Travel

Winter Holidays, Customs and Traditions Throughout the UK

By Ferne Arfin, About.com Guide

Britain sparkles and blazes throughout the winter holiday season. There are wonderful Christmas markets, colorful Diwali celebrations, amazing fire festivals and totally mad New Year's celebrations. Here's where you'll find out about the music, foods, shopping and celebrations of the UK Festive Season.

Festive Shopping and Seasonal Events
Seasonal Traditions and Holiday Music
Hogmanay and New Year's Celebrations
Festive Food and Drink
Gift Ideas with a British Accent

Festive Shopping and Seasonal Events

Frankfurt Market in Birmingham - The Biggest, Longest German Christmas Market Outside of Germany

Christmas markets spring up all over the United Kingdom. There's something irresistably festive about shopping for exotic goodies and sipping mulled wine from stalls dressed with twinkly lights, often in the shadow of ancient Cathedrals and city walls.

Seasonal Traditions and Holiday Music

Lights and Mirrors at Waddesdon Manor, Christmas 2007

Some of the world's greatest cathedral choirs perform during the holiday season. Stately homes put on their finery and people take to the streets for lights, fun and festivities. Share a mince pie with Shakespeare's ghost or set a lantern ablaze on Brighton Beach. The British make a right royal fuss over the holiday season. They even celebrate an extra Bank Holiday for Christmas.

Hogmanay and New Year's Celebrations

If Christmas is a spectacular holiday in England and Wales, it's New Year's Eve, or Hogmanay, that is the biggest seasonal celebration in Scotland. Huge street parties, fireworks, bonfires, and more bizarre fire festivals serve to chase away the winter darkness and last for days.

Festive Food and Drink

From great pubs to find Christmas dinner to inspiring pictures and recipes for traditional British Christmas treats, check out what's cooking for Christmas right here.

Gift Ideas with a British Accent

Here's a list of gift ideas for friends and family who travel. Someone planning a trip to Britain? Just returned? Can't stop talking about their trip of a lifetime? Presents with a bit of a British spin as well as discount passes, practical travel accessories, gadgets and books are bound to be popular choices.

United Kingdom Travel

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