Brits do THIS - Christmas Traditions

0:00 Some of our Christmas traditions make absolutely no sense.

0:05 And yet somehow they haven't vanished.

0:08 Not even close.

0:09 We have traditions where adults wear paper crowns all day.

0:14 Where people set fire to their desserts on purpose.

0:18 And wait until you hear about the one

0:21 that involves hiding actual coins in a pudding.

0:25 Yes, real coins that you could easily choke on.

0:29 We'll get to that in a moment.

0:32 There's also a modern tradition, newer, stranger,

0:35 and definitely more mischievous that has taken

0:38 over British family homes in the last decade.

0:42 I'll reveal that one at the end.

0:45 Hello everyone, Anna here and today we're exploring some

0:49 wonderfully weird British Christmas traditions that have survived for decades.

0:55 some even for centuries.

0:57 And as always, I'm here to help you to improve your English.

1:03 So, if you'd like to get a copy of my free

1:07 vocabulary pack with all the key words from today's lesson,

1:10 then I'll share the link in the description.

1:14 So, let's begin with something you simply cannot avoid on Christmas Day.

1:21 Christmas crackers.

1:22 These colorful paper tubes are designed to be pulled.

1:28 You'll traditionally find them on the dinner table and you pick

1:32 up your cracker and ask somebody to pull it with you.

1:37 You each take a side and you pull hard and when it rips apart,

1:42 you'll hear a loud bang.

1:44 Now, whoever wins the central part of the cracker gets the goods,

1:50 the things that are inside.

1:52 That will be a joke, usually a terrible one,

1:56 a tiny toy or trinket, and of course, the paper crown.

2:02 In some households, wearing that crown is absolutely mandatory.

2:08 Even the most serious uncle, the one who refuses to smile in photos,

2:14 will sit there with a neon pink crown slowly sliding down his forehead.

2:20 Tradition is tradition.

2:21 Now picture this.

2:23 The lights are dimmed.

2:25 The family gathers round and someone brings out the Christmas pudding.

2:31 It's dark, heavy, fruity, and soaked in alcohol for weeks prior.

2:38 And the grand finale, pouring brandy over it and setting it on fire.

2:45 Blue flames everywhere.

2:47 Gasps.

2:48 Applause.

2:49 Yay!

2:49 A brief moment when you think, "H,

2:53 this is probably not something recommended by the fire brigade,

2:57 but okay." And here's the part that always fascinates and horrifies me.

3:03 Historically, families hid a coin inside the pudding.

3:06 My mom hid several.

3:08 Whoever finds that coin is destined for good luck in the coming year.

3:14 It's a sweet idea until you remember that it's a real coin.

3:19 A coin that has lived in pockets and purses, cash registers,

3:24 sweaty palms, and then it gets shoved into a dessert.

3:29 I don't care how well you've cleaned it.

3:33 It's disgusting.

3:34 And you could choke.

3:36 So, I find it both dangerous and disgusting.

3:40 The Victorians clearly had a stronger stomach

3:43 than I do and very robust dental insurance.

3:47 Moving on.

3:49 Now for something far safer.

3:52 At 300 p.m.

3:53 on Christmas Day, many British households pause

3:58 everything to watch the king's Christmas speech.

4:03 Children stop playing, adults stop cooking, and there's a collective sh.

4:10 The king's on.

4:12 It's calm, reflective, and a rare moment of national stillness.

4:17 On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, we have pantomime or panto.

4:23 This is loud, silly, chaotic, and an absolute national treasure.

4:30 There are villains who are booed by the audience.

4:35 Heroes that are cheered, men dressed as flamboyant dames,

4:40 and everyone shouting, "He's behind you!" at the top of their lungs.

4:46 If you want to understand something about British humour,

4:50 then panto is a fantastic place to start.

4:55 Another tradition that brings people together is carol singing.

5:00 Groups gather in shopping centres, town squares,

5:03 and churches to sing classics like Silent Night and Hark the Herald Angels sing.

5:12 It's nostalgic, cozy,

5:13 and it makes even the grumpiest passer by soften for a moment.

5:20 And of course, mince pies, little sweet pies filled with spiced fruit.

5:27 They used to contain meat, but thankfully that tradition did not survive.

5:33 Today they're buttery, sugary, and in my opinion,

5:37 best eaten warm with a spoonful of brandy, butter, or ice cream.

5:43 Now, stockings, another tradition that has stood the test of time.

5:49 Children hang them up for Father Christmas,

5:52 hoping to find them filled with sweets and small gifts on Christmas morning.

5:58 I didn't have a stocking.

6:00 I had a pillow case.

6:02 Now, traditionally, in your stocking or pillowcase,

6:05 you would get an orange, some nuts, and a tiny toy.

6:11 Nowadays, it's chocolates, toiletries, stationery, small toys,

6:16 and usually something that makes a loud, irritating noise.

6:21 Because nothing says Merry Christmas like a plastic whistle at 6:00 a.m.

6:26 on Christmas morning.

6:28 Then we have the Boxing Day walk.

6:31 Boxing Day is the day after Christmas Day

6:35 and by that point everyone is getting a little bit cabin feverish.

6:40 They're desperate to get out of the house and walk off

6:45 all the calories that they've consumed over the last 48 hours.

6:51 So, it's a long walk taken whatever

6:53 the weather with the family and someone saying loudly,

6:57 "Come on, let's walk it off." And of course,

7:01 Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the Christmas number one,

7:05 the song that reaches number one in the charts on Christmas week.

7:11 Entire families make predictions.

7:13 Sometimes it's an emotional song,

7:16 sometimes it's a ridiculous song, sometimes it's a charity single.

7:22 It's a wonderfully British obsession.

7:24 And finally, one of the sweetest traditions for children is leaving

7:29 out a mince pie for Father Christmas and a carrot for Rudolph.

7:34 Sometimes even a glass of milk for Santa because

7:38 he might be thirsty or even a small brandy.

7:41 And by the morning, everything has magically disappeared.

7:45 Bar maybe a few crumbs.

7:47 Now, the modern tradition that I mentioned earlier in many British homes today,

7:54 December isn't just about tinsel and fairy lights.

7:58 It's about the arrival of the naughty or cheeky elves.

8:04 These little characters appear in different

8:07 places around the house each morning.

8:11 sometimes behaving themselves,

8:12 but often causing mischief and always giving children

8:17 something to giggle about when they wake up.

8:20 For many families, the elves have become a playful countdown to Christmas Day.

8:26 A kind of festive mystery that builds excitement all month long.

8:31 So, from flaming puddings to paper crowns, from royal speeches to cheeky elves,

8:38 British Christmas traditions are a charming blend of history,

8:43 humor, and just the right amount of chaos.

8:47 I would love to know about your Christmas traditions.

8:52 Please do let me know something that's

8:55 special to you down in the comments below.

8:58 And if you'd like that handy list of vocabulary from today's lesson,

9:02 then click on the link in the description.

9:05 Oh, and as it's nearly Christmas,

9:08 be a good sport and give this video a thumbs up.

9:11 I'll see you next time.

9:13 Bye.