It really is the most wonderful time of the year and I hope everyone is having a very merry Christmas, whether your house is full of people or its just you and the garden birds.

I thought it might be fun to have a quick look at some of the Christmas traditions here in the UK and find out where they come from. How many do you already know?!

1. Christmas trees – In the UK, having a Christmas tree in the house was introduced by Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III. She was from Germany where it was common to have a Christmas tree in the house so she got one brought in to the Queen’s lodge in Windsor and apparently decorated it herself!

2. Why mistletoe? – Way back, this was a sacred plant in Britain which could only be cut by druids with a golden sickle! It was associated with peace and any people who met underneath it were not allowed to fight (even bitter enemies). It was used to decorate homes which would then offer protection and shelter to those who visited.

3. Christmas cards – from what I can find out, in the UK in 1843 the idea of having Christmas cards came from Sir Henry Cole but it was John Callcott Horsley who designed it and we’ve been sending them ever since!

4. Boxing Day – the tradition of this day after Christmas began in the 1800s, when gifts were given in a Christmas box. The following day, the wealthy would fill the box with gifts to give to the poor or to their staff.

5. Yule log – to us its a lovely big chocolate cake but originally it was an actual tree which was specifically chosen to be brought into the house and burned over the 12 days of Christmas.

6. Charles Dickens – we all know about his story ‘A Christmas Carol’ but did you know it was common during the Victorian times to tell ghost stories at Christmas time? Also, the famous line ‘Bah, humbug’ was apparently going to be ‘Bah, Christmas’!

What other traditions can you add to the list?!