Christmas Day Traditions Uk

One christmas ritual not drawn from an ancient tradition is the british monarch s broadcast on christmas day.

Christmas day traditions uk. In 1551 playing sport on christmas day was made illegal. Two games are played one by the boys of the town and the next by the men. The law for this compulsory attendance was passed during the 16th century. The british definition used by the uk meteorological office who say if it has been a white christmas in the uk or not is that a single snow flake has been seen falling in the 24 hours of christmas day.

Christmas day in england according to tradition christmas in england is a family event. This law was later ignored. Many people get up early because during the night father christmas also known as santa claus has left gifts for children. In 1834 christmas day became one of only four days on which banks closed.

This doesn t happen a lot in the uk. The tradition began in 1932 when king george v read a special speech written by rudyard kipling. On christmas day in kirkwall in orkney two enormous teams come together for the playing of kirkwall ball or ba. In london the huge christmas tree in trafalgar square is given each year to the city by norway in a tradition that began in 1947.