American Reacts to How To Have A British Christmas!

[@georgehelyar]

If i were to sum up the difference between US and UK in one sentence, it would be "in the UK, we practise for Christmas every Sunday"

[@MAB_Canada]

When I was a child in England we got our gifts at the foot of the bed in a pillow case. Gifts too large to fit in the pillow case were put on the floor at the foot of the bed.

[@arwelp]

Yes, or a bolster (twice the size of a pillow case!). Mind you, this was 55-60 years ago!

[@dazparry1580]

Santa didn't get brandy in our house, he got fosters.. Because that's what my dad drank. 😄

[@helenpixels]

Used to be a glass of sherry when I was a kid, though usually we now leave a can of Carling, a mince pie, and a carrot for the reindeer

[@kye-devonmaddock]

🤣🤣

[@liamb8638]

Father Christmas got a vodka and coke from us as my mum would say “he gets tired of brandy”

[@AndyMmusic]

I grew up in England and we used pillow cases for stockings!

[@FayeSless-di3jg]

My mother used to make christmas puddings months in advance then store them in the pantry in a bowl covered with greaseproof paper tied on with string. Nothing soaked in that much alcohol is going to go bad.

[@splintercast8092]

All the sugar helps to preserve it too.

[@CharlieMcowan]

In our family the pudding was made each year for the next, kept in greaseproof in a large tin

[@christinehoughton8591]

I always make two then keep one for the next year. Lovely. Heat the brandy in a saucepan light it and pour it over then carry it in yummy 😂😂😂

[@agardener3621]

We did Stir Up Sunday and everyone make a wish.

[@FeeBerry]

The tradition in my family is that children get a stocking with small gifts and sweets, and then a pillowcase with larger presents plus a tree present under the tree. Originally the stocking and pillowcase presents were from Father Christmas, and then tree present from the parents. It is hard to get into and out of the bedroom on Christmas Eve, although my children always slept through and had to be woken on Christmas morning to open their presents. Meanwhile my sister's kids always woke at 3am and she was wrecked on Christmas Day!

[@J1mmyMack]

The big presents under the tree are from the family for each other. The presents in the stockings are from Father Christmas to the children.

[@NailHeavenAshford]

Oh that’s interesting. We did all gifts from Father Christmas unless a gift was specifically labelled up from a relative.

[@DaveBartlett]

Christmas Pudding, like Christmas Cake is soaked in various alcoholic spirits. Alcohol is a natural preservative, so just wrapping either in a cheesecloth and storing in a tin with a tight-fitting lid is sufficient to preserve them until Christmas!

[@reluctantheist5224]

Stockings are for small presents " stocking fillers " other presents go under the tree.

[@ifonly2448]

Not many people have open fires these days, and the idea was to let the rising heat take the letter up the chimney, not to burn it. seemed quite magical when we were children.

[@mattpotter8725]

Ah, like in Mary Poppins!!! Never thought about this. I did think no one would ever burned the children's Christmas lists. Mine was always given to my parents to "send" the Santa.

[@MrHotsnakes]

Absolutely. Even back in the 70s very few people had open fires, you put them under the gas fires and then your folks would retrieve them when you've gone to bed. Also I've never heard of leaving brandy in my 50 years, it was always Sherry. She has an Englsh accent but has never had a christmas in England surely

[@MrHotsnakes]

@@Lloyd-Franklin Fair enough. It's a new one on me

[@mattpotter8725]

@@MrHotsnakes She's definitely English but I'd say she's compiled this from some kind of article. Agree on the sherry though, maybe some people leave brandy in some parts of the UK, I guess it just depends on which drink your dad preferred!!! 😉

[@MrHotsnakes]

@@mattpotter8725 Yeah that's a good point

[@davonuk1]

In the UK, the Royal Mal (our postal service) has designated an address for kids to write letters to Father Christmas, though not necessarily to send in their wish list. The Royal Mail says that Father Christmas will respond by sending a letter back to the kids.

