Ten British Christmas Traditions Every Anglophile Will Learn to Love – Which is Your Favorite?
Being the Anglophile that I am, I have often sought out classic British traditions and tried to incorporate them into my own holiday celebrations here in America. I’ve picked them up from British TV shows, books, and magazines (and a few when we spent Christmas in England in 2013). Some are quintessentially British, others might be a little fringe and honestly not very British at all. Still, having had the joy of experiencing a British Christmas, we now count many of these traditions as part of our usual American Christmas traditions.
Mince Pies
Mince pies aren’t really a thing here in America. I couldn’t even tell you where to buy them locally. Most Americans probably think they’re actually still made with meat. They’re not part of Christmas traditions here. Instead, we eat cookies, cakes and other types of pies. It’s actually rather odd to us to call a Mince Pie and pie – our pies are usually the size of a frisbee. Until you’ve tasted a Mince Pie, really one from any grocery store will do (but homemade are better), you don’t know what you’re missing. They’re simply delicious. It feels like you’re taking a bite of Christmas when you’re eating one. Children also usually leave out a few mince pies, a carrot for the reindeer and a class of Sherry instead of milk (to warm his cold bones!).
Christmas Crackers
Christmas crackers have also not been a tradition here in the States, they’re popular in Canada, and the tradition has started to leak down south of the border. This is partly because there’s a small bit of gunpowder in them so in many states they were classed as fireworks and banned. Now, you can usually find them in finer stores or in import stores (Costco even had them one year). For those that don’t know, a cracker is a cardboard tube, invented by the eponymous Tom Smith. The tube is usually filled with a gift, a paper crown, and a poorly written joke. To access the treats inside, you must pull apart the two ends of the tube, and a small crack happens (most of the time, when it doesn’t it’s a disappointment!). Crackers are good fun, and much laughter is usually shared when family members share their jokes or trade their horribly cheap gifts that were inside. No Christmas picture is complete without your paper crowns!
Christmas Dinner
The traditional Christmas dinner feature is a Turkey or Goose (in America usually it’s ham or turkey). Christmas dinner is usually eaten in the afternoon on 25 December after presents have been exchanged and the Queen’s Speech has been watched. The dinner usually consists of roast turkey, although other poultry such as goose, chicken, duck, capon or pheasant, served with stuffing, gravy. Sides include pigs in blankets; devils on horseback, cranberry sauce or redcurrant jelly, bread sauce, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes (sometimes also boiled or mashed); vegetables (usually boiled or steamed), particularly brussels sprouts and parsnips; with a dessert of Christmas pudding (or plum pudding), sometimes mince pies or trifle, with brandy butter and/or cream. There are definitely elements that an American would recognize in a Thanksgiving dinner. If you’re traveling in the UK during Christmas, it’s like having two Thanksgivings. Word of advice: always order your Turkey in advance and make sure you have everything you’ll need – almost all stores will be closed on Christmas day.
Telly Specials
In America, most TV shows go on hiatus for the weeks around Christmas and New Year’s. Consequently, we get re-runs or movies aired in their places. The logic is that people would rather spend time with their families than watch their favorite shows (perhaps they haven’t met some families…). In Britain, TV plays a big role in Christmas celebrations. Instead of going off the air, many networks and shows create Christmas specials just to air on Christmas – it’s a chance to see your favorite shows with a Christmassy theme. Doctor Who is by far the most famous Christmas special but lesser shows also have one (and Downton Abbey had one every year when it was still on). The Christmas TV schedule revolves around them. The major networks also save one-off shows or mini-series to run during the Christmas period – sometimes they have nothing to do with Christmas at all.
School Nativity Play
While it’s true that Britain is a much less religious nation than it used to be, a centerpiece of the holiday season is still the yearly school Nativity play where the story of the birth of Christ is told to an audience of friends and family. Many people don’t know that the Church of England is the official State Church in England so consequently, most state-run schools have no problems running a Nativity play. Some schools get very creative and seek to tell the stories in new ways (parodies in Love Actually) or tell the traditional story. They even made TWO movies about the drama and comedy that goes into producing one of these plays (starring Martin Freeman and David Tennant – not to be missed!).
German Christmas Markets
What better way to celebrate a British Christmas than to visit a German-themed Christmas market. Most major cities and bigger towns will have a German-themed Christmas market that features German-style chalets and vendors selling handmade goods or food. Many are local producers. Not all of them have anything to do with Germany; it’s just a theme for the market. But it’s usually a good spot to get Haribo treats and German Chocolates. Many Brits will bundle the family up, enjoy the various treats on offer, do a spot of Christmas shopping and enjoy warm mulled wine and chestnuts (often roasting on an open fire!). It’s a fascinating remind how many British and American Christmas traditions actually have their roots in Germany.
