BRITISH vs AMERICAN Christmas: The Differences!

[@MappertonLive]

We’ve said many times before, managing Mapperton is no picnic - even for the family that invented the sandwich! There are repairs and restoration projects, which of course bring with them a never-ending stream of bills! So please do consider supporting this important part of England’s heritage by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/mappertonlive. There are many wonderful benefits including extra behind the scenes content, live q&a’s, Mapperton branded gifts as well as emails and cards from Luke and me. You also get to join a community of wonderful like-minded people - we’ve made lots of new friends! The details are on the screen and in the description below, so please sign up - we look forward to seeing see you there!

[@worldwearyuk178]

I'm an aged Englishwoman in my eighth decade. My Victorian paternal grandmother set the pattern for our childhood Christmasses. The main rooms of the house were festooned with decorations during the final week before Christmas but the Christmas tree itself was not brought into the house and decorated until evening, after we children were in bed. We awoke on Xmas morning to find our stocking, filled with sweets and small gifts + the tangerine in its toe, and one other wrapped gift - usually the "annual" of our favourite comic or some other entertaining book - at the bottom of the bed. Our first sight of the decorated tree, with wrapped and labelled gifts surrounding it, was a marvel to behold on Xmas morning. We opened a couple of presents each between breakfast and lunch; then one or two more mid-afternoon, but two gifts each were kept for opening the following day, Boxing Day. The traditional Christmas "lunch", served approx 2pm, was always roast goose (never turkey) followed by a brandy-flamed Christmas pudding, with both custard AND cream, for dessert. When the light began to fail and dusk set in, my father lit the little red twisted wax candles on the xmas tree (electric tree lights only appeared years later). We were allowed to help ourselves from a side table, laden with mince pies, sausage rolls, nuts and sweets for most of the day, and teatime was a serving of cold goose, gammon, cheese and pickles, followed by a wedge of traditional Christmas cake and gallons of lemonade, cream soda and dandelion and burdock. If we hadnt yet eaten enough to make ourselves sick, the day was rounded off with chestnuts roasted on the open coal fire and toast browned over the same fire on long toasting forks. I have travelled to many places and seen huge changes in my 75yrs but, despite modern technology and today's greater wealth, those post WWII English christmasses remain extra special in my memories.

[@amandairedale706]

These are reminiscent days of my gran's era she would have been 117.

[@jamesdalton3082]

That sounds like the PERFECT Christmas observances to me.

[@worldwearyuk178]

@@amandairedale706 Exactly, Amanda. My Grandmother would have been 135 had she still been living. 🙂

[@jaebee9308]

Loved reading this! Also..."pushing 60" is definitely not "aged"! Still quite young, even if your aches & pains say otherwise. 😆💗

[@amyrudolph1090]

Oh that is beautiful, thank you for sharing your beautiful memories! 🥰

[@russbear31]

I'm an older American (pushing 60). Santa always left a a clementine, tangerine, or other citrus fruit in my stocking. I'm also old enough to remember when a large fruit basket was a big, extravagant gift at Christmastime. (More rare these days.) Decades ago, these fruits were more exotic and rare. We're so spoiled today that we take these fruits for granted. You can buy them all year round--even out of season--because they're shipped in from around the world. When I was a kid you only saw fresh citrus fruit during the winter months, when they were in season in sunny Florida. That's why it was such a big treat from Santa.

[@jjohn4874]

I am an American and we always got a large, naval orange in the toe of our Christmas stockings.... which were hung on hooks from the mantel of our fireplace.

[@naomiwargel485]

My mom is 92 and came from a large poor farm family. During the Great Depression, the Christmas was very spare. An orange was a great gift in the stocking. If no orange, they might get a kumquat or persimmon. The most she ever got was a homemade gift of a small doll or ribbon candy if she was lucky. She didnt know any other way, so she was very happy and appreciative. Love her old stories!

[@kerryswier4173]

Same here. In my 50s and we always had a clementine, tangerine, or mandarin in our stockings.

[@lorikimmel5380]

Yes! A coloring book, a tangerine, some walnuts, candy canes and pieces of small, hard Christmas candy that would get stuck together in the toe of the stocking; didn’t like the fruit filled candy but some would have chocolate in the middle.

[@argon6548]

I'm a Canadian in my 60's, my father was British and my mum was American, and we always had what we called a Japanese orange in the toe of the stocking! But we did hang the stockings from the mantle.

[@ocgirl3574]

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there". Yeah, I agree with Julie that Christmas Stockings are hung on the fireplace mantle (easier for santa to fill on his busiest night of the year). : )

[@lindaheath784]

We didn't hang out stockings near the fireplace due to a fire hazard. . Sometimes they were hung on chairs or on the stairway.🤗 We were never told that Santa gave anything. We were allowed to open socks in the AM but had to wait to open the presents under the tree after the Christmas meal. Talk about growing patience but a we have a lot of great memories! 🤗

[@DrNancyLivingCoCreatively]

Seems Dickens might be correct.

[@phyllisanngodfrey6137]

Of course Clement Moore was a Yank.

[@helenlayley]

Ahh, we hung our stockings up (by the chimney with care) but when we woke up there was that glorious, crackling, heavy, something across our feet in bed . . . Luke described that so well! Yorkshire, England, 1970s onwards.

[@sarahhayse-gregson689]

@@lindaheath784 the idea of having the stockings at the end of the bed was to give the parents another hour’s sleep😁

[@ThomasInLondon]

These two are so funny to watch……love how unfiltered they are with each other and seemingly unedited before publishing!

[@gabrielakarl3859]

“Cider is always alcoholic otherwise we will call it apple juice” 🤣 so true

[@karinwillquist9492]

We have cider mostly allophone free but it is carbonated in Sweden. Fun to hear the differences

[@Peachy08]

I grew up in Texas and was a child in the 60s. Our stocking was actually an old sock. We had no fireplace but we laid a sock by the tree. Santa put tangerines, apples and pecans and a piece of peppermint in it. Our presents were never wrapped but were displayed under the tree. We only got about 5 gifts each. Mother and all of my Aunts would get together before Christmas and make candies and fruit cakes. After we opened our gifts we went to my Grandparents and had Christmas dinner with all the family. I actually went caroling when I was in high school with friends. Our Christmas tree at home was always decorated with hand made ornaments. I do not remember but maybe a few store bought ornaments. Merry Christmas everyone 🎄🤶🎅

[@Starry_Night_Sky7455]

I loved reading this. 🙂

[@CL-mp4vn]

That is so lovely ! Merry Christmas, everyone 🎄🎅🎁☃❄

[@bootsnsaddle8289]

@Ni ni Merry Christmas, Y'all !!!

[@merricat3025]

We use old socks too. We didn't have a fireplace stick them on our heater

[@dazeyday5699]

Merry Christmas! Born in the 60s myself and loved reading about your memories.

[@stephanied.k.3589]

Eggnog would be the American Christmas drink...with Brandy. My Grandmother always made the mince pies (and chest of assorted cakes). She was from Southern U.S. but mince pies are rarely seen these days.

