Christmas in the UK

Photo credit: waldopepper / Foter.com / CC BY-NC

Source: Oxford Culture Mania

December 7, 2015 By Mark

One famous department store on Oxford Street in London started selling Christmas products on the 4^th of August this year, but December 1^st is when a lot of people begin the countdown to Christmas by hanging up their advent calendars. These have 24 little doors, one to open each day, with a picture, or a chocolate behind them.

Many houses are decorated, with the Christmas tree, which can be real or imitation, the most important element. This custom was introduced from Germany in the 19^th century by Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert. Around a billion cards are also sent and displayed – no other country in the world has such a tradition – and one of the most popular images is a bird, the robin (because in the 1800s postmen wore red uniforms and their nickname was robins).

credit: johnb/Derbys/UK. / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

During the month of December a lot of people meet to sing carols at schools and churches, and sometimes they go from house to house knocking on doors and collecting money for charity. Schoolchildren dress up and perform special Christmas plays, although nowadays these are often much less religious than they used to be.


December 24^th – Christmas Eve – is very exciting for boys and girls waiting to see what  Santa is going to leave in their stockings or under the tree, but the “big day” is Christmas Day. One study says that the average family gets up at 8.00, starts opening presents at 8.19, has breakfast at 9.02 and the first argument at 9.58! Lunch is at 3.24 pm, with 85% of people eating the typical roast turkey with all the trimmings.

Boxing Day, December 26^th, is also a public holiday in the UK, but a lot of shops open and the sales begin. There is also a lot of sport, including Premier football and rugby and a very important horse race.


So, have you done any Christmas shopping yet? The average person in the UK will spend €700 on presents, and 45% of people will buy these on the internet. However, 10% of the population leave it to the last day, and probably have to look for something in the nearest petrol station!  A survey by the Post Office last year showed that two thirds of people receive unwanted gifts but are too polite to say anything, choosing to give (or throw!) them away or sell them online. What do you prefer: a surprise (that might be good or bad) or something that you have asked for?

Anyway….wherever you are, and however you celebrate, have a very Merry Christmas!