The reasons behind our favourite Christmas traditions (2024)

'How does Santa get around the whole world in one night?'...Your toddler’s middle name could be Curiosity! Now they've started asking those challenging "Why..." questions, there's no stopping them. The simple answer, otherwise known as the fob-off, is often easiest for both of you! However, here are the real explanations behind our favourite Christmas traditions.

Why do we hang up a stocking?

Simple answer: So Father Christmas can fill it with presents if you've been good.

But actually... According to tradition, the original Saint Nicholas put gold coins in the stockings of three poor sisters. One night, the girls left their stockings drying over the fireplace. Saint Nicholas knew the family was very poor, so he threw three bags of gold coins down the chimney. The money landed in the sisters’ stockings. Since then, children have hung up their Christmas stockings on Christmas Eve, hoping to find them filled with gifts in the morning.

Why do we have a Christmas tree?

Simple answer: So that we can make lots of lovely Christmas decorations to hang on it.

But actually… The tradition of the Christmas tree started in Germany. Church reformer Martin Luther was returning home one winter's night, when he was enchanted by the stars twinkling through tree branches. He decided to try to capture the memory by cutting down a small fir tree and decorating it with candles in his home.

The custom spread all over the world. The Christmas tree first arrived in England in 1841. It was brought over from Germany by Prince Albert to remind him of his homeland. The royal tree was decorated with hand-blown glass ornaments, and soon the custom was copied by families around the country.

Why do we eat mince pies at Christmas?

Simple answer: It's a tasty snack for Father Christmas when he's delivering presents.

But actually… The original mince pies contained very different ingredients from the ones we eat today. They included rabbit, pigeon, partridge, hare and pheasant, as well as dried fruit and spices! It was originally known as a Christmas Pye. The oblong or square shape was said to resemble Jesus' cradle.

According to tradition, you should make a wish on the first mince pie of the season. After that, you should eat a pie on each of the 12 days of Christmas for good luck over the next 12 months. Another custom was to accept a mince pie in every house you visited over Christmas. This is why we still offer them today.

Why do we pull Christmas crackers?

Simple answer: To get a party hat, mystery gift and funny joke.

But actually… The man who invented the cracker did it by accident! In the 19th century, Tom Smith, who made wrapped sweets for a living, decided to add a motto to them. He later experimented with adding a specially treated strip of paper, which "cracked" when the sweet was opened.

Over time, his invention grew into the cracker we know today. The first Christmas cracker went on sale in 1847 in London.

Why do we put up mistletoe and holly?

Simple answer: They make the house look and smell Christmassy!

But actually… Mistletoe and holly were part of the ancient Celtic celebration of the winter solstice on 21 December. Mistletoe represented life, while holly offered protection against evil spirits.

Why do we go to the pantomime at Christmas?

Simple answer: So we can all shout out "He's behind you!" and enjoy a singalong!

But actually… The annual Christmas pantomime dates back to medieval morality plays, which were performed on village greens. Like today's pantos, these plays were all about good triumphing over evil.

To this day, tradition says that the pantomime villain should be the first to enter from stage left (the dark side). He should be followed by his opposite, the good fairy, from stage right (the light side). This echoes the medieval traditional stage entrances which represented heaven and hell!

Why do we eat Yule log?

Simple answer: It's easier on little tums than rich, fruity festive cakes.

But actually… Although the cake is a French idea, the custom comes from pagan British celebrations of midwinter or "yule". A log was gathered and burned in the house to banish the darkness and burn away bad luck. By Tudor times, the yule log was adorned with ribbons and kept alight for the 12 days of Christmas.

Is Father Christmas real?

Simple answer: Do you think he is?

But actually… The story of Father Christmas begins with a real person, Saint Nicholas, in the fourth century. He had a reputation for being kind and performing miracles. The legend of him faded, apart from in Holland, where he was known as Sinterklaas.

When Dutch colonists settled in America, they took the Sinterklaas legend with them. Here he became known as "Santa Claus". He was originally pictured in a long brown robe with furs and a holly crown. The jolly Santa character in a red and white suit that we know was adopted by Coca Cola for an advertising campaign in the 1930s.