十一月仍然算是秋季,但天氣逐漸轉冷,而日間時間亦不斷縮短。每年在萬聖節過後,倫敦的商店便開始佈置聖誕裝飾。英國一所老牌百貨公司每年都花費數百萬英鎊做聖誕宣傳,其電視廣告更成為熱話,為國人熱切期待的電視廣告。今年的廣告同步於電視與 YouTube 推出,推出一星期便已累積千多萬人點擊。今年廣告的主角是一隻小企鵝,廣告推出後其小企鵝玩具便賣斷市,筆者有天在那間百貨公司購物時聽見一位老婦人問售貨員關於小企鵝玩具,售貨員抱歉地説暫時售罄,老婦人聽了一臉懊惱,説她的孫兒的聖誕禮物怎麼辦。電視的廣告效應、街上慢慢出現的聖誕裝飾、再加上寒冷天氣,市民都開始感受到聖誕節快要來臨。
聖誕節在主要信奉基督教的英國是一年中最大的節日,就算不是虔誠教徒的家庭也會趁這個假日聚首一堂。很多主婦為了準備過聖誕而十分煩惱,市面上的報紙雜誌都載有不少小提示教人如何輕鬆地安排過聖誕。除了重頭戲的烤火雞外,主婦們還要提前準備其他肉類、蔬菜,和預先做好聖誕蛋糕等糕點。現在很多人工作忙碌,沒有餘暇弄各式糕點,所以各大超級市場和食品店也有售賣別出心裁的糕點。試過有一年的聖誕前夕,一位名廚為一所高檔超市特製的聖誕布丁,一推出市場便被市民爭相購買,不消數天所有存貨便全部售罄,還有人把原價十來英鎊的布丁放在網上 eBay 網站拍賣,把賣價推至二百多英鎊!
除了食物,人們也十分重視聖誕裝飾,這數年經過經濟不景,不少電視節目也有教人自製有特色的聖誕裝飾。最重要的當然是聖誕樹,家裡有空間的人都會購買活的聖誕樹。在十二月開始,倫敦的露天市場、教堂花園等地方都不難見到有活聖誕樹發售,人們買了回家便著手佈置,好待家人到訪時會讚賞一番。購物大道如 Oxford Street, Regent Street 等一早已佈置好聖誕裝飾,不少市外的人和遊客也特地到那裡觀賞。市中心的 Covent Garden 更每年有有樂高積木大師設計的大型樂高積木聖誕裝飾,今年也不例外,是聖誕老人,鹿車和鹿兒們。
近這幾年,英國受到德國感染,到處也有戶外聖誕市場。在倫敦,海德公園便舉行大型聖誕市場,那裡除了有很多像德國的聖誕市場的小木屋售賣各樣工藝品和飲食外,還有摩天輪,機動遊戲,冰屋和溜冰場等。説到溜冰場,由於十分受男女老幼歡迎,現在於聖誕前後於倫敦各處有差不多十個大大小小的戶外溜冰場。筆者最喜愛的有位於住所附近,自然歷史博物館的溜冰場,和市中心的 Somerset House 的溜冰場。兩所地方都被十分華麗而有氣派的維多利亞式建築圍繞,可以邊溜冰邊觀賞漂亮的建築。而今年筆者曾到位於市郊西南部的 Hampton Court 宮殿外的溜冰場溜冰,宮殿位於泰晤士河旁,於日落時看著河流和宮殿的美景,實在是賞心樂事。
於聖誕前夕,教堂都會有聖詩表演。聖保羅大教堂也不例外,聖誕前於不同日子時間有數次表演,由於是免費入場,總是吸引不少市民觀賞。筆者有天為了觀賞當晚六時半的聖詩表演,在又黑又冷下排了個多小時才能進場呢。除了在教堂,不少車站等公眾地方也會有志願者唱聖詩籌款,市民也樂於捐款。
由於很多倫敦市民都是從英國其他城鎮或外國而來,從大概十二月二十日左右,所有往英國各地的火車站、往法國與比利時的歐洲星火車站和希斯路等機場都擠滿回鄉的市民。所以到了聖誕節正日,倫敦好像一個死城,人們不見了,連地下鐵也停駛一天。一輪衝鋒陷陣後,這一天是一年裡唯一讓這大都市喘息的一天。到了二十六日,雖然仍有不少市民在外地度假,但愛購物的人都會蜂擁至各大百貨公司搶購聖誕大減價的貨品。如是者,倫敦又回到平時繁忙的狀態。
聖誕節在主要信奉基督教的英國是一年中最大的節日,就算不是虔誠教徒的家庭也會趁這個假日聚首一堂。很多主婦為了準備過聖誕而十分煩惱,市面上的報紙雜誌都載有不少小提示教人如何輕鬆地安排過聖誕。除了重頭戲的烤火雞外,主婦們還要提前準備其他肉類、蔬菜,和預先做好聖誕蛋糕等糕點。現在很多人工作忙碌,沒有餘暇弄各式糕點,所以各大超級市場和食品店也有售賣別出心裁的糕點。試過有一年的聖誕前夕,一位名廚為一所高檔超市特製的聖誕布丁,一推出市場便被市民爭相購買,不消數天所有存貨便全部售罄,還有人把原價十來英鎊的布丁放在網上 eBay 網站拍賣,把賣價推至二百多英鎊!
除了食物,人們也十分重視聖誕裝飾,這數年經過經濟不景,不少電視節目也有教人自製有特色的聖誕裝飾。最重要的當然是聖誕樹,家裡有空間的人都會購買活的聖誕樹。在十二月開始,倫敦的露天市場、教堂花園等地方都不難見到有活聖誕樹發售,人們買了回家便著手佈置,好待家人到訪時會讚賞一番。購物大道如 Oxford Street, Regent Street 等一早已佈置好聖誕裝飾,不少市外的人和遊客也特地到那裡觀賞。市中心的 Covent Garden 更每年有有樂高積木大師設計的大型樂高積木聖誕裝飾,今年也不例外,是聖誕老人,鹿車和鹿兒們。
