Christmas — a holiday which in

• Christmas - a holiday, which in many countries has created a large number of symbols and traditions. This includes even his date. Initially, the Eastern Christian church established the celebration of Christmas on January 6. However, the Church of Rome deliberately moved it to December 25 - the day of the pagan holiday unconquered sun. And the new date was to symbolize the victory of Christianity over paganism. Sixth January to the Western tradition - the day of the Epiphany, or Epiphany, often called the English Twelfth Night.

• British first began on Christmas home decoration with holly, ivy and mistletoe. It was believed that witches scares holly and mistletoe ancient druids considered a sacred plant and a symbol of eternal life, the Romans prized it as a symbol of peace.

• It is believed that the custom originated in England, kissing under the mistletoe. Whenever a young couple kissing under a branch, a young man plucked berries when the berries were over, and ended with kisses. This fun tradition has survived in Britain until now: the dressing rooms bunches of mistletoe on even the lamps and chandeliers, and, as usual, you can kiss the person standing in the middle of the room under a bunch of mistletoe.

• One of the ancient British tradition - the Christmas log. It is believed that the ancient Vikings brought this ceremony to England. At Christmas, they are cut down a huge tree, and it is stored for the whole year dried up. Only on the following Christmas he was brought into the house, and it was burning in the hearth for a long time. If we went out, not burned to ashes, the hosts were expecting trouble.

• Brilliant Victorian era (1837 -1901) Gave the UK a wonderful Christmas tradition. And first of all it is connected with Christmas tree - a symbol of the eternal nature. It is believed that the Germans were the first to use a Christmas tree in their celebrations, and Martin Luther first adorned the tree top star, which symbolizes the star that appeared over the stable where Christ was born. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (representatives of the German Saxe-Coburg dynasty) was the first decorated Christmas tree set up in Windsor Castle in 1841 and presented it as a gift to children. Since then it has become a sign of good taste. Since that time, and established the custom of giving gifts at Christmas, before the British exchange gifts on New Year's Eve or Twelfth Night (Epiphany).

• In Victorian England, linked custom stack gifts on Christmas sock. While telling a story that "Father Christmas" to travel by air and got into the house through the chimney. Walking down one of the houses, he dropped some gold coins in a sock, which hung over the fireplace to dry. Since then, on Christmas Eve at the fireplace has displayed "socks and stockings in the hope that something will fall there. " And now, on Christmas Eve the children hang on the fireplace or the bed Christmas stocking to Santa Claus filled his gifts. This tradition is gradually taking root in our country, in Russia.

• In England during the reign of Victoria also appeared to share the custom for the New Year greeting cards. The first Christmas greeting card was printed in 1843 in London and initiated the establishment of a separate independent printing industry, and after, and the direction of the printing industry.

• As the main characters for Christmas cards artists - printmakers chosen motifs related ancient rites, customs, and attributes. It could be a robin, replaced in the celebrations of the XVIII century. wren, sprigs of ivy, holly, mistletoe, heather. These cards have a unique opportunity to congratulate immigrants stranded on Christmas far from their homeland.

• For many centuries, all the inhabitants of the British Isles popular dish for Christmas was a special porridge Plum-porridzh, cooked in meat broth, it also added bread crumbs, raisins, almonds, prunes and honey and serve very hot. Pudding cooked in large copper pots for a few weeks before Christmas the whole family. In the preparation of each member of the family to make a wish. In the pudding put 4 items: coins, a thimble, a button and a ring. Later, when the pudding eating, each detected object in the pudding had its value. The coin is wealth in the new year, a button - bachelor, a thimble for a girl meant unmarried life ring - marriage (marriage).

• During the XVIII century. Plum-porridzh gradually replaced Plum-pudding, and by the middle of the XIX century. the latter becomes the most important Christmas menu. Plum-pudding prepared from bread crumbs with the addition of various spices, fruits, before serving it poured rum and ignite. And yet there is still the custom of hiding in the British Christmas pudding small silver coins and jewelry - "for luck. "

By the beginning of XX century. Christmas holiday has become a family holiday, and as for the British national traditions, many of them have remained unchanged to this day.

• Christmas season officially opens Advent post, starting 4 weeks before Christmas. The first to appear in the homes of Advent calendars for 24 days with a small door on each date. Behind them a picture or poem traditional Christmas theme. Every day, you can only open one door, the ensuing appropriate date. So, is counting down the days until Christmas. At this time, people start to decorate their homes. Garlands are hung around the house, set the Christmas tree, decorate the top of it a star or angel.

• Wonderful tradition of decorating the house for Christmas evergreen sprigs of ivy, holly, and so preserved to this day, as well as custom, hung on the front door of mistletoe sprigs. According to ancient custom, once a year (just before Christmas), men have the right to kiss any girl who stops for any reason under the door hung on a sprig of mistletoe.

• In the four weeks before Christmas, believers bring home a special wreath "Advent Wreath". In contrast to the simple wall Christmas wreaths, this put on the table and secured on it four candles which are lit every Sunday, but not both, and in turn - first one, then two, and so on.

• At Christmas time a group of people gather, including children, who go around, singing Christmas songs, and collect donations. Purely English tradition is staging Christmas pantomimes. This comedy skits based on stories and tales that everyone knows (eg, Cinderella, Puss in Boots, etc. ), but in the pantomimes they have double meanings.

• In early December, the traditional 20 -meter high Christmas tree delivered from Oslo to London and set for Christmas in Trafalgar Square. This tradition has existed since 1946. Christmas tree sends to England royal family of Norway in gratitude for the help that the British had of Norway during the Second World War. Then lived in London Norwegian royal family and the British military took part in the liberation from German occupation of Norway.

• Huge fir delivered smuggled from Norway as a gift who was in the British emigration Norwegian king, with the passage of time has become a tradition. Christmas tree decorated with only vertical garlands, which are composed of energy -saving light bulbs and traditional looks modest and ascetic. At Christmas trees every evening a charity performances forty London choirs, which perform traditional Christmas carols and help raise funds for charity.

• Christmas in England is celebrated on December 25. On this day, most of the families are sent to the church, and after it going to the banquet table. On the same day at 3 pm on all radio and television stations shall be made festive appeal queen.

• In England there is a cheerful custom: before sitting down at the table people clap original cracker "Christmas Cracker". It contains a small souvenir and humorous message.

• Traditional Christmas meal in England are roast turkey with potatoes, sweet cake with a filling, a traditional Christmas pudding and Christmas fruit cake.

• In Scotland, for New Year's table round sand baked cake that pinch the edges, decorated with candied almonds, walnuts, sugar and marzipan figurines, candy. Every year a huge number of cakes sent to all corners of the world who find themselves away from home for the Scots. As for the birthday cake decorations are put national emblems - Scottish cross, heather, fingers, crossed over the sea, mountains, etc.

• On this day, almost every house sounds Christmas music. Traditional English tune "Jingle Bell" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". The twenty-sixth of December in the UK it is also a holiday - Boxing Day. On television all day long are sports programs, so the British love to spend the day in a chair watching TV. The holiday ends with exactly twelve days after Christmas, the sixth of January, when they begin to shoot jewelry.