Christmas in the UK: A Festive Celebration to Remember

Christmas in the UK is all about family, friends, and tradition. It is the magical time of the year, filled with festive traditions, twinkling lights, and cosy cheer. Immerse yourself in the festival spirit of the UK and learn about the heartwarming customs, from decorating the Christmas tree to gathering around the fireplace for carol singing.

Let us explore some of the main attractions and things you could do during your Christmas holidays.

Essence of Christmas

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, two millennium ago. Christian people remember that special day as ‘Christmas day’. Today Christmas is an important time in the Christian year. It is a time for presents, parties and time with the family.

Based on folk tales, Santa is a big man with white hair and red clothes who travels on a cart pulled by a pack of reindeer bringing presents for children on the night before Christmas day. Children leave stockings for Santa Claus (also known as Father Christmas in Britain) when they go to bed.

The Christmas holiday begins on the 24th of December, known as the Christmas Eve. Many people go to Church at midnight on Christmas Eve. They listen to the Christmas stories and carols. While others go on Christmas morning.

On Christmas day at 3’o clock many people in the UK turn on their televisions and listen to the Queen wishing Merry Christmas to everyone. 

A call for celebrations

People start to get ready for Christmas in late October or early November. They decorate their shops with beautiful-looking lights, trees and other decorations. Shops get very busy and stay open for a longer time.

An important part of the celebrations for many Christians is going to church on Christmas Day to give thanks and worship God. This is done through singing carols and joining together in prayer.

1. Decorate Christmas tree

Weeks before the festival, people do their Christmas shopping and decorate their Christmas tree. The traditional Christmas tree, often called a “fir tree” or “Christmas fir,” is typically a Norway spruce or Douglas fir. These evergreen trees are iconic symbols of Christmas, known for their conical shape and needle retention throughout the holiday season.

Most families buy Christmas trees, put them inside the house and decorate the trees with colourful decorative items such as Jingle bells, LED warm lights, and a star at the top of the tree. Due to the high demand, many do not get their hands on a real Christmas tree.

Thus, relying on getting an artificial tree which looks quite similar to a real one. They also put special Christmas-themed paper or wrappers on the present boxes and leave them under the tree. People often put lights and other decorations outside their houses.

2. Connect with family & friends

Most people do not have to work on the 25th and 26th of December. Thus, many enjoy a weeklong holiday from the 25th of December to the 1st of January. They usually spend their time at home with family or visit friends or loved ones who live far away. People also send cards to friends and families. This card wishes the receiver stating “Merry Christmas” and “A Happy New Year”.

Many International Students travel to their home country to celebrate Christmas with family, while others remain in the UK to experience the festival season with friends.

During these holidays people associate celebrating Christmas with their close family members. They gather at some point during these holidays and eat special meals together. Some families develop their own Christmas celebrations, such as Watching popular films together at home, or in Cinemas, going Ice staking, visiting Grandparents, and working for charity.

3. Presents for loved ones

A few weeks before Christmas Day, people often send out cards to their friends and family to make sure they reach their destinations in time. This shows that they are thinking of others wishing them a happier time. Many people nowadays buy presents for their friends, co-workers, family and loved ones.

The giving and receiving of presents traditionally recognise that Christmas day was Jesus’s Birthday. But now it is often seen as a good opportunity to share with others, be kind and appreciate what we have.

4. Experience traditional food

Every year, people residing in the UK can indulge themselves in various delicious culinary delights during the time of Christmas. From the classic Christmas dinner to festive treats like Mulled Wine, mince pies and pudding, there's something to satisfy every taste bud.

The main dish of Christmas day is usually Roasted Turkey, often surrounded by bacon-wrapped mini sausages and served with roasted potatoes and other vegetables. Traditionally with brussel sprouts.

In addition, Christmas crackers are an old tradition and are part of Christmas lunch. Two people pull the cracker from both sides and the cracker makes a loud bang, opening inside will reveal a toy, a paper hat and a joke. People sometimes wear the paper hat during the rest of their lunchtime together.

