Christmas No1 Songs (UK)

Ah, the Christmas No1 - a highly sought-after achievement in the world of pop - and often the subject of much speculation.

It used to be an open contest, then Cliff Richard started to dominate things in the late 80s and 90s, then the Spice Girls had a turn. These days there is something of an X-Factor monopoly on Christmas number ones (apart from the one year when we all rebelled and put Rage Against The Machine up to number one at Christmas - Facebook power!)

Christmas 2010 and it was the X-Factor again beating everyone else to the number one spot, with Matt Cardle's "When We Collide".

Here's a list of all the Christmas No 1 songs from the last few decades!

Christmas Number 1 Hits of the Past

Noughties Christmas Number Ones:

• 2009     -     Rage Against the Machine     "Killing in the Name"
• 2008     -     Alexandra Burke     "Hallelujah"
• 2007     -     Leon Jackson     "When You Believe"
• 2006     -     Leona Lewis     "A Moment Like This"
• 2005     -     Shayne Ward     "That's My Goal"
• 2004     -     Band Aid 20     "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
• 2003     -     Michael Andrews & Gary Jules     "Mad World"
• 2002     -     Girls Aloud     "Sound of the Underground"
• 2001     -     Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman     "Somethin' Stupid" 
• 2000     -    Bob The Builder     "Can We Fix It?" 

Nineties Christmas Number Ones:

• 1999     -    Westlife     "I Have A Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun"
• 1998     -    Spice Girls     "Goodbye"
• 1997     -    Spice Girls     "Too Much"
• 1996     -    Spice Girls     "2 Become 1"
• 1995     -    Michael Jackson     "Earth Song"
• 1994     -    East 17     "Stay Another Day"
• 1993     -    Mr Blobby     "Mr Blobby"
• 1992     -    Whitney Houston     "I Will Always Love You"
• 1991     -    Queen     "Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives"
• 1990     -    Cliff Richard     "Saviour's Day" 

Eighties Christmas Number Ones:

• 1989     -    Band Aid II     "Do They Know It's Christmas?
• 1988     -    Cliff Richard     "Mistletoe and Wine"
  
• 1987     -    Pet Shop Boys     "Always on My Mind"
• 1986     -    Jackie Wilson     "Reet Petite"    
• 1985     -    Shakin' Stevens     "Merry Christmas Everyone"
• 1984     -    Band Aid     "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
• 1983     -    The Flying Pickets     "Only You"
• 1982     -    Renée and Renato     "Save Your Love"
• 1981     -    The Human League     "Don't You Want Me"
• 1980     -    St Winifred's School Choir     "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma"

Seventies Christmas Number Ones:

• 1979     -    Pink Floyd     "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)"
• 1978     -    Boney M     "Mary's Boy Child" / "Oh My Lord"
  
• 1977     -    Wings     "Mull of Kintyre"
  
• 1976     -    Johnny Mathis     "When A Child Is Born (Soleado)" 
• 1975     -    Queen     "Bohemian Rhapsody"
• 1974     -    Mud     "Lonely This Christmas"
• 1973     -    Slade     "Merry Xmas Everybody"
• 1972     -    Jimmy Osmond     "Long Haired Lover From Liverpool"
  
• 1971     -    Benny Hill     "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)"
• 1970     -    Dave Edmunds     "I Hear You Knocking"

Christmas Decorations - Traditional Or Modern

Christmas Decorations - what's your style?

Do you prefer traditional or modern Christmas decorations?

I used to favour traditional Christmas trimmings, using themes of red, gold and green, with bows, swags and hand-me-down baubles. Nowadays I have changed my viewpoint and prefer a modern Christmas look for my home, and I've relegated all my old decorations to the attic (well you never know, I might change my mind again and decide I want red and gold and ribbons!)