近這幾年,英國受到德國感染,到處也有戶外聖誕市場。在倫敦,海德公園便舉行大型聖誕市場,那裡除了有很多像德國的聖誕市場的小木屋售賣各樣工藝品和飲食外,還有摩天輪,機動遊戲,冰屋和溜冰場等。説到溜冰場,由於十分受男女老幼歡迎,現在於聖誕前後於倫敦各處有差不多十個大大小小的戶外溜冰場。筆者最喜愛的有位於住所附近,自然歷史博物館的溜冰場,和市中心的 Somerset House 的溜冰場。兩所地方都被十分華麗而有氣派的維多利亞式建築圍繞,可以邊溜冰邊觀賞漂亮的建築。而今年筆者曾到位於市郊西南部的 Hampton Court 宮殿外的溜冰場溜冰,宮殿位於泰晤士河旁,於日落時看著河流和宮殿的美景,實在是賞心樂事。
於聖誕前夕,教堂都會有聖詩表演。聖保羅大教堂也不例外,聖誕前於不同日子時間有數次表演,由於是免費入場,總是吸引不少市民觀賞。筆者有天為了觀賞當晚六時半的聖詩表演,在又黑又冷下排了個多小時才能進場呢。除了在教堂,不少車站等公眾地方也會有志願者唱聖詩籌款,市民也樂於捐款。
由於很多倫敦市民都是從英國其他城鎮或外國而來,從大概十二月二十日左右,所有往英國各地的火車站、往法國與比利時的歐洲星火車站和希斯路等機場都擠滿回鄉的市民。所以到了聖誕節正日,倫敦好像一個死城,人們不見了,連地下鐵也停駛一天。一輪衝鋒陷陣後,這一天是一年裡唯一讓這大都市喘息的一天。到了二十六日,雖然仍有不少市民在外地度假,但愛購物的人都會蜂擁至各大百貨公司搶購聖誕大減價的貨品。如是者,倫敦又回到平時繁忙的狀態。
Even though November is still officially autumn, but as days become shorter and the chill sets in, one can really feel winter is on its way. After Halloween, shops in London begin to put Christmas decorations in their shop windows and shop floors. One department store goes into great lengths in their Christmas promotions, spending millions each year on their much awaited TV Christmas advertisement. This year, their Christmas ad was screened on prime time TV and simultaneously loaded onto YouTube, in the space of a week, the ad had already been viewed some 14 million times. The main character of the department store's ad this year is a little penguin. One day, not long after the ad first aired, I was shopping in one of their stores and overheard an old lady asking a staff member about the little penguin soft toy. The staff apologetically told the old lady that they were already sold out and she looked a little lost and mumbled, "what am I going to do with my grandson's Christmas present?". With various Christmas ads on TV, Christmas trees, tinsels and lights everywhere, plus the chill in the air and very short days, one can truly feel Christmas is fast approaching.
