My Christmas Experience in England - Much Different Than in America

My first Christmas in England was a great learning experience. I should really open up a "culture school" for people moving here from the states. Even though both countries speak English, it is a different kind of English and there are words, phrases and customs that are completely different to anything we yanks are used to.

Father Christmas v. Santa

First there is Father Christmas. We call him Santa Claus. He looks about the same in England, but interestingly enough he is quite a bit slimmer in the UK. He still brings presents to all the good boys and girls and you can still find him in malls for photo ops but the difference here is he looks more like a skinny guy in red pajamas wearing a fake beard than the authentic looking bearded fat guy in a jolly red suit like you see in the US.

Robins

It confused me for years why there were pictures of robins on Christmas cards and little fake birds on trees when I moved here. Only this year, in the middle of summer, did I accidentally learn the real reason why the robin is so prevalent to the English Christmas theme. My friend Sue told me that in legend, the robins watch you and report back to Father Christmas if you've been good or not.

Sprouts and Christmas Dinner

It's not Christmas Dinner in England without Brussels Sprouts. Mountains of them. They are absolutely everywhere in the stores during the Christmas season. You can even buy them still on the stalk. I have to admit, I do like them, although they are well known for causing "wind". They are like little teeny cabbages. The whole dinner is a bit confusing to me. They go more all out for their dinner than Americans tend to do, but this is the land of the Sunday Roast. They have pretty much this same dinner every Sunday. Granted, there is one major difference... the Christmas Pudding.

Christmas Pudding