★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A modern★ British Christmas: ★ ★ exploring modern traditions ★ ★ ★ ★ and British customs at Christmas ★ ★ ★ There is plenty to read at this time of year which can explain the old traditions of Christmas in the UK, and it is great to explore some of these age-old celebrations and festivities, but I really wanted to share with you the modern version of these traditions. The behaviours, habits and cus -

toms which may baffle you if you are new to the UK, and which I am often asked about in my role as an English Language and British Culture ★

trainer. So here is my guide to the top ways to get into Christmas (otherwise known as Xmas) in the UK. Explore and discover! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ First, we have the run-up to Christmas, Christmas jumpers: crazy which starts as early as 6th November ac - patterns, flashing lights and cording to the shops (the day after Guy pom-poms Fawkes Night on 5th November), or even as early as August according to Selfridges, Now this one really confuses expats. which is when their Christmas shop What is so exciting about a Christmas opened this year. e good news is that jumper, I hear you ask? Plenty! these days Christmas is a big deal in the Traditionally Christmas jumpers were a UK, unlike between 1647-1660 when joke, something terrible your granny knit - Christmas was made illegal and all festivi - ted and gave you as a Christmas present. ties were banned during the short period However, over time they have become of our one and only republic by Oliver trendy, and the more terrible and naff they Cromwell, who thought there was too are, the better. We even now have a ★ much fun going on for a religious day. Christmas Jumper Day, on December 14th Luckily, we really know how to go to town this year, where you get to wear your properly these days. ★ jumper and raise for charity. So, whether it is for work or pleasure, put on Christmas Lights switch-on: your most crazy, sparkly or flashing jumper lighting up and kicking and join in. off Christmas and sunset edges towards 15.50 on the Top tip: Primark is the best place to buy Christmas really launches when the shortest day, December 21st. e switch your Christmas jumper but the best ones Christmas lights switch-on happen around on itself is surprisingly popular, and usu - sell out fast so make sure you get in there London from early November. e most ally will feature at least one minor, B-list early. celebrity (maybe somebody who won a TV famous ones are Oxford Street and Regent Christmas TV Adverts: making Street, but you will also find lovely lights singing or talent show). However, do not in St Christopher’s Place, Marylebone let that put you off and enjoy the excite - you cry and selling presents High Street and Carnaby Street. It is a ment of the big countdown while you You do not have to work in retail to know

pretty important part of winter for us, es - “oooh” and “ahhh” over the lights. Christmas is a big spending time, and to pecially as the days start to become shorter★ Christmas is on its way! ★ encourage us to get into the Christmas ★ 3 1 0 2

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it comes to schools and teachers, my advice their very nearest and dearest; however, is to first check if there is any sort of class in business sending Christmas greeting joint gift and, if not, then buy a small pres - cards is still a common way to thank ★ ent for each teacher in your child’s class. clients and suppliers. ese do not have to be especially extrava - My final comment on this is thank gant or expensive, but the gesture is appre - yous. I am a bit of a traditionalist on this ciated. It is also worth including any topic and I still think a hand-written ★ teachers of extracurricular activities. thank you card, or at the very least an With work and sometimes groups of email, for gifts received shows time and friends, Secret Santa is a popular British effort, is thoughtful and much appreci - custom. e way this works is that all the ated. ank you by text or mentioned ★ names in the group are written on paper when you see the person next is accept - spirit, all the major stores release their and go into a hat, from which you take a able but is not as highly valued. Christmas adverts at the end of November name secretly at random. Usually there are anking people for gifts is a British tra - or the beginning of December. e Black clear guidelines about how much to spend, dition which applies to birthdays as well Friday sales, a relatively new conc★ept for us perhaps £5 or £10, and the gift choice is as Christmas, and the British still really ★ here in the UK, have been inspired by the ★yours. If you know the person well, then love sending and receiving cards. US promotions around anksgiving, al - easy; however if they are an acquaintance The Christmas Party: what to though British people don’t actually cele - or a lesser-known colleague, play it safe expect and how to survive brate this festival. e adverts vary in and go for some nice food or drink. e approach and tone, but John Lewis is espe - idea is to wrap the present up, label it from Now we are getting nearer to Christmas, cially famous for releasing a tear-jerking Secret Santa (do not sign your name), and you might be invited to a Christmas

advert each year featuring a poignant story, then give it to Santa organiser party, either for work, through school or