With Christianity being the main religion of the country, Christmas is undoubtedly the biggest festivity in the calendar. Even people who are not very religious use the time to spend with family and loved ones. Many housewives (and househusbands) fret over Christmas, as there is always a seemingly never-ending list of things to prepare before the big day. Of course there is the turkey to buy and prepare, and then getting ready all the vegetables and sides to go with it. Some people have family members staying for a few days, and this means multiple meal planning. And then there is Christmas pudding, Stollen, Christmas cake, Panettone or any some other sweets or cakes to contemplate with. As it is more and more common that both partners of the household work, it is simply impossible to expect everything to be homemade. These days, there are a plethora of cakes and other baked goodies to choose from at supermarkets and delicatessens. They can be as simple or as elaborate as one wishes to suit all budgets. Several years ago, one famous British chef designed a special Christmas pudding to be sold exclusively at a high end supermarket. As soon as word spread out, the pudding became a sell out and within days, the entire forecasted Christmas stock was sold. Some people put their pudding on eBay and a bidding war ensued, with the original price of around ten pounds being pushed up to over two hundred pounds!
Aside from food, decorations is another area where people pay a lot of attention to. As the country endured a few years of recession, there are always TV programs to teach people to make their own Christmas decorations from recycled or upcycled materials. The most important of all decorations is of course the Christmas tree. As soon as December arrives, one can see markets, florists and churchyards selling real Christmas trees. Those who can afford the space (and money) would usually go for a real one. Nothing says Christmas more than the smell of the fir in the living room. In public places, shopping streets like Oxford Street and Regent Street have their decorations and lights put on back in November, many out-of-towners and tourists love going there to take pictures. For a few years already, in Covent Garden there is a Christmas Lego installation done by the official Lego master of the UK. This year's theme is Santa and his reindeers, it is very popular with kids and adults alike.
In the last few years, the UK has caught on Christmas market fever from the continent, and in many cities and towns there are German-styled Christmas markets. In London, the biggest one is Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Not only are there many little wooden chalets selling food and drink and all sorts of handicrafts, but there is also a ferris wheel and other rides, an ice castle and an ice-skating rink. Speaking of ice-skating rinks, as they are becoming more and more popular, each year around Christmas time there are some ten different outdoor ice-skating rinks in and around London. Personally I love the one at Natural History Museum and Somerset House the best, as one is surrounded by beautiful Victorian architecture while skating. In the evening the buildings are lit up and the atmosphere is quite magical. This year, I tried out the ice-skating rink at Hampton Court Palace, which is in the southwest of London along the Thames River. It was such a great feeling skating with the palace as backdrop and views of the river at sunset.
Many churches offer Christmas carol services before Christmas. St Paul's Cathedral in the heart of London has several Christmas carolling sessions. I went to attend one, and knowing people love to queue, I started queuing at 4:30pm in the dark and cold weather for a 6:30pm service. But it was well worth the wait and it was absolutely spectacular. Many charities also send volunteers out to carol at station entrances and other places, most people feel a little more charitable at this time of the year and part with their lose change.
