How to Have a British Christmas - Anglophenia Ep 20

From explosives at the dinner table to burning letters to Santa, Siobhan Thompson looks at 10 ways Christmas differs in Britain. (Notably, they don't call them the holidays.)
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Follow Siobhan Thompson on Twitter: / vornietom

[@kojkurac1]

pov: your teacher told you to watch it during quarantine

[@etienneishimwe4284]

U already know

[@notyourtype8969]

Omg I love your profile picture 😍

[@kojkurac1]

@@notyourtype8969 omg sameeee 😍😍

[@nol-ngerhuman]

yeah- *yeah.*

[@galassiaspirale]

yup :0 also i like your pfp

[@karybradley8821]

2:54 'It's then soaked in alcohol, aged for several months, boiled again, soaked in alcohol again, and then set on fire'. Possibly the best description of Christmas pudding I've ever heard.

[@cupcakeofdeath8287]

Kids can't eat any dessert can they

[@caroline-nk9og]

@@cupcakeofdeath8287 Why not ? !! ;-) D)

[@richardmole2190]

@@cupcakeofdeath8287 they normally get given Christmas pudding regarless.

[@Trysmiling]

"Because he is a grownup." I don't know why but that made me laugh really loud. :)

[@laurabentley2397]

"Come to a British Christmas, we soak everything in alcohol, and then light it on fire!" I love this video. XD

[@oliviagomez815]

laura Bentley i made goose instead of turkey once.won't do that again. I also bought a mold for christmas pudding.bought many expensive in gredients.but I ultimately threw most of it out. It was so awful. You poor brits!

[@wolfsbane1991]

I'm Danish but my dad lives in England. Some of my best memories are of spending Christmas at his house, because I LOVE British Christmas! In Denmark we have our Christmas meal on the 24th, and afterwards we dance around the Christmass tree and then open presents. Often we were too tired as children to play with our presents afterwards. But when I had Christmas at my dad's, we opened the presents in the morning on the 25th in our pyjamas, and it was SO cozy and 'hygge'! We had mince pies and the whole day to play with our presents. We would also go for a long walk around noon with the dogs, and say hi to the neighbours who were also walking (my dad lives out in the country and everyone would go for a walk around the same time, it was magical!) I also love the cheesy Christmas TV shows! All in all I adore British Christmas!

[@RosinaEmilyW]

Don't forget the Christmas specials of tv shows like Doctor Who in the evening! That is something a huge number watch.

[@stuvs830]

You could start a Danish channel and teach us about "hygge." Garrison Keillor's second wife was Danish, and he wrote about their holiday, as you also did. It sounded so tender and joyous I teared up.

[@wolfsbane1991]

Thanks! And not a bad idea actually. I love how Christmas is always magical no matter how or where you celebrate.

[@tipsycat27]

I remember my Austrian friend telling me they do the same thing where he's from, eat and open presents on the evening before xmas. There's nothing left to do on christmas!

[@jessicaable5095]

love u 4 that

[@Lredfloss1]

Our family tradition is to "accidentally" miss the Queens speech them pretend to regret it

[@yournumberonebitch9007]

Lredfloss1 ur comment is my life....

[@MonkeyButtMovies1]

mine is to eat an entire tin of heroes and then regret it as I lie on the settee and die

[@4manflawlessround426]

Ours is to eat ALL OUR CHRISTMAS DINNER even though we think our stomachs have ruptured and lie on the sofa dying.

[@laurenamurray]

this is my family 😂

[@eversincelouyork1425]

Same

[@mittfh]

#9: "Pretty much every theatre in the country puts on a pantomime." Oh no they don't! _Audience: Oh yes they do!_ Oh, and has anyone seen the villain around here? _Audience: He's behind you!_

[@janetgallacher7552]

Also the kids get up so early like 5 in the morning to open xmas presents the best part.

[@spicedhazel]

Pantos were my favorite part of Christmas when I lived in England 😆

[@kennethkdj]

This girl should have her own television show, funny, lovely and her narration does not irritate at all. Wonderful.

[@umairusman]

I am from Pakistan and for me Christmas was always about watching Christmas specials on Cartoon Network. That is my childhood Christmas memory :D

[@Scripture-Man]

That's a nice memory, I like that.

[@ScaryWombat]

Also, side note on Scottish traditions - The Christmas pudding is called a "Clottie Dumplin" in some parts of the country. Because it's a dumpling (fruit cake) that was traditionally boiled in a rag, or a clottie. Originally these were two different deserts, made in different ways, but in some places the name stuck while the desert itself changed slightly.

[@KelseyCate]

I laughed at the brandy and minced pie comment 😂 one year we forgot milk and my dad ate all the cookies, so we ended up leaving beer and nachos for Santa. Easily one of my favorite memories.

[@deadtoselfShema]

I have seen Dr Who, there is no way I will visit London during Christmas

[@Domolikesyoshi]

Definitely

[@JannesonMultiMediaEditor]

Best comment here!

[@maiasitter677]

DOCTOR Who. :/

[@Scripture-Man]

I think you're old enough now to know the truth about Father Christmas and Doctor Who...