Christmas Bells
Throughout the English countryside, many Brits still live in small towns and villages where a church is still a centerpiece of the community – even if very few people still attend services. But one thing happens every Christmas: the bells ring out in celebration. This Christmas bell ‘peal’ is often a roaring celebration as all the bells are rung at the same time, filling the village or town with a beautiful sound that is a joy to hear. The bells were silenced during World War II – if the bells range – that meant invasion by the Germans. How wonderful it must have been to hear them ring for the first time in years at Christmas in 1945.
Christmas Number One
Christmas number ones are singles that are at the top of the UK Singles Chart in the week in which Christmas Day falls. Novelty songs, charity songs or songs with a Christmas theme have regularly been at the top of Christmas charts. Sometimes the songs don’t have anything to do with Christmas. Often, ’song fever’ will hit Britain as people rush to buy the song they love so that it can be number one. Traditionally the volume of record sales in the UK peaks at Christmas, with the Christmas number one being considered especially prestigious, more so than any other time of year. Many of the Christmas number ones were also the best-selling song of the year. The most recent Christmas number one single is “A Bridge over You” by the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir. In past years the Christmas Number One have ranged from Robbie Williams to Rage Against the Machine. The Beatles are the only band to have ever had 4 Christmas Number Ones. The process has been lovingly parodied in Love Actually when washed up former music star Billy Mack seeks to turn a cover song into the Christmas Number One, ensuring a return to fame and wealth (for the week of Christmas at least).
Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is very popular and traditional in the UK at Christmas, and less commonly throughout winter. Mulled cider (and sometimes mulled ale) is also served, with a mulled apple juice as a non-alcoholic alternative. What exactly is mulled wine? It’s wine that has been warmed and infused with various spices (you can usually buy a pre-made packet of spices). It is commonly a combination of orange, lemon, cinnamon, nutmeg, fennel seed (or star anise), cloves, cardamom, and ginger. The spices may be combined and boiled in a sugar syrup before the red wine is added, heated, and then served. It’s a hard drink to describe if you’ve never had it before, other than to say it tastes like Christmas. You will find it easily as any outdoor Christmas celebration or German Christmas Market – it certainly warms you up when you’re cold.
The Queen’s Speech
The traditional Christmas message from the reigning British Monarch started with the advent of radio and has since become a fixture of British Christmas celebrations. The message is always non-political and usually, focuses on the positive qualities of Christmas – families, and people coming together to celebrate something positive. The Queen has given one every year of her reign, usually at 3 pm on Christmas day. Most people, except for Republicans and those that don’t care, will stop to hear her speech which will be broadcast on every major British network (they take turns producing it every year). Often, this is the only time of the year that so many people can hear personally from the Queen, especially with her advancing age. Many older Brits will stand out of respect for the Queen (and even remove their hat if they’re wearing one), younger generations care less for decorum such as this. The speech has adapted well to the internet age and is released on YouTube and Facebook at the same time. Sometimes it’s even broadcast in the US. It’s certainly a British anachronism, but it’s a lovely one, and the British would miss it if it were gone.
Christmas crackers have also not been a tradition here in the States, they’re popular in Canada, and the tradition has started to leak down south of the border. This is partly because there’s a small bit of gunpowder in them so in many states they were classed as fireworks and banned. Now, you can usually find them in finer stores or in import stores (Costco even had them one year). For those that don’t know, a cracker is a cardboard tube, invented by the eponymous Tom Smith. The tube is usually filled with a gift, a paper crown, and a poorly written joke. To access the treats inside, you must pull apart the two ends of the tube, and a small crack happens (most of the time, when it doesn’t it’s a disappointment!). Crackers are good fun, and much laughter is usually shared when family members share their jokes or trade their horribly cheap gifts that were inside. No Christmas picture is complete without your paper crowns!
Christmas Dinner
The traditional Christmas dinner feature is a Turkey or Goose (in America usually it’s ham or turkey). Christmas dinner is usually eaten in the afternoon on 25 December after presents have been exchanged and the Queen’s Speech has been watched. The dinner usually consists of roast turkey, although other poultry such as goose, chicken, duck, capon or pheasant, served with stuffing, gravy. Sides include pigs in blankets; devils on horseback, cranberry sauce or redcurrant jelly, bread sauce, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes (sometimes also boiled or mashed); vegetables (usually boiled or steamed), particularly brussels sprouts and parsnips; with a dessert of Christmas pudding (or plum pudding), sometimes mince pies or trifle, with brandy butter and/or cream. There are definitely elements that an American would recognize in a Thanksgiving dinner. If you’re traveling in the UK during Christmas, it’s like having two Thanksgivings. Word of advice: always order your Turkey in advance and make sure you have everything you’ll need – almost all stores will be closed on Christmas day.
