����ý

The run-up to the festive season can be one of the busiest times of the year.

It can also leave you full of questions. What’s the best way to wrap my gifts? Why is the Christmas number one such a big deal? Why are crackers shaped like that?

We’ve explored all those questions, and more, in recent years. This Bitesize festive collection should satisfy your curiosity on many December quirks.

Why do we have trees in our house at Christmas?

You may have questioned why we bring a tree, something usually found outdoors, into our homes at Christmas, then cover it on tinsel and baubles. There’s a reason, with a strong royal connection.

Why do we have dried fruit in Christmas food?

Another Christmas tradition is a lot of different food containing dried fruits. That's a tradition which we can thanks the Romans for.

Why is holly so significant at Christmas?

Holly is another symbol of the season. It was seen as a lucky charm long before we celebrated Christmas and superstition still surrounds it.

What’s the best way to wrap a Christmas present?

Would you like to use the least amount of wrapping paper possible? There’s a bit of maths that can save you cash and cut down on waste, along with some more number-crunching around 25 December. The Christmas maths doesn't end there…

How to distribute baubles evenly around the tree

If you feel your tree looks bauble-heavy in places and bare in others, there's a formula that can be applied to provide the perfect distribution of decorations. If you want your tinsel looking on point too, there's more maths that can be applied to help arrange it around the branches.

The UK Christmas number one: What was the first, did The Beatles have any and what was the fastest selling?

One of the most coveted chart positions of the year is hitting the top spot in Christmas week. Songs with a festive theme, charity singles and regular releases from popular acts have all made it to the top of the tree since the charts began in 1952.

These are just some of the hits which were number one on 25 December in the UK over the decades.

The big Christmas football match: When teams used to play on Christmas Day and why the UK leagues embrace it more than others

There’s usually some big football action taking place at Christmas week, but why is it different to the other matches in the season, if at all? Why is it a big sporting event in the UK, while many other leagues take a break in winter? How long is it since there were fixtures on Christmas Day itself? This is a history of the beautiful game at Christmas.

Where do board games come from? Their history, and just how many copies of Monopoly have been sold, ever

When the family gets together at Christmas, it’s a good opportunity for some well-natured competition over a board game. We have delved into the history of the traditional pastime, which shows that board games aren't a new invention at all - they date back thousands (and thousands) of years.

The perfect Christmas blockbuster: How romance, songs, festive feelgood factor and even dark humour are all ingredients

Christmas films come in many different forms, whether it's animation, drama, musicals or even outright comedies.

There are certain elements which have appeared in many movies which went on to be huge hits at the Christmas blockbuster. It could be the presence of Santa himself, or a song that captures audiences' hearts, they can all be pieces which add up to the ideal way to pass away a couple of hours over the holidays.