Sir Stephen Fry poked fun at Prince William’s Aston Villa at the Royal Variety Performance.

Appearing as his character Lady Bracknell from the 2025 West End production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, the comedian hit out at “public decorum” before teasing the Prince of Wales’ beloved football club.

“Dinner jackets, which is the correct attire for events, dinners, and popping along to watch Aston Villa… lose”, he joked, as Prince William grinned from the boxes at the Royal Albert Hall.

Since the Royal Variety Performance was filmed on 19 November, Aston Villa have won all of their eight domestic and European games.

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Melanin Bee curves her spine like a cat as she lets out a maniacal, forced laugh. The quick-fire pattern of manufactured giggles —“oh, hoo hoo hoo, eeh, ha ha ha”— ripples into genuine laughter and she giddily kicks her feet.

She’s practicing what she calls Laughasté, a hilarious yoga routine she created that is a descendant of “laughter clubs” that emerged in India in the 1990s.

It feels awkward at first, but you fake it till you make it, she recommends.

“It’s about allowing yourself to be OK with being awkward,” said Bee, a Los Angeles comedian and speaker.

“Then you’re going to find some form of silliness within that is going to allow you to laugh involuntarily.”

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Forced laughter — or simulated mirth, in academia — may even be more beneficial than spontaneous laughter (Getty Images)

The laughter clubs were based on the common-sense notion that laughter relieves stress. But a good laugh is also good for your heart, immune system and many other health benefits, said Dr. Michael Miller, a cardiologist and medical professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Like we say, exercise at least three to five days a week,” Miller said. “Belly laugh at least two to five days a week.”

The study of laughter

Although luminaries from the ancient Greeks to Freud have opined on the roots and implications of laughter, the modern study of laughter — gelotology — began emerging in the 1960s.

Stanford University psychologist William F. Fry, one of gelotology’s founders, drew blood samples from himself while watching Laurel and Hardy. He discovered that laughter increased the number of immune-boosting blood cells.

In 1995, Dr. Madan Kataria, a physician in Mumbai, got wind of the emerging research as editor of a health magazine while researching an article on stress management. To combat his own stress, he started the first daily laughter club in a park. It ballooned from a handful of participants to more than 150 within a month, he said.

After the group quickly ran out of jokes, Kataria created exercises that activated the diaphragm, and he incorporated yogic breathing exercises, light stretches and deliberately silly sounds and movements.

“We were faking in the beginning and within seconds, everybody was in stitches,” Kataria said.

Why is laughter good for you?

Miller began studying laughter in the 1990s. Showing funny movies to study participants, he found that laughter produces endorphins in the brain that promote beneficial chemicals in the blood vessels. Nitric oxide, for example, causes blood vessels to dilate, which lowers blood pressure, inflammation and cholesterol.

The combination reduces the risk for a heart attack, he said, and the endorphins are natural pain killers.

“When you’ve had a really good laugh, you feel very relaxed and light,” said Miller, who is also chief of medicine at the Philadelphia Veterans Administration, where he is implementing a laughter therapy program. “It’s like you’ve taken pain medication.”

Forced laughter — or simulated mirth, in academia — may even be more beneficial than spontaneous laughter, said Jenny Rosendhal, a senior researcher of medical psychology at Jena University in Germany.

Rosendhal completed a meta-analysis of 45 laughter studies, among other research, and found that laughter-inducing therapies decreased glucose levels, the stress hormone cortisol and chronic pain. They also improved mobility and overall mood, especially in older populations.

Because humor is subjective, it is hard to measure. That’s why much of the more recent research has focused on laughter yoga and similar programs that provoke sustained bouts of laughter during 30- to 45-minute sessions, Rosendhal said.

Laughter yoga is particularly effective for people who might not feel like laughing, such as those struggling with depression or cancer patients, she said. With simulated laughter, the physiological mechanisms are the same, such as additional inhaling, exhaling and muscle activity that also improves mood.

“The well-being comes through the back door,” she said. “You start with an exercise, and then the spontaneous laughter comes later because it’s funny to see people laughing.”

How to laugh more

During a recent video call, Kataria said the trick is to learn to laugh for no reason. He and others in laughing yoga classes around the world have created hundreds of exercises that help.

The simplest: Get together with another person, look in each other’s eyes and repeat the sound “ha” for a full minute. Or try the “breathe in and laugh.” Bring your hands to your chest on a deep inhale, hold your breath for three seconds, and burst out laughing on the exhale while extending your hands forward.

