Рождество в Британии

times.
In those days the sun meant so much to primitive

man that when it began to go lower each day till December 23, people thought the sun was going to die out and they were worried. They ate less keeping the food for the next year.
On December 23 the sun stayed in the sky longer and after that the nights were becoming shorter and shorter. When this happened, the primitive man was very happy. He even felt he wanted to celebrate it.
Later it became a tradition to celebrate it at the end of December with presents and plenty of eating. Now Christmas tree stands in everybody’s living-room at Christmas. In the earliest times green trees were symbols of life. Candles on Christmas also go back to those times. People believed then that their light helped them to forget the darkness of winter.

Christmas Day- December 25

and tinsel, is derived from a «paradise tree» or tree

in the Garden of Eden. The use of the Christmas tree began early in the17th century, in Strasbourg, France, spreading from there through Germany and then into northern Europe. In 1841 Prince Albert introduced the tree to Great Britain, where from there immigrants brought it to the USA.
So, in Great Britain the Christmas tree became popular while Queen Victoria ruled the country.
The Germans are believed to be the 1st to use the Christmas tree in their celebrations and Martin Luther was the 1st to place a star on the top of the tree. This star represents the star appeared over the stable in which Christ was born.

Christmas TREE

to decorate the house. Branches of holly are put up

behind pictures and mistletoe is hung over doors, so the young people have a chance to kiss the girls under it, plucking each time a red berry from the mistletoe. It is said that the girl who was not kissed under it Christmas would not get married that year.

Christmas Day - December 25

that Santa Claus could put presents into them: oranges, sweets,

nuts and if the child didn’t behave properly Santa Claus can put there a piece of coal as punishment.

Christmas Day- December 25

with cranberry sauce and pudding. Every young woman in each

household helps to stir the Christmas pudding, if she wishes to be married that year.
Usually are coin or two hidden
insight the pudding and part of
the fun is to see who finds it.

or school is without its carol service. Carols may be

traditional or with some variations that express different feelings. Carols were used for the first time during Christmas in the 15th century.
Usually children come around in the evening to the front doors and start singing carols and people who live in these houses give children candies, nuts, pies and
so on, to thank them
for carol singing.

Christmas Day- December 25

The 1st Christmas card was made only in 1842 by

English painter who sent this card to one hundred of his friends. Now millions of Christmas cards are sent and received.

⮚ The traditional food is turkey, Christmas cake, Christmas pudding made of fruit. Some families make pudding a year before they eat it. Believe it or not, in a year they eat the pudding with great pleasure.

⮚ Santa Claus got his name from a man known as St Nicolas, who lived in the 4th century. He gave his wealth to the poor and often to children. After he died, the Dutch brought this legend to colonial America. Soon the Dutch name Sinter Klaus became Santa Claus.

the most important one is giving of presents. Family members

wrap up their gifts and leave them at the bottom of the Christmas tree to be found on the Christmas morning. At some time on Christmas Day the family will sit down to a big turkey dinner followed by Christmas pudding.

Christmas Day- December 25

the Queen on the television as she delivers her traditional

Christmas message to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. Then they enjoy a piece of cake or eat a hot mince pie. On the Sunday before the Christmas many churches hold a service where special hymns are sung. Sometimes singers can be heard in the streets as they collect money for charity. Most families decorate their houses with brightly-coloured paper or holly, and they usually have the Christmas tree in the corner of the room, glittering with coloured lights and decoration. Presents are put around the tree and artificial «frost» is scattered over the branches.

Christmas is a merry family holiday for all the people of Great Britain. Christmas comes but once a year.

–In past times it was the traditional day to presents

to servants. This day is called so because at one time the presents were put in boxes (Christmas boxes).
Usually Boxing Day is December 26, but if Christmas Day falls on Saturday, Boxing Day is on December 27.

most famous New Year celebration. In London, many people go

to Trafalgar Square on New Year’s Eve. There singing and dancing at 12 o’clock on December 31st.

There is an interesting New Year tradition: in Scotland you can go «first footing». That is – you visit friends, so you are the «first foot» on New Year in their houses. In Scotland the first visitor who comes into a new house on New Year’s morning is «the First Foot».
The Scots believe that the First Foot brings luck to the family for the New Year.
In Scotland the First Foot must be a man (or a boy), not a woman! And he must have dark hair.