Christmas in the United Kingdom

In the UK (or Great Britain), families often celebrate Christmas together, so they watch each other open their presents.

Most families have a Christmas tree in their house for Christmas. The decorating of the tree is usually a family occasion, with everyone helping. Holly, ivy and mistletoe are also sometimes used to decorate homes or other buildings.

Most villages, towns, cities are decorated with Christmas lights over Christmas. Often a famous person switches them on. The most famous Christmas lights in the UK are in Oxford Street in London. Every year thousands of people go to watch the big “switch on” around the beginning of November.

Father Christmas or Santa Claus leaves presents in stocking or pillow-cases. These are normally hung up by the fire or by a child’s bed on Christmas Eve.

In the UK, the main Christmas meal is usually eaten at lunchtime or early afternoon on Christmas Day. It is normally roast turkey, roast vegetables and “all the trimmings” which means vegetables like carrots, peas and sometimes bacon and sausages. It is often served with cranberry sauce and bread sauce.

Desert is often Christmas pudding. Mince pies and chocolates are often eaten as well!

The dinner table is decorated with a Christmas cracker for each person and sometimes flowers and candies.

What are “all the trimmings”?

What are “all the trimmings”?

Where does Father Christmas leave presents?

Who switches the Christmas lights?

What do most people use to decorate their houses?

What do most people use to decorate their houses?

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is celebrated in the USA and Canada. In the USA, it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November every year. The Canadians celebrate it on the second Monday in October. It is associated with giving thanks to God. In the beginning people expressed gratitude for the harvest they reaped. It used to be a religious holiday but now it has become a secular celebration.

The most important part of the celebration is the dinner which includes the customary turkey served with cranberry sauce, and pumpkin. A lot of business goes on during this holiday. For example, restaurants take advantage of the holiday to sell turkey dinners.

Families and friends usually get together for a large meal or dinner during Thanksgiving and have a lot of fun. That's why, the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is considered one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Students are given a four-day or five-day weekend vacation. Thanksgiving is also a paid holiday for most workers.

Christmas in the United Kingdom

In the UK (or Great Britain), families often celebrate Christmas together, so they watch each other open their presents.

Most families have a Christmas tree in their house for Christmas. The decorating of the tree is usually a family occasion, with everyone helping. Holly, ivy and mistletoe are also sometimes used to decorate homes or other buildings.

Most villages, towns, cities are decorated with Christmas lights over Christmas. Often a famous person switches them on. The most famous Christmas lights in the UK are in Oxford Street in London. Every year thousands of people go to watch the big “switch on” around the beginning of November.

Father Christmas or Santa Claus leaves presents in stocking or pillow-cases. These are normally hung up by the fire or by a child’s bed on Christmas Eve.

In the UK, the main Christmas meal is usually eaten at lunchtime or early afternoon on Christmas Day. It is normally roast turkey, roast vegetables and “all the trimmings” which means vegetables like carrots, peas and sometimes bacon and sausages. It is often served with cranberry sauce and bread sauce.

Desert is often Christmas pudding. Mince pies and chocolates are often eaten as well!

The dinner table is decorated with a Christmas cracker for each person and sometimes flowers and candies.

What do most people use to decorate their houses?