Christmas Traditions in Wales Christmas in Wales is a time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Families and friends get together. People give and receive gifts and have a festive meal. We visit church. People decorate their homes. They put up Christmas trees. The Christmas trees are decorated with small fairy lights, tinsel and sparkly baubles. The also decorate their homes with holly and mistletoe. On Christmas Eve children hang up stockings for Father Christmas to put their presents in. People send friends and family Christmas cards. On Christmas Eve children leave a mince pie and a drink for Father Christmas and some carrots for his reindeers.
Traditional Christmas Carols and Songs Away in a manger Deck the halls Jingle Bells O come all ye faithful O little town of Bethlehem Silent night The twelve days of Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas While shepherds watched their flocks Frosty the snowman
Victoria CP School children performing a nativity play which tells the story of the birth of Jesus.
On Christmas Day we have Christmas dinner. A Traditional Christmas Menu Roast turkey Roast potatoes Carrots Parsnips Sprouts Chestnut stuffing Cranberry sauce Gravy Then for dessert a fruity pudding which we call Christmas Pudding. Traditional Christmas Puddings used to have a sixpence inside for good luck to who ever got it. During Christmas dinner we pull Christmas crackers. These have small gifts and hats in them. The Christmas cracker was invented by Thomas Smith in 1846.
Boxing Day The day after Christmas day is called Boxing Day. Boxing Day is a national holiday in Wales. We have Boxing Day because hundreds of years ago on Christmas Day churches would collect gifts for the poor, then on Boxing Day these would be given out to the poor. Also Priests would give a box to a boat going on a voyage for good luck. Every person on the boat would put money in the box. If the boat returned safely both the box and money would be given back to the priest. The priest would them give the money to the poor on Boxing Day.