[@jleechadwick]

My mom would make mince pies for Christmas also. We always had turkey for Christmas (as well as Thanksgiving of course). Mom would always make her cornbread and sausage stuffing. When she was making cornbread for the stuffing, she'd have to make two batches because by the time it was baked, we all wanted cornbread. Like Julie's mom, my mom always made deviled eggs for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

[@jeanjean2033]

I think they're not made anymore because people don't have the time for all of that prep work it's a shame enjoy your holiday please be safe

[@kayte13]

People are still baking for Christmas

[@jeanjean2033]

I baked cookies all day today

[@leannbeird1203]

My grandmother would make mince pies (her mother was from Wales)

[@ladybarbarapinsonartist431]

Julie and Luke, I did a bit of research and found out something remarkable: The reason we place the clementines, tangerines or oranges in our stockings dates back to fourth century St. Nicholas! The clementine represents the gold coin that St. Nicholas in Turkey, placed in the daughter's stocking to allow her a wedding dowry. Isn't that little insight fascinating? Round, golden reminders of the Spirit of Christmas Generosity.

[@MappertonLive]

Thanks for that! So interesting!

[@juliepetitt4196]

I believe also if you didn't get vitamin c. Hard to do back then especially in the winter children could get rickets.

[@ssmith6694]

I remember as a child growing up we always had an orange with a few varieties of nuts at the bottom of our stocking. Sometimes we have an apple with the orange and then it is filled with candy, and a candy cane at the top. Christmas morning we would see candy canes hung on the tree as a sign Santa had come. The stockings would be hanging on the fireplace or laid at the bottom of the tree.

[@LoriCrabtree31]

Agree with Julie, sure it's for preventing rickets and scurvy in the harsh winter months.

[@chatterjeelinda4]

When I grew up in England in the 1970s, we had a pound coin in the bottom of the stocking, and then a clementine.

[@dazeyday5699]

Well I’m American but we were brought up English style, thanks to my Mom, whose grandparents were from England. Also she is quite religious so we had an advent candle ceremony every night for the 24 days of December, where we did read little devotional stories, and learn to recite scripture, but each child had a turn at blowing out candles, opening an advent calendar window or cutting a ring off the countdown paper chain. On Christmas Eve, we did have Jesus’ birthday cake- so there’s one for the American side. We always watched Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” on tv instead of some of the more American movie favorites. Our stockings- Dad’s old stretched out socks- were hung but then they appeared on the foot of the bed in the middle of the night by Santa. Everything in them was wrapped to slow the little early birds down. There was always an orange and an Indian head penny in the foot. 50 years on I can still remember the excitement to feel the heavy stocking crinkling as I flexed my toes around it in the wee smalls. Then in the late morning, my grandparents would come down from their upstairs apartment and we would all have huge breakfast in the kitchen around our blazing advent wreath. Carols were sung during breakfast and we little ones were squirmy the whole time, excited to see the tree, which was behind a firmly closed door. We cut and decorated our tree on Christmas Eve, but no presents appeared there until overnight. We would finally line up oldest to youngest or youngest to oldest, it changed, and be led in with our hands over our eyes. Everyone had their own dazzling pile, artistically arranged by my mom, and a designated place to sit. Then we went round the room to open gifts in turn, and everyone got to share in everyone else’s joy. Christmas dinner was ALWAYS standing rib roast and Yorkshire pudding. It still is for me 50 years later. My own kids have grown and gone their ways but they all still call in for the Yorkshire pudding recipe, much to the amazement of their spouses and friends, who’ve never heard of it. We always had glorious leftovers for Boxing Day, the 26th. Watching my grandchildren now, it’s a far cry from the old-timey slow moving month-long festival it was in my own childhood. Everything moves at warp speed now; the holidays are no longer savored. I now live in the wilds of Alaska so nowhere near the grands, but if I did, I would wish to put a little of the magical and the sacred back into their lives. How sweet it was!

[@amyrudolph1090]

"Magical and sacred" I love that, you have the right idea in my opinion! God bless 🥰.

[@lizgriffin7381]

Thank you for mentioning the Christian aspects. Christians would usually go to church on Christmas day, as does Queen Elizabeth. Also people in England like to go to the Chistmas Eve service with all the candles.

[@amandaelynch1]

Thank you for sharing! I really love learning about others traditions they grew up with both passed down and new. I have to really agree with you about how for the youbger generation the holidays are at a warp speed and not savoured. I’m near 34 now, no children yet, but I find myself every year reflecting on the holidays and wonder how i can slow it down more for next year, and why there is this build up that seems to end within hours. I crave a nostalgia of slowness that way. We are all in such a hurry, and as women we do tend to have this running list of things we need to do before the big day, but I long to just be slow and create magic at christmas. Anyways, thanks again for sharing!

[@colinallers9982]

We open our present at 12 at night

[@susanvinson2667]

That’s the closest description of my family’s Christmas with my British parents. Except the highlight was my mum’s steamed pudding with the most delicious sauce. I’ll never forget it. Standing rib roast was a regular dinner. Not just for Christmas.

[@janetclaireSays]

I'm a lifelong Chicagoan, now an expat living in Ireland for the past 5 years. My US Christmases did not include a birthday cake for Jesus, I've never even heard of that. However, Christmas cookies are a big part of American Christmases. And our Christmas drink was always eggnog. Like Julie states here, we wouldn't have turkey because we had turkey for Thanksgiving. But at our house, it was usually ham for Christmas - I suspect we were much less posh than Julie's family with their goose and chateaubriand! 🤣 I also never had a fireplace in America so our stockings were usually laying on a table and found filled in the morning. I have a mantle in Ireland (above a wood stove in the kitchen) but I've found it impossible to fill the stockings without removing them to the kitchen table because the heat of the fire would melt the chocolate Santas! I think that unlike the UK, and Ireland, American Christmases can vary a lot more from family to family, due to regional differences and different ethnic backgrounds. Whereas here in Ireland, and probably in the UK, there are cultural traditions that are pretty uniform from home to home.

[@AGloriousLife]

Agreed - I think what's not mentioned in the video is an acknowledgment that "Americans" (and their traditions) are comprised of many different ethnic, cultural and regional influences and backgrounds.

[@Shanngab]

True. I was surprised that deviled eggs played such a key role in her Christmas experience. She must hail from the Southern states. Egg nog and fruitcake were always a part of our Christmas but not really enjoyed by anyone. We had turkey but most people enjoy ham.

[@elisaseverns2543]

@@Shanngab our family also had turkey, eggnog and fruitcake. My mom’s homemade fruitcake was the best! Candied pineapple and cherries, dates and pecans, scrumptious!

[@Shanngab]

@@elisaseverns2543 ours were store bought. That must be the difference, plus we never added the butter-brandy sauce on it. I’d love to try all that, now.

[@elisaseverns2543]

@@Shanngab the store bought were made with candied citrus and had a weird sharp flavor. Not my favorite at all.

[@rsnj4501]

You forgot the American favorite…egg nog and also leaving cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for his reindeer 🎅🏻🎄⛄️

[@bookmouse2719]

Yeah....what about Santa's Reindeers?! They get treats too.

[@reneewilkinson2017]

@@bookmouse2719 fruitcake!

