Christmas in EnglandRoofs covered with snow, red-breasted robins on thickly frosted branches and fluffy cats leaving deep footprints on their solitary walks ... popular Christmas cards conjure up an image that most of us have never seen! But Christmas in England can be a magical experience, full of traditions and fun and delicious food. Maybe it's time you visited us and found out for yourself. Later, in the Middle Ages, the celebrations became bigger. Many kings of England held spectacular Christmas Courts, when they wore their crowns to impress their subjects and accepted oaths of fealty. They gave grand feasts and music and entertainments were such as most of their guests never saw at any other time.
So, when did it all change? Strangely enough, we know this quite well. In 1840, the young Queen Victoria married the German Prince Albert, who introduced many of the Christmas traditions he had enjoyed as a child when he came to live in England. And where the Royal Family lead, their subjects soon followed. Christmas trees, carols, Christmas cards and presents are - allegedly - all due to the influence of Prince Albert. But does this bother us? Not at all. England is an ancient land and many different peoples have lived and visited here and left their mark. And so, some of our Christmas traditions go back to druids, Saxons, Vikings, Normans and the medieval period. And they all blend into Christmas celebrations that are uniquely English.
We put up trees and decorate them as the fancy takes us. We sing carols and hang up stockings and go to Midnight Mass. Then we sit up with carrots and mince pies and sherry trying to catch Santa delivering the presents in the early hours of the morning. But even though we see nothing, tubs of Brylcreem are miraculously replenished ...(well, maybe Santa does this for my husband's family only!), mince pies, carrots and sherry disappear and stockings are filled ready to be emptied and then everyone sits down to the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings before falling asleep during the Queen's speech!
Wishes up the Chimney How is one to contact Father Christmas (also called Santa) to tell him one's dearest wish when the man is so busy and so elusive?Well, English children have that one covered.They write a careful note to the man in red and send it up the chimney to be collected by reindeer mail. But English children are not the only ones to write letters during December. The Royal Mail handles millions of Christmas cards every winter. We send cards not only to family members, but to many of our friends - even if we communicate by email and phone for the rest of the year. The cards we receive are propped up on the mantelpiece, hung from the banisters or displayed in elaborate holders, such as these ones below: For more Christmas flowers and flower gift ideas ... For many people in England, Christmas is a time of celebration and we like to enjoy good food with friends and family. Hampers of Gourmet Christmas Food And, of course, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without chocolates. Here's a wonderful selection of chocolate decorations, fun gifts and really great Christmas gifts for you to browse.
Christmas LightsIn England, Christmas is celebrated during the darkest part of the year, so lights have always played a big part in the celebrations.We light candles, decorate our homes inside and out with light and - of course - fit lights to the Christmas tree. Many towns put up special 'Christmas lights" during the winter months and the official switch-on is often a most cheerful party. Blackpool and Oxford Street in London have some of the most celebrated Christmas light displays in the country. So if you're here during the festivities, wait until it's dark and then have a look.
Most families will put up a Christmas tree - sometimes a couple of weeks in advance of Christmas - and decorate it beautifully with lights and charms and baubles of all kinds. Towns, shops and big corporations are not slow to join in. And the huge Christmas tree that proudly stands in Trafalgar Square arrives every year from Norway with good wishes from the Norwegian people!
Meet Santa ClausChristmas is a magical time for children and most children love to meet Father Christmas.Most of the time, he can be found in his grotto, with a reindeer or two close by. He's friendly but stern, and if his long white beard is made from cotton wool, that does little to spoil the picture. Sitting on Santa's knee is quite an experience for any child, and for the parents it's a small, cheerful break in the rigours of shopping. Shopping centres are busy in the run-up to Christmas, but they're also beautiful. Besides Santa Claus and the multi-coloured Christmas lights there's often music. Traditional Christmas Food Being such a huge feast, Christmas is associated with a raft of traditional foods. Many of them, such as mincemeat, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding are better for being made weeks in advance and being left to mature. These are foods that have a long tradition, maybe as far back as the Middle Ages. They are heavy with dried and candied fruit and laced with alcohol. Mince Pies, a sweet pastry crust filled with mincemeat are offered at tea time, carol concerts and Christmas parties all the way through the Christmas season. Christmas pudding is traditionally flamed with cognac and served with cream or brandy butter at the end of the traditional Christmas dinner. While Christmas cake is an afternoon treat. So, what else is on the menu over the festive season? For most families, roast turkey with all the trimmings - that's sprouts, roast potatoes, carrots, chipolata sausages wrapped in bacon, chestnuts, and various sauces such as Bread Sauce and Cranberry Sauce- is the highlight of the traditional Christmas dinner. This is followed by either Christmas pudding or a Christmas trifle. On Boxing Day, a baked ham could take centre stage, served cold with salads and pickles and Cumberland Sauce. There could also be smoked salmon, or a large pie. But away from the very traditional, there are many variations. Not everyone likes turkey. Goose and duck are available, as is fish. And the many Vegetarians in England are developing their own traditional dinners. And all around the house there will be nibbles, and mince pies, and sweets and nuts and - of course - chocolate! Christmas would not be Christmas without chocolate.
If You're in England for Christmas ......then there's little chance of seeing snow. We often wish for a White Christmas, but we rarely get one. It will be chilly, though, and it might be wet.So it makes sense to stay cosily indoors and enjoy the food and company. Many hotels offer special Christmas rates with much food and entertainment provided throughout. But it's well to book early, as these deals are very popular. Christmas eve is a workday for many of us. But companies tend to close earlier than normal. Shops are still open and will be busy with last-minute shoppers, but gradually the day winds down.
After a light supper, children will hang up their stockings by the fireplace. (And despite 17 years in England I still haven't worked out where that tradition really comes from or what it signifies. Friends tell me that fewer and fewer families do that now, so I may never have the chance to find out.) Compared to the hectic month of December, Christmas eve is quiet. There's an evening carol service in our local church. In other churches there will be a nativity play performed by the town's children. But most churches will celebrate Midnight Mass. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are public holidays and most people don't go to work. The children will be up early, checking if Father Christmas has been. The turkey will go in the oven soon after breakfast. The kitchen will be a busy place then, with potatoes and sprouts to peel, sausages to cook, gravy to make and the Christmas pudding to steam.
And after all these preparations Christmas dinner, served between 1pm and 2pm can last a while. Then there's the Queen's Christmas speech and the afternoon is often spent snoozing or playing games or watching The Great Escape On Boxing Day, people are on the move visiting each other. The 'serious' part of Christmas is over and we're having fun. The kids are on holiday until the new year, but many people return to work on December 27th. Hectic and quiet, commercial and contemplative, traditional and modern - Christmas in England is a wonderful time. Come and share it with us!
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Presents were not a part of a Medieval Christmas. In those years, people gave and received New Year's gifts instead.
Thousands of children write letters to Santa each year and send them up the chimney. 
But don't despair if you're nowhere near the fabled lights. Many people light up their homes and and evening stroll through the town or village you're visiting can yield some amazing sights. 
Carols From Kings, on the radio in the late afternoon, starts my Christmas celebrations. I light a few candles and sit down with a cup of tea or a glass of wine to listen.
on television.
