Imagine the aroma of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts filling the crisp, winter air as you wander down cobbled streets ...

Picture a traditional nativity scene. The baby Jesus is in the manger ... warmth and opportunity of the year ahead. Like many European Christmas traditions, the burning of the Yule Log is based ...

There are six European countries where Christmas is celebrated 13 days later than Britain. The reason why January 7 is the big day elsewhere all comes down to the historical use of calendars.