5. Charity for needy

Many people make donations to charities at Christmas for the people who are not able to celebrate or be with their family due to financial crises on this special day like we do. Carol singers from various charitable foundations visit homes to sing traditional songs and collect money for charity.

College and University students participate in various kinds of charitable foundations and go from door to door to gather financial aid and contribute as much as they can to society.

Attractions of Christmas

At this time of the year, you can enjoy dance shows, concerts and theatre productions,

1. Christmas Market

Almost all the towns and cities host a Christmas market during the months of December every year. These temporary markets vary in size and are one of the main attractions of experiencing Christmas in the UK.

Here are some of the attractions that you can find at Christmas markets in the UK:

• Local Delicacies: Traditional British treats like Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes.
• Delicious Treats: Varieties of small shops, and carts sell hot drinks (Mulled wine, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, latte).
• Sweet treats: toffees, gingerbreads, mince pies, cakes, fudge, gateau.
• Savoury treats: Sausages, Hotdogs, different types of cheese, roasted chestnuts, burgers.
• Ice Skating Rinks: Some big Christmas markets feature ice skating rinks, providing a fun winter activity for visitors of all ages. You will be given a pair of ice skating shoes as a rental. Multiple sizes are available for all shapes and sizes.
• Multinational cuisines: International food stalls, offering dishes such as Swarma, Falafel, Biriani, Pitha, Fuchka, BBQ items, Hot & Sour Soup and many more.
  
  

These festive treats, combined with the unique atmosphere of Christmas markets, create a memorable experience for visitors.

2. Christmas Lights tour

The cities of England are famous for varieties of Christmas lighting, decorated all over the city, mainly in the city centre and its adjacent areas, giving every city a winter wonderland vibes. These festive lights and decorations are kept for the whole Christmas break, extending beyond New Year’s Eve.

International students staying in the UK during winter can experience a spectacular view of the well-lit and decorated city. Giving them a memorable opportunity to capture their precious moments of experiencing Christmas.

You can visit London and experience dazzling lights on Regent Street, Carnaby Street, and Oxford Circus, as well as the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.  Other major cities inside the UK, such as Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool Cardiff, Edinburgh etc with the help of the council and locals, create a magical atmosphere during the festive season.

3. Experience Pantomime

The pantomime, or "panto" is very popular every year across the UK and is one of the best British Christmas traditions. It is a type of comedy stage show for family entertainment in theatres up and down the country.

Pantomimes usually include lots of songs, dances, jokes and dressing up.  The panto usually runs over the entire Christmas and New Year period. If there's a show on in a theatre near you, we definitely recommend experiencing the fun for yourself!

4. Discounts Everywhere

The festive season in the UK is a shopper's dream, with a huge number of discounts and promotions available both online and in-store. As Christmas approaches, many stores continue to roll out pre-Christmas sales, enticing shoppers with festive promotions.

Retailers and super shops offer massive discounts and price cuts across a wide range of products, such as toys, clothing, and electronics as a means of attracting holiday shoppers. Clearance sales can be seen in numerous garments and departmental shops.

Online shops such as Amazon UK, John Lewis, Argos, Marks and Spencer, Tesco, ASOS, Boots etc are popular digital marketing sites offering flat discounts on sale. They also have physical stores in city centre areas across the UK. International students can buy all their fashion needs through these online shops and get swift delivery during Christmas break.

Physical stores such as Debenhams, Sports Direct, Primark, Sainsbury, Home Bargains, Poundland, Wilko, Costco, H&M, TK Maxx etc offer special discounts during the Christmas holidays. It is recommended to do your shopping as early as you can, as the malls, and markets stay overcrowded, a week before Christmas. So, make sure you plan your shopping, look for the best deals and grab it before the stock clears.

