End of term, Christmas is coming!

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming! In Southampton, what I call the "christmas bustle" is everywhere. There is even an urgency when getting groceries! West Quay (mall) is packed everyday with people, the library is full of students trying to finish their assignments before winter break, and christmas parties fill  (usually empty) pubs.


My first Christmas away from home will not be an easy one. I normally spend this time cuddled up on my mom's couch watching movies for days at a time and avoiding the piles of snow outside. Southampton, however, has not snowed yet! If you know me, you would know how much I hate snow..so why am I staring out the window wishing for just a few flakes to hit the pavement?


Things I have learned about Christmas in England:


1. Weather- I complained when it rained in August when I first arrived. Boy, was I wrong. That was NOT rain. That was a little trickle of wet that made small puddles and forced me to stop wearing flip-flops. The weather now, is REAL rain. It is horrible, wind-blowing your umbrella, socks drenched even when you are wearing boots, RAIN. Apparently, that is what winter is here.

2. Christmas Parties- I can't say that in America I never saw people that use the holidays as a time for "festive" (by festive I mean drunk) cheer, but here in Britain, they do it bigger and better. It is not even Christmas yet and I can tell you that it is going to be messy. But, that is a reason to love England. Even our cab driver said yesterday, "Boxing day (day after christmas) is my day, I get really really drunk."

3. Christmas Crackers- I have to comment on this because it has caused confusion for me since November. There are these things called Christmas Crackers. I will post a picture. They are sold everywhere around the christmas season and I kept wondering how these crackers might taste because if everyone has them, they have to be delicious. It wasn't until this weekend with Jools that I realized these are not crackers you eat, they are toys you open. Wierd. I still don't really get it. 

4. Mince Pies- Unless you pay close attention to movies or you know someone, you might never hear of mince pies in South Dakota. When I first heard "mince-meat pie" the words from me that followed was No, Thank you." They sound disgusting, but don't judge a book by its cover...or name. Back in the 16th century mince pies were filled with meat. Now, they are delicious little fruit-filled pastries. Honestly, its pretty much necessary to like them here.

5. Boxing Day- I have tried to remember what we Americans call the day after Christmas, because here it is called Boxing Day. The name has something to do with giving gifts after Christmas to the poor, but I am not entirely sure. Anyway, I guess boxing day is a bit like Black Friday. It is a national holiday as well as a hangover day.






Winchester...again!


On Saturday I met up with Jools (who lives in Winchester) and we looked around the Winchester Christmas market. It is right next to the Winchester Cathedral and has many shops to look around in. It was also very busy and crowded, but it was worth it. We shopped for a while around the market, had some mulled wine (warm wine with added spices) then headed to eat. We shopped a little more at the streets downtown. I got the train back to Southampton around 4pm just as it was getting dark. My picture of the christmas market is posted below. :)