by friends. Christmas parties are clearly ★ usually involving a child and toy. Clearly, who will sort out the distribution. is not unique to the UK, however the style you can then rush out and buy the fea - often happens at the Christmas party, of them is perhaps different, especially if tured toy, which will be a popular gift where each person will open their present they are for the grown-ups only. choice, at any John Lewis store. in turn, watched by the others. Even at this e office Christmas party especially point, people will keep silent about who Secret Santa, gifting etiquette has a certain reputation. Depending on chose the gift. the company, they can happen at and thank yous: getting it right Depending on the group and how well lunchtime and last the rest of the day, or How to gift and the custom of Secret Santa they know each other, sometimes you take place in the evening, if it is a more is an area which can be tricky if you are might receive a Secret Santa gift you do classy, civilised affair. Usually only the new to the country, and I receive many re - not like, do not understand, or is deliber - employees themselves are invited, and quests to explain how to approach this ately crazy or embarrassing such as a hu - not their spouse or partner. area. morous book or a silly tie. e main point However, it does not tend to matter Let us start with gifting etiquette. When here is to keep your cool, laugh it off and when they happen, they are usually fo - say thank you to Secret Santa in front of cused on eating, drinking plenty and the group (obviously you do not know getting merry, so here are my top tips for who you are thanking). You can always do - enjoying the Great British Christmas nate it to a charity shop afterwards, and Party: these shops benefit hugely with a rush of unwanted presents post-Christmas. In no ✶ Dressing up – Find out the dress ★ circumstances should you say you do not code, which will either be glam or like or want the present. It is better to be fancy dress. For the latter, you can polite and get rid of it after the event. put your Christmas jumper on.

If you are a manager of a team at work, Crazy, flashing Christmas-themed

then usually you would additionally buy ★ jewellery, Father Christmas hats or ★ Christmas gifts for each of your direct re - ★ ports, and food or drink work well for

these recipients. ★ Top tip: For lovely and thoughtful gifts on ★ a British theme, I particularly like Fortnum and Masons, Cath Kidston or Biscuiteers for interesting present ideas, or try the amazing collection of unique and inspired gifts at notonthehighstreet.com . Sending Christmas cards is a lovely idea but increasingly a nice thing to do for close family and friends, as life tends to be hec - tic before Christmas. Some people are switching to online greeting cards to be more environmentally friendly, except for

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ reindeer headbands are also popular. on words, but we always like to giggle ★ ★ ✶ Food – Be careful with your menu ★at them. If you are a non-native choices. It might seem like a good idea English speaker, it is also a great test of to go for the traditional Christmas your English and I often use Christmas

meal option (roast turkey dinner and jokes with clients at advanced level to Christmas pudding), but if you have at test their knowledge of idioms and ★ least one Christmas party then you will double meanings. soon become tired of eating this. ✶ Party Fun – Some parties have danc - ✶ Drink – Pace yourself if you are drink - ing or karaoke, and it is fine to sit it ing alcohol, and if you are sticking to out and chat instead, if it is not your the soft drinks, you can feel gleeful in type of fun. You get to observe the the knowledge you will remember crazy dancing and funny events hap - everything tomorrow and have the lat - pening around you instead. ★ est to hand. Beware of Mulled ✶ Senior people are expected to join in Wine: it is tasty (wine brewed with and stay until almost the end, making spices and fruit), but surprisingly tricky sure everybody is having a good time. to drink elegantly, as it is hot and usu - It is an important part of team bond - ★ ally has a large amount of fruit debris ing and getting to know colleagues in a ★ floating in it. relaxed way. Friday before Christmas. Sometimes, these ✶ Crackers – British people love crack - ✶ Christmas parties tend to be light- two coincide and the X Factor winner ers and usually have them at any hearted and somebody may embarrass achieves the number one spot for Christmas meal. In fact, Tom Smith, a themselves in some way at the office Christmas. You will also hear a selection of Londoner, invented crackers in 1847. party. As long as it’s a minor incident, modern classics played continuously in any ey look like brightly coloured pres - it is usually laughed off the next day. shop or party. Listen out for ‘e 12 Days ents, which you pull with another per - ✶ When you get back to the office, then of Christmas’, George Michael’s ‘Last son to crack them open. Do not be everybody will be expecting a fairly Christmas’ and Band Aid’s ‘Do ey shocked if you hear a bang as they quiet and relaxed day. e best recov - Know it’s Christmas?’ to name but a few. open, and the tradition is the person ery of course is eating lots of mince Christmas Panto: know how who pulls the largest part, gets to keep pies (do not be fooled: these do not to participate it, although in reality everybody gets a contain meat but are sweet, highly It is traditional at Christmas to go to the cracker in the end. Inside you will find calorific pies with lots of raisins) or theatre to see a ballet, a Christmas produc - a colourful paper hat in the shape of a heading to the pub for a team lunch. tion or the very British pantomime

crown (which must be worn during the e Christmas party organiser knows it

(panto). e last is a type of theatre based meal), a useless little toy and a joke. is wise to schedule a Christmas work ★ on fairy tales such as Cinderella, Puss in ★ Warning: the joke is not meant to be event for ursday or Friday. Boots or Jack and the Beanstalk, contain - funny and usually relies on some play Christmas Music: non-stop ing plenty of silly jokes, and audience par - ticipation is compulsory. You will see men hits throughout November dress up and play old women, women and December dress up and play boys, and two people Now that you have survived the Christma★s dressed up as a horse or cow. Also, do ex - party, we are edging towards Christmas pect to sing along and shout out with Day itself, and you will certainly hear the everybody else at key points, including sweet tones of traditional Christmas carols. “look behind you!” when the villain is be - ★ Head to Trafalgar Square to hear lovely hind the hero, and “Oh, yes it is!” or “Oh, carol singing throughout December no it isn't!”. e audience is always en - around the huge Christmas tree given to us each year by Norway as a thank you for ★ our role in World War II. Alternatively, ★ most churches hold a carol service at this WHAM ! time and are open to everybody, regardless of their religion or no religion. In addition, ★ you will also notice certain songs repeated time and time again out and about. is can only mean two things. First, it is al - most the X Factor final, a popular TV pro - gramme involving a singing competition, watched excitedly by millions throughout autumn until the final in early December. at and the Christmas number one is coming, which is the song that will be number one in the music charts on the