5. Boxing Day celebration

The excitement doesn't end there; the post-Christmas period, especially Boxing Day, brings another wave of discounts, providing even more opportunities for bargain hunters to snag great deals.

This is the perfect time and opportunity for students to buy their desired products at unbelievable deals. And on top of the huge price cut, students can also enjoy 10% to 15% student discounts for any electronic device they purchase from branded retailers.

Boxing Day refers to the day after Christmas Day - the 26th of December. The term Boxing Day comes from the 1800s when the rich gave boxes of gifts to the poor.  Boxing Day is now a public holiday in the UK and in some European countries, people celebrate the day as a second Christmas Day. Most shops are open on this day  It's the perfect day to eat all the leftovers from Christmas!

 

At this time of the year, you can enjoy dance shows, concerts, theatre performances, festival parades etc with friends and family members.

As the Snow covers most parts of England from December, covering the cityscapes and countryside with a bright white blanket of snow. You will also be able to experience many winter-based activities such as visiting cosy pubs & Bars, Ice Skating, experiencing Winter Wonderlands, Going skiing or Snowboarding, Visiting Christmas tree farms, going to Christmas fairs (Fun rides) and winter-walk through parks across England.

To get the full experience of Freezing winter and extraordinary scenic views during the Christmas Holidays, international students can visit famous Natural reserves such as Peak District National Park, Snowdonia National Park, Lake District National Park, Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, Northumberland National Park etc. These places provide spectacular views of nature in the UK.

Festive earnings

There are many ways to make some extra earnings during the Christmas holidays. Some of them are:

• Seasonal or part-time Jobs: Many sellers and retailers face extra busy times in the months surrounding the festival. They require extra helping hands to take the extra pressure. So look out for opportunities to work as a part-time or seasonal employee increasing your skills and earning extra.

• Food delivery: If you are a student and have a bicycle, then you can register yourself with food delivery services such as Just Eat, Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Takeaway.com etc or with local restaurants & fast food shops and make food delivery to earn extra.

• Gardening and Snow Removal: Offer gardening services or snow removal for your neighbours during the winter months. The amount of cash you receive may be a small amount but sufficient for a swift task.

• Party Hosting Services: Offer to organize and host holiday parties for individuals or businesses, including decorating, catering, and entertainment

• Event management: Many events and promotions such as Christmas parties, fairs, and markets require extra staff to support and manage during the festive period. So look out for cash-in-hand work offerings that suit your timetable.

• Photography: You as a student can offer holiday photo sessions for families, couples, or pets. Capture festive moments and sell prints or digital copies and obtain instant cash.

• Warehouse work: Many companies like, eBay UK, Curry’s PC World, IKEA, Amazon UK and other online retailers often hire extra staff for the busy Christmas period to complete their warehouse tasks and customer delivery within the projected timeline.

• Catering Services: Find jobs to work as a temporary helping hand in restaurants in busy areas to help staff cook and deliver festive meals or offer catering for holiday parties and events.

• Create and Sell Christmas Cards: Design and sell personalized holiday cards, either physically or digitally.
  
  

Being an international student, these options can help you make the most of the festive season by earning some extra income. Also you could earn extra tips and bonuses if you are good at efficiently doing your tasks.

During Christmas, customers satisfied with the service will often pay you handsome tips. So, if you are planning to earn some extra during the month of Christmas in the UK, there is nothing more rewarding than balancing your time between enjoyment and work.

Celebrating Christmas in the UK is a truly magical experience. The festive spirit fills the air, with twinkling lights, glowing markets, and heartwarming traditions. From indulging in delicious festive food to immersing oneself in the enchanting atmosphere of Christmas carols and festive cheer, the UK offers a unique and unforgettable celebration which lasts until the New Year's celebrations.

Whether you're exploring historic cities, cosying up by a fireplace, or simply enjoying the company of loved ones. The Christmas celebration in the UK is sure to give you vivid memories that will last forever. Or else you can book an appointment to have a cheerful discussion with our UK graduate experts to get real life experiences.