Christmas in London, UK

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

London

How long have you lived there?

3 years

If locals celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah where you are living now, how is it celebrated differently?

We are the only Americans in our part of London. We've been very lucky to spend Christmas with our new friends in England. Lunchtime drink at the pub, Christmas crackers, quiz, betting on a white Christmas, Father Christmas - these are all but a few of the things that are different than an American Christmas.

Before all the traditional Christmas activities begin, the adult version of Christmas is still celebrated with drunken office parties that can end up situations that would have sexual harrassment lawyers in the US taking a lot of money to the bank. Transplanting an average US office worker into one of these parties would be enough to bring on a heart attack in fear of the repercussions that just don't exist in this country.

Christmas Pantomime is another peculiar tradition in the United Kingdom is a sign that Christmas is coming. These are a specific type of play held in the theater. The popular ones feature celebrities in the starring roles to attract the crowds but they all must follow the same pattern, including a cross-dressing dame, lots of audience participation (Oh no it isn't/OH YES IT IS) and a woman playing the male lead. The same few plays based on fairy tales or fables such as Puss in Boots or Cinderella are firm favorites year after year. VERY famous people play in these - near us, Henry Winkler is in Peter Pan this year.

Christians go to a special carol service at their church on Christmas Eve night. There are usually two carols services. The first one is for children and may be a candle lit service where the congregation hold a candle each whilst they sing Christmas songs (carols) and watch a Nativity performed by children. The second one is closer to midnight (called Midnight Mass), so that people can welcome Christmas Day. We enjoy the first service on Christmas Eve.

Christmas morning is the time when all the children (and adults) open presents from "Father Christmas". For those who don't know, the Ghost of Christmas Present in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is based on Father Christmas. He is described as a large man with a red beard and fur-lined GREEN robe. Today, he is dressed in a red robe because of the Coca-Cola advertisements introduced to England in 1930s. You can also hear people say "Santa Claus", but not as often as Father Christmas.

Mid-day, it's time for a visit to the local pub. Pubs are only open for a short time on Christmas and all the neighbours pile in from 12-3 to catch a drink and wish folks a Happy Christmas (note it's not a Merry one, it's a Happy Christmas). Bookmakers take a lot of money from the annual tradition of betting that we will have a white Christmas and the odds are usually 1:5. to win the bet, all it requires is that a single snowflake fall on a designated meteorological station (this year, Buckingham Palace). Much talk will be about whether or not some intrepid punters managed to rent a plane and dump snow on the palace that day.

Did you know that Henry VIII was the first person to eat turkey on Christmas Day? A traditional Christmas dinner includes roast turkey, brussel sprouts, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce, rich nutty stuffing, tiny sausages wrapped in bacon and lashings of hot gravy. For pudding (dessert) there's always a rich, fruity pudding which you douse in flaming brandy - said to ward off evil spirits.

Traditionally a Christmas cracker is placed next to each plate on the Christmas dinner table. A Christmas cracker is a cardboard tube wrapped in a brightly decorated twist of paper, making it resemble an oversized candy wrapper. The cracker is pulled by two people, and, much in the manner of a wishbone, the cracker splits unevenly. The split is accompanied by a small bang produced by the effect of friction on a chemically impregnated card strip (similar to that used in a cap gun). When the crackers are pulled, out falls a colourful party crown, a toy or gift and a festive joke.

After dinner, someone usually holds a small quiz with silly prizes awarded to the winners. For the average American, they would be amazed at the amount of alcohol consumed (well, not only at Christmas but on any day of the year). It does not, however, dampen the spirits or interfere with the holiday as it seems to do in the US.

Boxing Day is the following day after Christmas Day. Like Christmas Day, Boxing Day is a public holiday. Traditionally, Boxing Day is the day when families get together. It is a day of watching sports and playing board games with the family. We'll be going to watch Chelsea play Reading at Stamford Bridge.

It is customary for householders to give small gifts or monetary tips to regular visiting trades people (the milkman, dustman, coalman, paper boy etc.) on or near boxing day. For us, it's gifts to the guys that pick up our rubbish, our dry cleaning, our Tesco (grocery store) delivery man, our postman, our recycling guys and our gardener. After the excesses of the previous weeks, it's good to have the day after Christmas off and a good idea to get those little gifts done before boxing day.

Do you mix your own traditions with those of your expat location? If so, describe.

We select a number of traditional recipes from the States that we've introduced here.

What is your favorite thing about celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah in your overseas location?

Christmas crackers!

How is New Year's typically celebrated in your expat location?

People book in for parties long in advance. Pubs hold special nights, restaurant reservations are full and there are fireworks and countdowns just as there are in the US. Hat's on heads, noisemakers and the singing of Auld Lang Syne (created by Robert Burns, a Scotsman). In Scotland, it's known as Hogmanay. We haven't been, but you can find out more it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogmanay.