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| The new rituals of a modern-day Christmas | The new rituals of a modern-day Christmas |
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| Mince pies, stockings and singing carols are Christmas traditions that have been around for as long as we can remember. But are there new festive rituals that in years to come could be spoken of in the same way? | Mince pies, stockings and singing carols are Christmas traditions that have been around for as long as we can remember. But are there new festive rituals that in years to come could be spoken of in the same way? |
| Christmas celebrations have a long and varied history in the UK. | Christmas celebrations have a long and varied history in the UK. |
| SEND US YOUR SUGGESTIONS What new Christmas rituals have you noticed?Tell us, using the form at the bottom of the page | |
| From 5th Century nativity carols to the first Christmas tree brought over to England by Prince Albert in 1841, to the banning of the festival altogether under Oliver Cromwell in 1647. | From 5th Century nativity carols to the first Christmas tree brought over to England by Prince Albert in 1841, to the banning of the festival altogether under Oliver Cromwell in 1647. |
| But new Christmas rituals that reflect contemporary life are slowly becoming a familiar part of the season. | But new Christmas rituals that reflect contemporary life are slowly becoming a familiar part of the season. |
| OPEN-AIR SKATING | OPEN-AIR SKATING |
| There's Ice Cube in Leeds, The Ice Factor in York, Skating@Life in Gateshead, Spinningfields in Manchester, Winter Wonderland in Edinburgh and Somerset House in London, to name just a few. | There's Ice Cube in Leeds, The Ice Factor in York, Skating@Life in Gateshead, Spinningfields in Manchester, Winter Wonderland in Edinburgh and Somerset House in London, to name just a few. |
| Suddenly, every major city in the UK seems to have an outdoor skating rink for a season that can last for more than three months. | Suddenly, every major city in the UK seems to have an outdoor skating rink for a season that can last for more than three months. |
| It's got that romance that you associate with Central Park in New York Vicky PepysSkating@Life class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/7779648.stm">Sights and sounds of skating | |
| "We've been open for nine years now, and numbers seem to be increasing," says Vicky Pepys of Skating@Life, which has 70,000 visitors over 15 weeks. "It's become a yearly tradition so that people ask 'when is it opening?' | "We've been open for nine years now, and numbers seem to be increasing," says Vicky Pepys of Skating@Life, which has 70,000 visitors over 15 weeks. "It's become a yearly tradition so that people ask 'when is it opening?' |
| "Like the Christmas window at Fenwick [department store] and the Christmas tree at the civic centre, skating is now one of the city's Christmas traditions." | "Like the Christmas window at Fenwick [department store] and the Christmas tree at the civic centre, skating is now one of the city's Christmas traditions." |
| There's a nostalgia about skating that evokes American movies, she says, at a time of year when people are happy to escape the stresses of the season. | There's a nostalgia about skating that evokes American movies, she says, at a time of year when people are happy to escape the stresses of the season. |
| "It's got that romance that you associate with Central Park in New York, especially at night, when there's sparkling lights and music playing, and hot chocolate in the cafe downstairs." | "It's got that romance that you associate with Central Park in New York, especially at night, when there's sparkling lights and music playing, and hot chocolate in the cafe downstairs." |
| New York, New York | |
| But before people try and re-enact scenes from When Harry Met Sally, there is a note of caution. | But before people try and re-enact scenes from When Harry Met Sally, there is a note of caution. |
| With more skaters, there are more injuries. Chelsea and Westminster NHS hospital reports a substantial increase in the number of broken bones, fractures and lacerations that come from the Natural History Museum rink just a mile down the road. | With more skaters, there are more injuries. Chelsea and Westminster NHS hospital reports a substantial increase in the number of broken bones, fractures and lacerations that come from the Natural History Museum rink just a mile down the road. |
| Dr Ed Abrahamson, consultant in children's accident and emergency, notes that there is a "seasonal difference" in this type of injury. | Dr Ed Abrahamson, consultant in children's accident and emergency, notes that there is a "seasonal difference" in this type of injury. |
| The hospital is launching an audit into skating injuries across A&E to look into the rising numbers. | The hospital is launching an audit into skating injuries across A&E to look into the rising numbers. |
| GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS | GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS |
| German markets can now be found across the UK, where visitors can find all manner of crafts and sip on festive "Glühwein" (mulled wine) to fend off the cold. | German markets can now be found across the UK, where visitors can find all manner of crafts and sip on festive "Glühwein" (mulled wine) to fend off the cold. |
| It's seen as something wholesome in an otherwise increasingly consumerist world Simon Green, Aston Centre for Europe Gluhwein means it's Christmas | It's seen as something wholesome in an otherwise increasingly consumerist world Simon Green, Aston Centre for Europe Gluhwein means it's Christmas |
| Christmas markets have become a popular holiday pastime, creating a festive shopping experience. | Christmas markets have become a popular holiday pastime, creating a festive shopping experience. |
| The Frankfurt Christmas market in Birmingham is the biggest of its kind outside of Germany and Austria. | The Frankfurt Christmas market in Birmingham is the biggest of its kind outside of Germany and Austria. |
| The city knows it's Christmas when the Germans come, according to Emily Malcolm of Birmingham City Council. This is reflected in the visitor numbers, which reached 2.8 million last year, with 94 German-owned stalls flown in from Frankfurt. | The city knows it's Christmas when the Germans come, according to Emily Malcolm of Birmingham City Council. This is reflected in the visitor numbers, which reached 2.8 million last year, with 94 German-owned stalls flown in from Frankfurt. |
