CHRISTMAS
England is a country with long standing traditions in celebrating Christmas. Some of them are well-known, especially from English movies and literature.
Every year all cities and small towns are decorated with Christmas trees and fairy lights. The biggest Christmas tree is situated on Trafalgar Square, but there are lots of smaller ones in public places all around the country. The most popular are different evergreen trees such as pine, spuce, fir. In modern England many people prefer artificial trees instead of real ones.
The tradition of Christmas tree came from early modern Germany, where Christians brought evergreen trees to their homes. The legend says that the 1st English Christmas tree was placed in the royal home of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria. Of course nobody forgets to hang a mistletoe, called “kissing bough”- you should kiss the person with whom you stand underneath it.
Everywhere you may hear Christmas songs — carols, special Christmas carolers go from house to house, singing songs and getting little pies with fruits and nuts and Christmas drinks. They call it Wassailing, and sometimes it looks like a real theatre performance!
Even now many people really love sending Christmas cards to friends, to colleagues and loved ones. December is obviously a hard time for postmen, they have to work all days and nights to deliver all cards in time.
| 
