The UK has a lot of traditions about Christmas that Americans might find strange. Countries with cultures more similar to Britain (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland etc) as well as European countries may find this a little closer to home. Compare and contrast with Christmas in America, Christmas in Australia and Christmas in Japan. So, in rough order of when they take place... * Just to make the calendars that go up to New Year's Day seem even more ridiculous, advent starts on the 30th November or the 4th Sunday before Christmas officially.