there is a lot superstitions in Britain,one of them about Christmas dinner.How many dishes shold Christmas day dinnerhav

Christmas dinner table is a very significant part of Christmas day celebrations. The festive mood of this holy occasion just doubles when the Christmas dinner table is elegantly and aesthetically decorated, making the grand Christmas dinner even more memorable. The tradition of decorating Christmas dinner table is a very old one. Talking about Christmas dinner table, centerpiece forms a major attraction as it is a beautiful reminder of the holy spirit of Christmas and everything that it depicts. The traditional centerpiece was Christmas wreath adorned with four candles that reminds the beginning and end of the Christmas season. But in the recent times, Christmas basket brimming with gifts in the center of the table has also become famous.

The Christmas table was always set for an even number of guests for odd numbers were said to bring bad luck.
The legs of the table were tied with string to protect the house from thieves and burglars in the coming year.
No one sat with his or her back to the door.
A bowl of garlic was placed under the dining table for strength and protection
Fish scales were placed under the dinner plates for luck.
Christmas dinner consisted of nine courses.
No alcohol was consumed on Christmas Eve.
Everyone was expected to clean his or her plates and let everybody finish the meal before leaving. Skipping early brought ill fortune.
Scraps of meals were burned around trees so that they bore lots of fruit.
All pets were fed after dinner with the spirit to leave no living thing hungry on Christmas Eve.
A pot of honey on the table was thought to be a protection against evil.
Mushrooms were used on Christmas dinner table as fungi or soap to give health and strength.
Dousing the house with grain dipped in Holy Water was said to protect it from burning down.

Christmas cakes were usually eaten on Christmas Eve in the 19th century, though it was deemed most unlucky to cut into one (or any Christmas food) before that day dawned. A portion also had to be preserved until Christmas Day itself. As many mince pies as you sample at different houses during the festive season, so you will have happy months in the year to come. Mince pies must not be cut, however, lest you cut your luck. None must be eaten before Christmas Eve nor after Twelfth Night. If Christmas pudding is on the menu, then all present must take part in stirring it if the household is to prosper. Traditionally, one has to stir the mixture at least three times, seeing the bottom of the pot each time. Even tiny babies take their turn, with parents guiding a little one's hand on the spoon. Unmarried girls who forget to give the pudding its requisite stirs might as well forget about finding a husband in the upcoming year. It's customary to make a wish while stirring Christmas pudding. Such wishes are kept secret until they come true - to speak them to anyone else jinxes them. When making Christmas pudding, drop into a silver coin, a thimble, and a ring. He who is served the coin finds luck, he who retrieves the thimble brings himself prosperity, and he who comes up with the ring hastens a wedding in his family. To find out who your future spouse will be, make a dumb cake at midnight on Christmas Eve. It is prepared in complete silence by one or more, with water, eggs, and salt is placed on the hearthstone with the upper surface of the cake pricked with the initials of one of those present. Provided the silence is unbroken, the future partner of the person indicated on the cake will appear...