Christmas
The true story of Christmas you probably never knew – told by The Rest is History podcast hosts
![Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1592_HistoryatXmas_Tom-Holland-and-Dominic-Sandbrook-credit-Chris-Floyd.jpg?w=768)
The true story of Christmas you probably never knew – told by The Rest is History podcast hosts
Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook unpick the events that make up our modern understanding of Christmas
We asked AI to create images of Santa and the results were... disturbing
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1595_AI-Santa-hero.jpg?w=768)
We asked AI to create images of Santa and the results were... disturbing
'This is the reality': Children in care being forced to move at Christmas to save councils money
![teen walks away into nightime cityscape](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Carousel-images-8.png?w=768)
'This is the reality': Children in care being forced to move at Christmas to save councils money
Christopher Eccleston: Scrooge could be any one of those Tory ministers round the cabinet table
Christopher Eccleston: Scrooge could be any one of those Tory ministers round the cabinet table
Ghosts star Ben Willbond on show's devastating Christmas finale: 'As with life, you’ve got to move on'
Ghosts star Ben Willbond on show's devastating Christmas finale: 'As with life, you’ve got to move on'
Tabby McTat: Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler and Jodie Whittaker on their new Christmas treat
![Tabby McTat and Fred the busker](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1595_TV_cats-457048.jpg?w=768)
Tabby McTat: Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler and Jodie Whittaker on their new Christmas treat
I was groomed by drug gangs and forced into slavery, aged 9. I'm lucky to have made it out alive
![modern slavery](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sosa-Photo-3-Causeway.jpg?w=768)
I was groomed by drug gangs and forced into slavery, aged 9. I'm lucky to have made it out alive
10 best Christmas films that aren't all about family
![Bruce Willis in Christmas film Die Hard](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/shutterstock_editorial_5695281g.jpg?w=768)
10 best Christmas films that aren't all about family
Here's when people will get their benefits from the DWP over the Christmas period
![dwp benefits christmas/ bauble](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/element5-digital-jSAGgbDjiEQ-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
Here's when people will get their benefits from the DWP over the Christmas period
Romcoms, elves... and Batman: Here's the best Christmas movies to stream in 2023
![A selection of the best Christmas movies to stream 2023](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Christmas-movies-hero.jpg?w=768)
Romcoms, elves... and Batman: Here's the best Christmas movies to stream in 2023
'We're futureproofing the potato': How climate change is causing turmoil for your Christmas dinner
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/WhatsApp-Image-2023-12-18-at-10.18.39-1.jpeg?w=648)
'We're futureproofing the potato': How climate change is causing turmoil for your Christmas dinner
Where to get a free Christmas dinner in your community this year
![Christmas dinners for homeless](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Christmas-meal-brett-jordan-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
Where to get a free Christmas dinner in your community this year
Inside The Big Issue: The legendary Christmas special
![the big issue](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MicrosoftTeams-image-17.png?w=768)
Inside The Big Issue: The legendary Christmas special
Christmas TV guide 2023: The gentle pleasures of festive telly
![Hannah Waddingham](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1594_Lucy-Sweet_Hannah_Waddingham_Home_For_Christmas_Photo_0102.jpg?w=768)
Christmas TV guide 2023: The gentle pleasures of festive telly
Take a look at all the stunning entries to Big Issue's Christmas cover competition
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Untitled-design-38.jpg?w=768)
Take a look at all the stunning entries to Big Issue's Christmas cover competition
Christmas dinner on a budget created by chef Tom Kerridge and Man Utd's Marcus Rashford
![Christmas dinner on a budget](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1594_Budget-Dinners_08_turkey_roll_a.png?w=768)
Christmas dinner on a budget created by chef Tom Kerridge and Man Utd's Marcus Rashford
Christmas on a budget: How to make perfect roast potatoes with cheffing sensations BOSH!
![Roast potatoes](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1594_Budget-Dinners_01_roast_potatoes_a.png?w=768)
Christmas on a budget: How to make perfect roast potatoes with cheffing sensations BOSH!
Christmas dinner on a budget: How to make chef Dan Pelosi's creamy cauliflower skillet
![Cauliflower Cheese](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1594_Budget-Dinners_03_cauliflower_skillet_a.png?w=768)
Christmas dinner on a budget: How to make chef Dan Pelosi's creamy cauliflower skillet
Christmas on a budget: How to make Bake Off star Sandro Farmhouse's festive cookies
![Christmas cookies](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1594_Budget-Dinners_02_christmas_cookie.png?w=768)
Christmas on a budget: How to make Bake Off star Sandro Farmhouse's festive cookies
Christmas dinner on a budget: How to make celeb chef Tom Kerridge's turkey meatloaf traybake
![Illustration of a Christmas dinner](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1594_Budget-Dinners_07_turkey_meatloaf_a.png?w=768)
Christmas dinner on a budget: How to make celeb chef Tom Kerridge's turkey meatloaf traybake
Christmas on a budget: How to have turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings on the cheap
![cheap christmas dinner](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1594_Budget-Dinners_generic-turkey_christmas_dinner.png?w=768)
Christmas on a budget: How to have turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings on the cheap
The Wizard of Booze: How a pantomime is helping people overcoming addiction this Christmas
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Untitled-design-35.jpg?w=768)
The Wizard of Booze: How a pantomime is helping people overcoming addiction this Christmas
Trans Secret Santa: How a little bit of happiness over Christmas could save a trans person's life
![Anthony Lexa](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/P36.jpeg?w=768)
Trans Secret Santa: How a little bit of happiness over Christmas could save a trans person's life
200,000 people liked a picture of my Christmas tree. It was cool, but brought difficult memories
![Christmas tree being decorated](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1594_Care-at-Christmas_Sophia-Hall-scaled.jpg?w=768)