In laughing yoga classes, people may pretend to greet each other like aliens, crawl around like their favorite animals, or tap their temple as if a light bulb went off, exclaiming, “Aha! ha ha ha!”

Kataria suggested bringing laughter into your daily life, even at things that might not seem funny. Demonstrating “credit card bill laughter,” he held out his hand as if looking at a statement, and burst into a roiling, infectious laughter. For inspiration, you could log into one of the three dozen free online American laughter clubs recognized by Laughter Yoga International.

“Really, it’s not about forcing yourself to laugh,” he said. “It’s like activating your laughter muscles, getting rid of your mental inhibitions and shyness. Then the real laughing is childlike laughing, unconditional laughing.”

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Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

George Clooney has paid tribute to his sister Adelia “Ada” Zeidler, who has died at the age of 65 from cancer.

Clooney confirmed the news to People, which reported she died on Friday from the disease.

“My sister, Ada, was my hero,” the Ocean’s 11 actor told the publication in a statement. “She faced down cancer with courage and humor. I’ve never met anyone so brave. Amal and I will miss her terribly.”

According to Zeildler’s obituary, she “died peacefully surrounded by the people she loved” in Edgewood, Kentucky. A funeral is scheduled to take place on Monday, while memorials are suggested to be left at the Knoedler Memorial Library in Augusta.

She was born on May 2, 1960, in Los Angeles to Nick Clooney and Nina Bruce Warren.

‘She faced down cancer with courage and humor. I’ve never met anyone so brave,’ Clooney said in a statement about his sister’s death (Getty Images)

“A talented artist, she shared her skills as an elementary art teacher at Augusta Independent School for several years,” her obituary read. “In high school, her academic achievements qualified her to be a National Merit Scholar. Her love for reading connected her with other readers in a local book club. She was also a member of the Augusta Art Guild and was a past grand marshal of Augusta’s Annual White Christmas Parade.”

Zeilder went on to attend college in Louisville, Kentucky, before working as a bookkeeper. She married Norman Zeidler, a retired army captain, in 1987 in Augusta, Kentucky.

Her younger brother also participated in the wedding as he read the scripture, while their aunt, Rosemary Clooney, sang a song for the newlyweds at the reception. Norman later died in 2004 of a heart attack. Over the years, Zeilder largely remained out of the public eye, but continued a close relationship with her brother despite his fame. She also attended his 2017 wedding to wife Amal Clooney in Venice, Italy, on September 27, 2014.

In a 2012 interview with The Columbus Dispatch, she admitted how she communicated with her brother, choosing not to leave his phone number around in case the wrong person got hold of it.

“I wouldn’t want to have it in my phone and then lose my phone,” she said at the time. “He can phone me, and he does occasionally, but email is more convenient for both of us.”

“In addition to her parents, she leaves behind her beloved children, Nick Zeidler and Allison Zeidler Herolaga and her husband, Kenny; her brother, George Clooney and his wife, Amal; and several uncles, aunts, and cousins,” the obituary concluded.

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Thousands of passengers heading for a Christmas getaway are facing travel chaos amid long queues towards the Port of Dover and major train cancellations.

Ferry passengers have been advised to “not arrive any earlier than two hours before their scheduled sailing”, as delays were experienced on the approach to the Kent port on Sunday morning.

Nearly 30,000 cars are estimated to embark on outbound sailings during the festive period.

Peak traffic at the port will be between 6am and 1pm, when P&O Ferries, which operates some sailings from the port, urged customers to allow extra time for their journey.

Thousands of passengers heading for a Christmas getaway are facing travel chaos (PA Wire)

Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, said: “To help ensure a smooth departure, we kindly ask all customers travelling with our ferry partners not to arrive any earlier than two hours before their scheduled sailing, just as you would if departing from a UK airport, and greatly appreciate everyone’s patience should there be any additional waiting time due to the high volumes of traffic.”

Meanwhile, rail passengers planning to travel on Cross Country trains faced cancellations amid a shortage of drivers.

The operator warned customers that services were set to be busier than normal.

A number of services between Manchester and Birmingham were cancelled on Sunday afternoon, with disruption expected until the end of the day.

Sunday is forecast to be quieter than Saturday on the roads, but motorists are still facing delays on the M25 clockwise from Junction 15 to Junction 19.

A total of 3.5 million car journeys are expected on Sunday, according to RAC research, but motorists planning last-minute travel could face heavy traffic as 4.2 million getaways are predicted on Christmas Eve, which would make it the single busiest day over the period.

