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