By Clyde Noel

Terry Jordan reflects on Christmas items that are popular in Europe that she features at Something Special in downtown Los Altos.

“Happy Christmas!” as they say in England. Terry Jordan, owner of Something Special, is English. She is also a trained florist who has accumulated 30 years of experience in different countries, and this time of year is precious to her.

“Christmas in England is a lot like Christmas in the United States. We send cards and give presents to friends and family. We decorate our homes and churches with flowers, green leaves, paper decorations and colorful electric lights just like here,” Jordan said. “But there are a few differences. As you walk down the street and wave ‘Happy Christmas’ you can go into a store and find treats like mince pies or cookies, and the merchants invite you in.”

Jordan said in the United States people start thinking about Christmas immediately after Thanksgiving. Her husband, David, and she were shocked at the length of time given to observing Christmas.

In England, Christmas is a two-day holiday. Christmas Day sees the opening of presents, and many families attend Christmas services at church. Christmas dinner consists traditionally of a roast turkey, goose or chicken with stuffing and roast potatoes, followed by mince pies and Christmas pudding flaming with brandy, which might contain coins or lucky charms for children.

“The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day, which takes its name from the former custom of giving a Christmas box (money or food) to deliverymen and tradespeople who called regularly during the year. I have personally given a bolt of cloth to make a dress or gloves for the garden,” Jordan said. “The tradition in America survives in the custom of tipping the milkman, postman, dustmen and other callers of good service during Christmas time.”

One of the items Jordan carries in the store for her English customers is Christmas crackers.

“The pulling of Christmas crackers often accompanies Christmas dinner,” she said. “A cracker is a brightly colored paper tube, twisted at both ends, and contains a party hat, riddle and toy or other trinket. When two people pull on the ends it makes a cracking noise and the contents are dispersed.”

Decorations are taken down the 12th night of Christmas, Jan. 6, in England, and there is no Santa Claus. Children receive gifts from Father Christmas.

Jordan has found the most impressive Christmas observances in Germany.

“They have Christmas markets that start on the first day of Advent and continue till Christmas Eve,” Jordan said. The air is filled with the aroma of roasted nuts, baked fruit loaves, bratwurst sausages and spicy cookies.