Drivers are being warned the worst hold-ups on December 24 will be between 11am and 7pm.

RAC figures suggest it could be the busiest Christmas getaway on record, with a total of 37.5 million leisure trips between Wednesday and Christmas Eve – the most in the week before Christmas Day since the company began recording the data in 2013.

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Hennessy Artistry once again proved why it remains one of Nigeria’s most influential culture-shaping events, delivering a multi-city journey that fused music, style, self-expression, and unforgettable experiences—growing bigger, bolder, and more immersive at every stop.

The 2025 edition kicked off in May in Lagos, setting the tone for what would become an extraordinary nationwide movement. With over 2,000 guests in attendance, the Lagos opener brought together tastemakers, creatives, and music lovers for a night driven by rhythm and connection. Headlined by Reekado Banks, the opening event reaffirmed Hennessy Artistry’s role as a launchpad for high-energy performances and a celebration of modern Nigerian sound. From the crowd response to the carefully curated experiences, Lagos marked the beginning of a campaign rooted in creativity and shared moments.

By July, the movement had travelled south to Port Harcourt, and the energy multiplied. Drawing over 3,500 guests, the city showed up in full force as Hennessy Artistry took a meaningful turn, becoming deeply rooted in local pride and musical heritage. With electrifying performances from Zlatan and Port Harcourt’s very own Duncan Mighty, the night became a powerful blend of street energy, nostalgia, and regional flair. The Port Harcourt edition stood out as a cultural homecoming, celebrating the city’s vibrant music scene while reinforcing Hennessy Artistry’s commitment to connecting authentically with every audience it touches.

The journey continued in September, as Hennessy Artistry took over Abuja, raising the bar yet again. With over 6,000 guests in attendance, the capital city experienced an elevated edition of the campaign—sleek, energetic, and unapologetically expressive. BNXN delivered a performance that had the crowd fully locked in, as Abuja embraced the Artistry spirit with enthusiasm and style. This stop highlighted the campaign’s growing momentum, proving that Hennessy Artistry wasn’t just traveling, it was evolving.

The grand finale returned to Lagos over the weekend of December 13, with over 8,000 guests, closing the year with a powerful statement. The final chapter brought together an impressive lineup of A-list artists, including Mavo, Teni, Lil Kesh, and Shallipopi, backed by an equally stellar roster of DJs such as DJ Consequence, Six7even, and Ms DSF, alongside hype energy from Hypeman Jimmy, Jerry Shaffer, and more. The atmosphere was electric—each performance building on the last, creating a night that felt celebratory, reflective, and forward-looking all at once.

Adding to the cultural weight of the finale was the presence of Hennessy brand ambassadors, Neo and Liquorose, who joined the celebration

and other key tastemakers across entertainment and lifestyle, including Sheggz, Bright Morgan, Kolapo, Ozo, Samuel Bankz, Yhemolee, and Eniola Tizzle. Their attendance further amplified the event’s reach and reinforced Hennessy Artistry’s position at the heart of Nigeria’s culture and nightlife scene.

Beyond the stage, the finale truly embodied the essence of artistry through its immersive experience centers. Guests were invited to engage creatively, creating their own Hennessy cocktails, getting custom grillz, expressing themselves through mural painting, and exploring exclusive Hennessy merchandise. These interactive zones transformed the event from a concert into a living, breathing creative playground, where every guest became part of the story.

From Lagos to Port-Harcourt, Abuja and back to Lagos again, Hennessy Artistry – The Reboot 2025 stood as a testament to growth, community, and creative evolution. Each city added its own flavour, each event surpassed the last, and every experience reinforced Hennessy’s long-standing connection to music, culture, and self-expression in Nigeria.

More than just a series of events, Hennessy Artistry remains a cultural movement, one that continues to spotlight talent, celebrate individuality, and bring people together through unforgettable moments. And as this year’s journey showed, the artistry only gets richer with every chapter.

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The liver is one of the hardest-working organs in the human body. It detoxifies harmful substances, helps with digestion, stores nutrients, and regulates metabolism.

Despite its remarkable resilience – and even its ability to regenerate – the liver is not indestructible. In fact, many everyday habits, often overlooked, can slowly cause damage that may eventually lead to serious conditions such as cirrhosis (permanent scarring of the liver) or liver failure.

One of the challenges with liver disease is that it can be a silent threat. In its early stages, it may cause only vague symptoms like constant fatigue or nausea.

As damage progresses, more obvious signs may emerge. One of the most recognisable is jaundice, where the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow. While most people associate liver disease with heavy drinking, alcohol isn’t the only culprit. Here are five common habits that could be quietly harming your liver.

