Some facts about a British Christmas
More than 40 million families and friends in England celebrate Christmas together every year so they can watch each other open the presents that Santa Claus has brought.
Most families have a Christmas tree in their house for Christmas. Families often decorate the tree together, using tinsel, ornaments and fairy lights. The rest of the house is sometimes decorated as well, with items like Mistletoe. Some families also display the Christmas cards they get.
Around Christmas there are often small groups of singers that go around town to sing Christmas carols. These songs are usually happy or religious songs about Christmas.
On Christmas Day many families and friends get together for dinner. A Christmas cracker is usually placed near each plate. The cracker opens with a bang (that’s where the name comes from) and in it there is a small toy or gift, a tissue paper hat and a piece of paper with a joke or a riddle on it.
In Britain and in a few other countries, the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day.
The last evening of the year is called New Year’s Eve, whereas the first day of the new year is called New Year’s Day. People often make resolutions (voornemens) for the new year.
Different holidays
People also celebrate other holidays in December. Hanukkah, for example, is a Jewish celebration that lasts eight days. Not everyone celebrates the turn of the year in December either: Muharram, as the start of the new Islamic year, takes place in early summer and the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Dragon – starts in February 2024.