AN ARTICLE FOR CHRISTMAS

on

 Christmas in the UK

Spending Christmas in the UK is considered as an unforgettable and amazing experience.  Indeed, the United Kingdom has a wide variety of Christmas customs which synthesizes the warm atmosphere of Christmas.

HERE ARE SOME CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

Christmas crackers are a traditional Christmas custom in the United Kingdom. They were first made in about 1845-1850 by a London sweet maker called Tom Smith. Legend says that, one night, while he was sitting in front of his log fire, he became very interested in the sparks and cracks coming from the fire. Suddenly, he thought what a fun idea it would be, if his sweets and toys could be opened with a crack when their fancy wrappers were pulled in half. As a consequence of this, he created a cracker business which expanded by the passage of the years. Nowadays, Crackers are traditionally pulled during Christmas dinner and the person who ends up with the larger end of cracker earns the right to keep the contents of the cardboard tube.


Hanging Christmas Stockings

A Christmas stocking is an empty sock or that is hung on Christmas Eve so that Saint Nicholas can fill it with small toys, candy, fruit, coins or other small gifts when he arrives. In most cases, the gifts of Saint Nicholas are related with every family’s needs. The story of Christmas Sockings refers to the life of Saint Nicholas; St. Nicholas was staying with a poor family and heard that the father was planning to sell his three daughters into prostitution to save them all from starvation. St. Nicholas wanted to help, but knew that the old man wouldn't accept charity, so he decided to help in secret. When he left the house after dark he threw three bags of gold through an open window, one landed in a stocking. When the girls and their father woke up the next morning they found the bags of gold and were, of course, overjoyed. So,the girls were saved from their sad fate. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. 



Christmas Pudding

Christmas dinner never ends without the Christmas Pudding. The first version of Christmas Pudding dates back to the 14th century. However, at this time it tended to be more like soup and was eaten during the time of Christmas preparation. After the 16th century, it shifted from savoury to sweet. Pudding became the customary Christmas dessert around 1650.

RECIPE

INGREDIENTS


METHOD

  1. Combine the mixed fruit, prunes, muscovado sugar, rum and stout in a mixing bowl. Stir well to mix, cover and leave for 24 hours to soak.

  2. After 24 hours, mix the walnuts, almonds, ground almonds, breadcrumbs, flour, butter, spices, cherries and eggs along with the soaked fruit mixture in a large mixing bowl, making sure you include all the soaking liquor from the soaked fruit. Mix well until completely combined (let all the members of the family have a stir and make a wish).

  3. Cover with cling film and leave to stand in a cool place for 24 hours.

  4. After 24 hours, grease a 1.2 litre/2 pint pudding basin with butter. Cut a circle of baking paper and place into the bottom of the pudding basin and then grease it with a little more butter. Pack the pudding mixture into the pudding basin, pressing as you add it. Fold a pleat into the middle of a large piece of baking paper and place over the pudding. Cover with a large piece of pleated foil, ensuring the pleats are on top of one another. Secure tightly with kitchen string tied under the lip of the pudding basin (or you can use a couple of sturdy rubber bands).

  5. Place an upturned saucer into a large saucepan one-quarter full of water. Fold a long piece of foil into quarters lengthways to create a long strip and place the pudding basin in the middle of the strip. Bring the sides of the strip up the sides of the pudding basin and lower into the saucepan. Ensure the water in the saucepan comes one-third of the way up the side of the pudding basin, but nowhere near the top of the basin. Leave the ends of the foil strip hanging over the side to make it easy to remove the pudding later.

  6. Bring the water to the boil and then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Simmer gently for 5-6 hours, topping up the water level as necessary throughout cooking (do not allow the pan to dry out).

  7. Once the pudding is cooked, remove from the pan and set aside to cool. The pudding can be stored for up to two years in a cool, dry place. To serve, reheat the pudding by steaming again (in the same way) for two hours, or until hot all the way through. Alternatively, remove the foil and reheat in the microwave

 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS MOVIES

  • The Nightmare before Christmas

  • A boy called Christmas

  • Last Christmas

  • Home Alone I

  • Home Alone II

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BOOKS TO READ DURING CHRISTMAS

  • Lost Christmas

  • After the snow

  • One crow alone

  • The dark is rising

  • When the guns fall silent


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

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