Christmas is a worldwide holiday, but every country has its own quirks and traditions. The UK in particular celebrates certain traditions a little differently to other countries. This guide details the best of those British traditions.
Christmas crackers
Brits love laying the table for a turkey Christmas dinner, and the set-up is not complete without Christmas crackers with surprise gifts inside. Crackers, which were invented in the Victorian times in London, can also be used as part of Christmas decorations on the tree.
Mince pies
Pastries filled with ‘mincemeat’, which is actually not meat at all, are a massively popular Christmas treat. They are so loved that they are often left out as a treat Santa next to a carrot for the reindeer.
The pantomime
Going to the ‘panto’ is a family loved Christmas tradition. Popular pantos often run through Christmas and New Year and it’s often a tradition that families undertake every year.
Hanging stockings over the fire
Western tradition dictates that if children put a stocking over the fireplace, Santa Claus will fill them with presents and sweets. However, if they are naughty, children are threatened with stockings filled with coal instead. Stockings, like crackers, have also become part of the Christmas decorations in recent years.
Exchanging gifts on the 25th
Gift giving is part of the Christmas tradition throughout the world, but lots of European countries don’t actually exchange gifts on the 25th like the UK. Some countries exchange gifts on the 24th. The UK is one of the minority of countries that opens presents on ‘Christmas day’.
