In England, Christmas traditions include decorating trees with ornaments and topping them with angels, having a large midday or afternoon meal that usually includes roast turkey and pudding, and children excitedly opening gifts found in their stockings on Christmas morning. Crackers are also pulled at the dinner table which contain small toys or gifts. Father Christmas fills children's stockings and brings gifts depending on their behavior.

1. Christmas Traditions in England

2. The Christmas tree became popular in England
in 1841 when Queen Victoria’s husband prince
Albert, brought a Christmas Tree from
Germany and put it on the Castle.
The Christmas tree is decorated with balls,
stars, bells, lights…
An angel is usually put on the very top of the
tree.

3. The Christmas dinner is the main
Christmas meal and it is usually eaten
at the mid-day or early afternoon.
It includes a roast turkey, potatoes and
sausages, tiny sausages wrapped in Roast Turkey
bacon…
For dessert there’s always a rich, fruity
pudding in flaming brandy.
Cranberry Sauce
Roast Potatoes

4. This is the favourite day for children. They
wake up very early in the morning to
find their stockings have been filled by
Father Christmas and excitedly unwrap
the presents before going to the sitting
room.

5. From 1870 children have hung up
Christmas stockings at the ends of their beds
or along the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
Today, children still hang Christmas stockings
or bags up ready for Father Christmas, who will
hopefully fill them up with presents, if the
children have been good.

6. Traditionally a Christmas cracker is placed
next to each plate on the Christmas dinner
table.
When the crackers are pulled out, falls a
colourful party crown, a toy or gift and a
festive joke.

7. Who’s this guy in the red suit?
In Wales, he’s Father Christmas, or Santa to some.
In Belgium, he is de Kerstman.
In France, he is Père Noel.
In Brazil, he is Papai Noel.
In Hungary, he is “the winter Grandfather”.
In Russia, he is Father Frost.

8. How we celebrate might change, but
the reason we celebrate does not.
People all over the world celebrate
Christmas for the same reasons.
The Birth of Jesus