By Gabrielle Pantera
It’s time to fill stockings with gifts for Christmas and Boxing Day. Britons have two days to celebrate the holidays with gifts. Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, is now for many UK merchants their biggest sales day of the year. Stores open very early, typically 5am, and offer big sales causing long queues to form.
Boxing Day has been a holiday in England, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland since 1871, in Scotland since 1974. Boxing Day is also known as the feast day of St. Stephen, who is the Protomartyr (or first martyr) of Christianity. St. Stephen’s Chapel in the Palace of Westminster was conceived of by Henry III in 1248 after seeing Sainte Chapelle in Paris, and was completed by his successors in 1297. St. Stephen’s Chapel was the debating chamber of the British House of Commons from 1547 to 1834 and houses Big Ben.
Consider these British gifts to celebrate…
- All Things British Word Search Puzzles offers the categories of BBC Radio, cathedrals, cities, Charles Dickens, food, London, Scotland, Wales, Seaside Towns and TV shows.
- All Things British Word Search Puzzles by Sharla Race. Paperback: 72 pages, Publisher: Tigmor Books (September 6, 2017), Language: English. ISBN-13: 978-1907119514 $7.99
- The Blue Badge Guide’s Edinburgh Quiz Book is a guide book of 22 tours celebrating Edinburgh. Explore Scotland’s capital in person or in our imagination, a fascinating city.
- The Blue Badge Guide’s Edinburgh Quiz Book by John A. Duncan (Author). Paperback: 144 pages, Publisher: The History Press (October 15, 2017). Language: English, ISBN: 9780750983501 $ 14.95
- The Great British TV Nostalgia Puzzle Book has a total of 60 word puzzles to solve and enjoy. Test your knowledge of life during the 1960s and 1970s in Britain. It’s one word search puzzle per page. Answers are at the back of the book.
- Great British Puzzle Books continues their series of puzzle and activity books with a British themes.
- Series: Great British Puzzle Books (Book 6), Paperback: 78 pages Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; Large Print edition (October 10, 2017), Language: English, ISBN-13: 978-1978181014 $6.99
- British Bird Puzzle Quiz reveals British birds through puzzles and quiz questions. Bird lover in the family will appreciate the sections on Migration, Bird names, True or False, Birds in the Arts, and Warbler Word-Search.
- British Bird Puzzle Quiz Book by Sean Nicholson. Paperback: 78 pages, Publisher: lulu.com (October 10, 2017), Language: English. ISBN: 9780244636906 $8.49
- BBC Radio 4 Brain of Britain Ultimate Quiz Book covers the longest-running broadcast quiz shows open to the public in Britain, now in its 65th year. The book has 2,000 questions from the Brain of Britain archives, 50 challenging and entertaining quizzes. Reveals the history of the program, the characters on the show, the program’s German-born inventor and first question-setter John P. Wynn.
- BBC Radio 4 Brain of Britain Ultimate Quiz Book by Russell Davies. Hardcover: 352 pages, Publisher: HarperCollins UK (December 1, 2017), ISBN-: 9780008253301 $22.95
- Colouring History: The Tudors is a beautifully illustrated coloring book for grown-ups. Features images and scenes inspired by the Tudor dynasty. Unwind after a hectic day, quiet your mind and color your way to peace. For those who love Tudor history.
- Colouring History: The Tudors Paperback by Natalie Grueninger, illustrated by Kathryn Holeman Series: Colouring History, Paperback: 96 pages, Publisher: The History Press; Clr Csm edition (October 1, 2017), Language: English, ISBN: 9780750979443 $16.95
- William Shakespeare: An Adult Coloring Book contains iconic scenes from the works of the world’s best known playwright. To be or not to be. Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo? This coloring book by Little Birds author Odessa Begay features lovely illustrations inspired by the Bard’s timeless tales, with references settings, motifs. ISBN: 9781454709992 $14.93
- Victorian Fashion: An Adult Coloring Book features clothing designs from the Victorian period. The clothing and hats are very ornate with plenty to color. The backgrounds also have patterns. By Jade Summer Paperback: 106 pages, Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (March 14, 2017), Language: English, ISBN-13: 978-1544682938 $6.99
- Downton Abbey Coloring Book. Gwen Burn’s delightful book features the beloved characters, quotes and interesting details. Hours of relaxing coloring time. Ninety-six pages of black-and-white illustrations of the most well known story lines. You may have to rewatch the show while coloring if you want your colors to match the television episodes. Paperback: 96 pages, Publisher: Sizzle Press; Clr Csm edition (May 2, 2017) Language: English, ISBN: 9781499806236 $16.99
