Traditions and History...
Below are our articles on the subject of Traditions and History. If you can't see what you are looking for our other categories are displayed on the left under 'Our Quick Links'...
Christmas Crackers: How They Came About
Christmas presents don’t all have to be serious – sure a gleaming new iPod, that digital camera you’ve been wanting to buy for the past few...
How the Christmas Carol Came About
Christmas is a special time of the year that comes with a lot of strong emotions, but it can be quite stressful, too. Spending hours in the kitchen cooking up an...
Midnight Mass at Christmas
Bart Simpson once famously said that - Christmas is the only Christian holiday celebrated by people of all religions - and though very funny, the statement is...
Poinsettia: The Christmas Flower Tradition
Christmas trees might be wonderful and beautiful, Advent wreaths are certainly inspirational and Christmas lights can be simply magical, but...
The Christmas Pantomime
When the Christmas season comes around - so do the pantomimes. The wonderful tradition of musical comedy theatre involving lots of audience participation is hugely...
The Christmas Stocking
In Europe, Christmas gifts are traditionally arranged underneath the Christmas tree but in some countries children wake up on Christmas morning all excited about the...
The History of Christmas Pudding
Whether you like it or not, Christmas would not be complete without ending your feast by serving the traditional Christmas Pud, crowned with holly and brought to the...
The School Nativity Play
For most parents the Christmas season really starts when their little ones come bounding through the front door, full of excitement and bellowing I need a shepherd's...
The Tradition of Mistletoe and Holly
The tradition of decorating your home with holly at Christmas, comes from the early pagans of Europe who began the tradition. We would probably agree with them that...
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Back in the middle ages, Christmas celebrations used to go on for twelve days. You would have Christmas Eve, and then counting from the end of Christmas Day...
What is the Significance of Advent?
It can sometimes be easy to forget in the midst of all the merry festivities, funny customs and commercial broohaha, but Christmas is ultimately a religious holiday,...
Where did Santa Claus come from?
Santa Claus is the English version of Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas (or, more correctly, Sint-Niklaas) was a Turkish bishop who gave away his whole fortune to the young and...
Why Christmas Lights?
One of the most magical things about Christmas (apart from the really great presents, the fabulous food and the fact that you get to spend quality time with your...
Why Do We Give Christmas Cards?
If there’s one thing that lets us know the Christmas season is upon us, it’s Christmas cards. As early as October the shops start stocking Christmas cards. And they’re...
Why is Boxing Day so Called?
Not from the United Kingdom? Then you would absolutely be forgiven for picturing something along the lines of a national punching festival when you first hear about...
Why The Christmas Tree Came About
No Christmas is complete without a Christmas tree. The whole process of going to find the perfect tree, bringing it into the house and then decorating it together...
