When my daughter was very little, we bought a Father Christmas suit so that when she woke up she would … well, she’d be freaked out! So now it’s a thing. Every Christmas I have to dress up in this horrible nylon suit, but I’m pleased it’s one of the trappings of Christmas. For my wife, who is American, Christmas is Frank Sinatra, skyscrapers in New York wrapped up in ribbons, and “it’s a holly jolly Christmas, the most marshmallow-y time of the year”. Whereas for me, it’s all sonorous, Victorian, Christmas carols and an element of religion in the background. For me, it really begins on Christmas Eve when they have the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College, Cambridge. Meanwhile my wife is dancing around to Frank Sinatra. The kids are on my wife’s side; they like the razzmatazz Photograph: Bob and Roberta Smith
I made this sculpture for Folkestone – it's called Folkestone Mermaid. I was there the other night giving a lecture and took a picture of her wearing a santa hat. She gets dressed up all the time by locals: she’s had bunny ears, a policeman’s hat, a Halloween wig, football shirts … poor old thing, I thought she needed a bit of warming up. My Christmas Day usually starts off with my husband, Jeff, swimming in Hampstead Heath. There’s an annual race but my daughter Lily and I just watch. We have mulled wine and mince pies. Roy Foster, who’s an Irish academic, lives on our street and hosts an annual Christmas day lunchtime drinks do which hundreds of people go to and it’s almost like a “welcome to Kentish Town”. I think there’s also an egg-and-spoon race down our street, so there’s going to be so much happening, we’ll be spoilt for choice Photograph: Cornelia Parker
When I was a little, I couldn’t spell Christmas so I used to write Happy Xmas in my cards. Then earlier this month I made this X for my friend’s son Xavier as a Christmas present and making it reminded me of writing Happy Xmas as a kid. This will be my second Christmas living in San Francisco. Last year me and the missus just hung out at home with the tree, some presents and I cooked dinner. When I was younger, every Christmas day I’d go with my mates to paint trains – it’s the one day of the year when the trains don’t run – so I didn’t actually have a Christmas dinner for 12 years. Now I’m too old to paint trains, we’re drinking egg nog instead! Photograph: Eine
I made this as an e-card the first year I decided not to send Christmas cards by post. I liked the idea of sending a message that flies and was trying to avoid something obviously seasonal. I was thinking of the iconic images of doves of peace by Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso and decided to add my own to the mix. Every year, for me, Christmas takes place in the faith that next year I’m going to have it all organised, that it’s all going to work out properly, that I’m going to know how the hell to do it. I’m always one Christmas behind – next Christmas is going to be perfect! Photograph: Gavin Turk
There’s this strange Christmas tradition now where people bejewel their houses with lights and paraphernalia. It’s always struck me how naff they look during the day, and because we rarely get snow, they look so unfestive. But then at night they completely transform. This photo was taken near my parents’ house in Surrey, but it could have been taken anywhere. I can understand why people do it – my children would love us to do the same, they’re always saying, “Why haven’t we got Christmas lights?” It’s not just the cost of the electricity, it’s not quite to my taste. We live in Brighton so our tradition is the Christmas Day swim in the sea, which my wife and I have done for the last three years. The children watch and cheer on, then we all have hot drinks and mince pies on the beach and go home for lunch Photograph: Simon Roberts
This photo was taken in late September in the suburbs of Perth in Western Australia. It seems this Portuguese couple, who are highly religious, have a permanent shrine to Christmas in their “best” living room. Apparently by mid-December they have the most over-the-top Xmas display of lights outside in the whole of Perth. Sadly I was unable to witness that at first hand Photograph: Magnum Photos/ Martin Parr
