ŚWIĘTA W WIELKIEJ BRYTANII
Święta Bożego Narodzenia w Polsce różnią się od tych w Wielkiej Brytanii.
W Zjednoczonym Królestwie święta Bożego Narodzenia rozpoczynają się 24 grudnia. Jednak w przeciwieństwie do Polski, dzień ten nie ma tak rodzinnego i symbolicznego znaczenia. W wigilijny wieczór dzieci zawieszają na kominku lub łóżkach specjalne kolorowe skarpety tzw STOCKING. Następnego dnia, z samego rana czekają na nie prezenty! Każde dziecko chcąc podziękować Gwiazdorowi za prezenty, zostawia mu pod choinką szklankę mleka i ciasteczka.
25 grudnia, w Dzień Bożego Narodzenia, cała brytyjska rodzina zbiera się na uroczystej kolacji, na której podawany jest pieczony indyk a na deser obowiązkowo pudding.
Natomiast 26 grudnia jest to tzw BOXING DAY. Nazwa tego święta pochodzi od wyrazu BOX=PUDEŁKO. Tego dnia prezentami obdarowuje się pracowników, przyjaciół.
Nasz słowniczek
ANGEL – Anioł
CANDLE – Świeczka
CHRISTMAS CAROL - Kolęda
CHRISTMAS CRIB - Szopka
CHRISTMAS EVE – Wigilia
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS CARD – Kartka z życzeniami
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS – Życzenia Świąteczne
CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT MASS - Pasterka
CHRISTMAS TREE - Choinka
BELL - dzwoneczek
CANDY - cukierek
CHAIN - łańcuch
GLASS BALL - bombka
LIGHTS – światełka na choinkę
CHRISTMAS WREATH – Stroik Świąteczny
ELF - Elf
THE FIRST STAR – Pierwsza Gwiazdka
GIFT / PRESENT - Prezent
MISTLETOE - Jemioła
REINDEER - Renifer
SANTA CLAUSE / FATHER CHRISTMAS – Święty Mikołaj
SHEPHERD - Pasterz
SNOW – Śnieg
SNOWMAN – Bałwan
STOCKING - Skarpeta na prezenty
WAFER – Opłatek
WINTER – Zima
CHRISTMAS EVE
DISHES - DANIA
BEETROOT SOUP - barszcz
CARP - karp
DUMPLINGS FILLED WITH SAUERKRAUT AND MUSHROOMS – pierogi z kapustą kiszoną i grzybami
HERRING - śledź
RAVIOLIS - uszka
FRIED FISH – smażona ryba
FISH WITH VEGETABLES – ryba z warzywami
HOTCHPOTCH – groch z kapustą
SAUERKRAUT WITH BEAN – fasola z kapustą
SAUERKRAUT STEW WITH MEAT - bigos
CAKES - CIASTA
GINGERBREAD / HONEY CAKE - piernik
POPPY-SEED CAKE - makowiec
CHEESECAKE - sernik
CAKE – babka / kołacz
LAYER CAKE – przekładaniec
FRUIT CAKE – keks
SPONGE CAKE – ciasto biszkoptowe
CHRISTMAS CAKE – ciasto owocowe pokryte marcepanem i lukrem
ROCK CAKE - twardy piernik z rodzynkami
YEAST-CAKE – ciasto drożdżowe
KIND OF CAKE – mazurek
CREAM CAKE - ciastko z kremem
DRINKS - NAPOJE
STEWED FRUIT - kompot
JUICE - sok
TEA - herbata
COFFEE – kawa
Christmas is Britain's most popular holiday. Its traditions and early ceremonies were rooted in pagan beliefs and date back hundreds of years. They are still part of contemporary Christmas celebrations.
The Druids, for example, honoured the mistletoe in their religion and sacrificial rites. The red berry of the holly was believed to protect one against witchcraft. Ivy symbolised immortality. The Vikings introduced the Yule log which used to be burnt in honour of God Thor. The English adapted this practice for Christmas and today's (electric) Christmas candle is a holdover from baronial days.
The custom of sending Christmas cards to friends and family originated in Britain, too. In 1843 John Calcott Horsley designed the first one for Sir Henry Cole. Thus began a real spread of sending Christmas cards and this practice soon became an established traditon. Favoured designs were Christmas feasts, church bells, plum and turkey as well as religious themes. Every year more than a billion Christmas cards are now sent in the United Kingdom. Many of them are sold in aid for charities.
Since 1840 the decorated and illuminated Christmas tree has gained popularity in England. Prince Albert brought this rite over from Germany. In 1848 the Illustrated London News published a picture of the Royal Family around one. The English families followed the Royal example and it can truly be called a Victorian innovation. Each year a giant Christmas tree is set up and decorated near the statue of Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square. It commemorates Anglo-Norwegian cooperation during World War II.
On Christmas Eve carols are often sung by groups of singers walking from house to house, and children hang a stocking on the fireplace or at the foot of their bed for Father Christmas to fill. Caroling dates back to the Middle Ages when beggars were seeking for money, food or drink wandering the streets singing holiday songs.
On Christmas Day gifts are opened in the morning. Later the family will gather for the traditional Christmas dinner consisting of Brussels sprouts, fried potatoes with roast turkey, roast beef or goose. Sweet mince pie or Christmas pudding is served for dessert.
The pudding might contain coins or lucky charms for children. For afternoon tea Christmas cake is offered. It is rich baked fruit cake with marzipan and icing. A party favourite are Christmas crackers. There will be one to each plate on the Christmas dinner table. A Christmas cracker is a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted on both ends and filled with a party hat, a riddle and a toy.
The annual broadcasting of the Queen's Christmas Message is on Christmas Day afternoon. In 1932 King George brought this custom into being.
Boxing Day is on December 26th. This day takes its name from a former custom giving a Christmas box to delivery men and trades people called regularly through the year. Nowadays dustmen, milkmen, or postmen get a tip for a good service at Christmas time.
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