Christmas day in the UK

Christmas day in the UK

Here in the UK, Christmas Day is celebrated on the 25th of December.

This is the day when children and adults open their gifts. Another word for gift is present. Father Christmas puts the presents in stockings which are big socks usually put next to the Christmas tree.

It is also the day when we eat Christmas lunch - usually consisting of turkey, roast potatoes and vegetables. For dessert we eat pudding. Before we start eating we open Christmas crackers. These are festive table decorations that make a "bang" sound when pulled open, and often contain a small gift, paper hat and a joke.

At 3 p.m., we switch on the television to listen to the Queen’s speech. This year of course, it will be the King who speaks.

People often sing carols in the street. The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day. It is a bank holiday, meaning that people don’t work on that day.