Christmas at Northumbria 2019 What to Expect During the Holidays

The festive period is a busy time for most people If you are planning to go somewhere over the in the UK and it is often when people spend more holidays, especially around itself, it is best time with their families. Those who celebrate to check ahead to make sure the place is open and Christmas are likely to do so with specially prepared that there is transport available. It is also wise to have food, by decorating their homes and exchanging the number of a taxi service handy. gifts. Christmas is a Christian festival and some Wherever you are from in the world, if you people will visit churches and cathedrals to Some local taxi numbers include: are a Northumbria student who is staying in participate in services and concerts throughout the holiday period. Blueline Taxis: 0191 262 6666 Newcastle over the Christmas holidays, this Budget Taxis: 0191 298 5050 LA Taxis: 0191 287 7777 brochure is for you. All of Newcastle’s churches and cathedrals will have something to offer and you can visit them whether Dean: 0191 444 4444 you are Christian or not. Services on 24th December Many students, both home and overseas, stay in the city – – can be particularly enjoyable with carols, lighting of candles and children’s choirs. Most shops and public buildings will be open every during Christmas and New Year and we hope to give day except Christmas Day itself – 25th December – everyone the chance to meet up and take part in one of For many the holiday period is a time to eat, drink and and New Year’s Day – 1st January. However, many shop so be aware that in the run-up to Christmas the shops and public buildings will have reduced opening the many exciting events, plan a special family outing or centre of Newcastle will be very busy indeed. There hours on Christmas Eve (24th December), make a traditional Christmas meal. is disruption to public transport with most services (26th) and New Year’s Eve (31st). Remember to buy running a restricted timetable and on 25th December enough food before Christmas Day! See the following will cease altogether. Please see the following links to links for information on shopping in Newcastle. We hope that you will find this guide helpful and that check on timetables for local and national services. newcastlegateshead.com it will inspire you to help make this holiday a truly Nexus (local) intu.co.uk/eldonsquare Traveline Northeast (local) memorable one for you! intu.co.uk/metrocentre National Rail (national)

