Last four Seasonal Essentials!

12 Seasonal Essentials

THE FESTIVE SCENTS #9

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH #10

THE NATIVITY #11

THE CAROLS #12

Christmas simply would not be Christmas 

without these traditional accompaniments.

#9 - THE FESTIVE SCENTS

Of all our senses, it is our sense of smell that is believed to be the most powerful in activating memories of bygone times.  Little wonder, then, that many enjoy filling their homes with the scents of past childhood Christmases.  From generation to generation, we pass down a tradition of using clove-studded oranges, bundles of cinnamon, eucalyptus and the fresh smell of pine to set a magical olfactory ambience.

#10 - THE QUEEN'S SPEECH

On Christmas Day, people across the land stop their activities to tune into HM The Queen's traditional annual message to her subjects.  The time was chosen because in 1932 when King George V began the tradition, this was deemed to be the best time to reach most of the countries in the Empire live by shortwave radio from the transmitters in Britain.  Today, the speech is pre-recorded and shown on television, but the importance of tuning in remains as strong as ever for most.

#11 - THE NATIVITY

As a charming re-enactment of the birth of Christ, this event reminds everyone of the origins of this most important of Christian celebrations.  Earnest children dressed in makeshift costumes stumble through memorized lines, whilst adults hold their breath to catch every word, and parents smile or even shed a tear of pride.

#12 - THE CAROLS

Lilting lyrics are sung with gusto from door to door, around the piano or in church at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.  The compositions bring people together in musical nostalgia, and everyone has their favorite carol, be it We Three Kings, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen or Silent Night.

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Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

THE PUDDING

12 Seasonal Essentials

THE PUDDING - #8

Christmas simply would not be Christmas 

without these traditional accompaniments.

This rich concoction of alcohol-soaked dried fruits, citrus peel, nuts, suet and spices has long been the grand finale to the Christmas feast.  Home-made on Stir-up Sunday (the last Sunday before Advent), the pudding often conceals a silver coin (traditionally a sixpence), which is said to endow good fortune upon the diner who finds it within their portion.  The pudding is usually doused with brandy, whisky or rum, which is set alight to create a flaming spectacle before serving.

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Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

THE MULLED WINE

12 Seasonal Essentials

THE MULLED WINE - #7

Christmas simply would not be Christmas 

without these traditional accompaniments.

Many of the comforting, warming drinks that our ancestors would have known have fallen out of favor.  As author Jane Strutters reveals in The Book of Christmas, winter was the time of great experimentation with hot drinks from Bishop to Posset to Het Pint, which are rarely known today.  

Yet mulled wine continues to be served.  We are intrigued to try a fabulous recipe and the advice is to use a good quality wine when making it.  And don't forget to top with a little freshly-grated nutmeg!

Thank you English Home!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

Polite Society School of Etiquette: THE GIVING OF PRESENTS

Polite Society School of Etiquette: THE GIVING OF PRESENTS: 12 Seasonal Essentials THE GIVING OF PRESENTS - #6 Christmas simply would not be Christmas  without these traditional accompaniment...

THE GIVING OF PRESENTS

12 Seasonal Essentials

THE GIVING OF PRESENTS - #6

Christmas simply would not be Christmas 

without these traditional accompaniments.

To give is more pleasurable than to receive, our grandparents would often say.  For many, this still holds true, at Christmas in particular.

Despite concerns of commercialization, it is the thoughtful and the hand-made and the time-consumingly sourced presents that still warm hearts the most - echoing, too, the giving of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  In England these offerings are more correctly known as presents, whereas in American it is referred to as gifts.  

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Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

THE LAVISH FEAST - 12 Seasonal Essentials

12 Seasonal Essentials

THE LAVISH FEAST - #5

Christmas simply would not be Christmas 

without these traditional accompaniments.

Christmas dinner is really little more than an expansion on a tradional Sunday roast, yet certain key extras elevate the meal into a ritual of expectation that everyone relishes.

A golden turkey replaced roast goose as the preferred centerpiece during Victorian times and sausage meat, chestnut stuffing, bread sauce, cranberry sauce, sprouts and 'pigs in blankets' (chipolatas wrapped in bacon) are the usual accompaniments.  Pulling crackers and wearing paper crowns whilst eating is an unwritten rule in many households - the hats, once an emblem of the three kings, have now become a symbol of the British need to not take themselves too seriously.

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Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

12 Seasonal Essentials

12 Seasonal Essentials

12 Seasonal Essentials - #4

Christmas simply would not be Christmas 

without these traditional accompaniments.

Centuries of homeowners have eaten mince pies - although not to the current popular recipes.

Originally, as the name suggests, the filling comprised meat (often mutton), which was heavily seasoned and spiced, whilst the pie itself was large and served multiple people rather than being baked as individual pies.  By the nineteenth century, Mrs. Beeton offered two recipes for mincemeat - one with meat, the other without.  The latter variety stayed the course, and we continue to eat fruit-filled mini pies today, but crucially these still retain the three important spices - cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg - thought to be a reminder of the three gifts of the wise men.

Thank you English Home!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

12 Seasonal Essentials

12 Seasonal Essentials

12 Seasonal Essentials - #3

Christmas simply would not be Christmas 

without these traditional accompaniments

In pre-Christian times, homeowners garlanded their homes during mid winter with evergreen foliage and wreaths of green as a reminder of the cyclical nature of the seasons and the eventual return of spring.

Today, we continue to adorn our front doors with wreaths, although more creative homeowners use circles of evergreen foliage around glass-encased candles on sideboards and tables or create a kissing ring to hang from the ceiling.

Thank you English Home!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

12 Seasonal Essentials

12 Seasonal Essentials - #2

Christmas simply would not be Christmas 

without these traditional accompaniments

Twas the night before Christmas, Clement Clarke Moore's much loved poem, published in 1822, may not have invented the concept of hanging up a Christmas stocking, but it undoubtedly popularized the idea in America and Britain.  His often quoted words perfectly encapsulate and enforce the magical view both children and adults continue to hold of the very special visitor that arrives to deliver presents every Christmas Eve.  In some homes stockings are hung by the chimney 'with care,' in others, a bedpost is the traditional hanging place.  Even though there are some who ambitiously leave out a pillowcase or a sack for gifts, today, the stocking remains our most beloved choice.

From English Home Magazine

12 Seasonal Essentials for a Traditional Christmas

1 - THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Glimpsed through the windows of many a home across the festive period, the twinkling charms of a spruce or fir tree resplendently dressed with lights and baubles is a sight to behold.  Taking pride of place in either a grand hall or a prominent corner of the sitting room, the Christmas tree has provided a focal point for family gatherings across the nation since Victorian times.  One spends hours choosing the perfect size and shape, adorning it with decorations, tantalizingly piling presents beneath it and, or course, topping it with a star or angel to remind us of the very first Christmas so long ago.