1. Mummering is a custom in England where people put on masks and act out Christmas plays, which are still performed in towns and villages.
2. The English gift giver is called Father Christmas. He wears a long red or green robe, and leaves presents in stockings on Christmas Eve.
3. The traditional food in Christmas time includes roast turkey with vegetables and sauces, followed by dessert which is rich, fruity Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. Mince pies, pastry cases filled with a mixture of chopped dried fruit, are also eaten.
4. On Boxing Day, children in England used to go round collecting money in clay boxes. When the boxes were full, they broke them open.
5. Christmas crackers were invented by Thomas Smith in 1846.
6. A Christmas cracker traditionally contains a paper crown, a small gift, and a joke written on a slip of paper.
7. The traditional way to pull a cracker is by crossing your arms and pulling a whole circle of crackers around the table. Everyone holds their cracker in their right hand and pulls their neighbour's cracker with their free left hand.
8. Differences and similarities between England and your traditions in Christmas time would depend on your personal background. However, common similarities might include decorating Christmas trees, having a festive meal, and exchanging gifts. Differences might include the specific foods eaten, the figures associated with gift-giving (e.g., Father Christmas vs. Santa Claus), and the customs observed on specific days like Boxing Day.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of free christmas reading comprehension worksheet.
