1. Nadolig yng Nghymru
Christmas in Wales

2. Advent Begins The Christian countdown to Christmas begins
Children open their first advent calendar door to find a chocolate or small present
Advent continues until Midnight Mass on Chrsitmas Eve

3. At School during December
Pupils begin to prepare for their
school concert
It usually contains the story of the nativity or
sometimes a traditional Christmas tale
Pupils learn traditional carols and Christmas songs
Pupils begin making Christmas cards and decorations to take home to celebrate Christmas
We usually pay to wear a ‘Christmas jumper’ to school on one day to raise money for a charity

4. Parties Schools organise a party for the class
Pupils bring their favourite foods to school
i.e. sandwiches, sausage rolls, chocolate cake, and crisps,
They play party games such as musical statues, flip the coin and fun races such as blowing the ping pong ball
Grown ups go out with their work friends

5. Christmas Cake and Pudding
Some people prepare their own Christmas Pudding. It usually has one small piece of money (5p) hidden inside.
Some people prepare their
Christmas cake
People begin to make and eat mince pies

6. Christmas Shopping Everyone is busy shopping Shops are open later
Christmas Market Stalls appear in towns and cities
Internet shopping is at its busiest

7. Christmas Carol Concerts
Schools, Churches and Community Groups hold Carol Concerts
Some people go from house to house singing carols collecting money for charity

8. Christmas Trees and Decorations These are set up anytime in December
Christmas Trees are set up inside of houses
They are decorated with baubles, tinsel and Christmas crackers
People decorate their houses with holly and mistletoe
Some people decorate their gardens with fairy lights and illuminated Santas and snowmen

9. Christmas Cards
Christmas Cards are sent to friends and family to wish them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Christmas cards can be religious, beautiful or jokey

10. The Christmas Pantomime
Families attend a Christmas Pantomime. It is usually a traditional story performed on stage with some funny scenes and quite often men play female roles and vice versa
The audience are expected to shout out in specific places usually when disagreeing with the ‘baddie’
“Oh yes you do!”
“Oh no you don’t”
“He’s behind you!”

11. Father Christmas
Children write a letter to Santa Claus asking for special presents to open on Christmas morning
It can be posted or burnt on the fire and the smoke letter goes up the chimney
Some lucky children get to visit Father Christmas in his grotto (everyone knows they are only dressed up Santa Clauses who take messages to the real Santa; he only works on Christmas Eve the 24th of December).
Father Christmas travels on his sleigh pulled by his famous reindeer delivering presents to all the houses on Christmas Eve. He used to come down the chimney but now he sometimes has to use a magic key as not everyone has a chimney.
He will only come if you are fast asleep

12. Christmas Eve
Children hang stockings over the fireplace or at the end of their beds to receive their Christmas gifts from Father Christmas
Many people begin preparing the vegetables, and cooking the meat for the next days special dinner
Some people attend Midnight Mass
in the churches

13. Christmas Day the 25th of December
People get up early because all the children want to see what is in their stockings!
Some attend church
Some have a special breakfast
Everyone is preparing the Christmas dinner
Families usually get together to share their Christmas dinner. The table is laid with the best cutlery and napkins as well as crackers to decorate the table.
You pull a cracker with your table partner and everyone wears the paper hats and tells the silly jokes that are found inside the cracker
Everyone exchanges gifts around the Christmas Tree

14. Christmas Dinner
Turkey, roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots, peas, sprouts, piggy in blankets (sausage wrapped in bacon) stuffing, bread sauce, cranberry sauce and gravy.

15. Boxing Day or The Feast of St Stephen
It used to be a day of exchanging gifts with servants or tradesmen
NOW
Some people relax at home
Some people meet family and friends
Some people que to shop in the sales!!

16. New Year’s Eve
People gather in homes or public places to welcome in the New Year. There are often fireworks
Children are allowed to stay up late
Everyone joins hands and sings ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at midnight.
In Scotland they celebrate Hogmanay

17. New Year’s Day Everyone relaxes
Some people prepare a special New Year’s meal

18. January 6th-Epiphany Christmas is over
Decorations must come down on or before this date

19. Y Fari Lwyd January 13th
Y Fari Lwyd brings luck to the houses she visits on the eve of the old Julian new year
People travel from house to house singing hoping for ‘Calennig’- food or beer (or sweets) that they may share with the householder
The Mari Lwyd is the skeleton of a horse’s head covered in a white sheet and decorated with ribbons. Usually a man hides underneath helping Mari dance.
This tradition is still celebrated in parts of West Wales and Cardiff