Happy Christmas!

The countdown is on and I just can't wait!! I leave in 5 short days for the US and it can't come fast enough. Chad has been there for a week now and I'm so jealous! He had training last week and decided to stay there this week instead of coming all the way back to London and then leaving a week later for Christmas! So I have been getting ready for my trip this weekend and I intended to get ahead on some work, but somehow I have not been too successful at that!

I was going to take a few photos of London at Christmas this weekend for my post but I left the house and then realised (man I spelled that the British way and didn't even think about it!) I forgot the battery to my camera and it was too far to turn back! So instead, I thought that I'd share a few of the common Christmas traditions that I know about in the UK:

1. They say "Father Christmas" instead of Santa here and he's the same guy we know and love in the US!
2. They love to eat mince pies and Christmas pudding and to be honest I haven't tried either - they are like fruit cake in my mind and not so desirable.
3. Not surprisingly at all, Christmas is another reason (not like the Brits need a reason) to drink a lot and attend Christmas parties. My department at work had our Christmas party this week and we did a lunch, a secret Santa gift exchange (with my department senior manager dressed up as Santa!) and the tables were cleared and the dance floor opened up. All I can say is that they know to have fun!
4. They put on Christmas Pantomimes (or "Pantos") in the theatres for children and they aren't necessarily linked with a Christmas theme although they make it festive. I went to one this week with some friends and it was Cinderella. It's basically a musical and comedy production and they told the story of Cinderella but had little comedy acts, a ventriloquist and other funny things in between. They also had British stars in the production - Gareth Gates from X-Factor (their equivalent to American Idol) as the Prince and Joanna Page (she is a British actress - she was in Love Actually).
5. They spend the holidays with their families and do big Christmas dinners with turkey and all the trimmings. Oh and they always open Christmas poppers at dinner - which are these little gifts that pop open when you pull them and include little gifts, riddles and paper crowns that you have to put on.
6. Christmas eve is not a national holiday but the day after Christmas, Boxing Day is. Most likely designed to give them a day to rest after a day of over indulgence!

So - things aren't so different then they are at home but they do things a little differently!

Anyway, this will be my final post before the holidays and I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas with your loved ones and a very Happy New Year! More to come from me soon - although it will be less than interesting telling you about my life as an auditor once January hits!

xoxox, Kari