[@goodjobeli]

I won't tell you the truth about London and Christmas then (IT'S NORMAL

[@catherinelabdon316]

I know it's probably no longer a strictly British tradition, but the Doctor Who Christmas special is also a staple of British television viewing on Christmas day.

[@razmataz13drums]

Catherine Labdon and watching the Eastenders xmas special. There's always someone that watches it in the house. Whilst annoying, it is fun to have a good laugh at what ridiculousness is going to happen next!

[@MegaMichael42]

As a American with English and German ancestors.I try to combine as many Christmas traditions from the U.S,U.K and Germany every year in my house as much as possible.It's so much fun.Christmas will always be my favorite holiday and favorite time of the year.

[@ozianpunkat]

watching the Queen's Christmas message has become our new favorite tradition in my house, Thanks BBC America ^.^

[@popcultureempire3124]

Absolutely love this channel! I love the personalities and the info on everything UK! My grandmother was from Birmingham, and I've always wanted to visit. Thank you for putting out such awesome content! Plus, the ladies are a totally lush! Seriously! Keep up the great work!

[@ursie1986]

Wait, you told them what Pigs in Blankets were and you DIDN'T tell them they're called Pigs in Blankets?!

[@simonpowell9975]

cx1735 Not everyone calls them that though- ever noticed they're not called that on the pre-made ones in the supermarket? They're little-sausages-wrapped-in-bacon in my house. Which, I admit, is less fun to say.

[@ursie1986]

In that case, you're welcome :)

[@LumRummy]

cx1735 we have pigs in blankets in the states - it's usually hot dogs, or mini sausages - in dough... not bacon...

[@kinnison41]

LumRummy We call it Toad in the Hole in the UK - err, don't ask me why!

[@lizibethjansen3044]

+Chris Longbone and beef wellington lol

[@themaintenancedude]

How is there so much animosity in some of the posts on one of the most light hearted channels I watch?!?!?

[@ibosquez5238]

She said that they leave brandy for Santa because he's a grownup. We leave milk and cookies because he's driving.

[@simhedges]

If he can survive drinking all those gazillion gallons of milk, then whisky or brandy won't cause him problems either.

[@lewismurphy3499]

simhedges we gave him liver failure

[@TheGeographyWatch]

Well, once he’s in international airspace, there are technically no drink-drive laws.

[@stellaro1775]

Hahaha. But seriously Don't drink and drive.

[@redline6419]

Santa isn't a lightweight

[@rukie9325]

when I was younger I thought boxing day was to remember all the boxers who fought

[@goodjobeli]

hi bye I thought it was when everyone watched boxing

[@jaycarberry-white6730]

when half of your room gets boxed up and stored in a cupboard to make way for the new stuff you get the previous day.

[@SillyWomanDiaryBlogspot]

Happy Crimbo to you! Love all of your videos!

[@AnglopheniaTV]

Happy Crimbo right back at you, and cheers!

[@jordanl2317]

*merry

[@cath3122]

Yay! Happy Crimbo

[@jordanl2317]

Loulou Diamond *merry

[@Rashy225]

*proper

[@TotallyTanja]

This was so interesting! Always love learning about other cultures and traditions! :D

[@jessicaable5095]

we give him alcohol because he is a grown up. Love it. we do leave carrots for the raindeer as well tho

[@microorganismnarancia_lol]

Yep true

[@lebroy1196]

I was about to leave a comment about the lack of carrots for Rudolf.

[@tristanlau1213]

I'd like to see Santa shows up in the AA meetings lol

[@maiasitter677]

We left "magic oats" for the reindeer for a few years when I was younger to help the reindeer fly. It was really just oats with sparkles in it or something. lol (Im from the USA)

[@ardisfaire]

Maia Sitter us too!

[@tomlynch8114]

Bread sauce is a southern English thing. In the North Redcurrant or Cranberry sauce with the Turkey is more usual. Some shops are open on Boxing Day, but not all by any means, so it's not the best day for shopping. I'd say the biggest thing about Boxing Day is watching Football, eating leftovers or spending the day with family or friends you didn't see on Christmas Day.

[@KH571]

+Tom Lynch I'm from Scotland and we have redcurrant, cranberry and bread sauce to choose from at our Christmas dinner :P

[@bunnyboonumba1]

By shopping she would have been referring to the Boxing Day sales, lots of high retail shops do this...

[@stuvs830]

+Massive Sigh lol Bridget Jones

[@purpleyoux2475]

I'm from the south and my family has cranberry sauce with our turkey. Never even tried bread sauce.

[@dimitribaillat8464]

chus daccord.

[@leannsmarie]

When I was a child and lived in Bicester, I recall that decorations consisted of spraying fake snow on the windows. We stenciled Happy Xmas and a number of snowflakes like our neighbors. A gent dressed as Father Christmas drove though the neighborhood in a sled pulled by a horse or two and handed out a present a piece to all the children whose parents had the presence of mind to dress them quick enough to meet him in the street before he traveled to the next area. I wonder if they still do that though it was 40 years ago. It was a fond memory of my time there in the UK.

