Christmas in the UK

In the United Kingdom, streets are decorated with Christmas lights which are often switched on by a celebrity or popular local person. Churches have Christmas carol services, where people gather to sing. It is also common to see children going from door to door throughout December, singing Christmas carols to their neighbours.

Christmas meal often consists in turkey, which is usually eaten at lunch time on Christmas Day and served with roast potatoes, vegetables and stuffing. Some families prefer goose or beef  with cranberry sauce, bread sauce or gravy. 

Popular desserts include Christmas pudding, Christmas cake and mince pies.

Children believe that presents are delivered by Father Christmas and left under their Christmas tree, or in their Christmas stocking.

The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day and is a bank holiday. A lot of people go shopping because many shops open before 7am and offer discount Boxing Day sales. 

When it snows on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, it's called a ‘white Christmas’.

Christmas in the US

Every town and city will have a large Christmas tree and Christmas decorations, and many Americans like to decorate the front of their house with bright lights and even statues.

Most families will eat turkey or ham as their main Christmas meal, possibly accompanied by cranberry sauce. 

Catholic communities attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

In some southern parts of the country, some lights called ‘luminarias’ or candles are placed on the side of paths to represent ‘lighting the way’ for Mary and Joseph. This tradition comes from Mexico.

Gifts are exchanged on the morning of Christmas Day, the 25th of December while children believe that Santa Claus delivers the presents the night before. 

Christmas in Ireland

For Catholic families the Christmas period last from the 8th of December until the 6th of January, which marks the feast of Epiphany, sometimes known as ‘Little Christmas’. 

In many Irish homes, a traditional crib is used as a decoration, along with a Christmas tree.

Santa Claus is known as Saint Nicholas and Christmas meals are very similar to in other countries, although some families include spiced beef!

In Ireland, Boxing Day is known as St. Stephen’s Day and many treat it in much the same way as in the UK and US, eating leftover food and spending the day with family. 

There is an old Irish tradition, on this day, when people dress up and go from house to house, singing songs and playing musical instruments. This is known as the Wren Boys Procession. 

Traditionally, horse racing meetings and football matches also take place.

Christmas is strongly religious in Ireland and church services are usually extremely busy at this time of year, especially on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

Christmas in Canada

In Canada, people use a real fir or pine Christmas tree, and this is especially common in the eastern province of Nova Scotia, where huge trees can be seen in towns and cities.

Many Canadian families choose to exchange their gifts on Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day, while others open one present on Christmas Eve and the remainder on the 25th December. 

Traditionally, families listen to the Christmas Day speech by their Monarch while they eat their main meal. This unites Canadian people with those in other Commonwealth countries, like Great Britain and Australia.

As with the United Kingdom, Boxing Day is a recognised holiday in Canada and many people use it as a shopping day. In some parts of the country, such as northern Ontario, stores are not allowed to open on Boxing Day and in these areas, an equivalent sale usually takes place on the 27th.

Christmas in Australia

As countries from the Souhtern hemisphere, Christmas occurs in summer in both Australia and New Zealand. 

However, snow is used on Christmas cards and Santa Claus is represented riding in a sleigh wearing a fur coat.

Like in other English-speaking countries, the Christmas tree is the main Christmas decorations. 

The traditional Christmas meal consists of turkey, but it is very often accompanied by cold meats and salad, because of the hot weather.

Unlike in the United Kingdom and the United States, watching television is not an Australian tradition: people prefer staying outdoors!

Christmas in New Zealand

In New Zealand, an indigenous tree known as the Pahutukawa, which produces large red flowers, is an important symbol of Christmas and is sometimes referred to as a New Zealand Christmas tree.

Both Australia and New Zealand have Boxing Day and workers usually get both Christmas Day and Boxing Day off.

Christmas in South Africa

Christmas celebrations in South Africa take place with a lot of sunshine and warm weather. 

As a result, many South Africans eat their traditional Christmas meal outside, while others choose to go on a camping trip. 

Often, on the afternoon of Christmas Day, families will spend time outside, playing games or swimming. 

Gifts are exchanged on Christmas Day. Christmas trees are put up in houses, children believe in Santa Claus, Christmas pudding is a popular dessert and Boxing Day is celebrated as a national holiday.

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Christmas charades : find the word corresponding to the definitions