Christmas in the UK: Traditions and Recipes 2026
Published October 24, 2026 · GiveOwl
Stir-up Sunday, mince pies, crackers and Boxing Day: many British Christmas customs have a long history, and the stories behind them are often more tangled than they look. Here are the key dates for 2026, short histories with sources, and simple recipes you can make yourself.
Key dates 2026
- Stir-up Sunday (last Sunday before Advent): Sunday 22 November
- Advent Sunday (the first Sunday of Advent): Sunday 29 November
- First advent calendar door: Tuesday 1 December
- Christmas Eve: Thursday 24 December
- Christmas Day: Friday 25 December (bank holiday)
- Boxing Day: Saturday 26 December; substitute bank holiday Monday 28 December
- Twelfth Night: 5 January
Stir-up Sunday and Advent Sunday are our own calculation from the calendar. The bank holiday dates come from GOV.UK.
Our guides
- Advent calendar tradition in the UK: from chalk marks on a door to Cadbury and the daily window.
- Christmas pudding recipe and Stir-up Sunday: why the day is called Stir-up Sunday, and a simple steamed pudding.
- Mince pies: history and a simple recipe: from Tudor meat pies to the sweet pies we bake today.
- Christmas cake: history and a simple recipe: from the Twelfth Night cake to marzipan and icing, with a fruit cake recipe.
- Christmas dinner and Boxing Day traditions: turkey, crackers, Boxing Day, and pigs in blankets.
- Wassail tradition and an alcohol-free mulled apple drink: the old custom of wassailing, plus an alcohol-free mulled apple drink.
Boxing Day
Boxing Day (26 December) falls on a Saturday in 2026, so the substitute bank holiday is Monday 28 December, according to GOV.UK. Christmas Day is Friday 25 December. The name most likely comes from "Christmas boxes", the money or gifts that were given to servants, apprentices and tradespeople. Read more in Christmas dinner and Boxing Day traditions.
Take part, don't just read
If you would rather open advent calendars that someone else has filled: Best advent calendar competitions 2026 (UK) and Christmas competitions UK 2026: by prize type list the online calendars and prize draws we have checked on the organiser's own page. For gifts, see chocolate gifts and advent calendars (ad, affiliate links).
