To help evoke the true spirit of Christmas, Travelodge is continuing with its very own festive tradition of offering a free room to couples called Mary and Joseph during the 12 days of Christmas.

The ‘gift’ of a free night’s is to make up for the hotel industry not having any rooms left on Christmas Eve over 2,000 years ago when the original Mary and Joseph had to spend the night in a stable.

Today’s Mary and Joseph can choose to stay in one of 500 UK based Travelodge hotels, the spacious family room can cater for a baby in a manger and a free car-parking space will also be provided for the couple’s donkey. The free room will be available from Christmas Eve until the ‘Twelfth Night’ of Christmas (6th January 2013).

To claim the free festive room, couples called Mary and Joseph just need to register their details at [email protected] by Friday 20th December 2013 with proof of their name.

Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said: “To help evoke the true spirit of Christmas we will once again open our doors to couples called Mary and Joseph and offering them a free night stay during the 12 days of Christmas”.

“For the last six years we have ran this offer to make up for the hotel industry not having any rooms left on Christmas Eve over 2,000 years ago and it has become quite a tradition now. This year we have had couples emailing us as early as August asking if they can take up the offer this festive season. On average we have 30 couples called Mary and Joseph stay with us during the festive season.