As of January 11, 2026, there are 348 sleeps (days) until Christmas Day (December 25th), as you count down the days from today until Christmas Eve, or 349 sleeps if you count the days until Christmas morning itself, but it's roughly 348-349 days away, depending on how you count.
It's the most recognisable, catchiest, most Christmassy song on the radio - guaranteed to fill you with festive cheer! Starting on Monday December 1, every weekday morning just after 7am and 8am, Jamie & Amanda will be getting the nation ready for Christmas with their iconic song - Sleeps 'Til Santa!
Christmas Eve excitement sends stress hormones soaring in kids (and let's be honest, adults too), making it nearly impossible to drift off. Paradoxically, sleepy children often become hyper rather than drowsy – turning bedtime into a battle. When children stay up later, this results in parents staying up later.
The results are as any Christmas fanatic would dream- the earlier the better! The most popular wake-up time with a decent lead is 6:00 am followed by 7:00 am in second, 8:00 am in third, and 9:00 am in last.
How Many Sleeps till Christmas? is the perfect festive countdown! This wonderful story by Mark Sperring, and illustrated by Sebastien Braun, is a follow-up to the adorable How Many Sleeps till my Birthday? It's hard to be patient when you're only a very little bear, and Little Pip cannot wait until Christmas!
Doors and design
The calendar starting from December 1st with 24 little doors was finally accepted after 1945.
There are 350 sleeps (or 349 days, 7 hours, 59 minutes, 54 seconds) until Christmas Day on Glasses Island. That's December 25, 2026!
This popular Christmas custom is a jubilant celebration of the Mass or service of worship in honour of the Nativity of Jesus; even many of those Christian denominations that do not regularly employ the word Mass uniquely use the term "Midnight Mass" for their Christmas Eve liturgy as it includes the celebration of Holy ...
The Circadian Clock Goes Into Overdrive
In children, this clock is both highly sensitive and still maturing. Unlike adults, whose SCN output stabilizes around age 18–20, children's circadian system responds more acutely to anticipatory cues—especially emotionally salient ones like Christmas Eve.
The average wake-up time in the United States is 7.20 AM, making it one of the earliest starting points in the world. Historically, America has always emphasized early rising, associating it with heightened productivity and motivation.
The 3-2-1 bedtime method is a simple sleep hygiene strategy: stop eating 3 hours before bed, stop working 2 hours before bed, and stop using screens (phones, tablets, TVs) 1 hour before sleep, helping your body transition to rest by reducing stimulants and digestive load for better sleep quality. A more detailed version adds 10 hours (no caffeine) and 0 (no snoozing) for a 10-3-2-1-0 rule.
The "5 Things for Christmas Rule" (or 5 Gift Rule) is a minimalist approach to holiday giving, suggesting each person receives five thoughtful gifts: Something they WANT, something they NEED, something to WEAR, something to READ, and a special gift (often to DO/SHARE or something unique they wouldn't buy themselves) to create meaningful, less overwhelming Christmas experiences. This rule focuses on intention and reducing clutter by ensuring each gift serves a purpose, from fulfilling desires to creating lasting memories.
Things going on the outside world, and society's expectations, can make Christmas harder to cope with. For example: Feeling pressure to enjoy yourself and look happy. Media, adverts and representations of Christmas feeling upsetting and hard to avoid, and looking different to your experience of Christmas.
We do, however, know from history that it appears he arrives only when children are asleep! In most countries, it seems Santa arrives between 9:00 p.m. and midnight on December 24th. If children are still awake when Santa arrives, he moves on to other houses.
Heart Xmas returned for its 9th year on 25 September 2024 along with Smooth Christmas. Both Heart Xmas and Smooth Christmas returned on 29 September 2025.
Heart FM starts to turn up the feel-good with "Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden" from 6:30am to 10am on weekdays.
The "777 rule for kids" has two main meanings in parenting: one focuses on daily connection time (7 mins morning, 7 mins after school, 7 mins before bed) for feeling seen and valued, while another defines developmental stages (0-7 play, 7-14 teach, 14-21 guide) for parents to tailor their involvement. A third variation suggests limiting screen time to 7 hours/week, maintaining 7 feet distance, and avoiding screens 7 days before events. All aim to build stronger parent-child bonds through intentional, focused interaction or developmentally appropriate parenting roles.
The 3 Gift Rule for Christmas simplifies holiday giving, inspired by the Magi's gifts to Jesus, focusing on quality over quantity, often structured as something they want, something they need, and something to read, or themed as gold (treasure/toy), frankincense (spiritual/faith), and myrrh (body/clothing). This approach reduces stress, controls spending, and encourages thoughtful choices, helping families prioritize meaning and connection rather than endless material possessions.
The "9-Minute Rule" for kids, or the 9-Minute Theory, suggests parents focus on three 3-minute interaction blocks daily for strong emotional connection: right after waking, right after school/daycare, and right before bed, using these transition times for mindful, distraction-free connection to build security and happiness, reducing parental guilt.
In the five gift rule, the first four gifts are pretty straightforward - something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. The fifth gift is where you can get creative - it's something they didn't even know they wanted.
Ideas of holiday traditions for couples:
Make cinnamon rolls together Christmas morning. Open stocking together the night before Christmas. Write letters to each other to exchange the following year. Make a specific type of cookie together every year.
Christmas dinner list
I'm glad to share all these tips with you!
In most countries, it seems Santa arrives between 9:00 p.m. and midnight on Christmas Eve. If children are still awake when Santa arrives, he moves on to other houses. He returns later…but only when the children are asleep!
Christmas is called "Christmas" because the name comes from the Old English "Cristes mæsse," meaning "Christ's Mass, " a special church service celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. The name combines "Christ" (from the Greek for "anointed one") and "mass" (from the Latin "missa" for Eucharist).