Christmas pudding needn't wait for Stir-up Sunday (22 November): any time from late summer works, and an earlier pudding has longer to mature. Our family recipe soaks the fruit in cold tea and steams for 6 to 7 hours. christmascountdown.co.uk/chr… #ChristmasPudding #Christmas2026

Braised red cabbage is worth a trial run this weekend, well before Christmas: slow-cooked with apple, orange, cinnamon and cloves, it's an easy extra vegetable on the plate and freezes for up to three months. christmascountdown.co.uk/jam… #ChristmasCooking #Christmas2026

Posting to a forces address? The BFPO Christmas deadline for Static Firm Base/PJOBs is this Friday, 23 October. Operations and HM Ships follow on Tuesday 17 November. Every Royal Mail, Parcelforce and BFPO date for 2026: christmascountdown.co.uk/chr… #BFPO #Christmas2026

9 Saturdays left until Christmas. The first is this weekend (24 October), the last is 19 December, and six of the nine fall before December. Every date listed, plus free printable planners. 🎄 christmascountdown.co.uk/how… #Christmas2026 #ChristmasCountdown

The best gifts for cooks are chosen for a particular cook. Our guide is sorted by the cooks they trust: Nigella, Nigel Slater, Rick Stein, River Cottage, Jamie. Plus hampers (order by mid-December; the good ones sell through). christmascountdown.co.uk/gif… #Christmas2026 #FoodieGifts

A Christmas fair is a different outing from a town market: a stately home courtyard or cathedral nave, with artisan food and drink in a fine setting. Many venues need tickets, timed slots or parking booked ahead. 153 UK fairs: christmascountdown.co.uk/chr… #ChristmasFair #Christmas2026

For many of us, the Only Fools specials were what Christmas Day looked like. 45 years on, 25 gift ideas: the complete box set, the 80s specials on Blu-ray, Sir David Jason's own books and John Sullivan's scripts. christmascountdown.co.uk/onl… #OnlyFoolsAndHorses #Christmas2026

A chutney for the cold turkey on Boxing Day: tomatoes, charred red chillies, rosemary, cinnamon and balsamic. Two 250g jars, and it keeps for up to three months in a cool, dark cupboard, so a batch made now lasts past Christmas. #Chutney #ChristmasCooking christmascountdown.co.uk/chr…

Sainsbury's Christmas delivery slots open to Delivery Pass holders tomorrow, Friday 16 October, and to everyone on 23 October, says Which? (Sainsbury's hasn't published dates itself). Tesco: 3 and 5 November. Asda: not yet announced. #Christmas2026 christmascountdown.co.uk/chr…

There are 10 weekends left until Christmas 2026: the first this Saturday, 17 October, the last on Saturday 19 December. Every one is listed by date, with free printable countdown sheets and planners. #Christmas2026 #ChristmasCountdown christmascountdown.co.uk/how…

Tunis cake hasn't been discontinued: it's seasonal. When we checked on 11 October, Tesco was listing one and M&S's was due from 17 December. Madeira sponge, thick chocolate, marzipan, no fruit. Where to buy, plus a recipe: christmascountdown.co.uk/tun… #TunisCake #ChristmasBaking

Aardman turns 50, and Wallace & Gromit fans are well served: Gromit's own book, Grand, is out on 22 October, Vengeance Most Fowl reaches DVD and Blu-ray on 16 November, and there's a first LEGO set. 25 gift ideas: christmascountdown.co.uk/wal… #WallaceAndGromit #Christmas2026

Stir-up Sunday is six weeks today: Sunday 22 November 2026, the last Sunday before Advent. By custom, everyone takes a turn to stir, east to west for the three kings, and makes a wish. Date, meaning and the pudding recipe: christmascountdown.co.uk/sti… #StirUpSunday #ChristmasPudding

Christmas at the Royal Albert Hall runs 1–31 December: Sir John Rutter on Friday 4th, the Royal Choral Society on Monday 7th, Carols 19–24 December from £25. Prices move with demand. Every show, date and price: christmascountdown.co.uk/roy… #RoyalAlbertHall #Christmas2026

October is the month for mincemeat: two to three months before Christmas, with the Bramleys at their best. About 20 minutes' work, no cooking, and it keeps for up to a year in sterilised jars. A job for this weekend: christmascountdown.co.uk/min… #Mincemeat #ChristmasBaking

97 UK Christmas light trails for 2026, from Kew and Longleat to a drive-through lap of Silverstone. Tickets are on sale at 85 of them, and Friday 20 November is the big night: 24 open at once. Want a Saturday? Book now. christmascountdown.co.uk/chr… #ChristmasLights #Christmas2026

80 days to Christmas, and the markets start in November. Our directory lists 140 UK Christmas markets across 12 regions, 47 with confirmed 2026 dates so far. Filter by region, or free entry only. christmascountdown.co.uk/chr… #ChristmasMarkets #Christmas2026

It's Monday, and counting today there are 12 Mondays left until Christmas 2026. The last is Monday 21 December. Every date is listed, with a printable countdown sheet to tick off week by week. christmascountdown.co.uk/how… #Christmas2026 #ChristmasCountdown #Christmas

Christmas delivery slots 2026, confirmed so far: - M&S Food to Order: open now - Waitrose: open now - Morrisons: pass holders open now - Tesco: 3 Nov (Delivery Saver), 5 Nov (everyone) Asda, Sainsbury's and Ocado haven't announced. We update as they do: christmascountdown.co.uk/chr…

Christmas markets are back sooner than you think. Confirmed 2026 openings: Birmingham: Thu 5 Nov Manchester: Fri 6 Nov York: Thu 12 Nov Cardiff: Thu 12 Nov Edinburgh: Sat 14 Nov Norwich Winter Wonderland: Fri 20 Nov 140 UK markets: christmascountdown.co.uk/chr… #ChristmasMarkets