Christmas celebrations and traditions in England

1. Christmas in England

2. England is a country situat ed in the United Kingdom. The capital city is London. The main denomination is Anglican, but people have Christmas too. England

3. Christmas in England is celebrate d from 25th December until 6th January every year (twelve days of Christmas) ‏ Christmas

4. 24th December is called Christmas Eve . This is the day when children from the whole country prepare cookies, milk and hay for Father Christmas and his reindeers, who arrive at night to leave the gifts. 24th December

5. For English people Christmas begins on 25 th December and is called Christmas Day. In the morning children find presents from Father Christmas in the stockings hanging over the fireplace. All members of the family have the Christmas dinner together . 25th December

6. For Christmas dinner people prepare mainly roast turkey, potatoes, Brussel sprouts and Christmas pudding . Christmas dinner

7. 26th December is called Boxing Day . In the past people used to give presents to their servants, but now they spend it visiting friends. 26th December

8. The houses are decorated with holly, ivy and mistletoe . There is an old custom that you must kiss the person standing under the mistletoe. The most characteristic decoration is an evergreen Christmas tree with candles, tinsel, ba ubles , paper chains and a star or an angel on the top of it. Decorating houses

9. A Christmas tree is an old custom, started probably by Martin Lut h er, that`s why English people can`t imagine Christ mas without this one in Trafalgar Square. Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square

10. Like many countries, in England Father Christmas is dressed in a red and white suit . He i s old and plump , he has got a long, white beard . He travel s by a flying sleigh . He climbs down the chimney, eats the cookies , drinks milk prepared for him by children and fills stockings with gifts. The sleigh is pulled by nine reindeers : Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen. The most famous, however, is Rudolph ( a famous song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) ‏ Father Christmas

11. This dates back to the late 19th century. Although Christmas puddings should be made well in advance, it is possible to make this pudding on Christmas Eve with very successful results. 8 oz currants 8 oz. sultanas 8 oz. stoned raisins 8 oz. Barbados sugar 4 oz. grated beef suet 4 oz. fresh breadcrumbs 4 oz. ground almonds 4 oz. blanched almonds, chopped 4 oz. mixed candied peel 6 oz. cooking apple, peeled and finely chopped 8 oz. plain flour Finely grated rind of 1 lemon Finely grated rind of 1 orange 2 tbsp. lemon juice 3 fl. oz. stout 4 eggs, beaten 1/2 oz. ground mixed spice 1/4 tsp. grated nutmeg 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon Pinch of salt 5 tbsp. Brandy BACK Recipe for Christmas pudding