Christmas in England
David and Margaret Sutcliffe and their two young sons ages 8 and 11 visited Marion during Chingawassa Days last June. They have since adopted a six-year-old girl, Hayley.
The Sutcliffes live in northern England, in County Durham. They have a traditional Christmas.
"We set a limit on the number of presents we buy the children — usually one large present each and a few small ones," Margaret said. They also receive gifts from grandparents and aunts and uncles.
Like many other parents, Margaret expressed concern about keeping the meaning of the season in Christmas.
"Some of my family buy practical presents like pajamas or slippers but I do feel sometimes that the children get so much that they forget what Christmas is really about," she said.
The children are taken to the local chapel for a carol concert and nativity play. Sometimes there are mince pies and coffee or fruit juice afterward, which everyone enjoys.
Margaret said she doesn't have much time for home baking (she is a psychiatric nurse), but she usually makes quiches (sausage rolls) and sweet mince pies. Every year, David's mother makes a Christmas cake and Christmas pudding for them.
They spend Christmas Day at home to allow the children to play with their toys.
They go to see Margaret's parents on Boxing Day. On the evening of Boxing Day, they have a party and invite in friends and neighbors.
"The children love to have their friends around," Margaret said.
Boxing Day, the first weekday after Christmas, is a legal holiday in England. It gets its name from the practice of giving Christmas boxes to employees, postmen, and so forth.
