The Christmas Lectures are a long-running series of science demonstrations for young people held annually by the Royal Institution around Christmas time. They have been broadcast on UK television every Christmas since 1966, reaching over 2 million viewers in 2013. The lectures were initiated in 1825 by Michael Faraday and have continued annually since, stopping only during World War II. Many famous scientists have delivered the lectures over the years, establishing them as a festive tradition that inspires children and adults alike about science.