Charles Dickens' descendant says he was 'totally woke'
Lucinda Hawksley, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, reveals his progressive values and shares a poignant Christmas message for 2025. Discover the family traditions.
Lucinda Hawksley, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, reveals his progressive values and shares a poignant Christmas message for 2025. Discover the family traditions.
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.
The Jonas Brothers' new festive film, 'A Very Jonas Christmas Movie', is now streaming on Disney+. With an 85% critics score, it's a feel-good holiday watch full of music and comedy.
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.
In 2020, Polly Hudson's family braved the cold for a 'Diffmas' garden lunch with her mum. Discover how gazebos, heaters and gritted teeth failed against a British winter.
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.
Marks & Spencer's floral appliqué shift dress is now half price at £24.75. Shoppers praise its 'sin-hiding' fit and versatile style for work and parties. Grab the bargain while stocks last.
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 37-year-old man faces a rare prosecution under an 1860 law for allegedly threatening a worshipper in a West London church. Discover the history behind the obscure legislation.
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.
Supermarkets battle with pre-prepared festive meal kits. Iceland's £25 offering for four wins top praise from experts and customers for value and taste. Find out which boxes are worth it.
Explore the surprising history of the UK's Christmas dinner, from medieval 'umble' pies to Victorian turkey. Discover global festive feasts and why we eat what we do on 25 December.
Explore how the Judge Dredd Christmas special and British sci-fi reflect a uniquely festive blend of joy and decline. Discover the Victorian legacy shaping UK holiday storytelling.
Your full guide to the explosive Christmas storylines in EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street for 2025. Discover the secrets, violence and tragic twists planned for the festive season.
A writer reflects on eight alcohol-free festive seasons, offering wisdom on navigating Christmas Day stress, the benefits of sobriety, and finding alternative pleasures. Discover a fresh perspective on holiday celebrations.
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.
Will it snow on Christmas Day 2025? We examine the UK forecast, the Met Office's definition, and look back at historic white Christmases, including the last widespread one in 2010.
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.
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.
Complex 11-month project to replace historic glass canopy at Fulham Broadway station now starts in January. TfL pledges to minimise disruption to locals and commuters.