The United Kingdom is a land steeped in history and rich in traditions, especially during the holiday season. From the cozy and festive Christmas celebrations to unique regional holidays and the spirited St. Patrick’s Day festivities, the UK offers a diverse tapestry of customs and rituals. In this blog, we’ll explore the holiday traditions in the UK. Additionally, we’ll give you tips on the gifts to send to your loved ones in the UK and how to send them!
We always tell our customers to be sure to sign their greeting cards so their recipients know whom to thank. We’re so serious about this; our customer service team will get in touch with you if we don’t see a name on the greeting card! But, what should secret admirers do? Or Secret Santas? For all those moments when you want to send anonymous gifts, this blog is here to help.
If you’re wondering why someone would send a gift anonymously, we’ll cover that too. Keep reading for a quick rundown of how to send anonymous gifts and when to send them!
When we think of ‘December holidays’ or the ‘holiday season’, what comes to mind for most people is adorning their Christmas trees with trimmings, running around to find the perfect gift for their picky mothers, and eggnog. Although Christmas is the biggest holiday we consider during the festive period, there are plenty of lesser-known winter holidays that fall between December and mid-January.
As an international gifting company, we believe that it’s important to know about different observances and holidays that take place around the world. And, when it comes to sending gifts across the globe, we think you should too! As we escort Christmas off of the stage for a moment, read below as we turn the spotlight on lesser-known winter holidays that your friends and family may be celebrating over the next month.
Hooray! Can you believe it – the 2022 holiday season is upon us! A time for festive celebrations, a full calendar of social events, wider waistlines, smaller wallets and thankfully more champagne! We’ve all experienced the chaos that comes with the return of Santa Claus and the mass gatherings held at shopping malls. So, why not make this year’s holiday season as easy as possible? Our Holiday Shopping Trends overview and tips here to help!
With the season of giving approaching us, we’ve curated a list of the do’s and don’ts of holiday shopping, so that your shopping experience can be easy as pie! Save time and money by following our list of holiday shopping trends and tips for gift-giving below.
Happy New Year! This is the perfect time to celebrate the year you’ve been through and reflect on all the beautiful things that have happened, the lessons you’ve learned, and the people you’ve met. Ringing in the new year with friends and family is a feeling like no other, and Italians definitely know how to do it. We’ve put together an article about New Year’s traditions in Italy that will have you planning to spend your holidays there!
Christmas traditions in Brazil have a rich history and are always lively and exciting, much like Brazilian culture. Christmas in Brazil is one of the most important days and the Brazilian people wait anxiously for quality time with family, food, and celebration.
Being a predominantly Catholic country, Brazil celebrates Christmas the way most Western European countries and the US do, with just a few interesting and fun details that are unique to the country’s vibrant heritage. If you’ve ever wondered how people celebrate Christmas in Brazil, you came to the right place.
For hundreds of millions of people around the world, Christmas is one of the most important holidays of the year. While those in the US and Western Europe celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th, over a hundred million Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th. Today, let’s take a closer look at unique Orthodox Christmas traditions around the world. Many countries – including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Georgia, Moldova and Kazakhstan – observe Christmas according to the Julian calendar which is 13 days behind the Gregorian. Even though all these countries are Orthodox and share a common thread in their Christmas celebrations, there are also many varied traditions from country to country.
When it comes to Christmas dinner in US, it can feel like there’s not much variation. We know the traditional dishes, roast chicken or turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes are usually followed by a slice of pie (or two) and maybe another dessert, to be polite of course! While this food is delicious, it can be easy to find yourself in a holiday rut. Tradition is great! But let’s spice things up a bit.
Around the world, people tuck into all sorts of wonderful and delicious festive fare. Given the upcoming celebration, we’d like to share our 3 favorite holiday recipes from different parts of the world and give you an idea how you can add an exotic flare to your Christmas dinner.
