| The people of England are well known for
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| | Norway. During World War II King Haakon
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| their Christmas celebrations, dating back
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| | of Norway was in exile in England while
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| to the legendary King Arthur who made"
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| | Norway was occupied by the German Army.
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| merrie" in York in 521 celebrating with
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| | Each year during his exile Norwegian
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| "minstrels, gleemen, harpers,
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| | military forces would smuggle a tree past
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| pipe-players, jugglers, and dancers."
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| | the German navy's patrols and bring it to
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| Except for the brief period of the
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| | their king in England so that he could
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| Republic under Cromwell, England has
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| | celebrate Christmas with a
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| always been a special place for
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| | tree from his homeland. Since then, the
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| Christmas, and made even more so by the
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| | people of Norway have expressed their
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| famous Charles Dickens classic A
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| | appreciation by sending a tree every year
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| Christmas
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| | to the people of London. British children
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| Carol.During the Victorian period of the
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| | get visits from Santa Claus, just as the
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| 1800's, according to Countess Maria
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| | children of America do, but they know him
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| Hubert von Staufer, Director of Christmas
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| | as Father Christmas. He's a jolly old
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| Archives International in the UK, "It is
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| | man with white hair and a pipe, much like
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| a popular misconception that Christmas in
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| | the American Santa. But, he
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| England was eradicated by the
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| | traditionally wears a green coat. The
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| Cromwellians and was reinvented by the
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| | image of the red coat was introduced
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| Victorians." She says the customs people
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| | to England in 1930 on a Christmas card
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| observed then were handed down from
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| | from America and in advertising by Coca
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| earlier days, when Christmas celebrations
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| | Cola. His green coat stems from the
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| were underground. The countess has
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| | ancient midwinter festival and signifies
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| written about Christmas in Victorian
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| | the return of Spring. Also, the sleigh
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| England extensively, and says that it was
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| | and reindeer are an American invention,
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|
| |
| | and Father Christmas isn't expected to be
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| celebrated with church bells, hand
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| | pulled by eight tiny reindeer. But
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| bells, choirs of singers and street
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| | English children do write letters to
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| performers. Wandering minstrels went
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| | Father Christmas as American children do
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| from hamlet to hamlet and castle to
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| | to Santa, and at Christmas parties
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| castle in England's past, and the
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| | someone usually dresses the part and
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| tradition continued.One tradition we can
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| | pretends to be Father Christmas.The main
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| thank the English for is the Christmas
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| | meal at Christmas time is noon on
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| tree. It became most popular with Queen
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| | Christmas day, and is traditionally
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| Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, who
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| | roasted turkey with potatoes, stuffing
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| was born German, brought it to his new
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| | and vegetables. Some families will still
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| country, where it took its place next to
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| | have a Christmas goose however. Goose
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| the kissing bough, a mixture of mistletoe
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| | was the main Christmas course tradition
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| and evergreen. The most well known
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| | for many years until King Henry VIII
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| Christmas tree in England today is in the
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| | decided he preferred turkey. And many
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| heart of
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| | people still make a special Christmas
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| London, a giant spruce near the statue
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| | pudding to have for desert, a favorite of
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| of Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square. The
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| | children.
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| tree is a gift from the people of Oslo,
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|
