Christmas in the UK
Written by Brittany - 15/12/2019
Christmas is a magical time of year. A
holiday now grounded with traditions; it presents the perfect opportunity to create
some new traditions as you’re living abroad. There may not be a guarantee of
snow (depending on where you’re studying), but it is not difficult to get into
the holiday spirit while you’re in the UK. Here are some of my favourite aspects
of the holiday season in the UK:
Not sure where to start? Let some of
your favourite holiday traditions guide you to fun activities you can do while
you’re in the UK!
1. If you like driving around looking at lighted up/decorated houses:
Go to a lighting ceremony! (or 2, or 5!)
- Location: All over the UK
The start of the Christmas season is marked
in different ways for different people. Many of us in Canada have grown up with
the notion that decorating your house with lights and tinsel is a good way to
get into the holiday spirit. Maybe you have even driven around with your family
looking at other decorated houses in your neighbourhood.
In the UK, one of the most defining items
to mark the start of the holiday season are the various ‘lighting ceremonies’
that occur. Many communities will have their own ‘lighting ceremonies’ which is
essentially switching on a bunch of decorative twinkle lights all over the town
centre.
Depending on where you are, these
ceremonies can be simple such as having overhead lights lighting the way to the
shopping centre for an hour, or if you’re located in London, lighting
ceremonies on some of the more notable streets (Oxford Street, Regents Street)
are marked with a huge celebration and concerts that take up the entire
afternoon/evening.
It’s fun seeing lighting ceremonies in your own community, but as you travel around take a look at the different ways lights are featured in the decorating.
2. If you like playing games and seeing Christmas around every corner:
Check out Winter Wonderland!
- Location: London (Hyde Park) from November 21, 2019 – January 5, 2020
If fun carnivals are more your style, check
out Winter Wonderland in central London. Located in London’s Hyde Park every
holiday season, this massive carnival includes opportunities to do some
shopping, rides, carnival eats and other fun activities.
This event is free to enter but there is
the opportunity to purchase items like ride tickets, food etc. once you’re in
the grounds.
It’s the perfect date night location or
simply roam around with friends! If you’re not located within London, Winter
Wonderland typically runs until the middle of January which gives you plenty of
time to plan a weekend trip!
For more information visit: www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com
3. If you like giving gifts more than receiving them:
Shop for gifts at one of the many Christmas Markets!
- Location: All over the UK
A personal favourite of mine, you’ll find
little markets popping up all over the UK around the start of November. These
are usually found in the marketplace or square of your city but can be found
elsewhere depending on where you are.
The markets are filled with all sorts of fun Christmas delicacies and include snacks, artisan crafts, fun gift ideas and mulled wine. *See Below.
4. If you like hugging hot beverages while the cool wind hits your face:
Grab a cup of mulled wine!
- Location: All over the UK
A
delicacy all over the UK and the perfect beverage to keep you warm on a damp
winter evening. Mulled wine is a heated alcoholic drink that utilizes wine (typically
a deep red) along with spices (cinnamon, clove) and fruits (oranges,
cranberries, currants). If it’s something that you’ve yet to try (I myself had
never tried it until moving to the UK) I highly recommend it while you stroll
along looking at Christmas lights, or wandering around the Christmas markets.
Not a fan of wine? Living in a different
country also means you can find fun holiday drinks at popular locations (like
Starbucks) that you wouldn’t normally get to experience in Canada. Other
popular coffee shops offer fun holiday themed cups that will put you in the
holiday spirit as well.
Pictured to the left is the cutest Gingerbread Latte from Costa. Presented in a penguin cup and given alongside a gingerbread biscuit.
5. If you like playing pond hockey:
Find an outdoor rink and go skating!
- Location: All over the UK
If you want a little taste of Canada while
you’re spending the holidays in the UK, try seeking out one of the many skating
opportunities. London’s Winter Wonderland offers the UK’s largest open-air ice
rink but accompanying many of the Christmas markets, communities will often
have a space set up with an outdoor skating rink and offer skating. Interested
skaters will typically pay a fee for a skating time slot (usually in 1-hour
increments). No skates? No problem! Don’t feel obligated to drag your skates
across the pond with you, the outdoor skating rinks will offer the opportunity
to rent skates for the duration of your skate.
A good place to start your search for one of these skating rinks would be at your local Christmas marketplace, however larger cities like London will offer the opportunity to skate among some of the city’s iconic landmarks (some of these include Somerset House, The Tower of London, and Hampton Court Palace!)
**Prices will vary depending on location and duration of skate*
6. If you like old traditions:
Have a look at some of the elaborate window displays!
- Location: All over the UK
While it’s not uncommon to see some fancy
window displays while shopping around during Christmas in some areas of Canada,
it is something that is experienced a little less frequently than some would
like.
As the UK is rooted in rich history and
traditions, many of the older department stores and shopping areas will still
heavily feature a more traditional style of marketing and make use of fancier
window displays to boost interest during the holiday season.
The most obvious examples will be Harrods
and Selfridges in London, but many older established areas will also make use of
gorgeous displays in their main shopping areas/malls.
No matter what your personal holiday traditions look like, there’s no shortage of fun winter activities in the UK. As you will more than likely be living on your own and away from your family for the first time, explore new traditions that you can later bring back and share with your Canadian friends and family!
Interested in studying in the UK? You can find out more by contacting one of our advisors!