For some, Christmas isn't just about festive cheer; it's also prime time for spotting extraterrestrial visitors, reports suggest. December has become notorious for an increase in reported UFO sightings, and experts believe there's a valid explanation.

Christian Stepien, technical director at the UFO Reporting Centre, notes that fireworks and light shows are often mistaken for otherworldly phenomena. The centre typically observes a "slight uptick" in such reports twice annually, with the holiday season being a peak time for these supposed cosmic encounters.

Ron James from the Mutual UFO Network told The Daily Beast: "We do have a slight uptick twice a year in the summer and around the holidays. There are a few reasons why people might be paying more attention: they might be off work, they're doing family activities and things they don't normally do, so there are more possibilities for people to encounter things. Then, of course, there's always Santa Claus and the reindeer."

UFO sightings on Christmas could be mistaken for other aerial events (stock) (

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"If there is an uptick, I can understand that because there's a lot of people out during Christmas time shopping and doing things. They might be looking up in the air so I can understand it if there is."

Ufology research has pointed towards a "significant" surge in UFO sightings on Christmas Day, clocking in 75 reported cases for 2021. Chris Rutkowski from Ufology revealed: "Most were simply lights in the sky, and yes, some were of a single red light flying overhead followed by a string of others.", reports the Mirror.

There have indeed been historical reports of unidentified flying objects during the festive season dating back to Christmas 1965, with pioneering astronaut Wally Schirra Jr.

Aboard Gemini 6 observing an unusual "object," he described at the time: "We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, probably in polar orbit. Looks like he might be going to re-enter soon [...] You just might let me pick up that thing."

Complementing his account, fellow space savant Thomas Stafford observed: "I see a command module and eight smaller modules in front. The pilot of the command module is wearing a red suit."

Wally and Thomas sent the control room into a spin with their claims of spotting something otherworldly during their space mission, but it turned out to be a festive prank. Wally whipped out his harmonica to play Jingle Bells, revealing the joke.

Mr Stafford recalled: "Wally came up with the idea. He could play the harmonica, and we practised two or three times before we took off, but of course, we didn't tell the guys on the ground."

Discussing whether Christmas brings more UFO sightings, Ron James chimed in: "My feeling is that there's not an actual increase in phenomenon occurring. It's more that there's more people in a position to see and experience things that might already be there pretty much consistently."