[@sarahbingham1921]

The crown signifies the role of the Magi (falsely turned into kings) in the Christmas story

[@magnolia7277]

I'm 77 and had never heard about putting letters in the fire until I stared watching American reactors watching British Christmas's. When I was a child my presents were in pillowcases at the bottom of my bed, but in those days presents weren't that big! My grandchildren have always had their presents under/around the tree.

[@dukeofoven]

I didn't see my first live Panto until taking our grandkids - I was 59 and instantly regretted not going before, absolutely loved the silliness of it all. Gone every year since.

[@redceltnet]

Our gifts appear under the tree. The difference with the stockings us that they're in the kids bedroom. As with you, they're for smaller gifts... like pieces of fruit. If caught, a parent (unlike Father Christmas) doesn't need an excuse to be in their kids room late at night.

[@CaffeineKing]

It also stalls them in their rooms, opening fun little things while you get some extra sleep!

[@jamlemon]

That’s how Father Christmas knows if you’re on the naughty or nice list because he’s got dirt on everyone. 😂

[@TTF_cards]

I'm English and can confirm that presents do go under our trees, we have stockings but not everyone bothers with them, and they're just for like small thing 'stocking fillers'

[@ticketyboo2456]

To solve your quandry over the stockings around the bed. These are smaller gifts in a stocking like a tangerine some nuts ( in their shell ) and little gifts we call stocking fillers. The main gifts are under the tree. I suppose it's a buffer having the stocking on the bed-posts so parents aren't woken up quite so horrendously early whilst the nippers are demolishing their stockings alone. The main gifts are more of a whole family affair.

[@NailHeavenAshford]

The version of a tangerine that I put in my kids stocking was always a Terrys chocolate orange. Bag of chocolate coins and a chocolate Santa.

[@helencarter693]

We do put presents under the Christmas tree! That is a British tradition too. My family and I have done that all my life. The Christmas stocking is for kids and they’re filled with sweets and small gifts to open in bed when they wake up, then the main presents under the tree are opened after that. Also I never burned my Christmas list in the fire, (that is an old tradition that is not really done anymore, not many people have open fires these days). We had an address to send it to Father Christmas like you do in America. Also when my kids were little, not waking them while I filled their stockings with small gifts was a challenge!! But I managed it! Result 👍😂

[@katydaniels508]

Not many houses have open fire places these days, but I do know older generations who remember the tradition of sending their letter to Father Christmas up the chimney ❤

[@RavenBlack74]

@@digidol52 I'm 50 and have never heard of this until now. Must be a very older generation thing.

[@GFSTaylor]

​@@RavenBlack74I'm 56 and I've known about this for decades.

[@knottyal2428]

On Christmas Eve when I was small in the late 1940s and 50s, I called to Santa up the chimney, and got a reply about my presents (from my Mum). On Christmas morning there was a pillow case at the foot of my bed, with presents in it. Larger items might be in the corner of my room, like a trike, or a blackboard and easel.This was in the UK.

[@ana_android]

I never threw my letters into the fireplace and had never heard of this tradition until your last video 🤔 I thought it was something they made up, but reading the comments, it looks like some people here have heard of it 😅

[@susansmalley9967]

Letter to Father Christmas thrown just above the flames with a small handful of salt. The letter flew up the chimney and the salt made the fire flare blue and green - magic!

[@Soundtrack-Audio]

The stocking ... it has small presents in, often left at the foot of the bed (so easy to sneak it in without waking them) ... the main presents are still under the tree, the stocking will have some chocs, puzzle books, small toys, all to keep them occupied until the main event of the presents under the tree ... the genius of the stocking being in the bedroom is that when the kids wake up at 5am all excited , it gives them something to do until the parents get up ... so as a parent, no more bleary eyed starts to Christmas day! ... it's simply the smart thing to do!

