Christmas Traditions & Customs

Find out about the history of Christmas Customs and Christmas Traditions. How many Traditions and Customs started and how they are celebrated. The history behind Christmas!

Because of the COVID-19/Coronavirus Pandemic, many of the ways that Christmas is celebrated might be different this year. Traditions and customs described in this section are how Christmas is celebrated in a normal year.

• When Christmas is Celebrated
  • Why the 25th of December?!
  • Advent - Before Christmas
  • The 12 Days of Christmas
  • Epiphany - After Christmas
• Christmas or Xmas?
• Christmas Bells
• Boxing Day
• Candles
• Candy Canes
• Chrismons
• Christmas Cake
• Christmas Carols
  • The History of Carols
  • Carol Stories
  • Nine Lessons and Carols
• Christmas Cards
• Christmas Eve
• Christingles
• Christmas Crackers
• The Colors of Christmas
• Eggnog
• The Elf on a Shelf
• The Holly and the Ivy
• Gift Bringers Around the World
• Jesse Trees
• Merry Christmas in Different Languages
• Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas?
• Mince Pies
• Mistletoe
• Nativity Plays and Cribs
• Pantomime
• The Christmas Pickle
• Poinsettias
• Presents
• Christmas Pudding
• Snow and Ice
• St. Nicholas, Santa Claus & Father Christmas
• The Star of Bethlehem
• Christmas Trees
• Christmas Turkeys
• Wassailing and Mumming
• December / Winter Festivals
  • Hanukkah
  • Kwanzaa
• The Yule Log
• Christmas History in the UK
• Christmas Misconceptions