Passing the Holidays in a New Place

Snow Man at West India Quay

London is a wonderful place to spend the winter holidays and to celebrate the arrival of the new year. You might think that Christmas and New Year's are much the same sort of holidays in London as in the United States.  Actually, they are quite different, as we discovered by choosing to stay here to celebrate them in a new place.

First, there was the weather:  London has a reputation for being rainy, and it delivered, along with some cold, gusty days.  There was even some snow outside the city and a dusting that immediately melted -- or was it ash or lint?  One will never know, but we were happy to have no snow to shovel this year, and we didn't worry about a power outage.

Other sights to enjoy:  Bond Street's elegant shop windows and building decorations, Carnaby Street's tribute to the Rolling Stones' 50th anniversary, Sloan Square, Regent Street's Twelve Days of Christmas cross-street banners, and Oxford Street's Marmite-focused decorations.

Asprey - Bond Street


What we learned was that religious holidays are truly honored here in England.  You must prepare in advance for restaurant and store closures on both Christmas and Boxing days, as even convenience stores remain closed.  It is refreshingly clear:  you should stay home and enjoy time with family and friends, so stock up!

We also discovered:  Turkey with stuffing is the meal of choice for Christmas, since Dickens' goose is wildly expensive.  Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding is a second or additional choice for a crowd, and desserts, known "puddings" include mince pies, trifle, Christmas puddings (usually a spiced cake mix of dried fruits and bread along with suet, steamed, flambéed and topped with brandied cream or custard).  Ginger cookies are also tops on the sweets list, but the stacks of Christmas cookies we make in the US are virtually non-existent here.  As for vegetables, Brussels sprouts and parsnips are the traditional choices, being easily available during the winter season.

London puts on its party hat from the beginning of December.  In fact, from Halloween on, the decorations begin to appear.  Throughout the city, ice rinks are set up in beautiful spaces, surrounded by trees lit by blue lights.  There is a list, which includes:  Tower of London, the Natural History Museum, Somerset House, Canary Wharf.  Each of these and other sites are special in their own way and are worth a visit, as they last till mid-January and then are gone till the following year.

And, just to be sure you are in the proper mood by Christmas, be sure to attend one of the myriad concerts!  We attended a Christmas Sing-Along concert at Royal Albert Hall, presented by candlelight by the Mozart Festival Orchestra (dressed in 18th century costume) and Chorus.  Wonderful.

I send you my best wishes of the season.  May this new year bring you great happiness, good health, love, spiritual fulfillment and some challenges to help you continue to grow as a person -- nothing beyond what you are capable of, just enough to stretch your understanding of yourself and the world around you. 

Carnaby Street's Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary Tribute (timeout.com)