Christmastime is the annual festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ on 25th December, although it is acknowledged that this date is not the actual date of his birth.

Christmas is preceded by Advent, a time of hope and longing and peaceful reflection in preparation for the coming of Christ into the world. The number of days in Advent varies each year as it is dependent on the day of the week that Christmas Day actually falls on and technically finishes on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.