CHRISTMAS is a time for traditions, from those passed down through families to new discoveries with friends that become part of your festive celebrations.

Whether it be sending cards, decorating trees, carol singing, advent calendars, mince pies or mistletoe, there are some festive traditions without which Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas.

For many, a day out to a National Trust house and garden is already a Christmas must.

Over the festive season, National Trust properties will be decked out with Christmas sparkle. Father Christmas will visit special grottos, there will be wreath making and Christmas crafts workshops, and the Trust’s picturesque estates will be packed full of traditions to bring Christmas to life through the ages, mixing festive favourites with new experiences unique to these historic properties.

There are plenty of activities on offer to help make your Christmas that extra bit special in these winter wonderland locations.

At Hinton Ampner at Bramdean, near Alresford, there is an invitation to a Christmas wedding from December 5-20, from 11am to 4pm each day.

In the 19th Century, Christmas Day weddings were a popular tradition, with churches across the country holding festive nuptials, among them the little church in the gardens of Hinton Ampner.

Join celebrations for a glittering Victorian Christmas wedding and see the ground floor rooms in the house transformed into lavish scenes, including a sumptuous wedding breakfast, exquisite clothing, and hundreds of flowers.

In the courtyard, decorated with twinkling lights and Christmas trees, you can visit Hinton’s pop-up Victorian sweet shop before setting out on an action-packed festive family reindeer trail.

On the first two weekends of the month – December 5-6 and December 9-10 – local artisans’ stalls will also be in residence, alongside warming mulled wine, mince pies and freshly roasted chestnuts.

The annual traditional carol service will take place in Hinton’s historic All Saints’ Church on December 11, at 6.15pm. Entry is free.

Despite a jam-packed schedule, Father Christmas will be stopping off at Hinton Ampner on December 21-22 (from 11am-4pm) to read Christmas stories, bringing real reindeer with him! While parents enjoy the refreshments, children can drop in to Santa’s fairytale grotto to receive a small gift and enjoy a spot of face painting. Don’t forget to bring your Christmas list.

For more details, call 01962 771305 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk/hinton-ampner.

At Mottisfont Abbey, near Romsey, until January 3, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol will be brought vividly to life, with dramatic lighting and beautifully designed sets. Figures clothed in exquisite Victorian costume created from paper by Delicarta help tell the tale around Mottisfont’s historic rooms.

A family trail takes you through the story as it unfolds. Help Scrooge count money in the chilly gloom of his counting house, find out what happens to poor Bob Cratchit and his son Tiny Tim, make chains with the ghost of Jacob Marley, and celebrate with a grand party around the giant Christmas tree. Children can also dress as characters from the book, play and make Victorian games.

Upstairs in the gallery visitors will find an exhibition of delightful Christmas-themed prints by famous artists and illustrators, and a display of vintage Christmas cards, while weekends feature festive music.

Enjoy a breath of fresh air in Mottisfont’s extensive gardens, where the children can burn off some energy, before warming up with hot drinks and mince pies beside the wood-burning stove in the cafe.

For more details, call 01794 340757 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont.

The Vyne, near, Basingstoke, will paint a picture (until January 3) of a country house at Christmas.

This former Tudor palace is richly decorated for a country house family Christmas. Seven show rooms take you on an historic journey through Christmas past and reveal festive traditions and true stories of the characters who lived there in previous centuries.

The Vyne’s elves will be hard at work from December 19-22 (12pm-3pm) with their preparations for Christmas. Younger visitors can help them out in the bustling cracker factory, where they will make their own customised crackers – complete with a bang – to take home.

In addition, there will be cosy winter storytelling for children, carol singing from The Vyne’s very own choir, Christmas lunches on December 8, December 15 and December 22) and special afternoon teas on December 9, December 16 and December 23.

For more details or to book, call 01256 883858 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk/vyne.

Winchester City Mill will celebrate the season with festive baking sessions on December 12 and December 19, from 11am-3pm.

There’s nothing more Christmassy than the aroma of warm spices and baking, as will be evident from the medieval mill’s festive baking demonstrations. Find out how its freshly milled flour can be combined with locally sourced Hampshire produce to make treats for you to sample. Buy a bag of fresh wholemeal flour, collect free recipe cards, and bake your own seasonal goodies.

On December 19 (12pm-3pm) visitors can also join in the carols at the mill, accompanied by a jolly brass band playing all the festive favourites.

For more details, call 01962 870057 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk/winchester-city-mill.

Uppark House near South Harting, four miles from Petersfield, will be celebrating a servants’ Christmas.

While the house is closed, visitors can see below stairs as the servants decorate for their Victorian Christmas Day (December 5 to January 6, 11am-3pm) and place their wishes on the Christmas tree.

During the week, enjoy a festive afternoon tea in the cafe (December 7 to January 6, except December 24-25) presented on a three-tier cake stand with seasonal flowers, festive music and a Christmas cracker.

And at the weekend pay a special visit to Father Christmas (December 5-20, 11am-3pm). Tickets £5.50 include admission and gift.

Visit nationaltrust.org.uk/uppark-house-and-garden.

The National Trust looks after more than 600,000 acres of countryside, 775 miles of coastline, and hundreds of special places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Every visit this Christmas will support the National Trust’s work as a charity looking after special places for future generations to enjoy. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk.