World Aids Day has been created to educate people about Aids.

A Big Wheel and other rides, an ice rink and a Christmas market are put up in London's Hyde Park

Each year since 1947, a Christmas tree has been given to the people of London from the people of Norway in gratitude for Britain's support for Norway during World War II.

From Monday 8 December to Friday 19 December 2008 Trafalgar Square plays host togroups performing Christmas carols in the square, by the traditional Norwegian Christmas Tree.

Teams dressed in fancy clothes race around an obstacle course in Covent Garden.

Start of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims should complete at least once in their lifetime. It is one of the 5 pillars of Islam.

Groups of carol singers will perform each evening (at various times between 5-9pm) next to the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, raising money for charity.
Mon 8 Dec - Fri 19 Dec 2008

The festival marks the end of the Hajj (holy pilgrimage to Mecca).

Groups of carol singers will perform each evening (at various times between 5-9pm) next to the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, raising money for charity.
Mon 8 Dec - Fri 19 Dec 2008

Since 1912 there has been an annual variety show performance attended by the king or queen, with the money raised going to a fund to help retired entertainers in need

At 11am on Saturday 13th December there will be celebratory procession of Traditional Thames Cutters carrying Frost Fair flags on the River Thames between Southwark and Blackfriars Bridges. The Livery men will disembark at Bankside Pier and parade in full uniform. Visitors should watch the boats from the best vantage point on the Millennium Bridge.

Groups of carol singers will perform each evening (at various times between 5-9pm) next to the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, raising money for charity.
Mon 8 Dec - Fri 19 Dec 2008

The Bankside Winter Festival 2008 will be open for ten days from 10am on Friday 12th to 6pm on Sunday 21st December 2008 along the Bankside riverwalk outside the iconic Tate Modern. commemorative Thames Cutters Frost Fair

Groups of carol singers will perform each evening (at various times between 5-9pm) next to the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, raising money for charity.
Mon 8 Dec - Fri 19 Dec 2008

The Bankside Winter Festival 2008 will be open for ten days from 10am on Friday 12th to 6pm on Sunday 21st December 2008 along the Bankside riverwalk outside the iconic Tate Modern. commemorative Thames Cutters Frost Fair

Groups of carol singers will perform each evening (at various times between 5-9pm) next to the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, raising money for charity.
Mon 8 Dec - Fri 19 Dec 2008

Tue 16 Dec - Mon 22 Dec 2008
A top showjumping event at Olympia, Hammersmith Road (horses jumping over fences, inside a hall).

The Bankside Winter Festival 2008 will be open for ten days from 10am on Friday 12th to 6pm on Sunday 21st December 2008 along the Bankside riverwalk outside the iconic Tate Modern. commemorative Thames Cutters Frost Fair

Groups of carol singers will perform each evening (at various times between 5-9pm) next to the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, raising money for charity.
Mon 8 Dec - Fri 19 Dec 2008

Tue 16 Dec - Mon 22 Dec 2008
A top showjumping event at Olympia, Hammersmith Road (horses jumping over fences, inside a hall).

The Bankside Winter Festival 2008 will be open for ten days from 10am on Friday 12th to 6pm on Sunday 21st December 2008 along the Bankside riverwalk outside the iconic Tate Modern. commemorative Thames Cutters Frost Fair

Join members of the capital’s Jewish community to celebrate Chanukah on Sunday 21 December, at a Menorah lighting ceremony in Trafalgar Square.

The shortest day has been important since early times: many standing stones and stone circle are aligned with the sun on either this day or the summer solstice (the longest day of the year).

Tue 16 Dec - Mon 22 Dec 2008
A top showjumping event at Olympia, Hammersmith Road (horses jumping over fences, inside a hall).

The Bankside Winter Festival 2008 will be open for ten days from 10am on Friday 12th to 6pm on Sunday 21st December 2008 along the Bankside riverwalk outside the iconic Tate Modern. commemorative Thames Cutters Frost Fair

Yule is the time of the winter solstice, when the sun child is reborn, an image of the return of all new life born through the love of the Gods.

Christmas Eve is not a public holiday in the UK, but many people will not work a full day because they need to travel to their families. Public transport services may finish earlier than usual.

At 3pm at King's College Chapel in Cambridge is a traditional carol service called "A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols": the carols are sung by the famous King's College choir.

A public holiday in the UK. Some shops start their post-Christmas sales now

Many people in the UK stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve so that they can celebrate the start of the New Year. As midnight approaches, British people traditionally watch Big Ben (the bell in the Houses of Parliament), and celebrate after it strikesfor the 12th time: this is shown on television.