This book is a delightful collection of short stories linking a range of beliefs and customs relating to midwinter festivities. A joy to read; beautifully written and an important reminder of the important stuff. There is always so much magic this time of year hold on to it, it will get you through. You just have to believe. That's all.
7 tales of the mysterious, the mythological and the fantastical from the darkest part of the year.
Christmas (or Yule) means many things to many people. From sacrifice to the sun at Stonehenge to the Roman festival of light to the birth of Jesus and beyond, it is the time for rebirth and rejoicing. It is the anonymous gift-giving spirit of Saint Nicholas, the survival of evergreens during cold winters (and puritan outlawry). It means warmth, friendship, charity and of course, Santa Claus…
These stories delve deep into the past and reveal the origins of traditions we still carry with us today. From Neolithic Britain to Ancient Rome, from Judea to puritan England, from Spain to New York and beyond, take this time-travelling trip to the traditions of our ancestors and discover the magical story of Christmas through the eyes of the people who experienced it.
By Claretta Spanton