[@juliehughes1258]

Funny. I just popped on here to remind Julie that, in the U.S., we DO have a special holiday drink and it's eggnog. I can't stand the stuff but my son loves it. You can buy it in clear glass bottles. I'm 68 years old and I enjoyed this video very much.

[@kimesser2318]

I’m American, and my kids had one gift that Santa left…..usually the one they wanted the most. Santa never left all the gifts.

[@dustin628]

Really? I guess your parents didn't want santa taking all the credit lol!

[@ceilconstante7813]

Interesting to learn about how Christiana is celebrated in the UK. Julie's been away for a long time. Eggnog is our Christmas drink.

[@brett76544]

The home made or the non-alcoholic store bought type.

[@anna_m59]

Julie must go through many challenge being in UK. As a Swiss I never could eat the food in UK . Luckily in California we have everything as term food.

[@deborahwhite2339]

My mother made home made eggnog. I couldn't get enough. But nowadays, too much risk of salmonella

[@annaverano5843]

@@anna_m59 nothing wrong with UK food .. I lived there for a year and came to the conclusion that is just a negative stereotype about the uk

[@elizabethclaiborne6461]

Ewww! We drink champagne.

[@KallieShea3]

Omg I just found your channel yesterday and I just want to say thank you!! I can't stop binge watching this and American Viscountess! You guys are wonderful together and make laugh! I'm from IL and 28 but have been in love with everything British since I can remember! I have been very down lately with everything going on and you have made it 10000x better! Can't wait to watch more! I appreciate you guys!

[@MappertonLive]

Glad you enjoy content from our channels!

[@wanderlust4evr995]

I’m just now running into this wonderful channel and it is lovely to watch. Julie & her Royal Love are darling!❤ December Christmas Parties, baking cookies, breads, pies, carrot or raisin pudding (mostly Dad ate it😝), making candy and chocolates, and Mothers perfect Peanut Brittle were must-haves! We had fresh Christmas Trees every year and the ornaments had been preserved thru the years. Mother hung things she collected from her travels as well. Christmas Eve was exciting and special. The children in our family would put on the Nativity, as my Father read aloud the Christmas Story from the Bible. It sounds pretty serious, but we had to be flexible when things got a little goofy, because “it’s all about the children!” Mother would always say! Then we would get to choose one gift to open. One year, in selecting our “gift to open” Christmas Eve, we took our gifts to a family in need! (It became tradition) It was a tender experience as a child. Our stockings hung on the Mantle until Christmas Morning. (They are too heavy to remain hanging) We would open stockings first! Yes. And a beautiful large Orange 🍊 was always in the toe. (A reminder of gold, fruit was a luxury thru certain eras, and the scent was incredible!) amongst the fun gimmicks, there was always a special small gift. Our stockings were handmade with felt, then became a little more fancy later on. Gifts on Christmas Morning was soo much fun! Santa delivered the Best! Presents from family and friends were sweet! But, the belief in the Magic of Santa was ever so present, just as the belief in Christ. The two are a perfect unison, and provide Hope Love Charity Peace & Joy throughout the Year, if we as adults could only see things thru the Eyes of a Child. The Spirit of Giving, helping, creating, singing, gathering and celebrating Christmas Symbolism all around us made the Season Joyous and very Sacred! All of it! Christmas Crepes in the morning and Christmas Dinner, (ham turkey pot roast prime rib it varied) Mothers Homemade hot Wassil (our Holiday Drink no alcohol😂) warmed our frozen bodies from playing in the snow and fragranced our home with Christmas Cheer! It is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! “It’s A Wonderful Life!” along with many others, wraps up the true meaning of Christmas. “Magic in His Pressence” Sometimes Christ’s Love is extended thru Others. Just🤍Believe🎄🎅❤☃️xoxo

[@MariVictorius]

I’m American and I have to be honest, I’ve never heard of having a birthday cake for Jesus at Christmas. Great video, as usual. Merry Christmas everyone!

[@Toronto2011NiA]

I agree this is the first time I heard it.

[@ashleyknight4122]

Me either

[@leannbeird1203]

I'm from Michigan, and we didn't have cake either, we had delicious pies and a beautiful chocolate Yule Log cake

[@bizburgess1947]

@@Toronto2011NiA Glad to hear this...I am from Canada and thought Wow that is the best kept American secret I never heard!

[@lonesomevalkyrie]

Same. Never heard that before. (American)

[@karleinegraham446]

When I was a child in Kingston, 🇯🇲 Jamaica, people visited each other, all the children got beautiful new clothes, went to the Christmas ( Grand) market, church and young people to Christmas morning concerts with the emerging recording artists. We got presents, fruit cake, sorrel drink, wine, dinner of rice & peas, ham, chicken etc. Boxing Day was fun all the way: for adults the opening of the theatre season of plays & pantomines, children went to fairs with clowns, Ferris wheels etc., concerts. It was a wonderful time to be a child!!

[@patriciastaimee]

Very true I missed those traditions from the caribbean...and Christmas music all over parrang..

[@patriciastaimee]

Not forgetting midnight mass...yea these were great days...celebrating Christmas...

[@madlenellul3430]

My dad would always leave out a full glass of whisky for Santa.. He reckoned by the time he’d dealt with all the children he would need it..!!… “🎅🏻.. Anyway Santa’s air space was clear so he didn’t have to worry about having a little tipple”..🎅🏻 He’s been gone now since 79 but I still remember the great Christmases we had as children in the fifties… Merry Christmas to you all Madds⛄️🥰👵🇦🇺🇺🇸☃️

[@myraarquitt9123]

We didn't have a birthday cake, my Dad would read the Bible story in Luke then we would open our presents. Mom would make a huge breakfast. We had the silver tree & turning wheel of color. Lived it all. Precious memories.

[@standinthegsp6858]

I always received an orange in the toe of my stocking, my sister had an apple in hers. I’m not sure why my parents or grandparents did it that way. There was always candy, sometimes one of those life savers candy “books”, some chocolates & other small gifts. The stockings were laid on the couch because we didn’t have a chimney. “Santa” left one unwrapped special present & one wrapped one under the tree. The rest were from family. We opened presents first thing in the morning unless dad was working an overnight shift (he was a state trooper), sometimes we’d have to wait until 11am but we did get to have our stocking. We opened them one at a time so we could keep track for thank you notes-I think mom made us do it because she had a deep seated need to know what everyone received. Though we did write thank yous. Our children got to open one gift Christmas Eve: pajamas when they were young, now that they’re adults it’s pajama/lounge pants. The Christmas tree is put up the day after thanksgiving or the week after. It remains up until the first or second week of January. We use a fake (gasp) tree because the fresh ones sometimes bring in spiders 😱...one year there must have been a nest because there were several tiny ones on our ceiling. We don’t use tinsel because it’s dangerous for cats, so is putting ribbons on packages. So our packages are just paper & a name tag. The cat just lets us live in our house lol.

[@celticlass8573]

Never heard of a birthday cake for Jesus before. That's definitely a new one for me!

[@chrisbeckstrom6182]

I also grew up with tinsel on the tree, which has gone out of fashion for quite some time. I miss it as it reminded one of the drafty windows at grandms's house, where it would sway and twinkle if there was stiff breeze outside. Grandma had also saved three generations of ornaments, some from her and grandpa's parents, and evenly the homely ones made when their children were little. They may not have been in the best places, but they made it onto the tree nonetheless.