1. Drinking too much alcohol

Alcohol is perhaps the most well-known cause of liver damage. When you drink, your liver works to break down the alcohol and clear it from your system. But too much alcohol overwhelms this process, causing toxic byproducts to build up and damage liver cells.

Alcohol-related liver disease progresses in stages. At first, fat begins to accumulate in the liver (fatty liver), often without any noticeable symptoms and is reversible if drinking stops. Continued drinking can lead to alcoholic hepatitis, where inflammation and scar tissue begin to form as the liver attempts to heal itself.

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Alcohol is perhaps the most well-known cause of liver damage (PA)

Over time, this scarring can develop into cirrhosis, where extensive hardening of the liver seriously affects its ability to function. While cirrhosis is difficult to reverse, stopping drinking can help prevent further damage.

Even moderate drinking, if sustained over many years, can take its toll, particularly when combined with other risk factors like obesity or medication use. Experts recommend sticking to no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, and including alcohol-free days to give your liver time to recover.

2. Poor diet and unhealthy eating habits

You don’t need to drink alcohol to develop liver problems. Fat can build up in the liver due to an unhealthy diet, leading to a condition now called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Excess fat in the liver can impair its function and, over time, cause inflammation, scarring, and eventually cirrhosis. People who are overweight – particularly those who carry excess weight around their abdomen – are more likely to develop MASLD. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.

Diet plays a huge role. Foods high in saturated fat, such as red meat, fried foods and processed snacks, can raise cholesterol levels and contribute to liver fat accumulation. Sugary foods and drinks are also a major risk factor. In 2018, a review found that people who consumed more sugar-sweetened drinks had a 40 per cent higher risk of developing fatty liver disease.

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Eating a balanced, wholefood diet can help prevent – and even reverse – fatty liver disease (Getty/iStock)

Ultra-processed foods such as fast food, ready meals and snacks packed with added sugar and unhealthy fats also contribute to liver strain. A large study found that people who ate more processed foods were significantly more likely to develop liver problems.

On the flip side, eating a balanced, wholefood diet can help prevent – and even reverse – fatty liver disease. Research suggests that diets rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, and fish may reduce liver fat and improve related risk factors such as high blood sugar and cholesterol.

Staying hydrated is also important. Aim for around eight glasses of water a day to support your liver’s natural detoxification processes.

3. Overusing painkillers

Many people turn to over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol for headaches, muscle pain, or fever. While generally safe when used as directed, taking too much – even slightly exceeding the recommended dose – can be extremely dangerous for your liver.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dipa Kamdar is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at Kingston University.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The liver breaks down paracetamol, but in the process, produces a toxic by-product called NAPQI. Normally, the body neutralises NAPQI using a protective substance called glutathione. However, in an overdose, glutathione stores become depleted, allowing NAPQI to accumulate and attack liver cells. This can result in acute liver failure, which can be fatal.

Even small overdoses, or combining paracetamol with alcohol, can increase the risk of serious harm. Always stick to the recommended dose and speak to a doctor if you find yourself needing pain relief regularly.

4. Lack of exercise

A sedentary lifestyle is another major risk factor for liver disease. Physical inactivity contributes to weight gain, insulin resistance, and metabolic dysfunction – all of which can promote fat accumulation in the liver.

Symptoms of liver disease

NHS

Once you start to get symptoms of liver disease, your liver is already damaged and scarred. This is known as cirrhosis.

Symptoms of cirrhosis include:

• feeling very tired and weak all the time
• loss of appetite – which may lead to weight loss
• loss of sex drive (libido)
• yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• itchy skin
• feeling or being sick

The good news is that exercise can benefit your liver even if you don’t lose much weight. One study found that just eight weeks of resistance training reduced liver fat by 13 per cent and improved blood sugar control. Aerobic exercise is also highly effective: regular brisk walking for 30 minutes, five times a week, has been shown to reduce liver fat and improve insulin sensitivity.

5. Smoking

Most people associate smoking with lung cancer or heart disease, but many don’t realise the serious damage it can do to the liver.

Cigarette smoke contains thousands of toxic chemicals that increase the liver’s workload as it tries to filter and break them down. Over time, this can lead to oxidative stress, where unstable molecules (free radicals) damage liver cells, restrict blood flow, and contribute to scarring (cirrhosis).

