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*Updated 21/11/2022*

In the last blog post we enjoyed a bit of nostalgia looking back at the 1990’s. Let’s now look at the first decade of the new millennium.

Well, it started with mass relief…. the Y2K bug never happened!

Can you remember how worked up many people got? Waiting with bated breath at the first strike of midnight!

Meanwhile the rest of us kicked off the millennium with plenty of celebrations and the Millennium Dome (now known as The O2) was opened to the public on 1st January.

The noughties were good and bad around the world:

• 2000 – January, 1st British women to reach the South Pole (Catherine Hartley and Fiona Thorewill).
  
  May, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire published (fastest selling book ever).
  
  July, Friends Reunited launched.
   
• 2001 – September, World Trade Centre terrorist attacks.
  
  October, Invasion of Afghanistan begins.
   
• 2002 – January, the Euro is introduced into 12 countries.
   
• 2003 – August UK records the highest ever temperature of 38.1c.
   
• 2004 – February, Facebook is founded by Mark Zuckerberg.
  
  December, a tsunami kills more than 300,000 in 11 countries.
   
• 2005 – November, surgeons in France perform the first face transplant.
  
  December, Civil Partnership Act comes into force, giving same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual married couples.
   
• 2006 – The verb ‘to google’ enters the Oxford English Dictionary.
   
• 2007 – July, Live Earth concerts take place worldwide.
  
  July, smoking ban comes into effect UK.
   
• 2008 – November, US elects its first black president, Barack Obama.
   
• 2009 – January, UK officially enters the recession.
  
  May, Carol Ann Duffy is named the first woman poet laureate.
   

Now let’s get into the Christmas spirit and look closer to home ..…
 

Christmas music in the noughties

The 2000s saw a rise in Christmas themed music played in stores and did you know 1 in 4 people claim to be more generous when buying gifts if Christmas music is played?

The top 10 most played Christmas songs of the noughties:

1. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey (1994)
    
2. Fairytale of New York - The Pogues (1987)
    
3. Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade (1973)
    
4. Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie (1980)
    
5. Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid (1984)
    
6. Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea (1988)
    
7. Last Christmas - Wham (1984)
    
8. I Believe In Father Christmas - Greg Lake (1975)
    
9. Step Into Christmas - Elton John (1973)
    
10. Wonderful Christmas Time - Paul McCartney (1979)
     

And the favourite Christmas films of the noughties:

• The Holiday (2006)
   
• The Hebrew Hammer (2003)
   
• The Family Man (2000)
   
• Love Actually (2003)
   
• The Santa Claus 2 (2002)
   
• A Christmas Carol (2009)
   
• The Polar Express (2004)
   
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
   
• Elf (2003)
   
• Bad Santa (2003)
   

Favourite festive food of the noughties

The traditional stuff still stood but what was becoming VERY popular during this decade?

PIGS IN BLANKETS!

Also, of note, Gastropubs became very popular during this decade.
 

How many of these sweet delights can you remember, now discontinued  (they may have been in your selection box….):

• Snow Flake.
   
• KitKat Caramac (a 4-fingered KitKat wafer smothered in buttery caramel coating).
   
• Cadbury’s Dream
   
• Applause
   
• Trio
   
• Space Dust
   
• Mars Delight
   
• Fuse bar

And, despite many calls to be brought back, Cadbury Snaps!

Most popular Christmas gifts of the noughties:

• Bratz
   
• Betty Spaghetti
   
• DDR Dance Mat
   
• iPod Shuffle
   
• Robosapien
   
• Razor Scooter
   
• Rainbow Loom – friendship bracelets.
   
• Nintendo DS
   
• Pixel Chix
   
• Beyblades
   
• The Sims
   
• Password Journal
   
• Heelys
   
• Xbox 360
   
• Playstation 3
   
• iPhone
   
• Pokemon Trading Cards
   
• Who wants to be a Millionaire board game.
   

Surely Christmas hampers too?! 
 

What Christmas TV programmes did we watch in the noughties?

Apparently the most popular at Christmas were:

• Britain’s Got Talent
   
• East Enders
   
• Coronation St
   
• Wallace and Gromit
   
• X Factor Final
   
• Heartbeat
   
• I’m a Celebrity
   
• The Gruffalo (TV film)
   
• Only Fools and Horses, festive special (in 2001 21.3m watched on Christmas Day!).
   

Let’s end with some interesting, important facts... According to a recent UK survey, what are the favourite parts of the Christmas Dinner?!

1. Roast Potatoes
    
2. Roast Turkey
    
3. Pigs in Blankets
    
4. Stuffing
    
5. Gravy
    
6. Yorkshire Pudding
    
7. Sprouts
    
8. Parsnips
    
9. Christmas pudding
    
10. Cauliflower Cheese
     

How many did you get?
 

Well, we’re nearly up to the present day. Join us next time for a light-hearted look at the last 10 years of British Christmases.