Father Christmas

Many children wake up to find a sock or stocking filled with small gifts on their bed or somewhere else in the house. Children believe that Father Christmas or Santa Claus leaves presents in stockings or pillow-cases. These are normally hung up by the fire or by the children's beds on Christmas Eve. Children sometimes leave out mince pies and brandy for Father Christmas to eat and drink when he visits them. Now, some people say that a non-alcoholic drink should be left for Santa as he has to drive! He travels in a sleigh pulled by reindeer and enters houses by climbing down the chimney. He travels so fast that he can deliver presents to all children in one night, although some in some stories elves help him with his work.

In Britain, children write their letters to Father Christmas and then throw them into the fireplace so they will float up the chimney and fly to the North Pole. If the lists catch fire first, they have to rewrite them.

Christmas Dinner

Nearly everyone prepares and eats a special meal. On Christmas morning the family traditionally opens their presents and prepares for a big feast which typically is served just after midday. This often includes roast turkey or goose, potatoes and parsnips, and other vegetables. The meal begins with a toast, followed by the popping of the crackers. Cracker is a small cardboard tube covered in a brightly coloured twist of paper. When the cracker is 'pulled' by two people, each holding one end of the twisted paper, the friction creates a small explosive 'pop. Inside the cracker there is usually a tissue paper hat, a balloon, a slip of paper with a very corny joke on it (for example: "What does Santa call his blind reindeer?" "No-eye-deer!" / "Where do fish wash?" "In the river basin!" / "What do you get if you cross a sheep with a kangaroo?" "A wooly jumper!") and a small gift (usually a little cheap plastic thing e.g. a plastic ring or nail clippers). The family will pull each other's crackers before the meal starts, this often involves crossing arms and pulling two crackers at once. The person who gets the "big end" keeps the plastic trinket.

After the main course, Christmas pudding is often eaten. This is a heavy steamed, dense, cake-like pudding filled with dried fruit and nuts. Burning brandy is often poured over it as it is served, giving a spectacular effect. Mince pies are also popular on Christmas Day. They are sweet pastry cases filled with a mixture of dried fruit, fat and alcohol. After the meal they sit down in front of the Television for the traditional Christmas speech of the British Monarch.

Public life

Nearly all organizations, except hospitals and shelters for the homeless, are closed on Christmas Day. Some public houses and smaller stores selling food may open for a few hours in the middle of the day. Public transport services do not run to their normal timetables and may even not run at all. Public life closes down almost totally on Christmas Day.

Many churches hold special services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Some also organize shelter, company and food for the homeless or those who need help.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-16