Christmas in England

Christmas in England
Christmas is a feast, which in many countries has spawned a large number of symbols and traditions.
British house decorated for Christmas with holly , ivy and mistletoe . It was believed that witches scares holly , mistletoe and the ancient Druids considered a sacred plant and a symbol of eternal life , Romans appreciated her as a symbol of peace .
One of the ancient British traditions - Christmas log . It is believed that the ancient Vikings brought this rite in England. At Christmas, they sawed down a huge tree , and it is stored for the whole year - dried up . Until the next Christmas he was brought into the house, and it burned in the hearth for a long time . If faded , not burned to ashes , the hosts were expecting trouble.
In England sushestvuet add custom gifts in Christmas stocking.
While telling the tale that "Father Christmas" traveled through the air and penetrate into the house through the chimney. Going into one of the houses, he dropped a few gold coins in a sock, which hung over the fireplace to dry. Since then, on Christmas Eve at the fireplace began to hang out "socks and stockings in the hope that something will fall there." And now in the Christmas Eve children hang on the edge of the bed or fireplace Christmas stockings to Santa Claus filled him with gifts. This tradition is gradually taking root in our country, in Russia.
For many centuries, all the inhabitants of the British Isles common dish for Christmas was a special oatmeal Plum-porridzh. Pudding cooked in large copper pots for a few weeks before Christmas the whole family. In the preparation of each member of the family to make a wish. In pudding put 4 Item coin thimble, button and ring. Later, when eating pudding, pudding found in every thing had its value.
Christmas season opens the Christmas post. he begins 4 weeks before Christmas. In posta people begin to decorate their homes. Garlands hung around the house, install a Christmas tree, decorate the top of her head a star or an angel.
In the four weeks before Christmas, believers bring home a special wreath - "Advent Wreath". Unlike simple wall Christmas wreaths, this put on the table and secured on it four candles are lit every Sunday, but not both, and in turn - first one, then two and so on.
Christmas in England is celebrated on December 25. On this day, most families are sent to the church, and after it going for the holiday table. Also on this day at 3 pm on all radio and television stations shall be made festive appeal queen.
In England there is a cheerful custom: before sitting down at the table kind of people slam cracker "Christmas Cracker". It contains a small souvenir and comic message.
Traditional Christmas meal in England are roast turkey and potato, mince pies,Christmas pudding, Christmas cake.
On this day, almost every house sounds of Christmas music. Traditional English melody - "Jingle Bell" (bells ring) and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (We wish you a Merry Christmas). The twenty-sixth of December in the UK it is also a holiday - Boxing Day. On television from morning to evening are sports programs, so the British love to spend the day in a chair watching TV. Holiday ends exactly twelve days after Christmas, the sixth of January, when start shooting decorations.