Is there anything Christmassy that we do/eat in the UK that doesn't really happen overseas?

[RainbowDashed]

My siblings are spending Christmas abroad this year with their in-laws in Poland and America. I'd like to send them a parcel to take with them, to share British Christmas customs with their in-laws, problem is I have no idea what, if anything, is unique to the UK at Christmas. Mince pies? Erm... anything at all? Any ideas?? Thanks

[NeitherNowtNorSummat01]

My husband is swedish and my best friend is Italian. None of our traditional English foods are eaten in those respective countries at Christmas

[RainbowDashed]

What could I send that's easily transportable?

Mince pies
Chocolate coins
Bailey's miniatures maybe?

My brain is refusing to cooperate

[Whereisthesunshine]

Yes to mince pies. Christmas crackers too.

[drspouse]

Christmas pudding (but send a veggie one to the US).
Mince pies
Shortbread
Yule log
Port and stilton
Chocolate ginger
Fruit cake is common in the US but it's, erm, not universally liked mocked.

[drspouse]

They have chocolate coins in the US I think.

[Anasnake]

Crackers - not common in the US

[nancy75]

Panto, it’s in a world all of its own!

[sonlypuppyfat]

Do they not have christmas crackers in the US

[nancy75]

Sorry, didn’t read properly - you obviously can’t send them a panto!

I’m not sure that you are allied to post xmas crackers either, I think they are classed as explosives

[RainbowDashed]

Crackers! Brilliant thank you.

I knew MN would sort this for me

[Hulder]

Christmas food traditions in Poland are completely different. No mince pies, different cake, no Christmas pudding. Different alcohol - no Baileys, port. Sending a turkey may be impractical however.

[drspouse]

Careful with crackers and flying though as they have gunpowder.

[RainbowDashed]

nancy I would LOVE to send them a panto

I won't be posting abroad, siblings currently living in the UK so will be able to post here for them to take with them when they fly over for the holiday.

[JumpingJellybeanz]

Tins of Cadbury's chocolate and selection boxes.

[RainbowDashed]

I may have to FedEx a pantomime dame carrying a raw turkey

[Guiltybystander]

drspouse Yule log is eaten outside Britain.

[SandLand]

check the airlines rules on crackers
Mince pies (and advent calenders) are the things we aim for in the middle east.

[drspouse]

Guilty I haven't been to Poland but I haven't seen them in the US.

[RainbowDashed]

Thanks for that link SandLand, probably best not to risk it then

[LinoleumBlownapart]

A DVD of a panto won't work on a lot of devices and crackers cannot be posted or taken on aeroplanes. How about Mince pies or a British board game like UK monopoly.

[RainbowDashed]

Tbh I wouldn't bother with a panto DVD anyway, don't think panto works unless you're actually in the theatre. Veteran of many an hour spent watching CBeebies panto over the years here.

[Positivethoughtsneeded]

I’ve flown with crackers before - easyJet. They were fine in hold luggage but had to be in original packaging.

[Hulder]

Problem with a lot of British Christmas things is they aren't necessarily likeable unless you have been brought up with them. Lots of people don't like Christmas pud - they are wrong, but they still don't like it.

I shudder at the thought of ever having to see a panto ever again.

[CocoPuffsinGodMode]

Problem with a lot of British Christmas things is they aren't necessarily likeable unless you have been brought up with them

That’s true plus in the same way people in the UK love and look forward to their own Christmas traditions, so do people in other countries. I’m not sure I’d put too much money or effort into this as it’s quite possible the hamper will be put in a cupboard and approached later with a sense of “we should try this stuff and not let it go to waste” iyswim. It’s unlikely to become part of their actual day because lots of people have firm ideas about what their Christmas looks like.

[Hulder]

I'd pick likeable things like Baileys or chocolate coins. Stilton can be a bit of a reach.

We do Christmas each year from the country we went on holiday to that year, as a New Year's Dinner. However this does mean we get to be highly selective about things that don't travel - stuffed chicken and different sort of cake, yum, boiled carp - skip that.