How to Celebrate Christmas Dinner Time in England

Christmas celebrations in Great Britain are very similar to those in the United States. Christmas is a religious and spiritual commemoration of the birth of Jesus, the Christ Child who came to the world to bring salvation to mankind. The season is a time of joyous celebration, with people gathering to rejoice in churches and celebration the warmth of time with family.

Christmas Dinner is a hearty meal that is normally eaten on Christmas Day, in the early afternoon after church services. The meal may consist of one or two roasted meats, roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables, Christmas pudding and mince pie. The roast goose or turkey is the central part of the Christmas dinner. The turkey is served with stuffing and series along with cranberry sauce, green beans, potatoes and other food items.

The Christmas dinner is a meal enjoyed with friends and family members. Christmas has been celebrated with a grand party for centuries. During the Middle Ages Christmas was lavishly celebrated with a Madrigal Dinner, a feast accompanied by Christmas Music and other entertainment. You can still find Madrigal dinners today, often at colleges. The Madrigal dinner is part traditional English meal and part theatre, with performers in Renaissance dress singing Christmas Carols, dancing and juggling.

Dessert may include a Christmas Pudding, mince pie, a Yule Log and Christmas Cake. The Christmas Pudding is a rich pudding of sweet fruits, nuts and spices. The pudding is started a few weeks before Christmas. According to tradition, six objects are found in the pudding, such as rings to bring love and a sixpence for prosperity. The mince pie is a pastry filled with fruits, such as apples, raisins and dates. Mince meat pies usually to not contain any meat, but some bakers do use a certain amount of meat.

Wassail is a hot, spiced cider that is a holiday tradition. Wassail can be made with apple cider, but can also be made with wine. The beverage is warmed with spices, such as cinnamon sticks and cloves, so that the flavor of the spices is absorbed into the liquid and adds spicy fragrance to the air.

Christmas Crackers are an English Tradition. The cracker is a hollow tube, wrapped with tied ends. Inside the tube is a small prize, such as a ring or whistle. When the ends of the cracker are pulled it makes a pop sound and out comes the prize.

Like many Americans, the British decorate their house with a Christmas Tree decorated with ornaments. The Christmas Tree has been a traction in England since 1841, when Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert, brought at tree over from Germany. During the Victorian era, the Christmas Tree was decorated with candles and various ornaments.

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