Christmas in England

Preparations
“There is always so much to do before Christmas, you never know where to begin“, many women say a few weeks before the end of the year. You have to tidy up all the rooms in the whole flat or house. You also should send Christmas cards to your friends. And of course you have to do your Christmas shopping several weeks before Christmas. However some people buy their Christmas presents on Christmas Eve (December 24th) when the shops are almost empty. Some people go carolsinging with friends. Carols are special Christmas songs; you sing them outside people´s houses, in church or at home.
Several days before Christmas our mother makes the Christmas pudding and the Christmas cake and buys all the other things that she will need when she makes Christmas lunch. Children who want see Father Cgristmas can go and see him in big stores. He gives the presents – and their parents pay, of course.
Christmas is one of the most beautiful holidays at all. It is marked by fairy lights and brightly illuminated streets.
Many people also decorate their houses. The more lihts, the better the house looks.
Christmas Day (December 25th)
In England Father Christmas comes to the house through the chimney. So children hang up their stockings at the foot of beds and wait for the presents. Some families open their Christmas presents at breakfast-time, others open them round the Christmas tree after breakfast. At noon they have their traditional Christmas dinner – roast turkey and roast potatoes with other vegetables. Then mother brings favourite Christmas pudding. Some people like brandy on their pudding. Then they light it which causes a nice effect. But that´s not all that they eat for Christmas lunch! They have minces pies, too, and fruit, and nuts, and sweets… A mince pie is pastry filled with mixture of fruit and nuts. At tea time there is Christmas cake. As you can see, there is a lot to eat at Christmas. Luckily, the next day is a holiday.
Boxing day (December 26th)
At Christmas it is still the custom to give a present of money to the milkman or the postman. Years ago the money was put in a box and given on December 26th, which is why that day is called Boxing Day. On this day many British theatres present a pantomime – a traditional Christmas show which is always based on a traditional fairy tale. People of all ages enjoy pantomime, and especially children.