Christmas in USA & UK Is Different Even The Lights & Tree
It’s that time of the year again.
It’s getting colder outside, the christmas lights are going up, the nights are getting
longer, and children are eagerly writing their wish lists for Santa Claus.
You are starting to hear christmas songs on the radio, and that only means one thing:
The holidays are here!
Those living in America might think that Christmas is the same all over the world, however, there
are some pretty big discrepancies between the ways some countries celebrate it.
This video will go over the differences between a merry Christmas in America and a merry christmas
in England.
We compare everything from Father Christmas to Santa Claus, Crimbo to Christmas, and other
holiday traditions that are slightly different depending on which side of the Atlantic you
call home.
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Now, keep watching for some hilarious differences between Christmas in America and Christmas
in England!
12.
Father Christmas or Santa Claus: During the holidays, young children in England refer
to Santa Claus as Father Christmas.
While Father Christmas and Santa Claus weren’t always synonymous during the last century,
they have essentially become the same thing.
Before Victorian times, Father Christmas was more concerned with adult feasting and merry-making
and had nothing to do with children or giving gifts and Christmas presents.
He also wore a green suit, not a red one.
11.
Letters for Santa: During the holidays in England, instead of sending your wish lists
to Santa via the mail service, you instead place your wish list of christmas presents
you want for christmas in the fireplace and set it on fire.
How does Santa Claus see their wish lists if it’s nothing but ash?
Magic.
What do you think of these differences between the holidays in America and England so far?
And are you curious about other strange Christmas traditions from other countries all over the
world?
Well, if you want to learn more about weird Christmas traditions, make sure you stick
around till the end!
10.
Crimbo: When someone wishes you a Happy Crimbo they aren’t having a stroke, they are probably
just English.
Chrimbo is an English slang word for Christmas.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it is used when speaking in regards to the
holiday’s more secular and commercial elements.
9.
Boxing Day: The day after Christmas in England is a holiday called Boxing Day.
The day after Christmas in America (although they do celebrate Boxing day in Canada) is
called December 26th.
There is no agreed upon theory as to where Boxing Day gets its name, although the Oxford
English Dictionary does give this definition: “the first week-day after Christmas-day,
observed as a holiday on which post-men, errand-boys, and servants of various kinds expect to receive
a Christmas-box.”
Keep watching as we continue to count down the top differences between Christmas in America
and Christmas in England!
And make sure you stick around til the very end to learn about some strange Christmas
traditions from other countries in the world!
8.
Christmas Dinner: Like in America, Christmas Dinner on christmas day in England is a big
occasion, although there are a few subtle differences.
For example, roasted Turkey is a must for Christmas dinner in England, while some American
households might opt for ham or goose.
Other slight differences that are reserved only for Christmas in England include bread
sauce, which isn’t a sauce for bread, but a sauce thickened with bread, and bacon wrapped
sausages.
Yum.
7.
White Christmas: While it is possible to have a white Christmas in England, more often than
not, it will probably end up being a green, rainy Christmas day instead.
While it doesn’t snow everywhere in America, if you are in one of the Northern States or
in Canada, you can pretty much guarantee you will be getting a White Christmas.
If you live in a warmer climate and have never experienced a white Christmas, well, you have
no idea what you’re missing out on!
It ain’t a true Christmas day if there’s no snow!
6: Home Decor: This isn’t to say that they don’t put up Christmas decor in England,
but when you compare the Christmas decor Americans put up to the English, there isn’t really
much competition.
Like everything else, Americans do things BIG - from christmas presents to Christmas
decor, they do it all.
5: Christmas desserts: While Americans may satisfy their post-dinner sweet tooth with
a piece of pumpkin or pecan pie, residents of England will quench their sugary urges
with a helping of Christmas pudding or mince pie.
Christmas pudding is composed of dried fruits held together with egg and suet and flavored
with a variety of spices.
4.
Christmas crackers and paper hats: It’s customary in England to open your Christmas
crackers and don your paper hat before you eat dinner.
What is a Christmas cracker exactly?
Well, it isn’t the kind you eat with cheese.
It is a small christmas present that opens by pulling on its two sides.
When you pull on the two sides, it explodes.
Nothing helps you get into the holiday spirit like a literal explosion before dinner.
3.
Christmas Lights: If there is one tradition that Americans would surely miss in England,
it would be the lack of decorative christmas lights.
Some people in America really go all out when decorating their homes during the holidays,
and it really is a sight to see.
It’s a little different in England, though.
This is not to say that there are no Christmas lights in England, they’re just not to the
same extent as in America.Go big or go home, right?
2.
Treats for Santa: Kids in America often leave some cookies and milk for Santa Claus, maybe
even some carrots for the reindeer.
Kids in England, however, treat Father Christmas like the adult he is and leave him some brandy,
cookies, and mince pie.
Mmmm brandy.
1: Gifts under the christmas tree: There is nothing that gives me that Christmas-time
feeling like placing gifts under the Christmas tree and opening them on christmas day.
In England, however, gifts and christmas presents are not placed under the christmas tree, they
are placed at the foot of your bed in a big stocking.
Now that you know the major differences between Christmas in America and England, here are
some other strange Christmas traditions from all over the world that may leave you scratching
your head!
Pickle Ornament.
This one is pretty funny.
German families have an interesting tradition which involves decorating their Christmas
tree with a Christmas pickle.
The Christmas pickle is the last ornament to be hung on the christmas tree, and is usually
made of glass.
According to Mental Floss, it is usually placed in a hidden spot in the christmas tree, and
the first child who finds the pickle on Christmas day has good luck for the upcoming year.
They also receive a special gift.
Krampus: During the month of December in Austria, people don the mask of a ghoulish, evil creature
called Krampus, committing pranks and scaring children.
Krampus is considered the evil accomplice of St Nicholas.
According to Wikipedia, Krampus is a horned, "half goat, half demon" who haunts and punishes
children during the Christmas season.
Creepy!
Roller skates: On Christmas Day in Caracas, Venezuela, hundreds of people can be see on
the street roller skating to mass.
According to metro.co.uk, some children even tie ropes to their toes that are long enough
to dangle out of their window.
Roller skaters tug from ropes they see hanging from windows in the morning to wake up any
children who want to watch the event.
Shoe tossing: Every Christmas Eve in the Czech Republic, single women stand outside of their
front doors and throw a shoe over their shoulder.
If the shoe lands with the shoes pointing towards the door, it means that the woman
will be married within one year.
Single ladies, get your shoes ready!
So there you have it!
Some strange and funny differences between a merry Christmas in America and and a merry
Christmas in England, as well as some other strange traditions from other countries around
the world.
So whether it be leaving treats for Santa Claus or tossing your shoe over your shoulder
to find out if you’ll get married within a year, there are all sorts of crazy, fun,
and strange Christmas traditions from places all over the world.
If you’re a fan of all things Christmas, why not try some of the traditions in this
video that you don’t usually do during the holidays?
So whether you like watching Christmas movies all day and night during the holidays, singing
Christmas songs at the top of your lungs, going all out in your Christmas tree or Christmas
decor or just like to keep it low key, you’re probably familiar with at least some of the
Christmas traditions in this video.
Sometimes it can be a little strange to see how other countries and cultures celebrate
Christmas, but it’s also very interesting.
The more you know, right?
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
What are some Christmas traditions and Christmas songs you hold close to your heart?
Do you follow any traditions which may be considered strange?
Let us know in the comments section below!
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