CHRISTMAS SYMBOLS IN THE UK

There are many Christmas symbols. In the UK, these include:

• Snow: Even though it’s unusual in most of the country to see snow at Christmas, Christmas cards and decorations often feature snow. Some people place bets on whether it will snow on Christmas Day
• Snowman: Although many parts of the UK don’t often have much snow nowadays, the snowman remains a symbol of Christmas. Images of snowmen often appear on Christmas cards. “The Snowman” is a popular film which appears on television every year. It is based on the children’s picture book by Raymond Briggs..
• Robin: A robin is a small bird, sometimes called a robin redbreast. Its red markings would make it very visible in the white snow.
• Holly: This is an evergreen plant with red berries which appear in winter. It was a symbol from pre-Christian winter festivals but has been adopted by Christianity. The red berries are a symbol of the blood of Jesus.
• Ivy: Another plant that was a symbol from pre-Christian winter festivals.
• Mistletoe: This plant has, for many centuries, been a symbol of love. People sometimes hang it in their homes and the tradition is that people stand under it to kiss.
• Manger: A manger is a feeding box for farm animals. The tradition is that Jesus was born in a manger.
• Angel: In the Christmas story an angel tells Mary that she is going to have a child. Some angels also tell the shepherds about Jesus.
• Star: In the Christmas story, a group of ‘wise men’ follow a star to find the baby Jesus.
• Nativity scene: A nativity scene is a model showing the Christmas story. It usually shows Jesus in a stable with Mary and Joseph. There might also be shepherds, wise men, angels, farm animals and a star.
• Christingle: Many churches hold a Christingle service around Christmas time. Children a Christingle by sticking a candle into an orange and decorating it with a red ribbon and sweets or dried fruit. The orange represents the world, the candle represents the light of Jesus, the red ribbon the love of Jesus and the sweets or dried fruit God’s creations. They often stick four cocktail sticks into the orange to represent the four seasons or four points of the compass.
• Xmas: The word “Xmas” is an abbreviation of “Christmas”. It is often used on Christmas cards and is usually pronounced as if it were the word “Christmas” in full.
• Christmas jumpers: Many schools and places of work celebrate Christmas Jumper Day on or around 12 December. People are allowed to wear a festive sweater to work, and make a donation to charity. People wear their Christmas jumpers at other times, of course, and they have become one of the symbols of Christmas in the UK.

Graham’s Grammar wishes you and your family

a very Merry Christmas

and a Happy and Successful New Year

This is the last in a series of posts about Christmas traditions in the UK. There are posts on the days of Christmas, Christmas greetings, Christmas decorations, Christmas entertainment in the UK, Christmas food and drink, Christmas music and Christmas presents.

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