[@arwelp]

One thing the video didn’t mention is that virtually the whole country takes a break in the week between Christmas and New Year. If you don’t work in retail, or one of the essential services like hospitals, police, or fire, most people will try to schedule their annual leave to combine with the public holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Years Day (also 2nd January in Scotland)) so that they get over a week off (some companies will close their offices entirely, others will operate on minimal staffing and only want staff to come in one day in the week each). If any of the public holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday then the following Monday (and Tuesday if 26th Dec is Sunday) are substitute holidays. There are no trains or buses running on Christmas Day, and not many on Boxing Day.

[@paidwitness797]

We also have an address to send letters to Santa, much more common these days. Bear in mind letters on the fire was from an older time, when everyone had a coal fire, people had less (so postage was an issue for some), and Santa is master of the chimney - after all its his original way of delivering presents, the dude uses magic to get himself AND the dollhouse and bike down there, letters arriving by magic at the North Pole is easy! 😉 Stockings are more a delaying tactic, a few small toys, a snack, a drink and hope (as a parent) you get another half hour or so asleep after staying up late with last minute prep, main presents are normally around the tree.

[@stephenlee5929]

Re letters to Santa, as a kid, I would simply draw a stamp in the corner of the envelop, addressed to Santa, can't remember the address, but I think it had a post code. I just Googled it, it was/is XM4 5HQ. I think we also used toy stamps or 'Green Shield' Stamps. Agree stocking is basically a delay.

[@bionicgeekgrrl]

Worth remembering that a number of our cities have bans on burning coal since the 50s as the smog of 1952 was quite bad and a number died as a result. Burning coke became the alternative in cities and open fires gradually died out in the bigger cities. In more rural areas you may well find log burning fires still. I grew up in london in the 80s and 90s and burning letters to santa was definitely not a thing then. You may have written a letter and posted it off however.

[@karenblackadder1183]

In the 60s you generally got a pillowcase containing small, individually wrapped presents. As elder sister, I was in charge of the alarm clock and we were not allowed to touch the pillowcase before 7am. All the main presents were under the tree and we weren't allowed near them until after breakfast and arrival of grandparents by taxi. (A very rare expense, used only at Christmas and Easter. Privately owned cars were very rare then) Lunch was at 12.00, Queen's speech at 3pm then tea consisting of turkey sandwiches, pickles, beetroot, cheese and Christmas Cake - not the same as Christmas pudding.

[@NailHeavenAshford]

My ex husband has a log burner. I moved to rural Spain and also have one, but they are very common here.

[@jemmajames6719]

Christmas puddings can mature for years, they need to be cooked first then keep in a permanently cool room.

[@Mike-rw2nh]

I’m here in the UK, having just washed the dishes after a fantastic Christmas lunch that is sitting in my tummy like weapons-grade uranium. Christmas pudding in 2 hours, God help me. Merry Christmas everyone. May you all ding dong merrily on high. 🥳🥳🥳 Edit: For some reason KZbin has recommended a ‘Silence of the Lambs’ reaction after your wholesome upload 🤣

[@Dazza5007]

😂

[@marktubeie07]

05:36 _"Is this good content ?"_ Your dry humor is magnificent! 😂😂😂😂

[@wobaguk]

I think the stocking thing is historically true but less so in modern times, in 'the olden days' present were modest and small. Didnt Dickens write about a lump of coal in the stocking in A Christmas Carol?

[@PaulineGaulton]

Christmas pudding is totally steeped in brandy inside and outside 👍😊 so of course it remains perfectly preserved for a long time.

[@blossngc]

In our house, stocking always has to have an orange in it, or a satsuma/tangerine preferably and is for kids. I always hung them on the door handle as we had ones with loops, so kids weren't disturbed.

