Christmas - Latest news and reviews

We've barely taken down the lights, and plans for Christmas are already under way - with an open competition to design Oxford Street's 2018 lights.

A rare map of the Arctic Ocean held at The National Archives may contain some of the earliest colour images ever produced of Father Christmas.

A 17th century recipe for Mince Pies that's recently been found in The National Archives calls for a loin of fat mutton to be minced with a leg of veal.

People love photos of cats playing in front of Christmas trees, so here's my own take on that popular genre.

There's a corner of docklands that is forever nightime, where boats are mended, a pub serves no one, and shops sell nothing - and now it's festive time.

On the First day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

The Geffrye Museum has, as is now traditional for them, decorated its collection of historic rooms as if they are set for Christmas.

An annual tradition is being continued this Christmas, with an uplifting rendition of Handel's Messiah in St Paul's Cathedral.

Christmas isn't just about a coca-cola marketing gimmick, it has a long and often dark history. Even the kindly St Nick wasn't always the genial character we think of today.

Tis the season to be buffeted this way and that by exhortations to shop early and shop often for Christmas goodies. With some shops setting up Christmas zones in the middle of October, there are the usual complaints about how…