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★ couraged to “boo” the villain and cheer very popular). Some British people the hero. kick off early with a Christmas brunch

on the day, and then eat the main meal Christmas Day: the grand fin★ale l★ ater in the mid-afternoon, while others It surprises some people that the UK still stick to the Christmas meal at has an official state religion, the Church of lunchtime. Either way, plenty of wine England, with the Queen as its head. In re - and bubbly is usually involved, and ality, although 59% claim to be Church of perhaps a port or Bailey’s later for good England, a much smaller percentage are measure. actively religious (around 2%), and ✶ Watch Christmas TV : TV is central Christmas time might be the one of the to most people’s days at some point

few times when somebody might go to and highly watched are the Christmas church. is time of the year also features specials for popular TV programmes, ★ from a breath of fresh air ★and relief key festivals for Jewish people (Hanukkah) like EastEnders, Coronation Street or and for Hindus ( in November), Doctor Who . ese TV programmes from the indulgence of eating, drink - and you will see these actively celebrated have been around for decades and the ing and sitting down throughout the across London. Whatever people’s religion Christmas special episode includes day, so why not head to your nearest or lack of religion, most people treat the some incredibly dramatic and extreme park for a gentle stroll. Remember, if ★ start of the Christmas holidays from incidents, such as a , death, you are in London on Christmas Day, Christmas Eve on 24th December until wedding or break-up. then this gives you special status of the New Year as a time to have a break, eat being a ‘proper Londoner’, and not dis - The Queen’s Speech : For the tradi - and drink well, see family and friends, and ✶ tionalists, everybody must be watching appearing off to the countryside, an - generally rest. TV at 3pm for the Queen’s Speech other city or country for the holidays. So, if you are in London on Christmas which is a pre-recorded 10-minute On this day only people in London act Day, what should you do? Well, here are message broadcast, including the like they live in a country village as we my top Modern British Christmas tips: Queen’s reflections on the past year. I greet each other, say good morning and Warning: almost everything is ✶ am sure this year there will be some everybody seems happy and friendly. closed . Yes, everything! e tube, good clips from Prince Harry and buses, most shops and restaurants. So if ✶ As the light fades on the day and you Meghan’s wedding, as well as Prince you want to go anywhere you will need head back to your cosy, warm home for Louis’ christening. Although it is short, to drive yourself, or book a taxi at least more indulgence, TV and board games, this is the time when some of the older 24 hours in advance. do not forget the tradition of the generation tend to nod off to sleep and chocolate tin (e.g. Quality Street, Food and Drink : If you want to eat a

✶ snore through it. Celebrations or Heroes). A permanent

traditional Christmas dinner, you can

★ Playing board games : Now this ★is a

have a go at cooking it at home your - ✶ feature in most British homes over the tricky one. Board games are a great way ★ self and an easy, very good Christmas festive season, a large box or tin of to spend time with family on dinner option is to buy and heat it up chocolates will sit tempting you Christmas Day, think Monopoly, from M&S. Or if you are feeling up to throughout December and mass con - Scrabble or Trivial Pursuit. It can keep the challenge, get inspiration from sumption peaks on Christmas Day. But the family entertained for hours (hon - British TV chefs, Jamie Oliver or Delia ★ remember nobody likes the one in the ★ estly, I once played Monopoly with my Smith, but remember nobody actually pink wrapper and you will always find sister for 4 hours straight) but can end likes eating brussels sprouts, they are at least ten of these lying abandoned at in conflict or even blows if everybody just for decoration. Alternatively, why the bottom. Chocolate-eating takes it a bit too seriously, in which not book yourself a restaurant at least etiquette: putting your empty wrap - case I suggest… in advance (as many restau - pers back into the tin is likely to annoy rants close, the ones which open are ✶ Going for a walk : Everybody benefits everybody, and all chocolates must be consumed or disappeared by the start ★ of January, when Easter eggs will im - mediately start appearing on the super - Coronation Street Christmas Special! market shelves, ready for April.

Whatever you are up to over the festive season, I wish you a very Merry British Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Victoria Rennoldson, Founder of Perfect Cuppa English, regularly gives talks and writes about British life and culture. Perfect Cuppa English offers private English language and British Culture courses in Everyday and Business English, for greater speaking confidence. [email protected]; w ww.perfectcuppaenglish.co.uk

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