CHRISTMAS

These are some of the Christmas traditions in the Anglo-saxon world:

FATHER CHRISTMAS

Father Christmas is another way of referring to Santa Claus. This last name, Santa Claus comes from Saint Nicholas, who was a bishop in the 4^th century and his gift-giving tradition originally had nothing to do with Christmas.

We are now used to Santa Claus, a jolly fat man with rosy red cheeks, a fluffy white beard and a red suit. Santa comes down the chimney, eats the snack left by children (typically a mince pie and a glass of wine) and leaves presents in stockings and around the Christmas tree.

CHRISTMAS PUDDING

It is an extraordinarily  heavy pudding which is usually aged for a month or even longer. It contains raisins (pasas), dried fruits, cinnamon and other spices and it should be covered with brandy and set on fire before eating.

CRHISTMAS CRACKERS

They are paper-covered tubes which produce a loud crack when pulled apart. They contain a small tinket (baratija), a joke and a paper hat, which people wear during the lunch.

KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE

Many people at Christmas hang a bunch or just a sprig of mistletoe in their home and if you meet someone underneath, you have to give them a kiss!!!

Don't confuse mistletoe with holly:

The mistletoe is a plant that grows on the branches of other plants and has leathery evergreen leaves and waxy white berries

 The holly is an evergreen shrub with glossy spiky leaves and red berries

BOXING DAY

December 26^th is called Boxing Day and it is a public holiday in the UK. Poor people used to receive a box of gifts from their masters or employers on this day mainly because they have worked for them on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. Rich people used to go fox-hunting but nowadays many go to the Boxing Day sales.

HOGMANAY


Hogmanay is the Scotish name for New Year's celebrations. The origin of the word is not clear but Scotch people celebrate it with fireworks and fire shows and everybody sings Auld Lang Syne, which is a Scots-language poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 though now is sung everywhere in modern English except for the words Auld lang Syne, which mean something like for old times' sake.
Watch this video and you'll certainly recognize the song.