[@lulurussell]

Best joke: "What do you do when you see a space man?"/"Park in it, man!"

[@mayloo2137]

In my Canadian city, we have a recycling program where the city will pick up your tree for free. The trees are mulched, then used as fertilizer throughout the city.

[@zuzukris4952]

Everything you said was spot on but, one more thing I look forward to every year: The Doctor Who Christmas Special!

[@brookebanister6653]

I live in America and at my local theatre we have a British director and this year we put on a pantomime! We did Aladdin and it was one of the most fun productions that I have ever been a part of. Next year we are doing Sleeping Beauty and I'm so excited! I'd love to go to England and see one there.

[@darknight2909]

Also to make the Queen's Christmas message more interesting, what we do choose words or events that you think she will say i.e Family, Commonweath etc, and each time she says it you have to drink.

[@ghostnr9]

+Carl Hylton Finally I see some good use for that old bat.

[@AmyMemory]

And you all bet a pound on what colour she will be wearing

[@holleysdotcom]

+Carl Hylton Now that sounds fun!

[@sandyeden2816]

Thank you so much for making us laugh so much. Merry Christmas

[@gzp7971]

This just got me hyped up for christmas

[@woden5132]

Americans hearts must sink knowing they have to work the next day. Boxing day is a day to recover from over eating and drinking xD

[@WhiteCamry]

Frank Watson Which most of us Yanks do, anyway.

[@Malon2006]

+ Frank Watson It could be worse, when I was a kid my Dad had to work on Christmas day. Since they can not close the place down and they need someone there at all times because he worked at a Correctional Institution (Prison). Imagine having to deal with criminals some of which are murderers every Christmas. A lot of the time he worked in the mental health unit where they had the not so sane inmates. He would tell the most "interesting" stories about that place.

[@LentPanic7]

I'm not even going to be able to celebrate this upcoming christmas.

[@kaylavictoria5360]

We don't work the next day, we usually have days off until the day after New Years.

[@DisneySinger12]

+Frank Watson Psh I wish we had that. I know the day after Christmas, I'll have to be at work at like 6:30am. Ugh, I hate retail.

[@chrishansen724]

I'm an American who's lived in London for nearly 22 years, which means 21 British Christmases. You forgot #11: No Public Transport. If you can't drive you're stuck, and the taxi drivers are quids in, as they charge 3 times the normal fare on Christmas Day. I always look forward to the first day back at work after New Year's, where everything returns to nearly normal. This series is hilarious, BTW.

[@susie2251]

Chris Hansen I was a tourist in London without a car on Christmas Day and this was so true. I don’t understand how people manage if they are going to relatives or friends for dinner.

[@joshggibson]

Here in Canada we do a lot of these traditions as well! Merry Christmas!

[@FilipKadlec1]

This 5- minute video gave me more insight into what British Christmas is like than any school textbook. Thanks a lot!

[@shannont7461]

whattt im english and ive never heard of burning the letters, we actually sent them.

[@TheGiantKillers]

It dies out in the 90s when the post office saw an opportunity to make money.

[@endelvelt7650]

Shanon Thompson really I've always burnt letters, never sent them. My parents used to stay the ash would be sent up to Santa through smoke and flame!

[@jaycarberry-white6730]

we pretend to send them off.

[@shannont7461]

Jade Carberry-White nah, we always put them in the post box, guess thats another thing we have took from america recently

[@TheGiantKillers]

Shanon Thompson When you think about it today the postal service only deal with a tiny fraction of the volume of letters they would have in the 70s so have the scope to send letters to 'santa' so to speak. Back in the 70s it would have got in the way of what back then was a vital service,

[@Murph_gaming]

So the Brits load Santa up on alcohol before he crosses the pond? Lucky the guy hasn't crashed in the Atlantic or been pulled over for FUI(Flying Under the Influence)

[@wieran1006]

Murphdawg1 gaming we usually use milk

[@dimitribaillat8464]

Vive la ps4

[@justtom4360]

well uhhhhhh yeh we r the ones who make santa so merry lol

[@kian6846]

Very entertaining and educational video indeed, thanks for posting

[@liammiller2407]

My sister was so scared of Santa coming in her bedroom so we hung the stocking outside her door LOL

[@lilyfox313]

Liam Miller So was mine! We had to do this for years! 😂

[@Umbrellaoflove]

Canada, in the past, under British rule, still to this day celebrate a lot of what the Brit's say differentiates themselves from Americans. ❣🇨🇦

[@marigeobrien]

Love this series. I just found it. And it helps demystify many English traditions. Just wondering... do you think the "Leaving stockings by the bed" tradition stems from the original St. Nicholas putting gifts in shoes? Originally the shoes were put outside the front door but then moved to outside the bedroom door. So... you see where I'm going with this? Anyway. Very good. Glad to have found your channel. I look forward to seeing all your videos and to any you add in the future.