[@janetyoung6097]

the tincel that i remember the most was the lead based one that hung on the tree. Instead of the plastic ones that stick to everything except on the tree.

[@earlaagaard8175]

@@janetyoung6097 This was what my grandma had -- she called it "rain". It was lovely to look at, but a PAIN to put on and take off to save for next year!

[@carolweaver3269]

I still use it and save it year to year in a plastic bag. It keeps very well. Do not have Angel Hair though and cannot find it as they stopped making it so it seems. Plus they evidently could not find anything else like it that would not scratch hands. I used to use plastic gloves and when the children were small I only put it toward the top where they could not touch the angel hair. My parents used it and my brother and I never had problems though. Our dad put it on the tree. I loved it as the tree looked like a Fairy land picture! Swirled around the hot lights and just glowed. The bubble light too, that would get hot with liquid in them and they would bubble up when near lit candles. Make believe candles lit on the tree are so lovely I think too! Love handmade and old fashnion ornaments.

[@karenryder6317]

Is the lametta (?spelling) talked about the British equivalent of tinsel?

[@jethro1963]

@@karenryder6317 I think he is referring to what we used to call icicles. Tinsel are long strands (like feather boas) I looked up icicles and they seem to be something else now than what was formerly accepted as icicles. I think they went out of favour because they were a pain to put on and take off. What looks like what they call icicles now are solid pieces that more resemble real icicles

[@robingraham4543]

Pumpkin pie, eggnog, yes Christmas cards too. Love the Christmas sweaters, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. Dont forget all the Christmas cookies.

[@donnabittner69]

Yes, Christmas cookies

[@shrtstufusa1]

Oh yes the Christmas cookie exchange parties!!!!

[@jukes243]

And baked ham!

[@bookmouse2719]

For the holidays, my parents would always remember the cleaning lady, mailman, our teachers and the gardener with either a new wallet, or box of candy or something.

[@Cookies-i2f]

Carrot pudding in my family , with almond sauce. The recipe came over from England with my grandmothers. Growing up, we just used a large regular sock, but my husband's family had special Christmas socks. I'm 63, Canadian.

[@cocodsr6438]

The Christmas drink that the US has is Eggnog. Merry Christmas from Maine.

[@themainer1267]

Yes, eggnog. For the adults, eggnog with rum.

[@tamaragrottker7677]

I'm in the US but grew up in Canada and had Russian and German parents. So we had a lot of mixed traditions. A family friend would always gift us the Christmas pudding - amazingly good! We never did stockings, but I now do this with my son. Only one present from Santa. Mulled wine and eggnog were the drinks. We had turkey for dinner. It was a huge feast. It doesn't seem to be such a big deal in the US. I bought vintage ornaments on e-Bay - most are European hand blown from Germany. On year my dad used spay snow and covered the tree. It looked like we had a huge snow fall. Our tree stayed up until Mid January to celebrate Orthodox Christmas and New Years. Merry Christmas!

[@anna_m59]

German hand made ornaments are the most beautiful One! We have a few and never broke in the last 30 years!

[@cathytyssen8084]

My Father was Irish. We did what we called Little Christmas in January. Then everything came down

[@donnabittner69]

Love Orthodox Christmas

[@lizgriffin7381]

When I was a child in England the Christmas tree had bits of cotton wool added to look like snow, but they do not sell cotton wool loose in bags now.

[@urbanpreppingwithpam916]

I’m from Chicago and I’ve heard of Birthday cakes for Jesus, but never personally experienced it. However, you didn’t mention the most prevalent Christmas sweet of all…CHRISTMAS COOKIES. Everyone has, makes, exchanges, and gifts Christmas cookies. They are everywhere. I wonder if this is true in England, also.

[@karenryder6317]

Neither myself, nor any of my eastern US seaboard friends ever did a "birthday cake for Jesus". That must be a Chicago thing. Plus we always left a plate of cookies out for Santa on Christmas eve and when they were all gone on Christmas morning, that was proof that there really was a Santa

[@adventuresinlaurenland]

Definitely must be a Chicago thing. I'm from Central Illinois and never heard of such a thing 😂 And no one around here gifts Christmas cookies either.

[@srkh8966]

@@karenryder6317 I have family in Oregon, CA, North Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, New Mexico, Maine and Texas. No one has heard of birthday cake for Jesus. Eggnog or sparkling wine at Christmas is common, but other than Christmas cookies (tho many different varieties) there isn’t a specific dessert associated with Christmas Day like there is for Thanksgiving

[@SRose-vp6ew]

From Wisconsin and we do a Birthday Cake for Jesus. They have party/cup cake decorations at some stores, such as Hobby Lobby or Christian Books, many churches also have these parties for the preschoolers during Sunday school and the whole month of December you see kids with party hats and horns. We just add a fisher price Jesus to a regular cake that says Merry Christmas and sing. Normally traditional "Happy Birthday" or the very slow "Happy Birthday Jesus" but this year my little girl liked this one. : ) kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYXQaX6Df9KZZtU

[@janetclaireSays]

I'm from Chicago too and agree, Christmas cookies are a big tradition!

[@KimberlyDMcCallister]

Here in Kansas, we hung the stockings to be filled with little gifts. The tree was surrounded by gifts from the family and Santa only brought one gift. That present usually things that were more traditional not electronics. When I was young my paternal grandparents were Mennonite so our Christmas was a candle light religious service and our gifts were functional items, handmade things for our "hope chests" or beautiful wood shelves (etc) made by grandfather's hands!! My mother's family was more "commercial" so my memories are not as vivid. With my own family, we now make homemade gifts, Christmas cookies, and other little traditions and take these things to those less fortunate, children's home, and the elderly. Because, we have made the decision to make the holidays about family, sharing traditions (when new spouses join) and making those magical memories for my granddaughter. Not what she gets but what we did, together and how special we make each other and other people feel.... So, from Kansas, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

[@memeboisvert7907]

These two have such chemistry!

[@jacquelineturbitt5509]

My Dad being British we had a lot of British traditions. Orange in the toe of our stockings, which were hung by the fireplace, we could open our stockings but presents had to wait until after breakfast. Then we would go to my Grandparents and meet with family and open more presents. I kept as many of the traditions as I could. My bestest gift ever was the year I found out I was pregnant with my first child on Christmas day...oh my Gram would make a mincemeat cheesecake that was amazing...I wish I had the recipe...Now I spend Christmas alone and there are no traditions anymore...my kids drop by when ever they can...not much joy it it now for me. But Happy Christmas and may you have a joyous New Year

[@qqq1q1qqqqqqq]

I think those are some quite lovely traditions. Its definitely tough spending holidays alone. Only my daughter and granddaughter come around now, but I work all day every Christmas. I get paid really, really well plus don't have to cook, clean or deal with my extended family's drama. I prefer not to go see my relatives. They make you feel bad not good. So I choose to work. Some of my kids and grands live too far away to visit. And they need to be home for Christmas. Not sure what I would do if I had all seven grands on Christmas morning! That's exhausting just thinking about it. Six squealing girls and an infant boy......what a joyous noise it would be. But oh how MUCH noise it would be. I live in an upstairs apartment now so I don't think my neighbors would be pleased 😂😂😂. As a child we didn't have a fireplace exactly. Not the way most think of one. We had wood burning heaters or stoves for heat. And electric heat of course. So stockings went on the wall I believe. It's hard to really remember. When I lived in my house before the apt we had two fireplaces with mantles so stockings were definitely hung traditionally American!!!!! Now I have metal hangers and put them on the bar or on a table to hang. I do a little Christmas decorating for my granddaughter who is four now that she is old enough to understand things. I'm sorry you're alone for holidays. That's sad for so many. I enjoy working on holidays for the pay and because sometimes you might be the only pleasant thing in someone's holiday. For me it's a ministry of sorts. May your 2022 be filled with peace, joy and love. I think those are gifts we can ALL use. Especially right now!

