CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
IN THE UK
IN THE UK
Children in the UK toss these into fire and burn them to let Father Christmas know what they want for Christmas.
LETTERS TO FATHER CHRISTMAS
Children leave these treats for Santa and his reindeer to show gratitude and to learn how to share with others.
CARROTS, COOKIES and MILK
This famous green character hates Christmas.
GRINCH
This is a big bird eaten for Christmas dinner.
TURKEY
This decorated evergreen Christmas symbol dates back to Middle Ages in Germany. It can be real or artificial. It symbolizes life.
CHRISTMAS TREE
This day follows Christmas Day and is a holiday in the UK. It is a big shopping day for Brits and it is similar to Black Friday in the USA.
BOXING DAY
It's a place in New York where you can celebrate Christmas looking at a huge Christmas tree with a public ice skating rink in front of it.
THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER
This reindeer pulls Santa's sleigh and has a very shiny nose.
RUDOLPH the red nose reindeer
This is a traditional Christmas drink in the USA. It is made with milk, cream, sugar, whipped egg whites, and egg yolks.
EGGNOG
This symbol guided the three kings, or wise men, to baby Jesus on the night he was born. It brings joy and goodness.
STAR
These are paper tubes, covered in foil, twisted at both ends. They look like large sweets and make a cracking noise when pulled by two people. You can find a joke, a small trinket and a paper crown in them.
CRACKERS
You hang these on Christmas Eve for Santa to fill them with small toys, sweets or other gifts when he arrives.
Christmas STOCKINGS
In this film the McCallister family goes to Paris, France on their Christmas vacation and accidentally leaves their 8-year-old son at home.
HOME ALONE
These red and white peppermint sticks are the No. 1-selling non-chocolate candy during December. They are often hung on Christmas trees as decorations.
CANDY CANES
You can see the bright red star-shaped leaves of this plant in many houses during the holidays. It is also called the Christmas flower.
POINSETTIA
You leave this for Father Christmas to eat and drink when he comes to visit you in the UK.
MINCE PIES and a glass of SHERRY
This little Santa's scout usually arrives at the beginning of December. He watches over the kids every day and reports their behaviour to Santa Claus.
ELF ON THE SHELF
In the 2003 film Elf, what name is given to the human child Santa accidentally carries to the North Pole?
BUDDY
These are sweet pies filled with dried fruit and spices. They are normally made in a round shape and eaten hot or cold in the UK.
MINCE PIES
This seasonal decoration is round and green. People hang it on doors during Christmas time. It symbolizes eternal (never-ending) life.
WREATH
It's a speech the Queen gives on Christmas Day at 3pm in England. It's broadcast on TV, radio and the Internet.
ROYAL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
For many people, the holiday season is not complete without a trip to watch this ballet. It tells a story of the young Clara’s Christmas Eve.
THE NUTCRACKER
There are 12 different gifts named in this song. You can hear it between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day but it actually takes place December 25 to January 6.
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
It's a traditional Christmas dessert in the UK. It's a boiled cake flavoured with dried fruit and spices. It is soaked in alcohol and set on fire.
CHRISTMAS PUDDING
This word means 'messenger'. It appeared to Mary, Joseph and the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus.
ANGEL