[@nunyabiznez6381]

In our family Christmas was highly scheduled. Thanksgiving segued into the Christmas season. While Thanksgiving Day and the Friday afterwards we had Thanksgiving dinner and leftovers, on Saturday after Thanksgiving we would have turkey sandwiches and that Sunday we had Turkey stew which was created from what was left of the left overs. It was actually quite good. But food was only part of the schedule. Friday was the day we cleaned up after Thanksgiving and put the Thanksgiving decorations away which usually meant throwing them away since most of those were disposable. On Saturday we would go out and search for our Christmas tree. Usually we wandered out into the town woods and picked out a tree and cut it down and brought it back. Then Saturday night my father would put it on the stand and string the lights. We then would decorate it. From then until Christmas Eve we would put up some decoration each day. My parents would ration the decorations so that no day would be without a decoration from each child going up. The first weekend of December, unless that happened to be the weekend right after Thanksgiving in which case it would be the next one, we would go see Santa Claus. Today that is done at a mall or some store where you pay a fee and then get your photo taken with Santa. No fee no sitting on Santa's lap. That's the way it works today. But when I was a kid the town hired a Santa who would sit on a great throne in the town square every weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The line would wrap all the way around the square and sometimes down the road towards the fire station. Sometimes it was cold. The rest of the time it was very cold. We didn't care. The various fraternal organizations from the Rotary to the Masons to the Kiwanis and Lions etc. would go around handing out free coffee, donuts and treats for the kids, usually candy canes, hot chocolate and cookies. In our extended family we had 11 birthdays in December. So on the weekend before Christmas we always had a big birthday party with a giant birthday cake with the names of everyone who had a December birthday and candles for all of them and then we'd sing happy birthday and all the birthday people would circle the cake and have a contest to see who could blow out the most candles the quickest. Aunt Karen always won. She played the trumpet in high school. Christmas Eve we were all required to go to bed early. My grandfather would read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and one or two other Christmas stories and then we were tucked into bed. We were ceremoniously "locked" in our rooms with a "magic paper padlock" and if we broke the lock we'd get coal for Christmas. We took very good care not to break the lock. That would be around seven at night. Then downstairs they would play Christmas music really loud. Sometimes Christmas carolers would come to the front yard and sing. We'd all rush to look down from our bedroom window and open the window despite the cold to hear them sing three or four Christmas carols. Then we'd close the sash and rush back into our beds to get warm again. In that old Victorian house it originally had coal heating and my father never removed the old ducts so we could hear the Christmas music echoing up through the vents until we fell asleep. Sometime in the night we would be woken up by the sound of hoof steps and the jingling of bells on the roof and a lot of noise and commotion. We could hear the sound of boxes and toys being dumped onto the floor echoing up through the duct work and into our rooms. Then we'd hear some way over dramatic "Ho! Ho! Ho'ing" which was always followed by some loud banging sounds going up the chimney and some sounds on the roof and a final jingling of bells. By this time the Christmas music had been long silenced. There was nothing but the occasional tinkling sound of the wind blowing ice crystals into our bedroom windows. It was always the same, we'd run to our bedroom door and crack it just a little bit open. If the paper lock was still there we had to go back to bed and wait. But if it had been replaced by an unlocked golden sparkling padlock then we could run down stairs and begin tearing through the loot below. No matter what my father was always the first one downstairs. We never knew how he managed to beat us downstairs every time. Christmas morning was always a magical time. It was a time we could be kids and not worry about many rules. We could tear through any gift that was "from Santa" as long as it was addressed to us. We didn't need to worry about what to do with wrapping paper or saving the pretty ribbon. We didn't have to keep it neat. We just went into a Christmas present feeding frenzy. Mom usually dragged herself downstairs about an hour into our Christmas morning. By then all the Santa gifts were open. Papa was always groggy and when Mom came down Papa would drag himself back up to bed. This was the time Mom would go around and gather up the debris and then we'd have a more formal unwrapping of gifts from family and friends. That took until sunrise or sometimes a little afterwards. It was during this time when we usually noticed all of the additional Christmas decorations and just how magical the whole house looked with all the added lights and candles. Then Mom would get us all ready for Christmas mass. We liked it because they always sang Christmas carols and the church was always decorated in such a festive way with pine bows and holly and candles. They never turned on any electric lights during Christmas mass. I remember when I was really young the Mass was said in Latin but they changed that though I don't remember when other than it was when I was still a young kid. There were often people chanting Christmas music in Latin in my earliest memories of Christmas. After mass we could play with our new toys and watch Christmas shows on TV while Mom made Christmas dinner which was really Christmas lunch since we ate at noon. We always had Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, home made roles and breads, stuffing and pink cauliflower. Mom soaked it in cranberry sauce over night which made it sweet. She soaked broccoli in apple juice and that made the broccoli sweet as well. Those were our Christmas vegetables served raw and crunchy. And of course there was cranberry sauce and occasionally other side dishes. Papa always dragged himself back downstairs for dinner and was usually dressed in a suit and tie which he hardly ever wore any other time. After Mom and Papa cleaned up we all piled into the car with gifts and treats dressed up in mostly red and green clothes and drove to our grandparents where Grandpa (the same one who read to us the night before) was always watching a football game on TV. It was a big old black and white TV, around 17 inches which got all the channels. Those were called "all channel" TVs since they had UHF channels. That meant instead of having only four channels like we had he got an extra three. We thought that was the coolest thing. Except he never let us watch it. Kids were all kicked outdoors at that point where we soon were distracted by sleds and toboggans and other ice based ludicrously fast forms of transportation. We had to be dragged back inside when it got dark out, usually an hour after sundown. At that point we all sat around my grandparent's tree and it was more gift exchanging and usually there were at least one gift for each of us that Santa somehow misdelivered at the wrong house. Then we had Christmas supper which was about the same as Christmas dinner except with more people, a bigger turkey and a larger variety of trimmings. After supper we could stay up as late as we wanted to, engorge ourselves on as much deserts, milk and soda pop as we could with no restrictions and fall asleep in our p.j.'s around the fire place next to the tree. By that point Grandpa had relinquished the TV to us though there rarely was much of interest to kids by that point. Somehow, magically, we would wake up in our own bed's the next morning with all our newly acquired loot spread around our room surrounding our beds as though in a way to remind us how fortunate we were. The next week or two, depending on the calendar, we continued to enjoy our Christmas vacation from school. The tree and decorations always stayed up until New Years Eve. New Years Day everything came down. By the time we went to bed New Years night, not a trace of Christmas was left except a few scant leftovers like fruit cake which usually was left over until Easter and of course, our Christmas gifts which by then had been incorporated into our inventory of possessions, some already broken or worn to the point of being useless and some already abandoned due to a miscalculation by an elf. Most were neatly stowed in their new homes, a toy box, dresser or closet or book shelf. Half would be forgotten by the next time Christmas rolled around. A few would never be forgotten, like the GI Joe in full combat gear and and articulated hands and his tank and foot locker with all the accessories! Or the red bicycle from Sears, the Flexible Flyer, Lincoln Logs and the best toy ever LEGOS! My mother and her poor bare feet and broken vacuum cleaner would disagree on that last one.

