There are some things I like to do in this week every year that don’t necessarily relate to Christmas, but I do them anyway out of ritual. Reading Asterix comics is one—I think I must have stayed up all Christmas Eve one year as an excited child, reading Asterix & Cleopatra in an effort to get to sleep. Now I read Asterix because it makes me feel Christmassy.

One year on Christmas Eve, not so long ago I guess, I stayed up watching 30th Century Man, and since then I always keep my iPod stocked up with Scott Walker at this time of year.

What are your smaller rituals at Christmas time?