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11 Jan

Christmas Day


Christmas is one of the most popular holidays. Its traditions and early ceremonies were rooted in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. They are still part of contemporary Christmas celebrations.
The Druids, for example, honored the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. The red berry of the holly was believed to protect one against witchcraft. Ivy symbolized immortality. The Vikings introduced the Yule log which used to be burnt in honor of God Thor. The English adapted this practice for Christmas and today's (electric) Christmas candle is a holdover from baronial days.
The custom of sending Christmas cards to friends and family originated in Britain, too. In 1843 John Calcott Horsley designed the first one for Sir Henry Cole. Thus began a real spread of sending Christmas cards and this practice soon became an established tradition. Favored designs were Christmas feasts, church bells, plum and turkey as well as religious themes. Every year more than a billion Christmas cards are now sent in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities.
Since 1840 the decorated and illuminated Christmas tree has gained popularity in England, and around 1850 in Canada and the United States. The custom of the Christmas tree developed in early modern Germany with predecessors that can be traced to the 16th and possibly the 15th century. It acquired popularity beyond Germany during the second half of the 19th century Each year giant Christmas trees are set up and decorated in important places such as Trafalgar Square in London, the Rockefeller Center in New York and at Victoria Square in Adelaide.
On Christmas Eve carols are often sung by groups of singers walking from house to house, and children hang a stocking on the fireplace or at the foot of their bed for Father Christmas to fill. Caroling dates back to the Middle Ages when beggars were seeking for money, food or drink wandering the streets singing holiday songs.
On Christmas Day gifts are opened in the morning. Later the family will gather for the traditional Christmas dinner consisting of Brussels sprouts, fried potatoes with roast turkey, roast beef or goose. Sweet mince pie or Christmas pudding is served for dessert.

The pudding might contain coins or lucky charms for children. It is rich baked fruit cake with marzipan and icing. A party favorite are Christmas crackers. There will be one to each plate on the Christmas dinner table. A Christmas cracker is a brightly colored paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy.

Information retrieved from: https://es.scribd.com/document/26502618/Christmas-is-Britain

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