[@PaulineGaulton]

The taking down of the tree and decorations is traditional and called the 12th night! It is generally the 6th of January. 😊

[@lynhewlett1941]

The alcohol preservatives the pudding 😂😂😂

[@annettemoore7264]

Well my Xmas went just as I wanted it to .😊 I hope you had a good one and a Very Happy New Year 😊

[@buidseach]

We always used to use Pillow cases in the living room for presents and were in the UK :)

[@theinvisibleneonrainbowzeb2567]

I think there is an address in the UK you can send letters to father christmas/santa although I am not certain. As for the 'letters on the fire' thing, I have heard of/seen 2 versions of this, the one mentioned here, where somehow magic smoke signals and ashes or something, but what I have actually seen in practice (practise? practice?) is using very thin paper, like old "air mail" type writing paper, and instead of actually burning the letter, if it is done correctly (probably by an adult!) if the letter is held above the actual flames and let go, because it is so light, and the heat rises, it actually flies up the chimney. I've only seen it done "properly" this way once but it did look cool and the kids were enthralled - after all if he's coming in through the chimney it kinda makes sense to send it that way, right?!! Obviously you need the right kind of fireplace and chimney breast for this method to work. The presents/stockings on the bed - I think most people doing this (and what we did as kids) generally put a stocking (or pillow case) on/at the end of the bed, and in the morning it would have some smaler gifts from my parents, usually like a book, a small toy, that kind of thing, and the rest of the presents from other people or larger items would be round the tree or on the chair. It is great as a child though to wake up and find a pillowcase of presents on the bed! I suspect that many parents probably just keep an identical pillowcase or stocking stowed away somewhere, and come christmas eve night probably pop the presents in that pillowcase/stocking and then just do a quick switcheroo, taking the empty away and leaving the pre-filled duplicate instead. That's what I would do anyway! Christmas crackers smell great just after they've been pulled! I love that smell! And yes, obligatory to wear the paper hat. I didn't realise crackers were a British thing though. Most people will get ones that typically cost around £1/cracker, but you can go from budget to absurd, like sometimes luxury brands will have crackers that cost hundreds. or you can make your own, buy the sticks that snaps, put the contents into the cardboard tube from the inside of a toilet paper roll, and wrap it in wrapping paper The alcohol tends to stop christmas pud from turning. it's like with christmas cake too, that can be made far in advance, months ahead. And idk if this is just a UK thing or not, but christmas cake is basically the same kind of cake as wedding cake, and the smallest top tier of the wedding cake is supposed to be kept, traditionally, ready for the christening of the first baby of a fruitful marriage You should maybe watch and react to a video of a good panto (pantomime) if possible, they are very very British.

[@Ah-ed6ie]

All you do is write a letter to santa, and put address as Greenland or the north pole.

[@willtyler5118]

Stockings go in the bedroom and they're usually small or jokey gifts, sweets/chocolate etc. Main presents go under the tree! And if the stocking is too small, people usually use a pillowcase instead

[@JakeThys]

Christmas Pudding, or Christmas cake for that matter made the proper way doesn't go off on account of all the alcohol (brandy and sherry are great preservatives). Usually you store them in a container in a cupboard or similar. With Christmas cake however, you don't decorate it months in advance, marzipan and icing is added later closer to when you're going to eat it.

[@Colin-mc4ml]

The tradition in my family is putting a large Father Christmas empty sack at the bottom of the bed and a small stocking. The stocking is used for small gifts like colouring pencils, the sack is for toys from Father Christmas. Here's the clever bit. Father Christmas swaps the exactly the same sack and stocking with a filled sack and stocking, creating minimal disturbance to the sleeping child. The year i had a bike, an accessory for the bike like a bell was in the sack big hint there is a bicycle which would be in the lounge. There are also gifts under the tree these presents would from parents,grandparents, aunts and uncles, usually clothing ,toiletry gift sets, chocolates, etc, and gifts from family adults to adults. The Christmas pudding homemade or shop bought has a shelf life of a couple of years because of all the alcohol. A couple of spoonfuls of brandy or whisky is poured over the cooked pudding and set a light with a match, creating blue flames as the pudding is carried to the table. The flames don't last long and burn off the alcohol its served in slices with clotted cream or any type of cream ,custard, brandy butter, or ice cream.

[@NailHeavenAshford]

We made most of the gifts for our kids from Father Christmas unless they were from relatives. So as my kids didn’t have many relatives most of their gifts were from the big man.

