A-Z CHRISTMAS STEEPED IN TRADITIONS

"L"

IS FOR LAYING THE TABLE, LANTERNS, LIGHTS, LEFTOVERS

Whether a small gathering or a large family affair, Christmas dinner calls for a beautifully dressed table that is resplendent with candles, floral arrangements and shimmering decorations. A special tablecloth topped with the best flatware and crockery is used and care is taken with each place setting.  Usually there is a name card for each guest, along with a cracker to be pulled before dinner commences, and sometimes there are even small, personalised gifts to open before the feasting commences.

A-Z CHRISTMAS STEEPED IN TRADITIONS

"K"

IS FOR KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE, KINGS COLLEGE, 

WE THREE KINGS

Thought by the druids to hold magical powers, mistletoe has long been considered a plant associated with romance, fertility and good fortune.  The custom of kissing beneath a ball of mistletoe was an eighteenth-century tradition.  The ball would be hung and decorated with ribbons and ornaments and any girl standing beneath it could not be refused a kiss.  This kiss could be romantic or a sign of lasting friendship; however, if she was to remain undissed it was considered a sign that she would not marry the following year.  it was also customary to burn any remaining mistletoe on the Twelfh Night, or else those that had kissed beneath it would not marry.


From English Home Magazine

A-Z CHRISTMAS STEEPED IN TRADITIONS

"J"

IS FOR JINGLE BELLS, JOKES IN CRACKERS, JOY TO THE WORLD

Bells have long been used for celebrating joyous and religious occasions.  The tradition has pagon roots, when bells were used to ward away evil spirits during the winter celebrations.  As an inexpensive instrument bells are popular in Christmas docor.  They sometimes hang from wreaths for an inviting jingle when guests arrive; they make a pretty decoration on trees and are used by carollers to sound their presence as they make their way, door to door.  It is also understood that Father Christmas's reindeers wear bells.  Bells are further cemented into the psyche of Christmas in popular songs and carols such as Silver Bells, I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day, and, of course, Jingle Bells.


From English Home Magazine

A-Z CHRISTMAS STEEPED IN TRADITIONS

"I"

IS FOR ICE SKATING, ICING THE CAKE, INDULGING, ICICLES

Although in England we rarely have weather conditions that warrant safe ice skating on a lake, it has become popular for a temporary outdoor rink to be created in city centres.  Across London there are several options set against grand backdrops, including one in the grounds of the beautiful Natural History Museum.  This romantic notion of skating outdoors is thought to have been introduced around 1650 by the Royal Family, who discovered the pursuit of skating on bladed boots when they fled to Holland when Cromwell attained power.  It continued to be enjoyed throughout Victorian times and as conditions werre jolly chillier, Prince Albert was even recorded as skating on the lake at Buckingham Palace.


From English Home Magazine

A-Z CHRISTMAS STEEPED IN TRADITIONS

"H"

IS FOR THE HOLLY AND THE IVY, HE'S BEHIND YOU...., HATS, HOLY NIGHT

As an evergreen plant that bears vibrant berries even in the depths of winter, holly is a natural choice for decorative foliage at Christmas.

Its symbolic importance stems back to Druid times when it was considered to have magical properties, and hanging it indoors brought good luck.  This belief was upheld by Romans celebrating the festival of Saturnalia (in December) who decked their halls with boughs of holly.  This practice was adopted by Christians who applied their own relegious symbolism to the plant, with the berries rrepresenting the blood of Christ and the Sharp prickles indicative of the crown of thorns worn by Jesus before his crucifixion.

Holly is associated with males and as such is considered to bring men good luck, whereas ivy is the female counterpart, so be sure to decorate with both for a fortuitous Christmas for all the family.

From English Home Magazine

A-Z CHRISTMAS STEEPED IN TRADITIONS

"F"

IS FOR FATHER CHRISTMAS, FAMILY, FROSTY WALKS

The central figure of most secular celebrations of Christmas is a jolly fellow who delivers presents to well behaved children on Christmas Eve.  In England, this man is known as Father Christmas and although the name has now become synonymous with the American Santa Claus, the origins of our festive figurehead are very different.  


Santa Claus stems from the legend of Saint Nicholas, inspiring the character in Clement Moor's poem The Night Before Christmas (1823); in a red, fur-trimmed suit who brings presents by flying a magical sleigh pulled by reindeer.  Father Christmas, however, was a man who visited homes over the winter period and was associated with feasting rather than gift-giving.  The best illustration of this man was in Dickens' A Christmas Carol where he appears as the Ghost of Christmas Present, a larger-than-life character clothed in green robes who jubilantly feasts on indulgent foods.  

As the popularity of Santa Claus spread across America, with no small thanks to a campaign by Coca-Cola in the 1930s featuring the widely accepted vision of a bearded man in a rich red suit, the two figures became interchangeable, with elements of both woven into the myths of the beloved character.

From English Home Magazine

A-Z CHRISTMAS STEEPED IN TRADITIONS

"E"

IS FOR EGGNOG, EBENEZER SCROOGE, CHRISTMAS EVE

Indulgent drinks are one of the treats of the festive period and none is more deliciously sumptuous than a velvety eggnog.  The drink has origins in medieval times and wa later enjoyed by English aristocracy who could both afford the expensive ingredients, and keep the milk chilled.  The name of the drink varied and was also known as an egg flip. 


The roots of eggnog are somewhat ambiguous.  Some would argue it comes from the word 'noggin' a drinking vessel from which the egg mixture would have been drunk, while others refer to the East Anglian dialect of 'nog' for a strong ale which was sometimes used to flavour the punch.  Another explanation stems from when the drink reached the shores of America in the eighteenth century and rum, or 'grog' was used to lace the mixture, with the name abbreviated from egg and grog to that used today.


The drink itself varies from country to country and even amongst families.  However, good eggnog is made as a punch and should contain a large quantity of eggs, some extra yolks for added richness, milk, spices such as vanilla and netmeg and, of course, a healthy dose of alcohol, traditionally brandy although rum and whisky are popular alternatives.  The mixture is chilled and before serving whisked cream is added for a frothy texture.


From English Home Magazine