Countdown to Christmas

It's less than a week and it's going to be Christmas. I wonder if we will have any surprises from BYJ within this week; a Christmas greeting perhaps???

People all over the world celebrate differently and have traditions to follow. I just thought I would share with you the English tradition. It's not much different from the rest except that they celebrate only on the 25th with a big meal and plenty of drinks . As far as I could remember, since the meal was so big it was enough to fill a person the whole day.

So each day till Christmas I will tell about ways observe in England basically. The Welsh, Scots, Irish have similar tradition but I'll focus in England.

Lets' start with the Christmas card. Apparently it was first posted in England in the 1840s. Different charities sell their cards which is not bad since it's more of donating to your favorite charity when you buy theirs. Over a billion Christmas cards are sent each year. Thinking about being eco friendly. Anyway I have been doing this too , writing greeting cards to friends and families including work colleagues and neighbors. Yes, it could be tasking and one has to start early. In my opinion it's the thought that counts so after all these years I just sent one card for the whole staff and cut down on the number of cards I sent considering the cost and waste it will pile after the season. Though we recycle in this country a lot, I give them that.

Another thing is the Christmas decoration which even have earlier origins. Holly, ivy and mistletoe are associated with rituals going back beyond the Dark Ages. (The custom of kissing beneath a sprig of mistletoe is derived from an ancient pagan tradition.) The Christmas tree was popularised by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, who introduced one to the Royal Household in 1840. Since 1947, the country of Norway has presented Britain annually with a large Christmas tree which stands in Trafalgar Square in commemoration of Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during the Second World War.

A lot of families still buy the real tree. I haven't thought of doing it unless one has a really huge house for a big tree, I find the small ones unattractive. They said the smell is good but then again in my opinion it would take time to dispose them, and plus I've got a dog. He wouldn't like the pointed edges of the tree so have to use my good old tree which is now decorated with lovely autumn colors.

Ok sisters.. I hope you learn from this.