[@juliaedwards7027]

Also...the time between Christmas and New Year has recently been named "Chrimbo Limbo".. because everyone is in limbo between the two days if celebrating, not knowing what day it is! 🤣

[@yurihuffles]

To answer the question of how you put the presents in the stockings in a kids room: with great care. We used to always make a point of telling our girls that we needed to make sure their rooms where clean for Santa, but in truth it was about making sure we had a clear path to the stockings and also reminding us of any spots on the floor that might squeak so we could sneak in and out without waking them.

[@bonariablackie4047]

Who hid out in the Bakery at Christmas? A Minced spy.

[@cybertenchi82]

We have proper letters to Santa in the UK. Hardly anyone has an open fire here anymore. I've worked for royal mail at Christmas, and there's an official royal mail address kids can send a letter to Santa and get a reply (from a member of royal mail staff) it's this: Santa/Father Christmas, Santa's Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ

[@LucyLeaf]

Most purchased Christmas puds are matured for 18 months. Christmas cake is made in advance too, since the flavours improve with time. It’s a sponge pudding sometimes with suet to add a richness to the texture and lots of dried fruits, nuts, orange or lemon peel, spices and alcohol. We would serve it hot at the table, pour warm brandy over, turn the lights down and set it alight and watch the blue flame as the alcohol is burnt off. If you use vodka it apparently burns a brighter flame.

[@annamae859]

Here we go again with the throwing Santa letters in the fire. As I commented on the other video on Sunday, most hones in UK don't have open fires. Mine was probably the last generation of kids that did this, I'm 67! There is an address for Santa in UK its Father Christmas Santa's Grotto Raindeerland XM4 5HQ A homemade Christmas pudding can be made a few weeks, not necessarily months in advance, the alcohol stops it from spoiling, same goes for Christmas cake although most people just buy ready made from the supermarket.

[@delvianseek]

We also used to leave along with the booze and treat for Santa, a carrot for the reindeer

[@johnthornton73]

I can remember at my Gramdparents the puddings hung from the rafters in the laundry for months.

[@jelkel25]

Give Santa booze, he eventually can't remember who's on the naughty list and you get a better gift, it might be a complete strangers gift but it will be better!

[@liamb8638]

Our main presents go under the tree but stockings are put on our beds. Things like gold coins. Money, fruit. Sweets, small “stocking fillers”

[@daffodil800]

We do put bigger presents under the tree, smaller things go in the stocking

[@georgehelyar]

We don't always eat turkey, it's just more common at Christmas. Plenty of people will have a joint of beef, a leg of lamb, a chicken, etc.

[@peterwilliamson5953]

in the UK any Santa letter gets sorted in its SPECIAL box to be taken to ' Santa ' directly and if theres a return address ( which there should be ) Santa responds to all of them ( santa being the post office itself ) no postage needed

[@DJRowmania]

Absolutely shocking that she said "bacon-wrapped miniature pork sausages" ... these are commonly known as Pigs in Blankets..or PIBs in most households.

[@januzzell8631]

Stockings are usually just for small gifts (same as US) - tree gifts are still around the tree

[@carlalouisemiller6481]

I’ve never thrown letters to Santa in the fire 😂 We have truffle for our pudding only my hubby eats Christmas pudding. Tree down on 27th nice and clean for the new year

[@ripvanwincle2258]

You make me laugh fella and we all like a laugh.Merry Christmas love from Liverpool,England.🎄🎉🎊

[@slytheringingerwitch]

I love that Santa knows everything and why. I had never thought about that and I love it.

[@Wickerrman]

She didn't mention it, but sausages wrapped in bacon are known as pigs in blankets here :)

[@xthemogx]

Main gifts go under the tree, the stockings are filled with little fun gifts called stockings fillers....keeps the kids happy till mum and dad are ready to get up.