[@gothic7821]

Empty nester, but with a baby on the way... I feel your words on a deeply personal level. The pandemic had also sucked away a great deal of the spirit of the season. I'm looking forward to bringing joy back into the holidays. Just wait, hopefully one of these days, you'll be hosting the holidays as a grandmother, and the festive joy will be renewed. 🎄🍀💛 cheers and best wishes

[@christinecarr7505]

This was adorable- so much fun listening to this, as I am also American and married a Brit, I can relate! Happy Christmas to you both!

[@scbeachblonde8836]

In the Deep South USA, we always had an orange in the toe of our stocking, with candy and walnuts and small trinkets. I have no idea why we got walnuts every Christmas and only at Christmas; we lived in pecan land. My brother would wake me up early Christmas morning to creep into the den where Santa had displayed the Big Bounty: Dolls, trucks, tea sets, Army men, Lincoln Logs, Fisher-Price peg people under the tree, all set up for play. It was magical. And then we'd go back to bed and fake surprise when we saw it with our parents about an hour later.

[@jamesdalton3082]

That was my family tradition too. The walnuts were English walnuts, which I guess made them a little more special. Liked the orange but never liked the walnuts. Of course, our local indigenous black walnuts, which us kids used to gather and sell for pocket money, were even worse, at least in my opinion.

[@emmapeel925]

In Alabama, we got an apple, an orange or tangerine and walnuts and pecans.

[@rhondahewitt8196]

In my home mom and dad stayed up late to be sure we were well asleep. Then they would set out "Santa" us kids woke early and excitedly discovered it all. Run to mom and dad to tell them Santa came and what he left us and of course they had to show us excitement what santa left us.

[@michelecannady2393]

Same…the stockings were filled with candy, walnuts and tangerines. In front of the wrapped gifts from family around the Christmas tree, it looked like a department store display with unwrapped gifts from Santa. So exciting, it was! We always had turkey and dressing on Christmas along with many Southern casserole favorites. Yum.😊

[@marciawalden]

We always found a tangerine in our stocking. I’m from a Pennsylvania German-American family and to this day when I smell a tangerine it brings me right back to Christmas. That and a candy cane, a popcorn ball, clear-toy (barley sugar poured into German Christmas candy molds) candy, and of course, a Hershey’s chocolate bar!

[@lulubells930]

Me too.

[@marthawolfsen5809]

Oh, I'm from Illinois, too, although MUCH older than Julie. And we certainly had tangerines as well as toys in the stocking (hung from the side table knobs since we didn't have a fireplace.)

[@birthdaybash4721]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Now I know where the orange at the bottom of the stocking came from… my mother’s family is British.

[@anjihc8797]

Me too! British Isles, but now I know!

[@karenryder6317]

@@anjihc8797 Well, my family was not of British heritage, and we always did the tangerine.

[@marciawalden]

German Prince Albert brought many of these German Christmas traditions to Victorian England, including hanging the tree upside down from the ceiling. Many in my hometown in Pennsylvania did this. We also have Belsnickel who comes on December 6 and leaves candies and tangerines if we were good, and coal if we were bad.

[@srkh8966]

Oranges in stockings are common

[@teambooth3612]

What a fun topic! I’m from the Midwest in the states and we also had fruit and walnuts at the foot of our stockings. Santa would fill our stockings with small unwrapped gifts and also left one gift unwrapped under the tree for each of us. The wrapped gifts were from my parents and siblings! I’m one of 6 and our parents made our holiday season so special and they did so with so little and we never knew the difference. What fond and lovely memories. I enjoy these videos, although sometimes the talking over others makes it difficult to fully enjoy the details you’re sharing.

[@louise-yo7kz]

This is fantastic. You learn so much about the two fantastic cultures

[@bethanyhutchinson6714]

In our home in the US, we have stockings on the mantle with little gifts/treats, but Santa typically brings each child one gift and then maybe a few to share amongst themselves (games, etc). The rest of the presents are from the family.

[@kittybitts567]

I remember chocolate ornaments wrapped in foil with a gold thread to hang them on the tree! We also make gingerbread cookies with a red thread through them to hang on the tree. My mother's family immigrated to the U.S. from Canada. We always give a gift to the postman and the waste management workers for Christmas. Not everybody in America sends photos of their family for a Christmas card. The vast majority of the cards we get are Christmas cards, not photo cards. Merry Christmas y'all!

[@kellyschwiger9632]

Growing up in the US there was always an orange in the bottom of my stocking. AND, there are wrapped gifts in the stocking as well.

[@reneeangele4766]

i'm canadian and we are a little in the middle. we hung the stockings but they did end with a tangerine/clementine (depending what we could get) and we always had 1 present under the tree from Santa the other gifts were from our parents and family and friends. There was always one wrapped gift in the stocking but not all gifts were wrapped in the stocking and we were allowed to open the stocking immediately. ps: we also have boxing day and it is a paid stat holiday :) Merry Christmas ;)

[@judithlalande2773]

🎀🎄⛄🎄🎀 Merry Christmas from Northern Ontario Canada ❣️

[@conniemcconnell8347]

Merry Christmas from Saskatoon SK!

[@kristyhand6209]

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ONTARIO, CANADA!!!

[@timothyj1966]

MERRY CHRISTMAS from Hamilton, Ontario 🎄

[@karenryder6317]

Through many generations of my family (and many of those of my friends here in America) we most definitely tangerines in the toe of the stocking along with a bright, new penny.

[@quintili1]

Santa creeping around at the end of my bed is sort of terrifying.

[@laurendefrank7380]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@Nightbird1914]

I recently watched this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4ezYYtng62nrqM

[@ocgirl3574]

right??

[@ltm28]

Santa is terrifying regardless lol

[@virginiaschott4482]

Strange man in your kids bedroom, you know here in the US, Santa gonna be shot.

[@arielthequeen890]

I’m an American, and I never had presents under the tree from Santa either - just stockings. It was a personal preference of my parents.

[@aglaurendance]

My family still does the mulled wine and Christmas crackers, even though it’s been years since we moved back to America from England. There’s many parts of English Christmas that we miss!

[@robinmcleodingram7227]

During the Great Depression in the United States, fruit in the stocking was considered a great treat. When my parents were still living and we were little, we always had an apple and orange at the bottom of our stockings. I’m sure this tradition was a sign of the times, especially for people who had little to give.

