BRITISH FESTIVITY : CHRISTMAS


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

 


Click on this following link and follow the instructions !
Enjoy!!
Mrs Morel

     Special thanks to Asiya and Marion for their oral presentation on Christmas in Britain 

                                   

  How is Christmas Celebrated in Britain?

Christmas is a truly magical season, bringing families and friends together to share the much loved customs and traditions which have been around for centuries. 
Most people are on holiday in the UK and stay at home with their family on Christmas day, the main day for Christmas celebrations in Britain. 


Christmas is celebrated on the 25th December, with a Christmas dinner at midday for the whole family.
It is a  Bank Holiday / Public Holiday
                                                  


How do the British prepare for Christmas?

During the weeks before Christmas Day, the British send cards, watch nativity plays and go to carol services. They put up Christmas decorations in their homes and churches.

                          
                                                            Boxing Day :26th December (Bank Holiday)   

 Like Christmas Day, Boxing Day is a public holiday. This means it is typically a non working day in the whole of Britain. When Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday the following Monday is the public holiday.


Why is 26 December called Boxing Day?


Traditionally, 26 December was the day to open the Christmas Box to share the contents with the poor.                                               
                                                                    BRITISH  TRADITIONS

What is Carol Singing?
CarolersCarol singing, or Caroling, is singing carols in the street or public places. It is one of the oldest customs in Great Britain, going back to the Middle Ages when beggars, seeking food, money, or drink, would wander the streets singing holiday songs. © copyright of projectbritain.com
People today still go carol singing. People go from house to house singing carols and collecting money for charity.
The traditional period to sing carols is from St Thomas's Day (21 December) until the morning of Christmas Day.

lights

CHRISTMAS PUDDING











                           Mince Pies                A traditional British Christmas treat!

Learn about Christmas in England from the children who live in Britain Christmas traditions why do what we do at chrsitmas time Mince pies are an essential part of Christmas. They are made from minced fruit not meat. In the US, the filling is known by the more accurate name "fruitmince".

What are Mince pies?
They are small pies, usually between 2 and 3 inches in diameter (5-7.5 centimetres), filled with mincemeat (fruitmince).
Ingredients of Mince Pies
The filling is a mixture of raisins, sultanas, apricots, glace cherries, candied citrus peel, apples, various types of nuts and mixed spices typically nutmeg and cinnamon.



Another popular English tradition is that of the Christmas cracker



 These brightly coloured paper tubes  are still widely distributed at Christmas parties and gatherings today. When two people come together to pull the cracker apart, it releases a loud snap and then drops a small trinket or gift.

 Taking the plunge
"It's difficult to understand how diving into a freezing body of water on Christmas Day ever caught on, but it has become an annual custom in Britain (brave Londoners leap into the Serpentine on Hyde Park or, pictured here, Brighton beach), Ireland (where many head for the chilly Irish Sea), and France (there's an  annual dip in Nice)."
(telegraph.co.uk)

 

Here is the Queen's Christmas message 2012 (lots of British people watched it on TV ) 
The Queen has used her annual Christmas Day broadcast to speak of courage and hope in adversity.














Enjoy these Christmas  pictures in the British Isles!


LONDON (England)




DUBLIN  (Republic of Ireland)


 
BELFAST (Northern Ireland)

CARDIFF (Wales)



EDINBURGH (Scotland):around the Princes Street Gardens.










 
Revise your vocabulary !

Christmas treeChristmas wreathHollyPonsettias
Sapin de NoëlCouronne de NoëlHouxPoinsettia
Christmas garland(Christmas)  baubleTinselsStar
Guirlande de NoëlBoule de NoëlGuirlandes décorativesÉtoile
CandlesBow BellsJingle bells /sleigh bells
BougiesNoeudClochesgrelots
LightsStockingOrnamentsChristmas market
Guirlandes lumineusesChaussette de NoëlDécorationsMarché de Noël


Christmas world 
Santa Claus/Father ChristmasBobsleigh/Bob sleighReindeerElves
Père NoëlTraîneauRenneElfs / Lutins
ListChimneyFireplaceGifts / Presents
ListeCheminéeCheminéeCadeaux / Présents
ToysCarol singersChristmas carolVow card
JouetsChanteursChant de NoëlCarte de voeux

Christmas Eve dinner
Christmas Eve dinnerTurkeyGingerbread cookiesChristmas cake/pudding
Réveillon de NoëlDindeCookies en pain d'épiceGâteau de Noël
Yule logEgg-nog/Eggnog/EggflipChocolateCandy cane
Bûche pâtissièreLait de pouleChocolatSucre candy en forme de canne

































































 



RECIPE :Christmas pudding
 
 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   2      cups          Pillsbury's Best All Purpose Flour* -- sifted
     1/3  cup           sugar
   1 1/4  teaspoons     soda
   1      teaspoon      salt
   1      teaspoon      French's Cinnamon
     1/4  teaspoon      French's Ginger
     1/4  teaspoon      French's Nutmeg
     1/4  teaspoon      French's Cloves
   1      cup           suet -- ground or grated
   1       cup          buttermilk or sour milk
   1      cup           raisins
     1/3  cup           molasses
                        Butterscotch, Nutmeg or Hard Sauce

STEAM for 2 to 2 1/2 hours.Sift together the flour, sugar, soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and
cloves. Stir in suet, buttermilk or sour milk, raisins, and molasses.  Mix
until dry ingredients are moistened.  Turn into well-greased 2-quart mold or
casserole.  Cover with tight cover or aluminum foil.  Place on rack in large
steamer or kettle.  Add boiling water to height of 2 inches in steamer,
cover.  Steam 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until pudding springs back when touched
lightly in center.**  Serve hot, cut into slices with Butterscotch, Nutmeg,
or Hard Sauce.  
*For use with Pillsbury's Best Self-Rising Flour, omit soda and salt.
**If desired, Christmas Pudding may be baked in a 300 degree oven.  Place  a
pan of water in oven.  Cover pudding and bake 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours.

Butterscotch Sauce:  Combine 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons
flour and 1/8 teaspoons salt.  Stir in 1 cup cream and 1 cup milk. Cook over
medium heat, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened.

Hard Sauce:  Cream 1/2 cup butter. Add gradually 2 cups sifted confectioners'
sugar, creaming until light and fluffy.  Blend in 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1
tablespoon boiling water, 1 teaspoon French's Vanilla and 2 teaspoons
French's Rum or Brandy Flavoring, if desired.  Chill until serving time.

Nutmeg Sauce:  Cream 1/4 cup butter. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, creaming
until light and fluffy.  Blend in 1 egg yolk, 1 1/2 tablespoons flour and 1
teaspoon French's Vanilla. Gradually add 1 1/4 cups boiling water. Cook in
top of double boiler over boiling water, stirring constantly until slightly
thickened. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon French's Nutmeg.

                   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
CHRISTMAS GAMES 
Have a good fun !!
1 - http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/christmas/games/hideandsock/ 
2 - http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/christmas/games/santasquiz/