[@jodeedugger9041]

I loved reading your story :)

[@ixchelkali]

Reading your wonderful Christmas memories warmed my heart.

[@caroletraynor8763]

nunya biznez

[@FringePrincess]

That was wonderful. Thank you for sharing! 😃

[@lisar817You]

nunya biznez What beautiful Christmas memories! Thank you for sharing! 😊

[@siphonsnob]

When you say "America" you mean specifically "United States of America". Here in Canada we have Christmas crackers, paper crowns, Christmas pudding on fire, HRH Message, and Boxing Day is a Holiday. And we sit around and watch Mrs. Brown's Christmas special on the TV.

[@lewismurphy3499]

siphonsnob I didn’t know we had so much in common with Canada. Even the Mrs Brown thing

[@ghrtfhfgdfnfg]

Obviously...

[@beckerqueiroz]

In Brazil we also have different traditions... It's still America, though. With time, people will stop calling the US "America".

[@Lil_Angry_Bitch]

"America" is short for "United States of America" just like how "Britain" is short for "Great Britain". So no shit, she is talking about America, the USA.

[@rturtle5795]

Canadians also have pictures of the queen in their homes.. Americans do not. But i do understand …. North America.. although many of these videos specifically compare Britain with the USA.

[@me4901]

"Every theatre has a panto with high camp, cross dressing and audience participation" Oh No They Don't!

[@CIMAmotor]

Chrisfs hahahahahahaha I see what you did there! Just spat my tea out laughing!

[@alanladd7081]

Chrisfs Oh Yes they do.

[@lizibethjansen3044]

+Chrisfs Oh yes they do!

[@jcellwood]

+Chrisfs Oh, yes, they do! PS, Look out behind you!

[@chrisstehlik7927]

+jcellwood Behind me ? Is there something behind me.? I don't see anything, Are you sure ?

[@AtheistOrphan]

She forgot to mention the silver sixpence in the Christmas pudding!

[@krashd]

+Atheist Orphan Oh aye, British Christmases are choking hazards aplenty. My mum still puts about 8 20-pence pieces in a Christmas pudding. No one has died yet, but there's been a few broken teeth.

[@ScaryWombat]

+Atheist Orphan We don't do that anymore in my house, but we did for a long time. I really need to bring it back!

[@lemonadecupcakes]

+Rob Fraser You made me laugh! We have family with Danish roots and they put an almond in this bland, rice dish. We get the silver dollar afterward. Not as exciting as finding actual money in your food.

[@AtheistOrphan]

+AllannaXD - We have a hundred year-old sixpence that we use especially for the pud

[@tashazalinski5250]

sixpence? we get a tuppence in ours

[@stayclassy8479]

Thank you so much for the video! It helped me to write my project on British Christmas.

[@tinybag]

"We leave him brandy and a mince pie... Because he's a grown up." Oh hell yeah. I always assumed Father Christmas visited America first to line his stomach with the milk and cookies before approaching the spirit isles.

[@nunyabiznez6381]

Sorry but he travels from east to west following the stars.