[@WhosaidIrene]

My grandma was raised on the California/Mexican border in the 30’s -she used to get oranges 🍊 and walnuts from Santa in their stockings. I think it was because they were incredibly poor.

[@annie5831]

My grandparents were raised in the Texas Mexican border, 1900’s, they also gave oranges, apples, walnuts in a sock. We continue this tradition In our family. Our mother wrote a special message for each grandchild as they came to pick up his/her stocking when she was 85.

[@annehunt787]

@@annie5831 Thank you, that made me tear up!🥲

[@joankearney4029]

An orange for Christmas in Chicago during the Great Depression was a treat.

[@MsPrecious61]

My mother kept the tradition of oranges and walnuts in our stockings on the 60s and I never understood why? She responded with “ that is what I got and I loved it”. All my friends got great candy and chocolates and some fun toys. I was disappointed and envious of my friends

[@yorkshirelass8786]

I live in the North of England, grew up working class and our Christmas has more in common with Julie's American Christmas. Stockings on the fireplace to be filled by Santa, not wrapped and small novelty gifts/sweets and chocolates. Wrapped gifts would be under the tree, which we unwrap first thing in the morning. Both sound like great Christmas', I like the idea of a happy birthday Jesus cake. We have chocolate Yule log and trifle for those who don't like Christmas pudding/cake. We also call Father Christmas 'Santa Claus'.

[@izodman]

Perhaps generational views differ depending on your culture and traditions. Here in America, some of what Julie says rings true but every one have their own way of celebrating Christmas.

[@amandairedale706]

Sadly, homemade trifle is now classed as an old fashioned dessert at Christmas time with the younger generation!

[@bcbg11]

@@amandairedale706 I missed trifle so much from my Christmases in the UK, I made one for my American family this year and they loved it. I missed the candied Angelica for the top though. No where to be found! I'm 43. Trifle is amazing!

[@tambracarswell9896]

Love your good natured banter. Love your channel! Thank you

[@maryevans1972]

presents in our stockings were always wrapped and Santa decorated our tree. love the channel hello from Pennsylvania

[@MappertonLive]

Happy holidays!

[@hlondon2408]

You both are soooo funny!! The differences in words, traditions and stories are hysterical!!! 🎄🇺🇲🇬🇧🎄 🎄🇬🇧🇺🇲🎄

[@livinglifebarefoot]

I'm from the USA and my family has maintained a little bit of its European roots for we do a navel orange or clementine or an apple at the end of our stockings. Growing up we would open gifts on Christmas day. However, my husband's family is from the Netherlands and Ireland, so we do a mixture of their traditions and ours. Instead of chocolate on the tree we do candy canes.

[@staceypenn1095]

My family are originally from the West Marshes (both Scotland and England). Our traditional pudding that you have with dinner is a rice pudding. Some parts of England eat stodgy pudding (made with suet and are boiled), some eat Yorkshire pudding, etc. We did have a small Christmas pudding with a silver 6 pence in it. We always got the very posh ones that are 100 grams. We would get a very small slice and drowned it in Bird's custard. We also had sacks at the end of our beds. Posh people would have beautiful sacks that look like the sack that Father Christmas carries and all the presents are beautifully wrapped. Father Christmas comes down the chimney with his sack and leaves it by the end of your bed. If you were not that wealthy it was a pillow case filled with toys and sweets.

[@annespurlock1255]

I cannot imagine making my six year old daughter wait until lunch time to open her gifts. She would go bonkers!! 😂 I just love how you let the public in on your lives as if we all were friends. It’s nice to see the people behind the titles. I hope you and your family had a very happy Christmas and a wonderful new year!

[@1968SemolinaPilchard]

Growing up, my parents would put my brother and I's presents in sacks at the end of 'their' bed. My dad would then make a pot of tea so that he and mum could stay in bed and watch us kids open our presents. I think it was all about staying warm! We only had single glazing and no central heating so it took a while to warm up the house, though I think the excitement of the day meant I never felt the cold. Anyway, loved the video, hope everyone has a wonderful new year. x

[@1Thedairy]

Loved this! It was great fun. One thing they didn’t mention, which was so important for the kids to do, was to leave mince pies, carrots and a little Xmas drink for Father Xmas and his reindeer. If it was gone in the morning you’d know he’d delivered your presents. Our Christmas decorations, here in the UK, were often made by the children and they were usually paper chains or stars. The Christmas tree was only bought a few days before, not weeks, and was decorated on Christmas Eve. It would have to be the biggest my father could fit into the hallway. I remember that as being one of the most exciting parts of Christmas. While we were decorating it we would play Xmas carols and eat mince pies. The adults would drink Baileys or mulled wine so it got a bit raucous.

[@GoingGreenMom]

Actually, oranges are a thing some places in the US. I have done that since I started doing stockings. I had done an interview with my grandparents during school, and they all told me about how they knew things were bad when they didnt get an orange for Christmas that year. They were all farmers, but we are up north, and they don't grow here.... so they weren't available that year.

[@davinaholaday5873]

I grew up British and married American so I really enjoyed this conversation and could relate to so much of it! Thank you for sharing! Happy Christmas or merry Christmas!

[@emmyt9304]

Ok, so apparently being American I had a more British Christmas 😅 We always had an orange in our stockings and the stockings were always a surprise from Santa, but they were hung by the fireplace.

[@Magpieme98]

You two are so funny! I’m in the same boat as you. My husband is English, I was born in Belize but grew up mostly in the states. Our traditions are mixed. We do lunch at 2:00, always have crackers and at least four courses. We never ever do turkey and always a Christmas cake or Christmas pudding and mince pies on the dessert buffet. Our children and extended family enjoy the blended traditions. 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧 Happy New Year to you and your family. xx

[@juliee.7072]

I'm a 70s English kid. We had pillowcases at the end of our bed. On Christmas morning they were full of presents from Father Christmas. All the new annuals- Beano, Dandy, and of course Rupert. A Pelham puppet. Spirograph. Rotadraw. Fuzzy Felt. Etch A Sketch. And of course, a tangerine.

[@cheryllee8717]

So nice to learn about these traditions. Many in America including me just work all the time and find decorating, shopping, wrapping, cooking etc. ....is exhausting rather than fun. Trying to keep things simple and recapture the meaning of Christmas.

[@carolclaibornemumey8919]

So here in Canada we (can't speak for all of us) have English-style Christmas too. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I grew up in the States, and Santa brought a real haul each year. LOVED IT!!

[@anxen]

Haha, Father Christmas knows that parents need a sleep in so keeps the children occupied with the stocking presents for an extra hour in the morning. 😄

[@xxtinkerbell91xx]

See I’m English and everyone I’ve ever known has lots of presents from Santa downstairs. It’s so exciting running downstairs to see if he’s left us anything! Our stockings only had one little gift in it which was usually something to do or watch. The rest had an apple, banana, tangerine, fizzy drink, chocolate coins and a selection box (chocolate). I’ve only ever heard people on tv talk about many presents in the stocking

[@MsDana-mo9fp]

I am an American & we put an orange in the toe of our stockings that were displayed hanging on our mantles! We had a goose for Christmas dinner. We woke our parents up at dawn to open our presents! We drank champagne on Christmas Eve after we did the Christmas pageant!

