Christmas in England - Happy Christmas!

Now we come to the origin of the Christmas Card. The first ever Christmas cards were illustrated by John Callcott Horsley in London in 1843. The card depicted a family sitting together drinking wine and read "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You." 2,050 cards were produced and sold for a shilling each. The first Christmas card in America was offered in 1875. The first official White House Christmas card was sent in 1953 by Dwight D. Eisenhower. I don't know how you get on the list to receive a White House Christmas card, but in 2005 1.4 million people received one.

The first Christmas card

Christmas decorations and Christmas trees are very popular in England. Every year Norway presents England with a Christmas tree, and has been doing so since 1947. The tree is a gift of thanks for the help England provided to Norway during the Second World War. The tree is usually a Norway Spruce and is lit in Trafalgar Square in London.

Children hang stockings or pillow cases (brilliant, just think how much bigger pillow cases are!) either on the fireplace mantel or the foot of their beds. Father Christmas comes on Christmas Eve to fill the stockings (or pillow cases) and leave gifts. Gifts are opened Christmas day, a day spent with family. Families may attend mass, and usually have a Christmas dinner. Most noted is the dessert of Christmas Pudding.

The tradition of pudding goes back to medieval England and the original recipe included 13 ingredients to symbolize the 12 apostles and Christ. It was to be made on the 25th Sunday after Trinity (a few weeks before Christmas) and each member of the family would take a turn stirring counterclockwise (east to west) to represent the direction the Wise Men traveled. Of course there are many different recipes and ways to make the pudding now. Sometimes wishes are made while stirring, or small coins are baked into the pudding which are to be kept by whoever receives that slice. Yes, slice. We're talking more of a fruit cake than a bowl of squishy, jiggly pudding.

Another English tradition is pantomime. These are musical, comedic theatrical productions performed around Christmas which usually contain a moral and good prevailing over evil. Current day pantomimes have evolved from the Mummer's Plays performed thousands of years ago in England.

So with that I wish you a Happy Christmas!