[@kuyaleinad4195]

+nunya biznez Well technically, Santa does stop by on the UK last since the US tend to put the cookies and have their Christmas dinner on the night of the 24th. The Brits have their dinner on the 25th :/

[@TazPessle]

nah. the brandy is always waiting on the 24th. And we dine 24th, 25th and 26th with different sides of the family on each day!!!

[@tejaswoman]

+Kuya Dan American families actually differ in which day is the big day. For some, it is the 24th, while for others it is the 25th. My family had certain Christmas Eve traditions, but the meal was always on the 25th. In Latin America, the 24th can be so big that many people growing grow up thinking that IS Christmas Day.

[@davidmaxwaterman]

Brussels Sprouts are delicious!

[@Scripture-Man]

Agreed. I don't get the whole anti-sprout deal. Gosh, that was an incredibly American speech pattern I just used. Must retain identity. Must retain identity...

[@yasmin-gm3oi]

agreed

[@dimitribaillat8464]

It's horrible.

[@remandstimpy]

You missed out the fact that at least two members of the family will drink one too many sherries, thus bringing out some obscure antagonism which has been gently simmering since last Christmas. The drunken participants in this dispute will then retire to the kitchen/garage/back-garden and scream insanely at each other for the next hour and a half, while everyone else watches James Bond on TV. This time honored ritual is compulsory and must be enacted at least once at every British Christmas gathering.

[@jekkareighner]

Don't forget 'Slightly Racist Grandad' being clearly grumpy over being forced to wear a Santa hat.

[@srkh8966]

ken smit That happens everywhere.

[@victorromeromartinez8565]

I started loving boxing day here in the US back in 2006 because of all the football (soccer) matches that are televised live on TV so early in the morning. Just a great way to get over the NBA and NFL matches played on Christmas day. I have the morning to enjoy watching soccer without people telling me to switch off the television, because, you know...Americans still hate soccer. Even though we have a (somewhat) strong league now.

[@McJibbin]

Idk about britain, but the most important part of a proper murican christmas is getting hammered and feasting. Love the video! Instantly subscribed! keep up the fantastic work!

[@bigboredthing]

On Boxing day one family member puts on a buffet for the rest of us (it varies every year). It normally consists of ham, prawns, little party foods, sandwiches, biscuits and such. Anyone else do this or is my family even weirder than I thought?

[@tottenhammad1234]

Thought I was the only 1

[@brontewcat]

Sounds like a pretty great tradition to me.

[@abbier6020]

+Massive Sigh I'm from the north (just about) and every year our cousins come over and we have basically all the leftovers from both houses meals in a buffet type thing so yeah, maybe...

[@juliettelaidin224]

Our Boxing Day consists on eating the remains of the turkey , stuffing and so on for lunch (cold of course)

[@MercyTheDestroyer]

+bigboredthing That's how the Christmas eve party works in my family.

[@frost3005]

'It's like your Black Friday but no one gets trampled' that almost makes me want to go to London on Christmas. But Doctor Who...

[@cetteheurebleue]

Alcohol -as much as possible- with and in your dessert pudding sounds right to me, bedside pressies in stockings and paper crowns all round. Christmas dinner with brussel sprouts has been a family favourite for ages, along with any roasted bird you can think of ... Siobhan, you're a gem ! Please carry on ...

[@stevemilwa]

Why am I watching this? Christmas is over and I'm British..

[@alyssamontgomery1694]

Canadian Christmas shares a lot of these traditions. I also have Christian traditions mixed in too so I'd say my Christmas is pretty enjoyable.

[@Margie75]

I so want to attend a British Christmas. It seems so much fun.

[@ladyofthecottage1160]

this was awesome

[@feltum]

Your vids are so funny, and true! Good work! 😄😄

[@oyaswmi558]

It's just not Christmas without an argument over monopoly.

[@1ninja1.]

It's funny how Australia has adopted bits and pieces from both countries. For example, we leave out cookies and milk for "Santa" but we also have boxing day specails (like black friday) and Turkey.

[@praveensharma1865]

I really enjoyed her mood 😊

[@dougwatson5717]

In Canada we get the best of both the Yanks and the Brits Christmas so I love eating both pie and Christmas pudding as I watch the Queen's message.

[@Jay-vr9ir]

Also Boxing Day is great , when I worked Boxing Day , for the railway I was paid triple time , I felt sorry for The U.S.A. back then , everything was open and they had to work.

[@santosamigo796]

kto tu jest bo baba z angla kazala wlaczyc ten filmik? XD🎄🎅🎆

[@jedrxej]

jeszcze odpowiedziec na jakies ptania kazała na podstawie filmu

[@kaku3652]

....

[@angelikavx4008]

🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️

[@tercjooon6455]

...

[@jasminesirs2521]

You missed out the Doctor Who and Downton Christmas specials!

[@judistull9197]

After living in England for nearly eight years, the things I miss the most are pantomimes and the Evensongs and Christmas programs put on by our sons' schools. We also can't get sausage rolls and mince pies here. I can make the pies that taste similar but our sausage is completely different, so I can't even make them. I also miss the week of movies that were on TV for the week between Christmas and New Years. We used to just run the recorder that whole week and have plenty of things to watch for months! LOL Sigh. I just miss England in its entirety. Happy Christmas everyone!