[@cindyrobbins-challoner4783]

Interesting! I'm an American. Depending on where you work would depend on what days you can have off. Some give you Christmas Eve and Christmas. This year, I work every holiday. Eggnog and brandy, hot cocoa with peppermint schnapps, apple cider with cinnamon, and wine are the primary beverages.We don't have the pudding but we do have the dreaded fruitcake that we received each year from an elder when I was growing up. Presents were under the tree and stocking were for fun stuff like accessories such as shampoo's, fingernail polish, candies, etc. (I did this for my kids). I grew up poor so usually stockings were filled with apples and oranges and a couple of gifts under the tree (clothing). During my youth, Christmas was about opening a presents in the morning, football in the afternoon, maybe a parade on tv, relatives visiting and children were often sent to their room to play. In raising my children, Christmas was opening a present Christmas Eve (usually something to special to wear for Church), opening presents early Christmas morning, cleaning up the mess, lots of cooking and eating throughout the day with dinner/lunch about 2 pm and in the late afternoon we would take the kids to a Christmas movie. Extended family was always welcome.

[@annemcdonald5602]

This was fascinating! I now understand more clearly the traditions I grew up with were from my English heritage. My mother made an amazing plum pudding with brandy butter, and my father made the best homemade eggnog! Thank you!

[@bluejay6184]

My mother made the English plum puddings (I still have the molds), but found a way to do so without the suet. She always called the topping “hard sauce” rather than brandy butter, but is apparently the same thing. I never heard of it being set afire. Must be spectacular!

[@eileenh3264]

You two are hysterical together -- Eggnog is the US Christmas drink. I'm thinking the deviled eggs thing must be more of an midwest tradition. Really enjoyed the video -- YUCK to the Christmas Pudding (LOL)!

[@cheryllee8717]

I make deviled eggs ( goes with the ham)

[@sherrywisler3718]

Your channel was recommended to me by You Tube. I’ve subscribed and am so glad I did. You both are so enjoyable to watch. I live in Indiana, USA. I’m trying to watch all your videos in order. The difference between your Christmas traditions was very interesting.

[@GillianAtHome]

Watching this, I’m realizing how many traditions of my family’s Canadian Christmas echo the British traditions. Wrapped good gifts in stockings (though I think we also had Santa gifts under the tree), clementines in the stocking, turkey for the big meal - which was dinner, etc. It makes sense since we have British ancestry!

[@katiem6773]

My mom would fill the stockings and lay them at the end of our beds. This way, when we woke up so early, we were occupied playing with the contents of our stocking, so she could sleep in a while longer. 😀 We would have a light lunch usually home made meat pies and devil eggs and then eat turkey for dinner or cornish game hens at around 5 pm. My mom also made mince meat tarts. She had British parents, so followed some of the UK Christmas traditions. We always watched the Queen's Christmas message at noon. Enjoy your videos. Thanks, 🇨🇦

[@be6715]

Ah, Yuletide bickering. Yup, a true family Christmas! Though I haven't put up a tree for years, my impression here in the US is that tinsel (strands) = lammetta (sp?) has gone out of fashion due to its being harmful to the environment and stops municipalities from taking the live Christmas trees and recycling them. More common now is garland, which is easier to reuse and remove from the tree. But, I remember the tinsel being very pretty on the trees. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, from Chicagoland!

[@amyk9175]

I always heard of the individual strands called “icicles,” but I haven’t seen them on a tree in 40 years.

[@jaebee9308]

Yep! I remember tinsel on trees in the 70's. It was harmful for pets too. Another reason it went out of style.

[@be6715]

@@jaebee9308 I had forgotten that. You're quite right. Cats especially.

[@AGloriousLife]

We always had tinsel growing up, but I fell out of style for many reasons, also of which is that it's dangerous for pets if they ingest it!

[@pammillerhoward7785]

In Ohio always a cut tree for one tree. And "icicles" . I love the English word "lumetta". Sounds Italian and means little light. All my adult life have decorated Christmas in the American adopted Victorian style. Have been given and collected the vintage " lead " icicles. They are heavy and not anything like the plastic ones. Every year take them off carefully and store them wrapped in aluminum foil for the next year. Our cats have always liked sitting under the tree and bat a few soft ornaments I put for them. Our Goldens always good- have secreted a soft ornament to chew but no one touches the icicles or I wouldn't use. Me, I have removed enough lead paint in my life restoring and I'm good.. Just don't let anyone, animal or child, eat them.

[@laurendefrank7380]

Merry Christmas Julie! Loved this episode. I am from Chicago too. My family drinks eggnog or champagne. Santa would always leave presents near the chimney but mine were never wrapped. Christmas cards are classic too! We eat pasta or seafood on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we eat beef tenderloin. Anyways, loved learning about the UK traditions, so interesting!

[@bootsnsaddle8289]

I would like to add this small tidbit. As a child, being that Thanksgiving & Christmas are so close to one another, while my mom, for weeks, would be preparing the house & cabinets with food for Christmas, we children would also be allowed to start decorating our Christmas tree. But the one ABSOLUTE rule was, we were NOT ever allowed to turn the Christmas lights on, EVER, until the night Thanksgiving was OVER. Then, at EXACTLY Midnight, or rather 12:01, Mom would plug the tree lights in, and we children would "AWW & OHH", rather quite loudly, I might add. But NOT until the night Thanksgiving was over. As I said, 12:01, I'm sure the whole of the neighborhood heard us. As a matter of fact, several neighbors began to follow suit. Those are really great memories.

[@a.benningfield2947]

In Texas: We had wrapped gifts under the tree from family. Christmas morning we had these little areas where Santa left each of us kids unwrapped gifts in our own little areas. The Apple cider we had was called wassail. Not sure on the spelling but we just added Apple juice and cloves and red hots candy to a pan and heated it up.

[@paulainsc8212]

I was raised in the south. We always had a tangerine in the bottom of our stocking. Loved this video! Merry Christmas..Happy Christmas!!

[@linneahdalmus1978]

I Love your taffy pull banter...You two are so sweet. Merry Christmas to you both, your children and to Mapperton XO

[@breathe4430]

Paying to go into Santa’s grotto freaked me out. I get that everyone gets a gift but still….. I’m American and we always put a Clementine in the bottom of our stocking and we always had turkey for dinner. I did love that there’s a definite Christmas season in Britland. I love Boxing Day …..Americans need to adopt that day. But obviously you need to watch the movie Santa Claus so everyone understands how Santa comes down the chimney and fills his bag with presents and makes it around the world. We gave up on icicles on our tree ages ago when we had cats. Pulling an icicle out of a cat’s bottom really cures you of having them on the tree. But I think I still have three boxes just in case.

[@peggyvick935]

🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Pulling an icicle out of a 🐈 bottom. I’m laughing so hard! I needed that!

[@suemethven2097]

I’m in my seventies and living in Australia. Our Christmases are very similar to America. As the seasons are different all our gifts are placed under the tree and everyone comes together in the lounge in the early morning and I’m talking about 6 to 7 am. We then have a extra large champagne breakfast then around 2 pm we would have our lunch. Either outside or inside with aircon. In the evening most just pick for leftovers. Then it’s time to collapse for the day. I hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I do enjoy your episodes.

