In the hall of the rambling Elizabethan farmhouse of my childhood was a wide, inglenook fireplace. Every Christmas Eve, the gardener drag-ged in an enormous Yule log, balancing it with much heaving and grunting across the fire dogs. This would be lit by the remaining piece of the previous year’s…
The gates spring open. Twelve thoroughbreds surge forwards through a cloud of snowflakes, a gaggle of neon-clad skiers jostling in their wake as scrabbling hooves hurl snow pellets into the sky. A furlong later and the chaos subsides, the horses settling into a familiar racing pattern as they stretch out…
Folklore, religion and revelry have combined over the centuries to create the festive figure so central to our celebrations today, writes Ettie Neil-Gallacher
The boy treble’s solo in Once in Royal David’s City, sounded in a darkened cathedral, is a truly special moment for many. The true start of the festivities commences with cathedral choirs, says Matthew Dennison. Send your festive missives by way of cards with proper country credentials, and support some…
The shop shelves may be laden with them, but picking out the best Christmas turkey will make your festive feast one to remember. Choose from The Field’s pick of the best Christmas turkeys. And have it delivered straight to your front door for the 25th. The turkey may be the…
Fruitcake facts are a little known subject, but will come in handy over Christmas. Whether you are swotting-up for the local Christmas quiz or simply want to impress, take your guests by surprise with Hattie Ellis’ fruitcake facts. Who was Dundee Cake invented for? Which monarch introduced the tradition of…
A Christmas cheeseboard is guaranteed to go down a treat. And there’s only one essential – the Christmas Stilton. But despite it’s popularity, it remains a misunderstood cheese. Read Hattie Ellis’ advice to enjoy mellow creaminess, rather than dry strength. With Stilton on the board, the other festive essential is…
Charlotte Mackaness doffs her paper hat to a cracking invention that makes each Christmas go with a bang.
Knowing how to carve meat well is an essential skill, but one fewer and fewer people possess. Whether you are attempting a festive turkey on the 25th or a simple roast pheasant for Sunday lunch, it is essential that there is someone confident enough to stand up at the table.…
Skip the standard turkey and dreaded dryness with an impressive roast fit for royalty this Christmas. The same turkey can get repetitive, so learn how to cook a three-bird roast for a truly spectacular offering and see if they can guess which birds are on the table. Learn about the…
