16 British Christmas Traditions That Are Completely Essential, But Don't Make Any Sense

    If you haven't gotten emotional at a John Lewis ad, are you even British?

    Hanifah Rahman
    by Hanifah Rahman

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. Counting down the days to the main event by eating a teeny tiny piece of chocolate every day.

    Amazon

    I think all the lead up to all major events could benefit from a chocolate calendar, TBH.

    2. Looking forward to, and being emotionally invested in the narrative, aesthetics, and music of a department store's advert.

    John Lewis

    If you haven't teared up at a John Lewis ad, are you even British?

    3. And being equally invested in the race to the Christmas No. 1.

    BBC

    No one buys singles anymore and TOTP has been off the air for years — why do we care?!

    4. Being passionate about spending Christmas Eve getting pissed at the pub with a bunch of people you went to school with, but haven't spoken to in years.

    BBC

    A tradition that is sadly gone (but not forgotten) for 2020.

    5. Pretending that mince pies are actually nice, and then eating loads of them.

    Getty Images / BuzzFeed

    Ask yourself this – do you ever fancy a mince pie when it's not December? I rest my case.

    6. The same goes for Christmas pudding.

    Tesco / Via giphy.com

    It's never a good sign when the best part of a dessert is lighting it on fire, but it's here to stay.

    7. And don't get me started on the tradition of children decorating oranges.

    Powerofflowers / Getty Images

    Oranges aren't instantly Christmassy, so what's the story there?

    8. Adding alcohol to anything and everything you can get your hands on.

    BBC

    Brandy butter, Christmas cake, orange juice — if it's possible for alcohol to be added, it's going in.

    9. Going to the local theatre and shouting "he's behind you!!!" at C-listers.

    Chris Fithall / Via Flickr: chrisfithall

    Pantomimes aren't even about Christmas!

    10. Leaving alcohol out for Father Christmas to drink as he makes his way around the houses.

    Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International

    I'm sure St. Nick likes the sauce as much as the rest of us, but is that not drink driving?

    11. CHRISTMAS CRACKERS!

    RCA Records

    What does pulling a really tiny explosive at the dinner table have to do with Christmas? Who knows, but it wouldn't be the big day without them.

    12. And of course, eating dinner while donning a paper crown.

    Getty Images

    Again, it shouldn't make sense, but it does.

    13. Mercilessly dragging Brussels sprouts, but continuing to include them in the Christmas dinner lineup, year after year.

    Getty Images

    Sure, we hate them, but not as much as we love to hate them.

    14. Sitting around the TV watching the Queen give her rundown of the past year...

    BBC

    (Good luck this year, Queenie).

    15. ...Before getting really engrossed in the drama of the Eastenders Christmas special.

    BBC

    Do you watch it any other day? No? Are you heavily invested in Albert Square's Christmas shenanigans? Yes.

    16. And finally, simply calling the day after Christmas Boxing Day...

    20th Century Fox

    I don't think anybody's given out a boxing day box since the Victorian times, but the name's going strong.

    What's your favourite Christmas tradition? Tell us in the comments, and have a wonderful Christmas!