saying thank you to others.
A British Christmas meal: sweet and savory!
The highlight of the British Christmas meal is the turkey the British traditionally serve for the holiday. The bird is usually of impressive size, stuffed with apples, roast potatoes, or - if things are meant to be a bit more decadent - simply more meat, for example a spiced ground-meat mixture. Anyone celebrating on a smaller scale serves the goose that's popular in Germany, too. A richly set British table wouldn't be complete, however, without the many traditional desserts: nearly every family puts the plum pudding, also known as 'Christmas pudding,' on the table over the Christmas holidays. Despite what the name suggests, it isn't a classic sweet dessert. The boiled or steamed 'pudding' is made of fruit, breadcrumbs, and fat; after preparation it's doused with brandy or other alcohol and finally flambéed. Anyone who doesn't care for this dessert will probably be glad of the sweet iced fruitcake, which is on the table above all for the children.
