Bob

Aye, tv x-mas specials...haven't noticed those over here....

Pharrya

And at least waiting until December before we put them up....

Bob

Should see some of the homes over on the way here, loads of lights and shite in the gardens and stuff, some decorations are even bigger than the homes...

Englishmum

One of the most memorable events which I'm sure just about everyone who is a Brit reading this is...the Nativity Play at infant school!

I was fortunate in that we did get to see our two children in the Christmas Nativity Plays before we left England. ...it really did bring a lump to our throats and a tear to the eye! We moved to Singapore in Jan 1995 just a few weeks after our son's sixth birthday. He went to a British school from Year 1, but quite a number of parents were in mixed marriages with people from other cultures, so as not to offend the Christmas concert was secular in nature with no mention of the baby Jesus....

I've only just learned that the Candy Cane originated in England! So did the custom of hanging up a stocking for receiving Christmas gifts. See here:

http://www.bawdseymanor.com/christmas2.htm

ladylisa

I cannot believe they do not have chritsmas crackers over here (also easter eggs but that is for another time) what with all the get rich businesses you would have thought they would have done that. Also party poppers. My Christmasses at home are full of booze and noise!

Bob

I've seen them around, but bloomin' expensive....so can get them online..but real shame that....and advent calendars...I've seen them, but there a tad shite...no decent choc in 'em

snorkmaiden

Well I'm feeling thoroughly homesick now.

I'm suddenly remembering the delights of the cocktail size mince pies from Safeway which have icing on top instead of pastry. The icing and marzipan which is generally the only part of the Christmas cake I eat, and my little sisters insistence that we still have Prawn Cocktail or Melon and Sorbet for a starter on Christmas Day despite the fact that Prawn Cocktails lost their fashionable status years ago

Thanks for all the ideas, I think I'll prepare a little British booklet this evening to send in for the teacher

Bob

Not really a x-mas tradition, but somin' I miss, pickled onions and cheese...can nae find pickled onions, not even in the booze section, tho the local health shop does have imported cross and blackwell pickled onions...ain't half small and pricey though...

Lion in Winter

Bread Sauce.

nxylas

Pantomime. Over here it just seems to mean mime. Oh yes it does!

Celtic_Angel

lol perfect it takes another brit to realise this!! my hubby will never understand ....why did it take me 8 yrs to find this site

mikehope

Turkey curry and about a million other things to do with left-over turkey
Christmas pudding
The wizard of oz (never understood why it gets shown every cristmas)

ElsieTheMaid

Funny you should say that...my family thinks I'm weird cus I consider that a Christmas movie!

Bendex

More of a New Year's thing.....but the tradition that the first person over your threshold after midnight should be an attractive dark haired man with coal......for wealth in the New Year (although I say forget the coal and just send the attractive guy )

Turkey dinner on Christmas day....most of the Americans I know have goose or cornish hen or something on the actual day, as they've had turkey for Thanksgiving

Christmas crackers and wearing a stupid hat all day

Drinking.....I think that's more of a culture thing in UK.....especially as nearly all the family will indulge, not just the over 21's (I remember the days of being a kid and having my own Babycham for Xmas day)

Sage and onion stuffing

Advent rings....I haven't seen one here, but they may have them

ElsieTheMaid

I always buy my christmas crackers after xmas in the sales for the next year. If you wait till Feb/Mar, you get them dirt cheap.