[@alanaadams7440]

We came from the Midwest our stockings had nuts candy and an Orange. We had a box of candy from our church. Santa never wrapped the presents. Christmas Eve we opened presents from our aunts uncles and grandparents.

[@ElizabethT45]

Same here in Michigan! I have also always had Ham on Christmas, usually the spiral sliced, honey-glazed kind. We serve it with Au Gratin potatoes, candied yams, a green vegetable, dinner rolls, and then have pie or cake for dessert.

[@theresamnsota3925]

Scandinavian background?

[@mskimrn9636]

I absolutely love your channel, you and your husband seem to have such fun together- merry Christmas,

[@MappertonLive]

Happy holidays!

[@katherinefisher6847]

Julie, I grew up in Iowa and always had an orange in my stocking. Also, in our house Santa filled the stocking but the gifts under the tree were from family. Even in the US we have different Christmas traditions. Love your shows! Merry Christmas! 🎄

[@beatricemartin4852]

Omg, I thought Boxing Day was when you put away the decorations back in the boxes 😂🤣😂. Now I know better. This was a fun video.

[@stephH777]

My mom “Santa” always put an orange in the toe of our stocking and often there was a wrapped gift from Santa. It depends on each family tradition in the States.

[@Bev19603]

I am Canadian and we followed a number of UK & US traditions, mandarin orange in our stocking, left on our bed, Boxing Day and we opened gifts in the morning after our beds were made and we were dressed.

[@KS-ml5qz]

You and Luke are so adorable and relatable. Fantastic video of holiday differences and a beautiful Christmas tree in the background 🎄❤

[@jleechadwick]

My father's favorite part of Christmas was figuring out ways to make my presents rattle if they didn't rattle naturally. He loved carpentry, so he had lots of options. My favorite present that he ever gave me was a toy box that he built for me for Christmas when I was eight.

[@marthaworthington6060]

What a cute idea, to make presents rattle. What a clever and funny Dad.

[@marthathomas1660]

Forgot another tradition visiting Santa’s village getting your photo taken. I had a German and English in laws and they would do the English traditions. I’m Mexican and my family would do a Posada event singing and going to midnight mass.🎄🌟

[@marjistrasner7781]

Actually everyone that I knew put an clementine in the toe of the stocking with shelled nuts and candy canes. We always made Christmas cookies and frosted them. Now people make all sorts of cookies, but there were always cookies at Christmas. Christmas pageants at church to reenact the nativity and Christmas caroling!

[@cathleencumpton779]

I always give my mail carriers Christmas presents usually it's some sort of a cake that I just get at the grocery store and it used to be a $10 gift card to either Starbucks or Chick-fil-A but this year I made it $15 and I gave two of those out cuz we have two mail carriers that come. And they're so nice and so good to us bringing all of our mail and dropping off our packages right to our door every day.

[@patrickmckinley6679]

Hi 👋 Cathleen, can I talk to you for a moment?

[@Victor-dh8wx]

Loved this video! I grew up close to the U.S.-Mexico border on the Mexican side and Christmas traditions were a mix of a few Mexican and many American traditions back in the 70's when I was a kid. Going from the hideous shiny aluminum Xmas tree that seemed more like a Sputnik satellite had landed on the lilving room, to having the very delicious corn or carne-con-chile tamales alongside with turkey and mashed potatoes for dinner on Christmas Eve and breakfast Christmas morning. Saludos!

[@gigieyre]

This was so interesting. I'm from America and I found that apparently my family celebrates Christmas more like the UK. lol Our stockings were always under the tree, We always had fruit, mainly oranges, and nuts and candy and our best gift. The presents under the trees were from each other. Santa left a few (maybe 3) presents on Christmas Eve. We always had our big family meal on Christmas Eve because that's when our family could get together. I enjoy your channel so much!

[@traceyelliott2902]

As the story goes..."the stockings were hung by the chimney with care..." 😆. I do however love the idea of the presents being from parents, family rather than Santa or Father Christmas! Eggnog was our typical Christmas drink, but have since made hot chocolate with a peppermint stick our traditional drink! I had to LOL when Julie said deviled eggs!! I am the deviled egg maker every year for at least the last 40 years!

[@jeanjean2033]

Yes that's where the stockings go by the chimney I have started my own tradition in our family and for 30 years I have given each one of my children a Christmas ornament I have brought that down to giving them to my grandchildren in-laws nieces and nephews so that every year whether I'm here or not they can say they got it from me I tried to make them personal if I can

[@jeanjean2033]

My grandsons are two and four this year we made ornaments for them to give to aunts and uncles and teachers

[@vb1816]

… as the American Christmas song goes…

[@jeanjean2033]

Making deviled eggs as we speak enjoy your holidays everybody May everybody be safe healthy and loved

[@rebeccamacegan1094]

Hello! Californian here! Oranges for sure are in the toe of the stocking but mostly because oranges are in season in our backyard tree. But stockings do in fact hang of the mantle. My husbands family does have a birthday tradition where you wake up with birthday presents at the foot of your bed so the first thing you do is open your presents on your birthday. I’ve adopted the birthday tradition for my own children

[@rebeccamacegan1094]

Also, tamales for Christmas Eve

[@patrickmckinley6679]

Hi 👋 Rebecca, can I talk to you for a moment?

[@gailhousman9787]

I have just recently found your video's and am in love with everyone of them. I have to say this video brought back so many memories of growing up. The clementine in the toe of the stocking, I had no idea why this happened. My mom said it was to stall us enough to have our grandparents get to our home (they lived an hr away) so they could watch us open our gifts on Christmas morning. Now I know it's an English tradition, and both my parents were part English. Your video's make me so happy, and I love your home! Thank you very much for sharing everything with us.

[@janis6363]

Egg nog, candy canes on the tree, xmas cards displayed on mantel or mirror. Huge Xmas morning breakfast. USA follows a lot of German traditions too. Merrymaking office parties, can’t forget those precovid🎄👋🏼🎅🏼😊

[@russbear31]

You're right. A lot of the basic, core Christmas traditions in the US are actually German in origin. There's a reason for that: The early American English Puritans did not celebrate Christmas at all. December 25 was just another day. (It was a pagan, sinful holiday that was too Catholic in their book. Must be avoided at all costs.) By the mid-1800s attitudes had changed and Christmas came back in style, but no one knew how to celebrate it after 200 years of lost traditions. At the same time the US was being flooded with German immigrants. Americans actually adopted and coopted a lot of the German Christmas traditions and put their own spin on it.

[@ChristopherDimitriousPhanara]

Love you Guys!!! Happy Christmas.

[@MappertonLive]

Happy holidays!

[@nashk.9163]

The two of you together are absolutely HILARIOUS! I am from Iowa and had the same experience as you did growing up Julie BUT I also had a tangerine in my stocking..:)

[@pipilongue]

Oh wow! This was so enjoyable...🤗thank you for making me laugh and have a bit of brightness to this new day in 2022. Btw...loved the chairs you were sitting on....gorgeous! Cheers to you and your family for a wonderful new year from the US. 🥂

[@MappertonLive]

Happy new year!