“And so, as Tiny Tim said, ‘A Merry Christmas to us all; God Bless us, everyone!”
Charles Dickens – A Christmas Carol
When you walk down any street in the UK near the end of the year, you will no doubt see many twinkling lights from either Christmas trees in people’s front rooms or shop windows. The Christmas spirit is everywhere in the UK throughout the whole month of December and there are traditions that have continued over the years.
Our traditions vary from decorating Christmas trees, eating mince pies, singing Christmas carols to wearing silly Christmas jumpers and kissing under the mistletoe.
Have you ever wondered why we follow these traditions in the UK?
Why do we send Christmas cards?
Why do we eat turkey on Christmas Day?
What exactly is Christmas pudding and when did it start?
In this podcast I plan to enlighten you and sprinkle some Christmas magic to brighten up your day and help you learn something you didn’t know about Christmas.
When did Christmas start in the UK?
Christmas in Roman times was actually the Saturnalia celebration that happened around the winter solstice. Once Christianity arrived on British shores, it became a much more solemn event with fasting and days and nights spent at church. We have to thank Queen Victoria and the victorians for making Christmas the fun celebration we know today though.
When the young Queen Victoria married the German Prince Albert, he brought many of his childhood traditions with him including decorating a Christmas tree and singing Christmas carols. What started in the Royal Family soon spread throughout the country and it became part of everyone’s Christmas traditions.
Who sent the first Christmas card?
In 1843 John Calcott Horsley sent the first printed Christmas card for his friend, Sir Henry Cole. Even though the card showed a child drinking wine, the idea of sending Christmas greetings to friends and family soon caught on and now you can even send electronic Christmas cards to save paper and help the environment.
What exactly is mistletoe and why do we kiss under it?
Mistletoe is a rare plant that has been part of British traditions before Christmas was popular. The reason is because this plant was held to be sacred in Ancient Britain and symbolised peace. So much so that there could be no fighting under it so even if you met your enemy under a sprig of mistletoe you were forbidden from any violence. Homes were decorated with mistletoe to show that they offered protection and shelter for those in need since it was believed that this plant warded off evil spirits.
Again it was the Victorians that took this tradition and added the tradition of kissing under it to continue the idea of peace and friendship associated with this plant.
Why turkey for Christmas lunch?
Originally it was a pickled boar’s head that was the centrepiece for the Christmas meal. It then was more often than not a roasted goose. The turkey only started to make an appearance at the table after Henry VIII decided to go for a turkey rather than a goose one year and the rest was history. So much so that Charles Dickens even included turkey as the main Christmas meat in his beloved tale ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Now most people have to order their turkeys in advance to make sure they have one on Christmas Day as it has become such an important tradition to many British families.
What exactly is in a Christmas Pudding?
The earliest form of Christmas pudding that we know of was plum porridge. In the Middle Ages this was made of a shin of beef, stewed with dried fruit. By the 1800s there was a tradition of stirring a sweeter plum pudding on the Sunday before Advent. Children would then add silver Christmas charms including coins, a ring to foretell a marriage, a horseshoe for luck and a thimble for a life of happiness. Even now some families still make their own Christmas puddings and people have to be careful of their teeth in case they chew the charm hidden inside.
We also enjoy mince pies that were traditionally made of dried fruit, spices and beef suet. Now though the suet is rare and the filling is purely spices and dried fruit. They are still incredibly popular and not a Christmas event will happen in the UK without some mince pies.
When did Father Christmas come along?
Father Christmas, or as the US calls him Santa Claus, is a purely fictional character created by an American called Clement Clark Moore in 1822. He based him loosely on Saint Nicholas that was a tradition in Europe for centuries before. Moore wrote a long poem that created the legend that is Father Christmas and the traditions that followed:
‘Twas the Night before Christmas Poem:
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
This poem is what my mother read to us on Christmas Eve and I have continued the tradition with my daughters.
Are there any of the above traditions that you do in your country?
Fun Christmas Resources from Intrepid English
- What does it mean to be like turkeys voting for Christmas? Check out our blog post about Christmas Idioms and download a free worksheet.
- Festive Phrasal Verbs! Are you ready to wrap up presents, sing along to cheesy songs and meet up with loved ones? Find another free festive worksheet right here.
- Feeling merry? It’s not uncommon to have a little tipple at this time of year. Check out Kate’s video lesson on different ways to describe being drunk in English!
Wherever and however you celebrate, the Intrepid English team wishes you a joyful Christmas, happy holidays, and a prosperous new year!
