Top 5 Things I Like About a British Christmas

A month from now exactly, I'll be on a plane back to California. 

I'll have some time off, see some of my SF friends and contacts, I'll see my dogs - oh, and my family - and lay on the couch and watch crappy American TV shows and shovel Chex Mix Party Mix into my mouth like it ain't no thing. 

I'm pretty excited. 

I'm also excited because Christmas is about the only time the world slows down a bit, and we can all take a little bit of time off. Even if it's just a couple days. 

However, as excited as I am to go back home, there will be things I miss about having a British Christmas. 

Now, before you start the "oh, but you can get that in the States" or "can't you just bring some with you?" YES I KNOW. I know that I can just pack some of this shit with me, but let me have my moment, OK?

*clears throat*

So! Here are my top five favorite things for a British Christmas!

1) Cheese with Cranberries In It

I don't care if it's Stilton or Wensleydale, if it's a white cheese with cranberries it in, I'm in. I love these cheeses more than I can say. I will also eat them year round, but they taste better at Christmas. Fact.

2) Doctor Who Christmas Special

This Christmas Special is uber specical because it's David Tennant's last Doctor Who episode. And I am going to miss it. I don't want to talk about it.

3) Mulled Anything

Cider? Wine? Champagne? Gasoline? Whatever, if it's mulled, I'll drink it. Mulled wine reminds me of the year we went to the 12 Nights of Christmas market at Covent Garden... that was such a cool night.

4) Crackers

Growing up, I was a big of an Anglophile. (You're shocked, I'm sure.) And in all the Christmas movies or specials, like Bridget Jonse's Diary and The Osbournes, you British folk were always wearing colorful paper hats. Anytime I met a British person I always asked about the paper crowns, and no one knew WTF I was talking about. Personally, I think they just didn't feel like telling me because I was an overly-enthusiastic American dweeb, but whatever. Now I know they come in Crackers, so it's Crackers I do love.

5) THINGS

I know Christmas Things happen in probably every major city around the world, but I've never spent much time in a big city before moving to London, and it blows my mind how many THINGS there are. Whether it's night markets or Winter Wonderland or ice skating at Hampton Court Palace, there are just so many things you can do. Events to go to. It's just nice. 

There are many things and more about an American Christmas that I like, traditions me and my family have, but I'm just learning to like Christmas again. Having divorced parents can sort of fuck up the holidays, and now that I'm an adult and can choose what I want to do, and how I want to spend my time, I like it much better. 

I also have a very nice man in my life who will fly me across the planet to see my family if I so wish. 

I'd say I'm pretty lucky. 

Comments

[Jaime Evans]

I totally get the whole British Christmas thing, especially the penchant for cracker hats and mulled anything! And a roast dinner on Christmas Day, which I maintain is nothing like a Thanksgiving feast, despite the many ingredient similarities. I wish I was going to be in the UK this Christmas, but I guess I am going to have to settle for my January visit instead. : )

[Janie]

Dude, americans don't get crackers? Or paper hats IN crackers?! The hell? Even us pathetic Australians rock the paper hats at Christmas! Poor form, US of A.