US expat reveals nine shocking differences in British Christmas celebrations

A US YouTuber has spilled the beans on the top nine culture shocks she experienced while celebrating Christmas in Britain.

Kalyn, who hails from the US and has settled in the UK for almost a decade, runs the Girl Gone London channel on YouTube where she shares her adventures and observations ranging from US-UK differences to local cooking.

In one of her latest videos titled ‘9 Ways British Christmas Was a Huge Culture Shock (to an American)’, she unveils the unexpected quirks of a British Yuletide, with the seemingly innocuous Christmas cracker causing quite the bewilderment.

1. Christmas crackers

Kalyn remarked: “Americans would think of a Christmas cracker as a type of cracker that you eat at Christmas; something like this with butter or jam or whatever you want to put on it.

“But Christmas crackers in the UK are not meant to be consumed. They are this thing and you crack them open on Christmas Day and there’s some sort of little trinket inside, which is not anything of importance; mostly some sort of like junk toy. But there are also typically either games or jokes that you can go around the table and share.”

She elucidated further on her bafflement regarding the cracker tradition, confessing that the numerous ways families open their crackers was particularly perplexing.

After pointing out that people not only pull their crackers as a pair but also alone and by crossing arms and jointly pulling them, Kalyn added: “I feel like everyone has their own cracker-opening technique.

“And so you’re just this American 19-year-old in this foreign land, have no idea what’s about to happen. You’re like, ‘Are we about to do fireworks on Christmas, like ‘what is in this package?’ And then you find out it’s like the world’s tiniest ruler and a really bad joke and that is the magic of a Christmas cracker.”

2. Christmas pudding

After describing Christmas pudding as a dense fruit cake, Kalyn claimed that Americans don’t partake in the traditional British dessert themselves and explained that she didn’t know what to expect when trying it.

She claimed that Christmas pudding is an acquired taste and the festive classic is simply not for her.

3. Boxing Day

Kalyn said: “Because in the UK there is Boxing Day, people will choose to spend Christmas in one location as they can go the next day to the other side of the family you have not seen.

“But in America, the day after Christmas is just the 26th of December. It means absolutely nothing. It is not a day off.

“You might have it off, but it’s not any sort of national holiday or named event or guaranteed day off, and so you are trying to cram Christmas into one day.”

4. Pantomimes

The YouTuber described a British panto as a show that “does not take itself too seriously” and although it may take on a traditional story, it’s “mostly just a mess” and is a “crazy, festive, British holiday tradition.”

She went on to admit that she can now appreciate and enjoy a panto, but when she first saw one, she was confused.

5. The Snowman

Kalyn pointed out that the animated children’s classic isn’t as well known in the US, labelling the film as “very culturally British.”

6. Christmas cards

While both countries send Christmas cards, Kalyn believes the UK takes the tradition “very seriously”.

7. Christmas Eve traditions

She explained that in the US, Christmas Eve is more of a family day, whereas in the UK, people tend to head to the pub, possibly to catch up with friends.

8. Decorations

According to Kalyn, Christmas decorations in the UK are more subdued compared to the US, showcasing photos of American gardens filled with festive inflatables, but added that this doesn’t mean the UK lacks Christmas spirit.

9. Christmas food

Kalyn noted that Americans usually have turkey on Thanksgiving, so they might not have it again on Christmas Day. Instead, they might prefer a Christmas ham, although she acknowledged that there’s some variation in what people choose to eat.