Let’s start with a recipe inspired by traditional Jewish cuisine. As you might know, instead of Christmas, Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Light, and there’re plenty of amazing Hanukkah recipes worth borrowing and incorporating in your holiday menu. Potato Latkes are the easiest to make, but they aren’t at all lacking in flavor. Made just in a few simple steps, they will make a great appetizer for you and your family.
What you’ll need: 1 small onion 3 tsp salt 1.5 lbs potatoes 2 eggs ¼ cup flour Oil for frying Directions:
Dice the onion and sauté with a little salt until golden brown.
Grate the potatoes and leave them in cold water.
Put the eggs, flour, fried onion and 2 tsp. salt in a bowl. Drain the grated potato, add it to the rest of the ingredients and thoroughly mix everything together.
Heat 2-4 tbsp. of oil in a frying pan, over medium heat. Scoop the batter with a table spoon (about two spoonful) and gently drop it into the oil. Press down gently with the back of the spoon to flatten. Fry 2-3 minutes until golden, then flip and fry additional 1-2 minutes on the other side.
Repeat Step 4 until you run out of the mixture (makes about 16 latkes). Make sure to add more oil to the pan every couple of batches. Enjoy as is, or with a little sour cream or applesauce to taste.
The next recipe comes from Milan but is enjoyed for Christmas and New Year all over Western Europe as well as South America. Italian Christmas bread, Panettone, is deliciously sweet and will become a great alternative to the traditional Pumpkin or Apple pie on your holiday table.
What you’ll need:
For STARTER:
3/4 cup Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
A pinch of instant yeast
⅓ cup of cold water
For DOUGH
2 1/4 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1/4 cup lukewarm water
2 large eggs
4 tablespoons soft butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tbsp instant yeast
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped dried pineapple
2 tbs grated orange or lemon zest
Directions:
To make the starter: combine the starter ingredients in a bowl, cover, and allow to sit overnight at a room temperature.
To make the dough: Combine all the dough ingredients except the fruit. Mix and knead them together until the dough is elastic and smooth.
Cover the dough and allow to rise for 60-90 min, or until puffy.
Gently “punch” the dough down with your fist and knead in the fruits and zest.
Shape the dough into a ball and place in a tall straight-sided 2-quart pan. Cover the pan and let the dough rise for about 1 hour (until it’s just crested over the rim of the pan).
Preheat the oven to 400°F and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375°F and bake an additional 10 minutes. Then reduce the heat again to 350°F and bake for 25 more minutes.
Cool down completely before serving. Serve immediately or keep wrapped at a room temperature for up to a week.
And the last but not least is a very popular and surprisingly easy to make Russian salad Olivier. Even though the name might tell you otherwise, this recipe is traditionally Russian and is made for the winter holidays by every housewife.
What you’ll need:
6 large potatoes (Yellow Finn, Yukon Gold, or red potatoes) 2 carrots 6 eggs 4 pickles 1/2 lb of your choice of cooked meat (ham, beef or chicken) or mushrooms (for vegetarian version) 1 can of sweet green peas salt and pepper mayonnaise (or sour cream to taste)
Directions:
Boil potatoes, carrots, and eggs until cooked (20-30 min).
Peel and cut all the vegetables and eggs in small cubes. Chop your choice of meat and pickles.
Mix everything together. Add peas.
Dress with mayonnaise or sour cream until evenly coated.
Add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!
Now, You’re Almost Ready for Christmas Dinner – What’s Next?
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During the rush of the holidays, take time to slow down and enjoy the things in life that really matter. Take in the serene moments spent with friends and loved ones, and may the wonder of Christmas surround you throughout the holiday season. GiftBasketsOverseas.com is wishing you much happiness today and throughout the New Year!
This Christmas, may you have the fulfillment of seeing around you the people you love the most. May you have the satisfaction of creating special memories they will remember with pleasure forever. This Christmas, may you feel peaceful and contented, knowing what Christmas means, and celebrating it your way!
