Christmas Day Baby Shares Joy of Festive Birthday
Sheila Bond, born on 25 December 1953, reveals why she loves her Christmas birthday, from childhood presents to family traditions. Read her heartwarming story.
Sheila Bond, born on 25 December 1953, reveals why she loves her Christmas birthday, from childhood presents to family traditions. Read her heartwarming story.
Explore the surprising Roman and Victorian origins of Christmas on December 25th. Discover the theories behind the date and how Charles Dickens shaped our modern festivities.
A woman reflects on 25 years of joint family Christmases with divorced parents and step-parents, recalling the surreal moment she found them all in bed together. Discover how this unique dynamic shaped her understanding of love and family.
From icy dips in the UK to a unique underground mass in the Philippines, explore the powerful and poignant images that defined Christmas Eve around the world. See the full gallery.
Explore how British diaspora communities use festive food and gatherings to preserve identity and create new traditions. Discover personal stories of connection and belonging.
Discover why countries across Europe and Latin America exchange presents on Christmas Eve, rooted in ancient Christian tradition. Explore the global festive customs.
As Australia faces a 'hot Christmas', explore how summer celebrations, from prawns to beach cricket, define the festive season down under. Discover the unique blend of tradition and climate.
Industry insiders from the BBC, ITV and Sky share the festive TV they return to every year, from classic films to unexpected soaps. Discover the shows that truly make their Christmas.
A Canadian expat shares her strangest Christmas in a London flat, bonding with a flatmate over a jarring film and an unconventional lunch. Discover the oddities of the festive season away from home.
Everything you need to know about London's famous Christmas Eve meat auction at Smithfield Market. Find times, tips, and how to bag a festive bargain.
Discover Montol, Cornwall's unique winter solstice festival in Penzance. From horse skull 'osses' and pagan rituals to sprout-throwing revelry, explore how this community event lights up the darkest day.
A journalist reflects on missing her annual festive hometown reunion for the first time, exploring the unique nostalgia and chaos of Christmas Eve back home. Share your story with us.
As Christmas 2025 approaches, Ukrainian refugees in the UK share how they preserve their festive traditions, from St Nicholas Day to Holy Supper, while mourning lives shattered by Russia's full-scale invasion.
Polly Hudson reveals how 15 years of festive squabbles over tinsel, turkey and Aled Jones led to a yuletide truce with her Christmas-obsessed husband. Discover their seasonal survival guide.
A mother explains how telling her children Santa only brings stocking fillers changed Christmas, reducing pressure and fostering gratitude. Discover her simple family rule.
The Duchess of Sussex reveals her family's sweet festive rituals in California, including leaving carrots for reindeer, as the Sussexes celebrate another Christmas away from UK royals.
A writer's scathing critique of the forced frivolity of White Elephant gift exchanges. Discover why this holiday ritual of disappointment and theft should be made extinct this festive season.
Exploring how iconic melodies like Beethoven's Ode to Joy and Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony are twisted for political aims, from Tiananmen Square to Putin's Russia. Discover the dark histories behind the world's most famous tunes.
A new survey reveals millions of Brits are breaking Christmas dinner traditions with chips and baked beans, but Londoners cling to Yorkshire puddings. Discover the festive food revolution.
Explore the fascinating history of the Christmas tree, from Roman Saturnalia to Norwegian church floors. Discover how the Norway spruce became a festive staple and its surprising practical uses.
Discover four ingenious Elf on the Shelf pranks from a creative mum, plus a time-saving app that uses AI to create magical elf scenes for your children.
The US Interior Department has removed Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth from its list of free-entry days for national parks, adding Donald Trump's birthday instead. Read the full details and implications.
Emma Parsons-Reid shares her 17-year strategy for scoring hotel upgrades, free meals, and samples by using polite persuasion and strategic stories. Discover her tips and ethical stance.
Next week's Coronation Street sees Maggie's 65th birthday party simmer with tension, Carla in peril, and a painfully awkward baby shower. Get all the spoilers here.
The Guardian wants to hear from UK readers about their 2025 Christmas plans. Are you embracing the festive season early or holding back? Share your story and thoughts on the holiday spirit.
The UK government is asking the public to nominate traditions like cheese rolling and Burns Night for UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list. Submit your ideas by February.
As society grows more isolated, children's birthday parties offer a vital chance to forge real-world connections, despite the chaos and sugar-fuelled mayhem. Discover why these events are essential.
A mass shooting at a toddler's birthday party in Stockton, California, left four dead and 11 injured. Victims include three children. Police search for multiple suspects.
A football fan shares two unforgettable birthday match memories: Exeter City's famous 2005 FA Cup trip to Manchester United and Gianfranco Zola's 2015 home debut managing Cagliari. Relive these personal football stories.
A six-year-old's 1883 letter to Santa, found in newspaper archives, shows children's festive wishes haven't changed in 140 years. Discover the origins of this UK tradition.