What is the most popular thing to do at Christmas?
The most popular things to do at Christmas revolve around spending time with family, exchanging gifts, and enjoying festive,,,sights, with top activities including decorating homes, watching holiday movies, attending church services, eating special meals, visiting Christmas markets, and viewing light displays.
The most popular activity on Christmas is the one that brings people together. For many families, this means visiting peaceful places filled with holiday light displays, walking past a glowing Christmas tree, or sipping hot cocoa while enjoying the calm of the Christmas season.
“White Christmas” went on to become the top-selling single of all time. According to Guinness World Records, by 2012 it had sold some 50 million copies worldwide.
Top 10 Things To Do at Disney World for the Holidays: Our Ultimate Guide to a Magical Christmas
What is No. 1 for Christmas?
The most recent UK Christmas Number 1 (December 2025) is Kylie Minogue's "XMAS," a jaunty new anthem that beat Wham!'s "Last Christmas", which had topped the charts in 2023 and 2024, making Kylie the first female artist with hits in four different decades. The Christmas Number 1 is a major annual UK chart race, with classics like Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody", and Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" also being popular contenders over the years.
The oldest Christmas songs are ancient Christian hymns from the 4th century, with "Jesus Refulsit Omnium" by St. Hilary of Poitiers and "Corde natus ex Parentis" ("Of the Father's Love Begotten") by Prudentius being top contenders, though these were sacred texts rather than the sing-along carols we know today, with melodies often evolving or being set much later. "Corde natus ex Parentis" is particularly notable as its text is still used and its tune, "Divinum mysterium," appeared in print in 1582.
The "5 Things for Christmas Rule" (or "Five Gift Rule") is a popular gift-giving guideline that limits each recipient to five thoughtful presents, typically structured as: something they Want, something they Need, something to Wear, something to Read, and something special/to Share (or Do). This method encourages quality over quantity, focusing on meaningful items that cover different aspects of a person's life rather than endless toys or clutter.
The first recorded Christmas that celebrated the birth of Jesus is often cited as A.D. 336, however some historical evidence suggests the observance dates back as far as the second century.
The most Googled things on Christmas Day vary but consistently center on traditions, food, gifts, and entertainment, with top searches often including "Christmas tree," "Santa Claus," specific Christmas movies (like The Grinch or Die Hard), recipes for things like turkey or mince pies, and gift ideas, while search trends also show spikes for tech gadgets like projectors, fitness rings, and gaming consoles in the holiday season leading up to Christmas.
Play some board games –our favourites here or some family card games like these ones. Do a family quiz. Set aside some time playing with your children's favourite new toy. Bake some Christmas buns or cookies- and then decorate them!
Something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. Many parents and carers have the ever-difficult decision of choosing what to buy for their children this Christmas, however with Scout Store's Four Gift Rule you can gift with a purpose.
The second letter of these five letter is X or Christos! So X has been used to mean Jesus/Christ for over 1000 years; and it's also completely fine to use Xmas to mean Christmas; but it should still be pronounced 'Christmas' rather than 'ex-mas'!
In 1647 Parliament passed an Ordinance which resulted in the complete abolition of Christmas celebrations. That the said Feast of the Nativity of Christ, Easter and Whitsuntide and all other Festival days, commonly called Holy-dayes, be no longer observed … within this Kingdom of England …
Saint Nicholas was a 4th Century Greek Bishop who wore red and white robes and gave gifts to the poor, especially children. After his death, the legend of him continued and he is still celebrated in some countries on December 6th, known as St. Nicholas Day.
Can I gift $3,000 to each of my children each year?
It's important to note that this annual exemption is your total allowance for a given tax year, which means you could give all £3,000 to one child, or split it between several children.. Note that this is a per person allowance, so both parents may gift £3,000 each per year tax-free.
You open gifts on the 24th or 25th depending on family tradition, with many in the US, Canada, and UK opening them Christmas morning (25th), while many in Europe (like Germany, Nordic countries) open them Christmas Eve (24th) after dinner or at midnight, with some families splitting presents between both days or even opening some on Boxing Day.
The 5 Gift Rule offers a practical and thoughtful approach to Christmas gift-giving. By selecting something they want, need, wear, read, and experience, you ensure that each gift holds significance and brings joy.
"O Holy Night" was banned by French church leaders in the 1850s due to its controversial origins: the lyrics were written by an atheist poet (Placide Cappeau) and the music by a Jewish composer (Adolphe-Charles Adam), leading some to deem it too secular and politically radical, especially the lines about liberation from oppression. Despite the ban, the French people continued to sing it, and American abolitionists later embraced its powerful message of freedom, eventually making it a beloved classic worldwide.
The number one Christmas song of all time by sales is Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling single ever, with over 50 million copies sold worldwide, and remains a top seller annually. In modern digital streams, Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" dominates, earning the most revenue and dominating charts in recent years, making it a huge contemporary hit, says Wigan One Radio.
