Think of Christmas and the first image that comes to mind is that of snowflakes gently falling to the ground, covering the houses and tree branches in a white blanket. That is exactly what a white Christmas means: a Christmas morning or Christmas Eve when the ground is completely covered in snow. Naturally, such a Christmas would be more common in some countries in the northern hemisphere than in their southern counterparts.
White Christmas in the UK
Nothing symbolizes Christmas quite like snow in British culture. In fact, the typical snowy images of trees and houses at Christmas are deeply embedded in British culture. The UK was lucky enough to experience many White Christmases, from the 1550s to the 1850s, during what is known as the Little Ice Age.
Such Christmases were also quite common in the UK during the 18th and 19th centuries, and even more so before the calendar change in 1752 which effectively made Christmas 12 days earlier. The winters then were particularly harsh and severe. The last ‘frost fair’ was held on the River Thames in London in 1813/14.
In 2004, the UK had its first White Christmas in a long time. That year, snow swept across Northern Ireland, Scotland, parts of Wales, the Midlands, the North East and South West England.
Five years later, the second Christmas of its kind occurred in December 2009. That year, many parts of Britain saw one of the worst winters in over 50 years. Snow and ice covered the roads, disrupting normal life and traffic during the Christmas season.
Sadly, White Christmas is now a thing of the past, well almost. Every year in the UK, bookmakers offer odds on whether or not it will be a White Christmas. Christmas is officially declared ‘white’ even if a single snowflake is observed falling on the roof of London’s Meteorological Center within 24 hours of December 25.
Snowfall on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day in the UK rarely occurs, as the traditional months for snowfall are January and February. However, the UK has its White Christmas on average once every 6 years.
‘White Christmas’ – the song
The most beloved Christmas song of all time is: Any Riddles? Yes, ‘White Christmas’, written by Irvin Berlin for the 1942 film ‘Holiday Inn’. It has sold more than 350 million copies worldwide since it hit stores and continues to be among the top five most listened to Christmas songs each year worldwide.
The world heard the immortal song ‘White Christmas’ for the first time when Bing Crosby performed it on his NBC radio show, Kraft Music Hall, on December 25, 1941. At the end of World War II, this song became had become the best-selling single of all time. This Bing single sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and held its number one position as the best-selling single in any music category for more than 50 years until 1998.