10 Things British Families Used to Do on Christmas Day That Have Almost Disappeared

Save to Find It Later!

Christmas Day in Britain has changed a lot over the years. Some old traditions are still going strong, but many have faded as family routines, TV, travel and technology have changed. A stocking once meant a satsuma, a few nuts and small treats, while a phone call to family overseas could cost a small fortune. The day often followed a set pattern too: church in the morning, the monarch’s speech at 3pm, Christmas pudding after lunch, then games and television in the evening. These habits may feel old-fashioned now, but they bring back warm memories for many people. Here are ten things British families used to do on Christmas Day that are far less common now.

1. Wake up at dawn to a stocking full of satsumas and nuts

For many children, Christmas Day started very early. Long before the adults were ready to get up, children would be sitting on the end of the bed, feeling their stocking and trying to guess what was inside. A traditional stocking was often much simpler than the big gift-filled sacks seen today. It might contain a satsuma, a few walnuts or Brazil nuts, a chocolate coin, a small toy and perhaps some new socks.

The orange was a big part of the tradition. Satsumas were once seen as a special Christmas treat because they were not always easy to get during the rest of the year. Nuts were another small luxury, often placed right at the bottom of the stocking. Children would crack them open later using a nutcracker, usually leaving shells scattered across the table.

Today, stockings are often packed with gadgets, beauty products, sweets and gift cards. The simple satsuma and nuts may still appear in some homes, but they are more likely to be there for tradition than excitement.

2. Go to church in the morning

Going to church on Christmas morning used to be a normal part of the day for many British families. People would put on their best clothes, head out in the cold, and join neighbours for a service filled with carols, candles and familiar readings. For some families, it was the main event before Christmas lunch.

The service gave the day a slower start. Children might be impatient to get back to their new toys, while adults enjoyed seeing friends and relatives from the local area. Churches were often busy, especially for the midnight service on Christmas Eve and the morning service on Christmas Day.

Many people still attend church at Christmas, but it is no longer a regular habit for as many families. Christmas morning is now more likely to be spent opening presents, cooking lunch or watching television. Some churches have adapted with shorter family services, online broadcasts and relaxed events for people who want to drop in.

Even so, the sound of carols in a packed church remains a strong Christmas memory for many people.

3. Circle every programme in the Radio Times

The Christmas Radio Times used to be a fixture in British homes. Families would buy the thick festive issue, sit down with a pen, and circle everything they wanted to watch over Christmas and New Year. The listings felt important because there were only a few television channels, and missing a programme often meant missing it for good.

Children would look for cartoons, Christmas specials and films. Adults might circle dramas, comedy shows, music programmes and the big Christmas Day broadcasts. There was often a small debate over what the family would watch after lunch, especially when several popular shows were on at the same time.

The Radio Times was more than a TV guide. It was part of the build-up to Christmas. People read interviews, looked at the pictures and planned their viewing days in advance. The special issue often stayed on the coffee table for weeks, with pages folded over and circles covering almost every evening.

Streaming, catch-up TV and online listings have made this much less necessary. Still, plenty of people miss the simple pleasure of choosing Christmas television with a pen in hand.

4. Watch the Queen’s Speech at 3pm

For decades, 3pm on Christmas Day meant one thing in many British homes: the Queen’s Speech. Families would pause after Christmas lunch, turn up the television and watch Queen Elizabeth II give her annual Christmas message. Her speech was calm, formal and familiar, often touching on family, community, faith and events from the past year.

Some people watched closely, while others had it on in the background as pudding was served or washing-up began. Even families who were not strongly interested in the Royal Family often kept the tradition going because it marked a set moment in the day.

After Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, the broadcast became the King’s Christmas Message. It still airs at 3pm, but the old habit has changed for many viewers. Younger families may watch clips online later, if they watch it at all. Others prefer to keep talking, play games or put on a film.

For those who grew up with it, though, the Queen’s Speech remains tied to Christmas afternoon, full plates, paper hats and a living room crowded with family.

5. Hide a sixpence in the Christmas pudding

A Christmas pudding was once more than dessert. It came with a small risk and a bit of excitement: a sixpence hidden inside. The person who found the silver coin in their slice was said to have good luck for the year ahead. Children would eat very carefully, hoping to be the lucky one.

The coin was usually washed well and wrapped before being added to the pudding. Even so, adults had to warn everyone to look out for it. Finding it could be thrilling, but biting down on a coin was not much fun. In some homes, the sixpence was kept as a lucky keepsake after dinner.

Christmas puddings were often made weeks before the big day, then steamed again before serving. They arrived at the table covered in brandy, set alight and carried in with blue flames dancing across the top. That part of the tradition still appears in some households, but hiding coins has become far less common.

