Read and plan
Gift ideas for everyone
Sorted by person, from mum to coworkers.
24 Christmas recipes
One for every day of advent.
Traditions around the world
Twelve countries, twelve celebrations.
Planning checklist
Week by week, with boxes to tick.
Christmas news
New movies, deadlines and dates.
Christmas shop
Decorations, gifts and stocking fillers.
Everything you need for a calmer Christmas
These guides cover the four things that make or break Christmas: gifts, food, traditions and planning. Each one is written to be useful in a few minutes, with clear lists and links to tools that do the sums for you.
- Christmas gift ideas for women, men, mom, dad, kids, teens and coworkers, plus homemade and budget ideas.
- Christmas recipes with easy cookie recipes, dinner tips, desserts and festive drinks.
- Christmas traditions around the world from Germany and Mexico to Japan and Pakistan.
- Christmas planning checklist to tick off week by week.
- Christmas news on new movies, deadlines and dates.
- Christmas shop for decorations, advent calendars and stocking fillers.
Where to start
If you only have ten minutes today, set your budget in the budget planner and write your gift list. Everything else follows from those two.
Christmas at a glance for 2026
Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday. Advent begins on Sunday 29 November, Black Friday is 27 November and the last USPS ground shipping day is 17 December. With those dates in mind, the guides above will help you plan gifts and food in good time. For the live countdown, go to the home page.
Guides for every stage
Early: gift ideas and the checklist. Middle: recipes, cookies and decorating. Last week: traditions to share, and the Christmas Eve countdown. Each guide links to the tools that help with it.
Popular questions our guides answer
- What should I get my mom for Christmas? See Christmas gift ideas.
- What are the easiest Christmas cookies to make? See Christmas recipes.
- How do they celebrate Christmas in Japan or Mexico? See Christmas traditions.
- What should I do the week before Christmas? See the planning checklist.
- What is the last day to ship for Christmas? See shipping deadlines.
Prefer tools? Every free planner and calculator is collected on Christmas tools.
Keep exploring
More countdowns, tools and Christmas reading on Christmas Days Left.