Telly Specials
In America, most TV shows go on hiatus for the weeks around Christmas and New Year’s. Consequently, we get re-runs or movies aired in their places. The logic is that people would rather spend time with their families than watch their favorite shows (perhaps they haven’t met some families…). In Britain, TV plays a big role in Christmas celebrations. Instead of going off the air, many networks and shows create Christmas specials just to air on Christmas – it’s a chance to see your favorite shows with a Christmassy theme. Doctor Who is by far the most famous Christmas special but lesser shows also have one (and Downton Abbey had one every year when it was still on). The Christmas TV schedule revolves around them. The major networks also save one-off shows or mini-series to run during the Christmas period – sometimes they have nothing to do with Christmas at all.
School Nativity Play
While it’s true that Britain is a much less religious nation than it used to be, a centerpiece of the holiday season is still the yearly school Nativity play where the story of the birth of Christ is told to an audience of friends and family. Many people don’t know that the Church of England is the official State Church in England so consequently, most state-run schools have no problems running a Nativity play. Some schools get very creative and seek to tell the stories in new ways (parodies in Love Actually) or tell the traditional story. They even made TWO movies about the drama and comedy that goes into producing one of these plays (starring Martin Freeman and David Tennant – not to be missed!).
German Christmas Markets
What better way to celebrate a British Christmas than to visit a German-themed Christmas market. Most major cities and bigger towns will have a German-themed Christmas market that features German-style chalets and vendors selling handmade goods or food. Many are local producers. Not all of them have anything to do with Germany; it’s just a theme for the market. But it’s usually a good spot to get Haribo treats and German Chocolates. Many Brits will bundle the family up, enjoy the various treats on offer, do a spot of Christmas shopping and enjoy warm mulled wine and chestnuts (often roasting on an open fire!). It’s a fascinating remind how many British and American Christmas traditions actually have their roots in Germany.
Christmas Bells
Throughout the English countryside, many Brits still live in small towns and villages where a church is still a centerpiece of the community – even if very few people still attend services. But one thing happens every Christmas: the bells ring out in celebration. This Christmas bell ‘peal’ is often a roaring celebration as all the bells are rung at the same time, filling the village or town with a beautiful sound that is a joy to hear. The bells were silenced during World War II – if the bells range – that meant invasion by the Germans. How wonderful it must have been to hear them ring for the first time in years at Christmas in 1945.
Christmas Number One
Christmas number ones are singles that are at the top of the UK Singles Chart in the week in which Christmas Day falls. Novelty songs, charity songs or songs with a Christmas theme have regularly been at the top of Christmas charts. Sometimes the songs don’t have anything to do with Christmas. Often, ’song fever’ will hit Britain as people rush to buy the song they love so that it can be number one. Traditionally the volume of record sales in the UK peaks at Christmas, with the Christmas number one being considered especially prestigious, more so than any other time of year. Many of the Christmas number ones were also the best-selling song of the year. The most recent Christmas number one single is “A Bridge over You” by the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir. In past years the Christmas Number One have ranged from Robbie Williams to Rage Against the Machine. The Beatles are the only band to have ever had 4 Christmas Number Ones. The process has been lovingly parodied in Love Actually when washed up former music star Billy Mack seeks to turn a cover song into the Christmas Number One, ensuring a return to fame and wealth (for the week of Christmas at least).
Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is very popular and traditional in the UK at Christmas, and less commonly throughout winter. Mulled cider (and sometimes mulled ale) is also served, with a mulled apple juice as a non-alcoholic alternative. What exactly is mulled wine? It’s wine that has been warmed and infused with various spices (you can usually buy a pre-made packet of spices). It is commonly a combination of orange, lemon, cinnamon, nutmeg, fennel seed (or star anise), cloves, cardamom, and ginger. The spices may be combined and boiled in a sugar syrup before the red wine is added, heated, and then served. It’s a hard drink to describe if you’ve never had it before, other than to say it tastes like Christmas. You will find it easily as any outdoor Christmas celebration or German Christmas Market – it certainly warms you up when you’re cold.
The Queen’s Speech
The traditional Christmas message from the reigning British Monarch started with the advent of radio and has since become a fixture of British Christmas celebrations. The message is always non-political and usually, focuses on the positive qualities of Christmas – families, and people coming together to celebrate something positive. The Queen has given one every year of her reign, usually at 3 pm on Christmas day. Most people, except for Republicans and those that don’t care, will stop to hear her speech which will be broadcast on every major British network (they take turns producing it every year). Often, this is the only time of the year that so many people can hear personally from the Queen, especially with her advancing age. Many older Brits will stand out of respect for the Queen (and even remove their hat if they’re wearing one), younger generations care less for decorum such as this. The speech has adapted well to the internet age and is released on YouTube and Facebook at the same time. Sometimes it’s even broadcast in the US. It’s certainly a British anachronism, but it’s a lovely one, and the British would miss it if it were gone.
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