People up and down the country are putting up their Christmas trees, baking mince pies and getting ready to hang their stockings above the fireplace when the big day itself arrives later this month… but have you ever stopped to question why we have these festive traditions? HELLO! spoke to renowned folklorist Liza Frank – who spent an entire year living according to the rules of folklore for her book The Everyday Lore Project – to find out more about some of our favourite Christmas traditions.

“Folklore isn’t set in stone – even rituals handed down over the centuries are subject to change as people put their own spin on things,” says Liza, when I tell her that in our household it’s custom to make a wish on the first mince pie of the season – but not until after my birthday, in late

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