Suzanne Elvidge offers the surefish internet guide to Christmas and the New Year.

26 November
Named Stir-Up Sunday after the opening words of the collect, this is traditionally the day to make your Christmas pudding.

30 November
Have you got your fair trade Advent calendar? If not, try an online one or make an Advent paper chain .

1 December
The first day of Advent and also World Aids Day — after you open the first window of your Advent calendar, take a look at Christian Aid's World Aids Day worship resources, Flesh of Our Flesh.

2 December
The Christmas cake has a long history. If you haven't made yours yet, then why not buy a fair-trade one?

3 December
First Sunday in Advent—make your Advent Wreath and light the first candle.

4 December
Have you got your Christmas cards yet? You can order charity cards online or make your own.

5 December
Organise a Christingle service, celebrate the light of Christ, and raise money for the Children's Society.

6 December
St Nicholas' Day. Read about the origins of Father Christmas and Santa Claus.

7 December
Stuck for gift ideas? What about recycled glass or glasses made directly from bottles.

8 December
Time to start checking out all the last posting days for Christmas. Today is the last day to post Airmail for outside Europe, except Canada, USA and Japan. This year's stamps feature work by Japanese illustrator Tatsuro Kiuchi .

9 December
Make some gift tags out of last year's Christmas cards or print some off (on recycled paper of course!)

10 December
Second Sunday in Advent—light the second candle in the Advent wreath.

11 December
When I was a little girl (only a year or two ago, honest...) I used to write to Father Christmas and leave the letter by the gas fire. Now, you can email him and you get a personal reply straight back.

Last day for posting Airmail to USA, Canada, Japan & Eastern Europe.

12 December
Christmas is becoming increasingly commercialised each year. This year, either consider buying nothing or, perhaps better, buy something from Christian Aid's Present Aid (everything from a basketball to a community health worker's salary.

13 December
It's the last day for posting standard parcels to the UK and Airmail to Western Europe.

If you've left it too late to order presents to post, what about buying someone a carbon offset package, from offsetting a European flight at £4.50 to annual household emissions at £99 (but no, that doesn't get you off insulating your house!)

14 December
It's about time to ice the cake. Anything is possible, from the very complicated to the simple and elegant, but if you're not a sugar-craft expert, there are ways round it.

15 December
Have you started wrapping presents for under the tree yet? For small presents, you could recycle last year's Christmas cards into little gift boxes. You can also reuse last year's paper (if you took it off very carefully), buy recycled paper, or make your own wrapping.

16 December
Don't forget your pets at Christmas. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs and cats, but you can make a dog or cat treat for them.

Last day for posting Christmas cards second class.

17 December
Third Sunday in Advent, or Gaudete Sunday — light the third candle in the Advent wreath.

18 December
St Boniface may have introduced the Christmas tree to Germany in the 8th Century. There is debate as to whether Prince Albert or Queen Charlotte introduced the practice to England.

19 December
Last day for posting all those first class Christmas cards. Also last day for getting letters from Father Christmas.

20 December
You've not posted your Christmas cards, have you... Not to worry — you can send virtual ones online. There are classy ones, wildlife ones and printable ones.

21 December
Getting bored? Can't wait for Christmas? Learn to say 'Happy Christmas” in lots of different languages.

Last day for posting Special Delivery.

22 December
Think about starting to defrost your frozen turkey today and work out your roasting times.

23 December
What about the vegetarians? You can even make a vegetarian 'turkey.'

24 December
Christmas Eve and the fourth Sunday in Advent. Light the fourth candle in the Advent wreath, peel the potatoes prepare the sprouts, hang up your Christmas stocking and calculate your good deeds.

25 December
Christmas Day. Celebrate the birth of Christ and light the central Christ candle. December 25 was decided to be Christmas Day perhaps as early as 273.

26 December
Boxing Day or St Stephen's day is traditionally the day for 'Hunting the Wren' but maybe it would be kinder to feed it instead?

28 December
Holy Innocents Day commemorates the slaughter of the children at Herod's command — perhaps a day to think about children in conflict.

1 January
New Year's Day — make some New Year's resolutions with a difference.

6 January
Last night was Twelfth Night so today is time to take all the decorations down, recycle the tree (check your local council's website, and the cards, and spend the next three months vacuuming pine needles out of the cat.

7 January
Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Day on 7 January, following the Gregorian calendar.

Happy Christmas.

Order Christian Aid's 2007 calendar
Stunning colour photography from 12 different countries illustrate Christian Aid’s partner work in our 2007 calendar. Priced at only £7.99 this would make an ideal Christmas present.