Christmas spirit has well and truly arrived across the UK. In cities and villages alike, you’ll find Brits wrapped in their best winter coats, admiring beautiful Christmas lights, with All I Want for Christmas Is You playing left, right, and centre. It’s the time of year to share moments with loved ones, enjoy plenty of delicious food, and take things a bit easier at work. In this week’s blog post, we’ll explore some of the traditions and activities we enjoy in the UK as we build up to Christmas and celebrate the big day.
Idiom of the week: Left, right, and centre
Commonly used in British English, this means that something is happening everywhere or very frequently, often in a chaotic or overwhelming way. It’s a figurative expression that suggests something is widespread or occurring all around.
Visit your nearest German market
All over the country, you’ll find Christmas markets, both big and small, which we Brits, for some reason, like to call German markets. It’s a romanticised tradition to share a mulled wine with friends after work, only for the reality to be cold, crowded, and slightly chaotic. Yet, year after year, we still go!
The UK is also home to one of the largest Christmas markets outside of Germany or Austria, located in my home city of Birmingham. People travel from all over the country—and even from Europe—to soak up the Christmas cheer in England’s second-largest city.
Have a mulled wine and cheese night
I think all cheese lovers can agree that one of the best parts of Christmas is the ridiculous amount of cheese we get to indulge in. At various gatherings, it’s common to find a cheese board. These usually include hard cheeses, chutneys (like marmalade), bread, grapes, perhaps some ham, and the real star of the show: baked camembert.
It’s also common to brew up a pot of mulled wine, which is essentially hot red wine simmered with seasonal spices and orange. During these cosy evenings with loved ones, we often cuddle up to watch a Christmas movie or play games like charades.
Go to the Pantomime
During Christmas in the UK, pantomimes—or simply pantos—are a must-see tradition. These theatrical performances take popular fairy tales and give them a funny, interactive twist. Audience members shout «Oh no, you won’t!» and «It’s behind you!» while helping the hero escape the villain. It’s the perfect mix of comedy, music, cultural references, and pure festive fun.
The real star of the show is the Dame—usually a man in drag, bursting with silly jokes and outrageous costumes. Pantos are family-friendly experiences that tour different theatres across the country from December to February. It’s quite common to go to a pantomime after Christmas to combat those dreaded January blues. This year’s panto is Peter Pan, starring a few famous faces well-known to Brits.
What does it mean: January Blues
The «January blues» refers to the feelings of low energy and sadness many people experience after the excitement of Christmas and New Year. The cold weather, short days, financial strain, and return to routine can make January feel a bit gloomy.
Pull a Christmas cracker
No Christmas dinner in the UK is complete without Christmas crackers. These festive paper tubes, pulled apart by two people, contain a small gift, a joke, and a paper crown. It’s a tradition that adds a bit of fun to the meal as everyone wears their crowns and laughs at the cheesy jokes inside.
While the gifts are often small and quirky, the real fun is in the silly jokes – “Why don’t you ever see Santa in hospital? Because he has private elf care!” Crackers are a must on Christmas day and add a little playfulness to the dinner.
Tune in for The Queen’s (now the King’s) Speech
A UK Christmas tradition that never fails to bring a sense of nostalgia is tuning in for the Queen’s Christmas Speech – or now, the King’s Christmas Speech. Broadcasted on Christmas Day, this address is a moment for reflection, with the monarch looking back on the year, offering warm wishes, and sharing personal thoughts. Families often gather around the TV, pausing their holiday activities to tune in.
The speech has been a constant for decades and it’s one of the many Christmas traditions families all over the country love to get involved with.
Phrasal verb of the week: Tune in
This means to listen to or watch a broadcast, event, or programme, or to pay attention to something. It’s often used in reference to media like TV or radio.
A British Twist on Festive Fun
As we wrap up our festive look at UK Christmas traditions, it’s interesting to think about how these traditions might differ here in Tenerife. From markets to mulled wine and pantomimes, the UK has its own unique way of celebrating the holiday season. But how do these traditions compare to the sunny Christmas celebrations here in Tenerife? Are there any similar traditions or perhaps entirely different ways of celebrating Christmas?
Written by Marina McAleese, Tutor at The Harrogate International Academy