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Smoking also significantly raises the risk of liver cancer (Getty Images)

Smoking also significantly raises the risk of liver cancer. Harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke, including nitrosamines, vinyl chloride, tar, and 4-aminobiphenyl, are all known carcinogens. According to Cancer Research UK, smoking accounts for around 20 per cent of liver cancer cases in the UK.

Love your liver

The liver is a remarkably robust organ – but it isn’t invincible. You can protect it by drinking alcohol in moderation, quitting smoking, taking medications responsibly, eating a balanced diet, staying active and keeping hydrated.

If you notice any symptoms that may suggest liver trouble, such as ongoing fatigue, nausea, or jaundice, don’t delay speaking to your doctor. The earlier liver problems are detected, the better the chance of successful treatment.

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It’s no surprise by now how Ife and Frank have continued to serenade us with sweet love in elegant style ahead of their big day. In this beautiful video showcasing their third pre-wedding look, they flawlessly delivered this combo one more time.

The romantic red backdrop set the tone for this lovely moment. Ife looked absolutely radiant in her elegant, golden dress, while Frank was ever dapper and stylish in his crisp, dazzling suit. Together, their electric chemistry shines through these elegant looks, and we cannot get enough! We rate them a solid A1 in style and romance, and we truly look forward to seeing more of their radiant love. 😍

Enjoy the video below:

You can also catch up on more stunning pictures from the shoot here:

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Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Cruz Beckham has claimed that he and his parents, David and Victoria, woke up to find they had been blocked on Instagram by his brother Brooklyn.

After reports emerged that David and Victoria had unfollowed their eldest son, Cruz set the record straight, posting on his Stories: “NOT TRUE. My mum and dad would never unfollow their son… Let’s get the facts right. They woke up blocked… as did I.”

Rumours of a family rift first began in April, centred on Brooklyn and his other brother Romeo. Tensions are thought to have started when Romeo dated Kim Turnbull, who had previously been linked to Brooklyn.

However, Turnbull and Romeo reportedly broke up in June, after only seven months of dating.

In May, feud rumours intensified when Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz were absent from David’s 50th birthday celebrations, with guests including Tom Cruise, Guy Ritchie and Gordon Ramsay.

Brooklyn and Nicola skipped Victoria’s Paris Fashion Week show in June, which TMZ claimed was because of Turnbull’s presence at the event.

Cruz’s post: ‘We woke up blocked’ (Cruz Beckham Instagram)

In August, the Beckhams were not in attendance when Brooklyn and Peltz renewed their marriage vows just three years after their wedding.

Brooklyn addressed the rumours in September, telling the Daily Mail: “There’s always going to be people saying negative things, but I have a very supportive wife. Me and her, we just do our thing, we just keep our heads down and work. And we’re happy.”

In October, Brooklyn was notably absent from his mother’s new Netflix documentary series, Victoria Beckham, despite the rest of his famous siblings appearing.

Romeo, 23, Cruz, 20, and Harper, 14, all appeared alongside their mother, backstage at her 2024 Paris Fashion Week show, but 26-year-old Brooklyn, did not feature – apart from in brief clips of him as a baby and a child.

Brooklyn was also absent from the documentary’s red carpet premiere in London on, while Victoria and David posed with their other three children.

Peltz was previously rumoured to be feuding with her mother-in-law in 2022 after the actor decided to wear a Valentino couture gown on her wedding day instead of a dress designed by Victoria’s own label.

However, Peltz has repeatedly denied these rumors, telling Variety in August 2022 that she was initially going to have Victoria design her wedding dress. “And then a few months down the line, she realised that her atelier couldn’t do it, so then I had to pick another dress,” she told the outlet.

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Outdoor weddings are a true intimate delight, and if you have yours coming up soon, you are at the right place because we have just the look here to get you inspired for your fairytale grand slay.

Thanks to Sima Brew, this stunning halter-neck dress can now bring your glamorous dreams to reality. From the fit silhouette to the open back and voluminous detachable train, this look screams bold luxury. The hair is styled in sleek Hollywood curls, courtesy of Strands Ghana, while MZ Aquia stepped in with this beautiful, subtle makeup that adds much elegance to the radiant look. You deserve something that transforms you into a vision of timeless elegance. It can all begin when you take a chance on this beautiful ensemble!

Enjoy the photos below and be inspired:

Credit

Dress: @sima_brew
Makeup: @mz_aquia
Hair: @strandsghana
Bouquet: @_theflorist__
Photography: @ansahkenphotography
Videography: @phil_os_films | @phil_os_lifestyle

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Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

There’s nothing quite like the unbridled thrill of waking up on Christmas morning to see a stocking that’s spilling over with presents in the corner of your room. Even those among us who’ve outgrown the ritual still feel the rush. Father Christmas has been! And he’s filled his boots with chocolate, face masks, socks, lip balms and supermarket candles!

