Every year in December they celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ. That is why they call this time of year “Christmas” – they celebrate the “Mass”
or church service for Christ. The first recorded observance occurred in Rome in AD360 but it wasn’t until AD440 that the Christian Church fixed the celebration date of 25 December. Christmas is a truly magical season bringing families and friends together to share the much loved customs and traditions which have been around for centuries. Most people are on holiday in England and stay at home with their family on Christmas Day. Christmas is celebrated with a Christmas dinner for the whole family. During the weeks before Christmas Day they send cards, watch nativity plays and go to carol services. They also decorate their homes and churches with green leaves, paper decorations and colourful electric lights. Many of their Christmas customs began long before Jesus was born. They came from earlier festivals which had nothing to do with the Christian church. Long time ago people had midwinter festivals when the days were shortest and the sunlight weakest. They believed that their ceremonies would
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give the sun back its power. The Romans held the festival of Saturnalia around 25 December. They decorated their homes with evergreens to remind them of Saturn, their harvest God to return the following spring. Some of these customs and traditions were adopted by early Christians as part of their celebrations of Jesus’ birthday. In Victorian times some new ideas such as Father Christmas, Christmas cards and crackers were added to the
celebrations. Here are a few of the things you might come across if you visit England in the run up to Christmas.
Jingle Bells Dashing through the snow In a one horse open sleigh O’er the fields we go Laughing all the way Bells on bob tails ring Making spirits bright What fun it is to laugh and sing A sleighing song tonight Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh A day or two ago I thought I’d take a ride And soon Miss Fanny Bright Was seated by my side The horse was lean and lank Misfortune seemed his lot We got into a drifted bank And then we got upsot Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh yeah Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh