London's Christmas decorations

Every year the people of Norway give the city of London a present. It's a big Christmas tree and it stands in Trafalgar Square. Thousands of people come to look at London’s beautiful decorations in Oxford Street and Regent Street. Christmas cards and Christmas trees In 1846 the first Christmas cards began in Britain. That was five years after the first Christmas tree. Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, was a German. He brought this German tradition to Britain. He and the Queen had a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1841. A few years after, nearly every house in Britain had one. Traditionally people decorate their trees on Christmas Eve - that's December 24th. They take down the decorations twelve days later, on Twelfth Night – that’s January 5th.

Kisses under the mistletoe

An older tradition is Christmas mistletoe. People put a piece of this green plant with its white berries over a door. Mistletoe brings good luck. Also, at Christmas British people kiss their friends under the mistletoe. Carols Before Christmas, groups of singers go from house to house. They sing traditional Christmas carols (songs) and collect money. There are a lot of very popular British Christmas carols.

Christmas Eve

British children don't open their presents on December 24th. Santa Claus brings their presents in the night. Then they open them on the morning of the 25th. Santa Claus used to live at the North Pole. But now he rather lives in big shops in towns and cities all over Britain. That's where children see him in November and December. Then on Christmas Eve he climbs down the chimney and leaves lots of presents. Some people leave something for him, too. A glass of wine and some biscuits, for example.

Christmas Day

In Britain the most important meal on December 25th is Christmas dinner. Nearly all Christmas food is traditional. British Christmas dinner is roast turkey with carrots, potatoes, peas, Brussels sprouts and gravy. There are sausages and bacon too. Then, after the turkey, there's Christmas pudding.