Christmas food and drink

Traditionally British Christmas food incorporates much excess in terms of both food and alcohol. Some families begin the Christmas day celebrations with a special breakfast, perhaps smoked salmon and scrambled eggs or a traditional 'full English' fry-up of bacon, eggs, sausages and fried bread. Others prefer to take things easy in preparation for the dinner ahead.

For the main Christmas meal either a turkey or other roast joint is traditional, served with every imaginable accompaniment as well as bread sauce, cranberry sauce and gravy. This is often followed by a rich Christmas pudding with brandy butter, cream or custard.

Many households stock up as though the shops will be closed for the foreseeable future - not the case in this day and age - with whole hams, scores of mince pies and much alcohol to see them through to the New Year.

The Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree is a relatively recent tradition which began in Germany around the 18th century and found its way to Great Britain through George III's wife, Queen Charlotte and also by Prince Albert during Queen Victoria's reign.

The tree is traditionally an evergreen fir (usually a Silver Fir, Nordmann Fir or Norway Spruce), either cut or still with roots so that it can be replanted. It is decorated with lights, garlands, ribbons and ornaments. Many households now use artificial trees as they eliminate the eternal problem of dropped needles (which are usually still being discovered and hoovered up by the time next Christmas comes around) and can be reused year after year.

Midnight Mass

This is celebrated on Christmas Eve, beginning around 11 or 11.30pm and is a very traditional service incorporating Christmas carols to herald the arrival of Christmas Day. Often there is an earlier service which is aimed more towards children and features a dramatization of the Nativity (sometimes complete with wildlife!).

The Queen's Speech

This is traditionally called the Royal Christmas Message and is broadcast to the nation at 3pm by Her Majesty on Christmas Day. The tradition goes back to the first Christmas message which was delivered via wireless by George V in 1932. Today the Queen's message can be viewed on the internet and downloaded as a podcast.