| As British people increasingly look for an escape from a nakedly commercial Christmas, these German markets offer something more wholesome, says Simon Green, co-director of the Aston Centre for Europe. | As British people increasingly look for an escape from a nakedly commercial Christmas, these German markets offer something more wholesome, says Simon Green, co-director of the Aston Centre for Europe. |
| Birmingham hosts one of the biggest German markets | Birmingham hosts one of the biggest German markets |
| "It appeals to our romanticism. If you are outside with the lights, the smell and warmth of the food, it's an appealing environment which we react to. | "It appeals to our romanticism. If you are outside with the lights, the smell and warmth of the food, it's an appealing environment which we react to. |
| "It's seen as something wholesome in an otherwise increasingly consumerist world. It allows them to engage with Christmas but not in a religious way." | "It's seen as something wholesome in an otherwise increasingly consumerist world. It allows them to engage with Christmas but not in a religious way." |
| Although they are commercial enterprises - and some are very expensive - they don't seem like they are profiteering. | Although they are commercial enterprises - and some are very expensive - they don't seem like they are profiteering. |
| "If you go into a department store, it seems like it's about making profits but here we are kidding ourselves it's an environment of reflection and chance to enjoy the spirit of Christmas." | "If you go into a department store, it seems like it's about making profits but here we are kidding ourselves it's an environment of reflection and chance to enjoy the spirit of Christmas." |
| X FACTOR SINGLE | X FACTOR SINGLE |
| It may not have taken top spot, for the first time since 2005, but it still provides the focus for the battle to be Christmas number one. | It may not have taken top spot, for the first time since 2005, but it still provides the focus for the battle to be Christmas number one. |
| X Factor winner McElderry missed out on top spot this year | X Factor winner McElderry missed out on top spot this year |
| Simon Cowell's domination of the charts at this time of the year was eclipsed by a hugely popular Facebook campaign, which saw the 1992 Rage Against The Machine hit, Killing in the Name, reach the top of the charts. | Simon Cowell's domination of the charts at this time of the year was eclipsed by a hugely popular Facebook campaign, which saw the 1992 Rage Against The Machine hit, Killing in the Name, reach the top of the charts. |
| But it took an extraordinary number - 500,000 - to beat the X Factor single, The Climb by Joe McElderry, which was only 50,000 copies behind. | But it took an extraordinary number - 500,000 - to beat the X Factor single, The Climb by Joe McElderry, which was only 50,000 copies behind. |
| In the past four years, Leona Lewis, Leon Jackson, Alexandra Burke and Ward have all found considerable success with their winner's singles, selling on average 540,000 copies to take the prize. | In the past four years, Leona Lewis, Leon Jackson, Alexandra Burke and Ward have all found considerable success with their winner's singles, selling on average 540,000 copies to take the prize. |
| Burke's cover of the Leonard Cohen classic, Hallelujah, was last year's biggest selling single, clocking up 576,000 sales. | Burke's cover of the Leonard Cohen classic, Hallelujah, was last year's biggest selling single, clocking up 576,000 sales. |
| Cowell's supremacy may have been thwarted this year, but only with the help of a vast social networking campaign. The X Factor single will remain the one to beat. | Cowell's supremacy may have been thwarted this year, but only with the help of a vast social networking campaign. The X Factor single will remain the one to beat. |
| HAVING PRESENTS GIFT-WRAPPED | HAVING PRESENTS GIFT-WRAPPED |
| Fans of the romantic comedy Love Actually may chuckle at the memory of Rowan Atkinson's character performing the most extraordinary feat of gift wrapping, complete with dried roses and lavender stems. | Fans of the romantic comedy Love Actually may chuckle at the memory of Rowan Atkinson's character performing the most extraordinary feat of gift wrapping, complete with dried roses and lavender stems. |
| Having someone wrap your presents for you is an ever more popular option and it befits our "increasingly demanding lifestyles", according to Malcolm Pinkerton, a senior retail analyst at Datamonitor. | Having someone wrap your presents for you is an ever more popular option and it befits our "increasingly demanding lifestyles", according to Malcolm Pinkerton, a senior retail analyst at Datamonitor. |
| Up-market stores, in particular, need to differentiate themselves from the competitors and create a "premium shopping experience", he says. | Up-market stores, in particular, need to differentiate themselves from the competitors and create a "premium shopping experience", he says. |
| The option is now available in most department stores and some consumers have come to expect this level of service, says Mr Pinkerton, so shops have little choice. | The option is now available in most department stores and some consumers have come to expect this level of service, says Mr Pinkerton, so shops have little choice. |
| FESTIVE COFFEE | FESTIVE COFFEE |
| It wasn't so long ago that when someone asked "How do you like your coffee?" there were two possible answers. Black or white. | It wasn't so long ago that when someone asked "How do you like your coffee?" there were two possible answers. Black or white. |
| Now there are cappuccinos, machiatos, flat whites and long blacks, among others. | Now there are cappuccinos, machiatos, flat whites and long blacks, among others. |
| And to further complicate things, coffee shops now adopt Christmas flavours. | And to further complicate things, coffee shops now adopt Christmas flavours. |
| Lattes are flavoured gingerbread at Coffee Republic, and roasted hazelnut or creme brulee at Costa. And at Starbucks there is a special "Christmas blend". | Lattes are flavoured gingerbread at Coffee Republic, and roasted hazelnut or creme brulee at Costa. And at Starbucks there is a special "Christmas blend". |
| "We know that as soon as the red cups come to Starbucks, Christmas is here," says a spokesman for retail analysts Allegra Strategies. | "We know that as soon as the red cups come to Starbucks, Christmas is here," says a spokesman for retail analysts Allegra Strategies. |
| Are there any other new Christmas rituals you have noticed? | Are there any other new Christmas rituals you have noticed? |
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