Holidays Around the World

Bell-Graham School
Holidays Around the World

Where in the World is England?
England is a country in the United Kingdom. It is part of the continent of Europe. People living in England are called English. The holiday greeting in England is Happy Christmas.

When is Christmas Celebrated?
In England, Christmas is celebrated on December 25. In December, the weather can be cold, wet and windy. Sometimes it gets cold enough to snow. Christmas in England is a lot like Christmas in America. Many of our traditions came from England.

Is there a special Gift-Giver?
In England, Santa is called Father Christmas. He has long, white hair and a long, white beard. He wears a long red coat. Sometimes his coat is decorated with holly.

Father Christmas delivers presents on Christmas Eve. He puts the presents in children's stockings. The stockings are hung on the fireplace. Sometimes they are hung at the end of the bed. On Christmas morning, children open gifts from their stockings.

Children send letters to Father Christmas. Some children don't mail them. They throw the letters into the fireplace. The children believe the letters will float up the chimney to the North Pole. They believe Father Christmas can read the letters in the smoke.

How do the British decorate their houses?
The English decorate their houses with Christmas trees. The trees are decorated with lights and ornaments. Some ornaments are colored balls and stars.

Another decoration in England is the yule log. The yule log is a big piece of firewood. It is burned for 12 days after Christmas. The English believe burning the log will bring them good luck.

What special food do they eat?
On Christmas day, families in England have a big dinner. They eat turkey, plum pudding, and mince pie. In the pudding they put a coin. If you find the coin, the English believe you will have good luck.

At Christmas dinner, everyone receives a cracker. A cracker is not food. Crackers are small tubes covered with colorful paper. They make cracking sounds when they are opened. They remind the English of a crackling fire. Inside a cracker is usually a paper hat and small toy. They also have a joke.

What are some other special traditions?
The English were the first people to send Christmas cards. Now we send cards too! They also like to sing carols at Christmas.

The English also celebrate the day after Christmas. December 26 is called Boxing Day. It is not about fighting. Families spend the day at horseback riding events.