2 www.mynsu.co.uk 3 Celebrating Christmas in England Make your own

If this is your first Christmas in England we would like to We now only give stockings to children and they are hung help you to make sense of it all. Here is a brief guide to on the end of their bed ready to open in the morning. It is Christmas Day in some of our . traditional to include some nuts and a small orange in the bottom, which again dates back to St Nicholas providing CHRISTMAS FOOD for the poor. Small presents of any kind are called ‘stocking fillers’. 5 Easy Steps! Food plays a very important role in the Christmas Christmas Day itself – 25 December – is the main day of celebrations with the Christmas Day dinner being the CHRISTMAS TREES the festivities. Most families or individuals will have central meal of the festivities. This is eaten at different their own way of celebrating the occasion but there times, according to family tradition, but is normally a The British Royal Family first introduced Christmas trees are a few traditions, which are worth observing. lunchtime rather than an evening meal. It traditionally to Britain from in the eighteenth century. In the comprises roast turkey with chestnut served with nineteenth century Christmas trees became popularised by potatoes and vegetables including brussels sprouts. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, following the publication in the ‘Illustrated London News’ of a picture featuring the It is now relatively easy to serve a traditional turkey dinner Royal Family sitting around a finely decorated Christmas with all of the ‘trimmings’ (as we call everything that goes tree. 1 CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS 4 THE ROYAL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE with the meal). This is because all major supermarkets have If you wish to enter into the spirit, you must put up some Every Christmas Day, the Queen addresses the nation ready-to roast turkeys and ready-prepared vegetables and Although some people have their tree out from early kind of decorations. The shops are full of them at the at 3pm when she talks about the past year and the year gravy. Of course, not everyone eats turkey, or meat, and December the ‘proper’ time is in fact 24 December or minute so you can take your pick. Most have displays ahead. In the past, many families would sit down together there are some traditional meat free dishes too. One is the Christmas Eve, after , and it should be taken down that can give you a good idea of what to buy and how to to hear what she had to say but this tradition has decreased nut roast, served with vegetarian gravy. on 6 January – . assemble your decorations. For an idea of how it should all over the years. For information on this tradition, see the look and suggestions of differently priced options, see the links below: After the meal, the traditional dish is a THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS links below: Royal Christmas Message – a dark, fruit-laden cake-like pudding served with brandy John Lewis At Christmas, Christians celebrate the birth of Christ sauce and brandy butter. If you buy a pudding, and have ASDA 5 CHURCH SERVICE specific dietary requirements, be sure to look at the (where the word ‘Christian’ comes from). Most churches hold a carol service, which may be candlelit, ingredients as many contain animal fat and alcohol though 2 EXCHANGING GIFTS in the weeks before Christmas. The dates will vary – look at Christians believe that Jesus was born of a human mother many versions exist without these additions. Exchanging gifts is an essential part of the day and your nearest church noticeboards or websites for details. – Mary, often referred to as the Virgin Mary and that Jesus is normally takes place in the morning. Why not get together On Christmas Eve (24th December), many churches have God’s son. Mince pies, which are sweet, used to be savoury pies with friends and organise a ‘’? See below for a service starting at about 11.30pm and lasting for an containing a mixture of meat, fruit and alcohol. They were ideas on how to do this. hour. This is a traditional part of an English traditionally oval in shape to represent Jesus’ crib. They are There are many traditions built up around the Christmas Christmas. Most churches will also have a mid-morning Secret Santa Organiser now a sweet pie containing fruit, eaten after dinner or by story. Christians believe that Jesus was born in , service on Christmas Day (25th December). Again, we refer themselves with a drink. in present-day Israel, and that he was born in a stable Find Me a Gift you to their noticeboards and websites as there are too (where animals are kept), because there was no room at the many to list here. inn. The first visitors to see him were shepherds. 3 FESTIVE FOOD AND DRINK The traditional dinner, eaten at lunchtime or early evening There are also other religious festivals at this time of year Our modern Santa Claus, developed from the legend of We are also told of a later visit when wise men (often according to personal preference, normally comprises including Jewish Hanukkah and Pagan . St Nicholas, is said to travel through the night skies on a referred to as ‘the three Kings’) came from the east to see turkey and ‘all the trimmings’. Many people prefer another sleigh, guided by his reindeer. him, bringing him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Most meat or a vegetarian option. Whatever you decide to For more information about church services over the services will tell these stories and seek to have, make it special – set the table and provide Christmas Christmas period, please contact Andii Bowsher, chaplain at Santa Claus traditionally leaves small, unwrapped gifts explain their significance in music and words. crackers for everyone. Most shops have ready-made food Northumbria. for Christmas but if you want to cook it all yourself, look at in Christmas stockings hung out on 24 December. This Northumbria Chaplaincy tradition developed from the tales of St Nicholas, who, If you wish to discuss Christmas and its significance to the links below. according to legend, left money in the stockings of poor Christians, please contact the Chaplaincy at Save the Student men’s daughters as they slept, in order to pay for their Northumbria Chaplaincy Urbanest dowries.