[@iainsan]

We also only use the stockings for small presents. Some British families have special little bags made out of Christmassy material they use instead. The larger presents are placed underneath the Christmas tree as in the US. As to how the parents sneak the present into the bedroom, the answer is, very quietly. It isn't a problem with little children, but older ones will probably be awake and just pretending to be asleep sleep. I know I was. Bread sauce is easy to make. You need 3/4 pint of milk, 1 small onion peeled whole, about 10 dried cloves, 1 bayleaf, about 10 whole black peppercorns, a little salt and 4 cups of white breadcrumbs. Stick the cloves into the onion and simmer it in the milk with the bayleaf and peppercorns for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave it overnight. In the morning, strain away the solids and add the breadcrumbs to the flavoured milk. Stir while heating and simmer for about 30 minutes. Salt to taste. It is delicious and goes with any poultry.

[@stephenlee5929]

I would normally start a Christmas Pudding in January. There really is very like chance of it going bad, much like Fruit cake. We have used Pudding that are 2 or even 3 years old, they can taste really good at that age.

[@ticketyboo2456]

The lazier amongst simply buy a pre-made pud and bung it in the ove, Going back to my youth I remember that a sixpence was put in there too ( wrapped in greaseproof paper ) whoever got it in their portion would have good luck or a wish.

[@NailHeavenAshford]

How do you steam a Christmas pudding in the oven? They go on the hob.

[@agardener3621]

@@NailHeavenAshford Bain Marie

[@williamronneywilliams2639]

The alcohol helps preserve the pudding,the stored in airtight container the once a week( my own way) brush with alcohol (brandy) right up till a week before Christmas day then cover with brandy turn of main lights then ignite the pud.

[@NailHeavenAshford]

When mine we children we didn’t have a fire. Letters went under the doormat for the elves to collect. We left out a mince pie, sherry and a carrot for the reindeer. Stockings were left beside the bed. I used to creep in and remove the stockings to fill with small items and return them to the bedroom. I also chose a couple of slightly larger items that went beside the stocking. The rest of the gifts went downstairs under the tree. I used to get the nicer crackers. The ones with little metal puzzles or wooden puzzles in. Yes we used to wear the crowns in the crackers. Christmas dinner we didn’t have bread sauce. We had Turkey, roast potatoes, honey roasted parsnips, carrots, sprouts, broccoli, Yorkshire puddings, cranberry sauce, can’t remember what else. It’s been a long time. Then Christmas pudding and cream. On Boxing Day we used to have a buffet and then we had drinks and played cards until late. I used to run a girl guides group. We used to take them to the pantomime each year. I like the decorations down fairly quickly. They just feel like clutter too much. Happy new year.

[@NailHeavenAshford]

Oh gosh. Add pigs in blankets and stuffing to my dinner list!

[@davidbarlow431]

I passed this around a few people over the last few hours, and nobody has ever heard of burning letters to father Christmas. Maybe it's some weird southern thing to save wasting a stamp on a letter to the north pole.

[@karenblackadder1183]

You didn't burn them, just let the rising hot air suck them up the chimney. If one did accidentally catch alight, Father Christmas could read the smoke signals.

[@jennetscarborough5145]

Traditionally you decorated the tree on Christmas Eve, and took it down on 6th January AKA "Twelfth Night" (as in "The Twelve Days Of Christmas"). Most people decorate much earlier than this nowadays though.

[@alexrafe2590]

No Brits wouldn't say 'going foul.' They would say something is 'going off.' Did you leave the milk out last night? I think it's going off.' 'How long has this pork been in the fridge? It's definitely gone off!'

[@krisstone3991]

Merry Christmas from England 👍🎄🎁

[@villainousreport9600]

Not confusing... Small presents in stocking, big presents under tree. Whoever puts out presents gets the brandy (in my case rum) and mince pie.

[@bradleyware1445]

smaller gifts in the stockings, still gifts under the tree

[@MillsyLM]

I work as a postman and I can confirm that children do post letters to Santa, I empty pillar boxes and have seen at least 10 of them this festive period.

[@Mark_Bickerton]

"Heavy rubber mallet" … Santa's go to tool of choice!

