Christmas Traditions in Brum and Beyond

There’s something truly magical about Christmas in Birmingham…

As early as the 1880s, Birmingham has transformed its streets into a twinkling winter wonderland. In fact, Charles Dickens gave the first public reading of 'A Christmas Carol' at the Birmingham Town Hall on 27 December, 1853. Nearly 2,000 people attended to hear the festive tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, which seems small in comparison to the 5.5 million visitors who now attend the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas market each year.

Did you know? Despite Prince Albert introducing many German Christmas traditions to England in the Victorian era, such as the Christmas tree, Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas market wasn’t established until 2001 - despite being the largest of its kind outside of Germany and Austria.

Christmas Markets in the Midlands

It isn’t only Birmingham with deep roots in festive tradition. As Christmas became increasingly commercialised and widely celebrated in the 1800s, towns across the West Midlands began hosting their own ‘Christmas fairs’ and ‘bazaars’, each brimming with seasonal treats and gifts. One delightful example comes from an 1869 newspaper advertising a Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Fair, proudly offering ‘200 superb fat sheep’ for sale. Today’s Stratford Christmas Market is still a highlight of the festive calendar, and while your nan can no longer pick up a prize sheep, she can certainly pick up a handmade gift or enjoy a warm mug of hot chocolate.

Today, the Midlands is brimming with festive experiences designed to spark joy and create new traditions we hope will last for generations. Among the most magical are the region’s modern light trails - an enchanting trend championed by heritage sites and woodland trusts. These illuminated walks bring landscapes to life, lifting spirits through the darkest winter evenings as Christmas draws near. 

Christmas Concerts Through the Ages

One of Birmingham’s longest-loved Christmas traditions is its musical celebrations and concerts. The city’s first charitable music meeting was held on Christmas Day in 1766, when James Kempson and the Birmingham Musical and Amicable Society organised a one-day festival at St. Bartholomew’s Chapel to support ‘aged and distressed housekeepers’. This is a tradition that continued annually until 1838. Today, the spirit of the season lives on as Birmingham Symphony Hall hosts a festive calendar of Christmas concerts, bringing people together through music once again.

Lights, Camera, Christmas: West Midlands on the Silver Screen

Some emerging festive customs in the Midlands have arisen from pop culture and films; decorating your house with excessive lights like in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation or stepping aboard the Polar Express from Birmingham Moor Street. In fact, the West Midlands is the backdrop to beloved Christmas musical, ‘Nativity!’. There are references throughout the movie to iconic locations such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, a theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, a last minute trip to Hollywood from Birmingham Airport and the film concludes with an all-singing, all-dancing nativity performed in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral.

Did you know? Fans of Nativity! can walk in the footsteps of Mr Poppy and the kids by exploring the real West Midlands locations that appeared in the movie. The RSC have performances of ‘The BFG’ on until February 2026 and Coventry Cathedral will have multiple showing of ‘The Snowman’ with a live orchestra on 20 December.

Christmas in the West Midlands is a tapestry of the music, movies and markets that came before; and the best part is, the story isn’t finished yet. This year, it’s your turn to add a new chapter. Whether it’s exploring a twinkling light trail, savouring festive treats at a local market, or enjoying a concert that lifts the spirit, your own holiday traditions start here.

What new memories will you create this Christmas in the Midlands?