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A traditional
English Christmas dinner consists of roast turkey and stuffing, roast potatoes
and vegetables, bread sauce, cranberry sauce and gravy, followed by Christmas
pudding with brandy butter.
For lots of
people, it just wouldn't be Christmas without a turkey. But in fact, in this
country the tradition of eating turkey at Christmas only dates from the 19th
century, when it gradually began to replace goose as the Christmas meal. A
Christmas tradition involving the turkey is to pull its wishbone. The person
left with the larger piece of the bone makes a wish.
Nut roast has
become the traditional Christmas dish for many vegetarians. For a festive
twist, try adding cranberries (fresh or dried) or chestnuts.
Heaps of
vegetables are another traditional part of Christmas lunch. Many people will
eat more fruit and vegetables on Christmas day than on any other day of the
year.
A vital part of
the traditional Christmas is the roast potatoes. Cranberry sauce is great for
adding flavour.
Another
Christmas classic is the Christmas pudding, with its rich concoction of dried
fruits such as raisins, currants and sultanas.
The Christmas
pudding known today began life as Christmas porridge called Frumenty, a dish
made of wheat or corn boiled up in milk. Now, a Christmas pudding is a brown
pudding with raisins, nuts and cherries. It is served with custard or brandy
butter. Often brandy is poured over the pudding, which is then set a light as
it is carried to the table. The lights are turned off so people can see the
flames.
Christmas table
should be just as festive as the rest of the home. It can be use pine garland,
candles, Christmas ornaments and other special touches to create a memorable
holiday table.
When Queen Victoria came to the
throne, the roast beef was the centrepiece of the Christmas feast in the North,
while the goose was the traditional fare of the South.
Virginia Hayward supplies a selection of
christmas
hampers and christmas
gifts.
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