Though most people experience stocking magic for the first time as children – when the contents sit roughly at 50 per cent plastic, 49 per cent sugar and one per cent clementine – the tradition has followed a significant chunk of the population into adulthood. A 2024 survey found that just over half of adults give a festive stocking to their partner at Christmas, at a cost of roughly £62 a pop. And the contents are grown-up too. Unlike the gifts under a tree, these little luxuries are simple, small and sought after. Or, if we’re using the official term, “bits and bobs” collected by the giver over the course of the year as an extra treat before the main event. You know, just a small something to make life a little nicer.

Top stocking gifts, according to one 2023 study, include gift cards, snacks, self-care items like lip balms and makeup. Or, on the lower end of the spectrum, 17 per cent reported receiving coal (classic), sardines, olives and toilet paper. Whatever floats Father Christmas’s boat…

“Somehow, I’m still receiving a stocking full of gifts from my parents at the age of 33,” says Katie from Liverpool, who lives in her family home. “As a kid, I always vaguely assumed that there would be a cut-off point, possibly around the time that I moved out and took on adult responsibilities, but this just never happened,” she reflects. “I feel a bit like it will maybe come to an end when all of us have partners and kids,” she adds of her siblings, “but for now, we’re all quite happy with this very ‘kidult’ set-up one day a year.”

It’s a similar story for Ellie from London, who is 32 and has received a stocking every year of her life without fail when returning to Mum and Dad’s for Christmas. “Mortifyingly, my parents still sneak into my room in the night to leave a stocking at the end of my bed,” she says. “Every year I think it’ll probably stop and it never does. I know Mum (let’s be honest, it’s not Dad or Father Christmas) really enjoys buying presents for stockings as it’s all the lower-stakes fun stuff you tend to pick up in the shops as you get closer to the till. So maybe it will continue for many years to come, for both her enjoyment and mine.”

One YouGov study found that, in the UK, 61 per cent of women purchase presents for their family compared to just eight per cent of men. As some children grow up and naivety falls away, they become aware and opt to relieve some of this labour – especially the daughters.

“For the past decade or so, my sisters and I have been buying stuff for each other’s stockings so the gift-buying burden doesn’t fall entirely on our mum,” Katie says. “We tend to be on a pretty similar wavelength: last year, they both bought me the same Pilates grippy socks without realising. For us, ‘stocking’ presents tend to be nice little extras… or weird in-jokes.”

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Footing the bill: We spend roughly £62 on each stocking for our loved ones in the UK (Getty/iStock)

But the women in Katie’s family are far from stopping when it comes to stockings: “Last year was the first time that my brother-in-law joined us for Christmas Day,” she says. “My mum decided that he needed a stocking of his own too, and got very concerned about whether his presents would be up to scratch. He was completely bemused by this, of course.”

When you look at it objectively, the concept of a stocking is pretty weird. According to legend, in the 4th century, Saint Nicholas heard about a man who couldn’t afford dowries for his three daughters and threw a purse of coins down the chimney of their house at night so the eldest daughter had enough money to get married. The purse fell into a stocking, which had been put by the fire to dry, and St Nicholas repeated the act until all three daughters could marry.

However, there’s no proper evidence of this ever happening, according to historian and author of Christmas: A Biography, Judith Flanders. “We have no real idea of when and where it came about,” she says. “The first mentions are in the 1810s in the US, where it appears in a little clutch of Christmas paraphernalia from one circle of friends, so our guess is that they invented it.”

This group of friends included The Nightmare Before Christmas author Clement Clarke Moore and short story writer Washington Irving, who penned The Knickerbocker’s History of New York, both of which included references to stockings. “It was supposed to be a history, but it was actually a comic satire,” Flanders says of the latter text.

“John Pintard, who was the founder of the New York Historical Society, gathered these people together, so it was presented as a history – all of these transitions – but they were all made up.”

The nice thing about there being no firm origin story for stockings is that nobody can tell you what rules to play by, meaning you can receive one until you’re 100 years old if you’ve got someone who’s willing to do all the wrapping. Age limits do not apply.

“You can do what you like,” confirms Flanders. “Hang your stocking on the fireplace. Give a stocking to your cat! No one can tell you otherwise.” That’s as good a reason as any. Kind of.

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