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Christmas in Great Britain

Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December. It is the greatest holiday in Great Britain. There are a lot of interesting traditions connected with Christmas in Great Britain.

People began to celebrate Christmas many, many years ago. The legend of the very first Christmas tells: « … The shepherds heard from the Angel that Christ the Lord was born to Mary in Bethlehem. They came there and found a little boy in a stable, lying in a manger. His name was Jesus. "Glory to God!" - they said. "Glory to God!" …»

Some weeks before Christmas English people decorate their houses with holly and electric lights. Holly is an evergreen plant with sharp-pointed leaves and red berries. Many years ago people began to put holly in their homes during the dark cold winters. They liked to look at holly and think about spring and the sun.

A pantomime is a traditional performance for children at Christmas. All the children have much fun when they watch fairy tales with princes, beautiful princesses and fairies "Cinderella", “Cat in Boots" and many others.

Most families usually have a Christmas tree in the front room, glittering with coloured lights, bright shining balls or other decorations (tinsel, toys, …). There is a shining star or an angle at the top of the Christmas tree.

Every year there is a very big Christmas tree in the centre of London, in Trafalgar Square. This is a present from the people of Norway to the people of Great Britain. They send it to Londoners every year and Londoners decorate the Christmas tree. In the evening before Christmas people like to come to Trafalgar Square to look at the tree. On Christmas Eve the streets in London are decorated, too.

Children write letters to Father Christmas. Father Christmas has a white beard and long green or red clothes. Children believe Father Christmas lives at the North Pole where he spends most of the year in his workshop making toys with the help of elves. People think of him as a happy man who says: "Ho, ho, ho".

On Christmas Eve children leave long socks called Christmas stockings at the end of their beds or by the chimney or hang them by the fireplace so that Father Christmas will fill them with presents. Children hope that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and bring presents. A Christmas stocking is big and beautifully decorated.

Christmas turkey English people celebrate Christmas Day with a big holiday dinner. Families sit down to a big turkey dinner followed by Christmas pudding. They like to eat roast turkey, potatoes and green vegetables. A turkey is a traditional Christmas bird. People usually decorate Christmas pudding, they put holly on it. Traditionally a coin is placed into the pudding. It brings good luck to a person who finds it.

On Christmas people wish their nearest and dearest a Merry Christmas. May you find peace this season. May you find joy this Christmas Marry Christmas and Happy New Year Celebrate the New Year May all your gifts this season bring joy. A Marry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world!Wishing you a bright and delightful holiday season From home to home and heart to heart,From one place to another,The warmth and joy of Christmas,Brings us to each other.

December, 26 is Boxing Day in Great Britain. Boxing Day is celebrated after Christmas Day. Boxing Day is a public holiday. People do not work on that day. People usually visit their relatives and friends.

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