CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

People in the UK often put Christmas decorations in their homes. These decorations include Christmas trees, lights, ornaments and Christmas cards. Some people put Christmas decorations outside their homes, and sometimes their displays are very elaborate.

Shopping malls, shopping streets and individual shops Decorations put up decorations and many thousands of sightseers travel to see the Christmas lights in Regent Street and Oxford Street in London.

Towns and cities usually hold a special event with music and entertainment and a television personality or other celebratory – perhaps someone starring in the local pantomime – is often the person to switch on the lights.

People traditionally put decorations up in December, although most shops put them up early than this and some people decorate their houses as early as the beginning of November. Journalists have written about Christmas “starting” earlier and earlier each year and have even given this phenomenon a name: “Christmas creep”.

Traditionally people take their decorations down by 6^th January.

People often have a Christmas tree in their home and decorate it with lights and ornaments. There is often an ornamental angel, fairy or star placed at the very top. There are also trees in shops and other places of work.

There are trees in public places and outside public buildings such as museums. The one in Trafalgar Square, London, is an annual gift from Norway. Some people have an artificial tree instead of a natural one, and there are debates about the environmental impact of having Christmas trees.

The lights on the Christmas tree outside 10 Downing Street are normally switched on by the Prime Minister, whose office and official home are in Downing Street.

This is one of a series of posts about Christmas traditions in the UK. See other posts in the series here and here.

_{Posted by Graham}