www.mynsu.co.uk Northumbria University What’s on this Holiday Opening Hours

Christmas? University Library/Ask4help opening hours

City Campus Library Coach Lane Library

st If you can’t make it home for Christmas, Christmas at Tyneside Cinema Saturday 21 December 09:00 - midnight 09:00 - 21:00 don’t worry your Students’ Union is When: Throughout December Sunday 22nd December 09:00 - midnight 09:00 - 21:00 getting in the festive spirit early and Where: Tyneside Cinema, Pilgrim Street holding our own Christmas day...for FREE. Monday 23rd December 09:00 - 17:00 09:00 - 21:00 Indulge in a festive film or two at the historic Tyneside Expect everything you’d see at home, here in the SU. From Cinema, with both classics and modern greats amongst Tuesday 24th December 09:00 - 17:00 09:00 - 17:00 a mouth watering Christmas Buffet (with veggie options), their list of screening. For details of what’s on and when, , Mince Pies, Hot Choc, Quiz, bit of Cliff visit their website online for more information. Wednesday 25th December CLOSED CLOSED Richard on in the background, and Christmas day wouldn’t be finished without a few board games! Thursday 26th December CLOSED CLOSED Hadrian’s Tipi Friday 20th December from 1pm in Escape (1st floor, City When: Nov. – Jan. 2020 Friday 27th December 09:00 - midnight 09:00 - 21:00 Campus Students’ Union). No need to book, just turn up though clicking ‘Going’ on the Facebook event will help us Where: Stack Newcastle, Pilgrim Street Saturday 28th December 09:00 - midnight 09:00 - 21:00 to gauge numbers attending. A cosy pop-up bar in the heart of Newcastle, complete with a fire pit, well-stocked bars and festive drinks. Sunday 29th December 09:00 - midnight 09:00 - 21:00 Keep up to date with everything else running in the Students’ Union up to Friday 20 December by visiting our Monday 30th December 09:00 - midnight 09:00 - 21:00 social media channels or visit www.mynsu.co.uk. Tuesday 31st December 09:00 - 17:00 09:00 - 17:00 A firm British tradition, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without a good old-fashioned panto. Something worth Newcastle st seeing over the festive period? Oh yes it is! Wednesday 1 January CLOSED CLOSED When: Friday 15th Nov. – Tuesday 31st Dec. Thursday 2nd January 09:00 - midnight 07:00 - midnight Where: Grey’s Monument, Northumberland Street Beauty and the Beast 24/7 hours resumes Theatre Royal, 27th Nov. – 19th Jan. Featuring local traders as well as food and drink from all For more info, visit the Theatre Royal’s website Regular opening hours in operation outside of these dates. around the world, get yourself down for a bit of shopping For more information head to: library.northumbria.ac.uk or some quality street food. Aladdin Tyne Theatre & Opera House, 6th Dec. – 5th Jan. For more info, visit The Tyne Theatre’s website Ice Skating @ Centre for Life Where: Centre for Life, Times Square Sinderella (Adult Panto) 16+ Student Support & Wellbeing Northern Stage, 27th Nov. – 5th Jan. 24/7 opening hours resume from Closed Mon 22 Dec. - Wed 1 Jan. When: Saturday 9th Nov. – Sunday 23rd Feb. For more info, visit The Tyne Theatre’s website 8:00am on Thursday 2 January 2020. To access info, visit: northumbria.ac.uk/ssw Open 7 days a week, Centre for Life’s annual ice rink returns again! Time to get your skates on! Head to the Life Centre’s Library Digital Commons website to find out full details about pricing and times. NYE Fireworks: Quayside Seaside Closed Sat 21 Dec. - Wed 1 Jan. Students’ Union When: Oct. 2018 – Jan. 2019 The Students’ Union building and services will Law Practice Library close on Friday 20 December. The Welcome Where: Stack Newcastle, Pilgrim Street Fenwick Christmas Window Closed Sat 21 Dec. - Wed 1 Jan. Desk, Base and Advice Service will re-open on Where: Fenwick, Northumberland Street Welcome the new decade with the return of Newcastle’s Thursday 2 Jan. New Year’s Eve Midnight Fireworks on the Quayside!More Sport Central A shopping trip wouldn’t be complete without paying a details available here. visit to Fenwick’s department store and seeing its famous Closed Mon 23 Dec. - Wed 1 Jan. Habita and The Greenhouse Christmas Window display on Northumberland Street. Closed Fri 20 Dec. - Mon 13 Jan. This year’s display is themed on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. www.mynsu.co.uk