How much do you know about the way the British celebrate Christmas?
From Boxing Day to stockings, discover what makes a British Christmas different.
When you finish this post, you’ll be an expert!
Christmas preparations
British people typically put up their Christmas decorations and their Christmas trees at the beginning of December.
At this time, they may start listening to Christmas songs, to get them in the mood!
They will probably have a Christmas work do – a ‘do’ here means a party. Their company will organise it and there will be a meal, drinks and dancing.
People will start their Christmas shopping. There are a number of special Christmas markets.
Children will start opening their advent calendars. These usually have a piece of chocolate for each day, but these days they might also have a toy or something else.
Children might go to see Father Christmas and write their Christmas lists (the presents they would like that year).
* Obviously, some people in the UK don’t celebrate Christmas at all, some are of a different religion or culture, some are vegan so they don’t eat turkey etc. I am talking about a traditional British Christmas only.
Singing at Christmas
Traditional Christmas songs are called carols. They were originally sung in church but you can hear them anywhere these days.
Nowadays we have pop songs too for Christmas but people still know the carols and they are still a part of Christmas.
I love carols – here are some of my favourites, which are all very well known.
- Away in a Manger
- The Holly and the Ivy
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
- O Come, All Ye Faithful
- God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Do you want to listen to some carols? Try this playlist.
The carols are old – some are from the Middle Ages! – so they use some old vocabulary that we don’t use anymore. For example:
- ye – a word meaning ‘you’, used when talking to more than one person
- thou – an old, informal form of ‘you’ (yes, English used to have a formal and an informal ‘you’!)
- lo – look!
- hark – listen!
- glad tidings – meaning ‘good news’
- yuletide – Christmas time
Christmas Eve traditions
The 24th of December is Christmas Eve (‘eve’ means ‘the day before an important event’).
It’s the time for last-minute preparations.
Children hang their stockings by the fireplace or in their bedrooms. These are big socks that Santa Claus will fill with smaller presents.
Naturally, children will struggle to get to sleep because they’re so excited!
British people do not get a day off (public holiday) on this day.
Christmas Day celebrations
Christmas Day (the 25th of December) is the most important day for British people.
Early in the morning, the children will wake everyone up to say that Father Christmas has been.
Everyone will go downstairs to the Christmas tree and start opening their presents.
Then they will eat the main Christmas meal, called Christmas dinner, which is eaten at lunchtime.
People pull Christmas crackers – one person pulls each end and it makes a loud BANG!
Crackers contain small gifts, a paper crown that you wear during the meal and a (very bad) joke!
The King gives a Christmas speech on this day each year, sharing his thoughts on the past year and hopes for the future. This speech often mentions important events and national challenges, and celebrates community spirit and bringing people together.
This day is of course a public holiday.
Who brings the presents?
In other countries, Jesus might bring the presents or the Three Wise Men.
In the UK, it’s Father Christmas. You can also say Santa Claus.
He has a big white beard, and he wears a red coat, hat and trousers with white fur at the edges. He carries a big bag full of presents.
He travels in a sleigh that is pulled by reindeer. This is a type of deer found in the Arctic. With their help, he delivers all the presents to the children of the world.
Boxing Day activities
What is Boxing Day? It’s the 26th of December and it is a public holiday.
Why is it called Boxing Day? Nobody is completely sure but we think it’s because traditionally on this day workers/servants would receive presents or money (a ‘Christmas box’) from their employers.
It is spent relaxing with family and perhaps visiting other members of the family.
It’s also a big shopping day, with many shops offering sales.
People eat any leftovers from Christmas dinner the day before.
Sports fans may watch football matches or horse racing, as these are popular Boxing Day events in the UK.
Festive food
The traditional British Christmas meal is turkey, served at lunchtime.
It will typically include:
- roast turkey
- gravy (meat sauce)
- pigs in blankets (small sausages wrapped in bacon)
- Brussels sprouts (a vegetable like a small cabbage)
- roast potatoes
- cranberry sauce (made from the red fruit)
The traditional dessert is Christmas pudding. It’s a steamed pudding made from dried fruit served with brandy butter (or custard or cream).
Christmas vocabulary
I have a Christmas story full of Christmas vocabulary, adapted for learners of English. It’s a new version of the classic story by Charles Dickens.
It has grammar and vocabulary at the perfect level for intermediate students (CEFR B1). Click below for more details and to buy it.
