December sees the shortest day and the end of the year as well as the major celebration of Christmas. Feasting, fire, parties and family celebrations are all widespread in the season of goodwill to all men….and perhaps surprisingly, outdoor swimming events!
Some events take place on exactly the same date every year, regardless of which day of the week they fall upon. The following table shows events which are fixed in this way:
| Day | Event | Article |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Advent Calendar Day |  |
| All month from 1 | Advent Windows including Askrigg | |
| 6 | Alcester St Nicholas Night | |
| 21 | Brighton Burning the Clocks | |
| 21 | Penzance Montol Festival | |
| 21 | York Sheriff's Riding | |
| 21/22 | Stonehenge Winter Solstice | |
| 23 | Mousehole Tom Bawcock's Eve | |
| 24 | Dunster & Axmouth Ashen Faggot | |
| 24 | Richmond Poor Old Hoss | |
| 24 | Dewsbury Tolling the Devil's Knell | |
| 25 | Bucks Green Christmas Horse Custom | |
| 25 | Christmas Day | |
| 25 | Christmas Day Dip | |
| 25 | Christmas Fare | |
| 25 | Kirkwall Ba | |
| 25 | London Peter Pan Cup | |
| 25 | Ripon Christmas Day Apples | |
| 25 | Sherborne Christmas Penny Dole | |
| 26 | Bedford Boar's Head Ceremony | |
| 26 | Boxing Day Dip | |
| 26 | Boxing Day | |
| 26 | Middleton (Suffolk) Cutty Wren Ceremony | |
| 26 and Late in Month | Derby Tup | |
| 26 | Flamborough Sword Dance | |
| 26 | Geddington Boxing Day Squirt | |
| 26 | Grantchester Barrel Race | |
| 26 | Greatham Sword Dance | |
| 26 | Grenoside Sword Dance | |
| 26 | Handsworth Sword Dance | |
| 26 | Knaresborough Tug-of-War | |
| 26 | Ludlow Tug-of-War | |
| 26 | Marshfield Paper Boys | |
| 26 | Matlock Raft Race | |
| 26 | Pagham Pram Race | |
| 26 | Scarborough Fishermen & Firemen Football Match | |
| 26 | Silsoe Boxing Day | |
| 26 | Waltham Cross Bakers & Sweeps Football Match | |
| 26 | Winchelsea Streete Game | |
| 26 | Windlesham Pram Race | |
| 27 | Sheffield Mary Parsons Charity | |
| 31 | Allendale Tar Barrels | |
| 31 | Barlaston Wassail | |
| 31 | Comrie Flambeaux Procession | |
| 31 | Edinburgh Hogmanay | |
| 31 | Flamborough Fire Festival | |
| 31 | Llangynwyd Mari Lwyd | |
| 31 | Mountain Ash Nos Galan Road Races | |
| 31 | Newburgh Oddfellows Parade | |
| 31 | Stonehaven Fireballs | |
| 31 | Stromness Log Pull | |
Some event dates differ from year to year in order for them to fall on a weekend or during a particular week of the year, for example the 3rd week in January. The following table shows events where dates may vary in this manner:
| Date | Event | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Mid November to late December | Cotehele Christmas Garland | |
| Late November/ early December | Aldermaston Candle Auction | |
| Late November to early December | Christmas Light Switch-ons | |
| Late November and December | Christmas Tree Festivals | |
| Late November to late December | Sunderland Illuminations | |
| Late November to early January | Christmastide Mummers | |
| Late November to early January (but most often during December) | Christingle Services | |
| Friday in late November/early December | Keele Christmas Tree Throwing Championships | |
| A Sunday in late November/ early December | Newtown Santa Run | |
| A Sunday in late November or early December | Haworth Scroggling the Holly | |
| Evenings early in month | Astbury Live Nativity | |
| Early December | Chester Jones Ale Soulcakers | |
| All Month | Yorkshire Local Carols | |
| Most of Month | Pantomime | |
| Saturday nearest 1st | Tenbury Wells Mistletoe Festival /National Mistletoe Day | |
| 1st Saturday in the Month | Durham Children's Lantern Parade and St Nicholas Service | |
| 1st Saturday in the Month | London Great Christmas Pudding Race | |
| 1st Saturday in the Month | London Santa Run | |
| 1st Saturday in Month | Whitby Krampus Run | |
| 1st Weekend in the Month | Derby Bonnie Prince Charlie Weekend | |
| 1st Monday | Brightlingsea Choosing Day | |
| Weekend early in month | Rochester Dickens Festival | |
| Thursdays early in Month | Chester Winter Watch Parade | |
| A Sunday in early December | Singleton Weald and Downland Museum Tree Dressing Day | |
| Sunday near 6th | Canterbury St Nicholas Service | |
| Weekend near 6th December | Salisbury Chorister Bishop | |
| Sunday near 6th December | Hereford Boy Bishop | |
| Sunday near 6th | Ripon Chorister Bishop | |
| Saturday in early to mid December | Richmond Christmas Shilling Audit Money | |
| Near 13th | Sankta Lucia Services | |
| Weekday mid-Month | Glastonbury Cutting Ceremony | |
| Thursday mid-Month | Chester Saturnalia | |
| Weekend mid-Month | Festive Truck & Tractor Runs including Sedgefield | |
| Mid-month | Wigan World Pie Eating Championships | |
| 1st Sunday after 12th | Broughton Tin Can Band | |
| A Sunday mid to late in month (before Christmas) | London Pantomime Horse Grand National | |
| 21st or very near date | Lincoln Crying Christmas | |
| Tuesday before Christmas Eve | Ryton Carols at the Cross | |
| Late December (pre- Christmas) | Kimberley Poor Owd Oss | |
| Late December (pre-Christmas) | St Nicholas Hoodeners | |
| Near 30th | Battle of Wakefield Commemoration | |
| Late December to mid-January | Wassailing | |