Safety concerns, changing tastes and the decline of the old sixpence have all played a part. Many families now choose chocolate desserts, trifle or something lighter instead.

6. Make an expensive phone call to relatives abroad

Calling relatives abroad on Christmas Day used to be a costly event. International phone calls were expensive, especially when made from a home landline. Families might wait until a cheaper time, keep an eye on the clock and make sure everyone had a quick chance to say hello.

A call to Australia, Canada or the United States could feel like a major part of the day. People would pass the handset around the room, shouting Christmas greetings to grandparents, cousins and old friends living far away. The line was not always clear, and there could be a delay before the other person heard you.

Some families sent Christmas cards and simply hoped they arrived in time. Others booked calls through an operator in earlier years, making the whole thing feel even more formal. A few minutes of conversation could cost far more than people were comfortable spending, so calls were often short and carefully planned.

Now, video calls, voice notes and messages make it easy to speak to relatives anywhere in the world. Families can chat for hours without worrying about the bill. That is better in many ways, but the old Christmas phone call had its own special feeling.

7. Eat Christmas cake with thick marzipan

Traditional British Christmas cake was rich, dark and packed with dried fruit. It was usually covered in a thick layer of marzipan, then finished with white royal icing. For many people, the marzipan was the best part. It was sweet, soft and often much thicker than the icing on top.

The cake was usually made well before Christmas, sometimes months ahead. It would be “fed” with brandy, whisky or rum to keep it moist and give it a strong flavour. By Christmas Day, it was ready to cut into small slices and serve with tea, coffee or a glass of something festive.

Some families decorated the top with plastic figures, holly leaves, silver balls or a little Father Christmas scene. The cake could stay in a tin for weeks, appearing again when visitors came round after Christmas.

Fruit cake is still loved by plenty of people, but it has become less popular with younger families. Many now choose sponge cake, chocolate cake, cheesecake or a shop-bought dessert. Thick marzipan can divide a room too. People tend to love it or leave it on the side of the plate.

8. Play charades after dinner

After Christmas dinner, when everyone was full and slightly sleepy, many families would gather in the living room for charades. It was a simple game that needed almost nothing: scraps of paper, a bowl or hat, and people willing to act silly in front of each other.

One person would pick a film, book, song or well-known phrase, then try to act it out without speaking. The rest of the family had to guess. There were familiar hand signals for words, syllables, books and films, though nobody always agreed on the rules. The best moments often came from terrible acting and guesses that made no sense.

Charades worked because everyone could join in, from young children to grandparents. It filled that quiet time between lunch and the evening television. It could get noisy, competitive and chaotic, especially after a few drinks.

Board games and quiz games still appear at Christmas, but charades is less common than it once was. Phones, tablets, gaming consoles and separate screens can pull people in different directions. Still, when a family does bring out the charades, it can quickly turn into one of the funniest parts of the day.

9. Watch the Christmas Top of the Pops

The Christmas edition of Top of the Pops was once a major part of the festive TV schedule. Families gathered around the television to watch the biggest songs of the year, famous pop stars and the Christmas number one. For music fans, it was one of the best programmes of the holiday.

The show often featured bright outfits, big hair, dance routines and songs that had filled the radio all year. Children and teenagers would wait to see their favourite singers, while parents sometimes complained about the music but watched anyway. It was a shared event because so many people had seen the same artists and heard the same songs.

The Christmas number one mattered a great deal too. People talked about it at school, at work and around the dinner table. A novelty song, charity single or huge pop hit could become part of Christmas history.

Top of the Pops no longer has the same place in family life. Music is now available whenever people want it, through streaming, social media and video sites. Still, old Christmas clips bring back memories of crowded sofas, new jumpers and someone trying to dance along in the middle of the living room.

10. Fall asleep in front of a Bond film

For many British families, Christmas evening ended with a James Bond film on television. The pattern was familiar: Christmas dinner was over, the presents had been opened, the washing-up was mostly done, and everyone settled on the sofa with leftover chocolates. Before long, someone would be asleep.

Bond films were perfect for this time of day. They were exciting enough to keep some people watching, but familiar enough that nobody minded missing a few scenes while nodding off. The music, car chases, gadgets and faraway locations gave the evening a cosy feeling without needing much effort from anyone.

There was often a mix of people in the room. Children might try to stay awake, adults might argue over which Bond was best, and grandparents could be quietly snoring under a blanket before the halfway point. The television stayed on while people came and went for another slice of cake or a turkey sandwich.

Bond films still appear over the festive period, but streaming means families no longer have to wait for one channel to show them. Even so, falling asleep halfway through a Bond film remains a very familiar Christmas Day moment.