CHRISTMAS is a special time for people all over the globe, but for Burnley goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly a touch of festive magic gets sprinkled onto the pitch as well.

And that is just one of the reasons why the Burnley stopper is glad the English Football League hasn't introduced a break in fixtures.

When Kiraly plied his trade in Germany, with Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, the Hungarian had two weeks off duty over the Christmas period.

Any momentum built up before then risked being lost, while the 31-year-old said preparing for the re-start was like a second pre-season.

"In England, the Christmas games and December games are a little bit special because you have that Christmas feeling, and the referee does, and you feel different on the pitch as to how you would in September or October," he said.

"It's a little bit different and that's why it's better to play.

"Sometimes I wonder whether it's better to have a two-week break at Christmas or not. I've played in Germany and they do that, but afterwards it's like starting again with pre-season and it makes it difficult.

"Sometimes it's good to have a break because if you've been losing, you have more time to recover from it.

"Maybe it's better then. But altogether, if you rest for two weeks or 10 days, you're starting again with your fitness.

"It was hard to pick the tempo up again because you have two pre-seasons and two lots of hard work; one in summer, one in winter.

"In England we have a busy December, but it is our job. We should work for the club, for our fans and for ourselves."

And Kiraly is relishing the chance to help push Burnley up the Championship table over the crucial festive period.

"For me Christmas is a very special time professionally and personally," he said.

"At the start of the season I spoke with my friends and a couple of players that December is very important because you can drop down or you can jump up to the top in a short space of time because the division is so tight.

"It's very important for us to control the game and just relax and play together and help each other."

Off the pitch, Kiraly is looking forward to spending time with his wife and two children, while his parents and in-laws are travelling from Hungary to spend Christmas all together.

"Christmas is a little bit different in Hungary," the 31-year-old explained. "Firstly, Santa comes on December 6 in the morning. On December 5, everyone cleans their boots and leaves them in the windows.

"Then the next morning, when you open the curtains, there is chocolate and a small present there for you.

"Once it is Christmas, it isn't Santa who brings the Christmas presents, it's the angel who brings them on the 24th evening. We open our presents that night, then on the 25th and 26th we visit our relatives and have meals with them.

"Family is very strong in Hungary and we celebrate with them."

He added: "In England we still open presents with our two children on the 24th.

"My parents arrived on 22nd for a week and my wife's parents are coming for Christmas.

"We do everything like we do in Hungary.

"We eat a very special dinner, lots of different dishes with fish, duck and soup. It's a big banquet.

"It's special for us."