English in the title not because I'm an Anglophile, just that I am English, which is relevant to my question. It's been 30+ years I celebrated an English Christmas in England. Mike Yarwood and Morecambe & Wise...probably followed by Paul Daniels were the highlights on tv. What is essentially English for Christmas now? Presume Quality Street, the Queen's Speech and Brussels sprouts are still in the mix. Crackers, nuts and tangerines? Stockings, do they still exist? My brother *nd I had a pair of my mum's tights cut in half. Still they held a **** load more stuff than a shop bought Santa sock. I know the more that things change the more they stay the same...so what is Christmas like there now...?
If anything I think there's a trend to go more traditional. The hipsters are making their own presents and decoration and generally being annoying about it. The worrying trend is the amount of stuff kids get these days though. Most of it plastic junk that is not touched after 6 months. For me Christmas is an opportunity for a blow out meal and a week off work, which isn't really compensation for the stress over trying to buy worthwhile presents for people rather than gifts. Is there any such thing as a traditional Xmas out there PO? The Philippines are pretty much Christian arent they?
and Father xmas of course I have actually worked Xmas morning a couple of times. When I worked in the city my job was based on the previous day's trading and as Xmas eve was a busy trading day in the states I needed to work. Luckily I could do it from home, got up at 4am finished by 9 and had the rest of the day off. The usual post xmas lunch nap enabled me to carry on through till the evening.
I like a traditional Christmas Every Christmas morning I wake up, open the bedroom window and throw money to a tiny disabled boy called Tim and make him go and fetch me the finest prize winning turkey
Hop back was the best local one. Lots of free beer. Fullers at Chiswick is decent also. Gettable on the tube. Also done from memory York, Black Sheep and a couple of others. Did a brewing day at Brewlab in Brixton as well. Jamesons distillery in Dublin is good if you like whiskey. (I don't)
A traditional English Xmas for me is drinking too much, eating too much and spending far more time with my family than I want to.
Pigs in Blankets have shot out of the ether and are now a staple. Bad Cracker jokes, arguments about sprouts and the Queens warble are the norm. TV wise is OK with Dr Who now a staple in most households and some questionable Disney films a norm.
