Explore the towns of England


Christmas In England

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



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