As most Londoners are either from other towns and cities in the UK or are from overseas like myself, from around mid-December onwards people start to leave in droves, and all train terminals to other parts of the UK, Eurostar terminal (for trains bound for Paris and Brussels) and all London airports are rammed with people trying to get home for Christmas. So, when the big day finally arrives, London is like a ghost town, even those few who still remain in the city are staying at home with family or friends. For one day of the year even the tube does not run, and it is probably the only day of the year that the city can slow down. However the quietness does not last, for shops open their doors to bargain hunters on Boxing Day, and the usual manic resumes.
With Christianity being the main religion of the country, Christmas is undoubtedly the biggest festivity in the calendar. Even people who are not very religious use the time to spend with family and loved ones. Many housewives (and househusbands) fret over Christmas, as there is always a seemingly never-ending list of things to prepare before the big day. Of course there is the turkey to buy and prepare, and then getting ready all the vegetables and sides to go with it. Some people have family members staying for a few days, and this means multiple meal planning. And then there is Christmas pudding, Stollen, Christmas cake, Panettone or any some other sweets or cakes to contemplate with. As it is more and more common that both partners of the household work, it is simply impossible to expect everything to be homemade. These days, there are a plethora of cakes and other baked goodies to choose from at supermarkets and delicatessens. They can be as simple or as elaborate as one wishes to suit all budgets. Several years ago, one famous British chef designed a special Christmas pudding to be sold exclusively at a high end supermarket. As soon as word spread out, the pudding became a sell out and within days, the entire forecasted Christmas stock was sold. Some people put their pudding on eBay and a bidding war ensued, with the original price of around ten pounds being pushed up to over two hundred pounds!
Aside from food, decorations is another area where people pay a lot of attention to. As the country endured a few years of recession, there are always TV programs to teach people to make their own Christmas decorations from recycled or upcycled materials. The most important of all decorations is of course the Christmas tree. As soon as December arrives, one can see markets, florists and churchyards selling real Christmas trees. Those who can afford the space (and money) would usually go for a real one. Nothing says Christmas more than the smell of the fir in the living room. In public places, shopping streets like Oxford Street and Regent Street have their decorations and lights put on back in November, many out-of-towners and tourists love going there to take pictures. For a few years already, in Covent Garden there is a Christmas Lego installation done by the official Lego master of the UK. This year's theme is Santa and his reindeers, it is very popular with kids and adults alike.
In the last few years, the UK has caught on Christmas market fever from the continent, and in many cities and towns there are German-styled Christmas markets. In London, the biggest one is Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Not only are there many little wooden chalets selling food and drink and all sorts of handicrafts, but there is also a ferris wheel and other rides, an ice castle and an ice-skating rink. Speaking of ice-skating rinks, as they are becoming more and more popular, each year around Christmas time there are some ten different outdoor ice-skating rinks in and around London. Personally I love the one at Natural History Museum and Somerset House the best, as one is surrounded by beautiful Victorian architecture while skating. In the evening the buildings are lit up and the atmosphere is quite magical. This year, I tried out the ice-skating rink at Hampton Court Palace, which is in the southwest of London along the Thames River. It was such a great feeling skating with the palace as backdrop and views of the river at sunset.
Many churches offer Christmas carol services before Christmas. St Paul's Cathedral in the heart of London has several Christmas carolling sessions. I went to attend one, and knowing people love to queue, I started queuing at 4:30pm in the dark and cold weather for a 6:30pm service. But it was well worth the wait and it was absolutely spectacular. Many charities also send volunteers out to carol at station entrances and other places, most people feel a little more charitable at this time of the year and part with their lose change.
As most Londoners are either from other towns and cities in the UK or are from overseas like myself, from around mid-December onwards people start to leave in droves, and all train terminals to other parts of the UK, Eurostar terminal (for trains bound for Paris and Brussels) and all London airports are rammed with people trying to get home for Christmas. So, when the big day finally arrives, London is like a ghost town, even those few who still remain in the city are staying at home with family or friends. For one day of the year even the tube does not run, and it is probably the only day of the year that the city can slow down. However the quietness does not last, for shops open their doors to bargain hunters on Boxing Day, and the usual manic resumes.