[@thomasrayner657]

We have stocking on the kids bedroom doors. And Santa has cider in our house. Lol

[@jamielavender236]

We still put presents under the tree, the only difference is the stocking by the bed instead of the fireplace

[@Aloh-od3ef]

In regards to the Christmas stocking… You just wait for the children to fall asleep. Sneak into their bedroom. Then take the empty stocking downstairs and fill it up. Simply sneak back into their bedroom and put the stocking at the end of the bed. The presents that are too big are usually put under or around the Christmas tree 😊

[@paulhadfield7909]

we had pilow cases on the endof our bed, and big presents are given later after lunch from under the tree,imsurpriseds yanks dont have cracxkers

[@chixma7011]

As kids, we were so excited we would have to be practically beaten into submission before we could get to sleep on Christmas Eve. Our Christmas stockings (in reality my father’s knee length RAF socks) were laid across the foot of the bed empty and mysteriously filled up overnight. They always contained a satsuma in the toe, a net bag of foil-covered chocolate coins, hair ties and pants for the girls and a toy car or model aircraft kit for the boys plus several other small gifts and puzzles. The important thing was we all had two books to start on before we even dared to think about disturbing the parents. Once they were awake we were allowed downstairs to take in the sight of what Father Christmas had also left for us under the tree. We still had to hold back (!) while a pot of tea, glasses of juice and a plate of biscuits were brought in, then it was check to see there was a pad of paper and a pen to list who got what from whom. Only then could the unwrapping begin in earnest!! 🎅🤶🎄🫖☕️☕️🧃🧃🧃🧃🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪📝🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁

[@bionicgeekgrrl]

Mince pies and sherry or port rather than brandy was the norm growing up. Of course the fact those were the favourite tipple of my parents is purely coincidence. Never burned letters to santa as our house didn't have a fire. Most cities banned burning coal and wood due to heavy smog from the 50s onwards, particularly London.

[@bonariablackie4047]

I'm British. And yes, we do give Santa a large mince pie and brandy, but we always put out a carrot for Rudolf as well. Animal welfare and all that. We always had large stockings, but people nowdays use pillowcases. You can fit just about anything into a pillow case. I feel for every parent that has had to put a swing set up in the dead of night or had to wrap a goddamn bike.

[@ianoo23]

Oops Santa got a couple of break up letters, a resignation letter and a strongly worded letter to the bbc from me then! 😂😂😂 Hope you had a lovely Christmas btw 👍

[@moogyboobles]

I'm in the UK, always had stockings and the bigger presents under the tree, never in the bedroom. My eldest son (now in his 20s) gets his presents in the stocking I had as a child.

[@robwilde7482]

Happy Crimbo to you too and a huge appreciation for you taking the time out from your own Christmas Day to record your reaction to a far less alien AI influenced video! I'm fairly certain that the date we take our decs down is the "twelfth night" after Christmas Day due to some kind of significant biblical event occurring 12 days after Jesus was born. With the stockings, it's only small cheap presents which go in there - to keep the kids amused until the parents were ready for everyone to gather around the tree and open their main presents. ...and parents are sneaky, if you woke up while they were in your room they would say "go back to sleep" and you'd reply "has he been yet?". They would say no and you'd go back to sleep. My stealth ninja parents never woke me, unless it really was Father Christmas?

[@torreyskidd]

to answer your stocking question… my stocking was always hung on the outside of my bedroom door! so my mum didnt need to actually come into my room 😂

[@iddjutt]

Only the small gifts go in the sock/s the bigger go around the tree

[@queendevonia]

Dad used to wait until around 3am to put my stocking in my room because I wouldn't sleep as I was too excited. I heard him come in once but I closed my eyes and froze as I didn't want santa to take my presents back 🤣

[@aallan646]

You only put some small presents In the stockings , the rest are around the tree , or on sofa etc etc depending on the size .

[@jemmajames6719]

Kids have sacks in the UK left at the bottom of their bed or downstairs if they are lucky enough Father Christmas will fill them. Family presents are usually under the tree.