[@SheilaRodriguesPiresRPaes]

Hi, there. I´m a Brazilian teacher of English. I loved this video and I´m definetely going to use it with my students. Thanks a lot!

[@endelvelt7650]

OMG! She got everything right about my British Christmas! 👌

[@inter-dimensionalhorror733]

OF COURSE THE PUDDING IS BOILED. this is the UK we're talking about.

[@Sophie.S..]

For hours and hours.....

[@starwarsluke2827]

We wish you a Merry Crimbo, We wish you a Merry Crimbo and a Happy Hogsmany!

[@erwydconwyjester7321]

Brilliant video. Apart from shopping on Boxing Day (and playing Manopolly) I do them all. Nadolig Llawen pawb!

[@United-bricks]

Yorkshire puddings are a British tradition, you can't have Christmas dinner without them. :D

[@andymullen684]

Nobody has Yorkshire pud with Turkey!

[@rossini138]

Whaaat? Yorkshire pudding with Turkey?? Blasphemy! lol

[@jordanl2317]

Necessary parts to the meal: Turkey Ham Stuffing Roast potatoes, carrots, parsnips Mashed potato Yorkshire pudding (optional) Gravy Bread sauce Cranberry sauce The list goes on.

[@DukeFluker]

rossini138 truth.

[@andymullen684]

Jordan Lawe You can have a chilli stuffing & a fried egg on the top as well if you want, but traditionally there is no Yorkshire pudding served with turkey in England.

[@PEKUMBU]

I always wondered about those paper hats.

[@ldmorris621]

let hope a lot of brown kids make it by then..

[@MisAJGraveS]

I have an artificial tree, and I'm definitely not in the majority in the states, but I like to keep my tree up through February because I love it and it makes me smile. And bitter cold and snow make me sad and grumpy. Plus I work retail, which in the US is kinda sole crushing. So I hang onto to all the holiday happy I can.

[@FlamingRobzilla]

I so enjoy your You Tube channel.

[@Nikkimay87]

American shows don't have Christmas specials the way the BBC does. I think American Christmas celebrations would be vastly improved if we adopted the Doctor Who Christmas special as mandatory viewing. :)

[@LilMizzRockaChick]

I'm British and I have never burnt any Xmas letters or have know anybody else to either. Also I have never hung a stocking by a bed it's either been hung by the fire place or placed under the tree and I've never left brandy out for santa it's always a glass of milk, a mince pie and a carrot for the reindeers. This presenter is obviously an upper class person from snobby London haha

[@jessicanoriega5820]

Love the idea of placing the stockings by the beds.

[@Jerboa-fl3rs]

that intro made me rethink Christmas

[@mrrandomperson3106]

I'm surprised Christmas Television wasn't mentioned! It's almost a tradition that all the old family films are broadcast almost back to back over the days surrounding Christmas. Doctor Who as well.

[@TheKevinGHutton]

The xmas pud would traditionally have coins in it which the lucky finder could keep provided they didn't choke on it first. A lighter alternative to the xmas pud is a sherry trifle which is also heavily laden with alcohol. Not that we Brits are all hopeless drunkards who spend the whole festive season completely sozzled. Don't forget the tins of Quality Street and Roses sweets with everyone fighting to get their favourite. Oh and the epic hunt for the corkscrew/bottle opener. You end up having to borrow one from a neighbour and then yours suddenly reappears in mid January.

[@jordanl2317]

How can you say all if that and bloody well forget brandy butter?

[@TheKevinGHutton]

Haha! Yes you're quite right. Rum butter too. I never liked either of them but apparently when my older brother was a baby he wouldn't leave it alone. :-D

[@jordanl2317]

TheKevinGHutton I hate it but my brain goes "Screw it! Maybe this time I'll like it!". That's tradition for you!

[@AtheistOrphan]

Don't forget Stone's Ginger Wine, DeKuyper Cherry Brandy & Warnink's Advocat!

[@bigboredthing]

Not forgetting the Boxing Day hunt popular with the posh that my family watered down to a two hour long gallop on horseback through rough ground and hedges. I miss it...

[@bigboredthing]

Also watching Zulu. Think It's a wonderful life, but with more spears and less clothes.

[@g0pot]

Apart from dousing the Christmas Pud in brandy and (hopefully) setting light to it, as a child the Christmas Pud also had money scattered through it. Sixpence coins were the going rate for me as a toddler and later 5p pieces. If you escaped swallowing it or breaking a tooth on it you got to spend the money on sweets.

[@hlonghi]

British Christmas sounds bloody fun! I love soaking things in alcohol and lighting it on fire!

[@PirateJessicaandcats]

University Challenge Christmas Special and the moment the cheese board comes out for teatime!

[@tessasweet5792]

LOVE it !!!!

[@mosaicmatt]

In the states, pumpkin and/or pecan pie are traditionally eaten as dessert after a Thanksgiving meal. I've not heard that many have them as a Christmas dessert.

