Most people in Britain see Christmas as the major festival of the year - an occasion for parties, giving and receiving gifts, eating and drinking, and generally having fun.
The many non-religious traditions associated with Christmas are in fact not very old, dating back only to the 19th century. These are mostly for children. On Christmas Eve, children hang stockings at the end of their beds or over the fireplace. They are told that Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, arrives at night from the North Pole on his flying sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, climbs down the chimney and fills each stocking with presents. The children open their presents - put there secretly by their parents – on Christmas morning.
Lunch is the most important point of Christmas Day. The traditional lunch consists of roast turkey with vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding, which is made with dried fruit and brandy. Sometimes a coin is put in the pudding as a surprise.
The day after Christmas Day is called Boxing Day (probably after the church alms box which was opened for the poor on that day) and this too is a public holiday.
Religious observance has declined in Britain, but many people still go to church at Christmas – to midnight mass on Christmas Eve or to a morning service on Christmas Day.
turkey – èíäåéêà
alms – ìèëîñòûíÿ
sleigh – ñàíè
reindeer – ñåâåðíûé îëåíü