A British Christmas in America

Q. Where can I buy Christmas crackers in the USA?

Crackers are not an American tradition, so most US shops do not sell them, and a search for "crackers" usually brings up the edible kind. Places that do sell proper pull crackers:

• World Market (Cost Plus World Market): the easiest high-street option, with a whole Christmas crackers section in stores and online in the run-up to Christmas.
• Online British shops selling Tom Smith and other British brands, including British Food Shop, British Food Supplies and English Tea Store.

Bringing American guests? Warn them about the paper hat. They will wear it all day.

Q. Where can I buy mince pies, Christmas pudding and Christmas cake in America?

Mince pies are far less common in the US than at home, but you can get the real thing:

• World Market stocks Walker's mince pies in several sizes, a Walker's Christmas pudding and Robertson's mincemeat for baking your own.
• British Food Shop lists Walkers mince pies, Christmas puddings, an iced Christmas cake and brandy butter.
• British Food Supplies and Myers of Keswick in New York both sell Christmas puddings. Myers ships to the mainland US.

Baking your own? Where to find black treacle and golden syrup is covered on our Bonfire Night page.

Q. Where can I buy Quality Street, Roses, Celebrations, Bisto and Paxo in the US?

The Christmas tin of chocolates is a British institution with no real American equivalent. British Food Shop lists Quality Street, Cadbury Roses and Celebrations, and British Food Supplies lists Cadbury Roses. For the dinner itself, Bisto gravy granules are at World Market and most online British shops, and Paxo stuffing is at British Food Shop, British Food Supplies and Parker's.

A tip on chocolate: some brands are made under licence in the US and taste different. If it has to taste like home, check it is the imported UK version.

Q. What are pigs in blankets in America, and where can I buy chipolatas?

Careful here. In America, "pigs in a blanket" means a sausage, usually a hot dog, wrapped in pastry, a popular party snack. The British version, a small sausage wrapped in bacon, is not what you will get if you order them at a US restaurant.

To make your own you need chipolatas, which US supermarkets do not usually sell. British-style butchers and shops that do:

• Jolly Posh Foods makes British sausages in the US, including chipolatas, and ships nationwide. jollyposhfoods.com
• Parker's British Foods near Buffalo, New York, sells English and Lincolnshire chipolatas and ships in insulated packaging. parkersgbi.com
• Myers of Keswick in New York sells chipolatas and cocktail chipolatas. myersofkeswick.com

For the bacon, ask a butcher for "back bacon" or look for "Irish bacon" or "rashers". American bacon is streaky and works fine too.

Q. How can I watch the King's Christmas message in America, and what time is it?

The King's Christmas broadcast goes out at 3pm UK time on Christmas Day, which on Friday 25 December 2026 is:

• 10am Eastern, 9am Central, 8am Mountain and Arizona, 7am Pacific, 6am Alaska and 5am Hawaii.

You do not need UK television to watch it. Last year the message was published on The Royal Family's YouTube channel, and the BBC also posted it on YouTube. In the US, C-SPAN carried it in both 2024 and 2025.

Q. Is Boxing Day a holiday in the US?

No. Boxing Day is not a US public holiday, and many Americans have never heard of it. Christmas Day is the federal holiday, and plenty of people are back at work on the 26th. In 2026, Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, which makes things easier.

The Boxing Day football is on US TV, with a 3pm kick-off at home showing at 10am Eastern, and England play the Boxing Day Test in South Africa. Kick-off times and channels are on our British sport on US TV page.

Q. Are there Christmas pantomimes in America?

Oh yes there are. A handful of theatres put on a proper British panto, and these 2026 shows were confirmed on the producers' own pages:

• Laguna Beach, California: Aladdin & Yasmin's Winter Wish, a Lythgoe Family panto at the Laguna Playhouse, 4 to 27 December. Tickets
• San Francisco: Alice in Wonderland, Panto in the Presidio at the Presidio Theatre, 28 November to 27 December. Tickets
• Seattle area: Aladdin, a holiday panto at Centerstage Theatre, Federal Way, 28 November to 20 December. Tickets
• Washington, DC area: Peter Pan, a Christmas pantomime by The British Players, 11 December to 16 January. Tickets
• Milford, Connecticut: Christmas Carol, a panto by Pantochino Productions at the Milford Arts Council, 4 to 20 December, with cabaret seating where you bring your own food and drink. Tickets

Taking American friends? Brief them on the booing, the hissing and "He's behind you!" beforehand.

Q. Where can I find a Nine Lessons and Carols service in America?

The King's College tradition is alive and well in many American Episcopal churches and cathedrals. Services with 2026 dates published:

• New York: Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Sunday 20 December and Christmas Eve, both at 4pm (the Christmas Eve service is also webcast). Details
• Chicago: St. James Cathedral, Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Sunday 20 December at 7.30pm. Details
• Atlanta: Cathedral of St. Philip, Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols, Sunday 20 December at 4pm, free, plus an Advent Procession on 29 November. Details
• Hartford, Connecticut: Trinity College Chapel, 67th annual Lessons and Carols, Sunday 13 December at 4pm and 7pm, no tickets needed. Details
• Sewanee, Tennessee: All Saints' Chapel, University of the South, 5 and 6 December, with walk-up services and a livestream. Details

British societies across the US also hold Christmas lunches and parties through December. See the dated What's on list on our Community page.