Christmas traditions in U.K.: What does it all mean? Published Dec. 20, 2012 By Staff Reports 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- In the United Kingdom, there are many Christmas traditions which may be unfamiliar to those from other countries. Read on to learn more about Boxing Day, Christmas crackers and Christmas fare. Boxing Day Americans new to England may have heard mention of "Boxing Day," but most don't know what it means. Boxing Day, also known as St. Stephen's Day, is the day after Christmas in the U.K. and it's a national holiday. There are several theories as to its origins, but generally it's viewed as another day to spend with family and friends and eat leftovers. Some of the theories include: · A "Christmas box" in Britain is a name for a Christmas present. · Boxing Day was a day off for servants, when they would receive a "Christmas box" from their master. The servants would also go home and give Christmas boxes to their families. · A box to collect money for the poor was placed in churches on Christmas Day, then opened the next day. · When setting sail, large sailing ships would have a sealed box containing money on board for good luck. If the voyage was a success, the box was given to a priest, opened at Christmas and the contents given to the poor. The general opinion though, of the true origin, is probably the day off for servants, when they were given the Christmas box. Nowadays, Christmas boxes (generally in the form of money) are given to tradesmen. Boxing Day is also synonymous with sport. Horse racing is very popular, with meets all over the country, as is soccer. Fox hunting - on horseback, using dogs to catch the prey - is also traditional here. Although hunting foxes is now banned, hunters on horseback still gather dressed resplendently in red hunting coats, to the sound of the hunting horn. Nowadays, however, the hunt follows artificially-laid trails. Boxing Day hunts still take place around East Anglia. December 26 is also the day that many sales start, and bargains are to be had, so it's best to get up early if you plan on heading to the shops! Lunch on Boxing Day is usually buffet-style, or leftovers from Christmas lunch. Baked ham is popular, along with mince pies with brandy butter and a slice of Christmas cake. Christmas crackers Those of you spending your first Christmas in England, will probably be introduced to Christmas crackers. These are completely different to crackers you have with cheese! Placed on the table at each place setting, crackers are brightly-decorated cardboard tubes containing a small explosive strip (which makes a bang when the two ends are pulled), a paper hat, a joke and a small gift. Two people pull an end each, and the cracker separates with a bang. The winner is the one left holding the biggest portion. It is then tradition to wear the colorful paper hat found inside. And since they often contain small "gifts" inside, children love to pull them - usually gathering up a pile of treasures from everyone's cracker, and proudly wearing the hats. Christmas fare Food, food and more food, is a big part of what Christmas is all about. But there are several infamous festive foods in the U.K., many of which date back centuries. Christmas cake - a rich fruit cake steeped in alcohol - was part of the Twelfth Night celebrations. Twelfth Night is usually considered Jan. 5, the eve of Epiphany, which is generally the last day of festivities. However, some consider the night of Epiphany itself, Jan. 6, to be Twelfth Night. Christmas puddings, also rich in alcohol as they are soaked in brandy and set alight before serving, date back to the 17th century. It's supposed to be lucky to help make the pudding, which, it should be noted, is similar in texture to a fruit cake, as opposed to an American-style pudding. In the past, families took turns to stir the mixture clockwise and make a wish. The cook would put a sixpence coin into the mixture, and whoever found it was meant to have good luck. Mince pies are even older in origin and can be traced back to the 13th century, when returning crusaders brought with them Middle Eastern recipes containing meats, fruits and spices. Originally they were made with meat in the filling, and were shaped to look like Christ's manger. Today, they are made from pastry and a sweet fruit filling. It is also traditional to leave a mince pie and a drink out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, along with carrots for his reindeer. So, to feel more "at home" while here over the festive period, why not enjoy some of the British tradition with friends and family. Whatever you do, stay safe and enjoy the holidays.