2. Advent is the start of the Christmas season in
England, beginning on the Sunday nearest to the
30th November and lasting until 24th December.
Children open an Advent calendar which is a
poster or card with twenty-four small doors, one
to be opened each day from 1st December until
Christmas Eve. Each door conceals a picture. Every
morning children open one window of the
calendar to see a pretty picture or find a chocolate
inside.
Interactive Advent Calendar

4. Lots of people send Christmas cards to
their friends and family at Christmas.
At school we have a special Christmas
post box so people can post their
Christmas cards to one another and the
Christmas elves will deliver them.

5. The Christmas tree became
popular in England in 1841 when
Queen Victoria's husband, Prince
Albert, brought a Christmas tree
over from Germany and put it in
Windsor Castle. Nowadays most
people have a Christmas tree in
their home. Some people have
real trees whilst others have
artificial trees.

6. The Christingle Service occurs just
before Christmas. Children make
Christingles which are lit and
hymns are sung
•The orange – represents the
world
•The red ribbon – indicates the
love and blood of Christ
•The dried fruits and sweets –
symbols of God’s creations
•The lit candle – symbolises
Jesus, the light of the world

7. Christmas is celebrated on the 25th
December. Children wake up to find their
stocking filled with presents (if they have
been good!)
Families gather around the Christmas tree
to open their presents.
The family sit down to eat Christmas
dinner which traditionally consists of roast
turkey with vegetables, followed by
Christmas pudding (a rich and fruity
pudding).

8. Boxing Day is the day after Christmas, the 26th
December.
It is a national holiday and families spend time
together. Often people go for a walk in the
countryside.
Many of the shops start their sales, heavily
discounting items to encourage people to
spend money and grab a bargain.

9. The day before New Year is called New
Year’s Eve or Old Year’s Night.
The New Year is welcomed in with
fireworks and people singing “Auld
Lang Syne.”
London on New Year's Eve