Traditional Christmas Decorations.
For me, traditional Christmas decorations are a safe option - guaranteed to make your home feel comfortable, festive and welcoming. Real Christmas trees draped with fairy lights, gold tinsel and rich red ribbons tied in bows. Glass baubles in red, gold and green, and hand-me-down tree ornaments passed down through the generations.
The benefit of using a traditional Christmas decor scheme is that it's easy to mix and match, and easy to update the look with just a couple of new items each year. You might choose to rotate some items, keeping some aside for next year, choosing different combinations of tinsel and baubles each time. Home made and antique decorations and ornaments blend seamlessly with a traditional Christmas decoration scheme. To compliment the tree, drape swags and wreaths around shelves, mantles and door frames to co-ordinate the traditional look.

Modern Christmas Decorations.
If your home is decorated in a modern style, or perhaps you're just bored of red and gold, there's a whole world of modern Christmas trimmings out there. Every colour you can imagine - black Christmas trees are a popular choice these days. Christmas lights are far more exotic and spectacular than a few years ago - chasing lights, fibre-optic lights and even solar Christmas lights can be found on the high street. Plus, all kinds of beautiful modern tree ornaments and baubles, wall hangings, window decorations and free standing Christmas trimmings.
Why not try black, silver and purple? Or blue and white shimmering baubles for a frosty look? Whatever colours you love, you can find Christmas trees and baubles to match.

Don't get stuck in a rut this year - try something new with your Christmas decorations!

Great British Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

These days, many argue that Christmas has lost it's original meaning and has become too commercialised and focused on gifts, money and partying. Yet there are some long-standing Christmas traditions that remain strong, even in these days of online shopping and last minute spending.

In the UK, Christmas shopping begins early - the shops often start stocking Christmas items early in Autumn, and, once halloween and Guy Fawkes are out of the way, all the shops and supermarkets really ramp up their efforts and Christmas shopping mania really begins! (Of course when it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts, there's no reason why you can't shop for Christmas all year round - just keep an eye out for suitable gifts throughout the year and have a special cupboard, box, or space in the attic to store everything ready for Christmas!)

Christmas shopping aside, Brits get busy preparing Christmas puddings and cakes many weeks before Christmas, as well as ordering the turkey!

Preparations for school nativity plays and Christmas fayres and fetes begins in the autumn term and often the main event is played out in late November or early December.

November is also a good time to start thinking about Christmas cards - particularly if you have relatives or friends overseas. It'also a good time for children to consider writing a letter to Santa Claus - here the child can say which presents they would really like for Christmas this year and declare that they have been a good boy or girl!

Decorating the home with festive trimmings usually comes later - mid-December seems to be the most popular time, although there are always some people who like to get their Christmas decorations sorted by the start of December - including tonnes of outdoor lights and novelties!

Closer to Christmas itself, on Christmas Eve it is traditional in the Uk for children to hang up their stockings - so that Father Christmas can leave them a little something. Often, a mince pie and drink are left for Santa too - and even a carrot for Rudulf and his colleagues! Meanwhile, preparations for Christmas lunch begin - vegetables peeled and prepared, turkey prepared for a long slow roast in the oven ahead of the big meal on Christmas day.

On Christmas morning, the celebrations normally begin with the family opening gifts and sharing Christmas greetings.

Christmas lunch is usually served at lunchtime and is a chance to show off all the family's best crockery, glasses and tableware. Often the dinner table features festive decorations or centrepieces with candles. Each Christmas lunch guest usually receives a Christmas cracker which can be pulled with fellow guests. Christmas crackers normally contain a small gift, a party hat and a bad joke!

Another Great British Christmas tradition occurs mid-afternoon when families sit down to watch The Queen's Speech - a long standing tradition where the British Monarch addresses the nation.

Other Christmas traditions popular in the UK, old and new include the hanging of mistletoe for romantic Christmas kisses, watching classic film 'The Great Escape' on TV, secret santa gift schemes, office parties, and, for the very lucky, perhaps even a holiday in the sun to see in the new year!