Christmas is traditionally considered the main winter holiday in Great Britain. New Year is perceived only as part of the Christmas holidays. Only the Scots celebrate it as a great holiday. Nevertheless, many Londoners gather on New Year's Eve in the main square of the city to congratulate each other on the holiday while the Big Ben clock strikes.
The British usually celebrate the New Year visiting friends, on the streets, in restaurants and pubs. Young people have fun at holiday parties that start at 8pm and continue until the early hours of the morning. A festive crowd roams around Trafalgar Square all night. Street vendors briskly offer Christmas toys, whistles, carnival masks and balloons to cheerful Londoners.
New Year's festivities
For children, performances based on the plots of classic English fairy tales are played. Merry carnival processions are held under the leadership of the chief jester named Lord Disorder. Among their participants are Hobby Horse (a young guy in a horse costume), the March Hare from Alice in Wonderland, Humpty Dumpty, Punch and other fairy-tale characters.
On Christmas Eve, on Trafalgar Square, a New Year tree is installed, which, on this occasion, is brought from Norway. The famous London New Year's parade is also held there - one of the most massive New Year's processions in Europe. Usually over 10,000 people take part in it, including dancers, musicians, acrobats and clowns.
At midnight, the blankets are removed from the bells of Big Ben, in which the clock is wrapped for the winter, and their fight heralds the coming of the New Year. At this time, young lovers try to kiss under a mistletoe branch so that they can stay together for the next year.
New Year with family
Christmas trees have been standing in the houses since the celebration of Christmas, and sprigs of holly, ivy and mistletoe hang over the doors. The main gifts are given here at Christmas, but it is customary to exchange postcards and small souvenirs on New Years. It is believed that on New Year's Eve, like on Christmas, Santa Claus comes to children. Before going to bed, they leave him a treat in specially prepared wooden shoes, and put a plate for gifts on the table.
Traditional festive dishes are served at the New Year's table: turkey with chestnuts and fried potatoes, meat pies, stewed Brussels sprouts, oat cakes, fried goose and steaks. This is followed by your favorite English desserts, incl. pudding, apple pie, fruit and sweets. Punch is considered a traditional New Year's drink.
The most famous of British New Year's traditions is the welcome of the first guest. It is believed that the year will be successful if, after midnight, a dark-haired young man is the first to come into the house. At the same time, he should bring bread, coal and a pinch of salt as a gift to the owners - symbols of food, warmth and prosperity. The guest immediately throws the ember into the fireplace. After that, all the household members congratulate each other and treat the guest.
