A11
Christmas decorations
Many people decorate their homes for Christmas. Most people buy a Christmas tree, which they put small lights and decorations on. Some people also buy plants with bright red leaves called POINSETTIAS, and hang branches of MISTLETOE above their doors. There is a tradition that if you are under the mistletoe with someone else, you have to kiss them. In the UK, people hang shiny, brightly coloured decorations made of paper from the ceiling or along the walls inside their homes. Some people both in the UK and the US put small lights along the edges of their windows, the roof, and the main door of their houses. And many people decorate their front doors with a WREATH (=a circle made of green leaves).
In the UK most offices have a Christmas party. The stereotype of the office party is an event where everyone drinks too much and people say things to their boss that they would never say at any other time.
Christmas food
People usually eat more food and drink more alcohol at Christmas than at other times of the year. In the US, people eat CHRISTMAS COOKIES, special cookies that are baked at home. Traditional British food includes CHRISTMAS CAKE and MINCE PIES.
Christmas Eve - December 24th
The day before Christmas Day is known as CHRISTMAS EVE. Some people go to church to a special service called MIDNIGHT MASS (BrE) or
Christmas Eve service (AmE). Other people have a drink with their friends. Children get very excited on Christmas Eve because they believe that Santa Claus will come down the CHIMNEY of their house in the night and put presents in the CHRISTMAS STOCKING (=a special bag shaped like a large sock) at the end of their bed or on the MANTELPIECE. They leave a glass of SHERRY (=a type of strong wine) and a mince pie, a small sweet PIE filled with RAISINS, apples, and SPICES, for Santa.
Christmas Day - December 25th
Christmas Day is a public holiday and people spend the day with their families. They open their presents and then have a special meal called CHRISTMAS DINNER. This is typically TURKEY with potatoes and other vegetables, usually CARROTS and SPROUTS. In the UK, this is followed by CHRISTMAS PUDDING. At the start of the meal, British people usually pull a CHRISTMAS CRACKER (=a brightly coloured paper tube that makes a small explosion when you pull it apart, and that contains a small toy, a paper hat, and a joke).
After Christmas Day
Many stores have special SALES (=a period of time when goods can be bought cheaper) on the day after Christmas. In the UK, these used to be called the January sales because they did not start until January, but now they start straight after Christmas.
In the UK, the day after Christmas Day is called BOXING DAY, and is also a public holiday. It is called Boxing Day because in the past it was the day when rich people gave their servants a present of money known as a 'Christmas box'. There are a lot of sporting events on Boxing Day.
TWELFTH NIGHT is 6th January, twelve days after Christmas, and is the day when people take down their decorations and remove their Christmas trees.