Christmas in England

Photo by David Iliff

Christmas was celebrated in England for the first time in 596 AD. This was the time when St Augustine set foot on shore with other monks with the aim of introducing Christianity among Anglo Saxons.

Christmas in England is wet, cold, and foggy. People keep themselves warm by lighting the Yule log. Homes are decorated with streamers, flowers, paper flowers, bells, and lights. Most of the houses hang “mistletoe” in the front door.

Christmas Eve is a special occasion when people gear up for the next day celebrations. Christmas recipes are prepared, gifts are wrapped, and stockings are placed at the fireplaces. 

Family members assemble around the Christmas tree and listen to Christmas stories and carols. In keeping up with the Christmas traditions in England, children write letters to Father Christmas asking for gifts. These letters are thrown into the fire so their wishes can reach Santa through the smoke that emanates from the chimney.

Father Christmas is the one who brings presents. Children find these gifts at the base of the Christmas tree. However, they unwrap these presents in the following day, mostly in the afternoon.

Although it is called dinner but it is a midday meal and is enjoyed on December 25th. Frumenty is the only thing that people eat on Christmas Eve. It is a type of porridge that is made of corn. However, these days you will find other ingredients added to Frumenty too. These may include spice, eggs, dried plums, and meat lumps. For Christmas dinner the menu comprises sauces, turkey, and vegetables followed by dessert that includes brandy sauce, fruity pudding, mince pies, dried fruit, and pastries. Other dishes enjoyed for Christmas dinner are – chestnut stuffing, Yorkshire pudding, currants, and roast beef.

After enjoying Christmas dinner during daytime, people get glued to their television sets to hear the Queen’s message. One of the Christmas traditions in England is the Queen’s Christmas message to the people. The Queen’s message is broadcast on television and radio in entire British Commonwealth. The Queen’s afternoon speech is delivered at 3’o clock. The first time the Queen delivered speech was in the year 1957.

Mummering is one of the Christmas traditions in England. People wear masks and enact Christmas plays and scenes from Nativity. These plays take place in most of the towns, villages and countryside of England.

Boxing Day is celebrated a day after Christmas. Boys carrying clay boxes visit houses in the neighborhood to collect money. The boys break open the boxes once they are full. This is in keeping up with the customs followed in yester years when the donation boxes at the churches were opened following Christmas. The money was usually distributed among the needy.

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