Each year as I'm busying myself with the Christmas decorating, my thoughts turn to home.
The traditions at Christmas that have stood the test of time throughout many English households.
The partaking of mince pies, raspberry trifle, sausage rolls, steamed plum pudding, and Christmas cake laden with dried fruit , marzipan and Royal Icing...hard as a rock.
Gathering around the television or the radio and listening to the Queen's Speech.
Afterwards a tipple of traditional sherry, or port, toasting the season and good health to all !
The pulling of the Christmas crackers before eating turkey dinner, wearing the paper party hats, laughing at the silly paper jokes inside, and delighting in the small prizes, most often magic tricks, or plastic trinkets.
Happy times, that are gratefully forever etched in our memories ..........
21 comments:
A tradition we grew up with at Christmas when Mum and dad where here ! Thanks for the memories of our family Christmas's when I was growing up ! Have a wonderful day !
Our childhood memories are precious and will never leave us. Thanks for reminding me and sharing some of yours with me. :-)
when i saw your post title, i was thinking crackers as in eating them. thanks for sharing your memories and traditions with us. i like to know what others do. each country has its own traditions and i love to know what they are.
I looked for crackers when we were shopping last week. They're not easy to find in east Tennessee! Jim
lovely post it is hard not to be a little homesick this time of year.
... and snowflakes falling gently outside the window,and log fires, don't forget the log fires, and the distant sound of bells...ah, nostalgia rules OK!
God save the Queen!!!
Hello Jo...
Just stopped by to wish you and your family a very happy Christmas.
I'm never disappointed when I visit you, your pictures are always a joy to behold. So nice to read this post.... expressing your nostalgic thoughts of Christmas in Britain beautifully told.
May your Christmas be filled with peace, joy and many blessings that continue throughout 2012.
Marion - Wales UK.
We dearly love the crackers. Used to sell them when we had our antique actual shop. Tom Smith made the best, went out of business in 2005 I think, but someone else is making them. You can still find them...and their trinkets were the best! I have lovely family photos from so many Christmases, and back a generation with the paper crowns on at Christmas dinner! Indeed a treasured tradition! Thanks for the reminder. Now where did I put my box????
Ruth
You have some very nice memories, Jo. Pleasant to wrap yourself in them at Christmas. :-)
Natural to get home sick, and i hope your receiving some southern hospitality in Tenn. I like the snow effects on your blog as well! Richard
Keeping old memories and traditions is the best way to celebrate Christmas...I think.
Wishing you a very special Christmas.
Christmas traditions, both past and present are a wonderful event
Ah yes we will have that penketh christmas with the kids just down the road ....although the other family will be down south then...they are here at the moment until tomorrow so we will have a bit of christmas with some rochdale relatives as well tomorrow!! have a great one yourself!
Love your Christmas Cracker traditions... SO interesting!!!
Merry Christmas.
Hugs,
Betsy
Some mince(meat?) pie and sherry would be lovely! I raise a glass to the English traditions...they are part of my ancestors (Gornall's) Christmas tradition!
I shall be cooking the turkey for my mother again this year and partaking of a very traditional English Christmas. Incidentally I came across some little clip-on candle-holders amongst the old decorations. Hard to believe now that we used to have lighted candles on the tree - a wonder we never burned the house down!
Sounds like you have some wonderful traditions and memories from the homeland. I always like to quote Cindy Lou Who, Christmas is not about presents and gifts, it should be about being together with family and friends. Here, Here! I had to google Christmas Crackers, that is definitely not a Southern tradition, but sounds like much fun!
You summed it up beautifully. And of course we all wear the tissue crowns while eating afters/dessert.
Ann
I was just in England in Nov. and the thought never crossed my mind to buy some Christmas crackers. Could I have gotten them through customs?
My kettle just started to whistle whilst reading this. I just think I was born in the wrong country. I love everything you mentioned!
Post a Comment