[@sallyannwheeler6327]

Burn the letters in the fire?! What books has she been reading?🤣Good old letterbox every time. As for Xmas stockings,we do hang them on the fire place and put a little one by their bed for the morning. Nadolig llawen i chi a Blwyddyn Newydd dda o Cymru. ( Happy Christmas to you and a good New Year from Cymru(Wales)🎅😊🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿❤️🌎🇺🇸

[@jasonshaw8094]

Merry Christmas and a great new year to you and yours

[@matshjalmarsson3008]

Regarding the paper hats/crowns, you may want to check out the Swedish Crayfish parties (Kräftskiva), some crazy shit...

[@simonlockyear4653]

Small gifts in stocking and large ones by tree or whatever. Also some people have other meats as well as turkey, growing up we always had turkey and pork. One year I cooked goose and another I cooked duck and ham

[@cixsmiley3618]

we always put the stockings under the tree not sure where the bed came in

[@heatherrobertson6110]

To be honest most people buy their Christmas Puddings ready made, and they just need to be microwaved for a few minutes, set on fire for show then served with custard or brandy butter. Those enthusiastic types who do make their own soak them in booze for months which stops them from going off or drying out. They are a bit love 'em or hate 'em, but personally I love 'em and Christmas isn't Christmas without a bit of booze-sodden stodge with custard.

[@clairec1267]

Stockings are small gifts from Santa (which the kids can open before going down allowing parents a little extra time) filled with chocolate coins, a satsuma (now replaced by a chocolate orange) a small book, puzzle etc. you sneak in, grab the stocking then fill it in your room then sneak it back in - apparently historically you used an actual stocking so you would stuff an identical one and just do a straight swap. I remember waking up and before opening my eyes feeling the weight with my feet- i have a vague recollection of thinking if you see Santa hed vanish and then not deliver the presents so kept eyes shut until i could feel the stocking was full

[@christopherscott5093]

Like all videos its full of generalisations. Plenty of kids send letters, a mince pie would probably be accompanied by whatever your dad wanted. And as a kid i got my presents in a pillow case at the bottom of the bed.

[@anthonypurvis8619]

In 37 years never ever had a stocking around the bed, always over the fire place and only ever had sweets in them. the presents goo under the tree

[@ryanje8147]

cool Christmas sweater.

[@spundefiant3925]

People send letters to father Christmas in the UK too.

[@orwellboy1958]

As a kid Christmas was a little different in my house. Christmas day is my birthday so I had birthday presents too but my parents had strict rules, birthday presents in birthday paper and Christmas presents in Christmas paper. At teatime a birthday cake would be brought out with candles so more fire. I had a pillowcase at the bottom of my bed for presents like chocolate, usually a tangerine, toy cars and kaleidoscope etc. Letters went in the fire but I think that's probably a generational thing. I used to worry that my birthday would get forgotten now I worry everyone will remember I'm a year older.

[@georgehelyar]

Happy birthday :)

[@Dazza5007]

Happy bday🎉🎉

[@kathryndunn9142]

I did my Christmas cake with lots of alcohol and kept it in a tin wrapped helps it mature but keeps it fresh. And 6 January but i normally put them up early and take them down on or around boxing day

[@splintercast8092]

Small, generally inexpensive presents such as chocolates, small puzzles and toys, and the obligatory tangerine are put in the stocking; whereas the child's main presents are put under the tree. In terms of how the stocking is filled without the child waking up - the stocking will be temporarily removed from the child's bedroom to be filled and if the child is still awake upon entering the bedroom then the parent will warn the child that Father Christmas won't turn up till they are asleep. Not fail safe that's for sure - I know I woke up just as my mum was depositing the stocking when I was about 10 years old.

[@grabtharshammer]

Today, we ate a Christmas Pudding that has been "maturing" in my cupboard for a little while 😉 An M&S Pudding with nuts and lots of alcohol in it. - The "Best Before" date on it was 2018, so it was at the very least 5 years old. With Brandy Sauce (my fathers recipe) it tasted FANTASTIC

[@andrewdodimead1999]

Happy Christmas 🎄