[@Good-DaySunshine]

WE EAT IT ALL YEAR WITH PILES OF WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP. ONE CAN OF CREAM PER PERSON.

[@mrmadness2699]

Pumpkin Pie is there for us every Christmas too. Remember the lyrics from “No place like home for the Holidays:” 🎶 I met a man who lives in Tennessee and he was heading for Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie 🎶

[@marysouthen9686]

In my family it is compulsory to wear the paper hats from the christmas crackers and the first and second people to take theirs off have to do all the washing up.

[@tejaswoman]

Fun!

[@Scripture-Man]

LOL. And then there's always someone wearing two hats or more isn't there!

[@karolinanafalska4456]

Great video :)

[@brontewcat]

I have a Jamie Oliver video on preparing a traditional Xmas dinner, and thankfully some British traditions did not make it to Australia - Brussels sprouts yuk. A lot of Australian Xmas traditions are based on the Brits, but we are developing some of our own. As much as I like the traditional Xmas dinner (the chestnut and pork stuffing is to die for) it is really great to have Chritmas in Summer, we are finally fusing our own traditions onto the great British Xmas traditions e.g. having seafood - prawns, crab, Balmain bugs, fish such as salmon - with, or even instead of turkey. Also we can eat fresh food in season - cherries yum; sing carols by candlelight in parks; play backyard cricket after Xmas lunch. Seasons greetings to you all.

[@cobbler9113]

Actually Boxing Day is for us to recover from the inevitable hangover and go to football matches. Not that it matters much as a lot of people will take a week or two off for Christmas and New Year.

[@DDelilahM]

I lived in America for a number of years and no American i ever knew or heard of keeps their trees up for months or even weeks after Christmas... Where do you get your information from or is it just fun to poke the Americans whether its true or not? Also as a Brit ive never heard of burning the letters to Santa in the fire. Also Pecan and pumpkin pies are for the American holiday of Thanksgiving. On Christmas they usually serve different kinds of fudge and every kind of biscuit/cookie you can think of. It was really rather marvelous!

[@krashd]

+DDelilahM She lives in NYC.

[@snowXcapXangel]

+DDelilahM I've known people to keep their trees up till February occasionally. Also I agree with the pie comment, it's Thanksgiving for pie usually. I know my mom always makes cookies with colored frosting and then someone might bring a pie but it's usually a fruit pie or chocolate pie.

[@DDelilahM]

Rob Fraser So did i ...for 8 years

[@DDelilahM]

Amanda Wedemeyer I think those people are few and far between... this made it sound like its a regular occurrence....

[@Tamar1973]

+DDelilahM I've known people who kept their Christmas trees (the fake ones) up until spring or even early summer. People who use real trees are usually a little more sensible and take them down by January.

[@phoenixfeathers4128]

Here’s how it goes in my family: 1. The letters to Father Christmas are just left on the piano/piano stool 2. We put a stocking near our beds and find sweets in them (I love that part of the video! A complete stranger who has been watching you? He also sees you when you’re sleeping and knows when you’re awake) 3. We leave out a Schnapps and a few biscuits (we’re a German family, I take it there are no more questions to be asked?) 4. YAYYYY DANGEROUS EXPLOSIVES AHHHHH FUN FOR ALL! (Joking) We usually get things like hole-punchers or bottle openers, that awful pun and the paper hat/crown thing (which we all wear immediately) 5. We always wear them, and the grumpy relatives usually aren’t there with us and if they were, they wouldn’t be grumpy 👍. The arguments for me consist of the paper crowns, monopoly and Brussels sprouts. What’s the most popular Christmas wine? But Mum, I don’t want my Brussels sprouts!! 6. We often do Raclette for Christmas - or go for the more German salmon, duffy potatoes and beetroot 7. I’ve actually never seen a real-life Christmas pudding in front of me, but that does sound wonderful. Alcohol, fire and more explosives and alcohol. Yippee! 8. We don’t live in England anymore so we can’t get the Royal Christmas Message. I think we did watch it every year and pretend to be interested. 9. Yeah, I’ve never been shopping on Boxing Day, but I wouldn’t want to. I wouldn’t get trampled though, either. 10. Read the above 11. We usually take our tree down on the first or sixth of January of the new year (unless it’s brown and dead) I really enjoyed this video! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!

[@phoenixfeathers4128]

Oh, we also watch Dinner For One at LEAST once

[@kamilkamyk7213]

Thank you for help thank you from Poland

[@Jayderica]

If the tree isn't down within 12 days of Christmas my mum starts having an aneurism.

[@AlliCrumley]

I sent my letters up the chimney when I was little, in Virginia! And we love Christmas crackers at my house. The pop is fun! The jokes are silly, and the crowns get greasy by the end of the meal.

[@justuser4043]

very very good video

[@Kiki-]

very few of these I actually do now, we have Christmas crackers and Christmas dinner but it's beef, chicken and pigs in blankets, with gravy, roasties and Yorkshire puddings. desert is usually jelly and strawberry whip