Special thanks to Edouard and Marius for their oral presentation on Christmas
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| Pulling the crackers: a lot of fun ! DIY projects for Christmas
 
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| Laetitia 's DIY |
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.
BRITISH TRADITIONS
What is Carol Singing?
Carol 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.comPeople 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.
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| CHRISTMAS PUDDING |
Mince Pies A traditional British Christmas treat!
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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. |
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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 2011 (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!
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!
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| LONDON (England) |
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| DUBLIN (Republic of Ireland) |
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| BELFAST (Northern Ireland) |
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| CARDIFF (Wales)
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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Have a good fun !!
1 - http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/christmas/games/hideandsock/
2 - http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/christmas/games/santasquiz/
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