Christmas is coming!
When I first came to London, I wondered what the Christmas fuss was all about. Beginning October and November, the stores all got decked up in Christmas finery and look grand, colourful and inviting. The High Street (main street in each area) and other important streets like Oxford Street, Regents Street, Bond Street etc get decked up in colourful lights and look festive. And Christmas carols fill the air - Jingle Bells and others.
There is a change in mood, people are thinking of gifts to buy, family get togethers, family dinners and churches. And homes and shops sport Christmas trees- the evergreen pine with a tangy turpentine smell and a conical shape, colourfully lit with lovely baubles and decorations. The local flower stores all begin to stock Christmas trees, sometimes the Farmer’s Market does some and in the weeks leading to Christmas, you sometimes find trees for Sale on the Pavements near the Underground tube stations. Last year plastic black Christmas trees were the fad, this year it is white Christmas trees as everyone is hoping for a white Christmas.
In addition to Christmas trees, some folks hang Christmas wreaths outside their front-doors. These are made of mistletoe leaves or Christmas tree leaves and sometimes they sport big cinnamon sticks, pine cones and orange rinds. Christmas Poinsettia Plant is also quite popular adding to the red and green of the Christmas colours.
Any festival around the world, I am sure has special food playing a central role. For Christmas, it is turkey in England, along with pudding, mince pies, cranberries and mulled wine.
Schools stage nativity plays and sing carols. Kids take special goodies to school that they can share with other kids. Offices and workplaces have the Christmas Party, which is the annual party and a big one in many offices. Restaurants advertise special Christmas dinners and deals.
The stores do the maximum shopping on 23 and 24th as people are running in for last minute presents and deals.
Winter months in London and across the higher latitudes can be very depressing. The sun rises later and later and sets earlier and earlier. The Winter Solstice occurs around Christmas. After the solstice the days begin to get longer and we have spring coming a few months later. These wintery months with freezing temperature and chilly winds and no sun are some of the worst and depressing months of the year. Without Christmas and all the gaiety associated with it – gifts, Santa Claus, carols, family get togethers, parties, winter would be unbearable indeed!
Happy Christmas!
There is a change in mood, people are thinking of gifts to buy, family get togethers, family dinners and churches. And homes and shops sport Christmas trees- the evergreen pine with a tangy turpentine smell and a conical shape, colourfully lit with lovely baubles and decorations. The local flower stores all begin to stock Christmas trees, sometimes the Farmer’s Market does some and in the weeks leading to Christmas, you sometimes find trees for Sale on the Pavements near the Underground tube stations. Last year plastic black Christmas trees were the fad, this year it is white Christmas trees as everyone is hoping for a white Christmas.
In addition to Christmas trees, some folks hang Christmas wreaths outside their front-doors. These are made of mistletoe leaves or Christmas tree leaves and sometimes they sport big cinnamon sticks, pine cones and orange rinds. Christmas Poinsettia Plant is also quite popular adding to the red and green of the Christmas colours.
Any festival around the world, I am sure has special food playing a central role. For Christmas, it is turkey in England, along with pudding, mince pies, cranberries and mulled wine.
Schools stage nativity plays and sing carols. Kids take special goodies to school that they can share with other kids. Offices and workplaces have the Christmas Party, which is the annual party and a big one in many offices. Restaurants advertise special Christmas dinners and deals.
The stores do the maximum shopping on 23 and 24th as people are running in for last minute presents and deals.
Winter months in London and across the higher latitudes can be very depressing. The sun rises later and later and sets earlier and earlier. The Winter Solstice occurs around Christmas. After the solstice the days begin to get longer and we have spring coming a few months later. These wintery months with freezing temperature and chilly winds and no sun are some of the worst and depressing months of the year. Without Christmas and all the gaiety associated with it – gifts, Santa Claus, carols, family get togethers, parties, winter would be unbearable indeed!
Happy Christmas!