Merry British Christmas Published Dec. 11, 2007 By Suzanne Harper 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Many of the Christmas traditions we celebrate today across the U.K. stem from a wide variety of sources. Some would more truly be said to be winter celebrations as they pre-date the Christian era. The Druids (Celtic priests) would cut the mistletoe that grew on the oak tree and give it as a blessing. Oaks were seen as sacred and the winter fruit of the mistletoe was a symbol of life in the dark winter months. It was also the Druids who began the tradition of the Yule log. The Celts thought that the sun stood still for 12 days in the middle of winter and during this time a log was lit to conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits and bring luck for the coming year. Many of these customs are still followed today. They have been incorporated into the Christian and secular celebrations of Christmas. A little Christmas history In England, Christmas, as we know it, might well have disappeared in 1647 when Oliver Cromwell, cancelled it: no parties, no fun, no days off work. Oliver Cromwell was an English soldier and statesman who helped make England a republic and then ruled as lord protector from 1653 to 1658. Cromwell's Puritanism was offended by bacchanalian revelry. Each year, town criers went through the land ordering that "Christmas and all other superstitious festivals" should not be celebrated. However, the desire to make merry refused to be suppressed. No era in history has influenced the way in which we celebrate Christmas, quite as much as the Victorians. Before Queen Victoria's reign started in 1837, nobody in Britain had heard of Santa Claus or Christmas crackers. No Christmas cards were sent and most people did not have holidays from work. The wealth and technologies generated by the industrial revolution of the Victorian era changed the face of Christmas forever. Charles Dickens wrote books such as "Christmas Carol", published in 1843, which encouraged rich Victorian's to redistribute their wealth by giving money and gifts to the poor. These radical middle-class ideals eventually spread to the not-quite-so-poor as well. The wealth generated by the new factories and industries of the Victorian age allowed middle-class families in England and Wales to take time off work and celebrate over two days, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The railways allowed the country folk, who had moved into the towns and cities in search of work, to return home for a family Christmas. December 26th is traditionally known as St. Stephen's Day, but is more commonly known as Boxing Day in the U.K.. This name probably originates from the custom of opening alms boxes in church and the money being distributed to the poor; alternatively, the name "Boxing Day' may come from the practice of employers giving their servants boxes of gifts on the day following Christmas. The Scots have always preferred to postpone the celebrations for a few days to welcome in the New Year, a celebration the Scots call 'Hogmanay'. Christmas Day itself did not become a holiday in Scotland until many years after Victoria's reign and it has only been within the last 20 to 30 years that this has been extended to include Boxing Day. Christmas trees Christmas trees become popular in the UK from 1841 when Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, erected a tree in Windsor Castle following a German tradition. Fir trees have been decorated at Christmas time in Germany since the 8th century. The most famous Christmas tree in Britain is probably in Trafalgar Square, London. The 61st Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square was lit Dec. 6 by Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg in the annual ceremony that attracts thousands of spectators. The first tree was brought over in 1947 as a token of Norwegian appreciation of British friendship during the Second World War. To most Norwegians, London came to represent the spirit of freedom during those difficult years. Christmas Crackers Christmas crackers were a simple idea which has become an integral part of traditional British Christmas revelry since their invention in 1847 by Tom Smith. In its simple form, a cracker is a small cardboard tube covered in a brightly coloured twist of paper. When the cracker is 'pulled' by two people, each holding one end of the twisted paper, the friction creates a small explosive 'pop' produced by a narrow strip of chemically impregnated paper (the 'banger'). Out of the cardboard tube tumbles a bright paper hat, a small gift, a balloon and a motto or joke. Please note - you cannot ship these home to the U.S. due to the small amount of explosive in the 'banger' of the cracker. Festive Food Today, as ever, the Christmas feast is central to the occasion. Traditionally, main course is poultry of some kind, accompanied by stuffing, Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes and all the trimmings. Traditionally, dessert is in the form of a Christmas pudding. Originating as a 14th century porridge called 'frumenty', the pudding that was once made of beef and mutton with raisins, currants, prunes, wines and spices. This would often be more like soup and was eaten as a fasting meal in preparation for the Christmas festivities. By 1595, frumenty was slowly changing into a plum pudding, having been thickened with eggs, breadcrumbs, dried fruit and given more flavour with the addition of beer and spirits.Today it is a rich, dark pudding made with suet, dried fruit and spices and laced with brandy. Brandy is poured over the Christmas pudding and lit just before serving. The final treat on Christmas Day was to find a silver coin in your piece of pudding. In the days before decimalization, silver sixpenny pieces were put into the pudding,. Nowadays, families often put in 5 pence pieces - so watch every spoonful; you wouldn't want to choke on your Christmas pudding! Lunch on Christmas Day is followed by the Queen's Christmas message on television at 3 p.m., a tradition started by her grandfather, King George V by radio broadcast in 1932 . Mince Pies Each year, I treat my American colleagues to mince pies. Once I reassure them they are sweet and tasty, they are gobbled up in no time at all, although a few remain to be convinced. As with Christmas pudding, mince pies were originally filled with meat, such as lamb, rather than the combination of dried fruit, apple, suet, spices, sugar and brandy which we call mincemeat today. It is said that were first made in an oval shape to represent the manger that Jesus slept in as a baby, with the top representing his swaddling clothes. All British children know that mince pies are Father Christmas' favourite snack and on Christmas Eve, children in the U.K. often leave out mince pies with brandy or some similar drink for Father Christmas and a carrot for the reindeer. Reindeer, of course, find it very difficult to eat mince pies. ********* Finally, in the words of Charles Dickens, "Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!" The Pickwick Papers, 1836 I'm sure that the sentiment behind these words applies to Airmen too.